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Welcome
Thank you for your interest in the Boy Scouts of America and Troop 8 in particular. We hope that this section will help answer your questions about the Scouting program and our troop. Your interest is indicative of the desire to have your son grow up in a wholesome environment. The rich history of the scouting movement from its inception by Lord Baden-Powell in England to the world-wide scouting program of today will teach your son the three basic principles of scouting - duty to God and country, duty to others, and duty to self. These concepts are promoted throughout the Boy Scout Oath, Law, Motto and Slogan.
Your son will walk the rocky trail to the highest rank in scouting - Eagle Scout. Statistically, only one in every one hundred scouts will attain this goal. You can help your scout achieve his Eagle rank by encouraging him to always to his best. Do not allow a job to go uncompleted or done poorly. The capabilities of our scouts are very high. With proper guidance and support from you his parents and members of this troop, the scout can achieve his goals.
The success of the program and our troop is dependent upon the involvement of the parents. There are many positions in the troop ranging from Scoutmaster to Committee Member to Merit Badge Councilor. Your background, vocation, hobbies, and special skills are needed to ensure a quality program for all our scouts.
We want to ask each of you to join the Scouting family and assist in the operation of our troop. Help is always needed in merit badge counseling, providing transportation for various activities, organizing Courts of Honor, and in many other ways. There is no such thing as a "free ride" in Scouting. Everyone must do their part. Footprints in the sands of time are not made by staying at home. Be active with your scout in the Troop 8 program!
Signed,
Troop 8 Committee
Joining Requirements
To be a Boy Scout, you must have completed the fifth grade or be 11 years old or has earned the Arrow of Light Award but is less than 18 years old.
The first rank which must be earned is the Scout rank. The Scout rank must be earned before any other rank can be awarded. The requirements for all ranks are explained in the Boy Scout Handbook, which is available from the Scout Shop. In addition to the Handbook a scout will need a uniform which is detailed in the Uniform section.
How to join our troop:
- Attend a meeting.
- Complete the "Join Boy Scouting" application.
- Have the application signed by a parent or guardian.
- Complete a Class 1 Medical Form.
- Pay the joining fee.
- Adult volunteers complete the "Be a Volunteer Leader" form.
Registration And Dues
The troop re-charters every December. At that time each scout and scouter is requested to renew his membership with the troop and the BSA. The re-registration will begin in November each year. The annual fees are outlined below.
Parents are urged to register with the troop and help support the Troop Committee. As a registered scouter, you will receive Scouting magazine and are eligible to participate in all troop activities.
For scouts registering in January, the current fees are as follows:
| Registration | $7.00 |
| Insurance | $2.00 |
| Troop Dues | $41.00 |
| Total for current scouts | $50.00 |
| Equipment fee (one time only)* | $75.00 |
| Total for new scouts | $125.00 |
For scouts joining at other times during the year the fee is prorated at the amount of $5.00 per month beginning in April.
* First time members of the troop pay an additional equipment fee. This fee covers the acquisition and maintenance of troop and patrol equipment. It also includes a charge for a Troop 8 Class B shirt and a Troop 8 hat.
Scouts transferring from another troop need to pay a $1.00 transfer fee, prorated troop dues, insurance, and the equipment fee.
The registration fees for adult scouters are paid for by the Troop.
Aims and Methods
The purpose of the Boy Scouts of America is to help boys become honorable men. No one suggests that Boy Scouting alone is able to bring boys into manhood with qualities of decency. The man is a product of many influences.
The Aims
Character
By this we mean what the boy is himself: his personal qualities, his values, his outlook.
Citizenship
The boy learns his obligations to other people, to the society he lives in, and to the government that presides over society.
Fitness
There are four aspects of fitness: fitness of the body, fitness of the mind, fitness of the "moral fiber", and fitness of the emotions.
The troop is sponsored by a charter organization which may be a church or synagogue, a school, civic organization, or other independent organization.
Boy Scouting works best when it is used by and becomes part of the home, school, and religious activities of the scout. Not every Boy Scout comes from a home that provides all the right influences. Not all schools are able to meet the demands placed on them. Not every boy is influenced by a church or synagogue. In the lives of such boys as these, Boy Scouting is even more important as an influence.
The purpose of the Boy Scout Troop is to provide opportunities for boys to grow as they reach to achieve the aims of the program. The Scoutmaster's objective is to help his Scouts to achieve these Aims. The Scoutmaster's job is to use the Methods of Scouting in troop operations and activities.
The Methods
Ideals of Scouting
These are spelled out in the Scout Oath, Law, motto, and slogan. The scout measures himself against these ideals and as he reaches for them he has some control over what he becomes.
Patrol Method
It gives scouts an experience in teamwork and citizenship. It places a certain amount of responsibility on young shoulders and teaches boys how to accept it.
Outdoor Program
The Boy Scout program is designed to take place outdoors. It is in the outdoors that scouts share responsibilities and learn to cooperate with each other.
Advancement
Scouting provides a series of challenges and skills to meet them through the advancement method. The scout plans his advancement and progresses at his own pace as he meets each challenge. The boy not only grows in self reliance and self confidence, but is also rewarded along the way.
Adult Association
Boys learn by the example of their adult leaders. In his quest for manhood, every boy needs contact with men he can copy. The adult's role as a friend, coach, role model, and leader to scouts is a most important part of Scouting.
Uniform
The uniform makes the Boy Scout troop visible as a force for good and creates a positive youth image in the community. As it identifies the wearer as a scout, the uniform reminds him that he is a scout and influences his actions. The Scout uniform is also an equalizer. Whatever a boy's background, when he puts on the uniform he shares equally in the program.
Leadership Development
Boys are encouraged to learn and practice leadership skills. Every scout has the opportunity to participate in both shared and total leadership situations.
Personal Growth
Growth in moral strength and character is an outcome of the Boy Scout program because a conscientious effort is made to see that it happens. The Good Turn, the religious emblems program, service projects, and frequent personal conferences reinforce personal growth.
Expectations
Scouts are expected to act and behave in a manner consistent with the Scout Law and Oath. Remember, that wherever we go, we are representing all scouts.
A scout who disrupts meetings, or behaves in a manner unbecoming a Scout will be asked to call his parents and be sent home until such time as he can show that his actions will be acceptable.
The personal safety of all scouts and leaders is of prime importance wherever we are camping or participating in a troop activity.
- Because of previous experiences, scouts will not be permitted to bring aerosol sprays to camp.
- Liquid fuels will be handled only under adult supervision.
- Firearms are not permitted on scout activities, unless specified for that activity, and then only under the supervision of a certified adult.
- Radios, boomboxes, games, or similar electronic gear must be left at home.
- Intoxicating beverages or substances will not be tolerated at scouting activities.
Parents are expected to support their son in his Scouting endeavor. It is important that the family is aware of a scout's progress and remain as a resource to their own son as well as to the Troop.
Scouts should not be left alone before or after an activity, meeting or outing. Parents arriving early to pickup their son should not leave but await the arrival of a participating leader. When returning from a trip, the leaders are obligated to wait for you to pick up your son.
Troop 8 is a uniformed troop. We consider the Boy Scout uniform an important ingredient in the Scouting Program. Scouts and Leaders are expected to wear the appropriate, full, and complete uniform while participating in troop activities and for travel.
Uniforming
Each scout in the troop is expected to purchase a complete scout uniform. You are expected to wear it to all scout functions unless informed otherwise. When you joined the Boy Scouts, you openly declared your acceptance to live up to the Scout Oath and Law. A scout uniform represents those ideals!
Scouts in uniform are conscious of their rank and make a greater effort to advance. Only the uniform provides a place for display of badges - important symbols of achievement. Scouts have more fun, stay longer, and feel greater pride in advancement when proudly wearing a proper uniform.
The uniform can help the troop:
- When smartly worn, the uniform can help build good troop sprit.
- By investing in a uniform, a scout and his parents are really making a kind of commitment to take Scouting seriously.
- The uniform makes the troop visible as force for good in the community.
- When properly worn on the correct occasions, it can attract new members.
- Scouts in uniform create a strong, positive, youth image in the neighborhood, thus helping to counteract the negative feeling some adults have about youth.
Dress Code
| Occasion | Uniform Type | Uniform Specifics |
| Troop meeting | Class A Modified | Tan Scout shirt with red tabs and correct patches, no sash, clean jeans or shorts, belt, clean shoes or boots, and socks. |
| Campouts | Class A Modified | Same as above except that after camp arrival the scout may change into Class B uniform. |
| Scoutmaster Conference | Class A | Tan Scout shirt with red tabs and correct patches, neckerchief and slide, no sash, clean jeans or shorts, belt, clean shoes or boots, and socks. |
| Board of Review | Full Class A | Tan Scout shirt with red tabs and correct patches, pins, medals, neckerchief and slide, sash, Scout pants or shorts, Scout belt, Scout socks, clean shoes or boots, and Order of the Arrow sash (if a member). Hat should not be worn. |
| Court of Honor | Full Class A | Same as above. |
Official placement of insignia may be found on the inside front and back cover of the Scout Handbook.
Leadership
Youth Leadership
The troop is divided up into several patrols. Each patrol is made up of from 4 to 10 boys. The boys in a patrol elect a Patrol Leader. These elections generally take place twice a year. The Patrol Leader may then appoint the Assistant Patrol Leader and a Quartermaster. Other patrol positions may be available as determined by the Patrol Leader Council (PLC) and the Troop Committee.
In addition to the patrol leader positions, there are Troop leadership positions. The Senior Patrol Leader (SPL) is elected by the Troop at large about twice a year as determined by the PLC. The SPL may then appoint his staff which consists of the following positions:
- Assistant Senior Patrol Leader(s)
- Troop Guide
- Troop Scribe
- Troop Quartermaster
- Troop Librarian
- Troop Historian
- Troop Web Historian
- Chaplain Aide
- Den Chief
- Instructor
The PLC is made up of the Senior Patrol Leader, Assistant Senior Patrol Leader, Troop Guide, and the Patrol Leader from each patrol. The PLC meets once a month on the Monday following a Troop Campout. They set the agenda for the upcoming Troop Meetings and report to the Troop Committee.
A Junior Assistant Scoutmaster may be selected by the Scoutmaster from the ranks of the Troop Eagle Scouts.
Adult Leadership
The basic function of the adult Troop Committee is to establish general troop policies and to assist the Scoutmaster with the Scouting program of the troop. All parents are encouraged to participate in the monthly Troop Committee meetings. The meeting is normally held on the Monday following campouts at 7:00 p.m. The Troop Committee includes members with special duties as follows:
- Committee Chair
- Scoutmaster
- Assistant Scoutmaster(s)
- Advancement Chair
- Treasurer
- Training Chair
- Quartermaster
- Charter Representative
- Membership Chair
- Fund Raising Chair
- Troop Committee Member(s)
Regular Scheduled Events
Troop Meetings
7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Monday nights at Christ United Methodist Church (35th and Harvard). Class A Modified uniform is expected. Activities at the Troop Meeting usually include: opening ceremony, announcements, skill demonstrations relating to the monthly theme, teaching a skill game, patrol meetings, awards, and a closing ceremony.
Patrol Leaders Council
The Scoutmaster attends the PLC meetings as an advisor to the Senior Patrol Leader. These meetings normally occur on the Monday after a campout from 6:30 p.m. to 7:15 p.m. The purpose of the meeting is to plan and organize the coming month's activities and meetings.
Patrol Meetings
These meetings are usually help during a portion of the regular troop meetings. The patrol leader presides and adult may act as an advisor. At the meetings, a patrol may discuss suggestions for program activities, campouts, menu planning, or other patrol business. Additional patrol meetings may be scheduled by the patrol leader.
Troop Committee
7:00 to 8:30 on the Monday following a campout. The people requested to attend include all committee members, any interested parents, and the senior patrol leader. Topics of discussion include pending events, activities, advancement, etc.
Annual Planning Meeting
The annual planning meeting is normally held in August and the activities are planned for the coming year. The troop's annual calendar begins in January and runs through December.
Special Events
Court of Honor
The Court of Honor is the time that each scout if formally presented with all earned advancement and recognition. A complete Scout Class A uniform is required. All members of the family and friends are invited to this ceremony. It is usually held in the sanctuary of the church. Three Courts of Honor are held each year. Special Eagle Courts of Honor are held for Eagle Scout presentations
Campouts
Campouts are generally scheduled for one weekend each month. While traveling to and from the activity, all scouts are required to wear their Class A Modified uniform. A week or two before each campout an information sheet will be distributed. The exact details of the campout will be specified on those handouts. Each patrol is expected to buy the food they need for the campout. The menu is selected by the patrol and approved by the Scoutmaster or an Assistant Scoutmaster. Each scout should prepay the amount to the scout(s) who will be purchasing the food. The usual cost of the food is $10.00 per campout.
Summer Camp
This is a long term camp of one week. There is a fee since the camp provides all meals and staff to teach merit badges. The troop provides adult supervision of the scouts during the week on a volunteer basis. Scouts provide their own personal gear for the week.
Special Camping
Every year there is a special camping opportunity. The troop organizes a high adventure trek to such places as Philmont Scout Ranch (New Mexico), Sea Base (Key West), Canoe Base (Ely, MN), etc. All scouts participating must be 14 years or older by January 1 of the year of the trek. The cost of the trip varies and is announced months in advance of the event.
Advancement
Advancement is an important feature of the scouting program. The scout who earns the rank of Eagle is universally recognized throughout his life as a person of leadership and ability who sets and achieves goals.
Any scout who has the desire can earn the prized rank of Eagle Scout in Troop 8.
The procedure which a scout earns his various ranks is fairly consistent for all ranks. After completing each requirement, the scout informs the Troop Advancement Chairman, who enters it on the scout's individual advancement records. After completing all requirements, the scout meets with the Scoutmaster or an Assistant Scoutmaster for a Scoutmaster Conference. After the conference, the scout takes his handbook to the Advancement Chairman and requests a Board of Review.
As the scout advances in rank, service projects, merit badges, and leadership positions will be required in order to advance.
Scoutmaster Conference
After completing the requirements for a rank, the scout will make an appointment with the Scoutmaster or Assistant Scoutmaster for a Scoutmaster Conference. At the conference the Scoutmaster will review with the scout the skills he has learned to achieve the rank. The scout should be prepared to submit appropriate documentation of requirement completion, i.e. signed handbook, lists and reports written in preparation of specific requirements. The scout may also be asked to demonstrate certain skills learned for this rank.
Board of Review
When the scout has completed all the requirements for a rank and had his Scoutmaster Conference, he goes to the Advancement Chairman to schedule a Board of Review. He should make the appointment at least one week prior to the desired review date. He must appear in full Class A uniform minus the hat. The board is composed of members of the Troop Committee and the Advancement Chairman. The purpose of the review is not to test the scout. Rather it is to determine the Scout's attitude and acceptance of Scouting's ideals, to ensure that the requirements have been met for advancement, to discuss the scout's experiences in the troop and the troop's program, and to encourage him to keep working toward advancement.
For the rank of Eagle additional representatives from the Council or District as well as community members may be on the board.
Merit Badges
Beginning with the rank of Star, the scout will need to earn merit badges for advancement. There are more than 100 subjects for the scout to explore. The scout will work on merit badges with an adult merit badge counselor who is proficient in the subject area through vocation or hobby. Once a scout has decided to work on a merit badge, he must obtain a "blue card" from the Scoutmaster or Advancement Chairman. He will then take the blue card to the merit badge counselor and set up a schedule to begin work on the badge. The troop has a variety of merit badge booklets which are available from the Troop Librarian. After meeting all the requirements of the merit badge, the scout will have his blue card signed by the counselor and Scoutmaster, and then turn it in to the Advancement Chairman for recording.
Merit Badge Counselors
A merit badge counselor is an adult who is qualified in the specific merit badge subject by education, experience, practice, or interest. An older scout may be assigned to handle certain requirements under adult supervision.
Guidelines for Merit Badge Applicants
1. Select a merit badge and obtain the merit badge booklet.
2. Fill out the blue card with your name, troop, council, and name of merit badge.
3. Get the Scoutmaster's signature on the blue card.
4. Talk to the merit badge counselor and get their approval.
5. Complete the merit badge requirements.
6. Obtain the signature of the counselor on the blue card.
7. Give the blue card to the Scoutmaster for approval.
8. Turn in completed blue card to the Advancement Chairman.
Remember: No work on the merit badge may begin before the initial contact with the merit badge counselor.
Medical Evaluation
The Boy Scouts of America, as well as our troop, requires an up-to-date medical history and parental release for leaders to seek medical attention should the need arise. In most cases no more than parent review is necessary. However, for high adventure and Summer Camp activities, an examination by a physician is required. The appropriate forms are available from the Scoutmaster or his designated adult leader.
Certification is valid for two years for Class 2 Medical Forms. This is all that is required for most scouts. Class 3 forms such as adult leaders over 40 must have are good for one year. The troop will maintain a file of all Medical Forms.
It is absolutely imperative that the Scoutmaster is informed of any medical needs your boy may have. All medications which must be taken during Scouting activities should be administered by the Scoutmaster or designated adult leader.
Youth Protection
Program Summary
Child abuse is a major problem affecting our society. Each year more than 2 million cases of suspected child abuse are reported. This means that 1 percent of American children are experiencing physical abuse, 1 percent are experiencing sexual abuse, and 2 to 5 percent are experiencing emotional maltreatment or some form of neglect. Because of the significance of this social problem, the Boy Scouts of America has declared child abuse as one of the "unacceptables" to receive special attention by those involved in the Scouting program.
The BSA has developed a five-point plan to combat child abuse and to improve the environment in which young people live. The key elements of this strategy include the following points:
- Educating Scouting volunteers, parents and Scouts themselves to aid in the detection and prevention of child abuse.
- Establishing leader-selection procedures to prevent individuals with a history of child abuse from entering the BSA leadership ranks.
- Establishing policies that minimize the opportunities for child abuse to occur in the program of the Boy Scouts of America.
- Encouraging Scouts to report improper behavior in order to identify offenders quickly.
- Swiftly removing and reporting alleged offenders.
Parents Guide
The BSA has developed materials for use in the Scouting program that provide essential information to members and their families. A detachable booklet in the front of the Boy Scout Handbook, "How to Protect Your Child from Child Abuse and Drug Abuse: A Parents Guide," provides information to help families to increase self-protection skills.
Troop 8 and the Youth Protection Program
Troop 8 is committed to following all guidelines of the Youth Protection program. Any suspected offenses of the Youth protection program must be reported to the Committee Chairman, the Scoutmaster or the Council Executive. All incidents reported to the Committee Chairman or the Scoutmaster will be reported to the Council Executive. All reports are taken seriously and appropriate action is taken to ensure the safety of the youth. Troop 8 strongly encourages all its registered leaders to take leader training courses where additional Youth Protection training is given.
Outdoor Program
Scouting is effective whenever we take advantage of it's truth: The place where Scouting works best is also the place that boys want the most. The outdoors. There are a number of good reasons why the outdoor program is so special, here are four that are especially good:
1. The outdoors is the best place for learning outdoor skills. How could it be otherwise? A scout who tried to boil a potato on the gymnasium floor would be in hot water for sure -- not to mention the boy who tried to learn to swim by reading a book.
2. The outdoors is a great place for learning something about living with others. When Scouts walk on the same trail, cook and eat together, and share triumphs and troubles together, they are going to find out some important things about patience, respect for other points of view, doing their full share, making a friend more easily, and saying no without losing a friend. Skills like these are among the "personal growth" skills we want from every Scout. The outdoors is where they grow up best.
3. On the trail or in camp, the boy's leaders will be challenged by the real thing -- getting their patrols fed and sheltered, keeping them warm and safe, solving the problems they can solve, and knowing how to get help for those they can't. It's a time when leadership skills can deepen, patrols grow closer, and the troop grows stronger.
4. The outdoors is also a place where a Scout can get closer to the natural world around him -- the land, the forests and their wildlife, the lakes and rivers, the mountains and the seas. Here, in the outdoors, he will learn of the "land ethic" -- the understanding and respect for the environment we all share, and he will develop an active concern for it's health and a willingness to work to keep it healthy.
Troop 8 and the Outdoor Program
Troop 8 has a very active outdoor program and all boys are encouraged to participate. Our program includes monthly weekend campouts, annual long term Summer Camp (1 week), day hikes and other outdoor activities. Parents are welcome to come on the campouts. However, the troop will still function as a unit.
What to bring on a campout:
- Sleeping bag
- Foam pad
- Rain gear
- Clothes
- Canteen or water bottle
- Eating utensils
- Mess kit
- Cup
- Soap
- Toothbrush/Toothpaste
- Comb
- Washcloth
- Towel
- Flashlight
- Watch
- Notebook
- Pen/pencil
- Boy Scout Handbook
What not to bring on a campout:
- Radios
- Electronic games
- Firearms
- Sling shots
- Alcohol
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