New Scout & Family Guidebook

New Scout & Family Guidebook Troop 96 Sunrise District Great Lakes Field Service Council Chartered by Grosse Pointe Memorial Church www.troop96gp.org

Troop 96 est. 1936 A BSA Quality Unit Award recipient To the New Parents of Troop 96: Welcome to our Troop! We are very pleased that you and your son have chosen to join our Troop. A Scout is: TRUSTWORTHY LOYAL HELPFUL FRIENDLY COURTEOUS KIND OBEDIENT CHEERFUL THRIFTY BRAVE CLEAN REVERENT In order to make your transition into our Troop and Boy Scouting easier, we have assembled a number of documents that provide information on our Troop, Scouting, and hints to make your first year a successful and memorable one. On several documents in our information packet, you will find phrases including Patrol Method and Boy Led Troop mentioned often. These concepts are not often discussed in the Cub Scouting program but are the cornerstones of Boy Scouting. We hope that the information included in this New Scout and Family Guide will help to introduce you to these ideas. We have also included information in this Guide to emphasize how important it is for you to participate with your son. We need your help to complete our Troop mission and make your son s scouting experience successful. Every patrol needs a registered, trained Assistant Scoutmaster to give guidance to the patrol and support the leadership. You do not need any previous scouting experience for this role, only a desire for your son to succeed in Scouting! While Troop 96 is a Boy Led Troop, it is the duty of the adult leaders to guide our Scouts in the choices they will make and support their learning of scouting and leadership skills. Again, we are very excited to have you as a member of our Troop. We look forward to a great and exciting year! Mike Johnson, Scoutmaster Jim Rossow, Committee Chairman 2

Table of Contents Information Summary... 5 Troop Operations... 6 Operations Overview... 6 The Patrol Method... 6 Fundraising... 7 Summer Camp... 7 Record Keeping... 7 Troop Organization... 8 Attendance... 8 Merit Badges... 8 Rank Advancement... 9 Getting Started: Uniform, Handbook & Equipment... 9 Permanent Marker... 9 Uniform... 9 The Field Uniform... 9 Handbook... 9 Where to get it?... 10 Camping & Gear... 10 Sleeping Bag... 11 Sleeping Pad... 11 Sleeping Clothes... 11 Mess Kit... 11 Flashlight... 11 Rain Gear... 11 Water Storage... 12 Personal First Aid Kit... 12 Clothing... 12 Boots... 12 Gear Storage... 12 Other Stuff... 12 Where to Buy... 13 Mobile Telephones... 13 3

Drivers Wanted... 13 BSA Health Form... 13 4

Information Summary The Aims of Scouting Every Scouting activity moves boys toward three basic aims: Character Development, Citizenship Training, Mental and Physical Fitness Mission Statement Scout Oath Scout Law Achieving the Mission Chartering Organization Events Fundraising Meetings Troop Size Cost The mission of the Boy Scouts of America is to prepare young people to make moral and ethical choices over their lifetimes by instilling in them the values of the Scout Oath and Law On my honor, I will do my best To do my duty to God and my country And to obey the Scout Law; To help other people at all times; To keep myself physically strong, Mentally awake, and morally straight. A Scout is: Trustworthy, Loyal, Helpful, Friendly, Courteous, Kind, Obedient, Cheerful, Thrifty, Brave, Clean, and Reverent. Active, enthusiastic Scouts supported by involved and supportive parents in an outdoor based, boy run program that holds the Scouts interest. Scouting is fun with a purpose. Grosse Pointe Memorial Church, 16 Lakeshore Drive, GP Farms, MI 48236 Boy Scouts of America, Michigan Crossroads Council, www.michiganscouting.org Great Lakes Field Service Council, http://michiganscouting.org/greatlakes/ Sunrise District, http://michiganscouting.org/greatlakes/sunrise district/ Camping monthly during the school year Summer Camp weeklong in late July, early August Community Service Two or more large scale events, plus Eagle projects & flag retirement ceremonies Once per year Holiday greens This funds Troop equipment (trailer, tents, etc.), fuel, camping site and some event entry fees Friends of Scouting District level support Troop meetings Mondays when GP Schools are in session, 7:15 8:45 PM in Fellowship Hall at Grosse Pointe Memorial Church Patrol Leaders Council & Patrol meetings at least monthly Committee Meetings First Monday of every month at 8:30 PM at GPMC 60+ Scouts and 10 trained adult leaders Annual Dues $50 per year, includes Boys Life subscription Summer Camp $400 (approximately) Friends of Scouting Tax deductible donation $207 (optional) Camping $5 per outing food fee payable to your Patrol leader 5

Additional Opportunities Scholarships Other costs Uniform, handbook, entry fees to some events High adventure for older scouts (e.g. Philmont Scout Ranch, Cimmaron, NM) National Youth Leadership Training (NYLT) Den Chief for a local Cub Scout Pack Color Guard at GP War Memorial and other events Order of the Arrow National Scouting Honor Society for qualifying scouts Summer camp staff positions for older scouts (paid!) Camperships are available from the Troop for summer camp. Scholarships for NYLT or high adventure activities may be available through the District or the Troop. See the Scoutmaster or Troop Committee Chair for more information Troop Operations Operations Overview The scouts run the program at Troop 96 utilizing the Patrol Method. The Patrol Leaders Council (also known as Green Bar due to bars on their position patch) conducts two Program Planning Sessions each year. At these meetings, the PLC brainstorms to come up with ideas for outings and merit badges for the next six months. This becomes the framework for Troop meeting plans and campouts. Merit badge work is incorporated into the plan where possible. The members of the Scoutmaster Corps and Troop Committee (the adults) complete the tasks necessary to reserve individual camp sites, event reservations and secure special equipment, as needed. Troop 96 puts a real emphasis on getting new Scout Patrols going. When crossing over to Boy Scouts, a Webelos Den becomes a New Scout Patrol in our Troop. We believe that Scouts feel more comfortable with the boys they already know and will remain in the Scouting Program longer. New Patrols are assigned a Troop Guide (a Scout who is First Class or above and interested in helping incoming boys) to help the first year scouts make the transition to Boy Scouts and Troop 96. Every patrol is assigned a trained Assistant Scoutmaster to coach, support, and empower the scouts to operate their patrol and enjoy the scouting experience. Advancement is an important part of Scouting. The Troop program is designed to enable an incoming scout to have the opportunity to achieve First Class Rank within the first two years of scouting, but advancement depends on the individual Scout. Advancement activities are integrated into Troop meetings and campouts. Adult participation is critical to the success of our Troop. Most adults find that they have a great time and enjoy the camaraderie. You don t need to have any experience to participate! Our Boy Scout Council and District holds training classes several times each year, and the current Adult Leaders are very willing to pass along their experience to the new adults in the troop. The Patrol Method The object of the patrol method is not so much saving the Scoutmaster trouble as to give responsibility to the boy. Lord Baden Powell, founder of Scouting 6

The patrol method gives Scouts an experience in group living and participating citizenship. It places a certain amount of responsibility on young shoulders and teaches boys how to accept it. The patrol method allows Scouts to act in small groups where they can easily relate to each other. These small groups determine Troop activities through their elected representatives. After boys cross over to Boy Scouts, the emphasis changes from an adult run program to a boy led, adult supervised program. This transition is often harder on the adult leaders and parents than for the Scouts. The adult leaders and parents are there to guide the boys and help them develop a sense of independence and leadership skills. A good rule of thumb is to never do what a boy can do for himself. If he can t do it, then teach him so he can do it next time. If you have questions, please contact the Scoutmaster, Assistant Scoutmasters or Committee members. Fundraising Troop 96 conducts one fundraising event per year. The monetary success of the Troop is directly related to the effort that is made by the Scouts. Each fall we sell holiday greens to support the Troop. The product is priced competitively with local garden centers and has a loyal local following. A sales goal, common to each scout, will be set by the Troop Committee in advance of the sale. Scouts earn commission on all sales over the base amount. Some Scouts routinely earn more than $100. The expectation from and for each scout is that the goal will be met or an equivalent financial contribution will be made to the Troop to fund activities for the year. Through years of selling greens, we have found that older scouts heading off to college typically hand off their customer list to younger scouts, which makes cold calling a little warmer. A note about popcorn: Several years ago, Troop 96 made a decision to stop selling Boy Scout popcorn. This action was based on the quality of the product, value perception and margin returned to the Troop. If these conditions improve, we ll consider selling it. To fund Council operations, the Troop encourages all families to make a contribution to the Friends of Scouting campaign, which kicks off each January. This contribution is tax deductible and helps ensure that the Scouting program is available to every boy who desires it. Summer Camp For the past several years, Troop 96 has camped at Pioneer Scout Reservation, Pioneer Ohio, in the last week of July or early August. The cost for camp is approximately $400 and is not covered by Troop greens sales. Summer Camp is an important part of the Scouting program and we encourage all Scouts to attend. For younger scouts, the focus is on learning camp craft, rank advancement and fun. A week away from home presents many opportunities to foster independence and develop leadership skills. A parents meeting is held each April. Camperships (scholarships) are available through the Troop. See the Scoutmaster or Committee Chair for details. Record Keeping It is a good idea for your Scout to start and maintain a folder or memory book of his Scout experiences. He will need to retain Merit Badge and rank advancement cards, which are awarded as he progresses from Scout to (if he applies himself) Eagle. These cards are distributed in yellow envelopes by our 7

Advancement Chair. Look after these cards! They may be the only thing separating your Scout from the rank of Eagle! These cards fit nicely into 3 ring binders in baseball card inserts. Adding photos, old uniform rank patches, event patches and other memorabilia makes for a nice record of his trail to Eagle. Your Scout should bring his Boy Scout Handbook to every meeting and Scout outing as this book serves as his advancement record. He records nights spent camping and service projects in the Handbook as well. Troop Organization This is a leafy topic and we ll post a more detailed document on our website at troop96gp.org. The important parts to know are that the Scouts are led by the Senior Patrol Leader, elected twice per year. He is supported by the Patrol Leaders Council, all Scouts. The adult leaders consist of (essentially) the Scoutmaster, Assistant Scoutmasters and the Troop Committee. There are many more adult positions and we re always in need of volunteers. Attendance 80 percent of success is showing up. Woody Allen Attendance is a critical component of rank advancement in scouting. In fact, it is literally impossible to advance without active participation. Scouts will occasionally ask, What is the minimum attendance required? or, How many events do I have to attend to advance? While the numerical answer to this question is 50%, this simple number really does not tell the whole story. While 50% is the bare minimum, it becomes increasingly difficult to demonstrate the leadership required for advancement through the higher ranks if your Scout only shows up half the time. When the adult leaders can only observe your Scout working with other Scouts twice a month at meetings and every other month on a campout, there are few opportunities to show leadership. While the adult leaders realize that Scouts have other activities besides Boy Scouts, we also know that in life people rarely excel by doing the bare minimum. Would you want to fly with the pilot who missed half of flight school? The rank of Eagle is earned, not given. Merit Badges A Merit Badge is an award earned by a Boy Scout based on activities within an area of study by completing a list of periodically updated requirements. What this really means is that your Scout can learn about sports, crafts, science, trades, business, and future careers while earning merit badges. There are more than 135 merit badges, and any Boy Scout may earn any of these at any time. Some merit badges are required for the Eagle rank. Troop 96 is fortunate to have many merit badge counselors affiliated with the troop. Classes are announced regularly at Troop meetings. See your Scoutmaster or Assistant Scoutmaster for details. 8

Rank Advancement Advancement is the process by which youth members of the Boy Scouts of America progress from rank to rank. For your new Scout, this means he ll soon be working toward the foundational rank of Scout. The remaining ranks, in order, are: Tenderfoot, Second Class, First Class, Star, Life, Eagle Scout. The Troop will provide the opportunities, but the Scout must accept the challenge. A good stretch goal is to reach First Class within the first year, but remember: Scouting is not a race. Getting Started: Uniform, Handbook & Equipment Permanent Marker Please have your Scout put his name on all of his gear. Unnamed, abandoned gear is sold on ebay to fund the Scoutmaster s Retirement Home. Uniform The Boy Scout uniform is one of the methods of Scouting. The uniform makes the Scout troop visible as a force for good and creates a positive youth image in the community. Boy Scouting is an action program, and wearing the uniform is an action that shows each Scout's commitment to the aims and purposes of Scouting. The uniform is practical attire for Boy Scout activities and provides a way for Boy Scouts to wear the badges that show what they have accomplished. The Field Uniform (formerly referred to as Class A ) consists of: Official Shirt, khaki Long or short sleeve with the following insignia: Shoulder Loops Dark Green Council Strip Patch (CSP) Michigan Crossroads Council, worn at top of left sleeve Troop Number (96) Worn below CSP World Scouting Crest Circular Purple patch worn above right pocket Arrow of Light (if earned as a Cub Scout) Worn below left pocket Patrol Patch Provided by Patrol Leader Position Patch Provided by Scoutmaster or ASM Rank Patch Provided by Scoutmaster once earned Neckerchief Red Troop 96 neckwear will be provided by the Troop. Not available in stores! Official Pants/Shorts Official Belt Official Socks Tall or short, BSA has the sock game covered! Handbook Boy Scout Handbook 13 th Edition get the spiral bound version, if available. This book contains the requirements for every rank in Boy Scouts as well as the basics of camp craft, Scouting history and more. You may want to purchase the nylon cover with Velcro closure to keep it together. This book is going on a lot of campouts. 9

Where to get it? Before you rush out to buy any part of a uniform, be sure to check with the Troop to see what we have available in our uniform locker. The Troop charges a $5 fee for uniforms. Sizes limited, but typically smaller sizes are in stock. While supplies last. See any adult leader for details. Your mileage may vary. Troop welcomes your donation of uniform shirt, pants and belts. A second option is ebay. Searches for Boy Scout uniform typically show over 1,000 results and the prices are rock bottom. It s a great opportunity to teach your Scout how to use a seam ripper to remove old patches and the value of recycling. If you would prefer a crisp new uniform, we have two local Scout Shops Toyota Scout Shop at the Dauch Scout Center, 1776 W. Warren Ave., Detroit Troy Scout Shop 1155 E. Long Lake Road, Troy If you know your Scout s sizes, www.scoutstuff.org is open 24/7 Camping & Gear Organized camping is a creative, educational experience in cooperative group living in the outdoors. It uses the natural surroundings to contribute significantly to physical, mental, spiritual, and social growth. Camping is one of the Methods of Scouting and monthly camping is consistently cited as a major attraction of Troop 96. However Boy Scout camping is not Cub Scout camping. To the delight of noncampers, parents are not required to camp with their Scout. If you are camper, you are welcome to join us. We need the help and we always need drivers to and from camp. Patrols eat and sleep together. Menu planning is a managed by the patrol. For each campout, the Patrol Leader will collect $10 from each Scout and designate one Scout to shop for that campout. Older Scouts will limit the junk food and help guide good choices. Adults eat together and we eat well. Below is a list of equipment your Scout will need to have a comfortable camping experience. The Troop provides tents, cooking equipment, lanterns, hand tools and fire starting materials. Please allow your Scout to pack his own bag. First, if he forgets something, that s on him. Second, he will know what he has with him and can make wardrobe changes to match the weather. 10

Sleeping Bag The great state of Michigan provides the majestic beauty that all four seasons provide. For Scouts, that means rain, snow, cold and mud. Sleeping bags are rated by the temperature in which they can be used. The US rating standard is somewhat subjective and based on surviving (not sleeping) for four hours at the bag s rated temperature. Our recommendation is to look for a bag with a 0 degree rating. This will cover 100% of the camping conditions we encounter. Adult leaders have yet to receive a nighttime complaint of, I m too hot! We recommend synthetic fillings. Goose down sleeping bags tend to hold moisture and lose loft (become colder) over time. The three piece military sleep system, available online and at surplus stores (approx. $125) will cover all of our camping adventures and is remarkably durable. Sleeping Pad A good sleeping pad is the key to a good night s sleep. It provides comfort from rocks and roots, but more importantly provides insulation from the ground. There are two main types of sleeping pads, airfilled and foam. Thermarest and SynMat are two of the bigger names in inflatable or air filled pads. The advantage here is compact size and light weight. However they are expensive ($75 and up) and can develop leaks if not given proper care. Foam pads come in a roll or accordion fold. Closed cell foam pads are ideal for younger scouts and inexpensive. Sleeping Clothes After running around all day, a Scout gets sweaty and dirty. His clothing will stay damp for hours afterwards. To ensure a good night s rest, it s important the Scout have pajamas to put on before bed. Fleece pants and shirt are ideal. Stay away from cotton. A fresh pair of socks and a beanie hat are also smart choices. Mess Kit A mess kit can be as simple as a plastic bowl, a spoon and a cup. Any utensils will do, but a nice to have is a titanium or Lexan spork. Local camping stores sell a mess kit in a mesh bag which keeps everything together and allows it to air dry. Please label with a Sharpie or Dremel tool. Sierra Cups are stupid and should be outlawed. Flashlight Leave the 6 D cell MagLite at home. The smaller and lighter the better. Headlamps and specifically LED headlamps are the best. They allow the Scout to have both hands free for setting up tents, cooking or using the latrine. We are quite fond of the Black Diamond Storm (~$30) although there are less expensive alternatives ($5 at Wal Mart) if your Scout tends to shed his belongings regularly. Rain Gear A simple poncho will work just fine. We suggest one that has a cloth substrate and not just thin plastic. The plastic ponchos will last about two minutes on the back of an excited 12 year old boy. Two piece rain suits are nice, but usually more expensive than a poncho. Frog Toggs are relatively inexpensive, but not as durable as dedicated rain gear. You will pay a premium for any gear with Gore Tex laminate and it won t keep your Scout any dryer than urethane coated clothing. 11

Water Storage Any reasonably leak free water bottle around the house will do. The most popular choice these days is the 1 liter Nalgene with a screw top lid. They are virtually indestructible, BPA free and seal completely. Adult leaders commonly ask the Scouts about their water intake to prevent dehydration. Counting the refills of a liter bottle helps us keep score. CamelBak water bladders carried in special day packs are also popular (and expensive). If you choose this route, purchase the cleaning kit. Water bladders live in the dark and grow some powerful funk if not maintained properly. Personal First Aid Kit A small simple first aid kid is all that s needed. Target, Wal Mart and CVS sell smaller 80 100 piece first aid kits in soft sided cases for $10 15. You can make your own if you d like. Adhesive bandages, mole skin, sting ointment and antiseptic wipes are all that s required in a personal first aid kit. You can include more, but don t go too crazy the Troop has a more comprehensive kit in the event we need it. Clothing For cold weather, which cover most of our campouts, layering is the best approach. Wool or synthetic materials are best, since they don t retain moisture well and dry quickly. Jeans and cotton clothes tend to get wet and stay wet, primarily from perspiration, resulting in a generally miserable experience for the Scout. This goes double for socks! Cotton socks are the worst. You and your Scout should review his wardrobe and sort out the cotton. A detailed packing list is available on our website. Boots Light hiking shoes or boots are far better for campouts than sneakers. They provide support on uneven terrain and provide protection for the feet. Get properly fitting boots, but don t spend too much. Your Scout will be growing out of them a week from Thursday. Boots that fit well reduce the chance of blisters and hotspots. It s OK to bring sneakers for use as camp shoes after a day s hike. Bring your preowned boots to Troop meetings and we ll put them in our gear locker. Gear Storage Your Scout will need a way to get all of this stuff to and from camp. We suggest a duffle back or large plastic tote with single piece lid. It s important that all their gear (less sleeping bag and pad) into one bag. This increases the likelihood that it doesn t go missing and keeps it relatively dry and organized. Hold off on buying an expedition level backpack until he s at least 14. A day pack (like a school book bag) to carry his water bottle, rain gear and Handbook is also a great idea. Other Stuff Stores like REI and Dunham s are built on camping gadgets. Here s a list of things he might put on his birthday or holiday gift list. Pocketknife after earning the Totin Chip card; locking, foldable; no fixed blades Compass Card style sits flat on topographical maps Folding camp chair Not that we spend much time seated Paracord, Duct Tape & Carabiners The uses are endless Merit Badge pamphlets Check the troop library before you buy; we recycle! Backpack Expedition style, not needed right away 12

Tent, Lantern & Stove The Troop provides this gear for all campouts Be sure to check with the Troop before you spend money you might not need to spend. As a Troop, we try to provide as much as possible for our Scouts. If there is something you are interested in, just ask! Scouts would be happy to demonstrate or share their gear. Where to Buy The Troop has no formal affiliation with any supplier. Goodwill, Salvation Army, Neighborhood Club Thrift Shop Coats, wool, rain gear at rock bottom prices; a wise choice for growing boys; a Scout is thrifty! REI Troy or Northville; Good selection; hang on to your wallet www.rei.com Moosejaw Downtown Grosse Pointe; mention Boy Scouts for 15% off! www.moosejaw.com Dunham s, Dick s, Sports Authority, Field & Stream Joe s Army Navy Surplus Royal Oak, Pontiac; wool intensive Campmor Has a great catalog, good prices, online only www.campmor.com Toyota Scout Shop 1776 W. Warren Ave., Detroit Troy Scout Shop 1155 E. Long Lake Road, Troy Please put your Scout s name on all gear! Mobile Telephones Troop 96 prohibits the use of mobile telephones by Scouts. Electronic devices such as smartphones, dumb phones, ipads, ipods, DVD players, CD players, tape players, 8 track players and Betamax should be left at home. Please do not send or allow your Scout to possess a mobile phone during any Troop outings. We have found that Scouts in possession of phones tend to miss many of the growth opportunities put before them. In addition, social networking apps create a significant distraction that mentally takes the boys out of the camping experience and undermines the aims of the program. If you require frequent contact with your Scout, adult leaders can email or text photos daily as proof of life. If you can t bear to be apart from your Scout, come camping with us! Drivers Wanted The best way to guarantee your Scout a ride to camp is to be driving the car. We are always in need of drivers to and from our weekend campouts. Drivers aren t required to camp, but it s a lot of fun. Please submit a copy of your driver s license and insurance card to the Scoutmaster. We depart from GPMC by 5:00 PM. It s essential we meet up to distribute Scouts and gear. Sending empty seats to camp typically means an additional driver is on the road. BSA Health Form To participate in Scouting, the Troop needs to have parts A&B of the BSA Health Form on file. Part C, which requires a physical examination and care provider signature, is required for summer camp and any activity which lasts more than 72 hours. Your pediatrician is already familiar with the Boy Scout Health Form as is the Minute Clinic and other local health care providers. 13