Troop &�New Scout & New Parent Meeting

Presented by

David Creamer� 731B Scoutmaster

700G Committee Chair

Contents

• Scout Troop Structure
• Committee members, Scoutmasters, Scout Leaders
• Scout Advancement
• Rank, Merit Badges, Scoutbook
• Camping Trip Procedures
• Signing up, Costs, Summer Camp
• Scout Accounts
• Expenses and Credits
• Paperwork!
• Medical forms, Activity forms, Special Event forms

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Troop Structure

Scout Led—Scout Run!

Scout Troop Structure

1. National ⮞ Council ⮞ District
1. Scouts BSA National (BSA)
2. San Diego-Imperial Council (SDIC)
3. Rancho San Luis Rey District/Zone (RSLR)
2. Charter Organization
1. T731: Fallbrook VFW
2. T700: Vista Optimist Club
4. Committee
1. Chartered Org. Representative (COR)
2. Committee Chair (CC)
3. Committee Members (New members or parent input are always welcome!)
5. Scoutmasters & Assistants (SM & ASMs):
• Scoutmaster
• Asst. Scoutmasters (New, trained Scouters are always welcome!)
• All adult leaders in the Troop are trained to ensure your Scout’s safety!

continued

Scout Troop Structure

1. Scouts
1. Senior Patrol Leader (SPL)
1. Assistant Senior Patrol Leader (ASPL)
2. Patrol Leaders (PL)
• Assistant Patrol Leader (APLs)
3. Scouts
• Positions of Responsibility (POR)
• Patrol members
1. Questions from Scouts go in the reverse order
1. Patrol Leader ⮞ Senior Patrol Leader ⮞ Scoutmaster

Parent Participation

• Youth Protection Training (online)
• Required even for transporting unrelated Scouts
• BSA YPT: Required for all contact with non-related Scouts; good for 2 years
• California: AB-506 youth training and LiveScan fingerprint
• Adult Leader training
• Committee (online)
• ASM classroom and field training
• YPT training/AB-506
• Parent “Non-Participation”
• OK to remind the Scout, but let Scout learn on own
• Let Scout gather camping gear on their own; double-check afterward

What is “Scouts BSA”

Girls can join Scouts since February 2019

• However, Troops are never co-ed
• They can coordinate events, but must have �separate campsites and assigned leaders
• Female Troops require a trained female adult leader�be present at all activities
• All advancement and merit badges are the same�for both boys and girls

Great Expectations!

Scout Expectations

• Wear Scout uniform unless instructed otherwise by SM or SPL
• Attend Meetings
• Participate & Listen
• Attend Events
• Live by the Scout Law, Scout Oath, Scout Slogan, and Scout Motto!

Scout Uniform

• Field aka “Class A Uniform”
• Shirt, pants, belt, neckerchief/slide, socks, hiking shoes/sneakers
• Pants and socks do not have to be official BSA items but should be olive green
• To be worn at meeting and all events unless told otherwise by SM
• Patch Placement Reference form on Troop website
• Activity aka “Class B” T-Shirt
• Usually worn under Class A at Scouting events
• Troop Clothing Items
• Camping Hat/Patch (731)
• Extra Class Bs
• Troop Sweatshirts (731)

Meetings & Events

• If you can’t attend 75% of our meetings, �let the Scoutmaster know why
• Speaking & Listening
• Stand to speak; project so the entire room can hear you
• Be quite when others are speaking to the Troop—�for both Scouts and adults
• Watch for the Scout sign (a signal to be quiet)
• Always bring your Scout handbook, notepad, and pen
• Events
• You and your behavior represent the Troop, �the adult leaders, and your parents

Scout Law, Scout Oath, Scout Slogan, �and Scout Motto

• Words to live by…
• A Scout is Trustworthy, Loyal, Helpful, Friendly, Courteous, Kind, Obedient, Cheerful, Thrifty, Brave, Clean, and Reverent.
• 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.
• Be Prepared!
• Do a Good Turn Daily!

Advancement

Scout Advancement

• Rank Advancement
• Scout, Tenderfoot, Second Class, First Class, Star, Life, Eagle
• Merit Badges
• Over 135 different merit badges of varying topics and interests
• 14 are “Eagle required”
• 21 total as part of earning Eagle rank
• But don’t stop there: earn Eagle Palms by getting extra merit badges!
• Scoutbook.com
• Best place to find out about your Scouts’ advancement

Rank Advancement

• Scout complete requirements as noted in their Scout handbook
• Can be completed in any rank order by Scout cannot advance to next rank until current rank is completely finished
• Go through your ranks and see what you have accomplished already
• Pay particular attention to your current rank but look through all of them
• Get requirement signed off when finished
• Scoutmaster can assign ASM, another adult, the SPL, a PL, or a parent
• When all requirements are finished
• Ask a Scoutmaster Conference, then
• Ask for a Board of Review

Merit Badges

• Decide on merit badge
• Get approval from Unit Leader
• Find a counselor
• https://www.troop731fallbrook.org/meritbadgecouncilors
• https://www.troop700oceanside.org/advancement
• Visit our council: San Diego-Imperial Council at sdicbsa.org
• https://www.sdicbsa.org/Advancement/CounselorLookup.php
• Scout should arrange meeting, not the parent (but with parent supervision)
• Ask the SM or CC to connect you to the Counselor on Scoutbook
• Counselor may want to use “blue cards”—ask CC for one.
• Complete the badge requirements
• Worksheets make this easier
• Merit Badge books are available
• Borrow from Troop Library or by purchasing own copy (≈$5)
• When completely finished, Counselor will sign off in Scoutbook or blue card
• Requirements may be finished by another Counselor if not completed with first
• Approved requirements do not expire until Scout “ages out” at 18

Blue Cards

Blue cards are being replaced by Scoutbook but are still used when �online access is not available, or it is not practicable for the Counselor �to access Scoutbook accounts in large group classes

• Blue cards may be supplied by Troop or purchased by Scout
• Fill out blue card in ink
• Make sure it is legible!
• Blue card is in three sections
• One part for the Counselor’s records
• If Counselor does not take their section, give it to them!
• One part for the Scout’s records
• Keep this at least until you turn 18
• Keep in baseball card binder sleeves
• One part (and only one part) to turn into �Troop Advancement Coordinator
• Give to Scoutmaster (T731) or Committee Chair (T700)
• More details at:
• https://www.troop731fallbrook.org/meritbadgecouncilors/the-merit-badge-process
• https://www.troop700fallbrook.org/meritbadgecouncilors/the-merit-badge-process

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Awards

• Typical awards include:
• Totin’ Chip*
• Firem’n Chit*
• Cyber Chip
• Recruiter
• Trained

*Do NOT put on pocket flap

• Less common awards include:
• Religious Knot Award
• 50 Miler
• Interpreter Strip
• And lots more!
• See Awards Central for complete list

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Scoutbook.com

• Parents need to set up account on my.Scouting.org
• Go to http://my.scouting.org and create an account
• Note your BSA User ID
• Send your User ID to the Troop email
• We can connect your Scout to your account if necessary
• Use the same ID and password to create there to log onto Scoutbook.com
• Make sure your email and cell phone are in your profile area
• Confirm your cell number to receive group texts
• You can edit your Scout’s profile (address, phone, email, etc.) if needed
• You can view their rank advancement and their earned merit badges
• You can invite your Scout, if over 13, to have their own Scoutbook account

There is no “Scouting” �without “outing”

Camping, Camping, Camping

Troop Camping Trips

• Types of Camping Trips
• Car-Camping
• Backpacking
• Family Events
• How to sign up
• Cancelation
• Cost breakdown

Types of Camping Trips

• Car-Camping—always with tents
• Drive to established campground
• Drive to primitive campground
• Bring own water supply
• May have toilet facilities or pit toilets
• Backpacking
• Drive to general location, hike in/hike out
• Carry water or filter from stream/river
• No standard toilet facilities provided
• Family Events
• Court of Honor camping trips
• Certain car-camping trips at Scoutmaster’s option
• Parents must take the BSA YPT class

Camping Food

• Car-Camping
• Menus chosen by Patrol
• Grubmasters will be assigned
• Grubmaster purchases necessary ingredients and may not actually cook
• Food expenses are credited to Scout (covered later)
• Backpacking
• Scouts bring their own, non-perishable food
• Family Events
• Usually same as car-camping but families may be asked to bring dishes

Troop Camping Trips

• How to sign up
• Easy—respond to the Sign-Up email!
• Sometimes space is limited, so the earlier the better
• Please respond with a “yes,” “no,” or “maybe” so we can follow up if necessary
• We are starting to use Scoutbook Events for camping signup so you can respond to those emails too
• Cancelation
• If we haven’t purchased campsites or food for Scouts yet, no cancelation fee
• If we have paid and can’t get a refund, you will still be charged for the camping trip
• Cost breakdown
• Expenses of all expenses
• Food, campsites, and special supplies
• Driver credit (assigned to transport multiple Scouts or gear if required)
• 10% for Troop supplies (for cooking gear, propane, etc.)
• Total expenses divided by number of attendees (adults included)
• Usually between $25-35 for car-camping
• Usually around $5-10 for backpacking (mostly transportation)

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Summer Camp

• How to sign up
• Easy—respond to Sign-Up email!
• Cancelation
• If canceled early, there may be minimal penalty
• If canceled late, there may be no refund for monies paid
• Unless for serious medical issues—up to camp office
• This is not something we control—the camp does
• Cost
• Between $450-750 depending on location

The Ever-Present Paperwork…

Scout Accounts

• Scouts Expenses are handled differently by each Troop
• Yearly Dues
• 731: $168 per year (includes $120 BSA fees)
• 700: $120 BSA fees; $5 per month Troop dues
• Camping Trips
• Charged per attended trip
• Summer Camp:
• Usually broken down into 3-4 monthly payments
• Credits to Scout’s Account
• Payments
• Fund-Raising
• We are always open to new ideas, but we may need BSA approval
• Officially, the Troop cannot ask for donations, but we can accept them
• This does not mean a Scout cannot ask for donations, but it is preferred that a Scout “pay their own way”
• Credits (usually food purchases for campouts)
• Parents & Scouts will get email with the amount due approximately once per month
• Scouts with extremely overdue accounts may not be allowed to attend events
• If your family is having financial difficulty, please talk to Scoutmaster or Committee Chair

Required Forms

• Medical A & B
• Parent can fill these out
• Need a copy each year to the Troop records
• Need new copies for every Council or District event
• Medical C
• Need for camping more than 72 hours, such as summer camp
• Needs to be filled out by doctor or nurse—plan with school checkup
• Once per year—keep the original; submit copies to Troop
• Activity Forms
• Usually for Council or District events
• Special forms required for certain events

Filling out PDF Forms

• Download the free Adobe Acrobat Reader if necessary
• Fill out form on computer
• https://youtu.be/bco58ni8Aig
• You can digitally sign forms and send them by email
• Save the form on your hard drive
• The Troop is not allowed to store digital copies of the medical forms
• When needed…
• Update it if necessary
• Print it
• Sign it

Contact Info

We are here to answer your questions.

Troop 731

• Troop731Fallbrook@gmail.com
• www.Troop731Fallbrook.org
• Scoutmaster: David Creamer

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Troop 700

• Troop700oceanside@gmail.com
• www.Troop700oceanside.org/
• Scoutmaster: Karen Roberson
• Committee Chair: David Creamer (he monitors the Troop email)