Troop 40 Scout / Parent Handbook
Introduction
Welcome to Troop 40! As a new member of Troop 40, you are joining a group of boys who share your interests in the outdoors, adventure, and learning. As a Scout, you will get the opportunity to learn, see, and do things that other boys may not. You will get the opportunity to acquire new skills, and you will be recognized and rewarded for what you have accomplished. You will have the opportunity to learn leadership, organizational, and other skills that will help you later in life.
This “Troop 40 Handbook” is intended to act as an introduction to Scouting in Troop 40 and to give Scouts and Parents a better understanding about how Troop 40 works. Please take the time to read over this handbook, and contact the Scoutmaster or one of the other Adult Leaders if you have any questions. Boy Scout Application Form Troop 40 is associated with the Three Fires Council , Central Region, Boy Scouts of America . Our Chartering Organization is Yorkville American Legion Post 489.
The District is the geographic area in which a troop is located. A district may cover one or more neighborhoods in a big city, or it may cover several counties in more rural areas.
The Council is a group of one or more Districts. A Council has a professional staff and volunteers that help make the individual troops successful. Most Councils run scout stores where uniforms, books, and other scouting supplies are sold.
Every Boy Scout Troop has at least one Chartering Organization, which assists the troop by providing a meeting place, guidance, leadership, and financial assistance. Troop 40 is proudly chartered by the Yorkville American Legion Post 489.
A note to Cub Scout WEBLOS Parents
Boy Souts is different from Cub Scouts or WEBLOS in several ways:
TOPIC CUB SCOUTS BOY SCOUTS
Meetings: Two monthly Den meetings and one monthly Pack meeting Weekly Troop meetings, one monthly campout/outing
Meetings Planned By: Adult leaders (Den Leader, Cubmaster, etc…) Patrol Leader’s Council (Senior Patrol Leader, Asst. Senior Patrol Leaders, Patrol Leaders, etc…)
Meeting Conducted By: Cubmaster (Pack meetings) Den Leader (Den meetings) Senior Patrol Leader
Organization: Boys broken up into Dens based on grade. New Scouts are oriented as a group. After a few months, new scouts are integrated into the current patrols.
Scouts Led By: Den Leader (adult) Patrol Leader (boy)
Campouts/Outings: Planned and coordinated by adults. Adult partner required with each boy. Meals planned and prepared by adults. Activities chosen by Patrol Leader’s Council, logistics handled by Camping Chairman (adult). At least two adults required for each outing. Meals planned and prepared (including purchasing food) by each Patrol.
Advancement: Advancement worked on as a group. Advancement signed off by Parents or Den Leaders Advancement for early ranks worked on as a group. Some Merit Badges done as a group. Later Rank Advancement and Merit Badge achievment is done on an individual basis. All sign-offs are done by Adult Leaders. Boys have more responsibility to bring thier books to meetings and campouts and to get sign-offs as they complete requirements.
Troop 40 Background
Boy Scout Troop 40 was formed in Yorkville, Illinois in 1914. Over the years, more than 100 Scouts in Troop 40 have achieved the rank of Eagle Scout.
Joining Troop 40
To join BSA Troop 40, you must do the following (as outlined in “The Boy Scout Handbook”):
Meet the age requirements – Be a Boy who has completed the fifth grade or is 11 years old, or earn the Cub Scout Arrow Of Light Award (must be at least 10 years old)- and is less than 18 years old.
Complete a Boy Scout Application Form and health history, signed by a parent or guardian
Find a Boy Scout Troop near your home
Repeat the Pledge of Allegiance
Demonstrate the Scout Sign, Salute, and Handshake
Demonstrate tying the square knot (a joining knot)
Understand, and agree to live by the Scout Oath or Promise, Law, Motto, and Slogan, and the Outdoor Code
Describe the Scout Badge
Complete the “How to Protect Your Children From Child Abuse: A Parent’s Guide” pamphlet from the front of the “Boy Scout Handbook”
Participate in a Scoutmaster Conference
Scout Handbook
Each scout is expected to obtain and keep a copy of “The Boy Scout Handbook”. This book should be brought to all troop activities and campouts. A protective cover (available from the scout store) is strongly recommended.
Fees/Dues
Yearly Dues of $90 per scout ($80 for each additional brother) for rechartering are collected each year in November. These dues are used to renew the ” Boys Life ” magazine subscription and for payment to the BSA council for troop insurance. Please make every effort to ensure that these dues are paid in a timely manner.
WEBLOS-II Scouts that cross-over from a Cub Scout Pack and join Troop 40 in the spring will need to pay a $1 transfer fee plus pro-rated recharter dues. A new Boy Scout Application Form must be filled out and signed by a Parent or Guardian to transfer a boy from Cub to Boy Scouts. Contact the troop leadership for details.
Remember – “A Scout is Thrifty”. A Scout should understand the fees associated with scouting and he should work to help earn the necessary rechartering and camping fees.
Registered Adult Leaders will need to pay yearly rechartering dues of $30. New Adult Leaders need to complete an Adult Leader Application Form. See http://www.scouting.org/scoutsource/Membership/Registration.aspx
All new Adult Leaders must complete the on-line Youth Protection Training available at the Online Learning Center at the My Scouting web site. https://my.scouting.org/. You will need a valid e-mail account to create a “MyScouting” account. Please print the course completion certificate and turn it in along with your Adult Leader Application. After your application is processed, you can update your My Scouting account with our council number (127 – Three Fires Council) and your BSA ID number.
Merit Badge Counselors will need to fill out a registration form and information sheet once each year. No fee is required for Merit Badge Counselors.
Campouts and other Troop activities will require funds in addition to the rechartering dues. Details will be provided for each activity.
Troop 40 will hold several fund raising events each year. Scouts will have the opportunity to earn money at these to offset camping and equipment fees. The money earned by each Scout will be kept in an “account” maintained by the Troop Treasurer. If a Scout leaves the Troop with a balance in the account, the balance is forfeited and the money is put into the general troop account.
Financial Assistance
Financial assistance may be available to a Troop 40 member that may not be able afford necessary equipment or fees. Please contact the Scoutmaster for details. All requests for assistance will remain confidential.
Troop Structure
Troop 40 is divided into several small groups called patrols.
A patrol is a group of 6-10 boys who camp together and participate in troop activities together. In our troop, we like to keep boys of similar age and experience together in a patrol. If the number of boys in a patrol changes due to growth or attrition, the Scoutmaster may form a new patrol or combine existing patrols as needed. A Scout may make a request to change patrols to the Senior Patrol Leader and the Scoutmaster, who will then decide if the change is justified.
Youth Leadership and Positions of Responsibility
Each patrol has a Patrol Leader (PL) and an Assistant Patrol Leader (APL). These are positions of responsibility that are decided by elections once every year by the members of each patrol.
The positions of Senior Patrol Leader (SPL) and and Assistant Senior Patrol Leader (ASPL) are positions of responsibility open to older, more experienced Scouts. Yearly Troop-wide elections are held to fill these positions.
The position of Junior Assistant Scoutmaster (JASM) is held by a 16 or 17 year old Scout who performs the same duties as an assistant Scoutmaster. The JASM is appointed by the Scoutmaster.
Other positions of responsibility are appointed by the senior patrol leader with the advice and counsel of the Scoutmaster; these positions of responsibility include:
Scribe – Takes minutes at patrol leaders council meetings and troop meetings, submits press releases to local news outlets (with prior review by the Troop Committee)
Quartermaster – Maintains the troop’s equipment and meeting place
Librarian – Maintains the troop library of instructional material (Merit Badge books, etc.)
Chaplain’s Aide – Performs the invocation at Court of Honor ceremonies; Works with the troop chaplain and promotes the religious program in the troop
Troop Historian – Maintains photos and records of troop functions, meetings and outings
Den Chief – Works with a den of Cub Scouts, assisting the den leaders and helps retain Cub Scouts when they cross over into Boy Scouts. Helps the new Scouts complete the joining requirements.
Troop Guide – A senior Scout who provides guidance to new Scout patrols
Order of the Arrow Representative – Provides a line of communication between the Order of the Arrow and the troop, he attends all OA meetings and reports to the PLC and Troop as needed.
Bugler – Provides music as needed at ceremonies and camp-outs
Troop Instructor – Teaches Scout skills to younger Scouts
Ideally, a Boy Scout Troop is a “Boy Run Troop”; the Scouts do all of the event planning and take care of all Troop operations via the Patrol Leader’s Council (PLC). Troop 40 has not followed this ideal in the past, but we are making progress to reestablish this.
The adult leaders of Troop 40 are advisors to the Patrol Leader’s Council. The senior adult leader is the Scoutmaster and the others are Assistant Scoutmasters or Troop Committee Members.
Adult Leadership and Positions of Responsibility
The adults who give their time, talent, and support to make Troop 40 a success are volunteers. Both mothers and fathers can assist Troop 40 by providing transportation to and from outings, serving as a troop committee member, becoming a merit badge counselor, becoming an Assistant Scoutmaster, or serving in other leadership positions.
If you are a parent or guardian of a boy in Troop 40, please take the time to attend a couple of troop meetings or Adult Leader’s meetings. Talk to the Scoutmaster or one of the other Adult Leaders. You may have skills, resources, or contacts that the Troop needs.
The troop committee is a group of adults, generally parents/guardians of the Scouts, who provide support and guidance to the troop. Troop committee positions include:
Troop Committee Chair – Head of the troop committee.
Charter Organization Representative – Liaison between the troop and Chartering Organization.
Secretary – Record keeper and takes/maintains committee meeting notes.
Treasurer – Takes care of all incoming/outgoing money for the troop, maintains financial records and provides monthly financial status to the troop committee.
Advancement Chair – Administers the troop advancement program, maintains records and prepares advancement reports for the council.
Fund-raiser Chair – Organizes fund raising projects to meet the troop needs.
Camping/Outdoor Chair – Works with the Patrol Leader’s Council and the Scoutmaster to plan camping trips and outdoor events. Coordinates transportation needs. Obtains any necessary camping permits/reservations and submits tour requests to the Council.
Summer Camp Chair – Works with the Patrol Leader’s Council and the Scoutmaster to plan the low-level details for Summer Camp (reservations, attendance list, list of merit badges, finances/payments, transportation, gear lists, permission slips, medical forms, camp paperwork/deposits) and submits tour requests to the Council.
Quartermaster – Works with the troop and patrol Quartermasters to control and maintain troop and patrol equipment.
Scoutmaster – Oversees the operations of the troop.
Assistant Scoutmasters – Advisors to assigned Patrols.
Life to Eagle Advisor – Assists and encourages boys with the rank of Life to achieve the rank of Eagle Scout.
The Troop Committee holds an “Adult Leader” meeting once per month. Parents are welcome to attend.
Adult Leader Training and Youth Protection
Troop 40 follows the policies of the Boy Scouts of America regarding Leadership Training and the protection of youth and adult leaders. The official policies can be found in the Guide to Safe Scouting at: http://www.scouting.org/HealthandSafety/GSS.aspx
All Adult Leaders must complete the on-line Youth Protection available at the Online Learning Center at the My Scouting web site. https://my.scouting.org/. This training needs to be taken every two years. You will need a valid e-mail account, your BSA ID number (on your BSA membership card), and our council number (127) to create a “MyScouting” account so that you can get credit for taking the training.
New Adult Leaders must set up a “MyScouting” account and complete the on-line Youth Protection training. Please print a copy of your course completion certificate and turn it in along with your Adult Leader Application. Once your application has been processed, you can update your account profile with your BSA ID number and our council information.
All registered Adult Leaders participating in any nationally conducted event or activity must have completed BSA Youth Protection Training. At least one registered adult who has completed BSA Youth Protection Training must be present at all other events and activities that require a tour permit.
SCOUTMASTERS & ASSISTANT SCOUTMASTERS are considered trained and may wear the trained strip on their uniforms when they have completed:
1. Fast Start Orientation – Available at THE ONLINE LEARNING CENTER.
2. New Leader Essentials Training
3. SM/ASM Leader Specific Training
4. Outdoor Leader Skills Training
TROOP COMMITTEE MEMBERS are considered trained and may wear the trained strip on their uniforms when they have completed:
1. Fast Start Orientation – Available at THE ONLINE LEARNING CENTER.
2. New Leader Essentials Training
3. Troop Committee Challenge Training – Available at THE ONLINE LEARNING CENTER.
Troop Meetings
Troop 40 meets every Monday evening at the Chapel on the Green in Yorkville. As a general rule, there are no Troop meetings on Monday nights when there is no Yorkville public school. See the current Troop 40 Schedule of Events for changes or additions, but the following is typical:
The regular Troop Meeting is 6:30 – 8:00 p.m.
Scoutmaster Conferences and Board of Reviews will be held at several meetings each year – see the Troop 40 Calendar and the Rank Advancement section below.
A District Round Table Meeting is held on the first Thursday of each month. An adult member of the Troop Committee will attend this meeting.
Troop 40 Adult Leader’s meetings are held monthly, reference the troop calendar for details. All Leaders and interested Parents are encouraged to attend.
The Patrol Leader’s Council (PLC) meets on the 2nd Wednesday of each month from 7:00 to 8:00 at the Chapel. The PLC is responsible for planning Troop meetings and events (with advice from the Scoutmaster).
All Scouts are expected to attend every Troop meeting. Many of our Scouts are involved in school activities and sports, which may make attendance a problem. This is understood by the Troop, and events are planned around the Yorkville school calendar and sports schedule whenever possible. Please contact the Scoutmaster if you have a schedule conflict that will cause you to miss several meetings on a row. Scouts who miss a Troop meeting are expected to contact other members of their patrol to get information presented at the Troop meeting.
Rank advancement to the higher ranks require a Scout to be active in his Troop and Patrol for a specified period of time as the previous rank – four months for Star, six months for Life, and six Months for Eagle. An active scout is one who attends a majority of troop meetings, campouts, community service projects, etc. A Scout will fail a Board of Review for his rank advancement if activity in troop events is not demonstrated.
Troop Uniform
The Boy Scouts of America is a uniformed organization. Wearing the Boy Scout uniform shows a sense of belonging and pride in the Scouting movement. All members of Troop 40 are strongly encouraged to wear the approved uniform and insignia to all troop meetings and activities. Adult leaders should set an example and wear the proper adult uniform.
Troop 40 will supply any merit badges, patrol insignia, and patches earned by a troop member. Any duplicate badges/patches (lost or duplicates for additional uniforms) will be paid for by the Scout.
BSA Troop 40 has approved the following two uniforms:
Class “A” Uniform – to be worn to all Troop Meetings, Court of Honors, Boards of Review, and for travel to/from all Troop campouts/activities. The Class “A” Uniform consists of the following:
Official BSA Khaki long or short sleeved shirt (with appropriate Troop 40, Three-Fires Council, World Crest, patrol emblem, red shoulder loops, and rank insignia. See the inside cover of the BSA Handbook for details.)
Troop 40 black/red kerchief (#64057, $10.00) and BSA slide (#601, $3.99) (available from the Scout Store or from the troop)
BSA olive pants or shorts with belt (or Khaki shorts (above knee level). Official BSA scout socks should be worn with the BSA shorts. Blue Jeans (in good condition) with belt are acceptable.
Any official BSA scouting hat is optional
Merit badge sash is required for Court of Honors and other special events after six merit badges are earned (up to six merit badges can be worn on the right sleeve of the long-sleeve uniform shirt)
Order of the Arrow (OA) sashes may be worn at Court of Honor ceremonies only, otherwise these are for OA functions only.
Class “B” Uniform – to be worn while on campouts and for other designated Troop activities.
Red short sleeve T-shirt with Troop 40 insignia (Available from Steven’s in Yorkville).
Blue jeans or blue jean shorts (above the knee) in good condition.
Uniform items can be purchased from:
Three Fires Council Shop (Naperville, IL)
To purchase Troop 40 Class “B” Shirt, contact the troop leadership.
Campouts/Activities
Troop 40 generally does one Troop campout or event per month, except for July (summer camp or high adventure), and August (summer vacation or high adventure). Dates and places for each campout are announced in advance. These may change dependent on availability and COVID restrictions.
A permission slip will be handed out to all scouts in advance of each campout or activity. This permission slip must be completed and signed by a parent or guardian. The permission slip must be turned in (along with any fees) before the campout.
Equipment lists with necessary gear specific to the planned activity and weather conditions will be provided for each campout.
Just in case you lose a gear list or permission slip, these are available in the Troop 40 Forms and Permission Slip section of the Troop 40 web site.
Whenever possible, an interdenominational Sunday morning religious observance will be held at all campouts – ” A Scout is reverent”. Arrangements can be made for a Scout to attend a service at a nearby church – please contact the Scoutmaster in advance of the campout.
“Two Deep Leadership” will be maintained for all Troop activities and campouts. This means that at a minimum, at least one Adult Leader and one parent are present at all times.
Equipment
Equipment for scouting is broken down into three categories, Troop, Patrol, and Personal.
The Troop will provide items necessary for group activities, such as gear transportation (troop trailers), and items needed for overall Troop support, such as saws, axes, water buckets, dining fly, shovels, Dutch ovens, firewood, ropes, etc.
The Troop will provide Patrol items such as a Patrol Box with a basic cooking kit – pots/pans/utensils/cleanup kit.
Tents are generally NOT provided by the Troop. We have found that boys take better care of tents that they own. The Troop has a limited number of tents available that can be borrowed. See the Quartermaster for details.
Personal gear is provided and maintained by each Scout. Don’t go overboard as a New Scout by purchasing lots of top-of-the-line equipment that you will rarely, if ever, use. Before making any expensive purchases, talk to some of the older Scouts and Adult Leaders – they will have valuable advice about what to buy and what to avoid. They may also have advice on where to buy items in the area for the least cost.
As a Scout becomes more experienced and does more camping/hiking, he may need more advanced gear, maybe a better backpack, hiking boots, a tent, better foul-weather gear, etc.
Used equipment may be available, contact the Scoutmaster for details.
Equipment lists will be published for each campout, with specific gear for the season/activity in mind. See the “Forms and Permission Slips” section of the Troop 40 web site for the current gear list. Please ensure that all items outlined in the gear list are included in your gear – Remember – “A Scout is Prepared”.
If you have misplaced the equipment list, the following can be used as a general guide:
All gear should be clearly labeled with the Scout’s name!
Duffel/gear bag
Sleeping bag (rated 20F or lower is recommended). Several blankets will suffice for warmer weather.
Camp pillow
Air mattress or ground pad or cot
Flashlight (with extra batteries/bulb)
Pocket Knife – “Totin Chit” required (no sheath knives!)
Waterproof matches/firestarters – “Fireman Chit” required
Personal First Aid Kit – See the Boy Scout Handbook
Water bottle/canteen
Sunscreen
Compass
Medications (please notify leaders)
Scout Handbook
Class “A” Uniform (Wear when traveling)
Class “B” Uniform (for activities)
Hat or cap
Rain gear or poncho
Windbreaker or light jacket (adjust for season)
Extra pair of shoes
Extra change of clothes
Insect repellent (lotion only, no aerosol spray!)
Underwear
Extra Socks
Sweatshirt/jacket
Gloves
Mess kit (plate, bowl, cup, fork, spoon, and knife)
Cleanup kit (toothbrush, toothpaste, soap, washcloth, towel, comb)
Tent & Ground cloth (if you are using your own tent)
Camp chair (optional)
Camera (optional)
Don’t Bring:
Sheath Knives
Video Games *
Computers/Cell Phones/Radio/Tape/CD/MP3 players *
Butane lighters
Fireworks
Valuables
* – Exceptions may be made for use of these items while in the vehicle for long trips; these exceptions will be outlined by the Scoutmaster before the trip. Responsibility for the loss of these items will be the Scout’s.
The Scoutmaster or Assistant Scoutmasters reserve the right to confiscate any item that is deemed inappropriate. The item in question will be returned to the Scout’s parents.
Camp Food
When camping as a troop, each patrol is usually responsible for planning and cooking its meals. After planning the menu, one patrol member will be responsible for buying the food for his patrol. Cost is based upon a budget established in advance per person. The patrol member buying food will be reimbursed (within the established budget) by the Troop Treasurer if he produces a receipt for the food after the campout. Talk one of the older Scouts or one of the Adult Leaders about where to buy supplies.
For some troop campouts, food will be supplied and prepared by the troop. The food cost will be included in the campout fees. Details will be provided in the permission slips for each campout.
Behavior
All boys are expected to behave in a manner consistent with the Scout Law, Scout Motto, Scout Slogan, and Outdoor Code. See “The Boy Scout Handbook, Eleventh Edition” for details.
Anyone who violates these rules will be sent home. Parents will be contacted and they will be responsible for arranging transportation for their son. Additional disciplinary action may be imposed by the Scoutmaster, the Patrol Leader’s Council, and the Troop Committee.
Troop Calendar
The troop calendar is available in the Calendar section of the Troop 40 web page.
Rank Advancement
A boy joins the troop as a New Scout. By completing various requirements (as outlined in The Boy Scout Handbook), the Scout advances in rank to Tenderfoot, Second Class, and First Class.
Rank advancement to the higher ranks require a Scout to earn a specified number of merit badges (some need to be specific Eagle-required merit badges), and to be active in his Troop and Patrol and to serve a leadership role in his Troop for a specified period of time at the previous rank – four months for Star, six months for Life, and six months for Eagle. An active Scout is one who attends a majority of troop meetings, campouts, community service projects, etc. A Scout will fail a Board of Review for his rank advancement if his activity and leadership in the Troop is not demonstrated.
Each Scout wears a patch on his left uniform pocket showing the rank that he has obtained.
After completing each rank advancement requirement as outlined in The Boy Scout Handbook, a Scout should ask an adult leader to sign off on the requirement in his Scout Handbook. The scout will be asked questions and may be asked to demonstrate the tasks/abilities for the requirement. If the Adult Leader does not believe that the appropriate level of competence has been demonstrated, he/she may decline to sign off on the requirement. The Scout should then review the appropriate material and try again.
After completing all requirements for a rank advancement, the Scout must ask the Scoutmaster for a Scoutmaster Conference. A Scout may ask for a Scoutmaster Conference at any time, but Scoutmaster Conferences are generally held at selected Troop meetings at least three times a year (usually the same week that Board of Reviews are done). See the Troop 40 Calendar for details.
If the Scoutmaster does not feel that the Scout has completed the requirements for the rank advancement, he may refuse to sign off on a Scoutmaster Conference. The Scout can then appeal the Scoutmaster’s decision to the Troop Committee (and then to the District, Council and BSA National, if necessary). Contact the Advancement Committee Chairman and see the “BSA Advancement Committee Policies and Procedures” manual for details.
After completing a Scoutmaster Conference, the Scout must attend a Board of Review. The Board of Review is generally held at selected Troop Meetings (at least three times a year), but a Scout can ask for one at any time. The board of Review consists of three to six members of the Troop Committee. The Board of Review is not a test; it serves three purposes:
Ensures that the Scout has completed all requirements for the Rank advancement
Checks to see what kind of experience the Scout is having is his Patrol and Troop
Encourages the Scout to advance to the next level
If the board decides that the Scout is not ready to advance, the candidate should be told what he has not done satisfactorily. The members of the board of review should specify what must be done to rework the candidate’s weaknesses and schedule another board of review for him. A follow-up letter must be sent to a Scout who is turned down for rank advancement, confirming the agreements reached on the actions necessary for advancement. Should the Scout disagree with the decision, the appeal procedures should be explained to him.
If the Scout does not agree with the decision of the Board of Review, he can appeal the decision to the Troop Committee (and then to the District and Council and National, if necessary). Contact the Advancement Committee Chairman and see the “BSA Advancement Committee Policies and Procedures” manual for details.
Board of Review will be held at selected Troop Meetings, see the Troop 40 Calendar of Events for details.
Rank advancement patches and Merit Badges that have been earned will be presented at the Court of Honor.
Eagle Scout Advancement
Troop 40 will appoint an Adult Leader as the “Life to Eagle Advisor”. The “Life to Eagle Advisor” will assist Life Scouts in their pursuit of the Eagle rank.
Troop 40 Eagle Scout Resources will be available at: http://www.yorkvilletroop40.org/eagleresources.html
An advancement packet outlining Eagle requirements will be presented to each Scout at the Court of Honor when he receives his Life Scout rank. The packet contains a National BSA Eagle Scout Application and an Eagle Service Project Workbook. Additional information will be provided by the troop’s advancement coordinator. The Eagle Candidate MUST use the Eagle workbook and follow all instructions. Additional copies can be obtained from one of the Three Fires Council Scout Shops.
Rank advancement to the level of Eagle requires a Scout to be active in his Troop and Patrol for six months as a Life Scout. A tenure of six months in a Troop Leadership position as a Life Scout is also required. As outlined earlier in this Handbook, an active Scout is one who attends a majority of troop meetings, campouts, community service projects, etc. A Scout will fail a Board of Review for his rank advancement if activity in Troop events is not demonstrated. This is especially true at the Life to Eagle level.
All Eagle Scout Service Projects must be approved by the Scoutmaster, the Troop Committee, the Organization that will benefit from the project, and by the Advancement Committee Chairman.
The Eagle Scout Service Project must demonstrate leadership of others and provide service to a worthy institution other than the Boy Scouts. This may be a religious institution, school, or the community. See the first page of the Eagle Scout Leadership Service Project Workbook for all BSA requirements and limitations. An Eagle Service Project should be valuable to the community and a challenge for the Eagle Candidate. It does not have to be an original idea, but the Eagle Candidate must do all of the planning for the project and may not use someone else’s plan.
The project may not be routine labor (like cutting the grass at the church or picking up trash along the road). It may not directly benefit the BSA or any Scout property or any business or individual. Fundraising is only permitted to obtain money to pay for materials that are needed for the project. The project may not be a fund-raiser in itself. The project workers may include members of Troop 40 or other Scout units, or the work may be done entirely by non-Scouts.
All required Merit Badges, the Eagle Scout Service Project, the Service Project Write-Up, the Statement of life goals, all required letters of recommendation, and the Eagle Scout Application MUST be completed and turned in to the Council office BEFORE the Scouts’ 18th birthday. The Eagle Scout Board of Review must be held within six months of the Scout’s 18th birthday. Any exceptions to the above must be because of extraordinary circumstances and must be approved by the BSA National Committee.
Eagle Palms are an award that can be awarded to Eagle Scouts. Each Palm requires three months of Troop activity and five merit badges beyond those required for Eagle rank. The merit badges used for an Eagle Palm can be earned at any time.
Court of Honor
At least three times each year, the troop will hold a special meeting called the Court of Honor. At this ceremony, boys will be recognized for the advancements and achievements they have earned. They will receive the rank advancement patch or merit badges that they have earned. All Scouts are expected to attend the Court of Honor in full uniform. A scout must be present at the Court of Honor to receive the merit badge or rank advancement. OA members may wear the OA sash at the Court of Honor. Family members are strongly encouraged to attend.
Since it is a rare and special honor, Scouts that attain the rank of Eagle Scout will generally have an individual Court of Honor ceremony. If a small group of Scouts that attain the Eagle Rank at nearly the same time all agree, the Troop will hold a single Court of Honor to recognize several Eagle Scouts.
Fund Raising
Troop 40 will sponsor several fund raising activities at various times of the year. Part of the money earned will go toward overall troop finances, and part of the money will be put into an account for each of the Scouts who participate in the fund-raiser. Money earned by each Scout can be applied to campout fees, or it can be used for approved equipment purchases, or for High Adventure fees. Contact the Treasurer if you need to know how much you have in your account. Any Scout that leaves the troop with an outstanding balance will forfeit the balance to the general troop fund.
Service Projects
Troop 40 will participate in several community service projects each year. These projects may include charity clothing/food drives, Adopt-A-Highway cleanup, and other activities that benefit the community. Each scout should keep a log of time spent on these projects in his scout handbook (community service hours are required for some rank advancements).
Summer Camp
Each year (usually the last week of June or second week of July) Troop 40 will attend a BSA long-term summer camp. This camp is one week in duration and will provide a large variety of outdoor activities such as camping, boating, shooting, swimming, crafts, and more. Depending on the activities that you choose to do, it is possible to earn several merit badges while at camp.
High Adventure
Once every year, Troop 40 plans a high adventure activity for the older Scouts. In the past, this has included trips to the Florida Sea Base, and to the Philmont Scout Camp in New Mexico.
See the High Adventure section of the Troop 40 web site for details on upcoming High Adventure events.
Order of the Arrow
The Order of the Arrow (OA) is Scouting’s national honor society. The OA recognizes youths (and adult leaders) who exemplify the Scout Oath and Scout Law in their daily lives. OA members must have the rank of First Class or higher, and must have taken part in a minimum of 15 days and nights camping in a two year period, including a 6-day and 5-night camping experience at a local or national BSA facility. Eligible Scouts are elected to the OA by a yearly troop election, subject to the approval of the Scoutmaster.
The Order of the Arrow Representative is a position of responsibility in the troop that provides a line of communication between the Order of the Arrow and the troop; he attends all OA meetings and reports to the PLC and Troop as needed.
Merit Badges
Merit Badges fall into two categories: those that are required for the rank of Eagle Scout and those that are not. Scouts can earn merit badges at any time. Over 100 Merit Badges are available with topics ranging from American Business to Woodworking. Some merit badges are fairly easy to obtain, and some are extremely difficult. All Merit Badges are educational and will teach skills that can be used later in the Scout’s life. The requirements for the Eagle-required merit badges are listed in the Boy Scout Handbook. A list of all the available Merit Badges and their requirements is available in the Merit Badge pamphlet. The troop has a copy of the Merit Badge Pamphlet available, or you may purchase one from the council scout store. Also see the ” Scouting Links” section of the Troop 40 web page for on-line versions.
Occasionally, a merit badge may be worked on in small or large groups as a Troop activity, but a majority of the responsibility of choosing and completing the requirements for a Merit Badge is up to the individual Scout.
Some Merit Badges may be completed at Summer Camp. Scouts will generally need to choose and sign up in advance for merit badges when registering for Summer Camp. Some Merit Badges may require “homework” before or after Summer Camp.
If a Scout does not fully complete a Merit Badge while at camp, the Advancement Committee Chair can record and track the completed and required requirements so that the Scout can complete the badge at a later date.
In order to earn a merit badge, the Scout will need to:
Choose a Merit Badge to work on. Before you start, you may want to look at the requirements to see how difficult and time-consuming the Merit Badge may be (see www.meritbadge.com ).
Obtain a merit badge card (blue card) from an adult leader (See the Scoutmaster or the Advancement Committee Chair). These cards have three sections – one for the Merit Badge Counselor’s records, one for the Scout’s records, and one for the Council’s records.
Meet with the Scoutmaster and tell him which merit badge you are going to work on. He will ensure that you are working on a Merit Badge that is appropriate for your needs/abilities, and he will ensure that you have a Merit Badge Counselor. The Scoutmaster will sign the front of the blue card. This MUST be done BEFORE starting to work on the merit badge!
Get a current copy of the merit badge pamphlet. We have the more popular Merit Badge Pamphlets on file – see the Troop Librarian or your Merit Badge Counselor.
Contact and arrange meetings with a Merit Badge Counselor. The Merit Badge Counselor is a person with in-depth knowledge of the subject. The Counselor will help teach the subject and ensure that the Scout has completed the requirements for the badge.
As per BSA Youth Protection rules, any Scout meeting with a merit badge counselor must not do so alone – at least one other Scout, a parent, or another adult leader must be present at all times.
The counselor will write the requirement numbers in the appropriate boxes on the merit badge card. As each requirement is completed, the counselor will initial the appropriate box on the merit badge card. When all requirements are completed, the Merit Badge Counselor must sign the back of the card. One third of the card is kept by the Counselor for his/her records.
Turn in the completed and signed card to the Advancement Committee Chair.
The Advancement Chair will give the Scout his third of the card for his records. It is a good idea to keep this card as proof of completion of the Merit Badge in case any record-keeping errors are made.
The Advancement Chair will enter the data into the advancement tracking software and he will register the completion with the Council and arrange for the badge to be presented to the Scout at the next Court of Honor.
Most Merit Badge Counselors will be Adult Leaders in our Troop, or Counselors at Summer Camp. See the Merit Badge Counselor section of the Troop 40 web page for local Merit Badge counselors. Contact the Scoutmaster if you want to work on a merit badge with no local counselor – there may be counselors available in the council/district that will be available to work with you.
Troop 40 Web Site
The latest copy of this handbook, the latest event calendar, and other useful information about Troop 40 is available at our web site:
http://www.yorkvilletroop40.org
Conclusion
Thank you for taking the time to read this handbook. If you find any information in this document that is incorrect, or if you feel that there are topics that need to be added, please contact the Scoutmaster.