So What is Scouting?
Boy Scouts of America (BSA) was founded in 1910 and is currently one of the largest youth organizations in the United States. The BSA program is available to young men who are 11-17 years of age (they automatically exit the program when they turn 18). Boy Scouts (ages 11-13) is one of the membership divisions of the BSA with Varsity Scouts (ages 14-15) and Venture Scouts (ages 16-17) being the other divisions. The BSA's goal is to train young men in responsible citizenship, character development, and self-reliance through participation in a wide range of outdoor activities, educational programs, and, at older age levels, career-oriented programs in partnership with community organizations.
What Do You Want to Get Out of Scouting?
Being a Boy Scout is a big commitment and takes a lot of work. That applies to both the Scout and parents. Each Scout and their parents need to sit down and discuss what they hope to accomplish by joining the Scout Troop.
Each Scout should set the goal of earning their Eagle Badge and becoming an Eagle Scout. This is a great goal but one that should not be taken on lightly. Only 6% of Boy Scouts earn their Eagle Badge. This statistic should not be discouraging; rather it should help Scouts understand that earning their Eagle actually means something and that it is not simply a participation award.
What Does it Mean to be a Scout?
Boy Scouts are required to memorize and live by the Scout Oath and Law. In order to advance through the program they must demonstrate their ability to live the guidelines and internalize these attributes.
Scout Oath (or Promise)
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.
Scout Law
A Scout is trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly,
courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty,
brave, clean, and reverent.
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Scout Slogan
Do a good turn daily
Scout Motto
Be prepared
Joining the OrganizationEach young man hoping to join a Boy Scout Troop must fill out an application packet which includes demographic information, parent or guardian consent, and Troop assignment (we are Troop 435). There is an annual membership fee but we pay that for each member of our Troop.
Second, parents need to review How to Protect Your Children From Child Abuse with their Scout. This is actually one of the first requirements to earn their initial Scout Badge.
Third, each Scout requires an Activity Consent Form and Approval by Parents or Legal Guardian. Parents can either fill one of these forms out for each camp out or activity we participate in or they can fill one form out for the calendar year to include "all Boy Scout sponsored camp outs and activities."
Lastly, each Scout needs a medical Informed Consent, Release Agreement, and Authorization. Only sections A and B are required for monthly camp outs and activities. Part C is required for week long summer camp and must be completed by a Physician, Nurse Practitioner, or PA.
Rank Advancement
The founder of the Boy Scout program was Lord Baden Powell who retired as a Lieutenant General from the British Army. When he first conceptualized the Boy Scout program it had many similarities to the military and rank advancement was one of the shared ideals. Scouts progress through the ranks listed below as they accomplish requirements for each ensuing rank. The requirements for rank advancement can found in the Scout Handbook or at MeritBadge.org and can be completed as a Troop or at home with a parent. After completing the rank requirements, a Scoutmaster Review is scheduled, during which the Scoutmaster and Scout review the completed requirements and prepare the Scout for their Board of Review. The Scout is then presented to a Board of Review (usually three members sit on each board) and they report their accomplishments and demonstrate their preparedness for the next rank. The Board verifies that the Scout has met the requirement to advance to the next rank and the Scout is awarded the rank at a Court of Honor. Parents and families are always welcome to attend Courts of Honor to support their Scout.
Generally we plan to have each Scout to the rank of 1st Class by the time they turn 12 and to the rank of Life by the time they turn 14. This allows them to be well prepared to finish their Eagle prior to age 18. There are certainly exceptions to this best practice and there are many older Scouts that progress to Eagle before their 18th birthday. Eagle Rank
The highest rank achievement a Boy Scout can reach is earning his Eagle rank. This requires earning each subsequent rank, the necessary number of Merit Badges, and completing a culminating Eagle Project (a large service project organized by the Eagle candidate). 21 total Merit Badges are needed and 13 are required Merit Badges (the remaining 8 are electives). Below are listed the 13 required Merit Badges for Eagle:
Emergency Preparedness OR Lifesaving*
Environmental Science OR Sustainability*
Swimming OR Hiking OR Cycling*
Cooking, and
Earning Merit Badges
The following statement comes from the Guide to Advancement, page 49 (section 7.0.3.0):
"Earning merit badges should be Scout initiated, Scout researched, and Scout learned. It should be hands-on and interactive, and should not be modeled after a typical school classroom setting. Instead, it is meant to be an active program so enticing to young men that they will want to take responsibility for their own full participation."
Pick a Subject. Think about your interests. Visit MeritBadge.org or Scouting.org and find merit badges that align with your interests. Read the requirements and pick one to earn. Your Scoutmaster will give you the name of a counselor in our local area. These individuals have special knowledge in their merit badge subjects and are interested in helping you.
Scout Buddy System. You must have another person with you at each meeting with the merit badge counselor. This person can be another Scout, your parents or guardian, a brother or sister, a relative, or a friend.
Call the Merit Badge Counselor. Get a signed Application for Merit Badge (Blue Card) from your Scoutmaster. Get in touch with the merit badge counselor and explain that you want to earn the badge. The counselor may ask to meet you to explain what is expected and to start helping you meet the requirements. You should also discuss work you have already started or possibly completed.
Work on Requirements. Most requirements can be completed without purchasing a merit badge pamphlet. The pamphlets can be helpful for challenging merit badges and can be purchased at the local Scout Office or www.scoutstuff.org. You are expected to meet the requirements as they are stated—no more and no less. You must do exactly what is stated in the requirements. If it says “show or demonstrate,” that is what you must do. Just telling about it isn’t enough. The same thing holds true for such words as “make,” “list,” “in the field,” and “collect,” “identify,” and “label.”
Show Your Stuff. When you are ready, call the counselor again to make an appointment to pass off the merit badge. When you go, take along the things you have made/done to meet the requirements. The counselor will test you on each requirement to make sure you know your stuff and have done or can do the things required.
Get the Badge. When the counselor is satisfied you have met each requirement, he or she will sign your application (Blue Card). Give the signed application to your Scoutmaster so your merit badge can be awarded to you at the next Court of Honor.
Leadership Positions
Leadership development is one of the cornerstones of Boys Scouts. In fact, the organization has been designed to be Boy Led. This means that although there are adult Scoutmasters and Assistant Scoutmasters present at Scouting activities their role is to advise and keep everyone safe and the Patrol Leader and his assistants are really the ones in charge. There are multiple leadership positions, each one with a special emphasis. A link to the list and description can be found here: Troop Positions of Responsibility. Scouts must fill at least one of these positions for a certain duration of time in order to be eligible for rank advancement; for Star, they must hold one of these positions for 4 months or more and for Life and Eagle they must hold them for 6 months or more.
Weekly Meetings Most weeks we meet on Wednesday evening from 7:00pm-8:30pm. Usually we work on a merit badge or rank advancement requirements. Our calendar, this page, and others are available on our blog at www.iceagebaconpatrol.blogspot.com. If you ever have questions about when or where we are meeting please reference the calendar on the blog page.
Scout Handbook and Scoutbook.com
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Each Scout is required to have a Scout Handbook. The most current version is the 12th edition. The handbook contains nearly all the information required for rank advancement. It also provides a paper advancement tracker.
The BSA also authorized Troops to utilize Scoutbook.com. This web based system allows parents, leader and Scouts to track their advancement and merit badges online. Parents need to be linked to their Scout's profile so they can track and monitor their progress.
Leadership Positions
Leadership development is one of the cornerstones of Boys Scouts. In fact, the organization has been designed to be Boy Led. This means that although there are adult Scoutmasters and Assistant Scoutmasters present at Scouting activities their role is to advise and keep everyone safe and the Patrol Leader and his assistants are really the ones in charge. There are multiple leadership positions, each one with a special emphasis. A link to the list and description can be found here: Troop Positions of Responsibility. Scouts must fill at least one of these positions for a certain duration of time in order to be eligible for rank advancement; for Star, they must hold one of these positions for 4 months or more and for Life and Eagle they must hold them for 6 months or more.
Time Commitment (Weekly Meetings, Monthly Camp Outs, Annual Scout Camp, and Home)
Weekly Meetings Most weeks we meet on Wednesday evening from 7:00pm-8:30pm. Usually we work on a merit badge or rank advancement requirements. Our calendar, this page, and others are available on our blog at www.iceagebaconpatrol.blogspot.com. If you ever have questions about when or where we are meeting please reference the calendar on the blog page.
Monthly Camp Outs Troop 435 has the goal of going camping once every month. The only exception to this is the month of January, which is the month the Nampa Merit Badge Fair is held. This event is held over two Saturdays.
Camping activities include a wide variety of outdoor activities. Generally the monthly camp outs begin on Friday afternoon and conclude on Saturday afternoon. Fathers are welcome to accompany their Scout on any camp outs. To earn the Camping Merit Badge (required) each Scout must spend at least 20 nights out of doors.
Annual Scout Camp Each summer the Troop attends Scout Camp. This is a week long event and is a great opportunity for the Scouts to earn merit badges (up to 6) and make memories with fellow Scouts. We generally attend Scout Camp at Camp Morrison (McCall area) or Camp Bradley (Stanley area).
Generally we are able to cover the cost of Scout Camp out of the Troop budget, but some years the Scouts are required to pay some of their own way. They are encouraged to earn this money themselves and we are happy to find work opportunities for them.
Being a Boy Scout takes a lot of time. This is always challenging with today's youth. Boys are often already balancing school, athletics, music, social life, and family time. But, time management is a learned skill and Scouts can prove to be one of the most rewarding time investments a young man can make.
Home Due to the number of hours required it would be impossible for any Scout to finish all of the advancement and merit badge requirements necessary to earn the rank of Eagle during the Troop's weekly meetings, camp outs and scout camp alone. This means that Scouts and parents must figure out some system to work on advancement and merit badges at home. Some families set time frame goals (e.g. Scout must earn one merit badge every two months or lose Xbox privileges) while others set apart a few hours each week to sit down together and work on requirements (e.g. finish a certain number of requirements before the weekend). Whatever approach works for you and your family will suffice, but understand that the Troop cannot earn someone their Eagle.
Scout Handbook and Scoutbook.com
Each Scout is required to have a Scout Handbook. The most current version is the 12th edition. The handbook contains nearly all the information required for rank advancement. It also provides a paper advancement tracker.
The BSA also authorized Troops to utilize Scoutbook.com. This web based system allows parents, leader and Scouts to track their advancement and merit badges online. Parents need to be linked to their Scout's profile so they can track and monitor their progress.
Uniform
Each Scout is required to have two uniforms; Class A and Class B. The Troop provides the Scouts with their Class B uniform. It is a red T-shirt with the Troop logo on the left chest. This is what is generally worn on most Wednesday night patrol meetings.
The Class A uniform (diagram below) is worn during Courts of Honor, flag ceremonies, fundraisers, and any other public event that we are representing the Boy Scouts of America. Class A uniforms and components can be purchased at the local Scout Office or a Scout is Thrifty. Hat and green trousers are considered optional; many just wear jeans (but must tuck in their shirts). Most our Scouts use the solid red neckerchief.
Outdoor Gear
Many Scouts have inadequate gear; not in quantity but in quality. The task of outfitting a Scout can seem a bit overwhelming and costly at first but if you shop around and talk to others (Scout Leaders) that know what to look for you can purchase equipment that is affordable and will last their entire Scouting career and beyond.
The four pieces of gear that really cannot be short-changed are the Scout's sleeping bag, backpack, sleeping pad, and footwear. Generally your backpack and sleeping bag should not be purchased at Wal-Mart, Fred Meyer, Costco, Sports Authority, Big 5 or any of your sporting department stores. We've watched Costco brand backpack straps rip off the bag three miles into a hike. Rather, look at retailers like Sierra Trading Post, REI, and Sportsmans Warehouse and at online stores like Backcountry.com and Campmor.com. Be patient, shop around, watch for deals/coupons and remember that this is a long term investment.
Sleeping Bag A good sleeping bag is the most important gear investment that can be made for a new Scout. A warm sleeping bag can literally save your life. Mummy shaped bags are more efficient in both heat (less space in the bag for your body to work to warm) and weight (less mass overall) than rectangular sleeping bags. Look for a 20-30 degree bag, which should be able to handle spring, summer, and fall camping on its own and be supplemented with another sleeping bag or blankets in the winter. Be cautious with temperature ratings. They are not regulated in the United States so manufacturers can claim any number they'd like. If you go with a good name brand (Marmot, Kelty, REI, Big Agnes, North Face, Western Mountaineering, ALPS Mountaineering) they will be more accurate. The best way to test a sleeping bag is to take it home and sleep out in your yard. If you get cold, go inside and return the sleeping bag to the store the next day! You do want to have a bag that is compressible so that it will fit into your backpack and leave enough room for the rest of your gear. You don't want your sleeping bag to be strapped to the outside of your backpack as it runs a higher risk of getting wet, dirty or damaged. Down insulation bags compress very easily but are more expensive. There are lots of high quality synthetic insulation bags on the market that are great for backpacking and Scouts.
Backpack Two important considerations when backpack shopping are backpack fit and storage space. Outdoor Gear Lab publishes a nice webpage on selecting the right backpack and provides guidance for both fit and space. I recommend looking for a backpack that has adjustable torso height. These can be adjusted to fit a Scout for years, growing with them. To select the right size I would recommend taking all of your gear in a box with you and put it all in the bag you'd like to buy to see how it all fits, or buy the bag and do the test at home. If it doesn't fit, just return the backpack for another one. Usually it takes a 40+ liter sized bag.
Sleeping Pad These are pretty straight forward. There are some great inflatable mattresses on the market today but I would recommend a foam pad for Scouting. Inflatable mattresses tend to get popped if you don't examine your tent/sleeping location well before setting up. Most foam mattresses are bullet proof and can last a Scout's career. They usually come rolled or acordian style. Thickness is usually between 0.5 inch and 1.25 inches. Sometimes two are nice to have during winter camping.
Footwear Shoes/boots present the biggest challenge for the Scout because Scouts are constantly growing! We don't advise any specialty type of hiking shoe or boot but recommend that a Scout have a durable pair of good, broken in shoes or boots. We've certainly seen plenty of Nikes on summer hikes with few issues. What are issues are shoes with little to no tread, holes in the soles or sides, non-waterproof winter footwear, and shoes that are too big or too little and cause blisters.
Other gear considerations:
- Use a trash compactor bag inside your backpack for waterproofing. It is a cheap and lightweight alternative to a bag cover.
- Rain Gear is a must but it can be as simple as a $1 emergency poncho.
- Mess Kits can either be metal (aluminum usually) or plastic. We have seen a lot of plastic get melted over the years though.
- I recommend Scouts have two flashlights/headlamps. It always seems like one gets left home or is out of batteries.
- Knives need to be folding pocket knives with blades no longer than 4 inches.
- Compasses must have a base plate. Orienteering is much easier when you have this style of compass.
- Get your scout a wide mouth Nalgene water bottle. These last a long time, don't make water taste like plastic, and the lids don't leak. In the winter we fill these up with very hot water and put them in our sleeping bags. It makes a huge difference in the cold.
- Mess Kits can either be metal (aluminum usually) or plastic. We have seen a lot of plastic get melted over the years though.
- I recommend Scouts have two flashlights/headlamps. It always seems like one gets left home or is out of batteries.
- Knives need to be folding pocket knives with blades no longer than 4 inches.
- Compasses must have a base plate. Orienteering is much easier when you have this style of compass.
- Get your scout a wide mouth Nalgene water bottle. These last a long time, don't make water taste like plastic, and the lids don't leak. In the winter we fill these up with very hot water and put them in our sleeping bags. It makes a huge difference in the cold.
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