TROOP 1 KINGSTON. New Scout FAQ s. Helpful Information for all Scouts. Troop 1 Committee 9/28/2011

Transcription

1 TROOP 1 KINGSTON New Scut FAQ s Helpful Infrmatin fr all Scuts Trp 1 Cmmittee 9/28/2011 This guide seeks t prvide answers t questins cmmnly asked by newer Scuts and their families. We have presented the infrmatin in a Frequently Asked Questins frmat and hpe t have input t cntinually imprve upn this dcument.

2 When shuld parents plan n attending Trp meetings t hear annuncements abut upcming events and the assciated lgistics? All parents shuld attend Trp meetings thrugh the pening ceremnies/annuncements and als plan n attending the clsing ceremnies and annuncements which typically ccur smetime between 8:15 and 8:30. Parents are always encuraged t participate in the regular meetings. It is always helpful t have a parent that can assist a merit badge cunselr, teach a merit badge, sit n Bards f Reviews fr Scut advancement, and assist scut leaders in managing varius duties and activities. Psitins are always available t rganize events, assist in running events, participate in different cmmittees (Trp and Adult Recgnitin, Fundraising (Air Shw Crdinatr r Pinsettia Sale Crdinatr), Organizing Pt Luck Dinners, Organizing Scuting fr Fd, Friends f Scuting, Advancement Cmmittee, Merit badge Cunselr). Surprisingly, it takes active parents t make the Scut s experience rewarding and fulfilling. Yur enthusiasm as a vlunteer will enhance yur child s Scuting experience. What are the unifrm pieces that we shuld purchase and have ready fr ur sn t attend By Scut meetings? The Class A scut unifrm cnsists f: - A BSA Scut shirt (required by Trp 1) - Scut pants/shrts (ptinal therwise green r khaki pants/shrts n sprts shrts) - Scut scks (ptinal) - Trp # patch fr right shulder (required) - Narragansett Cuncil patch fr left shulder (required) - American Flag patch fr right shulder (required) - Shulder epaulets (required) - Merit badge sash (required, but can wait until scut earns a few merit badges) - By Scut Handbk Imprtant (required) The Class B scut unifrm cnsists f: - A Trp T-shirt (purchased thrugh the Trp) (required) Where are the prper lcatins n the unifrm fr the varius patches and Merit Badges? - The inside cver f the By Scut Handbk shws the lcatin fr the badges. Insignia Guide: By Scut Insignia

3 Only five medals may be wrn at a time, pinned in a single rw immediately abve the seam f the left pcket. Is the Trp 1 calendar psted smewhere n the Trp 1 website? The Trp calendar is psted n the Trp 1 website and will be updated regularly as events change r are finalized. What are the By Scut ranks? The requirements t achieve each rank listed belw are dcumented in the By Scut Handbk and utlined belw. Scut Scut is a jining badge, earned by cmpleting the requirements t jin By Scuting. The Scut badge has a brwn fleur-de-lis n a tan backgrund The badge is awarded when the by demnstrates a rudimentary knwledge f the Scuting ideals such as tying a square knt and knwing the Scut ath, law, and slgan. Tenderft Tenderft is the first rank. A Scut can wrk n the requirements fr the Tenderft, Secnd Class, and First Class ranks at the same time, but each rank must be earned in sequence. The badge is awarded when the Scut cmpletes requirements in the areas f Scutcraft, physical fitness, citizenship, persnal grwth and Scut Spirit. Secnd Class Secnd Class is the rank abve Tenderft and belw First Class. A Scut can wrk n the requirements fr the Tenderft, Secnd Class, and First Class ranks at the same time, but must be earned in sequence. The

4 badge is awarded when the Scut cmpletes requirements in the areas f Scutcraft, physical fitness, citizenship, persnal grwth and Scut Spirit. First Class First Class is the rank abve Secnd Class and belw Star Scut. A Scut can wrk n the requirements fr the Tenderft, Secnd Class, and First Class ranks at the same time, but must earn them in sequence. The badge is awarded when the Scut cmpletes requirements in the areas f Scutcraft, physical fitness, citizenship, persnal grwth and Scut Spirit. Originally, First Class was the all arund Scut and the final and highest rank. Later ranks were riginally recgnitins f earning merit badges beynd First Class, and nt prperly ranks. Nw these additinal ranks frm a secnd tier where Scuts can further develp leadership skills and explre ptential vcatins and avcatins thrugh the merit badge prgram. Althugh Eagle is the highest rank and ne all Scuts shuld strive fr, the number f Scuts achieving First Class within ne year f jining is still ne f the key measures f unit effectiveness. Studies have shwn that if a Scut achieves First Class within a year f jining, he typically stays in the Scut prgram fr at least three years. Scuts wh d s are mre likely t retain Scut values as an adult and achieve the BSA primary missin f "prducing useful citizens". Frm 1972 t 1990, the First Aid merit badge was required fr First Class rank. After 1990, this was replaced with a series f requirements t demnstrate awareness f advanced first aid techniques, including CPR. A sixth merit badge was added t the requirement fr Star rank at that time t maintain its verall requirement f 21 merit badges, and First Aid is still ne f the merit badges that is mandatry fr Eagle Scut. Star Star is the rank abve First Class and belw Life Scut. Star is awarded when the Scut serves actively in the trp, team r crew in a psitin f respnsibility fr at least 4 mnths; perfrms at least six hurs f cmmunity service; and earns six merit badges (fur f which must be required fr Eagle Scut rank). Initially, the Life badge was awarded fr five merit badges and the Star badge was awarded fr ten. The rder was reversed in the 1920s when it was decided that the five-pinted star f Star Scut better represented the five merit badges required fr first rank abve First Class. That symblism was lst when the number f merit badges required fr Star was increased t six in Life Life is secnd highest rank attainable and ranks abve Star Scut and belw Eagle. Life is awarded when the Scut serves actively in the trp, team r crew, serves in a psitin f respnsibility fr six mnths, and perfrms six hurs f cmmunity service. Anther thing a scut must d in rder t achieve Life is earn an additinal five merit badges (three f which are required fr the rank f Eagle), t make a minimum ttal f eleven merit badges (including the six previusly required fr Star). Finally, the scut must pass a scutmaster cnference, and bard f review. Life was riginally lwer than Star, and riginally required earning five specific merit badges cncerned with health and fitness (First Aid, Lifesaving, Public Health, Persnal Health and Athletics). It was changed in the 1920s when it was decided that the five-pinted star better represented the five merit badges required fr Star, and the tw were switched. Life's heart came t symblize achievement in health and fitness, as the first aid merit badge was required fr Life and Eagle fr many years.

5 Eagle Eagle Scut is the highest rank attainable in the By Scuting divisin. Since its intrductin in 1911, the Eagle Scut rank has been earned by mre than 2 millin yung men. Requirements include earning a number f merit badges and demnstratin f Scut Spirit, service and leadership. This includes an extensive service prject that the Scut plans, rganizes, leads, and manages. Eagle Scuts are presented with a medal and a badge that visibly recgnizes the accmplishments f the Scut. Additinal recgnitin can be earned thrugh Eagle Palms, awarded fr cmpleting additinal tenure, leadership and merit badge requirements. Hw d the Scuts advance in rank? T advance in rank (typically thrugh first class) scuts are encuraged t wrk with lder scuts (typically first class and abve) in the trp in rder t cmplete requirements required t advance in rank. The lder scuts will teach the skills required fr each requirement and sign ff n the requirement in the scut s handbk (This is why btaining a handbk is imprtant!). Once all the requirements fr a particular rank have been cmpleted, the scut needs t cmplete a rank advancement frm (available frm the trp website) and turn it in t the scutmaster. The scutmaster will than call a scutmaster cnference (described belw) and the advancement chair will rganize a bard f review (described belw). These events shuld take place within a few weeks f the scut turning in their rank advancement frm. If nt, then the scut shuld fllw-up with the scutmaster. Advancement Prcess Merit badges and rank may be earned by any registered By Scut r Varsity Scut until their eighteenth birthday. Venturers and Sea Scuts wh earned First Class as a By Scut r Varsity Scut may cntinue t wrk twards Eagle Scut in their crew r ship until age eighteen. As the last requirement fr each rank except the jining Scut badge, each Scut must g thrugh the Scutmaster's cnference and then a bard f review. Scutmaster cnference The Scutmaster cnference is a meeting between the Scutmaster r the Cach and the Scut, and is a requirement fr each rank. The Scutmaster r Cach reviews the Scut's prgress and ensures all requirements have been met. The Scut is expected t shw hw he has grwn in his understanding f the Scuting ideals, including the Scut Oath and the Scut Law, and hw he has applied thse ideals. The Scutmaster r Cach will als discuss the next steps in advancement and encurages the Scut t advance. Bard f review The bard f review is a grup f three t six members f the trp r team cmmittee and is the final apprval prcess fr Scut rank advancement. The bard reviews the Scut t ensure all requirements are met and attempts t determine the Scut's attitude and his acceptance f Scuting's ideals and their applicatin. The bard als slicits the Scut's pinins n the trp r team prgram and n yuth and adult leadership. What supprt will the Trp prvide fr the Scut t advance in ranking? What are the requirements t be dne individually r with the help f parents? As a By Scut, yur sn s prgress is paced t their schedule and gals. The adults rganize the activities that the by s elected leadership patrls and cmmittees have chsen t setup fr the year. The varius patrls

6 als rganize activities t teach the basic rank skills. With all f this, the scut s pace is ultimately determined by each individual. Just because a scut participates in an activity, des nt necessarily mean that a badge r rank is ging t be earned. Each scut must fllw thrugh and demnstrate t the adult leaders that they have cmpleted the requirements f a badge f the rank. When a Scut has cmpleted the requirements fr a merit badge and has demnstrated such t the cunselr, the cunselr will sign a blue card indicating that the requirements have been met. It is up t the Scut t btain the blue card frm the scutmaster, fill ut the infrmatin and then present it the merit badge cunselr fr signature. It is then up t the Scut t turn the signed blue card int the Advancement Chairpersn. This is the nly way that a Scut will btain the merit badge and have it prperly lgged at the Narragansett Cuncil level. The Cuncil must have recrd f the achievement in rder fr a Scut t btain the rank f Eagle Scut in the future. There is a link fr Merit Badge registratin n the Trp web page. When shuld a Scut register and shuld he infrm smebdy that he has registered? Yes, a scut shuld register. Nt all cunselrs check, but dn t leave anything t chance. Are there any necessary permissin slips that need t be filled ut fr special activities and hw d we btain them? Permissin slips are required fr all field trips and camputs that yur Scut will be participating in. Annuncements abut events requiring permissin slips are made either befre r after (r bth!) each Trp meeting. The permissin slips fr each activity will be n the Trp 1 website. Make sure that the slip is printed, filled ut and signed and returned t the Scutmaster as sn as pssible prir t any activity. Weekend camputs ften start n Friday evening and run thrugh Sunday mrning. What meals are prvided fr the Scuts? As each event may be different, the scut needs t read the permissin slip which will have the requirements fr fd, gear, mney, etc listed n it. Permissin slips (available frm the web site as sn as pssible after a trip is planned) need t be cmpleted and turned in t the Scutmaster as sn as pssible There is n meal prvided fr Friday s dinner, the Scut shuld arrive at the meeting lcatin with a brwn bag meal. Meals are prvided by the varius patrls. Each patrl elects a grubmaster t prvide the fd fr the varius camputs. Scuts are REQUIRED t pay their patrl grubmaster fr the fd. Each meal is vted n and agreed t by the patrl prir t the event. The Scuts in the patrl will prepare breakfast, lunch and dinner meals fr as agreed t by the Patrl. Cntrary t ppular belief, fd is nt prvided by the trp, rather by each Scut patrl. Fr parents ging camping, what meals are prvided? The camping adults are part f the Adult patrl and therefre the parent assigned the chre f grubmaster fr the Adult patrl must cllect the mney frm the adults and purchase agreed upn meals fr the adults. There usually is a nte n the Scut permissin slip indicating wh the adults shuld cmmunicate meal planning with. Are there any special accmmdatins fr individuals with special dietary needs? Special dietary needs by a Scut r adult, need t be brught t the attentin f the Scutmaster and the Scut s patrl leader as well as the patrl grubmaster, t ensure that the planned meals fit within the Scut s dietary needs.

7 What are the sleeping accmmdatins fr Scuts and parents? On camputs, Scuts and adults shuld have their wn tent and sleeping bag. Adults are nt allwed t sleep with scuts. Scuts may share a tent with anther scut. Adults als may share a tent with anther adult. These are determined by prir agreement with a ptential tent-mate. BE PREPARED. Plan n wning a tent and a sleeping bag. Our Scut desn t have a tent. Will he be able t sleep in anther tent? Will he be made t feel welcme even if he desn t knw the ther Scuts well? Scuts may share a tent with anther scut. Adults als may share a tent with anther adult. These are determined by prir agreement with a ptential tent-mate. BE PREPARED. Plan n investing in a tent and a sleeping bag. What is the summer camp, Camp Yawgg all abut? Summer camp at Camp Yawgg is a weeklng residential camp fr ur Scuts. The Scuts will spend a week in August camping in shelters alng the side f a lake. They will have the pprtunity t receive instructin n several Merit Badges and have time t wrk n the skills t earn the badges during their stay. The Scuts will als have plenty f activities t build camaraderie with fellw Trp 1 members and develp memries that they will frever cherish. The camp area established fr Trp 1 always has at least 2 adult leaders present every day. Additinally, many parents pt t visit in the evening t see their Scuts and t participate in Bard Reviews. Camp Yawgg is a very safe envirnment fr the Scuts and prvides excellent supervisin f all Scut activities. Fr mre n Camp Yawgg, fllw the link: There is a generic list f what a Scut shuld bring t Camp Yawgg, but we hear that there are ther things that might be useful. Is there a list f essentials that Camp Yawgg veterans have put tgether? Clthes line fr hanging unifrms and drying clthes Ftlcker Class A unifrm Class B T-shirt (2 is preferable) A decent pair f walking shes r sneakers Crcs, flip flps, r sandals A few changes f underwear, scks, shrts and t-shirts (dn t waste the space n t much f this stuff) Scut handbk Bathing suit Rain cat r pnch A fleece pullver r sweatshirt Sleeping bag (30 r 40 degree rating is perfect) Pillw Flding chair fr mre cmfrt Battery perated lantern t hang in yur tent Tthbrush and paste Sap and shamp (I hear the scut shwers at Medicine Bw are best)

8 Twel Flashlight r headlamp (preferable) Spare batteries (als available at the camp stre aka the 407 ) Rpe r parachute crd (fr learning and practicing knt tying skills) Pen, pencils and paper fr merit badge hmewrk Hanger fr Class A Bug spray Mney Pcket knife (if Scut has earned ttin chip) watch Hw can ur Scut cntact his Patrl Leader if he has a questin abut an upcming activity? D the PL s cntact the members f the patrl t alert them f changes t activities? Each scut shuld have the phne number f their Patrl Leader as well as their . Each scut must make sure that he infrms his Patrl Leader f his varius phne numbers and . PLs shuld cntact members f their patrl t alert them f changes t activities. Scuts shuld als mnitr the Trp website. Our yunger Scut des nt have a Facebk page r an accunt. Is there any ther way that he can be in the lp n current infrmatin disseminated t the Trp? The Scut shuld rely n his parent s address if he des nt yet have his wn. If the family des nt have , then they shuld ntify the Scutmaster s special arrangements can be made t keep the family infrmed. Wh are the adult leaders and what is the best way t cntact them quickly if we need t? The Scutmaster is William Bardman and the Trp Cmmittee Chairpersn is Jnathan Beck. The Trp SPL is Jsh Gardner. What are the rles f the adult leaders? Scutmaster - The Scutmaster can be male r female but must be at least 21 Years ld. The Scutmaster is appinted by the head f the chartered rganizatin. The Scutmaster is the adult leader respnsible fr the image and prgram f the trp. The Scutmaster and his assistant Scutmasters wrk directly with the Scuts. The imprtance f the Scutmaster's jb is reflected in the fact that the quality f his guidance will affect every yuth and adult invlved in the trp. The Scutmaster's duties include: General - Train and guide by leaders - Wrk with ther respnsible adults t bring Scuting t bys - Use the methds f Scuting t achieve the aims f Scuting meetings - Meet regularly with the patrl leaders' cuncil fr training and crdinatin in planning Trp Cmmittee meetings - Attend trp cmmittee meetings Guidance - Cnduct Scutmaster cnferences fr all rank advancements - Prvide a systematic recruiting plan fr new members and see that they are prmptly registered - Delegate respnsibility t ther adults and grups (assistant, Trp Cmmittee) s that they have real part in

9 Trp peratins - Supervise trp electins fr the Order f the Arrw Activities - Make it pssible fr each Scut t experience at least 10 days and nights Of camping - Build a strng prgram by using prven methds presented in Scuting literature - Participate in Cuncil and District events - Cnduct all activities under qualified leadership, safe cnditins and the plicies f the chartered rganizatin and the By Scuts f America As yu see. the Scutmaster has many respnsibilities. Assistant Scutmaster. Assistant Scutmaster may be 18 years ld, but at least ne in each trp shuld be 21 r lder s he r she can serve in the Scutmaster's absence. T fulfill his bligatin t the trp, the Scutmaster, with the assistance f the trp cmmittee recruits assistant Scutmasters t help perate the trp. Each assistant Scutmaster is assigned specific prgram duties and reprts t the Scutmaster. They als prvide the required tw-deep leadership standards set by the By Scuts f America (there must be at least tw adults present at any By Scut activity). A trp shuld recruit as many assistant Scutmasters as pssible. Trp Cmmittee - these respnsibilities must be perfrmed: Make recmmendatins t the chartered rganizatin fr final apprval f trp leadership. Recruit the Scutmaster and ne r mre assistant Scutmaster, with the chartered rganizatin's apprval. Prvide adequate and safe facilities fr trp meetings. Crdinate the trp's prgram and the chartered rganizatin's prgram thrugh the chartered rganizatin representative. Help with trp charter renewal. Help stimulate the interest f adult family members thrugh prper prgramming. Supervise finances and equipment. Wrk clsely with the Scutmaster. Ensure that all Scuts receive a year-rund, quality prgram. Cmplete trp cmmittee Fast Start Training and Basic Leader Training fr the psitin. Cnduct, with the help f the Scutmaster, peridic training fr parents and guardians. Cperate with ther Scuting units. A strng trp cmmittee will have individual members assigned t such areas as recrd keeping and crrespndence, finances, advancement, training, public relatins, and membership and re-registratin. The trp cmmittee chair decides hw the respnsibilities shuld be divided and gives cmmittee members assignments. Hw is a BSA Trp rganized and run? Patrls The Scut Trp is made up f patrls. A patrl is a gruping f any number f bys wh wrk tgether. Each Patrl elects its wn by Leader called a Patrl Leader. The new Scut Patrl is cmpsed f new members wh have nt entered the seventh grade. The experienced Scut Patrl is fr thse bys wh are age 12 and lder.

10 The Trp s Yuth Leaders The trp is actually run by its by leaders. With the guidance f the Scutmaster and his assistants, they plan the prgram. cnduct trp meetings, and prvide leadership amng their peers. Junir Leader Psitins Senir Patrl Leader(SPL) - tp junir leader in the trp. He leads the patrl leaders' cuncil and, in cnsultatin with the Scutmaster, appints ther junir leaders and assigns specific respnsibilities as needed. Assistant Senir Patrl Leader - fills in fr Senir Patrl Leader in his absence. He is als respnsible fr training and giving directin t the Quartermaster, Scribe, Trp Histrian, Librarian, Instructr Trp members Instructr - teaches ne r mre advancement skills t Trp members. Chaplain Aide - assists in Trp Religius services and prmtes Religius Emblems prgram. Junir Assistant Scutmaster - a Scut 16 r lder wh supervises and supprts ther by Leaders as assigned. Patrl Leader - gives leadership t members f his patrl and represents them n the Patrl Leader s Cuncil. Assistant Patrl Leader - fills in fr the Patrl Leader in his absence. Trp Guide - Advisr and Guide t the new Scut Patrl. Den Chief - wrks with a Cub Scut Den as a Guide Quartermaster - respnsible fr Trp supplies and equipment. Scribe - the Trp Secretary. Trp Histrian - cllects and maintains trp memrabilia and infrmatin n frmer trp members. Librarian - keeps trp bks pamphlets. magazines. audi visuals, and Merit Badge Cunselr list available fr use by. The Patrl Leader s Cuncil The Patrl Leader s Cuncil, nt the Adult Leaders, is respnsible fr planning and cnducting the Trp's activities. The Patrl Leader s Cuncil is cmpsed f the fllwing vting members Senir Patrl Leader, Assistant Senir Patrl Leader, Patrl Leader s Trp Guide, Venture Crew Chief, Varsity Team Captain. The Trp's activities are selected and planned at the annual prgram planning cnference. The Trp's yearly plan is then submitted t the Trp Cmmittee fr apprval. The Trp Cmmittee either apprves the plan r makes alternative suggestins fr the Patrl Leaders' Cuncil t cnsider. At its mnthly meetings, the Patrl Leader s Cuncil rganizes and assigns activity respnsibilities fr the weekly Trp meetings. The Trp Cmmittee interacts with the Patrl Leader s Cuncil thrugh the Scutmaster.

11 We have been tld that frmer cmmittee Chairman Jay Masse put tgether a Trp Plicy dcument. Can we access this dcument? The Trp Plicy dcument will be psted t the Trp Website. There is a trip scheduled fr the spring schl vacatin week. Hw are these trips rganized and supervised? Are these trips pen t all Scuts? Scuting trips are setup fr the benefit f the Trp. Hwever, sme trips require that a scut reach a certain age r rank, as certain aspects f the trip will require certain skills that lder scuts shuld pssess. Sme trips have inherent risks if a scut is nt prepared fr it. Mst trips are pen t all scuts f the Trp. What are the High Adventure prgrams and wh are they pen t? What is the Order f the Arrw that we have heard abut? The Order f the Arrw (OA) is the natinal hnr sciety f the By Scuts f America (BSA). It uses American Indian-styled traditins and ceremnies t bestw recgnitin n scuts selected by their peers as best exemplifying the ideals f Scuting. The sciety was created by E. Urner Gdman, with the assistance f Carrll A. Edsn, in 1915 as a means f reinfrcing the Scut Oath and the Scut Law. The gal was t establish these as lifelng guidelines, and t encurage cntinued participatin in Scuting and camping. Influenced in part by camp traditins, and Indian flklre, the OA uses "safeguarded" symbls, handshakes, and ceremnies t impart a sense f cmmunity. Scuts are elected t Order f the Arrw by their fellw scuts. We are cnnected t the Abnaki Ldge.