Boy Scout Troop 68

Scout/Parent Handbook

Welcome to Midway Boy Scout Troop 68!

We are happy to have you join our troop. The quality of a scout's experience will depend greatly upon the level of participation of both the scout and his parents. There are many ways for parents to become involved, from great to small, some of these are addressed in this handbook.
Now that you have joined a scout troop, your first task will be to complete the requirements for your first award, the Scout Patch. Read page 4 of your Scout Handbook for these requirements, and be ready to talk with your Scoutmaster or one of the Assistant Scoutmasters at the next troop meeting. After completing this conference, you will be awarded your patch the following troop meeting.

Parent Participation

The troop's success depends upon your active involvement in all scouting activities. This may be done in several ways, such as serving on the Troop Committee, providing transportation or supervision for the campouts, teaching one or more merit badges, assisting in fundraisers, or other activities that may come up during the year.

Patrols

Troop 68 is organized into several patrols consisting of 6-8 scouts. Each scout is assigned to a patrol. Patrol activities include planning menus for campouts, being responsible for the patrol's equipment, and working as a unit on various scouting activities.
Each patrol chooses a patrol leader and an assistant patrol leader. These leaders, together with the Senior Patrol Leader and other elected troop officers, form the Patrol Leaders Council (PLC). The PLC plans, arranges, and implements all troop activities. All PLC activities are overseen by the Scout Master and Assistant Scout Masters.

Meetings

Scouts meet every Monday from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. at the Midway Locust Grove United Methodist Church, except for the Monday following a campout. On these Mondays, the troop committee meets. Scouts are expected to attend all meetings. If a Scout cannot attend a meeting he should notify his patrol leader as soon as possible. All parents are welcome to all Troop Committee activities. Approval of the PLC plan is done here and each parent has an opportunity to gather information and get active with your Scouts Troop.

Uniforms

Scouts are to wear their scout shirts to all meetings and other designated functions. The shirts are to be tucked in, and not covered by an overshirt. A shirt may be worn under the scout shirt if needed. Appropriate badges and insignia should be properly displayed on the uniform. Refer to the Boy Scout Handbook for proper placement. The uniform should be viewed as a source of pride, and an expression of scout spirit. Order of the Arrow Sash or Merit badge sashes are worn on formal occasions such as Courts of Honor, and boards of review. Uniform for outings: while traveling - Class A (Field Uniform); while in camp - Class B (Scout t-shirt). We have a uniform exchange for serviceable, but outgrown uniforms (Class A).

Conduct

Courteous behavior is expected at all meeting and campouts. Improper conduct by a scout will be handled by the PLC and the adult leadership of the troop. Recurring behavioral problems will be brought to the attention of the parents.

Campouts

A major activity of our troop is preparing for and going on weekend campouts each month. In June or July the troop attends a week-long summer camp. Campouts are held in all kinds of weather - rain, snow, blazing heat, and sub-zero temperatures for which the scout must be prepared. Campouts typically begin Friday evenings and end on Sunday. Each patrol determines the cost of food for each campout based on their patrol's planned menu. The PLC has implemented a monthly activity fee of $10.00 per Scout as a means for patrols to purchase food. This fee MUST be paid by the each Scout planning on attending the activity by the meeting prior to the activity. Once money is paid it is NOT refundable or carried to next activity. (you will appreciate this when it is your turn to buy food). Scouts take turns purchasing food for campouts to learn about shopping and money management. When its your turn to help your Scout purchase the food for his patrol, please stay with the approved menu and within the budget. NO Soda's, Cnady, Cookies, Massive amounts of chips. These items, if are brought to the activity, will be held till 1 hours before we arrive back home. Then the sugar HIGHs are yours to deal with. There may be some additional cost for float trips or other special camping events. At the Monday meeting prior to any scheduled campout, scouts are expected to pay all camping fees, turn in required permission slips and ensure their monthly dues ($2.00 per month) are paid. All Scouts MUST have the dues paid in full before they will be approved by the Troop Leadership to attend the activity. Exception with Troop Committee approval. Scouts are not to bring electronic equipment (including radios), or sheath (fixed blade) knives on troop campouts. Exception to electronics are when travel time to the activity exceeds 3hours one way - however, the electronics will STAY in the Vehicles once we arrive at the activity. The troop provides tents and cooking equipment, but each scout is expected to bring the necessary personal camping gear and mess kits (plate, bowl, cup, utensils). A list of necessary equipment can be found in your Scout Handbook. If a scout does not have access to some of these items, he should notify the Scout Master well in advance of the next activity. Many of the Scouts and adults in the troop have extra equipment available for loan.

Summer Camp

Each year, Troop 68 attends summer camp, which is a week long opportunity for scouts to meet scouts from other troops, earn merit badges, and fine-tune their scouting skills. Though summer camp is not required, parents of younger scouts should consider summer camp as an essential ingredient for any scout who aspires to achieve the goals of scouting.

Special Camping Events

The troop occasionally participates in district or national events. These include C.O.P.E. (Challenging Outdoor Personal Experience), Philmont Scout Ranch, and Silver Bars Junior Leadership Training.

Care of Equipment

Scouts are responsible for the proper care of troop equipment. This includes appropriate treatment of equipment during camping events, as well as proper cleaning and storage after camping. After a campout, scouts may be assigned by their patrol to take a tent home to be set up and air dried. The tent is expected to be returned at the next troop meeting. We have had times when we arrive at an activity to find that all our tents are still at homes of Scouts who are not in attendance for that event. Please make arrangements to return Troop equipment ASAP.

Advancement and Recognition

The Boy Scout program is based on advancement through several ranks. Each scout progresses at his own rate. The basic requirements are found in the Scout Handbook. Some requirements are completed at troop meetings, some at camps, and some must be done independently. All advancements are earned. Besides completing the requirements in the book, a scout is expected to demonstrate leadership and scout spirit. Scout spirit means active participation in Scout activites, including regularly scheduled meetings and campouts. In addition, a Scout Master's Conference and a Board of Review is required for advancement in rank. In a Board of Review, the scout must appear before a small group of adults (Troop Committee members and parents sit on these Boards of Review)who will conduct a brief interview to validate whether the requirements for the intended rank have been met.

Scouts advance in rank (from Scout to Tenderfoot, 2nd Class, 1st Class, Star, Life & Eagle) by having requirements checked off in their Scout books. These requirements may be checked off by the Scoutmaster, any of the Assistant Scoutmasters, or any boy scout who has, himself, already achieved the next higher rank. For example, a First Class scout may check off any requirements for the ranks of Scout, Tenderfoot, Second Class or even First Class. He may not, however, check off any requirements of a fellow First Class Scout, even if he himself has already had that requirement checked off. With a few notable exceptions, parents usually should not check off requirements for their own son. An example of when a parent may check off a requirement, is when the scout is required to discuss certain matters with his parents (i.e., drug and child abuse), or when the scout is required to engage in a joint activity with his parents (i.e., home fire inspection). The "no parental check-off rule" does not mean that parents may not assist their son in advancement! Parents are strongly encouraged to work with their son to master the skills necessary to advance. It is a truism that no scout attains Eagle without strong parental support!

Would like to see every parent sit in on at least two Board of Reviews a year. You can schedule this with the Troop Advancement Chairmen. For a Scout to met the Board of Review, he MUST be in Full Uniform (Shirt, belt, socks, approved pants) and have his Scout Handbook. Failure to show up for his appointed time to meet the Board of Review will result rescheduling to the next Board, this could delay his advancement in his trail to eagle.

Court of Honor

Troop 68 holds a Court of Honor three times a year (Feb, May/Jun and Sept). Typically held in lieu of a regular Monday meeting. A Court of Honor is a more formal occasion designed to recognize the recent accomplishments of the scouts. This is a family event and all are encouraged to attend. Don't forget those camera's!

Fundraising

Troop 68 holds various fundraisers throughout the year to support troop activities, purchase needed equipment, and keep individual costs at a minimum. These fundraisers can include popcorn sales, Christmas tree sales, and stadium parking lot cleanups after home MU football games and various other projects that the Tropp Committee/Patrol Leaders Council might decide on. Scouts are expected to work at these events, and parent participation is necessary to the success of the fundraiser! Scouts are required to sign in and out with the supervising adult (parents - need you to volunteer your help here) to receive credit of hours worked and payment to their scout accout.

Scout Accounts

Profits from troop fundraising activities are divided between the Troop Committee and the scouts themselves. The scout's protion is placed in individual accounts based on their activity in the fundraiser. Each scout is given "scout checks" that can be used to pay activity fee's. No money is actual given to a Scout, all moneies are credited for the Scout to use for primarily Summer Camp. If a Scout drops the Troop or turn 18yrs, his account will be transfered to the Troop general operating fund.

Troop Committee

The Troop Committee is charged with overseeing the administration of the troop. Responsibilities include budgeting, renewing the charter annually, fundraising, making and reversing troop policies, approving the troop activities calendar, and securing transportation and adult support for troop activities. The Troop Committee consists of parent volunteers. Officers and at-large committee members are elected (drafted) each year. Meetings are generally held once a month. ALL Parents are encouraged and welcome to attend any committee meeting.