Helping your son
Getting started
Advancement
Helping the troop
Requirements for Adult Leadership
Leadership positions
Support positions
Being a parent at troop events
Being in contact during a troop event
One of the benefits and methods of the Boy Scout program is association with adult leaders other than the Scout's parents or guardians. You are encouraged to get to know the troop leaders and become comfortable that your son is working with them.
Scouting demands a lot from your son. He will be challenged to become self reliant, to make decisions within a group, to develop leadership skills, and to progress through the advancement program.
The first few months may be confusing to your son. Be prepared to talk to him about his experiences and problems.
Many boys will be excited about the new opportunities available to them. Work with your son so that he learns to channel his energy to set and accomplish goal. A good first goal is to earn the Scout award within the first month that he is with the troop.
Advancement is one of the methods that Scouting uses to instill the aims Character, Citizenship, and Physical, Mental, and Emotional Fitness.
The Boy Scouts would like every new Scout to set a goal of reaching First Class within a year. This should be possible, especially if your son is active and attends summer camp. But if he takes a bit longer this is no problem.
As your son continues in Scouting there will be a constant series of advancement opportunities. Some will be tangible, such as the rank awards. Others will be more abstract but just as meaningful to your son.
You should encourage your son to make continual progress, but at his own rate, and as his interests direct him. Many older Scouts will become very active in the program of Scouting and will let the advancement become less important at times. So long as he does not stop advancement this is normal.
Remember that it is less important that the Scout achieve advancement than that he benefit from the advancement that he earns.
Feel free to talk to the Scoutmaster or his assistants if you have any questions about the advancement program, or need help motivating your son.
For the protection of the youth members the Boy Scouts of America, and our Troop have guidelines as to who may be a registered adult leader, and who may associate the Scouts in our Troop.
The BSA requirements for a registered leader include submission of personal references, approval of the Troop Committee, and approval by the Chartering Organization.
Our troop requires that the adult be a parent, guardian, or relative of a Scout who is registered in Troop 612. An adult who served as a leader for a Scout who was an alumni of Troop 612 is also accepted.
At times adults who do not meet the above criteria may wish to aid the Troop. These may be friends of the family, neighbors, or members of the community or sponsoring organization. They can participate for single events on a provisional basis, providing that they can produce references from an adult troop leader or parent who is well known to the adult leadership. In this capacity they must be supervised by a Registered Adult Leader, or a parent appointed by the Troop Committee and is known to be experience in the BSA program and the operation of Troop 612. If this new adult wishes to aid on a continuing basis, the Troop Committee requires that the adult become an officially Registered Adult Leader with the BSA.
Registered adult leaders are responsible for presenting and helping the Scouts implement the Boy Scout program. We can always use more adults who are willing to contribute what time and energy they can spare to help make our program the best possible for the boys.
The Scoutmaster is the primary guide for the Scouts. He is a role model and works closely with the youth leaders to develop and implement the troop's activities. The importance of the Scoutmaster's job is reflected in the fact that the quality of his guidance will affect every youth and adult involved in the troop.
The Assistant Scoutmasters help the Scoutmaster. Four or more assistant Scoutmasters can make a big difference in the quality of the troop program. One assistant may work with new boys, another may help the PLC plan advancement opportunities. Cub pack liaison and den chief training; camping and backpacking planning, and other duties are done as the Scoutmaster needs help.
The troop committee must have at least three adults of age 21 years or older. It is responsible to the chartering organization for the actions and program of the troop. It is responsible for providing logistics and recruiting adult leaders.
The Committee Chair organizes the committee to see that all functions are delegated, coordinated, and completed. She will see that the troop leaders have training opportunities and will interpret national and local policies to the troop.
The Secretary will keep minutes of meetings and send out meeting notices and prepare a newsletter of troop events and activities.
The Treasurer handles all troop funds. He pays bills on the recommendation of the Scoutmaster and on the authorization of the troop committee. He trains and supervises the troop scribe in record keeping. He receives troop dues from the troop scribe each week. He supervises money earning projects, the camp savings plan and takes the lead in preparation of the annual troop budget.
The Advancement Chair encourages each Scout to advance in rank. She arranges and conducts boards of review, and aids the Senior Patrol Leader in conducting frequent courts of honor. The rank badges and other awards are documented, the proper forms filled and the badges purchased by the advancement chair. She will also work with the troop scribe and librarian to make sure advancement records and library materials are kept up to date.
Other committee positions may include an Outdoor and Activities , Equipment Manager, and Troop Chaplain.
You may not be able to serve on the troop committee or make a similar long term commitment, but every parent should have the responsibility to perform a short term task sometime during the year.
We will always need help on the many troop fund-raisers, providing transportation to campouts, giving skill demonstrations at troop meetings, and accompanying the troop on outings and activities.
If circumstances come up, we will want to be able to call on each parent or guardian to help the troop.
Parents and guardians are welcome at all troop events. As an adult you can serve as a role model and mentor to other Scouts. If you have skills and knowledge than you can help pass these onto the youth of the troop.
Adult association is one of the methods that has been proven to be highly successful to Scouting. Within our troop we have found this to be very successful when your son gets to associate with adults outside of his family.
To facilitate this we have some guidelines that we, as adults, try to follow on all Scouting events.
IT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE PARENT TO BE AVAILABLE TO COME PICK UP THEIR SON AT ANY TIME OVER THE COURSE OF THE ACTIVITY.
Activities may be canceled due to weather or safety concerns. Your child may be injured. If a discipline problem arises that is beyond the scope of the adult leadership to handle we may have to return, or require that you come to the event to collect your son.
Each Scout should have a quarter to phone their parents when we arrive at the church.
Scouts who are abandoned by parents, or whose parents are not able to be contacted may be turned over to the proper civilian authorities. Registered leaders will not assume any responsibility for baby sitting Scouts after a Scout activity has concluded.
Troop 612 Handbook