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.
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.
Boy Scout Troop 40 was formed in Yorkville, Illinois in 1914.
Over the years, more than 70 Scouts in Troop 40 have achieved
the rank of Eagle Scout.
Yearly Dues of $50 per scout ($40 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 $35 recharter dues.
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.
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 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 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.
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:
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:
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Troop Committee Chair - Head of the troop committee.
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Charter Organization Representative - Liaison between the troop and Chartering Organization.
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Secretary - Record keeper and takes/maintains committee meeting notes.
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Treasurer - Takes care of all incoming/outgoing money for the troop, maintains financial
records and provides monthly financial status to the troop committee.
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Advancement Chair - Administers the troop advancement program, maintains records and prepares
advancement reports for the council.
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Fund-raiser Chair - Organizes fund raising projects to meet the troop needs.
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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.
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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.
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Quartermaster - Works with the troop and patrol Quartermasters to
control and maintain troop and patrol equipment.
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Scoutmaster - Oversees the operations of the troop.
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Assistant Scoutmasters - Advisors to assigned Patrols.
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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 (generally on the Wednesday
following the first Thursday of the 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
We strongly encourage all Adult Leaders to complete the on-line Youth Protection available at the Online Learning Center
http://olc.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.
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:
6:15 - 6:45 p.m. Patrol Leader's Coincil (PLC) Meeting. Patrol Leaders and other youth leaders meet with the Soutmaster and other Adult Leaders to discuss and plan activities.
6:30 - 6:45 p.m. Pre-Meeting. We will generally have a game or other activity that Scouts can join in on as they arrive.
The regular Troop Meeting is 6:45 - 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 on the Wednesday following the first Thursday of each month from 7:00 to 8:30 at the Chapel on the Green.
All Leaders and interested Parents are encouraged to attend.
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:
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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:
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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.)
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Troop 40 black/red kerchief (#30176-00630, $6.00) and BSA slide (#30176-00601, $2.40) (available from the Scout Store or from the troop)
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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.
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Any official BSA scouting hat is optional
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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)
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Order of the Arrow (OA) sashes may be worn at Court of Honor
ceremonies only, otherwise these are for OA functions only.
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Class "B" Uniform - to be worn while on campouts and for other
designated Troop activities.
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Red short sleeve T-shirt with Troop 40 insignia (Available from
Steven's in Yorkville).
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Blue jeans or blue jean shorts (above the knee) in good
condition.
Uniform items can be purchased from:
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Deicke Council Scout Shop (W. Chicago): 630-231-3192
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The Chalkboard (Fox Valley): 630-585-8700
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Rainbow Council Shop (Morris): 815-942-4450
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Troop 40 Class "B" Shirt - Steven's 1256 S Bridge St, Yorkville, IL (630-553-7710) http://www.stevenstees.com/stevens/
Campouts/Activities
Troop 40 generally does one Troop campout per month, except for December (Christmas break), July (summer camp or high adventure), and August (summer vacation or high adventure). Dates and places for each campout are announced in advance.
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!
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Duffel/gear bag
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Sleeping bag (rated 20F or lower is recommended). Several blankets
will suffice for warmer weather.
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Camp pillow
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Air mattress or ground pad or cot
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Flashlight (with extra batteries/bulb)
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Pocket Knife - "Totin Chit" required (no sheath knives!)
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Waterproof matches/firestarters - "Fireman Chit" required
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Personal First Aid Kit - See the Boy Scout Handbook
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Water bottle/canteen
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Sunscreen
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Compass
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Medications (please notify leaders)
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Scout Handbook
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Class "A" Uniform (Wear when traveling)
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Class "B" Uniform (for activities)
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Hat or cap
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Rain gear or poncho
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Windbreaker or light jacket (adjust for season)
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Extra pair of shoes
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Extra change of clothes
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Insect repellent (lotion only, no aerosol spray!)
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Underwear
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Extra Socks
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Sweatshirt/jacket
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Gloves
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Mess kit (plate, bowl, cup, fork, spoon, and knife)
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Cleanup kit (toothbrush, toothpaste, soap, washcloth, towel, comb)
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Tent & Ground cloth (if you are using your own tent)
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Camp chair (optional)
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Camera (optional)
Don't Bring:
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Sheath Knives
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Video Games *
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Radio/Tape/CD/MP3 players *
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Butane lighters
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Fireworks
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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
Troop 40 publishes a calendar twice a year (September and January)
listing the troop activities and events.
Please see the " Troop 40 Calendar of Events " section of the
Troop 40 web page if you need a current copy. This calendar changes frequently, so please check the web for the most current copy.
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:
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Ensures that the Scout has completed all requirements for the Rank advancement
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Checks to see what kind of experience the Scout is having is his Patrol and Troop
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Encourages the Scout to advance to the next level
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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://members.aol.com/yorkvilletroop40/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. A checklist provided by the Maramech Hill District Advancement Committee will also be provided. The Eagle Candidate MUST use this 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 Maramech Hill District 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 reccommendation, and the Eagle Scout Application MUST be completed and turned in to the Council office BEFORE the Scouts's 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.
See the Summer Camp section of the Troop 40
web page for more details.
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 Advancemnet 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:
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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 ).
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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.
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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!
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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.
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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.
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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 Councelor for his/her records.
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Turn in the completed and signed card to the
Advancement Committee Chair.
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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.
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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://members.aol.com/yorkvilletroop40
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.
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This page was updated 7/5/2008 by KIG
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