Scouting Orientation for Parent Boy Scout Troop 2012 Scouting Orientation for Parent April 2015

TROOP 2012 LEADERSHIP Current Scoutmaster: Don Miller (Wood Badge / Trained SM) Rising Scoutmaster: Jason Stripling (Trained SM, Search & Rescue MB counselor) ASM: Rich Eitzel (Trained ASM, Merit Badge Coordinator) ASM: Dean Leonard (Trained ASM, Eagle Advisor) ASM: Chuck Vanek ASM: Mike Meyers (Venture Scout, new leader) Committee Chair: Ryan Sauder Treasurer: Michelle Moomey Advancement: Gina Latorre Camping Event Coordinator: Alissa Miller Fundraising: Mary Bergamini Webmasters: Dean Leonard/Gina Latorre Troop Communications: Gina Latorre Charter Organization Representative: Gina Latorre

ABOUT TROOP 2012 Chartered in January 2013 through Arcola United Methodist Church Ten (10) original members, currently 20 scouts. Cub Scout Pack 2010 is our primary feeder pack. Others include Middleburg’s Pack 1737; South Riding Packs 282, 910, & 1148; Brambleton Pack 1500. Meetings every Tuesday from 6:50pm-8pm from late-August thru end of June, with one-week Summer Camp in July. Monthly Patrol Meetings scheduled by Patrol Leader. Boy-led Troop Adult Committee oversees troop business and conducts Scouts’ Board of Review

CUB SCOUTS vs. BOY SCOUTS

ADVANCEMENT Scout Tenderfoot 2nd Class 1st Class Star Life Eagle Currently, there are Six Boy Scout Ranks, culminating with Eagle Scout. Boys complete “Joining Requirements” and earn the “Scout” badge (similar to a Cub Scout Bobcat). AOL recipients have already completed most of the Joining Requirements. For the first three ranks (Tenderfoot, 2nd Class, & 1st Class) beginner scouts learn skills for outdoors, self-sufficiency, and citizenship. These requirements can be fulfilled concurrently. For the last three ranks (Star, Life and Eagle) scouts earn merit badges, perform service projects, and serve in leadership roles. As scouts advance, they shift from ‘learner’ to ‘leader’ and are expected to teach new scouts. In addition to Scoutmaster and Assistant Scoutmaster, we allow First Class, Star, Life or Eagle scouts to sign-off any Tenderfoot, Second Class or First Class requirements. We encourage scouts to go to higher ranking scouts for sign-off. This helps build relationships with the scout leadership.

SCOUT HANDBOOK Visit: www.Troop2012.org The Scout Handbook is: your guide to individual advancement Scouts receive one handbook for their scouting career. Bring it everywhere & protect it! Each requirement has a corresponding page number where a scout can learn what it takes to complete the requirement. Service & Camping Logs are in the back of the handbook. Signatures required. Visit: www.Troop2012.org

CONFERENCE & REVIEW After completing rank requirements, the SCOUT must schedule a “Scoutmaster Conference”. During this 15 to 30 minute meeting (with any ASM), the Scout presents his handbook and demonstrates his knowledge of the rank requirements. After a successful SM Conference, and the Scoutmaster or ASM has signed his handbook, the SCOUT must request a Board of Review from a Committee Member. A Board of Review is a meeting between the scout and 3 to 6 Adult Committee Members. During the BOR, the scout is interviewed about his experience with the troop and his records reviewed. Frequently asked to state: Scout Oath, Law, and Outdoor Code, etc. The scout may also be asked to present his Blue Cards, Service Logs, & Camping Logs Upon successful completion of the BOR, the handbook is signed and the scout has officially rank advanced. SM Conferences and BOR’s are considered formal events and the scout is expected to be in FULL Class A Uniform with their Handbook and records.

MERIT BADGES BSA has 135 Merit Badges Earn MBs any time after earning the “Scout” rank. 13 specific MBs are required for Eagle: First Aid, Citizenship in Community, Citizenship in Nation, Citizenship in World, Communication, Cooking, Personal Fitness, Emergency Preparedness/Lifesaving, Environmental Science/Sustainability, Personal Management, Swimming/Hiking/Cycling, Camping, Family Life 8 MBs from any category are also required for Eagle Some Eagle Required are necessary for lower ranks Summer Camp is a great opportunity to earn them Begin by contacting MB Coordinator, Mr. Eitzel Fairfax & Loudoun County offer MB Classes quarterly Visit the website for an Introduction to Merit Badges

BLUE CARDS It is a 3 part card: Counselor’s Record (maintained by the instructor) Applicant’s Record (maintained by the scout) Unit Record (maintained by the troop) To earn a Merit Badge, scouts are first issued “Blue Card” by the MB Coordinator (Rich) Scouts complete the MB requirements under supervision of the Merit Badge Counselor. MB Counselor fills out and signs the blue card, keeping one part for their records. SCOUT presents the 2 remaining parts of the card to the Scoutmaster for countersignature. SCOUT gives the signed cards to Troop Advancement Chair (Gina) At the next Court of Honor (quarterly awards ceremony), the Scout receives his Merit Badge along with the “Applicant’s Record” portion of the blue card. SCOUTS MUST MAINTAIN THESE BLUE CARDS FOR THE DURATION OF THEIR SCOUT TENURE. They will be asked to present them at Boards of Review. If they cannot produced them, a new blue card must be re-earned.

SERVICE LOGS Rank Service hours may only be attributed to the rank you are working toward i.e. you cannot earn hours as a Tenderfoot and attribute them to Star rank. Service must be PRE-approved by the Scoutmaster. In Troop 2012, for PRE-approval, the scout must provide the Scoutmaster with a write-up: Who are you serving What are you doing Where are you doing it When are you doing it Why are you doing it How are you providing service and leadership Scout must obtain signatures from a Service Organization Representative. Scout should maintain Service Logs like Blue Cards.

SCOUT ORGANIZATION

ORGANIZING FROM THE START 1.5” 3-Ring Binder to hold Blue Cards, Rank Cards, & Service Logs Trading Card Sleeve to hold Rank & Blue cards (Wal-Mart) Sheet Protectors or 3 hole punch for Service Logs Dedicated ‘scout bag’ for handbook, pencil, & binder

CAMPING Camping Duty Roster Troop offers 11 camping trips per year, plus Summer Camp (6-night). Outing permission form for every campout. Physical required for summer camp. Each camping trip is an optional, ‘pay-as-you-go’ opportunity for scouts to fulfill Tenderfoot through First Class requirements and learn the Patrol Method. PATROL METHOD BSA states: “The patrol method allows Scouts to interact in a small group outside the larger troop context, working together as a team and sharing the responsibility of making their patrol a success. A patrol takes pride in its identity, and the members strive to make their patrol the best it can be. ”

PATROL BOX Cooking/Supplies PATROL CAMPING GEAR PATROL BOX Cooking/Supplies DRY BOX Non-fridge food CAMP STOVE 2-burner Pot/Pan set Dutch Oven Collapsible 5-gallon Water Cooler with Ice/Ice Packs

SCOUT CAMPING GEAR Chair Tarp Rope Stakes Tent Backpack Sleeping bag Pad Clothes Pillow Rain Suit Hygiene Mess Kit Gloves Tarp Rope Stakes H2O Personal 1st Aid Camp Ash First Aid Chair Whistle, Flint, Compass Bivvy Headlamp Lamp

UNIFORMS Neckerchief (provided) & slide (not provided) Troop # (provided) World Crest NCAC Council Patch Scout Leader patch (earned) Rank Badge (earned) AOL Neckerchief (provided) & slide (not provided)

PAY-AS-YOU-GO TROOP Monthly sign-ups go out for scouts to register and pay to attend that month’s outing. Participation is optional. Adult chaperones do not pay to participate (except for summer camp & some large ticket campouts like white water rafting). Cost varies depending on the activity & facilities. Cabin camping costs more than tent camping, but less than a battleship campout. As we grow, fundraising events can offset cost. And financial aid is available. Scout Accts. Occasionally other costs will arise, but camping is currently the troop’s largest expense.

Mary Bergamini & __________ TROOP ADULT COMMITTEE Charter Organization Rep Gina Latorre COMMITTEE CHAIR Ryan Sauder CURRENT SCOUTMASTER Don Miller Rising Scoutmaster Jason Stripling ASM - Chuck Vanek Senior Patrol Leader Evan Stripling Patrol Leader Council ASM New Scout Vacant ASM - Rich Eitzel ASM- Training/Eagle Dean Leonard Fundraising Mary Bergamini & __________ Secretary Vacant Quartermaster Vacant Treasurer Michelle Moomey Activity Coordinator Alissa Miller Webmaster Dean & Gina Board of Review Gina Latorre MB Coordinator Rich Eitzel Advancement Gina Latorre Membership Vacant Troop Communications Gina Latorre Uniforms Vacant ASM - Mike Meyers Webelos-to-Scouts Gina Latorre Service Projects Vacant Transportation Vacant Order of the Arrow Vacant

ADULT OPPORTUNITIES Roundtable Secretary Quartermaster Board of Review Duties: Attend District roundtable meeting and report back to committee Time commitment: 2.5 hours/month This can be shared by multiple volunteers Secretary Duties: Attend monthly committee meeting, take notes and email to leaders Time commitment: 2 hours/month Quartermaster Duties: Mentor scout Quartermaster on inventorying troop gear Board of Review Duties: Participate in Board of Reviews scheduled at troop meetings Time commitment: 3-4 hours/month Uniforms Duties: Procure, inventor, and distribute troop patches and neckerchiefs Time commitment: 6-8 hours/year

ADULT OPPORTUNITIES Membership Fundraising Assistant Scout Master Duties: Ensure a smooth transition of new scouts provide orientation to new parents Time commitment: 15 hours/year Fundraising Duties: Organize and supervise fundraising events Time commitment: 6 hours/month Assistant Scout Master Duties: Mentor scouts at troop meetings and monthly outings Time commitment: 10 hours/month plus outings

Q & A It’s a lot of information. We’re happy to answer questions or explain it again. We encourage you AND YOUR SCOUT to ask…