New Parents Guide

Welcome to Troop 380

We know that when you first join an organization, you need to know a lot of information right away. Think of this page as your reference guide for Troop 380 information, such as parent participation, uniform requirements, equipment, advancement, and dues.

As parents of current and past Scouts, we know the importance of your participation in the program. Scouting is a journey, not a destination. The journey is filled with adventure and learning. Shared with other adults in the Troop, it can be one of the most treasured experiences you will have. 

The Difference Between Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts

A key difference between Scouts BSA and Cub Scouts/Webelos is youth leadership. Look for the word "leader" in a Scout's job description, and you will begin to appreciate the difference. The responsible person for a Cub/Webelos den is the adult Den Leader. The responsible person for a Scout patrol is the youth Patrol Leader.

This isn't token leadership. A Patrol Leader has real authority and genuine responsibilities. Much of the success, safety, and happiness of six to ten other Scouts depends directly on the Patrol Leader.

Scouting teaches leadership. And scouts learn leadership by practicing it, not by watching adults lead. So what do we adults do, now that we've surrendered so much direct authority to Scouts? Well, we have a really good time and still stay busy.

The underlying principle is worth repeating: never do anything for a Scout that they can do for themselves. We allow Scouts to grow by practicing leadership and by learning from mistakes. And, while Scout skills are an important part of the program, what ultimately matters when our Scouts become adults is not how well they remember to use a map & compass, but whether or not they know how to offer leadership to others in tough situations; and that they live by a code of conduct that centers on honest, honorable and ethical behavior.

At Troop 380, the Scouts plan and decide on the program, run the meetings, manage the equipment, plan and execute the trips, and become self-motivated to advance. Your Scout will, at times, have specific responsibilities to the Troop and his patrol. He or she may be a Patrol Leader or hold some other Troop Leadership position such as Historian or Quartermaster. Troop youth leadership elections are held every six months. Your scout may also have an assignment for a trip such patrol’s Grubmaster. As a parent, be aware and encourage this role.

Your Role as a Parent of a Scout:

Stay Informed

We are a very active Troop. Most young Scouts cannot hope to keep track of all the events going on. We recommend that parents:

• Meet and converse with other parents and leaders.

• Check/read all 380 emails, check this website frequently and/or attend the beginning of Troop meetings when announcements are made.

• Consider joining Scouts BSA. by:

  • becoming member of the Troop Committee.

  • becoming a 380/district Merit Badge Counselor, and/or

  • attending 380 Courts of Honor.

Online training is required for all adult positions with direct youth contact before the Troop can submit your signed application. An adult may volunteer to be a Patrol Advisor/Assistant Scoutmaster by the unit Scoutmaster; this adult will have specific responsibilities of patrol or troop leadership. 

Things Your Scout Needs:

What to Buy

Your Scout will need to acquire a few items upon joining the troop.

• Scout Handbook — These are available at the Scout Shop if it was not provided by your Pack.

• Scout Uniform — Also available at the Scout Shop or the Troop’s good used shirts and pants bin. Scout pants are needed for First Class and higher rank.

  • Scout uniform shirt.

  • Council strip, Arrow of Light and Religious knot (if Scout has earned) can be worn on Scout shirt.

  • Troop 380 numerals are supplied by troop when the scout joins.

  • Troop 380 neckerchief, supplied at Scout joining ceremony by the Troop. Replacements are available at a minimal cost from the Troop’s uniform person.

  • Class B 380 T-shirts and 380 sweatshirts (can be purchased at a nominal cost from the troop uniform person).

Meetings:

When to Attend

First Year Scouts are encouraged to attend all Patrol Meetings. These first year meetings are structured around activities to attain the early ranks up to First Class. The Patrol Leader and Advisor determine the location and times for these meetings if additional times are needed other than the regular Monday night meetings. Class B uniforms are the typical attire.

Troop meetings are most Monday evenings 7:00pm – 8:30pm. One meeting a month will be the PLC (Patrol Leader Council) which typically occurs the Monday after campout. Patrol Leaders, Troop youth leadership and Patrol Advisors should attend all PLC meetings. The dates and locations are on the Troop calendar and are handed out at the start of the Scouting year. Class A uniforms are preferred attire.

Courts of Honor are special meetings held each quarter in the church gym where the Scouts are recognized for their achievements. It is very important for Scouts and parents to attend these as a sign of respect for the Scouts’ hard work. For this reason, Class A uniforms are mandatory. Courts of Honor are held four times a year and dates are available a calendar year in advance.

Badges of Honor:

Advancement

The Troop Patrol Advisor plays an active role in helping your Scout earn the early ranks of: Scout, Tenderfoot, Second Class, and First Class. Troop 380 plans most activities on weekends and we attend summer camp for a full week usually in June, which helps attending scouts attain these early ranks and earn merit badges.

After the requirements for a rank are attained, the Scout asks the Scoutmaster for a Scoutmaster Conference. After a successful Scoutmaster Conference the Scout asks the Advancement Chairman via signup white board for a Board of Review. After a successful Board of Review, the Scout has earned the rank. The scout will be presented with his or her new rank patch at the next Court of Honor

The approach changes after First Class. The ranks of Star, Life, and Eagle require a Scout to be more self-motivated to earn merit badges, participate in service projects and show leadership skills including approved leadership positions in the Troop. A Scout may elect to independently pursue merit badges, or to take advantage of opportunities announced for group classes. Be advised attendance is not sufficient to attain a merit badge. Note all merit badges require individual work to complete; this is very different from Cub Scout group advancement/awards. Note also ONLY Scouts BSA district approved merit badge councilors can “sign-off” on requirements. 

A list of counselors is available from the Scoutmaster or Advancement chairperson. The Scout will need a merit badge booklet to learn the requirements for the badge.

380 also advises new parents to be very aware of the Blue Card. It is the often-irreplaceable and proof of accomplishment required for receiving the badge and is to be obtained from and signed by the Scoutmaster before beginning work. A Scout may not work on a badge alone with a counselor; he must find a buddy. A parent cannot sign his/her Scout’s Blue Card unless part of a group.

Money and Responsibility:

Troop Dues

The Troop collects dues, the Scout’s family can pay yearly at recharter or split the amount into two payment they so choose. The current troop dues are $100 per year. Each fall 380 collects the Scouts BSA re-charter fee from each registered youth and adult, the Troop must account for and turn in all these monies to Scouts BSA.

Other monies collected monthly include, expenses for trips your Scout elects to attend. Summer Camp is decided one year in advance and schedule of payments are published on this website. Scouts can elect to pay entire amount or use Troop fundraising activities to pay part or all of these expenses.  

Scouts and parents are highly encouraged to participate in the Troop fundraisers (traditionally popcorn, pecans, and discount cards). Scouts are also given the option of participating in other fundraisers during the year to help them put money into their Scout Account for future Summer Camps and High Adventure trips.

380 plus B.S.A. Policy and Procedures:

Conduct

Troop leadership makes every effort to balance Scout-led activities and safety. Our Policy and Procedures outline our policies in this regard.

Our leaders must be registered with the Scouts BSA with background checks and training for the protection of our youth.

Individual trips have permission slips that must be signed in advance. These will outline any additional requirements and allow parents to indicate emergency phone numbers and authorize emergency procedures. In addition, a current health form is required for participation on all trips. These forms require medical disclosure. A doctor’s signature is required for longer trips such as Summer Camp and High Adventure Treks. We also require health insurance information.

Camping Year Round and Summer Camp:

Surviving Fun

There are three things required to have an enjoyable and safe outdoor experience:

• The correct equipment — Review the Scout Handbook and ask for a list from your first year patrol advisor. Troop leadership checks equipment when safety is involved, such as for winter campouts, storms, etc.

  • Each 380 Patrol will be issued permanent patrol gear. The troop Quartermaster regularly inspects and maintains this equipment such as tents, Dutch ovens, tarps, and folding tables. Scouts and Scout Patrols are responsible for treating this equipment with respect, cleaning it before it is returned, and indicating any damage that may have occurred. The patrol can add to this gear themselves, if they choose.

• The right training — The Troop leadership may place training or advancement requirements as a prerequisite for deciding which Scouts may attend an activity, (e.g., passing the Scouts BSA swim check is required for a Scout to attend a water activity). Getting the required training is usually part of advancing through the ranks.

• Scout Spirit — This becomes a very real issue when dealing with a large group of young Scouts. Showing good Scout Spirit will make an outdoor experience fun and exciting for everyone!

Camping with the troop is more fun than you probably imagine and is something you should do if you can. The Staff is made up of men and women who are committed to being a part of the troop and contributing to its health. Everyone pitches in and the workload is shared.

Troop 380 plus Scouts BSA Policy and Procedures:

Years of Parental Experience

These rules/guidelines represent years of experience at Troop 380. They also represent the manner in which the troop intends to ensure a safe and meaningful program. They augment National Scouts BSA rules. If at any time you have a concern about our Policies and Procedures, the conduct of the Troop leadership, parents, or Scouts, please bring them to the attention of the Troop’s Committee Chairman, Scoutmaster or Troop Charter Organization Representative. The Troop Charter Organization Representative is the ‘go-between’ for Troop 380 and the Troop’s charter organization. 

Policy Summary

What follows is a summary of our troop (and B.S.A.) policies concerning camping.

Scout Tenting & Meals — Scouts tent with their patrol in a patrol site separate from the other patrols. Patrols plan their own menus, and cook and eat together as a team. Whenever possible, Scouts share a tent with one other Scout. Adults do not eat or tent with a Scout patrol.

Adult Tenting & Meals — Adults tent with other adults in a staff campsite separate from the youth patrols, but close enough to provide a safety oversight. The staff plans its own menu, and cooks and eats together as a team. 

 Adult/Youth Tenting — Scouts BSA youth protection policies forbid an adult and a youth (below age 18) sharing the same tent. While these youth protection policies allow a parent to tent with their scout (if no other Scout or adult shares the tent), it is troop guideline that Scouts tent with Scouts, and adults with adults. If a parent tents with their scout, it is our experience that the Scout will lose out on many opportunities to make decisions and be part of the patrol.

Smoking/Drinking — Drivers may not smoke while Scouts are in the car. Adults may not smoke or use tobacco products, nor drink alcoholic beverages during a Scout activity. Note this is a Scouts BSA rule. 

Scout Leadership — Adults should not interfere with the functioning of youth leaders, even if they make mistakes (we all learn best from our mistakes). Step in only if it is a matter of immediate safety or if the mistake will be immediately costly. If at all possible, involve a uniformed adult leader first.

Scout Growth — Never do anything for a Scout he can do for himself. Let him make decisions without adult interference. Let him make non-injurious mistakes so he can learn from them. Be willing to help Scouts learn and teach without criticism.

Adult Training & Resources — Scouts BSA provides handbooks for adults and excellent training courses to help us understand the goals of Scouting and how to attain them. The adult manual is called the Scoutmaster's Handbook, and it's worth your time to become familiar with it. Mandatory adult training for individuals who will be active with youth is offered in our area several times a year. It's also a good investment of your time. 

Rationale

Scout camping activities are based on what the Scouts BSA calls the patrol method, where Scouts learn teamwork, leadership, and most camping skills from their peers. It is important that adults not be in the middle of patrol activities such as site selection, tent pitching, meal preparation, and anything else where Scouts get to practice decision-making. Campout parent "drop-ins/day visitors" can take your Scout’s focus off the campout program and are discouraged. Troop 380 desires and needs adults in regular attendance and to help as troop/patrol leaders. Without your help the Scouting program would not be possible! 

When a parent goes on a campout, he or she is automatically included as a temporary member of the Staff. Being on Staff has several benefits — really, really good food and camaraderie while providing an example the Scouts can follow without having to tell them what to do. The Staff tents some distance from the youth ... that way they aren't right next to a Scout patrol where our mere presence could disrupt the learning process.

If you go camping with us, we hope you will visit the patrol sites, talk to your Scout and the other Scouts, ask what's going on and how things are going. Troop 380 would ask that you keep your hands in your pockets and let Scouts do it, ask the Scouts questions rather than giving advice is an excellent teaching tool. At the same time, remember to give the guys room to grow while you enjoy the view.

Don't hesitate to show a Scout how to do something, just don't do it for him. Don't jump in just to prevent a mistake from happening (unless there is a safety concern). Encourage Scouts to make their own decisions ... ask them what they think should be done or how THEY are going to solve a problem. We all learn best from our mistakes and a big part of our job as adults in the troop is to provide them with a SAFE environment in which they can make mistakes.

And above all, remember to let the youth leaders lead. That's their job, not ours.