Senior Patrol Leaders

The initial cost of joining Troop 770 is $55.00 per scout which includes his Boy Scout Handbook, Hat, Beret, Neckerchief, Class B Polo-shirt plus dues for the remaining year.

Replacement cost for lost items: Hat $10.00 / Beret $15.00 / Neckerchief $7.00 / Polo-shirt $20.00

October 2004

It is the purpose of the Boy Scouts Of America to provide an effective program designed to instill within the youth desirable qualities of character, to train them in the responsibilities of participating citizenship, and to help develop their personal fitness, providing this country with citizens who:

1. Are physically, mentally and emotionally fit.

2. Have a high degree of self-reliance as evidence in such qualities as initiative, courage and resourcefulness.

3. Have personal and stable values firmly based on religious concepts

4. Have the desire and skills to help others.

5. Understand the principles of the American social, economic, and government systems.

6. Are knowledgeable about and take pride in their American heritage and understand America’s role in the world.

7 Have a keen respect for the basic rights of all people.

8. Are prepared to fulfill the varied responsibilities of participating in and giving leadership to American society and in other forums of the world.

It is the mission of the Boy Scouts Of America to serve others by helping to instill values in young people and, in other ways, to prepare them to make ethical choices during their lifetime in achieving their full potential. The values we strive to instill are based on those found in the Scout Oath and Law.

Aims

Boy Scouting works toward three aims. One is growth in moral strength and character. We may define this as what the boy is himself: his personal qualities, his values, his outlook.

A second aim is participating citizenship. Used broadly, citizenship means the boy’s relationship to others. He comes to learn of his obligations to other people, to the society he lives, to the government that presides over that society.

A third aim of Boy Scouting is development of physical, mental, and emotional fitness. Fitness includes the body (well-tuned and healthy), the mind (able to think and solve problems), and emotions (self control, courage and self-respect).

The methods are designed to accomplish these aims.

Methods

Advancement- Scouting provides a series of surmountable obstacles and steps to over come them through the advancement process. The Scout plans his advancement and progresses at his own pace as he overcomes each challenge. More is discussed about Advancement later in this guide.

Adult Association- Boys learn from the examples set by their adult leaders. Troop leadership may be male or female and association with adults of high character is encouraged at this stage in a young man’s development.

Personal Growth- As Scouts plan their activity, and progress toward their goals, they experience personal growth. The good turn concept is a major part of the personal growth method of Scouting. Boys grow as they participate in community service projects and do good turns for others.

Ideals- The Ideals of Scouting are spelled out in the Scout Oath, Law, Motto and Slogan. The Scout measures himself against these ideals and continually tries to improve. The goals are high, and as he reaches for them, he has some control over what he becomes.

Patrols- The patrol method gives Scouts an experience in group living and participating in citizenship. It places a certain amount of responsibility on young shoulders and teaches boys how to accept it. The patrol method allows Scouts to act in small groups where they can easily relate to each other. These small groups determine troop activities through their elected leaders.

Outdoors- Boy Scouting is designed to take place in the outdoors. It is in the outdoors that Scouts share responsibilities and learn to live with each other. It is here where the skills and activities practiced at troop meetings come alive. More is discussed about the outdoor program later in this guide.

Leadership Development- Boy Scouting encourages boys to learn and practice leadership skills. Every Scout has the opportunity to participate in both shared and total leadership situations. Understanding the concepts of leadership helps a boy accept the leadership roles of others and guides him toward the citizenship aim of Scouting.

Uniform- The uniform makes the Scout troop visible as a force of good and creates a positive youth image in the community. Boy Scouting is an action program, and wearing the uniform is an action that shows each Scout’s commitment to the aims and purposes of Scouting. The uniform gives the Scout identity in a world brotherhood youth who believe in the same ideals. More is discussed about the uniform later in this guide.

Troop 770 is a boy-run troop. Leadership is one of the methods of Scouting. Every boy will have an opportunity to participate in both shared and total leadership. The meetings are planned and carried out by the patrol leaders' council. The patrol leader assigns all duties for patrol activities. Understanding the concepts of leadership helps the boy accept the leadership of others and helps him to grow into a more responsible adult. The troop organization chart on the following page outlines the complete organization of the troop. The following is an outline of the duties of the key leaders within the troop:

The Scoutmaster is the adult leader responsible for the image and program of the troop. The Scoutmaster and his or her assistant Scoutmasters work directly with the Scouts. The general responsibilities of the Scoutmaster include:

Assistant Scoutmasters are recruited by the Scoutmaster and approved by the troop committee to assist the Scoutmaster in the operation of the troop. Assistant Scoutmasters are assigned program tasks by the Scoutmaster and provide guidance to the boy leadership. He or she also provides the required two deep leadership ( two adult leaders present at every Boy Scout activity).

The senior patrol leader (SPL) is the top boy leader in the troop. He leads the patrol leaders' council and, in consultation with the Scoutmaster, appoints other junior leaders and assigns specific responsibilities as needed.

The assistant senior patrol leader (ASPL) fills in for the SPL in his absence. He is also responsible for training and giving direction to the quartermaster, scribe, historian, librarian and instructors.

The patrol leaders (PL) are responsible for giving leadership to the members of their patrols. They are their representation on the patrol leaders' council. The PL is also responsible for holding monthly patrol meetings outside of the regular troop meetings.

Assistant patrol leaders help the PL run the patrol and fill in for him in his absence.

Scouts in uniform are conscious of their rank and make a greater effort to advance. Only the uniform provides a place for display of badges - important symbols of achievement. Scouts have more fun, stay longer, and feel greater pride in advancement.

It is not the purpose of the Scout uniform to hide the differences between the boys or make them feel that they are all the same.

But there is one way in which all Scouts are alike. Whenever a Scout sees another person in a Scout uniform he knows he is like that person because both have committed themselves principles of the Scout Oath and Law. The Scout Oath and Law bind all Scouts of the world together in a common purpose.

Beyond accenting the common bond between Scouts, by wearing the uniform Scouts are declaring their faith and commitment to some important beliefs that bind them to all people. It is a way of making visible their belief in God, their loyalty to our country and their commitment to helping other people who need them.

2. By investing in a uniform, a Scout and his parents are making a commitment to take scouting seriously.

5. Scouts in uniform create a strong, positive youth image in the neighborhood, thus helping to counteract the negative feeling some adults have about youth.

Official placement of insignia may be found on the inside front and back cover of the Scout Handbook.

Advancement is the process by which youth members progress through the ranks in the Scouting program by the gradual mastery of Scouting skills. Ranks are simply a means to an end, not an end in themselves. Everything boys do to advance and earn these ranks, from the day they join until the day they leave the program, should be designed to help boys have an exciting and meaningful experience.

A Scout learns by doing. As he learns, he grows in ability to do his part as a member of the patrol and the troop. As he develops knowledge and skill, he is asked to teach others. In this way, he begins to develop leadership.

His patrol leader, Scoutmaster, assistant Scoutmaster, a troop committee member or a member of his troop, may test a Scout on requirements. The Scoutmaster maintains a list of those qualified to test and pass candidates..

After a Scout has completed all requirements for a rank, he has a board of review. For Tenderfoot, Second Class, First Class, Star, Life and Eagle Palms, members of the troop committee conduct the review. Members of the district advancement committee conduct the Eagle board of review.

When the board of review has certified a boy's advancement, he deserves to receive recognition as soon as possible. This should be done at a ceremony at the next troop meeting. The certificate for his next rank will be presented to him at the next troop court of honor.

As stated above, when a Scout advances, he should be recognized as soon as possible - preferably at the next unit meeting. He is recognized a second time at a public ceremony called a court of honor.

The main purposes of the court of honor are to finish formal recognition for achievement and to provide incentive for other Scouts to advance.

Troop 770 has formal courts of honor four times a year, at the end of each quarter. All families are asked to attend and guests are certainly welcome. Every boy who advances in a quarter deserves to be recognized in front of his family. The court of honor is the boy's special night.

Scouting is effective whenever we take advantage of its truth: The place where Scouting works best is also the place that boys want the most. The outdoors. There are a number of good reasons why the outdoor program is so special; here are the four that are especially good:

1. The outdoors is the best place for learning outdoor skills. How could it be otherwise? A Scout who tried to boil a potato on the gymnasium floor would be in hot water for sure - not to mention the boy who tried learning to swim by reading a book.

2. The outdoors is a great place for learning something about living with others. When Scouts walk on the same trail, cook and eat together, and share triumphs and troubles together, they are going to find out some important things about, say, patience, respect for other points of view, doing their full share, making a friend more easily, and saying no without losing one. Skills like these are among the "personal growth" skills we want from every Scout. The outdoors is where they grow up best.

3. On the trail or in camp, the boy's leaders will be challenged by the real thing - getting their patrols fed and sheltered, keeping them warm and safe, solving the problems they can solve, and knowing how to get help for those they can't. It's a time when leadership skills can deepen, patrols grow closer, and the troop grows stronger.

4. The outdoors is also a place where a Scout can get closer to the natural world around him - the land, the forests and their wildlife, the lakes and rivers, the mountains and the seas. Here, in the outdoors, he will learn of the "land ethic" - the understanding and respect for the environment we all share, and he will develop an active concern for it's health and a willingness to work to keep it healthy.

Troop 770 has a very active outdoor program and all boys are encouraged to participate. Our program includes monthly weekend campouts, annual long-term summer camp (1 week), day hikes and other outdoor activities. Troop 770 also sponsors an annual family campout where all families are encouraged to participate. Families are welcome on monthly campouts, if space allows. However, the troop will still function as a unit.

Child abuse is a major problem affecting our society. Each year more than 2 million cases of suspected child abuse are reported. This means that 1 percent of American children are experiencing physical abuse, 1 percent are experiencing sexual abuse, and 2 to 5 percent are experiencing emotional maltreatment or some form of neglect. Because of the significance of this social problem, The Boy Scouts of America has declared child abuse as one of the "unacceptables" to receive special attention by those involved in the Scouting program.

The BSA has developed a five-point plan to combat child abuse and to improve the environment in which young people live. The key elements of this strategy include the following points:

• Educating Scouting volunteers, parents and Scouts themselves to aid in the detection and prevention of child abuse.

• Establishing leader-selection procedures to prevent individuals with a history of child abuse from entering the BSA leadership ranks.

• Establishing policies that minimize the opportunities for child abuse to occur in the program of the Boy Scouts of America.

• Encouraging Scouts to report improper behavior in order to identify offenders quickly.

The Boy Scouts of America has developed materials for use in the Scouting program that provide essential information to members and their families. A detachable booklet in the front of The Boy Scout Handbook, "How to Protect Your Child from Child Abuse and Drug Abuse: A Parents Guide," provides information to help families to increase self-protection skills.

Troop 770 is committed to following all guidelines of the Youth Protection program. Any suspected offenses of the Youth protection program must be reported to the Committee Chairman and the Scoutmaster. All incidents reported to the Committee Chairman or the Scoutmaster will be reported to the Council Executive. All reports are taken seriously and appropriate action is taken to ensure the safety of the youth.

Youth Protection can be taken online. We require all leaders of the troop to have this training. Click here to start.

1. Parents or Guardians of all applicants must meet with the Scoutmaster, an Assistant Scoutmaster or the Committee Chairman for a personal interview before a boy will be registered with the Troop. The Troop cannot function without the active involvement of every parent. Accordingly, the Troop must ask each parent to volunteer for a committee or adult leader position, participate in at least one outing or activity annually in a supervisory capacity and sit on monthly Boards of Review for the Scouts on a rotating basis.

2. The Troop Committee Chairman shall convened an annual Parents Meeting in late October. The purpose of the meeting is to approve plans for the ensuing year, including the next year's Activity Calendar, proposed budget and associated fund-raising activities, approve key Committee officers, adult leaders and Troop By-Laws. This meeting is mandatory for the parents/guardians of all boys currently registered with the Troop. Anyone who is unable to attend the meeting must notify the Committee Chairman in advance.

Persons to fill these positions will be elected at the annual Parents' meeting. There shall be no limit to the number of terms for any of these positions.

4. Other Committee Positions. In addition to the Key Committee Positions, the Troop Committee Chairman will seek persons to carry out numerous other tasks such as: Uniform Exchange, Ceremonies Coordinator, Awards/Incentives, Transportation Coordinator, Summer Camp Coordinator, Leader Training Coordinator, Data Processing Coordinator.

5. Committee Meetings. The Key Committee Officers shall meet regularly to discuss Troop Business. The Troop Committee Chairman who will provide a agenda for the meeting. The meetings shall be open to parents, registered members of Troop 770 and non-key Committee officers.

6. Parents shall be responsible for ensuring the transportation of their sons to campouts and other Troop activities. Carpools will be coordinated wherever possible, however the ultimate responsibility will lie with the parents. All drivers must carry liability insurance of at least $50,000 (each person), $100,000 (each accident) and $50,000 (property damage). All riders must wear seat belts while traveling as required by Arkansas law. Parents and adult leaders must provide updated information about their vehicle(s) and associated insurance to the Troop annually.

7. The Scoutmaster shall have the authority and discretion to suspend any boy who refuses to carry out the instructions of the Scoutmaster or his designated representative. In the event such a suspension occurs, the parents/guardians of the boy will be contacted immediately and will be required to make arrangements to take custody of the boy. The Troop shall not be liable for any costs involved; these will be solely the parents/guardians' responsibility. Any boy who has been suspended may be reinstated at the discretion of the Scoutmaster, but only after the boy and his parents have discussed the situation in detail with the Scoutmaster and are prepared to recommend a course of action to ensure that the behavior will not be repeated.

8. The parents are responsible for picking up their sons after a Troop activity. If a boy is to be picked up by someone other than a family member or the parent of another Scout in the Troop, the adult leader must be informed by the parent in writing prior to the Troop activity (e.g., a note on the permission slip for that activity).

1. Yearly dues shall be $40.00 (forty dollars) with $10.00 (ten dollars) added to the first year’s dues to offset the cost involved for uniform and equipment provided by the troop.

- Parents and Scouts are encouraged to donate used uniform items to the Troop (with the appropriate patches still sewed on-the Troop will supply the patches for the new shirts)

3. Summer Camp costs approx. $165.00. Each Scout will be encouraged to earn this money himself.

4. Each Scout shall pay for his own food for each campout or other activity. Patrols will assume responsibility for purchasing their food for campouts. One person shall buy the food and the other patrol members shall reimburse him for the expense before the campout. The Troop shall not be involved in reimbursing Scouts for food expenses.

All complaints and/or inquiries shall be directed to the Committee Chairman or Scoutmaster.

The By-Laws as set forth above were reviewed by the Troop Committee and approved by a majority vote during the Annual Parents Meeting on July 19, 1999 as mandated by General Rule 2.

CODE OF CONDUCT

Youth Member Behavior Guidelines
The Boy Scouts of America is a values-based youth development organization that helps young people learn positive attributes of character, citizenship, and personal fitness. The BSA has the expectation that all participants in the Scouting program will relate to each other in accord with the principles embodied in the Scout Oath and Law.

One of the developmental tasks of childhood is to learn appropriate behavior. Children are not born with an innate sense of propriety and they need guidance and direction. The example set by positive adult role models is a powerful tool for shaping behavior and a tool that is stressed in Scouting.

Misbehavior by a single youth member in a Scouting unit may constitute a threat to the safety of the individual who misbehaves as well as to the safety of other unit members. Such misbehavior constitutes an unreasonable burden on a Scout unit and cannot be ignored.

Member Responsibilities
All members of the Boy Scouts of America are expected to conduct themselves in accordance with the principles set forth in the Scout Oath and Law. Physical violence, hazing, bullying, theft, verbal insults, and drugs and alcohol have no place in the Scouting program and may result in the revocation of a Scout's membership in the unit.

If confronted by threats of violence or other forms of bullying from other youth members, Scouts should seek help from their unit leaders or parents.

Unit Responsibilities
Adult leaders of Scouting units are responsible for monitoring the behavior of youth members and interceding when necessary. Parents of youth members who misbehave should be informed and asked for assistance in dealing with it.

The BSA does not permit the use of corporal punishment by unit leaders when disciplining youth members.

The unit committee will review repetitive or serious incidents of misbehavior in consultation with the parents of the child to determine a course of corrective action including possible revocation of the youth's membership in the unit.

If problem behavior persists, units may revoke a Scout's membership in that unit. When a unit revokes a Scout's membership, it will promptly notify the council of the action.

The unit will inform the Scout executive about all incidents that result in a physical injury or involve allegations of sexual misconduct by a youth member with another youth member.

Each Cub Scout den and Webelos Scout den and each chartered Cub Scout pack, Boy Scout troop, Varsity Scout team, and Venturing crew shall have one leader, 21 years of age or older, who shall be registered and serve as the unit or den leader. A unit leader may not serve simultaneously in any other position within the same unit. The head of the chartered organization or chartered organization representative and the local council must approve the registration of the unit or den leader on the appropriate form.

Primary reference: Rules and Regulations of the Boy Scouts of America

Agreement:
All Scouts and Adult Leaders are representatives of their community, family and local Scouting Council. Therefore, all Scouts and their parents are asked to sign this Code of Conduct and Statement of Understanding as a condition for membership and participation, with the further understanding, that serious misconduct or infraction of behavior rules may result in expulsion from any activity or meeting. We want each Scout to be responsible for their own behavior, and only when necessary will the procedure be invoked to send a Scout home.

ALL SCOUTS ARE EXPECTED TO LIVE BY THE BOY SCOUT OATH AND LAW AT ALL TIMES AND TO USE THESE IDEALS AS GUIDES FOR THEIR BEHAVIOR.

I promise on my honor as a Scout that I will set a good example by keeping myself neatly dressed and presentable.
The scout uniform will be worn at all times when designated by the Unit Leaders.

I will be responsible for keeping my tent and personal gear labeled, clean, and neat.
I will respect the property of others and will not use them without permission.
I will demonstrate respect for Troop equipment, public property, and will be personally responsible for cleanliness and any loss, breakage, or vandalism of property.
Serious or repetitive behavior violations by scouts including, but not limited to, the possession or use of tobacco, alcohol, cheating, gambling, dishonesty, fighting, and cursing may result in revocation of the youth's membership in the unit. Unacceptable behavior also includes possession of fireworks, traditional & martial arts weapons, possession of pornography or possession of any non-prescription drug. (Any OTC or Rx drug must be declared & handled per BSA rules.)
Scouts must learn to respect the rights and property of others. Remember to keep your hands to yourself. The tongue is a vicious weapon, think before you speak. Remember the golden rule:
"DO UNTO OTHERS AS YOU WOULD HAVE THEM DO UNTO YOU".

I PROMISE ON MY HONOR AS A SCOUT THAT I WILL DO MY BEST TO LIVE UP TO THE SCOUT OATH AND LAW AND AGREE TO FOLLOW THIS CODE OF CONDUCT.

SIGNATURE OF SCOUT__________________________________________Date:_______________

SIGNATURE OF PARENT_________________________________________Date:_______________

à Sleeping bag	à Mess Kit	à Sewing Kit	Do Not Bring
à Foam Pad	à Cup	à Flashlight	· Radios
à Sweater	à Soap	à Scout Knife	· Snack Food
à Rain gear	à Toothbrush	à Watch	· Electronic Games
à Clothes	à Toothpaste	à Personal ID	· Firearms
à Canteen	à Comb	à Notebook	· Sling Shots
à Silverware	à Washcloth	à Pen / Pencil	· Fireworks
	à Towel	à Boy Scout Handbook	· Lighters