Scouting 101 for Parents

What is Scouting? From a boy ’ s point of view From a parent ’ s point of view

What does a boy see in Boy Scouting Friends Camping Outdoors Travel Fun Excitement Adventure Recognition

Mission of the BSA The mission of the Boy Scouts of America is to prepare young people to make ethical and moral choices over their lifetimes by instilling in them the values of the Scout Oath and Law

BSA Vision Statement The Boy Scouts of America is the nation's foremost youth program of character development and values-based leadership training. In the future Scouting will continue to Offer young people responsible fun and adventure; Instill in young people lifetime values and develop in them ethical character as expressed in the Scout Oath and Law; Train young people in citizenship, service, and leadership; Serve America's communities and families with its quality, values- based program.

Aims of Boy Scouting Citizenship Character Fitness

Methods of Boy Scouting Ideals Patrol Method Outdoors Advancement Association with Adults Personal Growth Leadership Development Uniform

How is Boy Scouting Organized?

Adult Leadership Structure of a Troop Sponsoring Institution Institution Head Chartered Organization Representative Troop Committee Committee Chairman Committee Members Scoutmaster Asst. Scoutmasters

Boy Leadership Structure of a Troop Senior Patrol Leader Asst. Senior Patrol Leader Patrol Leader Asst. PL Patrol Members Patrol Leader Asst. PL Patrol Members Officers Scribe Quartermaster Librarian Historian Instructor Den Chief(s) OA Rep. Bugler Chaplain ’ s Aide Junior Asst. Scoutmaster Patrol Leader Asst. PL New Boy Patrol Members Troop Guide

Badges of Office

Disorganization and chaos can be a very promising sign in a Boy Scout Troop IF it means that the boys are planning and running things and not the adults Evaluating Leadership

Differences between Cub Scouting and Boy Scouting Cub ScoutingBoy Scouting Direct LeaderAdult (Den Ldr)Youth (Patrol Leader) Advancement Who ApprovesParents/Web.Ldr.Boys/Tp.Adults/Strangers ScheduleSchool YearBOY’S OWN PACE LeadershipLargely FemaleLargely Male Age

Cub ScoutingBoy Scouting OutdoorInfrequentMonthly Camp/Hike Family CampTroop Camp Pack Camp Who Plans?AdultsYouth

Boy Scout Advancement Scout Tenderfoot Scout Second Class Scout First Class Scout Star Scout Life Scout Eagle Scout

The Boy Scout Advancement Process The Boy Scout learns The Boy Scout is tested The Boy Scout is reviewed The Boy Scout is recognized

Scout Joining requirements Familiar with Oath/ Law/ Motto /Slogan Other elements of Scouting With parent/guardian, complete exercises in “ How to protect your children from child abuse: A parent ’ s guide ” Scoutmaster ’ s Conference

Tenderfoot/Second Class/First Class Outdoor Skills –Camping, Cooking, Hiking, Outdoor Living & Ethics –Weather safety, risk assessment & mitigation First Aid Personal Fitness (exercise, swimming, life saving) Healthy eating/habits Invite or assist another boy to join Boy Scouting Scout Spirit (incl. Duty to God) Scoutmaster ’ s Conference Board of Review

Star Scout 4 months active as First Class Scout 6 Merit Badges (4 from Eagle Required List) Position of Responsibility for 4 months Participate in a Service Project Scout Spirit Scoutmaster ’ s Conference Board of Review

Life Scout 6 months active as Star Scout 11 Merit Badges (7 from Eagle Required List) Position of Responsibility for 6 months Participate in a Service Project Scout Spirit Scoutmaster ’ s Conference Board of Review

Eagle Scout 6 months active as Life Scout 21 Merit Badges (13 Required) Position of Responsibility for 6 months Eagle Service Project Scout Spirit Scoutmaster ’ s Conference Board of Review

Eagle Required Merit Badges First Aid Citizenship in the Community Citizenship in the Nation Citizenship in the World Communications Personal Fitness Cooking Environmental Science Personal Management Camping Family Life Swimming OR Hiking OR Cycling Lifesaving OR Emergency Preparedness

Eagle Service Project While a Life Scout, plan, develop, and give leadership to others in a service project helpful to any religious institution, any school, or your community. (The project should benefit an organization other than Boy Scouting.) A project proposal must be approved by the organization benefiting from the effort, your unit leader and unit committee and the council or district before you start. You must use the Eagle Scout Service Project Workbook, BSA publication No , in meeting this requirement. (To learn more about the Eagle Scout service project, see the Guide to Advancement Chapter 9)

Earning Merit Badges 1.Select the Merit Badge 2.Obtain Scoutmaster Signiture (sign the blue card) 3.Identify a registered counselor. Contact and talk with the counselor 4.Do the work 5.Meet with the counselor and obtain approval (sign the blue card) 6.Bring card back to Scoutmaster and discuss experience 7.Scoutmaster signs your copy of blue card and returns it to you 8.Troop enters it into Internet Advancement and obtains badge

Typical Progress Scout Member Tenderfoot 11 Member 2nd Class APL/Scr/Lib/Hist. 1st Class 12 PL/QM/DenChf/ Star PL/Instr./ASPL/Guide Life SPL/ASPL/PL/Instr/OA Rep/Guide Eagle SPL/ASPL/Instr/OA Rep Eagle II JASM/Instr/OA Rep All requirements must be completed before the boy’s 18th birthday Age Job

Eagle Palms 3 months active as Eagle Scout (or since last Palm) 5 additional merit badges for each palm –Bronze 5, gold 10, silver 15 Demonstrate and display leadership ability Scout Spirit Scoutmaster ’ s Conference Board of Review

Special Opportunities Religious Awards Order of the Arrow National Youth Leader Training - run by BMC Camp Staff Philmont/High Adventure National Jamboree Hornaday Award Lifesaving Awards Eagle Scout Scholarships

Cub Scouting Tiger Cubs ( age 6 /1st grade) Wolf (age 7/2nd grade) Bear (age 8/3rd grade) Webelos I (age 9/4th grade) Webelos II (age 10/5th grade)

Venturing Age 13 & finished 8th grade or age 14 Can be coed If First Class Boy Scout can continue toward Eagle Scout Separate recognition plan leading toward Silver Award and Ranger Award Possible Areas of Emphasis –High adventure, Sea Scouting, Community Service, Religious Service

Scouting is successful if We improve –Citizenship –Character –Fitness Everything else is means to an end and icing on the cake

Questions