SCOUTS AND PARENTS:

Some of you are new to scouting. Others of you have had experience in Cub Scouts. Both Cub Scout and Boy Scout programs have the same aims:

  • To build character
  • To foster citizenship
  • To develop fitness

Cub Scouting is designed to prepare younger boys ages 10-1/2 to 18 for life. It emphasizes leadership, advancement, and the skills of life (indoor and outdoor). The Scoutmaster, along with the Troop Committee Chairman, Troop Committee, Assistant Scoutmasters and adult leaders develop the program philosophy. The youth leadership implements the program. Adults always provide supervision and in some cases the implementation of the program.

Boy Scouts learn to teach and lead others. Parents of the Boy Scouts are to participate in camp outs, merit badge counseling, committee and scout meetings, leadership, among other activities.

PARENTS

Please keep this information in your scout file for future reference. There is a lot of material here.

What scouts need to start off with is designating a drawer or two, or box (es), or closet(s), or other special places for Boy Scout activities and storage. You’ll be amazed at how much “stuff” starts accumulating.

It is a good idea to keep the troop telephone list and calendar of leaders and scouts, as well as a medical report (very important for campouts), handy in an organizational notebook containing other important information on your scout’s advancements in rank, merit badge achievements and rank cards.

To organize efficiently, your scout will need a 3” or 4” notebook along with baseball card plastic protectors (9 sections), badge protectors (6 sections) and whole sheet plastic protectors, to hold scout completed merit badges, merit badge cards, rank cards and etc. A few folders would be handy.

NEW SCOUTS

By now you should have your new Boy Scout Handbook loaded with lots of great information. Read it thoroughly. At this point, I also highly recommend that you purchase three other very important books at the council shop. They are the following:

  • “The 2001 Boy Scout Requirements Book”
  • “The Junior Leader Handbook” (This book defines responsibilities of troop leadership positions.)
  • “Boy Scout Field Book”

Also for purchase at the council shop is the “Scout individual worksheet.” It is located on the turnaround shelves as you walk into the shop on the right. The sheet costs about $0.10. On the back of it you will be able to record and see your work in progress. It’s a great tool for reference and keeping yourself organized. It aids in reminding you what you have achieved and what you need to do next. Make sure you record your dates onto your “Individual Scout Worksheets” of all Scout master conferences and Boards of Review. This is very important!