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Boy Scout Troop 494 Guidelines |
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Boy Scout Troop 494 Guidelines Revised February 26, 2008 Troop 494 will follow the National BSA and Northern Star Council rules and policies in our troop activities. However, there are a number of points that are not covered by those policies or we have chosen to be more restrictive, therefore we have developed the following troop guidelines. Two Deep Leadership: It is the policy of Boy Scouts of America that all troop activities have at least two adult leaders supervising those activities. Troop 494 supports that rule 100%, and has established the following rules: Camp-outs: To insure we maintain two deep leadership during an over night camp-out, a minimum of four (4) adults (over 21 years of age) are required on all troop over night camp-outs. An exception to this rule would apply to High Adventure Camps where group size is limited and the length of trip would make having four adult leaders impractical. Merit Badges: When Troop 494 sponsors a merit badge class, as required by the BSA policy, a minimum of two non-related adults will be present during all class sessions. Other Troop Outings: As with other troop activities we must maintain 2 deep adult leadership, depending on the activities planned, the number of adults may be adjusted, but in most cases we will require that at least 2 adults are present. Drivers: Drivers carrying passengers to all campouts must be 18 years of age or older with the following exception: a driver may be under 18 if no others are in the vehicle other than immediate family members.
Licensed Scouts under 18 that drive to campouts or out of town events unaccompanied must have a permission slip signed by their parent stating their expected arrival and departure times. Other than the stated arrival and departure times, their vehicle is to remain parked and unused. Due to limited parking and safety concerns at many campouts and events, driving by Scouts under 18 is strongly discouraged. See our troop website for Driver Permission Form. Troop Meeting Place: The Troop meeting place is a very valuable asset, especially with a large Troop; a suitable meeting place is very hard to find at a cost that we can afford. Due to this the utmost care is to be used in maintaining an excellent relationship with the meeting space provider. In order to accomplish this, the following rules apply to the meeting place: 1) Upon entering the building, Scouts shall proceed directly to the meeting room. Scouts shall remain in the meeting room during the meeting unless planned outside activities are in progress. 2) Scouts shall only use a designated rest room if more than one is available; a patrol may be designated to clean the rest room after each meeting if needed. 3) No activities such as inline skating, roller-skating, remote controlled cars, etc are to take place in the parking lot unless it is an approved adult supervised activity. 4) Upon leaving the meeting the scout is to expediently take the most direct route out of the building. Knives and other Cutting Tools: Only Folding Pocket or Folding Lock Blade knives with a blade length of 4 1/2" or less are allowed at any scouting activity. No Fixed Blade Sheath Knives will be allowed. The only exception to this rule would be Fish Filet Knives. A filet knife may be used for and ONLY for the purpose of cleaning fish caught while at camp. The knife may not be worn on a belt or carried while fishing except in a tackle box. The Scouts will NOT be allowed to purchase knives, axes, hatchets, tomahawks, saws, etc. of any size or description while at camp (unless his parent is at camp). If a cutting tool is needed while at camp and the scout does not have one, the adult leaders will issue the scout a tool for the activity. All Scouts and adult leaders are required to carry a "Totem Chip" with them while using a knife or other cutting tools (Axes, Bow Saws, etc.) in camp for activities other than cooking. Electronics: Personal radios, tape/CD players are allowed at scouting activities but MUST be used with headphones. Scouts are not permitted to bring video games, cell phones, two-way radios or other electronic gear. Aside from the disruptive effect they have at campsites or other activities, they rarely survive the experience. However with an agreement between the SPL, PLC and the Scoutmaster a "Just For Fun Only" campout may be permitted. Uniforms: The khaki BSA uniform shirt is the primary uniform (Class A Uniform) of Troop 494. The khaki uniform shirt is to be worn with a neckerchief and slide at all troop events that are designated as Class A uniform events. For events such as a troop Court of Honor, Community Service projects if designated, etc; the Merit Badge Sash shall be worn as part of the Formal Class A uniform. Official BSA pants is optional along with other uniform accessories. The khaki shirt and patches are sold at the Twin City Scout Shops, the Council Scout Offices, or White Bear Variety. The Class A Uniform is required at all National, Northern Star Council and Manitou District official events unless exempted by the Troop Committee. Examples of these are Jamboree’s, Camporee’s, Show and Do, Merit Badge Day, Roundtable, Order of the Arrow events, etc. The Class A Uniform is required for travel to and from all BSA National Camps and events as well as all Northern Star Council and Manitou District camps and official events unless exempted by the Troop Committee. Examples of these are Northern Tier, Philmont, Sea Base, Camporee’s, Show and Do, Merit Badge Day, Roundtable, Order of the Arrow events, etc. Our troop has designed an orange tee shirt, a black sweatshirt, and the troop Tomahawk tee shirt as the official troop alternate uniforms (Class B Uniform) for troop activities. The alternate uniform may be worn at meetings and events that are not specifically designated as Class A events. In the event that a Class B uniform is not available for some reason, then the Class A uniform is always acceptable. For questions on proper patch placement on the khaki uniforms please refer to the Scout Handbook. Inside the front and back cover show the full-scale patch placement locations and spacing. It will be the policy of Troop 494 that if a scout comes to a meeting without either the Class A or B uniform, he will be reminded to check the calendar before the meeting and asked to perform a service to the troop. Baseball caps other than "official" BSA caps are not part of the scout uniform and therefore are not allowed at troop meetings. The campout leader prior to departure for the campout will designate the uniforms for campouts. Any scout without the proper uniform for the trip will not be allowed to leave with the troop. Camouflaged clothing will not be allowed at any troop meetings or any camps such as Tomahawk, Spring or Fall Camporees, or any other Official Scouting type functions. Camouflaged clothing will be allowed on Troop 494 campouts where the troop is solely responsible for the camp out program and activities. Caps are acceptable as part of the Class A scout uniform if the cap is an official BSA cap. Any of the caps from one of the BSA camps or the official BSA uniform caps are acceptable as part of the Troop Class B uniform. Caps, clothing, or accessories advertising Drugs, Alcohol, Tobacco, or in poor taste are never acceptable for scouts or adults. Pop & Food: Scout will not be allowed to drink beverages during the troop meetings, unless the beverage is provided by the troop as part of our activities. They are free to purchase pop from the vending machines at the end of the meeting as long as it is OK with their parents. On camp-outs, the scouts are allowed to bring their own pop and snacks. We ask that the amounts brought be reasonable for the length of the camp-out. No food or drink is ever allowed inside the tents. If food is brought on a tent camp-out it must be kept in a hard sided cooler or container (Playmate size coolers are preferred), that can not be opened using only one hand. This policy is to prevent our camps from being invaded by animals like bear and raccoons. Discipline Policy: All members of the troop are expected to live by the Scout Oath, Law, Motto, Slogan and Outdoor Code as written in the Boy Scout Handbook. The Scouts will treat each other and all adult leaders with respect. If any problems are noted among the Scouts, leaders will attempt to resolve the situation immediately. If there is an ongoing problem, parents may be contacted. Scouts may be sent home from outings for unacceptable behavior at parent's expense. Discipline procedure may include any or all of the following: (a) The Scout may be given a verbal warning. (b) The Patrol Leader with Adult Leader may have a conference with the Scout. (c) The Senior Patrol Leader & Scoutmaster may have a conference with the Scout. (d) The Scout may be removed from the meeting or function and may be required to attend a Scoutmaster Conference with a parent before he can attend another Scout function. (e) Perform additional Troop assigned duties to qualify for next rank advancement. (f) Suspension from all troop activities for a period of time. (g) Expulsion from Troop. The Troop Committee and Scout Leadership are committed to making Scouting a positive experience for all. To do this we will need your support to ensure that negative behavior is discouraged. If your son is disciplined, please counsel him, don’t admonish the Scout Leader. Note: If someone feels they are unjustly picked on, please report to the Scoutmaster or troop Committee Chair. Troop Dues: To help pay for normal Troop operating expenses, a $25.00 fee will be assessed annually on May 1 of each year to each Scout in the Troop. This fee may be paid with Scout Bucks or payment can be made directly to the Troop treasurer. The purpose of this fee is to assure that Troop expenses are shared equally among the Scouts. Typical troop operating expenses include but are not limited to rank advancement supplies, maintenance and replacement of Troop equipment, purchase of new equipment, postage, meeting supplies, newsletter costs, etc. The amount of the fee is to be reviewed annually by the Troop Committee and adjusted to fit the annual budget. Troop fund raising activities may also be conducted to cover expenses not covered by the annual fee. Fund Raising Activities: All scouts are expected to participate in the troop fund raising efforts. We conduct two types of fund raising activities, 1) troop funds (for camp equipment, troop activity fees, etc.), and 2) shared funds where a portion of the money earned is deposited in the scout bucks account of the scouts that participate in the activity. At the beginning of each fund raising activity, an assessment is done by the troop committee to determine what the need is for the funds raised. The scouts are then notified of how the money is to be used and divided. If the scout chooses to not participate, it is suggested that the family make a cash donation to make up for troop funds not earned. Scouting can be an expensive activity for families and this is why we make every effort to provide a number of opportunities each year for the scouts to earn money to pay their own way to the various activities. We are a self-sustaining organization and therefore we must generate our own income to operate the troop. Scout Bucks: Scout Bucks are the money that the scouts earn as part of the troop fund raising activities. For each fund raising activity the troop committee determines the percentage of profits that the scouts will earn from their participation in the fundraiser. That percentage is based on the expected outcome of the fundraiser, the anticipated financial needs of the troop. The troop Scout Buck Administrator then records the amount earned by each scout and deposits those funds in a bank account until the funds are needed. Scout Bucks earned through fundraising programs may be used to pay for camping fees, camping equipment, Scout uniforms, Eagle Court of Honor expenses, Troop-sponsored fun nights, registration fees and Boy’s Life Magazine subscriptions. Voucher slips available from the Treasurer must be filled out and attached to the receipts for reimbursement out of the Scout Bucks account. A Scouts scout bucks may be used for their parent(s) or guardians camping fees and uniforms etc. provided that the Scout agrees to the charge. Because the scout bucks have been earned during troop fund raising activities, when the Scout leaves the troop, all unspent earned scout bucks revert back to the troop. The Scout will not receive the earned funds upon leaving the troop. However, the funds may be transferred to another family member in the Troop. Also, if a Scout becomes an adult registered leader within the Troop, the Scout may transfer funds from the Scout account to his adult leader account. If the Scout transfers to another Troop, the Treasurer will issue a check to that Troop for deposit in the Scout Bucks account with that Troop. All Scout bucks that revert to the Troop shall be placed in a Scout Buck account named "Campership". Campership Scout Buck Account: Forfeited Scout Buck money and other Troop funds may be used for camperships. Money in the Campership account money is intended to be used for supporting camping and other scouting purchases by Scouts and Scouters that may not have the ability to fund these costs otherwise. Disbursements from this fund are to be made only after approval by a committee (Campership Committee) of two registered leaders of the Troop; the Campership Committee shall include the Troop Committee Chair and one other unaffiliated person. The unaffiliated person shall be designated by the Troop Committee Chair and may not be a beneficiary of the funds disbursed in any manner. In the event that the Troop Committee Chair would be a beneficiary of the funds (he/she or a Scout in their family that is benefiting would make them a beneficiary), he/she shall disqualify themselves from the Campership Committee and the non-benefiting member shall choose a replacement member. The Campership Committee may consult with the Scoutmaster as needed. All discussions regarding requests for funds shall remain confidential with only the Campership Committee, Scoutmaster, and Troop Treasurer (the Troop Treasure only transfers the funds to the recipients account) having knowledge of the grant. The Campership Committee must unanimously agree to award the funds in order for a beneficiary to receive the funds. The recipient of the funds should be active in the Troop and make their best effort to fund their scouting activities by participating in Troop fundraising activities to the best of their ability. Being active in the Troop is defined by regularly participating in Troop meetings, activities, and community service. Each request for Campership funds shall be considered on an individual basis. The Campership Committee may request, or work with the parent or guardian, on a plan on how the recipient will participate in fund raising over the coming months to defray the cost of the event that they are seeking funds for. In the case that a short-term event occurs just prior to the need for funds, the Campership Committee may waive this requirement (examples would be, death in family, loss of wage earners job, accident, house fire, etc.). For funds requests for National High Adventure Camps or summer camp (Tomahawk) the recipient must apply to the Council for Campership funds prior to receiving Troop Campership funds. Typical uses of the funds disbursed to individuals would be to purchase required camping equipment, fund troop campouts, summer camp (Tomahawk), uniforms and National High Adventure camping (Northern Tier, Philmont, and SeaBase). Funds also may be used to pay for Scouts and Scouters attendance at approved training functions such as Junior Leader Training (JLTC), and University of Scouting. The Troop Committee annually, at a minimum, shall review the balance of the Campership account and may transfer surpluses in the account to a troop account to be used for general troop operating costs or special purchases. A minimum balance should be maintained in the Campership account to cover anticipated needs of needy Scouts or Scouters. Troop Finances: The Troop checking and savings accounts will be maintained by the Troop Treasurer. The accounts will have access by the Treasurer, Committee Chair, and Scoutmaster. The savings account is the Scout Bucks earned by the Scouts participating in fundraising programs, or funds deposited directly, and individually recorded on a software package such as Quicken. There may also be accounts maintained for adults as well. As campouts and activities occur, the Treasurer, acting as Scout Bucks Administrator, will deduct the cost of the activity from each individual’s account. Depending on the activity, funds may be deducted months prior to the outing. Scouts must have funds in their Scout Bucks account to cover campout fees before the campout occurs. Scout Bucks balances are available from the Treasurer, and detailed statements are printed periodically and are available at Troop meetings As no two outings are alike, the following guidelines should be followed regarding cancellations: o Some campouts or high adventure trips require deposits or partial payment fees months in advance. These types of activities will have a date specified for deadline to cancel without fee. Cancellations after this date will be required to pay the fee unless the Scout or adult sells his spot to another Scout or adult. o All campouts that require food purchase have a deadline of the Wednesday prior to the campout for canceling. Those canceling after this date will be charged for the food in addition to the facility fees. o Rates for Scouts and adults will be determined by the Camping Chair and/or the coordinator of the event, and approved by the Troop Committee. o Scouts or adults canceling at the last minute for any reason, or "no-shows" at departure will be charged the full campout rate. o Scouts attending a portion of the weekend campout will be charged the full rate. o Cancellations must be done by contacting the Camping Chair, leader in charge of the activity, or the Scoutmaster. It is the responsibility of the person contacted to inform the buyer of the food to revise the amount to purchase. In the same manner, after each fundraising program ends, the Treasurer will record each Scout’s profit as an increase in their account. Troop Expenses: Scouts and their parents who volunteer to purchase food for a weekend campout must follow a budget of $XX/person, as determined during the initial campout planning meeting, and get the final person count the Wednesday prior to a campout. Receipts with a voucher slip are to be turned in to the Treasurer for reimbursement as soon as practical. Items that are purchased together but fall into multiple categories, such as camping food, copying fees, postage, court of honor food, etc., need to have a separate voucher slip made out for the amount in each category. All slips and receipts will be turned in to the Treasurer for reimbursement. Other purchases for the troop, such as food items for a troop meeting, supplies for a troop activity, troop equipment, etc., must have Committee approval BEFORE such items are purchased. If it is not feasible to wait for a Committee meeting, then approval may be obtained by directly contacting the Committee Chair. Purchases for items that do not follow this policy of pre-approval may be subject to non-reimbursement. The Treasurer will be responsible for collecting money at activities that require Scouts to purchase items. If the Treasurer is not available, he/she will designate another person to collect the money and deliver to the Treasurer. Voucher slips can be obtained at Troop meetings, from the troop website, or from the Treasurer. Junior Leadership Positions: One of the major learning opportunities in Boy Scouts is Leadership. Each scout is required as part of his rank advancement to hold one of the numerous leadership positions available within the troop. Some of the positions are elected by the members of the troop (Senior Patrol Leader & Patrol Leaders), other positions are selected by the elected scout (Assistant Senior Patrol Leader & Assistant Patrol Leaders), and there are a number of positions, which are volunteer positions (Quartermaster, Librarian, Historian, etc.). When a scout is elected, selected, or, volunteer’s for a position it is expected that they attend meetings on a regular basis and if they are not able to attend a meeting(s) for any reason they notify 1) Scoutmaster, 2) their assistant if there is an assistant, or 3) any of the Assistant Scoutmasters. Junior Leader Elections: Senior Patrol Leader: The scouts of the Troop 494 elect the Senior Patrol Leader. To be eligible for the position of Senior Patrol Leader a scout must; be at least Star Rank; and have been a Patrol Leader for at least one year. The newly elected Senior Patrol Leader selects his assistant. The Senior Patrol Leader may serve for a maximum of 2 years. Patrol Leaders: The scouts of a patrol elect a Patrol Leader from the group. For patrols of scouts that have been in the troop for more than one year, the elected patrol leader must be at least First Class rank. For patrols of first year scouts, all members are eligible to be elected patrol leaders. In either case the newly elected Patrol Leader will select his assistant. Parent Involvement: Parent involvement in troop activities is always needed and very much appreciated. The troop always needs help with the numerous activities that we have for the boys. Our troop is successful because of the level of parent participation that we have and we want that success to continue in the future. Training from BSA is available on wide variety of topics, and is encouraged for anyone that would be interested in working closely with the scouts. Adult registration and training in BSA is required for certain adult leadership positions. Parents are not allowed to sign their son’s rank advancement requirements. In the event that the parent was responsible for teaching the advancement requirement, then the person that assisted in supervising or witnessed the class should sign the scout handbook of the teacher’s son. Parents
Remember - If you are involved in the Scouting program it will help your son be
more interested in Scouts. It is also a GREAT way to spend quality time with
your son. In these days when it seems that none of us have enough time with our
kids here is a way to do it! Adult Guidelines: These guidelines
summarize the manner is which all parents and registered adult leaders are
expected to behave in dealing with the boys in our troop.
The guidelines set the expectations for appropriate adult behavior.
Camping: Our troop does enjoy camping. We conduct a variety of over night experiences throughout the year. We give the scouts a wide range of experiences and challenges. Troop Equipment: The troop provides tents, rain tarps, ground cloths, cooking equipment, and other camping equipment for the scouts to use while on camp-outs. We will expect the scouts to treat this equipment with care and respect. Any damage that occurs that is caused by deliberate or careless behavior will be paid for by the scout, but not from Scout Bucks. Our troop has made a considerable investment in equipment, and we do not feel that it is necessary for adults to lend their personal gear to the troop for any event. Anyone who loans their equipment to the troop for any troop activity does so at their own risk, and the troop will not reimburse anyone if the personal equipment they loan to the troop is lost or damaged. Scout Personal Equipment: Each scout is required to provide their own personal equipment for our camp-outs. The following is a list of recommended items: Backpack Sleeping Bag Sleep Pad Flashlight Personal Eating Gear* Rain Gear Compass Pocket Knife Change(s) of Clothing** Boots/Shoes (appropriate to the season)*** Gloves/Mittens Personal Hygiene (soap, tooth paste, etc) *- Should include Knife, Fork, Spoon, Plate/Bowl, and Cup/Mug. Plastic articles are recommended over metal items. Plastic will help keep food hot longer and prevent burns that can occur with metal items. **- Changes of clothing should be ample to cover the length of the camp-out. Keep in mind that boys do get wet and dirty on camp-outs. One change of clothes is usually enough for a weekend trip, but we need to keep weather conditions and duration of the camp-out in mind when packing for the camp-outs. ***- For winter activities it is recommended that boots with removable liners (Sorel type) be used. This allows the boots to be easily dried and they generally keep the feet warmest. Camp-out Sign-ups: Our troop normally schedules 10 to 11 camp-outs each year, plus specialty "High Adventure" trips (Spearhead, Sailing, Mountain Backpacking). Sign-up for each camp is announced at the regular troop meetings. For some of the camp-outs we do have limited space available so sign-up is on a first come basis. And for some of the High Adventure trips we do have to impose an age restriction on the sign-up. Camp Fees: Fees for our weekend camp-outs are to cover the cost of food and any camp usage fees that may be charged. We typically charge $15.00 to $20.00 per scout for a weekend camp-out, but that does vary depending on the camping activities. Those fees are due at the troop meeting prior to the camp-out. Fees can be paid by Check, Cash, or from the Scout Bucks account. A nominal fee for adults attending the camp out will be collected to help cover the cost of the camp out food and other expenses. Camp Cancellations: If a scout has signed up for a regular camp-out but is unable to attend; he must contact the troop camping coordinator(s). If he notifies them by the Wednesday night before the camp-out he will not be charged for the camp. (Exception: High adventure or other "pre-paid" camps see below) If the scout notifies the troop after Wednesday night, he will be charged for the camp-out. The reason for the deadline is to allow enough time to the scout’s patrol to adjust menus and grocery purchases for the revised attendance count and to prevent the troop from delaying departure waiting for a missing scout. High Adventure camps needs to be handled differently. Since most of the time the fee must be "pre-paid" to the camp, refunds in most cases cannot be given. If a scout has signed up for the camp but cannot attend; he will lose the fee unless he can recruit a substitute to attend in his place. Scout Rank Advancement Procedure: 1. Complete all requirements for the rank. 2. Make sure each requirement is initialed and dated, including the month, day, and year. (Example: 12/10/01), in your Boy Scout Handbook as soon as the requirement is complete. NOTE: Each requirement must be initialed by approved Troop Guides, SPL, ASPL’s, JASM, or registered adult leader. See advancement committee member for approved list. 3. Obtain Rank Advancement Check Sheet from the Troop Advancement Coordinator. 4. For ranks of 1st Class and below, verification of completion of requirements may be performed (signed) by any registered adult leader. 5. Periodically the detail advancement records in each Scout’s book will be transferred onto a printout of their record in our advancement record database. 6. The Troop Record Keeper will then transfer completed requirement dates from the printout of their advancement record into the troop advancement record database. 7. For ranks of Star and above, verification will be by the Troop Advancement Coordinator. Within one week, Troop Record Keeper will verify that all requirements have been met and return signed Advancement Check Sheet to the scout. 8. Give signed Advancement Check Sheet to the Scoutmaster and schedule a Scoutmaster Conference. 9. After the successful Scoutmaster Conference, Scoutmaster will transfer the signed Advancement Check Sheet to the Board of Review Coordinator for scheduling of a Board of Review. 10. Upon successful completion of the Board of Review, the Board of Review Coordinator will transfer the completed Advancement Check Sheet to the Troop Record Keeper. 11. The Record Keeper will update the troop record database and file a copy of the Advancement Report with the Northern Star Council Scout Office. NOTE: It is the scout’s responsibility to bring their Scout Handbook to every troop function where the possibility of having requirements signed off exists. Scoutmaster Conferences: Scoutmaster conferences will be conducted during regular troop meetings. The scout must present himself to the scoutmaster with proof of completion of all requirements. A time will then be established for the conference. No scoutmaster conferences will be conducted during the meeting night designated as Board of Review Night. The Scoutmaster conference must be completed before the board of review can be scheduled. The Scoutmaster may not conduct his/her own son’s scoutmaster conference; a registered Assistant Scoutmaster will conduct the conference according to the approved troop Scoutmaster Conference Script. Each scout will be required to participate in at least one scoutmaster conference per year regardless of whether a rank has been earned during the year or not. This Scoutmaster Conference will be used to check on the scout’s progress toward the next rank and ensure that the scout is not having difficulties with any of the advancement requirements. This Scoutmaster Conference will be scheduled during the month of January as part of the troop re-chartering process. No more than one rank may be reviewed in each Scoutmaster Conference. At least one parent or guardian must attend the Scoutmaster conference with the scout earning the Scout Badge. This will be done to provide an opportunity to the parents to meet the Scoutmaster. Board of Review: The Board of Review for all rank advancement (other than Eagle) will be conducted during a special meeting time once per month. The Board of Review dates will be published in the troop activity calendar. On the nights of the Board of Review’s the normal troop meeting will end at 8:00 PM. The scout must present proof of the completion of the scoutmaster conference at least one week prior to the Board of Review date. No unscheduled Board of Review’s will be conducted on the designated night if no scout(s) makes an appointment with the Board of Review team. The appointment for a Board of Review must be scheduled at least one week in advance. When a Board of Review is scheduled with the Board of Review Chair the scout must present himself in full class A uniform with Merit Badge Sash to the Board of Review Team. The Board of Review Team will be made up of at least 3 but no more than 5 registered adult (over 18 years of age) leaders. The team will conduct the Board of Review according to the approved Troop Board of Review Script. No member of the Board of Review team may participate in their own son’s Board of Review. Each scout will be required to participate in at least one board of review per year regardless of whether a rank has been earned during the year or not. This Board of Review will be used to check on the scout’s progress toward the next rank and ensure that the scout is not having difficulties with any of the advancement requirements. This Board of Review will be scheduled during the month of January as part of the troop re-chartering process. No more than one rank may be reviewed in each Board of Review. Upon the successful completion of the Board of Review, the new rank badge will be awarded to the scout at the next Class A uniform troop meeting. The rank advancement Card will then be awarded at the next Court of Honor. Eagle Board of Review: Troop 494 will strictly follow the rules and policies of BSA and Manitou District for the Eagle advancement process. Those policies and rules are outlined in the BSA Advancement Policies Manual. Other Advancement Requirements: Parents may not sign off advancement requirements in the Scout Handbook. Merit Badges: o The Scoutmaster must sign all Merit Badge application cards before the scout begins work on the Merit Badge regardless of whether the Merit Badge is being offered by the troop or being completed with an outside counselor. o The troop will provide opportunities for the scouts to complete Eagle Required Merit Badges during troop meetings with sign ups being announced in advance. The troop will also make every effort to offer Merit Badges that are associated with a particular troop activity. Any other Merit Badges that the scout wished to complete are the responsibility of the scout to schedule with a Merit Badge counselor. o Any Merit Badge that is to be awarded at a Troop Court of Honor must be completed at least two weeks prior to the Court of Honor. Troop 494 Board of Review Procedure: Basic Requirementso A Scoutmaster conference must be completed before a Board of Review can be scheduled. o The scout must wear a complete Formal Class A Uniform with Merit Badge Sash for the Board of Review. o The parent(s) or guardian of the scout being reviewed by the Board of Review may not participate in, or attend the Board of Review. o The Board of Review is to be conducted with no less than 3 registered troop leaders. o The Scoutmaster, SPL, and, ASPL, may witness the Board of Review but they may not participate. o The Troop Committee will schedule a Board of Review no less than once per month, and those dates will be published in the troop calendar. o Upon completion of the Scoutmaster conference, the Scoutmaster will notify the Board of Review team that the scout is ready for a Board of Review. At that time the Board of Review team will make the schedule arrangements. o Each scout will participate in at least one Board of Review per year. o The Scoutmaster Conference and the Board of Review may not be completed at the same meeting. The purpose of the Board of Review is not to retest the scout on the advancement requirements, but to make sure that he has met all of the requirements of the rank. And to discuss how he is doing as a scout in the troop with some of the adult leaders of the troop. The Board of Review is an opportunity to check on the scout’s likes, dislikes, and general progress in the troop. Open-ended questions are used to generate discussion between the Board of Review team and the scout to help the team better know and understand the scout. The Board of Review should take no more than 15 – 20 minutes. If the Board of Review team feels that more time is needed with the scout, a second session must be scheduled. If it is determined that a second session is needed, the Board of Review team will notify the scout and the Scoutmaster of the need. It will be up to the Scoutmaster to work with the team and the scout to resolve any issues that have caused the need for a second Board of Review. Typical Board of Review Questions: (Not the complete or final list) o Please repeat the Scout Oath and Law. o What do you like the best about Boy Scouts? o What was the last campout that you where on? o On that campout what was the most fun and what was the least fun? o What could have been done to make the part you liked the least better? o What is Scout Spirit? o What have you done lately to show you have good Scout Spirit? o What was the most recent community service project you worked on? o How did you feel when you were working on that project? o Why does the troop do community service projects? These are suggested questions. The Board of Review team will use good judgment to determine which questions make the most sense based on the rank being reviewed. |