Scouting 101for Parents

What is Scouting?

From a boy’spoint of view

From a parent’spoint 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 StatementThe 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 isBoy Scouting Organized?

Adult Leadership Structure of a Troop

Sponsoring Institution Institution Head

Chartered Organization Representative

Troop CommitteeCommittee ChairmanCommittee Members

Scoutmaster

Asst. Scoutmasters

Boy Leadership Structure of a Troop

Senior Patrol Leader

Asst. Senior Patrol Leader

PatrolLeader

•Asst. PL•Patrol

Members

PatrolLeader

•Asst. PL•Patrol

Members

OfficersScribeQuartermasterLibrarianHistorianInstructorDen Chief(s)OA Rep.BuglerChaplain’s Aide

JuniorAsst. Scoutmaster

PatrolLeader

•Asst. PL•New Boy

PatrolMembers

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 Scouting Boy Scouting

Direct Leader Adult (Den Ldr) Youth (Patrol Leader)

Advancement

Who Approves Parents/Web.Ldr. Boys/Tp.Adults/Strangers

Schedule School Year BOY’S OWN PACE

Leadership Largely Female Largely Male

Age 6-10 10-17

Cub Scouting Boy Scouting

Outdoor Infrequent Monthly Camp/Hike

Family Camp Troop Camp

Pack Camp

Who Plans? Adults Youth

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

• First Aid• Personal Fitness (exercise, swimming, life saving)• Invite or assist another boy to join Boy Scouting• Scout Spirit• 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 (12 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

• 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. 512-927, in meeting this requirement. (To learn more about the Eagle Scout service project, see the Guide to Advancement topics 9.0.2.0 through 9.0.2.15)

Earning Merit Badges

1. Select the Merit Badge2. Obtain Scoutmaster Approval (sign the blue

card)3. Identify a registered counselor. Contact and

talk with the counselor4. Do the work5. Meet with the counselor and obtain approval

(sign the blue card)6. Turn in paperwork to the Troop (keep a copy)

Typical Progress

Scout 10-11 Member

Tenderfoot 11 Member

2nd Class 11-12 APL/Scr/Lib/Hist.

1st Class 12 PL/QM/DenChf/

Target is FIRST CLASS IN ONE YEAR

Star 12-13 PL/Instr./ASPL/Guide

Life 13-14 SPL/ASPL/PL/Instr/OA Rep/Guide

Eagle 14-15 SPL/ASPL/Instr/OA Rep

Eagle II 17.9999 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