BOY SCOUT TROOP 189 Montclair, Virginia Troop Handbook (ver 5.3) For Parents and Scouts 1 Troop 189 TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. INTRODUCTION and WELCOME ................................................................................................................................ 4 2. GUIDELINES .................................................................................................................................................................. 5 A. Troop 189 Code of Conduct ........................................................................................................................................ 5 B. General Guidelines for Scout Activities ...................................................................................................................... 5 C. Youth Protection and Adult Leadership ...................................................................................................................... 5 D. Tobacco, Alcohol, and Unauthorized Drugs ............................................................................................................... 6 E. Troop Guidelines ......................................................................................................................................................... 7 F. Disciplinary Actions .................................................................................................................................................... 7 G. Photo and Social Media Policy .................................................................................................................................... 8 3. SCOUT UNIFORM .......................................................................................................................................................... 8 A. Purchasing the Scout Uniform ..................................................................................................................................... 8 B. Uniform Variations ...................................................................................................................................................... 9 C. Shoes .......................................................................................................................................................................... 10 D. Uniform Inspections .................................................................................................................................................. 10 4. TROOP ACTIVITIES .................................................................................................................................................... 10 A. Attendance requirements ........................................................................................................................................... 10 B. Troop Meetings .......................................................................................................................................................... 10 C. Planning Conferences ................................................................................................................................................ 11 D. Insurance .................................................................................................................................................................... 11 5. HIKING/BACKPACKING/CAMPING TRIPS............................................................................................................. 11 A. Individual Equipment ................................................................................................................................................ 11 B. Patrol Equipment ....................................................................................................................................................... 12 C. Weekend Campout ..................................................................................................................................................... 13 D. Summer Camp ........................................................................................................................................................... 13 E. Travel ......................................................................................................................................................................... 13 F. Troop Trailer .............................................................................................................................................................. 14 6. ADVANCEMENT ......................................................................................................................................................... 14 A. BSA Advancement Guidelines and Mechanics ......................................................................................................... 14 B. Rank Advancement .................................................................................................................................................... 14 C. Merit Badges .............................................................................................................................................................. 15 D. Troop Leadership Requirements ................................................................................................................................ 16 E. Service Project Hours ................................................................................................................................................ 16 F. Scoutmaster Conference ............................................................................................................................................ 16 G. Boards of Review....................................................................................................................................................... 17 H. Courts of Honor ................................................................ ......................................................................................... 18 I. Eagle Scout ................................................................................................................................................................ 18 2 Troop 189 7. TROOP ORGANIZATION ............................................................................................................................................ 20 A. Troop Structure .......................................................................................................................................................... 20 B. The Patrol Method and Organization......................................................................................................................... 20 C. The Scoutmaster ........................................................................................................................................................ 20 D. The Assistant Scoutmasters ....................................................................................................................................... 21 E. The Troop Committee ................................................................................................................................................ 21 F. Annual Planning ........................................................................................................................................................ 25 G. Troop Communication ............................................................................................................................................... 25 8. TROOP FINANCES....................................................................................................................................................... 25 A. Finances ..................................................................................................................................................................... 25 B. Registration ................................................................................................................................................................ 26 C. Fund Raisers .............................................................................................................................................................. 26 9. PARENT INVOLVEMENT........................................................................................................................................... 26 A. Ways to Help the Troop ............................................................................................................................................. 26 B. Tips for Scout Parents ................................................................................................................................................ 27 C. Youth With Special Needs ......................................................................................................................................... 27 3 Troop 189 1. INTRODUCTION and WELCOME Welcome to Troop 189! This handbook explains the Troop’s guidelines and procedures and supplements information already in the Boy Scout Handbook and other Boy Scouts of America (BSA) publications. It is intended to provide Scouts, their parents, and adult leaders a ready reference as to how Troop 189 operates. Our Troop has a long and rich heritage – we have been continuously chartered since 1979. May your son(s) and you find scouting in Troop 189 as rewarding as those who have gone before! Troop 189 is