FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) for New Scouts/Parents
This FAQ is an attempt to aid new scouts and their parents in quickly coming up to speed on the basics of being member of Troop 132. It is requested that parents take the time to review this page.
Table of Contents
Troop 132 is a boy-led troop promoting the Scouting ideals as spelled out in the Scout Oath, Law, motto, and slogan. Troop meetings are 7:30 Tuesday evenings at the Concord Scout House. To join a Youth Application must be completed, the Troop 132 Conduct Guidelines form must be signed by both the scout and parent, and parts A and C of the BSA medical form must be completed (these 2 parts of the medical form do NOT require a doctor).
Dues are $60/school year and include a subscription to Boy's Life magazine. The Youth Application and Conduct Guidelines form only need be completed the first year a Scout joins the troop (unless there is a change to the relevant information). The medical form needs to be completed yearly. Dues must also be paid yearly, though crossing over Webelos need not pay dues until the beginning of the next school year. The Troop Committee chair (currently Chas Horvath) is responsible for collecting dues and paperwork.
A roster of the troop's adult leadership is available on the troop's limited access site. See a troop leader for access to this site.
A new scout needs a boy scout uniform and a Boy Scout Handbook. Historically the troop supplies handbooks to Webelos crossing over to Boy Scouts, ask the scoutmaster (currently Ches Chen) if this does not happen automatically.
The official boy scout uniform includes a scout shirt with proper insignias, a neckerchief, and a scout hat. Troop 132 does not require official BSA pants but does discourage blue jeans in that their poor thermal characteristics when wet make them less than ideal for many scouting activities. Official boy scout uniforms should be worn to all troop meetings (though hats are optional for troop meetings).
The troop has custom designed troop 132 neckerchiefs available for $TBD (see TBD if you want to purchase one), but standard BSA neckerchiefs are also in wide use. Standard BSA neckerchiefs come in various colors, troop 132 has standardized on the red and black neckerchief.
The official uniform referenced above is called the "Class A" uniform. The troop also has "Class B" uniforms available. These are Troop 132 logo'ed polo shirts that may be worn at other times (e.g. service projects, personnel use, etc). These are available for $TBD. See TBD if you want to purchase one.
A new scout needs the Boy Scout Handbook. As explained in the section on Advancement, this is where a scout's progress towards ranks is signed off on.
Uniforms, handbooks, and other scouting materials may be purchased at the Maynard Outdoor Store (24 Nason St, Maynard, 978-897-2133) or at the Woburn Scout Shop (400 Cummings Park, Suite 1250. Washington Street, Woburn, 781-937-4282). The Woburn Scout Shop is run by the scouts and has a much larger selection of scouting materials than the Maynard Outdoor Store. There are also scout stores in Southborough, Lancaster, and Middleton. A web search on New England Scout Shops will provide more detail on these.
Boy scouts must take individual initiative to pursue advancement. As a result, unlike Cub Scouts, they move through advancement at their own rate. It is up to the individual scout to examine the requirements for upcoming ranks and pursue other scouts (First Class and above) or adult leaders to assist and sign them off on requirements. Portions of troop meetings are often reserved for advancement/requirements activities though many requirements can only be completed on campouts. In both cases and it is up to the scout to be aware of the advancement activities he needs to complete, prepare, and seek out other scouts (First Class and above) or adult leaders to assist them and sign off on requirements.
Upon completing a requirement a Scout's book should be signed by an adult scout leader or a first class and above scout. Parents cannot sign off on scout requirements. Consider occasionally photocopying a scout's requirements signoffs in his scout book so it is not necessary to restart a rank if the book is lost.
Most scouts who achieve the rank of Eagle scout receive it in their junior or senior year of high school. Given the 6 ranks on the path to Eagle (Tenderfoot, Second Class, First Class, Star, Life, Eagle), this would suggest those scouts aiming for Eagle should pace themselves to achieve one rank every year. A permission slip is required for all outings. Blank permission slips are available on this web site on the Forms page. Ideally get the permission slip to the honcho a week before the trip. Please don't forget this, a scout without a permission slip will not be permitted on a trip.
Electronic games, music players, etc are not permitted on scout outings and will be confiscated for the duration of the trip. Cell phones are permitted for emergency use and will be confiscated for the duration of the trip if used for any other purpose.
Scouts plan, acquire, bring, and prepare their own meals by patrol. They also are responsible for acquiring and bringing all stoves and cooking utensils needed to prepare the meal. The troop owns propane stoves which are stored in the scout house. If a stove is needed the scouts should get it from the scout house the troop meeting preceding the trip and return it the troop meeting after the trip. Adults participating in an outing typically plan, acquire, bring, and prepare their own meals independently of the scouts.
The troop also owns tents which are stored at the scout house. If a tent is needed the scout should get it from the scout house the troop meeting preceding the trip and return it the troop meeting after the trip. Entering the scout house at any other time (say the morning of a trip) is not permitted.
Rules for the use of knives and axes on outings are discussed in the Safe Scouting Practices section.
All parents are expected to signup for a leadership position and/or lead (a.k.a. honcho) a few outings and/or assist in some other way when volunteers are needed. Open leadership positions and other volunteer needs are publicized on the troop web site.
All parents are encouraged to attend the monthly troop committee meeting where adults perform troop planning (based around plans drawn-up by the scouts), discuss troop finances, and other troop business. Minutes/agendas of most past meetings are available on the Troop Committee Agendas & Minutes page.
All parents are encouraged to register with the BSA as adult leaders even if not assuming a specific leadership position. Insurance regulations require that trips be led by registered adult leaders, so registration is required even if a parent's only activity for the year is to lead a single trip. The troop assumes the cost for adult registration. Registration forms are linked to from the Forms page. A photocopy of the adult's drivers license must be submitted with the registration form for the scouting equivalent of a CORI check.
Insurance regulations require that any car used to drive scouts to/from a scouting event be registered on the trip permit. For this reason all parents are asked to supply the troop's Outings & Risk Management, Permits, Training leader with the following information for any cars that may be used during the course of the year for transporting scouts:
The scouting program as defined by the Boy Scouts of America and Troop 132 has extensive measures in place to ensue a Scout's safety. This section is only an overview of those measures:
Personal Responsibility First and foremost, a scout must adhere to the Troop 132 Conduct Guidelines so as to not endanger himself or others. Failure to do so can result in expulsion from a troop activity (or even the troop itself). [this section to be completed]
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