For Scouts
New Scouts - Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Below are answers to some of the most commonly asked questions by scouts and potential scouts about the Boy Scouts and Troop 132.
How old do I need to be to join a scout troop?
Any boy between the ages of 11 and 18 (or who has completed 5th grade) can join a scout troop at any time during the year. Many people join scouts during the Weblos cross-over during their last year of Cub Scouts (including some boys under 11), although many others join at different ages and with no previous scouting experience.
What do I have to do to join the troop?
You and your parents will need to fill out the scouting and troop registration forms that are available in the Forms section of this Web site. Once that paperwork is complete, you are an official member of Troop 132 and of Scouting.
The troop meets every Tuesday night during the school year (with the exception of vacations – see the troop Calendar). We also go on camping trips on weekends and have other fun activities that run throughout the year. As a troop member, you are free to come to as many or as few of these meetings and events as you like, although we encourage troop members to come to every meeting and to participate in as many troop activities as they can. During the summer months, we meet at Emerson Field from 7PM to dark.
What happens after I join the troop?
First, you will join a patrol. Since we are a new troop, the number of patrols and number of members of each patrol may be small at first, but we expect that most patrols will consist, on average, of 6-8 boys. The patrol is the central organizing unit of the troop and each patrol has a patrol leader who is responsible for things like organizing food for camping trips and helping patrol members with advancement.
The patrol leaders report to the troop’s Senior Patrol Leader who has a number of older scouts to help him (and you) “fill in the gaps” as you get comfortable with your new life in scouting. Adult leaders, including the troop’s Scoutmaster, are also available to help as well as being responsible for the safety of every scout in the troop.
Do I need a uniform?
Every scout should have a uniform consisting of:
· BSA Boy Scout Class A Uniform Shirt (short sleeves recommended)
· BSA Boston Minuteman Council shoulder patch
· BSA Boy Scout Neckerchief slide
· BSA Boy Scout Uniform Shorts or Pants (optional)
. Sturdy pair of hiking boots with good ankle support
DO NOT BUY THE FOLLOWING ITEMS (the troop will provide them to you):
· BSA Boy Scout Handbook (The spiral bound edition is recommended. The regular binding has a tendency to break.)
· BSA red or green shoulder loops
· Troop Neckerchief
· Troop Numerals (for uniform)
Uniforms and other scout supplies can be purchased at a BSA Scout Shop, the closest is located in Woburn at 400 West Cummings Park on Washington Street or at the Maynard Outdoor Store. Boots and other camping equipment can be found at any sporting goods store.
Do I need to own my own camping gear?
If you plan to go on trips, you should have your own sleeping bag, ground pad, backpack and any other personal gear you might need. The troop provides things like tents, stoves and cooking gear, which is assigned to a patrol before a trip and each scout is responsible for maintaining the Troop gear
If you need help selecting the right gear, or need financial assistance to participate in any part of scouting, talk to the scoutmaster to find out about our campership and other assistance programs.
What do I need to know about advancement?
The Boy Scout Handbook provides all the details you need to know about advancement from Scout all the way through Eagle. Advancement is an important part of scouting and new scouts joining Troop 132 can expect to receive lots of attention and support as you advance through the ranks. However, it is not required that all scouts spend time on advancement and we are happy to have scouts that just want to focus on outings and having fun as a boy scout.
Keep in mind that advancement shouldn’t be thought of as hard work or as separate from your overall scouting experience. When you first start and work your way up to First Class, many of the things you would normally do in scouting (camping trips, hikes, community service projects) all involve learning activities that contribute to advancement.
Below are answers to some of the most commonly asked questions by scouts and potential scouts about the Boy Scouts and Troop 132.
How old do I need to be to join a scout troop?
Any boy between the ages of 11 and 18 (or who has completed 5th grade) can join a scout troop at any time during the year. Many people join scouts during the Weblos cross-over during their last year of Cub Scouts (including some boys under 11), although many others join at different ages and with no previous scouting experience.
What do I have to do to join the troop?
You and your parents will need to fill out the scouting and troop registration forms that are available in the Forms section of this Web site. Once that paperwork is complete, you are an official member of Troop 132 and of Scouting.
The troop meets every Tuesday night during the school year (with the exception of vacations – see the troop Calendar). We also go on camping trips on weekends and have other fun activities that run throughout the year. As a troop member, you are free to come to as many or as few of these meetings and events as you like, although we encourage troop members to come to every meeting and to participate in as many troop activities as they can. During the summer months, we meet at Emerson Field from 7PM to dark.
What happens after I join the troop?
First, you will join a patrol. Since we are a new troop, the number of patrols and number of members of each patrol may be small at first, but we expect that most patrols will consist, on average, of 6-8 boys. The patrol is the central organizing unit of the troop and each patrol has a patrol leader who is responsible for things like organizing food for camping trips and helping patrol members with advancement.
The patrol leaders report to the troop’s Senior Patrol Leader who has a number of older scouts to help him (and you) “fill in the gaps” as you get comfortable with your new life in scouting. Adult leaders, including the troop’s Scoutmaster, are also available to help as well as being responsible for the safety of every scout in the troop.
Do I need a uniform?
Every scout should have a uniform consisting of:
· BSA Boy Scout Class A Uniform Shirt (short sleeves recommended)
· BSA Boston Minuteman Council shoulder patch
· BSA Boy Scout Neckerchief slide
· BSA Boy Scout Uniform Shorts or Pants (optional)
. Sturdy pair of hiking boots with good ankle support
DO NOT BUY THE FOLLOWING ITEMS (the troop will provide them to you):
· BSA Boy Scout Handbook (The spiral bound edition is recommended. The regular binding has a tendency to break.)
· BSA red or green shoulder loops
· Troop Neckerchief
· Troop Numerals (for uniform)
Uniforms and other scout supplies can be purchased at a BSA Scout Shop, the closest is located in Woburn at 400 West Cummings Park on Washington Street or at the Maynard Outdoor Store. Boots and other camping equipment can be found at any sporting goods store.
Do I need to own my own camping gear?
If you plan to go on trips, you should have your own sleeping bag, ground pad, backpack and any other personal gear you might need. The troop provides things like tents, stoves and cooking gear, which is assigned to a patrol before a trip and each scout is responsible for maintaining the Troop gear
If you need help selecting the right gear, or need financial assistance to participate in any part of scouting, talk to the scoutmaster to find out about our campership and other assistance programs.
What do I need to know about advancement?
The Boy Scout Handbook provides all the details you need to know about advancement from Scout all the way through Eagle. Advancement is an important part of scouting and new scouts joining Troop 132 can expect to receive lots of attention and support as you advance through the ranks. However, it is not required that all scouts spend time on advancement and we are happy to have scouts that just want to focus on outings and having fun as a boy scout.
Keep in mind that advancement shouldn’t be thought of as hard work or as separate from your overall scouting experience. When you first start and work your way up to First Class, many of the things you would normally do in scouting (camping trips, hikes, community service projects) all involve learning activities that contribute to advancement.