BOY SCOUT TROOP 272

NASHUA, NH
Daniel Webster Council, BSA

SCOUT RESPONSIBILITIES

Introduction Behavior Troop Meetings Campouts Uniform Participation Safety Other Info

INTRODUCTION: When a Scout joins Troop 272, his parents receive a Parent’s Handout, which gives an overview of Troop operations.  In this handout are a number of items that briefly discuss what the Troop expects of a Scout in terms of his behavior, uniform, and participation.

RESPONSIBLE TO: Each Scout is responsible to any, or all, of the following - his Patrol, Patrol Leader, Assistant Patrol Leader, Senior Patrol Leader, Assistant Senior Patrol Leader, other boy leaders, Assistant Scoutmasters, Scoutmaster, and all members of the Troop Committee.  If a boy feels that a problem is being handled unfairly or he is not being listened to, he should speak with the next level of leadership, if necessary progressing all the way up to the Scoutmaster.

BEHAVIOR: Every Scout is expected to behave appropriately at all Scout functions.

GENERAL: Behavior problems can be either discipline or attitude related.  We try to handle most behavior problems within the Troop structure, but there are times when we will contact parents about a problem.  These times may include incidents that we feel are too serious to deal with on a Troop level, or repeated occurrences of the same problem.  At those times we will contact the Scout's parents to have them discuss the problem with us.  On campouts or other non-meeting events the parents may be called and told to come and take their son home.  At Troop meetings, Senior Patrol Leader and the Patrol Leaders Council will handle discipline problems to the best of its ability. Parents will only be contacted if they are unable to resolve the problem or if it happens frequently.  If the problem is deemed serious enough (a fight, for example), the parents will be called immediately to come and get their son.  In the most extreme instances, actions will be taken to remove a Scout from Troop 272. The general rules of the Troop are the Scout Law and the Scout Oath.  The Scout Oath is: "On my honor, I will do my best: to do my duty to God and my country, to obey the Scout Law, to help other people at all times, to keep myself physically strong, mentally awake, and morally straight."  The Scout Law is: "A Scout is: Trustworthy, Loyal, Helpful, Friendly, Courteous, Kind, Obedient, Cheerful, Thrifty, Brave, Clean, and Reverent."  (For full explanations of the parts of the Scout Oath and Law, see the Boy Scout Handbook.  Beyond that, we also have some behavior guidelines for both meetings and campouts.

AT TROOP MEETINGS: The leadership of Troop 272 tries to provide safe, fun, and educational Troop meetings every week.  Every Scout is asked to observe the following for the good of all members:

  1. Be on time:  Troop meetings start promptly at 7:00 PM which means that you are in your patrol line, quiet, and ready to start at that time.
  2. Participate in every activity offered to you.  If you don't like an activity, you need to contact your Patrol Leader (PL) and let him know so your voice will be heard in the Patrol Leader Council (PLC).
  3. Be attentive, which means pay attention to the Senior Patrol Leader (SPL), your Patrol Leader, program instructors, and adult leaders.
  4. Be cooperative.  If asked to do something (within reason), do it.  If asked not to do something, don't do it.
  5. Don't harass or hassle other Scouts, adult leaders, or instructors.
  6. Unless you have specific permission, do not touch, use, or take anything that does not belong to you (other people's stuff).
  7. Bring only Scout or meeting program-related items with you to Troop meetings.  Trading cards, toys, games, radios, and other non-Scout items are not allowed and if they are brought to Troop meetings, you will be removed from them for the duration of the meeting.

We also must remember that we are guests in the church building and are only permitted in, and allowed to use, certain parts of it. Troop 272 is responsible for the building and its contents while we are using it/them.  All Scouts are expected to adhere to the following rules concerning the church building:

  1. If you arrive when no adult leaders are present and the building happens to be unlocked, DO NOT ENTER!
  2. Scouts are not allowed to go anywhere in the Church building except those areas that we are using for our meetings unless an adult leader is with them or an adult leader has directed them to be there.
  3. No food or drinks are allowed during the meetings unless they are part of the program for the day.
  4. It is difficult at times, but try not to track mud and snow inside.
  5. Horseplay will not be tolerated.
  6. After each meeting or event make sure to clean/straighten up the room(s) that we used, picking up all trash (ours or not ours) and putting furniture back in its place.

ON CAMPING EVENTS: All of the above rules and guidelines apply on camping events with some changes and additions that are camping specific.  These include:

  1. Arrive on time.  We need your help selecting and loading equipment.  Also, we don't wait for anyone; if you are late and we are loaded up, we're gone - and you're not!
  2. You WILL be in full uniform (see UNIFORM below) while traveling unless otherwise instructed.  If you don't have one on you will be asked to put it on.  If you don't have it with you, you will be asked to go home and get it.  If you don't get back in time, see #1.  When we are coming home the same procedure applies except that you may get left behind wherever we are camping, and that may be a l-o-n-g way from home.
  3. You WILL wear a seat belt at all times while traveling no matter what seat you are in.
  4. No one is allowed to ride in the back of pickup trucks at any time, in any place, under any circumstances, whatsoever. (Is that clear enough?)
  5. The driver of the vehicle you are riding in is the dictator of that vehicle.  You will obey him/her at ALL times or risk being left by the side of the road with money for a phone call in your pocket ... if you are lucky.
  6. You will do as your SPL, PL, other youth leaders, and all adult leaders tell you.
  7. Each Patrol has a duty roster for campouts.  You will do your assigned duties promptly; not at the next meal, or the next day, but at the time that you are assigned.  You will not do anything else until your duties are completed.
  8. Along with #7, you will not get in the way of someone else doing their assigned duty.  Therefore, if you are not a cook for a meal, stay out of the cooking area.
  9. NO FLAMES OF ANY KIND, IN ANY TENT, AT ANY TIME, IN ANY PLACE, UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES, WHATSOEVER!!!!!!!!
    (Again, clear enough?  Unless, of course, you have a death wish and pay the Troop for a replacement tent ahead of time, that is, ahead of your fiery, very gory, horrific, and extremely painful, death..........get it?)  This includes matches, cigarette lighters, open candles, candle lanterns, gas lanterns, stoves of any kind, heaters, campfires, etc.
  10. Do NOT play in, or with, any fire of any kind, at any time.......(Apply all of the above, except insert "replacement equipment" where "a replacement tent" appears, since you may burn more than just a tent and, I almost forgot, yourself.)
  11. Quiet times are enforced.  Usually the Troop leadership enforces them, but when we are in state or federal parks the rangers may also enforce this.  If you do not cooperate, you will be warned once, then sent home.  The Troop cannot afford to be kicked out of a camping area because of one boy's foolishness.
  12. A Scout's tent is his home on a campout.  Just as you wouldn't go into someone's home without knocking or ringing the bell, you don't enter someone else's tent without their permission.

UNIFORM: All Scouts are expected to wear correct uniforms to all Troop and Patrol events. Correct uniforms, and guidelines for wearing them, are:

PARTICIPATION: Each Scout should participate in as many Troop and Patrol functions as possible.  This includes Troop meetings, Patrol meetings, campouts, hikes, civic events, moneymaking projects, and conservation & service projects.  We realize that there are sometimes conflicts with other family, school, church, and sports events but it is to your advantage to be as active as you can be in Scouts.  Make it a top priority instead of a secondary one.  When you are at a Troop or Patrol event, we ask that you be there not only in body, but in mind and spirit as well. We also ask that you do your best at all times to be a team player, thinking of what is best for your Patrol and Troop, not just for you.  There will be a cold, rainy morning on a campout (we guarantee it) where you are your Patrol's cook for breakfast.  You won't even want to get out of bed, but no one will eat unless you do.  This is where being a team player really counts, doing your part even when you don't feel like it. (When that morning comes - and it will - please remember to put a smile on your face ... no one likes a grumpy cook!)

Everyone likes the fun events - campouts, hikes, swimming, canoeing, high adventure, etc. - but you really show your stuff on the things that aren't as much fun - moneymaking projects, service projects and the like.  But a Scout is Helpful, therefore EVERY SCOUT is expected to participate in money-making projects in equal amounts, since the benefits (new/replacement Troop equipment, badges and awards, and registration costs) are for all Scouts.  You should also participate in service and conservation projects because we help others outside the Troop at those times. Every Scout should be faithful in paying dues (currently $4.00/month, September through June, no dues during the summer) since that money comes back to him in the form of better program.  Any Scout more than $5.00 behind in dues will not be able to attend campouts, hikes or other non-meeting activities until he is paid up.

SAFETY: The safety of all Scouts in Troop 272 is of primary concern to the Troop leadership.  Some safety items have already been mentioned, but there are a couple more:  Non-folding sheath knives, fireworks, and martial arts weapons (throwing stars, butterfly knives, nun-chucks, etc.) will not be permitted at any Troop or Patrol functions.  In addition, firearms and archery equipment are allowed only at those events specifically scheduled for the use of such items, and even then only under qualified adult supervision.  For more information see the Guide to Safe Scouting that is published by the Boy Scouts of America.

INFORMATION: This section is for items that don't fit neatly into the categories already listed.

09/24/2001