Rules and Policies Conduct

all Scouts are expected to live by the Scout Oath and Law. Those ideals should guide the behavior of all Scouts.

Two-Deep Leadership and Youth Protection

All adult leaders in Troop 245 support the safety and youth protection policies of the Boy Scouts of America. All activities are run using two deep leadership.That means that at every troop activity there must be at least one registered adult leader and one additional adult leader or Scout parent. This rule cannot be modified under any circumstances. The Troop will cancel any activity when two-deep leadership cannot be maintained.

Safety

All Troop activities are run according to the Guide for Safe Scouting A current copy of this official Boy Scout publication is available from a registered adult leader.Please do not ask leaders to violate these guidelines.

Uniforms

The Scout uniform is an important part of who we are.It instantly identifies the Scout in the community.The uniform should be worn with pride by all Scouts and adult leaders at all Scouting functions. Advice on wearing the Boy Scout uniform is in the back of this book. Some activities require other appropriate clothing.Clothing requirements for outings are based on the activity and announced on the permission slips.

Scouts should attend each Troop meeting in the Class A uniform.Patrols that are earning the National Honor Patrol Award must have at least 75 percent of their members in Class A uniform at each meeting for 3 months.

Advancement

Advancement is an important part of every Scout's career.The process consists of skill instruction, demonstration and practice, and a testing period.Each Scout should immediately practice the skills he has just been taught. New Scouts should have each skill signed off within two weeks after successfully demonstrating the skill.Each New Scout should set a goal of completing at least one skill requirement each week on average. This also helps the Scout plan his progress toward reaching First Class by the end of his first year in Scouting. Scout Sign-Offs In Troop 245, any Patrol Leaders Council member or Instructor who has earned Star Scout rank or higher can sign off a Scout's handbook for Tenderfoot Scout, Second Class Scout, and First Class Scout requirements.If you have a question about a requirement, check with an adult leader before it is signed off.

Parent Sign-Offs

To ensure that the advancement process is fair to all Scouts, leaders should not sign off requirements for their own sons.Please find another adult leader to sign off your son's requirements.

Merit Badges

Merit badges introduce a Scout to a particular skill area like Camping, Cooking, Backpacking, or Orienteering. The Boy Scout program offers over 100 merit badges that Scouts can earn. Please read the procedures in the back of this book for earning merit badges.

Scoutmaster Conference

You must have a Scoutmaster Conference before you go to a Board of Review for any rank.The Scoutmaster holds these conferences at the Troop meeting before the Board of Review.He may hold a conference at another time if you make arrangements in advance.Schedule these conferences with the Scoutmaster.

  1. Complete a "Request for Board of Review" form before your Scoutmaster Conference to make sure you have done everything you need to do
  2. You must wear your Class A uniform to the Scoutmaster conference. Bring all of the following to the conference:
    • Your Boy Scout Handbook with all requirements signed off.
    • All your rank cards.
    • All your merit badge cards.
    • A completed "Request for Board of Review".

The Scoutmaster Conference allows the Scoutmaster to:

review your progress,make sure you meet all requirements for the next rank, and help you get ready for the Board of Review Board of Review Each Scout must go through a Board of Review to advance to the next rank.The Board of Review is made up of three Assistant Scoutmasters and members of the Troop Committee.Boards of Review for Tenderfoot Scout and Second Class Scout may include a Star, Life, or Eagle Scout.

When you need a Board of Review, go to the Advancement Chair.He will direct you to the correct Board (we may have two or more Boards going on at once).You will probably have to wait for other Scouts to finish their Boards.

Wear your Class A to the Board of Review.Check your uniform the week before to make sure it is correct.Check it again after you arrive.

Bring all of the following to the Board of Review:

  1. Your Boy Scout Handbook with all requirements signed off.
  2. All your rank cards.
  3. All your merit badge cards.

Each Board of Review starts with a uniform inspection, so wear your uniform correctly.We do this to help you prepare for your Eagle Board of Review where you must wear the full Class A uniform correctly.Each Troop Board of Review is a practice session for the Eagle Board of Review.

Courts of Honor

The Court of Honor is a major Troop event where Scouts receive public recognition for their hard work and accomplishments.Courts of Honor are planned and put on by the Patrol Leaders Council.Parents are expected to attend the Court of Honor with their Scout.

Scout Notebook

Each Scout who has earned First Class Scout rank must have a standard-size 3-ring notebook that contains at least:

  • 4 baseball card holders
  • 6 sheet protectors

If you get a notebook that has a clear cover insert you can make an interesting cover.Use this notebook to hold your rank cards, merit badge cards, certificates from other activities and training, troop news letters, troop rosters, pictures, and other things you want to keep available or show to a Board of Review.

Take your notebook to each Board of Review.You must have all your rank and merit badge cards for each Board of Review.You have to take care of these cards because you have to have each card for your Eagle Board of Review.The notebook helps you keep the cards safely in one place and in order throughout your Scout career.

Each Senior Patrol Leader must meet all of the following criteria:

  1. Star Scout or above.
  2. Served the Troop as an Assistant Senior Patrol Leader.
  3. Attended at least 75% of Troop meetings in the past year.
  4. Completed Boy Scout Junior Leader Training or White Stag.
  5. Wears the Scout uniform correctly as an example to younger Scouts.

Senior Patrol Leader Nominations

If you meet these criteria and want to run for Senior Patrol Leader, you must talk to the Scoutmaster before you are nominated.You must do this on your own initiative.Be prepared to talk about current needs in the Troop, your personal goals, and your goals for the Troop.Also be prepared to discuss whom you will select as Assistant Senior Patrol Leaders.

Nominations are made at the Patrol Leaders Council immediately before the election.Patrol Leaders are responsible for telling their patrol members who the candidates are.

Senior Patrol Leader Elections

Senior Patrol Leader elections are held at the Courts of Honor in May and November.All Scouts in the Troop vote by secret paper ballot. Adult leaders whose sons are candidates will not be involved in running the election.Votes are collected and counted by the adult leaders. The results of the election are announced as soon as the votes are counted.The Senior Patrol leader serves a six month term that ends at the next Senior Patrol Leader election. After the election, the Senior Patrol Leader appoints his staff with the agreement of the Scoutmaster.

Patrol Leader Elections

Patrol Leader elections are held during the second Troop meeting in May, September, and January.Only patrol members vote for their Patrol Leader. After he is elected, the Patrol Leader appoints his staff with Scoutmaster approval (Assistant Patrol Leader, Scribe, Quartermaster, Grubmaster, Cheermaster, and Hikemaster).The Patrol Leader serves a four month term that ends at the next Patrol Leader election.See the Patrol job descriptions in the Junior Leader Handbook.

Junior Leader Training

Troop 245 offers Junior Leader Training for all Troop and Patrol leaders. This training session gives the Scouts the tools they need to be effective leaders. Troop 245 uses the Junior Leader Training program developed by the Boy Scouts of America.Junior Leader Training is usually offered twice a year. Our goal is to train all Junior Leaders for the positions they hold.This will allow them and the Troop to get the most benefit from their time in office.

Travel

When traveling to and from outings, each Scout must wear a seat belt at all times.Each Scout must leave the vehicle he rides in cleaner than he found it.Disruptive behavior will not be tolerated in vehicles.If a Scout behaves in a way that is disruptive to the driver, his parents will be asked to pick him up when we arrive at the activity.

Equipment

Troop 245 owns a substantial amount of camping equipment that has been purchased with Troop funds. If equipment is lost or damaged through no fault of a patrol member, the Troop will replace the equipment.However, if equipment is lost or damaged by fooling around or direct abuse, the patrol must replace it.

Occasionally, patrol members will take equipment home after weekend outings for cleaning.Equipment taken home for cleaning or maintenance should be returned at the next Troop meeting.The Troop Quartermaster will keep a record of all equipment taken home to make sure it gets returned before the next campout.

Discipline

While we anticipate no problems with inappropriate behavior, it is important to have a discipline policy and to communicate that policy to Scouts and their parents.

Behavior problems are dealt with first by the Patrol Leader.If the Patrol Leader has a problem with a patrol member that he cannot resolve, he will report it to the Senior Patrol Leader.If the Senior Patrol Leader and the Patrol Leader cannot solve the problem, the Scoutmaster or an Assistant Scoutmaster will step in to determine the appropriate resolution along with the Senior Patrol Leader. Such actions might include suspension from a Troop game or activity, additional Troop chores, or another appropriate action.The Scout's parents will be involved if necessary.Any major behavioral problems could result in: The Scout's parents may be contacted and asked to pick up the Scout from the meeting or outing. The Scout may be asked not to participate in Troop meetings or outings; The Scout's rank advancement may be delayed because inappropriate behavior does not demonstrate the last requirement for each rank: living by the Scout Oath and Law.