BoyScoutsarefrom 101/2to17yearsold.Whenascoutreacheshis18thbirthday,hemaycontinuetoparticipatewiththetroopbytransitioningintoanadultrole,usuallyAssistantScoutmaster.

JoiningBoyScoutsiseasyandisthedoorwaytoalotoffunandlearningoflifeskills.YoucangetaregistrationformatanyTroopmeeting.Thereisa$16registrationfeethatisgoodforacalendaryear'smembership.BoysLifemagazineisnormally$24/year,butitisanother$12ayear(halfprice)whenyouorderwithyourregistration.BoysLifemagazineisoptional. 

Troop1meetsattheChurchoftheNativityonHowardStreetinNorthborougheveryTuesdayfrom7:00to8:30PM.

HeshouldwearhisClassAUniformshirtadornedwiththeKnoxTrailCouncilpatch,Troop1numeralandhispresentrank.Theneckerchiefandslide,andasashifyouhaveone,arealsorequiredatCourtsofHonor,ScoutmasterConferences,BoardsofReview,andotherformalevents.TheClassAuniformisusuallynotneededonweekendcampingtrips,butisrequiredatsummercamp(fortheCourtofHonorandanyotherformalevents.)HeshouldbringhisBoyScouthandbooktobothmeetingsandcampouts.Weoftenworkonrankadvancement,andhisbookiswherehisworkissignedoff.Heshouldbringasweatshirtorcoatmostoftheyear.Troop1isknowntospontaneouslygooutsideinthecolddarknightforagame,hike,ororienteeringcourse.

BSApolicyisthatatroopshouldgocampingonceamonth,andmostBoyScoutsreallylikethat.Wesometimespitchtentsandsometimesusecabins,usuallyatBoyScoutcampsorStateParks.RecentcampoutshaveincludedRockClimbing,Geocaching,Ziplining,BikeRiding,Backpacking,Orienteering,FreezeOuts,snowshoeing,Skiingandmore...InadditiontolearningScoutSkills(campingskills,firstaid,etc.),havingfunnights(mini-golf,sciencemagic,scoutcookingcompetitions,CivilWarre-enactorsvisiting,nighthikes,etc),andearningbadges,thetroopdoesServiceProjectsandprovidesopportunitiesforboystopracticetheirLeadershipskills.Iftheboyscandreamit,wecanprobablydoit.Inthepastfewyears,severalboyswerescubacertified,andtheywenttotheBoyScoutSeaBaseCampinFloridaduringthesummer.LastspringbreaktotroopwenttoGettysburg,PA.ThetroophasdesignedtheirownPeaksofNewEnglandandperiodicallywetrytoreachthesummitsofthehighestpeaksineachoftheNewEnglandstates.

ScoutingForFoodandrakingleaves(atthechurchwherewemeetandsometimeforareaseniorcitizensthatneedsomehelp)areourannualprojects.WealsohelptheApplefestCommittee,participateinlocalparadesandtheAnnualTreeLightingevent,andhelpoutaroundtownasneeded.EagleScoutcandidatescomeupwiththeirownprojects,andthetroophelpsthemtodothem.RecentEagleprojectsincludeblazinganewtrailbytheYellickParkingarea,clearingandmarkinghikingtrailsthroughoutthecommunity,buildingscreeningareasforbathroomsatinalocalpark,cleaning/addingtoanexistingstonewallinShrewsbury,buildingabaseballfielddugout,buildinga9/11memorial,cleaningoutandpaintingtheNorthboroughFoodPantry,buildingshelvesforthefoodpantry,constructingraisedgardenbedsforacommunitygardensproject,buildingbenchesfortheNorthboroughLibraryandbuildingastorageshedfortheNorthboroughLibrary.

Thereareabout120differentmeritbadgescoveringalmostanyinterestthatcanbeearnedinBoyScouting.ThereisabookattheBoyScoutstorethatsummarizesthem,plusabookforeachbadgetobeusedasaresourcetolearnthem(ourtroopkeepsalibraryofthese).Theinternetisalsoagoodsource.InparticularMeritbadge.orghasallthemeritbadges,theirrequirementsandworksheetsavailable

ABoyScoutworkshiswayupthroughtheseranks:Scout,Tenderfoot,SecondClass,FirstClass,Star,Life,andEagle.EaglepalmsmaybeearnedafterEagle.AlltherequirementsarespelledoutintheBoyScouthandbook.

Scoutsworkontherequirementsatmeetingsandcampouts.Bringyourbooksoyoucanbesignedoff!ScoutsabovetherankofFirstClassmaysignoffarequirementinanotherScout’shandbook.Onceaboyhascompletedalltherequirementsforarank,hegoesthroughaScoutmaster’sConferenceandaBoardofReview.

InaScoutmasterConference,oneoftheScoutmasters(TroopLeaders)willreviewcertainskillitemswithintheranktoensurethattheknowledgehasbeenlearned.InaBoardofReview,agroupofadulttroopcommitteemembersaskgeneralquestionsaboutthescoutandhisperceptionofthetroop,itsactivities,andhowhefitsin.

No.

ThisisdifferentfromtheCubScoutprogram.Onlyparentswhohavebeentrainedinaskillmaysignoffascout’shandbooks,butnevertheirownson’sbook.Ourtroopprefersolderscoutstoteachandsignofftheyoungerscoutsontheirskills.It’sgoodleadershipexperiencefortheolderboys,andhelpstointegratethenewboysintothetroop.

Therearemanypositionsofresponsibilityandleadershipthatthescoutsmaytakeon.Theseinclude:SeniorPatrolLeader(SPL),hisAssistantSeniorPatrolLeader(ASPLs),aPatrolLeaderandAssistantPatrolLeaderforeachPatrol,JuniorAssistantScoutmasters,TroopGuides(whohelpnewpatrols),SkillInstructors(who,may,forinstanceteachknottying,firebuilding,orfirstaid),Historian,Quartermaster,andDenChief(whohelpswithaCubScoutden).

EveryScoutgetsapermissionslipthatincludesthedetailsandagendaofthetrip.WeusuallymeetataschoolorchurchandreturnScoutstotheirhomesattheendofatrip.Permissionslipsarethebestsourceforlogisticalinformation.

Sometimes.

Therearesomeactivitiesthatareappropriateforthewholefamily.Otheractivitieshavelimitedspaceorrequireskillsthatyoungersiblingsmaynotyethave.PriorityisgiventotheScouts,andtoboyswhoarethinkingofjoiningthetroop.ApopularfamilytripistheCapeCodBiketripduringthesummer.

TheScoutHandbookisyourbestresourceforthiskindofinformationandachecklist.Ifextraitemsarerequired,theywillbeonthepermissionslipand/ordiscussedintheTroopMeetings.

Yes,butonlyafterhehaspassedtheTotin’Chiprequirements.Violationsoftherequirements(especiallysafetyviolations)willcauseaScouttolosetheseprivileges.

No,matchesareprovidedbythetroop.

Healthy,non-peanut,snacksarefine.Theyareusuallylockedupatnight.Candyandjunkfoodarediscouragedbecausetheymayleadtosugaroverloadsandinappropriatebehavior,andtheyattractunwantedcritters.

Adultsupervision(i.e.intervention)isalwayswelcomewhenscoutsareinadangerousordestructivesituation,oraredisrespectfulofotherscouts.BoyScoutsisahands-onlearningprogram.It’simportanttolettheboysmanagetheirowntimeandpracticetheirownscoutskills(likepitchingatent).Adultsdon’tintervenetobeefficient,butwedointerveneifsomethingisdangerous,destructive,ordisrespectful.Everyonedeservestohaveasafeandhappytrip.

YoucanbecomeanAssistantScoutmaster,especiallyifyouknowthescoutingskills.WeencourageallScoutmasterstotaketheKnoxTrailLeadertraining.Thetroopwillpaymostcoursetuition.

Wecanalwaysusemorehelp!

WhileTroop1isaBoyledtroop,adultvolunteersareneededtohelpoutbehindthescenes.Mostofthevolunteersareparentsofcurrentorformerscouts.Someleadershippositionsrequireafairamountoftimecommitment,buttherearemanywaysthatanyadultcanhelpwhichrequireverylittletimeorexperience.Adultscanteachmeritbadgeclasses,attendthemonthlyTroopCommitteeMeetingsandofferyourperspectiveorsuggestionsonthetroop,orhelpplanupcomingeventsandactivities.

Evenifyouwon'thavedirectcontactwithscouts,westronglyurgeallparentstotaketheYouthProtectionTraining.Itisfreeandonline.ItwillhelpyoubetterunderstandtheBSApolicies.

TheTroopCommitteearetheadultthatworkinthebackgroundtohelptakecareofdetailsthatthescoutsaregenerallybeyondtheboys’control,liketransportation,programguidance,andresources(moneyandequipment).TheboysplanmostoftheprogramandtheTroopCommitteehelpsmakeithappen.Mosteventshaveanadultcoordinator,likethePancakeBreakfast,Applefestbooth,ScoutingForFoodSorting,andcampingtrips,etc.Everyweekendcampingtripneedsanadulttripsponsortomakethereservations,fillintheforms,makethepermissionslip,andfollowupontheplans.Aboysponsorwilldomostoftheresearch,butmostcampsiteswillonlytakeareservationfromanadult.OthermembersincludetheRegistrar,Treasurer,AdvancementChairman(keepstrackofthebadgesandrankadvancements),PublicityChair,MeritBadgeCoordinator(organizeswhichmeritbadgeswillbetaught)andMeritBadgeCounselors(Teachesmeritbadges),Quartermaster(equipmentmanager),EagleCeremonyCoordinator,Webmaster,WebelosRecruiter/Coordinator,AdultTraining,BoardofReviewmembers(everyBORneeds3adults)andofcourse,multipleScoutmasters.Otherpeople“just”helpwhenneeded.Manyhandsmakelightwork:-)!

Absolutely!

TheTroophasmanyadultleaders,someofwhomaremothersofscouts.TheTroopalwaysencouragesvolunteerstohelpwithrunningasafetroopfortheboys,andweneedhelpfromadiversegroupofadultsinordertoaccomplishthat.AlladultleaderswillneedtopassaCORIbackgroundcheck.

OneSundaynightamonth,usuallyat7:00PMattheNorthboroughFireStation.Checkthetroopwebsiteatwww.troop1northboro.organdclickonthe“calendar”tabtofindoutwhichSundaystheyarescheduled.

TheScoutsdecidewhichtripsandactivitiestoscheduleatthePatrolLeadersCouncil(PLC).

ThePatrolLeadersCounciliscomprisedoftheboyleadershipofthetroop.ItisleadbytheSeniorPatrolLeader(SPL)withthehelpoftheAssistantSeniorPatrolLeaders(ASPL).OtherScoutsleaders,PatrolLeaders,theSCribe,QUarterment,etcarealsomembersofthePLC.

ThePLCmeetsregularlytoplanfutureTroopmeetings,campingtripsandotherevents.TheScoutmasterattendsthemeetingtoguidetheboyswhenneeded.IfaScouthasanideaorrequestandisnotinaleadershipposition,heshouldpassitontohispatrolleaderoroneoftheASPL’sortheSPL,sotheycanbringittothePLC.

NewWebelosbridgeintothetroopinthespringandformanewpatroltogether.Ascoutmaychangepatrolsifhewishes,withtheapprovaloftheScoutmaster.Typically,hestayswithhisoriginalpatrolthroughouthisBoyScoutcareer.Thissystemprovidesascoutwithpatrolidentity,consistency,andpromoteslongevity.

TheoldideaofchangingpatrolseveryyearhasbeenremovedfromBSAteachings.Inthefirstyearasapatrol,aTroopGuide(olderscoutwhohasachievedtherankofStarorLife)isassignedtoguidethepatrolinactivitiessuchaspitchingtentsorcookinguntilthepatroliscomfortablewiththeirnewskills.Newboyswhojoinatothertimesoftheyearwillusuallyjointhepatrolwiththefriendwhorecruitedhim,orapatrolwithboyshissameage.AnewPatrolLeaderandAssistantPatrolleaderistypicallyelectedevery6months.

NorthboroughTroop1isamemberingoodstandingoftheKnoxTrailCouncil.

• ListentotheAnnouncementsatthebeginningofeachtroopmeeting.
• ReadtheemailsthataresentonGoogleGroupsMailinglist.Youcansignupifyouwouldliketogettheemails.