1. Carry your book with you to all Scout meetings and outings until you achieve the First Class rank. This will help you advance in rank much faster. Practice the Scout skills in the book and then ask any older Scout who has achieved the rank of Life or Eagle or an Assistant Scoutmaster to watch you perform the skill or discuss the skill. Then he can sign your book. Your parents can't sign your book anymore. Keep a pen in your pocket at all times. Whenever you get your book signed, the person will always ask if you have a pen.
2. Advancing in Rank:
- You can work on any requirement for any rank any time. You don't have to earn one rank to begin working on another.
- You can work on merit badges any time
- After all rank requirements are signed off, schedule a Scoutmaster Conference with Mr. Hurley
- Obtain an advancement sheet which requires that you obtain several different signatures
- Make sure your Scout account is in good standing with the Treasurer, Mr. Miller.
- Schedule a Board of Review with the Advancement Chair, Mrs. Warner
- You officially earn the rank immediately after the Board of Review. The Court of Honor is simply when you receive the patch.
- You can earn more than one rank at a Court of Honor.
3. Be proud of your uniform! The Scout uniform shows who we are and what we can achieve. Make sure you have all the right patches sewn on in the right place. A full "Class A" uniform includes the shirt, Scout pants, belt, neckerchief with slide, and socks. A "Class B" uniform is any Scout t-shirt. Wear your neckerchief with a slide to all meetings (don't tie your neckerchief), but not on a regular outing.
4. Speaking of outings . . . Go camping! That's what Scouts is all about. Get outside and have a blast hiking, rock climbing, cooking, whatever. Scouts who go camping have the most fun and advance to the highest ranks.
5. Don't forget your "Ten Essentials" on any outing. They will help you be the most comfortable, and they may save your life! Don't know what they are? Find out! You should also find out what Mr. Hurley says is the "11th Essential." Speaking of essential items, when we use the term "water bottle" we mean something like a Nalgene. It's better for the environment, because it's reusable; Scouts can write their name on it and hopefully not lose it; and it holds more water than a typical small, plastic water bottle.
6. Respect your SPL (Senior Patrol Leader) and ASPL (Assistant Senior Patrol Leader). They are boys who are working hard to help the troop be successful. They meet together with the patrol leaders to plan and run the meetings and camp outs. They're here to help you succeed, so ask them if you have any questions.
7. What is the Patrol Leaders Council? The PLC comes up with ideas for the troop and assists the SPL and ASPL with troop meetings. PLC members should show up on time to troop meetings ready to help and participate. PLC members are allowed to skip one Scout meeting a month and one PLC meeting total with no questions asked. If there is a conflict beyond that, they should notify the Scoutmster. Tenures run January to June and June to January (total of 6 months). At the end of the 6 months, we hold new elections for all leadership positions. The PLC always meets the Monday after an outing.
It is crucial for PLC members to notify their patrol
members by phone or e-mail early each week if there is something special about the meeting they
need to know (for example, bring a compass, wear the Class B shirt,
etc.). Being a leader is more than having a patch on your
arm! It's hard work, but it's rewarding. Scouting is a great place to
learn to be a leader in school, your family, your place of worship, and
your community.