troop 7   scout orientation

Scout Led, Adult Assisted

Meetings:  Tuesdays from 7:00pm-8:30 pm at BSLC.  Please make an effort to attend whenever able, but the Troop understands that conflicts (e.g. sports seasons, family travel, concerts) will happen. 

During School Months: Sep-May: Class A Shirt with neckerchief.

During Summer Months: Class B shirt.

Tuesday’s meetings will have a flag ceremony, announcements, main activity, time for sign-offs, game and closing.  Some activities may be rank advancement oriented or merit badge oriented.  It is up to the scout to recognize an opportunity to apply an activity to an advancement.

Court of Honor:  4 times a year (typically on a Tuesday evening) to recognize scout achievements.  Full Class A Uniform.

Campouts:  Aim is 1 per month (except for December) and 2 per month during the summer.  This is always dependent on planning and weather.

Service Projects:  There will be opportunities for service projects throughout the year (Scouting for Food, Boise River ReWild, Memorial Day Flags, 4thof July Flags, Eagle Scout Projects, etc.).  Service is required for rank advancement.  Service hours as part of other community and religious organizations can count, however please confirm in advance with the Scoutmaster.  As scouts advance in rank they should earn at least some of their service hours through Troop service opportunities.

Summer Camps:  Planned in October-December and occurring in July or early August.  First year scouts typically do not go to camp.

Rank Advancement:  Scouts must take the initiative to start and complete a rank advancement task.  Use the Scout Handbook for sign-offs and then update Scoutbook.

Scout: (1 Month) Basic Scout Information, and nearly identical to the content from Arrow of Light (Hint: all information is available in the Scout Handbook).

Tenderfoot, Second Class & First Class: (12-18 Months) Focus is on learning basic scouting skills and the function of a scout troop.  The Troop helps the scout to learn. (Hint: all information is available in the Scout Handbook).  

Star, Life & Eagle: (6-12 months per rank until 18th birthday) Focus is on leading within the troop, while gaining knowledge and experience outside the troop.  Active participation, community service, leadership and merit badges.  

Scouts must take the initiative to start and complete a rank advancement task.  When all requirements are completed for a rank advancement, the Scout must initiate a Scoutmaster conference (a short meeting during a scouting event when time permits).  After the Scoutmaster conference, the scout must notify the Committee Chair or Advancement Chair for a board of review which involves at least 3 people from the Parent Committee not including the Scoutmaster or Assistant Scoutmasters.

Merit Badges:  Not required until after First Class, however, can be earned anytime.  Most merit badges are earned at scout camp, merit badge clinics, or working independently.  When wanting to start a merit badge, the scout must request a Blue Card from the Scoutmaster.  The scout must then notify the Merit Badge Counselor and work with the counselor to complete the requirements.  (Obtaining the Blue Card and notifying the Merit Bade Counselor are not required to be done before beginning a merit badge, however, it is recommended). The Merit Badge Counselor determines whether the scout has satisfied the requirements for a Merit Badge. 

      Not all Merit Badges represent equal work. Some Merit Badges simply expose scouts to new ideas or experiences; others entail significant time, effort, and content mastery.  Meeting with the Merit Badge Counselor before beginning will help clarify expectations.

      A total or 21 Merit Badges must be earned to achieve Eagle. Of those 21, 13 are required (“Eagle required”), and the remaining 8 are electives.

Scout Leadership Positions:

To obtain Scout, Tenderfoot, Second Class and First Class rank does not require Troop leadership roles.

To obtain Star, Life and Eagle ranks the scout must actively serve in a Troop leadership role (see the Handbook for a list of eligible positions and our website Scout Leadership page).

Scoutbook: Event calendar with reminders and RSVP functions.  Official rank advancement and merit badge record.  Send internal email / text messages to scouts, parents and adult leaders.  All messages are always copied to a scout’s parent. Scoutbook can be annoying, but it is our communication and scheduling platform of record – please make every effort to use Scoutbook whenever possible.