Scouts
have quite a few responsibilities; in fact our organization is simply
crawling with them. That’s by
choice, not chance. We
intentionally give boys responsibilities and then hold them accountable for
the way they handle the tasks. Sometimes
this is a little bigger than a boy being answerable for his homework, his
conduct, or brushing his teeth without being told. With those things a young man is responsible only to himself.
At times in Scouting a boy will find himself accountable for the
comfort, education, and well-being of other Scouts, too; maybe quite a few
of them. He may have to lead a
patrol, teach skills, or direct the entire Troop. Consider the common task of procuring the supplies for a camping
trip. If the Scout selected to
buy the food doesn’t do it, his patrol will go hungry.
Obviously
all this mature behavior doesn’t come to young people without being
solicited, and we don’t expect to see it without looking hard. Responsibility is a part of the education we hope the boys receive in
our Troop. While a very long
list could be written on this topic, here are just a few of the things for
which each Scout is held responsible.
Radios,
Tape Players, and Electronic Games
We like to have plenty of fun on campouts and other
outings, but Scouts make their own fun.
Please leave the electronic gizmos at home and enjoy them at other
times. One of our Assistant
Scoutmasters says, “You carry the Gameboy, I’ll carry the batteries.”
Knives,
Axes, and Saws
Sharp tools are very useful in the hands of Scouts
and Scouters who are trained in how to use them, but they can be hazardous
to others. Boys may use them
under the supervision of trained Scouts and Scouters until they earn the
Totin’ Chip (basic knife and axe safety and skills).
After then, they may carry a folding pocketknife if they wish.
Sheath knives, the kind with fixed blades, are more knife than a
Scout needs so our Troop does not allow them.
The Scoutmaster will keep any we find and return them after the
weekend is over.
Until they have earned the Totin’ Chip, Bridging
Cub Scouts who have earned the Cub Scout Whittlin’ Chip are permitted to
use only a pocketknife; and that only after discussing safety with one of
the Assistant Scoutmasters. The
boy must have the Whittlin’ Chip with him.
Lost
and Found (but to whom does it belong?)
It is vital that all clothing and personal gear be
labeled. Use an engraver for
metal items. Ink washes off.
Before packing for a trip, all items should be spread out and checked
for markings. This cannot be
overemphasized and is especially important for parts of the uniform and hats
because they all look exactly alike. Lost
and found items cannot be returned if the owner cannot be identified.
Many go unclaimed.
Care
of Troop Equipment
The troop has a great deal of camping equipment, paid
for by the Scouts through their dues. If
we are to have nice equipment and keep replacement costs down, Scouts must
handle and use it with great care. We
sometimes have to send gear home for cleaning or maintenance and it is our
intention that the Scouts should do the work.
Parents must ensure that work is done properly and that gear is
returned in a timely fashion, ideally at the following Monday meeting.
The items routinely sent home are tents and dining
flys. They must be dried
thoroughly before they can be stored or mildew will form.
Thus we send tents and dining flys home even if they are slightly
damp from dew when we break camp. Weather
permitting, they may be pitched in the yard or hung up, but please avoid the
unnecessary wear and tear of clothes driers.
Under no circumstances should tents or dining flys be subjected to
heat. If they are muddy, the
mud should be allowed to dry and then brushed off.
If wiped off while wet, some of the dirt will be rubbed in
permanently.
Food
For Weekend Camping
The Scouts in each patrol who are going camping work
together to prepare a menu. They
take turns doing the shopping and they share the costs. This process is part
of Scouting’s basic methods for helping boys grow into responsible adults.
Parents should not do the work for the Scout, but help him to learn
how and what to buy. We
want Scouts to learn food shopping and financial responsibility too.
The maximum amount for food is currently $10.00 per
Scout for a typical weekend camping trip and it is withdrawn from each
boy’s personal account. The
Scout who purchases the food calculates the total allowed ($10 times the
number of boys) and buys the supplies within that amount.
Receipts must be saved and turned over to the treasurer with a
listing of Scouts to whom the receipts apply.
It is not unusual for a Scout to change his plans for
any number of reasons after he has signed up for a trip.
If he cancels he must notify the Scout with the grocery
responsibility immediately. If
the food has already been bought the boy who cancelled will be charged as
though he had attended.
Uniforms
Scouts are expected to attend all Scout functions in
uniform. A complete, dress
class A uniform is required for all Boards of Review, Courts of Honor, and
Scoutmaster Conferences. Badges
must be applied soon after they are awarded and displayed in the proper
place. The various uniform
requirements are covered in a later chapter.
The
Scout Handbook
All Scouts must have a new Boy Scout Handbook when
they join. A cover for the book
is a good idea. It may have to
last for eight years. His
handbook should be nearby whenever a Scout is in uniform.
This includes all Troop meetings and camping trips.
Having the handbook available is crucial to advancement.
The boys who don’t bring them tend to be the ones who fall through
the cracks.
Conduct
& Discipline
We don’t expect much.
Only that a boy be Trustworthy, Loyal, Helpful . . . No, those are
the very high standards to which we expect Scouts to aspire, not to possess
when they join. Boys have a
great amount of energy and enthusiasm.
Sometimes it’s misdirected or uncontrolled.
This is more frequently referred to as bad behavior.
As to making a list of unacceptable conduct, well, doesn’t every
boy at this age already know what’s expected of him?
When they do what they should not, Scouts will be disciplined.
It really is that simple. Nothing
abusive or harsh, of course, but the Senior Patrol Leader may place
offenders on garbage detail or have them clean the latrines.
After all, someone must do those jobs.
This is a good way to choose whom.
Occasionally there is some transgression that
requires greater attention, beyond that which could prudently be left to the
Senior Patrol Leader; something requiring adult involvement.
To correct minor violations of this nature one of two methods is
normally employed. Shadowing,
where the offending Scout shadows an adult leader at all times, or a phone
call to the parent, having the Scout call and explain why he is being
instructed to call. More
egregious or dangerous behavior requires stronger methods.
These may include a phone call to the parent for immediate pick-up;
parental shadowing, where the parent is required to attend all activities
that the Scout attends; and a Board of Review to identity the problem, find
the underlying cause, and determine a course of action.
A few things which are sure to bring out the wrath of
the Assistant Scoutmasters, whether displayed by Scouts or adults are
hazing or any other form of humiliating or meaningless “initiation” or
ritual (a Scout is kind); vulgar or profane language (a Scout is Reverent);
smoking-Scouts may not smoke at all, adults must be out of sight of all
Scouts to smoke- (a Scout is clean); discussion of sexual topics, since
there is a range of ages and maturity levels present in a troop (a Scout is
courteous).
Initiative
The Boy Scout program demands a Scout’s personal
initiative, and parental involvement. Boys
bridging over from Cub Scouting will notice a considerable contrast.
It is up to the Scout to work on the requirements in his book, to
have an older Scout approve the requirements, and to schedule with the
Scoutmaster and Committee, conferences and Boards of Review.
Questions
& Getting Help
Scouts should keep a current Troop roster in a handy
place, perhaps near the phone or inside the phone book.
As a general rule, the Scout calls his Patrol Leader first.
If he cannot be reached, the Senior Patrol Leader is called.
If he is not available then the next call is to the Patrol Advisor
(the adult leader who works with the patrol).
As a last resort, boys may call the Scoutmaster.
Whenever messages need to be delivered they will go
out through the Patrol Leaders, but the best way to stay informed is to read
the Troop calendar and review the bulletin boards in the meeting room.
