Parental Involvement
A BSA Troop is a volunteer-run organization. We honor the role our parents play in their scout’s lives, and we expect that commitment to carry over into your childs’s Scouting life.
This page outlines ways a parent or guardian should expect to contribute to the Troop:
Your Role as a Scout Parent
The following is a basic set of expectations for each of our families:
Support your Scout, but don't do things for them. Your Scout will take on growing responsibilities and self-sufficiency starting on Day 1 in Scouts. Both parents and the Adult Leaders in the organization will be there to support and guide the Scouts, but parents should begin a purposeful transition away from doing things FOR their scout and towards allowing their scout to do for themselves. Being responsible for their own progress towards Rank Advancement, packing their own bags for outings, and finding answers to their own questions are good examples of transitioning towards being responsible and self-sufficient.
Stay Connected. We use ScoutBook and TroopTrack as the administrative tools for communication, calendars, tracking participation, rank advancement, merit badges. Parents and Scouts will both be actively using ScoutBook and TroopTrack throughout your time in Scouting.
Read and Respond to Communications. Email is the primary communications tool of the Troop. Reading, acting upon, and responding to emails will keep you and your Scout up-to-date and greatly assist the operations of the Troop. The volunteers working in the Troop will greatly appreciate prompt communications as it will greatly reduce the time and energy they donate to the Troop.
Calendar and Outings RSVP. The Troop Calendar is in TroopTrack which contains our Outings Calendar and RSVP tool. Parents and Scouts should keep their planned participation up-to-date for each outing. Even if your Scout is not attending an event, you need to update their status as such.
Fundraising. While the Scouts are responsible for fundraising activities such as popcorn and mulching, parents will need to assist and encourage their Scout in those efforts. Fundraising keeps our costs low, provides the Scout with spendable funds in their Scout Account, and greatly supplements our activities, equipment, and outings.
Volunteer Opportunities:
It is often said that, “Many hands make light work.” Your participation can come in many forms. Together, we can determine in what capacity you can best support the Troop and your Scout. We need and require your active participation for two very important reasons:
Your Scout will get more out of the program if you show an active commitment.
The Troop cannot provide the best possible program without your participation.
Youth Protection
All adults who volunteer within the troop are required to complete the online Youth Protection Training (YPT). This course takes about an hour to complete, and the certificate of completion is valid for two years.
Uniformed Roles
Scoutmaster
The Scoutmaster is the adult responsible for working directly with the Scouts providing direction, coaching, and support.The Scoutmaster has three basic roles:
providing the the junior leaders with the tools and skills so they can run the troop
making sure the rules of the BSA and chartered partner are followed
being a good mentor and positive role model
Assistant Scoutmaster
An assistant Scoutmaster is an adult leader over the age of 18 who helps the Scoutmaster deliver the promise of Scouting. Each assistant Scoutmaster is assigned specific program duties. They can serve the troop by guiding a particular patrol to which they’ve been assigned, advising certain Scouts who’ve assumed a position (e.g. the quartermaster or OA representative), or fill in as necessary to assure the junior leaders have what they need to run things.
Committee Roles
Committee Chair
The Committee Chair is appointed by the chartered organization to see that all committee functions are carried out. The troop committee chair appoints and supervises the unit committee and unit leaders, and organizes the committee to see that all committee responsibilities are delegated, coordinated and completed.
Committee Members
The troop committee is a cross between a board of directors and a parent support group. It sets troop policies and handles administrative functions, allowing the Scoutmaster and assistant Scoutmasters to focus on working directly with the Scouts. We have a number of vital, easily manageable roles in the Troop in which parents can actively contribute.
Treasurer
Secretary
Fundraising Chair
Advancement Chair
New Member Coordinator
Outdoor Activities Chair
Training Chair
Media Manager
Equipment Chair
Tour Leaders
Merit Badge Counselors
Voting Members
Chartered Organization Representative
The Chartered Organization Representative (COR) is the direct contact between the unit and the Chartered Organization. This individual is also the organization’s contact with the District Committee and the Local Council. The chartered organization representative may become a member of the district committee and is a voting member of the council. If the chartered organization has more than one unit, one representative serves them all. The Chartered Organization Representative appoints the Unit Committee Chairman.
There are a variety of jobs that must be done to keep the troop running smoothly. Some require a bit more time; others are more occasional and less demanding in nature. If you choose to participate in a Committee or Leadership role, training or mentoring is available at no cost.
Merit Badge Counselors
One of the easiest and most impactful contributions all parents in the Troop can make is to become a Merit Badge Counselor. With so many Merit Badges, there are plenty that will match your unique skills, experience, and interests. Please ask a Leader to find out which Merit Badges the Troop needs specific help with and which ones might match your interests and skill sets.
Several merit badges require certifications for instructing specific skills, however this does not disqualify you from being a counselor. See Merit Badges Requiring Certified Instructors for details.
Board of Review
The purpose of a Board of Review is to determine the quality of the Scout’s experience and decide whether the requirements for the rank have been fulfilled. If so, the board not only approves the Scout’s advancement but also provides encouragement to continue the quest for the next rank. Boards of Review shall become neither a retest or “examination,” nor a challenge of the Scout’s knowledge. In most cases it should, instead, be a celebration of accomplishment.