Welcome to the Boy Scouts of America, and welcome to Troop 311, Jackson, Missouri - the SuperTroop.

This handbook is designed for both Scouts and their families to help you gain the most from your Scouting experience. Please read everything over carefully; you will find it contains a wealth of information. If you ever have any questions, please ask your Scoutmaster, Assistant Scoutmasters, members of the Committee, or another Scouter. We want you to be informed and involved so together we can achieve the purpose and goals of Scouting.

Troop 311 is chartered by The Jackson Evening Optimist Club. We have been chartered as a Scout Troop since the 1950’s. We are a part of the Shawnee District of the Greater St. Louis Area Council of the Boy Scouts of America. Our Troop has been, and is still, recognized as a leader, one of the best, in the Greater St. Louis Area Council. We routinely receive the national "Quality Unit" award, and have received the Council’s "Top of the Arch" award as well. We have been featured in the national Scouter magazine, and continue to attract and retain the highest caliber members.

Our members represent our Troop well in district and council positions, both youth and adults alike. We are called upon to provide leadership when others are unable to. We relish this honor.

Our alumni continue to demonstrate the ideals and values they learned while a scout, as shown by their cheerful service to their country and communities.

We expect that you, too, will live the scouting ideals in your everyday lives.

The Boys Scouts of America was founded in 1910 by Mr. William Boyce after an encounter with a scout on a foggy morning in London, England. The Boys Scouts of America was officially granted a charter by the United States Government in 1910. The ideals and values are based upon the foundation laid by Lord Baden-Powell, the founder of the Worldwide movement of Scouting.

The Goal of the Boy Scouts of America is to help boys develop into honorable men.

The three basic Aims of the Boy Scouts of America are;

Character Development

Citizenship Training

Mental and Physical fitness

The eight fundamental methods used to achieve these aims are;

The ideals

The patrol method

The outdoors

Advancement

Association with adults

Personal growth

Leadership development

The uniform

To be a member of the Boy Scouts of America, a boy must;

The parent(s) or guardian(s) of an applicant must meet with the Scoutmaster, or an Assistant Scoutmaster for a personal interview before a boy will be registered with the troop. The troop cannot function without the active involvement of the parents. Accordingly, the troop must ask each parent to volunteer to participate in at least one outing or activity annually, to sit on Boards of Review or a sub committee of the Troop Committee. The jobs are not difficult and can be fun and rewarding.

Once an applicant is approved, he may join the troop per the current published policies of BSA.

Scouts shall be considered in good standing as long as their personal accounts are current, and they are not on probation or suspended.

To be eligible for troop outings a Scout must:

be in good standing,

have a completed and valid Class III medical form on file, and

have a completed and valid Emergency Consent form on file.

All parents are encouraged to be active supporters of the troop. To be a member of the Troop Committee, Scoutmaster, or an Assistant Scoutmaster, an adult must be registered with the troop.

Adult membership for the committee requires a personal interview with the Committee Chairman, or Chartering Organization Representative, and a completed Adult Application to be approved by the Committee Chairman, Chartering Organization Representative, and the Council Scout Executive.

Adult membership for the position of Assistant Scoutmaster will have the same requirements of a committee membership, in addition to a personal interview with the Scoutmaster. Assistant Scoutmaster positions also require a formal acceptance by the Scoutmaster, Committee Chairman and Chartering Organization Representative.

All registered adults must attend Youth Protection Plan training within 6 months of registering with the troop. All Assistant Scoutmasters are required to attend Basic Scout Leader Training within 6 months of registering as an ASM. All committee members are encouraged to attend also. This certification must be kept current. Renewal is required according to the timetable set up by Boy Scouts of America.

Adults do not need to be registered members to sit on Boards of Review, sit on sub committees, or drive on outings. All adults who drive on outings must provide seatbelts for each passenger, have a minimum of liability insurance per current published state, local and BSA policies, a safe vehicle in good working order, and follow safe Scouting guidelines.

The safety and protection of the Scouts is the paramount responsibility of the adult leaders. Any adult leader who is in violation of the Youth Protection Plan guidelines of BSA will have membership in the troop revoked, be reported to the Greater St. Louis Area Council of BSA and the appropriate law enforcement agencies.

Youth leaders are to hold positions according to the Troop 311 Youth Leadership Positions Descriptions and Responsibilities policy. Any items not covered in troop policy default to the BSA guidelines as given in the Scout Handbook and Junior Leader Handbook.

Adult membership, management, and discipline is to be handled by the Chartering Organization Representative, Scoutmaster, and Committee Chairman.

Assistant Scoutmasters are to hold positions according to the Troop 311 Assistant Scoutmaster and Patrol Counselor Positions Descriptions and Responsibilities policy. Any item not covered in troop policy default to the BSA guidelines as given in the Scoutmaster’s Handbook.

Committee members are to hold positions according to the Troop 311 Committee Positions Descriptions and Responsibilities policy. Any item not covered in troop policy default to the BSA guidelines as given in the Committee Guidebook.

The troop committee is responsible for supporting the troop and providing adequate adult leadership.

The troop committee shall be made up of no fewer than the four elected positions of; Committee Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer and Advancement. The committee shall also be comprised of various sub-committee chairmen and coordinators, as appointed by the Committee Chairman and approved by the committee. The Chartering Organization Representative is a de facto member of the committee.

The four elected officers, chairmen of sub-committees, and coordinators are expected to attend all troop committee meetings to provided status reports of their respective positions and/or sub-committees. The Scoutmaster is expected to provide a report of the troop program and answer questions at each committee meeting. Parents and Assistant Scoutmasters are always welcome to attend troop committee meetings. The troop’s SPL, whenever possible, is also encouraged to attend regular committee meetings.

The troop committee meets monthly, usually the second Thursday of the month. Meetings are held at the Church in the same room as the Troop meetings.

The troop will hold elections each August and February. The elected positions will serve from September through February and March through August. The elected positions will be:

• Senior Patrol Leader
• Quartermaster
• Scribe
• Librarian
• Historian
• Webmaster
• OA Coordinator
• Flag Coordinator

The office of Assistant Senior Patrol Leader (ASPL) will be appointed by the Senior Patrol Leader with approval from the Scoutmasters (SM). The Senior Patrol Leader position requires the Scout to be Star rank or above, age 14 or more, and approval of the Scoutmaster.

The new Senior Patrol Leader, with the consent of the Scoutmaster, will designate the Patrol Leaders. Assistant Patrol Leaders and Patrol quartermasters will be elected separately within each patrol on the same night.

All candidates should be prepared to discuss why they are the best Scout for the position. Elections will consist of rounds of voting for all qualified candidates, each time eliminating those candidates that get the lowest percentage of the votes. Voting rounds will continue until one Scout gets a simple majority of the votes cast.

Troop guides, if any, will be assigned by the Scoutmaster.

Registration Fees - Each member of the troop, both youth and adults, are required to pay their own registration fees. When a member joins, he will be asked to pay a pro-rated fee correlating to the month of re-charter. The current registration fee is $17.00. This includes dues for the troop.

Boys' Life. At least one subscription per family of Boys’ Life is encouraged. The cost of the subscription shall be the responsibility of the Scout (or his family). Boys' Life subscriptions can be made at any time. However, it is easiest when the Scout joins the troop, or when the troop re-charters. The current Boys’ Life subscription costs $7.00.

Each year, the Troop Scribe and Treasurer will develop and submit a tentative budget to the Troop Committee. After review with the committee, and after considering the program as developed by the PLC, the committee shall approve the budget and charge the treasurer with administering the troop funds.

Troop 311 maintains a single checking account, of which consists a troop account and an account for each registered member. The treasurer will report to the committee each meeting on the account balance, and any payables and receivables.

Each quarter, the troop treasurer will send out notices of individual account balances. We ask that each individual’s account balance be kept in the "black" so as to not place a burden on the troop or fellow scouts.

Our troop participates in both Troop and National fund raising activities. Monies from these activities are credited to either the troop or individual accounts, or both. Currently, the troop participates in the following Troop fund raising activities;

Holiday Flag displays in the Jackson area

Optimist Christmas Tree Lot at Wal-Mart

The fund raising activities which are credited to the individual accounts are;

Christmas Wreath sales

National Popcorn sales

We recognize that outing in Scouting costs $ & c. This is the primary reason that we conduct fund raising activities. This alone, however, may not always allow a scout or scouter to participate in all of the planned activities. Therefore, we have established a Campership fund. The intent of this fund is to provide financial support to those who are not able to shoulder the burden of an activity. This fund is administered by the Scoutmaster and Treasurer, and is held in complete confidence. If you feel that you are in need of financial support, please speak with the Scoutmaster or treasurer about your need.

The first year's registration for youth Order of the Arrow Ordeal members will be paid by the Troop. After the first year, it will be the responsibility of the individual Scout to pay his annual OA dues. Please note that this does not include the cost of the ordeal. The Scout (or his family) will be responsible for paying the ordeal registration fee. The troop will then reimburse the Scout (or his family) for the OA dues, which is included in the cost of the ordeal.

The national Boy Scouts of America, conducts an annual fund raising campaign called Friends of Scouting (FOS). A representative of the council will attend a Court of Honor and describe the scouting program in general, and detail the benefits that scouting provides to the youth of our country. The primary purpose of the FOS campaign is to provide support for the professional staff at the national, regional, council and district level. We encourage you to participate in the FOS campaign so that we can continue to deliver the mission of scouting to your son.

Our Troop is blessed with equipment. We have a bus for transportation, and a well stocked trailer with essential troop camping gear. It is our intent to provide the necessary troop and patrol gear for an enjoyable outing. The scout is responsible for providing his own personal equipment. A complete list of appropriate personal equipment can be found in the Scout Handbook.

The Quartermaster has the primary responsibility for the quantity and condition of the troop equipment. He will report the type and quantity of equipment, condition, place of storage, and any new or replacement requirements. Recommendations for new, repair, or replacement equipment and/or sale of any Troop equipment is to be approved by the Troop Committee on a case-by-case basis.

As a rule, we generally do not loan out the Troop equipment to any other organization. However, the troop committee may consider special requests. Troop equipment is not to be loaned for personal or private family use.

Scouts and adult participants are not to bring electronic games, radios, portable TV's, or other electronic equipment on any outing without the expressed permission of the Scoutmaster. Violations will result in the item being confiscated by an adult leader. Confiscated equipment will be returned at the Troop meeting following the outing.

The leadership of the troop will provide for the necessary use of a global positioning satellite (GPS) unit and a cell phone, for emergencies. Responsibility for care and maintenance of the unit is the responsibility of the owner/user; not the troop.

The troop currently owns a bus and uses this as the primary means of transporting the troop to and from scout functions.

Each scout will need to complete CPR training in order to participate in aquatic activities at summer camp. The Troop will arrange for this training on two occasions, usually outside of a regularly scheduled Troop meeting, in the spring of each year. This training, and the certificate, is good for two years. The Troop will keep the red cards obtained after training as a part of the Troop training records.

As a boy grows and learns, he will be able to demonstrate his leadership skills. As a way of ensuring he is successful, especially at the patrol leader level, the Troop requires that the boy attend Junior Leader Training Conference (JLTC). This training is a weeklong, residential camp program at one of the council camps, usually Camp S-F. In the past, the Troop has paid the entire cost of the training fee for the boy, a $145 investment. In return, we expect that the boy provide leadership for the troop and patrol. We find that this training is an exceptional value, and will help your son for many years to come.

The Scoutmaster and all assistant Scoutmasters are required to take part in the District sponsored Basic Scout Leader Training (BSLT) and Youth Protection Plan Training within six months of registering with the Troop. All adult leaders are encouraged to attend the Council sponsored Wood Badge course within two years.

All other registered adults are encouraged to attend the District sponsored Basic Scout Leader Training (BSLT) and Youth Protection Plan Training within 1 year of taking a position. Participation in the Council sponsored Wood Badge courses is optional or as needed.

All Merit Badge counselors must attend a certified District Merit Badge Counselor Seminar.

The Scoutmaster and all Assistant Scoutmasters must be trained in Safety Afloat and Safe Swim Defense within one year of registering.

The uniform is one of the methods of Scouting. The uniform makes the Scout troop visible as a force of good and creates a positive youth image in the community. Boy Scouting is an action program, and wearing the uniform is an action that shows each Scout's commitment to the aims and purposes of Scouting. The uniform gives the Scout identity in a world brotherhood youth that believe in the same ideals.

Scouts in uniform are conscious of their rank and make a greater effort to advance. Only the uniform provides a place for display of badges, which are important symbols of achievement. Scouts have more fun, stay longer, feel greater pride in advancement.

It is not the purpose of the Scout uniform to hide the differences between the boys or make them feel that they are all the same. But there is one way in which all Scouts are alike. Whenever a Scout sees another person in a Scout uniform he knows he is like that person because both have committed themselves to the principles of the Scout Oath and Law. The Scout Oath and Law bind all Scouts of the world together in a common purpose.

When smartly worn, the uniform can help build good troop spirit. By investing in a uniform, a Scout and his parents are really making a kind of a commitment to take Scouting seriously. The uniform makes the troop visible as a force for good in the community. When properly worn on the correct occasions, it can attract new members. Scouts in uniform create a strong, positive, youth image in the neighborhood, thus helping to counteract the negative feeling some adults have about youth.

The Scout uniform helps to achieve the objectives of Scouting. The uniform by itself can not make a good Scout or a good Troop, but its use has been proven to improve both the Scout and the Troop because it is a visible symbol of Scouting and unity.

Each Scout is required to have and wear, within a reasonable amount of time after joining the Troop, the following uniform items:

Olive Scout pants or shorts.

Scout web belt and buckle.

Boy Scout Socks

Tennis shoes or hiking boots.

Troop 311 hat

For Court of Honors, please also wear the following in addition to the list for "Class A";

Troop 311 neckerchief

Neckerchief slide (can be purchased or made by Scout).

Merit Badge sash

Troop 311 T-Shirt (obtain from Troop )

Scout pants or shorts.

Scout web belt and buckle

Boy Scout Socks (Yes socks are required)

Tennis shoes or hiking boots.

This is basically any "civilian" attire. However, we recommend –

Troop 311 T-shirt of other BSA T-shirt

Troop 311 hat

Appropriate legwear for the event

Appropriate footwear for the event

Socks

Class A uniforms will be worn at all troop meetings. The Class A uniform is also the travel uniform for the troop. The Class A will be worn to and from every campout. At Summer Camp, the Class A uniform will be worn to the morning and evening flag ceremonies.

The Class B uniform may be worn at campouts after arrival, at troop service projects and other events where the activity may damage the Class A uniform. There will be an announcement at the troop meeting to communicate when a uniform change is appropriate for an event ("Class B" at a troop meeting, etc.)

A boy will receive a Troop 311 Class B T-shirt and hat when he first joins the troop. He will again receive a Troop 311 Class B T-shirt at a meeting just before summer camp.

Please make sure your son’s name is in each piece of clothing. We usually have "extra" clothing after every event, and at some point, your son will come up missing something.

As a boy grows, he will begin to notice that his uniform no longer fits correctly. We are fortunate that we have uniform grab bag for you to help your boy look smart for his entire scouting career. Here’s how it works; you may buy a part of the scout uniform from the grab bag for $5. It’s that simple. Of course, we accept donations when your boy outgrows his uniform.

Finally, if you are not financially able to completely outfit your boy with the required uniform, please speak with the Scoutmaster. We have leaders and members of our sponsoring organization who will be glad to step forward and help your son look smart as he learns and grows into a young man.

Adult leaders are also expected to proudly wear the appropriate uniform. We must set the example for the boys to follow if we are to have a successful uniformed, program.

The Boy Scouts of America have done a wonderful job of laying out a program that allows a boy to develop into a young man. Advancement is one of the means that the scout program uses to achieve its aims.

The first thing a Scout needs is the Boy Scout Handbook. Besides containing valuable information, it is also where he can find out about rank requirements.

The ranks within the Boys Scouts are;

Scout

Tenderfoot

Second Class

First Class

Star

Life

Eagle

To have a requirement signed off for ranks through First Class, a Scout must present himself to the person who is signing and do the requirement (for example: demonstrate how to whip and fuse the ends of a rope). Persons who may sign off a requirement are the Scoutmaster, an Assistant Scoutmaster, or a Scout who is First Class rank or higher.

The Scoutmaster or an Assistant Scoutmaster must sign off Star, Life and Eagle requirements. The Eagle Candidate may sign off the service project requirement performed on his Eagle project for Scouts of Star rank or below.

When all the requirements are completed for a rank, the boy must request a Scoutmaster conference. Conferences up to and including First Class can be done by the Assistant Scoutmasters. The Scoutmaster must do conferences for Star rank and above. After the conference is completed the Scout must request a Committee Board of Review. The Boards are held every week and must be requested a week in advance. Please check the Troop calendar for availability of a Board of Review. When a Scout passes a Board of Review, he has earned that rank. Rank patches will be awarded as soon as possible, usually at the following meeting.

Scouts follow these procedures to earn a merit badge:

• Choose a merit badge.
• Request a card from the advancement chairman.
• Look at the merit badge counselor list for a counselor for your chosen badge. All Scoutmasters and the advancement chair will have these lists.
• Fill out the card with the counselor's information and have it signed by the Scoutmaster.
• They must contact the merit badge counselor and ask if he or she will be the Scout's counselor for the badge. They meet with him or her and follow their instructions. If they cannot be the Scout's counselor, the Scout gets a new name from the list and has another card signed.

• NOTE: A Scout must never meet with the counselor alone. He must have a buddy or a parent with him. He must be in Class A uniform unless his counselor tells him differently.

• When a Scout completes the badge requirements, the counselor will sign the card and keep one part. The other two parts are brought back to the Scoutmaster and he signs them. The card is given to the advancement chairman. The Scout will receive the badge and his part of the card as soon as possible, usually at the following meeting.

A fundamental premise of the Boy Scouts of America is service to others. A scout, when he recites the Scout Oath, promises to "…to help other people at all times, …" To this end, Troop 311 participates in many service projects over the course of the year. Some of these include the national "Food Good Turn" food drive, in the fall of every year, as well as participating with the Elks lodge to make holiday food baskets for the needy. Additionally, we clean a section of highway PP just outside of town, and we participate in or lead flag ceremonies for various local organizations.

Your son will need to participate in a Troop approved service project in order to advance in rank. He may also help out a fellow scout who is working on his Eagle rank service project. Please look for opportunities to help your son grow by helping others through his service.

Four times a year the Troop will use a meeting to recognize the boys for their achievements. These are formal occasions, and highlight the efforts each boy has made to advance in rank and earn merit badges. The entire family is invited, where either a meal or light refreshments are served for everyone’s enjoyment. In addition to the awards, each patrol will provide some sort of entertainment, which is always a treat.

The Court of Honor is a highly revered and special night when each one of us can be proud to be a part of this youth movement.

Someone once said, "Scouting is ¾ outing," and we try to plan an exciting outdoor program to keep your son interested and maybe even learn something.

Troop 311 has a regularly scheduled campout every month. We meet at the Jackson City Park Swimming Pool parking lot. Troop leadership should arrive at 4:45 PM and all other troop members should arrive at 5:00 PM. Departure time is promptly at 5:30 PM. All pertinent details relating to the outing will be included in the information sheet sent home with your son, usually two weeks ahead of the event.

Scouts and leaders will always travel in "Class A" uniform and in accordance to the policies set forth by the National Council.

We will travel to and from our activity in the troop bus, as a group, with a designated vehicle as a follower. Exceptions to the unit traveling in the bus will be broadly communicated, but will include summer camp as well as Order of the Arrow functions.

The Senior Patrol Leader, or his designee, will check to make sure that all scouts are accounted for upon departure, as well as any in route stops. This will always be done prior to leaving any location.

The troop will usually return to the Jackson City Park Swimming Pool parking lot at 12:00PM on Sunday. We will communicate changes to the plan via an appointed contact person and a phone tree. All Scouts must be picked up by a parent/guardian promptly. We enjoy the time we spend with your son, but we also have families that we like to see on what’s left of our weekends. Please be prompt or make other arrangements so we can all go on about our weekend business.

Each month, a camping commitment form is handed out by ASM in charge of the upcoming campout. This sheet contains all of the important information about the campout. This form is to be filled out by the Scout and his parent/guardian. It is to be turned in to his patrol leader on the day indicated on the form. Turning these forms in on time is very important as we use this information to determine how much food to buy, how many leaders are required, etc.

Each Scout must turn in a camping commitment form on the specified day so that we may obtain an accurate headcount. Also, the Scout must make sure that all camping fees are paid and that all relevant medical forms are on file. If the Scout cannot attend the troop meeting when the forms are due, it is his responsibility to inform his patrol leader or senior patrol leader to communicate all of the information on the camping commitment form.

Once each summer, usually in June, the troop participates in a six day long residence camp. This is often Camp Lewallen, which is one of the Greater St. Louis Area Council camps, but occasionally will be for a camp that is outside our own council. All of the normal rules for a campout apply with some exceptions. The camp will provide the meals and the program. Summer camp is usually geared specifically for advancement in rank and in a concentrated merit badge program.

Before going to summer camp, each Scout is given a list of available activities for the camp selected. With the guidance of the Scoutmaster, Senior Patrol Leader and his parents, each Scout make a commitment on what he will be working on at summer camp. It is his responsibility to work on these commitments. Adults and leaders from the troop will be present at summer camp and will offer encouragement to the Scouts, but will not specifically be checking on progress of each Scout. Summer camp offers the opportunity for advancement, but the initiative must come from the Scout.

On one night of summer camp, usually Wednesday night, parents of the scouts are invited to camp to see how your son is doing, and to participate in a special campfire and Order of the Arrow call out ceremony. This is a special night, and one that is not easily forgotten. We encourage all parents to attend if at all possible.

The troop will mail a letter home in May with all the important information regarding summer camp, including a map and address where mail can be sent.

Regular communication is vital to a Troop’s success. We will use several ways to communicate information about the various activities within the Troop to you and your boy.

The primary method we will use with be to communicate directly with the boys during a Troop meeting or outing. It is the boy’s responsibility to relay this information back to you, the parent. While this may not be the most efficient method, it is important that the boy be responsible for this so that he can further develop this life-long important skill.

In addition to this method, we will also use the Troop Newsletter, published monthly, to communicate schedule and activity information.

We also have a webpage, and will be using this more to communicate information about our troop. The web site address is http://supertroop311.innovativeidea.com/

You will also find that the phone should be ringing with the voice of a cheerful patrol leader on the other end. It is the Patrol Leader’s job to ensure that each boy receives timely information on activities, especially to communicate last minute changes, to confirm attendance at a troop activity, or to simply remind you of an important event.

Even with these methods, there will be misses. We expect them. Remember, we are all trying to help grow our boys into men. This takes time, and mistakes!

There are going to be questions, so we encourage you to consider these ways of having your question answered.

If a Scout needs help, he should talk to the following people in order: Patrol Leader, Senior Patrol Leader, or Scoutmaster.

If a parent needs help, they should talk to the following people in order: Scoutmaster, Committee Chairman, Charter Organization Rep, or Institutional Head of the Chartering Organization.

Suggestions by Scouts or adults to help improve the Troop should be addressed to the Senior Patrol Leader, Scoutmaster or Committee Chairman.

A Suggestion Box is available at all Scout meetings to those who prefer to write out their suggestions or comments. These comments can be made anonymously. If you have constructive ideas or suggestions, share them! If you keep silent, problems may not be solved and great ideas can be lost.

Troop 311 leadership is a partnership between Scouts and adults. The Senior Patrol Leader, Assistant Senior Patrol Leader, Patrol Leaders and other members of the Patrol Leaders' Council (PLC), with the assistance of the Scoutmaster and Assistant Scoutmasters, work with the other members of the troop to develop and execute a safe, enjoyable and effective Scouting program (see BSA Junior Leader Handbook, 1990, for information on shared-leadership principles). Participating in this partnership, the Troop Committee and the Charter Organization representative work with the Scouts and Scoutmasters on program planning, record keeping, recruitment, finances and health and safety issues.

Responsibility for the functioning of the Troop and its programs rests first with the Troop Committee and the Scoutmaster. The Committee provides overall supervision of the Troop program and critical support to the Scoutmasters and junior leaders. The Scoutmaster and his assistants have responsibility for the program but strive to transfer leadership and planning of program activities and troop meetings to the Senior Patrol Leader and other junior leaders. They, in turn, delegate leadership and planning to Patrol leaders as appropriate or necessary. The adult leadership looks to the Scouts and their elected junior leaders to address problems of discipline and order according to Troop policy as outlined below. Adults should encourage junior leadership by referring questions and decisions to the appropriate Scouts for resolution. Scouts share responsibility for keeping order at Troop functions. Disrupting Troop or Patrol activities not only undermines Troop and Patrol unity, it deprives serious Scouts from enjoying the program fully and runs counter to the spirit of Scouting.

When conflicts or disorder arise, Scouts should seek assistance in resolving them from other Scouts, junior leaders and adults. While junior leaders are charged with developing and implementing the Scouting program, keeping order, and encouraging unity, the Troop Committee and Scoutmaster are ultimately responsible for the conduct of the Troop. Leaders are not to use physical force to implement decisions, enforce rules of conduct or punish unacceptable behavior. Junior leaders are NOT permitted to expel Scouts from Troop meetings or events. Force, applied as far as possible to avoid injury, may be used only to restrain a Scout from hurting himself or others.

Scouting events should occur in a friendly, safe, and affirming environment in which Scouts have fun and can grow as persons. Scouts come in different sizes and shapes, at different levels of emotional and cognitive maturity, and with different physical capabilities. Scouting activities should be planned with this in mind. Scouts in the normal process of growing up often do not appreciate their own strength and therefore may hurt one another when they play in a 'rough-and-tumble' fashion as they did when they were smaller. Some Scouts may think that tough talk and rough behavior improve their status in the eyes of their peers, but among Scouts this should not be so. Foul or threatening language demeans the character of the speaker and violates the spirit of Scouting.

Here are some examples of inappropriate behavior that should not be tolerated at Scouting events (and indeed, if the principles of Scouting are to be taken seriously, not ever):

1. Failure to follow reasonable directives of an adult or junior leader

2. Unnecessary or inappropriate physical roughness

3. Threatening or intimidating another person by word or action

4. Foul language that offends or degrades common decency, as well as negative and derogatory banter

5. Actions or language offensive or discriminatory with respect to sex, race, religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation or physical/mental disability.

6. Behavior that displays disrespect for other persons, personal property or the environment

7. Smoking

8. Possession or use of fireworks

9. Unauthorized use or possession of firearms or other weapons

10. Use or possession of sheath knives (or any knife with a blade longer than the standard Scout knife blade), axes or hatchets without permission of the Scoutmaster or other responsible adult leader

11. Use or possession of alcoholic beverages or controlled substances (except medication of which the adult leadership is aware)

12. Possession of pornographic materials

This list is not exhaustive. Both junior and adult leaders must judge cases as they arise, and those under their leadership must respect their authority to make judgments. A Scout should obey any direct order from an appropriate junior or adult leader.

The Scoutmaster and his assistants monitor the behavior of Scouts in the Troop to ensure that reasonable standards of Scout behavior are observed at all Scouting events. If an unacceptable situation arises, and junior leaders are unable to restore order to the group, the Scoutmaster or his assistants or a designated adult should intervene. (See BSA Scoutmasters Handbook, 1990.)

The Scoutmaster, Assistant Scoutmasters, and other designated adult leaders should follow the procedure outlined below when disciplinary problems arise:

Stage 1: The first step is to ask the offending Scout respectfully to stop the inappropriate behavior, to describe acceptable alternatives and to suggest that continuation of the behavior will warrant an official warning. The Scout should understand that his behavior disrupts a Scout activity or interferes with another person's participation in such an activity. He should acknowledge his responsibility for the actions and try to compensate for their effects. Some examples: A Scout might apologize to the affected parties (possibly the entire troop), explain to the Troop the importance of some relevant portion of the Scout Law, replace or repair broken or lost equipment, or make some other reparative effort such as skill or advancement instruction with a younger Scout he had mistreated.

Stage 2: The second step in the event that the Scout continues the unacceptable behavior or defies an order to stop is to issue an official warning to the offending Scout that his behavior is inappropriate: he is told not to repeat the behavior on pain of disciplinary action. The "warner" should report the event to the Scoutmaster at the earliest possible time. Leaders must judge for themselves when a Scout's behavior merits an official warning. Moving too swiftly into the disciplinary process may aggravate rather than alleviate a problem. A leader may also, however, judge that an infraction is severe enough to warrant immediate recourse to a later stage in the process.

Stage 3: If the unacceptable behavior persists, or an official warning is ignored, the Scout should compensate for any material or psychological damage he has caused. In the third stage the Scoutmaster or appropriate adult leader will contact the Scout's parent(s) or guardian(s) about the problem. The Scoutmaster, at least one Assistant Scoutmaster, and the Scout's parent/guardian(s) will devise a plan the Scout should undertake to compensate for his inappropriate behavior. The Scoutmaster should inform the Chair of the Troop Committee of any such actions.

Stage 4: If the Scout continues the unacceptable behavior after the application of stage three discipline or refuses to accept such discipline, the Scoutmaster will call for a conference attended by the Scoutmaster and at least one Assistant Scoutmaster, the Troop Committee Chair, the offending Scout and the Scout's parent(s) or guardian(s). The Scoutmaster and at least one Assistant Scoutmaster may suspend the Scout temporarily until such a meeting occurs. Here, the adult Troop leaders review the Troop's discipline policy, discuss the problems that have occurred, and obtain from the Scout and his parent(s) or guardian(s) a commitment to correct the unacceptable behavior. At the same time, the Scout and his parent(s) or guardian(s) can attempt to defend the Scout's behavior, or criticize any elements of the Scouting program that they believe to justify the Scout's behavior.

Participants at such a meeting should then formulate positive goals and devise a plan to resolve the situation. The Committee Chair will only observe and record the proceedings, or offer material and moral support, without interceding on any party's behalf. If the adult leaders applying the policy disagree strongly on the proper action, they may refer their disagreement to the Troop Committee.

Stage 5) If steps 1-4 above do not result in acceptable behavior by the offending Scout, or any party to the agreement reached in the Stage 4 meeting refuses to cooperate, the other parties may ask for a hearing before the Troop Committee. Here, the Scout's continued membership in Troop 311 will be reconsidered in light of reports given by the Scoutmaster, his assistants and other adult leaders who have observed any of the foregoing events. Some possible resolutions at this stage of discipline include, but are not restricted to, renegotiating a contract with the Scout and his parent(s) or guardian(s), requiring that a parent or guardian attend all Scouting activities in which the Scout participates, or expelling the Scout from the Troop. The Scout, his parent/guardian(s) and other interested parties may represent the Scout's point of view and interests before the committee.

In such a Troop Committee Hearing, the Committee will listen to all interested parties, ask such questions of those parties as it deems appropriate, and either ask for a continuation of the information gathering process, or decide the matter immediately. All interested parties, including Committee members with a direct conflict of interest, will leave the hearing as the remaining members of the Committee commence deliberation of its decision.

It is hoped that no disciplinary situation will reach Stage 5. Such problems should be resolved by agreement between Scouts and their leadership, in particular with the cooperation and intervention of the Scoutmaster and his assistants. Failing this, it is hoped that appealing to the Scout's parents will resolve any such matter. The Troop Committee should address such matters only when a serious disagreement arises between the Scoutmaster/Assistant Scoutmasters and a Scout's parent(s) or guardian(s).

Scouting activities should provide a safe and friendly environment for boys. It is an opportunity for Scouts to grow physically, mentally, and morally. Scouts must treat other Scouts and adults with the respect described in the BSA Scout Law. BSA is a voluntary organization and decisions should be made democratically or, whenever possible, by consensus. Planning and decision making activities are opportunities for Scouts to develop leadership skills within an inclusive shared-responsibility framework that responds to minority concerns and sensibilities. And, of course, Scouting should always be fun, for Scouts and adults!

Appendix A

Please sign and return this form to the Scoutmaster.

I have read the Troop 311 Handbook with my parent/guardian. I understand the contents and agree to abide by these rules.

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Scout’s Name Date

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Scout’s Signature

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Parent/Guardian Signature