If you’ve decided to become a member of the Scout Troop 25, you’ve also decided to take on new responsibilities and to achieve more than you ever thought you could. Take a few minutes and read about the Commitments and Responsibilities you are agreeing to when you become a Scout.

The Scout’s Commitment

The Scouts of America is open to any boy age 11 through 17 (age 10 with Arrow of Light award from Cub Scouts and approval of the Scoutmaster). Being a Scout carries with it certain responsibilities: to the troop, it’s leaders, and the other scouts within the troop, and to himself. When you are a Scout, you are a member of a team…several teams actually: the patrol, the troop, the Scouts of America, and World of Scouting. A team cannot function and succeed unless each member is there, supporting his team and doing his best.

For its part, the troop committee agrees to provide trained adult leaders, an active program of weekly meetings, monthly outings, and advancement program, fundraising events, and leadership opportunity.

As a member of Scout Troop 25, each Scout is expected to be active in meetings, outings and activities. He is expected to call his patrol leader in advance if he knows he cannot make a meeting or activity. He is expected to wear the Scout uniform correctly to all troop functions. In addition, each Scout is expected to bring his Scout Handbook and a pen or pencil to each meeting.

Finally, the Scouts within the troop have established their own Rules of Conduct, which all Scouts in the troop are expected to be familiar with and abide by.

Rules of Conduct

The Scouts within the troop have established their own rules of conduct, which all Scouts in the troop are expected to be familiar with and abide by.

1. Attend meetings and activities, participate and do your best.
2. Respect others. Treat others the way you would like to be treated.
3. No hazing or putting down of others.
4. Keep your hands to yourself.
5. Pay attention to what is going on in the meeting.
6. No talking while leaders (junior or adult) are talking.
7. Follow instructions.
8. Think before acting.
9. Be serious during ceremonies.
10. No eating or chewing gum during meetings unless it is part of the program.
11. Wear your uniform correctly and show respect for it.
12. Learn and follow the Rules of Conduct.

Discipline

Disciplinary measures are progressive in nature. A Scout’s age often have relatively short attention spans, become bored easily and like to show off, often resulting in minor violations of the Code of Conduct. Holding up the Scout Sign, reminding Scouts of what they are supposed to be doing, being told they are out of line by junior or adult leaders are the first steps in this process.

Where inappropriate behavior persists, or becomes particularly disruptive, a Patrol Leaders Conference might be in order. This is usually a discussion initiated by the Scout’s patrol leader of what behavior of the Scout is a problem, why it is a problem, and how they can resolve it together.

When the behavior persists following the Patrol Leaders Conference, a conference with several members of the Patrol Leaders Council might be appropriate.

If the disruptive behavior still persists, and the Patrol Leaders Council requests it, the Scout’s parents will be called and be asked to sit down with the Scout, a member of the PLC, and the Scoutmaster so that the problem can be discussed together in an effort to reach a solution.

The Parents’ Commitment

Scouting’s values emphasize family and family commitment. Scout Troop 25 cannot function without parental support. Parents are needed in leadership positions, in support positions as members of the Troop Committee, in providing transportation and/or participating on camping trips or other outings, as a merit badge counselor, by helping to ensure that your son attends meetings regularly, by attending quarterly Courts of Honor with him, and be supporting and encouraging in all of his Scouting endeavors. It is requested that each family provide a minimum of 20 hours of parental support to the Troop each year.

We understand Scouting is not for every child, and within Scouting, every Troop is not for every Scout. We encourage all new Scouts to attend three Troop meetings and one outing as our guest before joining. We hope the new Scout will like what he finds, have a good time, and choose to join us. However, if he does not, we understand.

If you do decide to make a commitment to Troop 25, however, we expect the Scout to abide by our policies and procedures, and to conduct himself according to the Values of Scouting. He will also have 30 days from that point to complete his uniform.