Troop 880 Handbook

Section 1 - Troop Information

WELCOME TO BOY SCOUT TROOP 880

Welcome: Congratulations on the step you and your son have taken in joining the Boy Scouts of America and especially Troop 880. We hope you will have a rich experience working in this program.  Like anything else in life, you and your son, will get as much out of Scouting as you and he puts into it.  We hope this booklet of basic information and troop policies will assist you in learning how to make Boy Scouting a memorable experience within Troop 880.

A. General Information

Troop 880 is chartered by Wapping Community Church, Ellington Road, South Windsor, Connecticut, 06074.  Troop 880 has been continuously chartered since 1969.  The present Scoutmaster is Art Jennings.  The Troop is part of the Hockanum River District of the Connecticut Rivers Council.

B. Purpose and Methods

The purpose of Troop 880 and the Boy Scouts of America is to provide youth with an effective program designed to enable them to experience:

Growth in moral strength and character - This may be defined as what the boy is himself: his personal qualities, his values, and his outlook.

 

Participative citizenship - Used broadly, citizenship means the boy's relationship to others. He comes to learn of his obligations to other people, to the society he lives in, and the government that presides over that society.

 

Development of physical, mental, and emotional fitness - Fitness includes the body (well-turned and healthy), the mind (able to think and solve problems), and the emotions (self-control, courage, self-respect, and self-confidence).

 

Respect for others, the environment, and himself.

In the Boy Scouts, we use many different methods to help achieve this:

Ideals:  The ideals of Scouting are spelled out in the Scout Oath, Law, motto, and slogan.  The Scout measures himself against these ideals and continually tries to improve.

 

Patrols:  The patrol method gives Scouts an experience in group living and participating citizenship.  It places a certain amount of responsibility on young shoulders and teaches boys how to accept it.

 

Outdoors:  Boy Scouting is an outdoors program.  It is in the outdoors that Scouts share responsibilities and learn to live with each other.  It is here that the skills and activities practiced at troop meetings come alive with purpose.

 

Advancement:  Scouting provides a series of surmountable obstacles and steps to overcome them through the advancement method.  The Scout plans his advancement and progresses at his own pace as he overcomes each challenge. The Scout is rewarded for each achievement (e.g., badges of rank, merit badges, etc.), which helps him gain self-confidence.  The steps in the advancement system help a boy to grow in self-reliance and the ability to help others.

 

Adult Association:  Boys learn from the example set by their adult leaders.  Troop leadership may be male or female, and association with all adults of high character is encouraged at this stage of a young man's development.

 

Personal Growth:  As Scouts plan their activities and progress towards their goals, they experience personal growth.  The Good Turn concept is a major part of the personal growth method of Scouting.  Boys grow as they participate in community service projects and do Good Turns for others.

 

Leadership Development:  Boy Scouting encourages boys to learn and practice leadership skills.  Every Scout has the opportunity to participate in both shared leadership and total leadership situations.  Understanding the concepts of leadership helps each boy accept the leadership roles of others and guides him toward the citizenship aim of Scouting.

C. Expectations

1. Uniforms:  Scouts are required to wear the Boy Scout uniform to all troop meetings and certain other activities.  The uniform makes the Scout troop visible as a unified group and creates a positive youth image in the community.  The uniform should be worn with the shirt properly buttoned and tucked into the pants.  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 of youth who believe in the same ideals.

The Class A Uniform - The official uniform of the Boy Scouts of America can be found described in the Boy Scout handbook.  Troop 880 does not mandate a neckerchief or hat.  The Scout is expected to wear the Class A Uniform (official scout shirt, pants or shorts, socks, and belt) at all Boy Scout functions and troop meetings from the first meeting in the fall to the last meeting in the late spring.

 

The Class B Uniform - is the same as the Class A Uniform except that the Troop 880 T-shirt is substituted for the uniform shirt.  The Class B Uniform is worn to outdoor meetings and other less formal functions.

 

The Class C Uniform - is the Troop 880 T-shirt and plain colored pants/shorts and allowed during the summer months and on camp-outs.

Proper insignia is to be worn on the uniform in accordance with the guides found on the inside covers of the Boy Scout Handbook.  Merit badges should be sewn on the merit badge sash.  Temporary badges may be worn one at a time.  Patches indicating rank, patrol and leadership position must be kept current.  If Scout chooses to wear a hat, the official ball cap or the 880 cap is acceptable. No sports team caps with Class A uniforms.

Scouting equipment and supplies are available from the Council Office in East Hartford as well as, Halls Arrow, and Farr's in Manchester.  The Boy Scouts of America also offer mail order catalogs.  Used clothing/equipment is sometimes available from Troop 880 or various thrift shops.  Personal gear such as a backpack, sleeping bag, and mess kit with utensils for his personal use, are the responsibility of the Scout.   Patrol cooking equipment and tents are provided.

2. Attendance/Absenteeism - One of the requirements for any rank advancement is to "be active in your Troop and patrol".  By attending and being active in Troop meetings and activities, a Scout is able to learn the skills required for his rank advancement and to carry out his leadership responsibilities.  Good attendance is important in Scouting just as it is in your job or school.  Successful troop meetings and activities depend on the participation of all Scouts.  Troop 880 expects good attendance from all Scouts. 

3.  General Behavior - The guidelines for acceptable behavior for all scout activities are contained in the Scout Oath, Law, Motto, and Slogan as stated in the Boy Scout Handbook (pages 5-8).  Physical violence, hazing, bullying, theft, verbal insults, drugs and alcohol have no place in the Scouting program and may result in the revocation of a Scout's privileges and or membership in the troop.  If any Scout is confronted by threats of violence, verbal insults or other forms of bullying or hazing including pranks performed on the scout, his possessions or tent by other troop members, he should seek help from his unit leaders or parents.  Appendix A is the Troop 880 Code of Conduct.

The mission of the Boy Scouts of America is to prepare young people to make ethical choices over their lifetimes by instilling in them the values of the Scout Oath, Law, Motto and Slogan.

The Scout Oath:

On my honor I will do my best
To do my duty to God and my county
and to obey the Scout Law;
To help other people at all times;
To keep myself physically strong, 
Mentally awake, and morally straight.

The Scout Law:

A Scout is trustworthy, 
a Scout is loyal, 
a Scout is helpful, 
a Scout is friendly, 
a Scout is courteous, 
a Scout is kind, 
a Scout is obedient, 
a Scout is cheerful, 
a Scout is thrifty,
a Scout is brave, 
a Scout is clean, 
a Scout is reverent.

Scout Motto:

Be Prepared

Scout Slogan:

Do a Good Turn Daily

Each Scout in Troop 880 (and similarly, any of his family members) has a responsibility to protect and respect our meeting place as well as the property of the troop and his fellow Scouts.  Any damage or loss incurred (intentional, accidental, or otherwise) will be the responsibility of those who cause it.

National Scout policy prohibits alcohol, cigarettes, and/or drug use or possession by anyone at any Boy Scout function. One of our many goals is to provide a drug, alcohol, and smoke free environment in which the boys can enjoy their Scouting experience.

D. Finances

1. Annual Dues - Annual dues are $50 ($40 for each additional scout).

2. Fund Raisers - Fund raisers not only greatly reduce the financial burden for parents but provide the boys with great opportunities to understand what it takes to earn money and what it can buy, and instills a sense of pride in the boy of "helping to pay for his own way" through challenging but rewarding work.  It is hereby agreed to accept the following as a declaration of our new fundraising program that will include the following provisions as required to qualify for exemption under section 501 (c) 3 of the Internal Revenue code:

1. It is the policy of the Boy Scouts of America, Troop 880 to help all troop members, even if the troop member’s parents are not active members in our organization, or do not take part in any of our fund-raising activities.  The support of a troop member will not depend on the fund-raising effort of the troop member’s parents.  We will make this policy clearly known to our troop members.

2. The Boy Scouts of America, Troop 880 will not participate in any fund-raising program where there is any direct benefit to the troop member who raises the funds.  For example, we will adopt no system where a parent receives a point or other credit for their fund-raising participation, which can then be used to offset a troop member’s expense.

3. It is the policy of the Boy Scouts of America, Troop 880 for every fund-raising event to publicize, in advance of the event, when applicable, the fair market value of the benefit received in such a way that our contributors can clearly determine what portion is deductible, and what portion is not.

The above noted provisions were adopted by the Troop 880 Committee members on October 13, 2004.

Each boy will be solely responsible for money, product, order lists, and any other items trusted to him during a fund raiser.

3. Cost of Activities - The Troop Committee has established a policy that most activities should be cost neutral with regard to the Troop’s expenditure.  That is, the cost to the scouts for the activity is intended to cover any cost associated with the trip, for instance, fees for the use of camp facilities, ferry rides and consumables such as propane fuel for lanterns and stoves.  However, the Committee may elect, on a case-by- case basis (financial reserves permitting) to subsidize the cost of the more expensive activities, such as the annual spring canoe trip, for scouts and uniformed leaders.  The coordinator for such activities will be advised by the Committee of the amount of any such subsidy in advance.

4. Cost Reimbursement - Adult leaders, Committee members and other adult volunteers such as Merit Badge Councilors are entitled to reimbursement from Troop funds for the costs incurred to purchase materials and/or supplies for Troop activities.  Generally, authorization should be obtained from the Troop Committee in advance, especially if the expenditure is expected to exceed $25.  Receipts for such expenditures should be supplied when reimbursement is sought from the Committee Treasurer.  The coordinator for any Troop activity should consult the Committee in advance to determine the amount authorized for such expenditures.  Expenditures in excess of the authorized amount should not be made without consulting the Committee if circumstances permit. 

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This page last modified: February 18, 2008