From bnh@xenon.chem.ucla.edu Wed Sep 4 19:30:13 1996 X-FreePort-Flags: R Return-Path: Received: from xenon.chem.ucla.edu by aztec.asu.edu (4.1/SMI-4.1) id AA05398; Wed, 4 Sep 96 19:30:13 MST Received: from ppc-cam.chem.ucla.edu. (ppc-cam.chem.ucla.edu [128.97.34.112]) by xenon.chem.ucla.edu (8.6.9/8.6.9) with SMTP id TAA04654 for ; Wed, 4 Sep 1996 19:35:01 -0700 Message-Id: Date: Wed, 4 Sep 96 19:36:31 PDT From: "Bruce Hietbrink" Subject: Re: Proposed FAQ Headings To: nelsonb@aztec.asu.edu X-Mailer: VersaTerm Link v1.1 >> >>Bill, >> I've got a FAQ written up on the BSA program which (oops) I've >>not been posting on any regular basis. Want it? > Bill, Here it is. This originally was written when someone in the r.s.misc group proposed that different people write FAQs for their national organizations, and I said I'd write one up for the BSA. It's incomplete because I didn't include Cub Scouts (as I have no experience with that program). YIS Bruce Hietbrink Boy Scouts of America FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) Disclaimer: This is not an official document of the BSA. However, most of it is drawn from the BSA Handbook (1990) and the Scoutmaster Handbook (1990). Any mistakes or omissions are the fault of the compilers of this FAQ. This FAQ only deals with the BSA. The GSUSA is addressed in another FAQ. Contents: 1. What is a Scout in the US? 2. What are the Aims and Methods of the BSA? 3. What are the BSA Scout Promise, Law, Slogan and Motto? 4. How are troops organized in the BSA? 5. What sort of leadership positions exist within the troop? 6. What is the advancement program? 7. What are Varsity and Venture Scouts? 8. What is the Order of the Arrow? 9. What is Exploring? 10. How did the BSA get started? 1. What is a Scout in the US? The BSA is a program based on the Scouting movement founded by Lord Baden-Powell in 1907. In the US, the Scouting program is seperated by gender. The BSA is primarily for boys and the GSUSA is for girls. Within the BSA, there is a division by age: Tiger Cubs 6 years old Cub Scouts 7-8 years old Webelos 9-10 years old Boy Scouts 11-17 years old Explorers 14-20 years old This FAQ will focus on Boy Scouts and Explorers. A seperate FAQ will focus on Cubbing in the USA. 2. What are the Aims and Methods of the BSA? In brief, the Aims of Scouting are to build character, foster citizenship and develop fitness (physical, mental, emotional and moral). There are eight Methods used to help foster these Aims. The Ideals of Scouting are best stated in the Scout Oath and Law (see below). The Patrol Method helps foster teamwork and leadership skills. The Outdoors is one of the main draws of the Scouts (Scouting is outing!) and getting away from the distractions of daily life is a great place to learn new skills and have a lot of fun. The Advancement program provides a ladder of achievement that each Scout climbs at his own pace, learning and growing throughout. Personal Growth is an emphasis throughout the Scouting program. Adult Association with the Scoutmaster and other adult Scouters is a source of strong role models. Leadership development is achieved through specific training and experience in the various jobs in the troop. The Uniform is an outward sign that the Scout is part of this great movement. 3. What are the BSA Scout Promise, Law, Motto and Slogan? The Scout Oath (Scout Promise) is: On my honor I will do my best To do my duty to God and my country 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 is: A Scout is trustworty, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerul, thrifty, brave clean and reverent. The Scout Motto is: Be Prepared. The Scout Slogan is: Do a good turn daily. 4. How are troops organized in the BSA? Troops in the BSA are organized in the patrol system. The youth members are divided into patrols of three to eight boys each. The patrols each elect their own leaders (see below) and on activities such as campouts they act as a unit in things such as cooking. In games or competitions the patrols are often the perfect teams. Patrols can also have meetings and activities apart from the rest of the troop. Each patrol has a name (Panther patrol, Eagle patrol etc) and often has a flag and yell. In many troops there is a "New Scout Patrol" for the newest members. These younger members remain in this patrol until they earn the First Class rank or enter the seventh grade, whichever comes first. The Troop Guide is an older, experienced Scout who works with the New Scout Patrol to teach them basic Scout skills. In addition to the patrols, there are troop-wide leadership positions such as Senior Patrol Leader and Assistant Senior Patrol Leader (see below). In many troops the older Scouts are gathered into patrols called Venture crews and Varsity teams (see below). 5. What sort of leadership positions exist within the troop? Each patrol elects a Patrol Leader and an Assistant Patrol Leader. The Patrol Leader takes charge of the patrol at meetings and activities. Special duties for the Patrol Leader are working with the less experienced Scouts and representing the patrol at the Patrol Leader Council, where the leaders of the troop meet to plan future activities. The Assistant Patrol Leader acts as the Patrol Leader's right hand man, helping him and filling in when he is unable to attend. The whole troop elects a Senior Patrol Leader and an Assistant Senior Patrol Leader. These two are not in any one patrol, but represent all of them in planning and in working with the adult leadership. The Senior Patrol Leader heads the Patrol Leader Council. Other troopwide leadership positions include: -Troop Guide - an older Scout who works with the New Scout Patrol -Den Chief - works with a den of Cub Scouts -Quartermaster - keeps track of troop equipment -Scribe - acts as secretary, keeps records such as advancement, finances, etc. -Historian - cares for troop memorbilia, photos etc. -Librarian - keeps the troop's books, magazines etc. -Instructor - a Scout who is proficient in a particular skill (e.g. first aid) and teaches the others -Chaplain Aide - works with the Chaplain, plans worship etc. -Junior Assistant Scoutmaster - an older Scout who is not yet 18, helps out the Scoutmasters The adults in the troop are volunteers. The primary adult leadership position is the Scoutmaster. Along with the Assistant Scoutmasters, this leader helps coordinate the troop, works with the Patrol Leaders Council to plan activities, trains the youth in leadership and other skills and provide adult supervision. The Troop Committee is a council of parents and other volunteers who act to oversee troop program and administration, also to work with the chartering organization and the district and council. Ideally, the committee should take care of the administrative duties so the Scoutmaster is free to do his primary function, working with the youth. 6. What is the advancement program? The advancement program is a powerful tool for teaching the Scouts various skills, expanding leadership and providing recognition for achievement. The ranks earned by the Scout are, in order, Tenderfoot, Second Class, First Class, Star, Life and Eagle. The Scouts earn these ranks at their own pace, planning their course along with their youth leaders and Scoutmaster. The first three ranks require the Scout to learn skills in areas such as first aid, camp skills etc. The Scout is encouraged to earn First Class within their first year in the troop. The next three ranks are tougher. The Scout is required to earn merit badges which focus in depth on a specific area, from Cooking to Swimming to Botany to Citizenship in the Nation. Each of these ranks requires that the Scout serve in one of the troop leadership positions for a number of months and also to perform service projects to their school, church or community. To achieve the Eagle rank the Scout has to plan and carry out a major service project involving leading others in its completion. About one in fifty Scouts earns the Eagle rank. 7. What are Varsity and Venture Scouts? About 1990 the BSA introduced a program designed to enhance the Scouting experience of older Scouts. These Scouts form a patrol known as either a Venture Crew or a Varsity Team. This crew/team takes part in the other troop activities but also do more advanced activities on their own. The Scouts choose an area of emphasis and focus their activities around this area, which can be changed on a regular basis. They also elect a Crew Chief or Team Captain, who is equivalent to a patrol leader. Venture crews are more geared to high adventure outings. For instance, a crew could spend six months working on backpacking skills and small treks, cumulating in a long term backpacking trek. Varsity teams are geared toward athletics. A team could, for instance, focus on basketball during the winter months and then change to baseball in the summer. 8. What is the Order of the Arrow? The Order of the Arrow (OA) is an organization within the Boy Scouts. The Scout cannot earn his way into the Order of the Arrow, but is elected by the members of his troop in recognition of his camp skills, leadership and service to others. The OA is totally youth-run, with adults only serving as advisors. The OA emphasizes camping and also cheerful service. In most councils the OA has work weekends in the spring and fall fixing up the council camp. The OA places an emphasis on Native American lore, using American Indian symbols and regalia in the induction ceremonies and other instances. There are three honors in the OA--Ordeal, Brotherhood and Vigil. The new members start out as Ordeal members. After ten months they can earn the Brotherhood level. After two years, the Brotherhood member is considered for the Vigil Honor as recognition of their service and leadership. 9. What is Exploring? Originally more of a "troop for older Scouts", Exploring has taken on an emphasis in career exploration. Explorer posts can be organized around such things as police work, medical care, high adventure or chemical research. Exploring is the only program in the BSA that is co-ed for youth. In theory Explorers can also earn the ranks of the Boy Scout program, but the emphasis is more on the career area the post is organized around. 10. How did the BSA get started? The BSA is based on the ideas of Robert Baden-Powell, who started the world's first Scout troop in Britain in 1907. Two years later, an American named William Boyce was lost in London. A boy approached him and asked if he could be of service. After the young man took him to his destination, Boyce wanted to give him a tip. The youth refused, though, stating that he was a Scout and it was his duty to help others. Boyce was impressed and asked about these "Scouts". During his stay in London Boyce met Baden-Powell and learned about his young movement. When he returned to America, he founded the BSA with some other leaders on February 8, 1910. The Scout who met Boyce that day in London remains unkown, but his Good Turn to a lost American became a good turn to millions of American Scouts in the 80+ years since that day.