PACK 673 BELLEVUE, WA
Dear Arrow of Light Scout Parents,
You and your Scout face an important decision this year - choosing the Scouts BSA Troop they will join.
To help with this decision, we're providing this guide with answers to common questions and suggestions for further inquiries.
Selecting a Troop is a personal choice, and not all members of an Arrow of Light patrol need to join the same Troop. While most packs are closely affiliated with nearby Troops, there isn't a designated Troop your Scout must join. Much like the Pack, Troops welcome new Scouts year-round.
As part of their Arrow of Light requirements, your Scout must:
• Visit a Scouts BSA Troop meeting with a parent or guardian.
We recommend visiting multiple Troops to see their different approaches.
• With your Patrol or a Scouts BSA Troop,participate in a campout.
These can be challenging to accomplish given our weather so it's best to attempt to accomplish this early in your AOL year.
Arrow of Light Scouts in the Lake Trails District will receive invitations for troop open houses and activities. We encourage you to participate in as many as possible. If your patrol chooses not to attend an event, reach out to Scouts BSA Troops directly or work with your Arrow of Light den leader to arrange visits. Contact Scoutmasters in advance, as meeting locations may vary. You can find nearby Troops at www.BeAScout.org or our page for Troops in the area.
During Troop visits, consider the following questions:
How many registered Scouts and Leaders does the Troop have? The number may vary, but the presence of Assistant Scoutmasters (at least one for every eight to ten Scouts) is essential.
What is the age range of the Scouts?
Is there a balance between engaging younger and older Scouts?
How do the Scouts interact? Do they make newcomers feel welcome and comfortable?
Does the Troop offer High Adventure outings? As pre-teens become teens, opportunities like merit badges, Order of the Arrow, and high adventure outings can keep them challenged and engaged on the scouting journey when other things compete for their interests.
Are the adult leaders trained and committed to Scout safety?
Are they "Trained" as per BSA standards, including youth protection, basic training, and outdoor skills?
Are adults helping scouts balance Scouting with other outside activities like sports, music, and college prep? If so, how?
Is the Troop scout-led? How do they encourage Scout leadership and patrol method? What does a typical meeting look like?
How active is the Troop? How often do they camp, and do they participate in District and Council activities?
What are the uniform requirements? Does the Troop emphasize full uniforms, activity shirts, or customized troop T-shirts?
Does the Troop attend summer camp?
What % of the troop attended last year, for example?
Where did they go?
What activities did they do, and which ones did they like most/least?
How does the Troop manage advancements and merit Badges?
If your Scout is unsure about joining a Scouts BSA Troop, they can try the program until the end of the school year, including a week at summer camp. This trial period helps both you and your Scout determine if a Scouts BSA troop is the right fit. After seeing all of the great things that happen in Scouting, and the doors it can open for college and their future careers, many scouts will want to continue on the Trail to Eagle Scout.
Consider volunteering with your Scout's Troop as well, as adult support is essential. Your involvement can make a significant impact on your Scout's journey in Scouting. Volunteering looks different in a troop. At the troop, day-to-day activities are scout-planned and scout-led. Events can be “bumpy,” coming up last minute, poorly communicated, or have “misses.” These can be the best opportunities for learning. They can also be super impressive. If you’ve seen a bunch of teenagers plan and deliver a Camporee weekend, you’ll know what we mean. Still, adults are needed for many things above and beyond fire and food safety and youth protection: to serve on boards of review, to attend outdoor activities and camps for supervision and youth protection, to coordinate high adventure outings, to serve as merit badge counselors, to mentor, and more. There will be times when your scout would rather stay at home to play video games than go to a meeting to learn first aid skills or teach other Scouts how to tie knots. If your scout’s interest begins to wane, it’s important to remember that you and your child are on a path in Scouting together, and any road to achievement and reward will have its ups and downs much like other things in life. Your words of encouragement to keep him on the path will help him continue the journey If you aren't already a volunteer, please consider becoming involved with your scout as they continue in Scouting. The most successful Scouts have caring adults who make the time to be involved.
We hope this information aids your Troop assessment. Best of luck!