It is the purpose of the Boy Scouts of America to provide an effective program which will instill in youth desirable qualities of character, train them in the responsibilities of being an involved citizen, and help develop their personal fitness. Such a program will provide this country with citizens who:

1. are physically, mentally, and emotionally fit;

2. have a high degree of self-reliance as evidenced in such qualities as initiative, courage, and resourcefulness;

3. have personal and stable values firmly based on religious concepts;

4. have the desire and skills to help others;

5. understand the principles of the American social, economic and governmental systems;

6. are knowledgeable about and take pride in their American heritage and understand America’s role in the world;

7. have a keen respect for the basic rights of all people;

8. and are prepared to fulfill the responsibilities of participating in and giving leadership to American society and in other forums of the world.

Troop 434 fully supports the purposes of Boy Scouts of America.  Additionally, we would like each scout to participate fully in his religious faith. If he does not attend any church on a regular basis, he is encouraged to do so. Also, as he advances in Scouting, he will be encouraged to earn the God and Country Award or equivalent. It should be understood that this is not a requirement of Troop 434 or Boy Scouts of America. However, this is an award the scout may earn which will give him a deeper understanding of the spiritual side of his character.

Boy Scouts of America is a “boy-run program” with the adult scouters serving in an advisory capacity, performing only those functions which the scouts themselves cannot perform. The boy leaders of Troop 434 make up the Patrol Leaders Council (PLC). It is one of the tasks of the Patrol Leaders Council, along with the adult scouters, to prepare the troop program every six months. The following criteria are used to establish eligibility for troop office.

Senior Patrol Leader (SPL): Must be at least a Star Scout, have been active in the troop for one year, have attended at least 50% of the functions during the period, have lived up to the Scout Promise and the twelve points of the Scout Law, and have attended or be willing to attend Junior Leader Training Class (JLTC). Elected by majority of active scouts.

Assistant Senior Patrol Leader (ASPL): Same as Senior Patrol leader and be selected by the SPL.

Patrol Leader (PL): Must show Scout Spirit and be elected by his patrol.

Assistant Patrol Leader (APL): Same as Patrol Leader and be selected the PL.

Quartermaster, Scribe, Chaplain’s Aide, Historian, Librarian, Troop Guide, and Bugler: Can be any rank, but must have been active in the troop for six months, have participated in at least 50% of the troop functions, and have shown Scout Spirit.

Other positions may be added by the PLC at anytime. These positions are elected by a majority of the active scouts.

Den Chief: At least 1st Class, attend Den Chief Training, active in the troop, lived up to the Scout Promise and 12 points of the Scout Law, and must be approved by the Scoutmaster.

The Troop Committee established a policy that sets the minimum participation requirements for a boy as follows:

1. If a scout misses five (5) consecutive regular meetings (not including illness or school activity), he will be considered inactive and will be removed from the active roll.

2. If a scout misses three (3) consecutive camp-outs (not including illness or school activity), he will be considered inactive.

3. If a scout is considered inactive, he will not advance in rank. Once he has been declared inactive but then returns to the troop, he must be active for three (3) months again before he may advance.

Hazing or initiations are not acceptable under the Boy Scouts of America policy. It will not be tolerated in Troop 434. Anyone caught doing this will be ejected immediately from the troop and appropriate notations will be made on the scouting records.

Camp-outs are scheduled by the Patrol Leaders Council (PLC) during the planning sessions held in late December and late June. Every effort is made to prevent conflicts with school functions, city-wide celebrations, and other major events. The weather may become an item of some concern at times. As a general rule, we do not cancel a camp-out because of threatening or bad weather. Weather can be the cause of “great adventures” and give the scout an opportunity to learn skills he might not otherwise have had a chance to learn on a first-hand basis.

Dads on Camp-Outs: The policy of Troop 434 is to encourage dads to attend a camp-out with the troop whenever possible. This provides an opportunity for father and son to experience the great out-of-doors together. Dads are cautioned while on the camp-out to avoid doing things for their sons that they can do for themselves.

Cancellation of Camp-Outs: The only sure reason a camp-out will be canceled is if there are not enough adults able to attend. National Boy Scouts of America policy insists that there be at least two (2) adults on any camp-out. In view of the troop policy on dads camping, this situation should never arise.

Illness: If a scout has an illness or is still recovering from an illness, he should stay home. This will keep him from causing himself further illness and exposing other scouts to the illness.

Individual Camping Equipment: The philosophy of Troop 434 is that each scout should be able to take all he needs on a camp-out in a frame-type backpack. The adult leaders will be happy to discuss with you and your son what he needs after he has been on a few campouts and has had a chance to observe what some of the older scouts have. For the first few camp-outs, he will need a sleeping bag, personal eating gear (a mess kit; a cup, preferably metal; a fork and spoon), personal hygiene necessities, a flashlight, a backpack or duffle bag, plus anything he thinks he will need from the list in the Boy Scout Handbook (pg. 51-54). Feel free to contact the adult leaders if you have any questions.

Each scout’s personal camping equipment should be clearly and permanently marked with his name or some unique, identifiable symbol. It is the scout’s responsibility, not the adult leaders’ responsibility, to keep track of his belongings.

Troop Camping Equipment: The troop has well over $7,000 invested in camping equipment. This equipment is for the use of the scouts in the troop. They are expected to treat this equipment at least as well as they would treat their own equipment. Damage to this equipment through normal use or accidents is expected; however, in some cases, the scout(s) responsible for damage will be responsible for repairing it. Willful or malicious damage will not be tolerated. In this case, if full restitution of the damage is not made before the next scheduled camp-out, the scout(s) involved will be asked to leave the troop and appropriate notations will be made on the scouting records.

Food: The troop policy concerning meals on camp-outs is that breakfast and dinner each day are to be cooked meals. Cold cereal, Pop-Tarts, granola bars, etc. are not appropriate breakfasts. Sandwiches are not appropriate dinners. They do make good lunches and are acceptable in that capacity. Scouts should learn to prepare good-tasting, nutritious meals on camp-outs. Soft drinks are not acceptable for drinks in camp. On backpacking expeditions, where weight becomes a factor, we do allow some deviation from this food policy. The strenuous nature of backpacking requires high carbohydrate content foods that are lightweight and do not require refrigeration.

No food or drink is allowed in the troop tents. A small crumb from a chocolate bar ground into the floor of a tent will provide enough scent that the tent should never be used in bear country.

After a new scout has been on his first few camp-outs, he will be asked to accompany one of the other members of his patrol to buy food for a camp-out. This is to prepare him for when he will do the food-buying. When that time comes, he will be expected to purchase the proper quantity of food which fulfills the menu requirements, divide the total cost by the number in his patrol attending the camp-out, and collect the money owed him (you). Troop policy states that a scout who indicates he will attend a camp-out, then backs out after the food is purchased is responsible for his portion of the food cost.

Most camp-outs will start on Friday afternoon with loading the trailer starting at 5:30 pm. The scheduled departure time will be 6:00 pm. The Scouts will be responsible for bringing their dinner with them or eating before they show up at 5:30.

Buying Stops: On many camp-outs the troop will stop along the way for “Buying Stops”. The Scouts can buy drinks and snacks only. This is not set up to take the place of a meal.