PARENTS

Welcome to Our Troop!

Whether or not you’ve been in Scouting before, there is a new world for youth to explore in a Scout troop. And, of course, as a parent, you can help ensure the success of your Scout. We strive for every youth to achieve the aims of Scouting: character development, citizenship training, leadership, and mental and physical fitness.

In order to achieve the aims of Scouting, we utilize the eight methods of Scouting:

Ideals, Personal Growth, Association with Adults, Leadership Development, Patrol Method, Outdoors, Advancement, and Uniform

Ideals

The ideals are spelled out in the Scout Oath and Scout Law. Scouts measure themselves against these ideals and continually try to improve.

Personal Growth

As they follow the Scout Oath and Scout Law, plan their activities, and progress toward their goals, Scouts grow as individuals of good character.

Association With Adults

Responsible adult leaders serve as positive role models, and Scouts learn by observing how those leaders conduct themselves.

Leadership Development

Scouts are given repeated opportunities to learn leadership skills and put them into action while serving others.

Patrol Method

The patrol method gives each Scout an opportunity to share responsibility, exercise good judgment, and develop participating citizenship. The patrol is the basic unit of Scouting.

Outdoors

It is in the outdoor setting that Scouts put a variety of skills into action, while having all kinds of fun.

Advancement

The advancement program provides Scouts with opportunities to gain understanding, learn useful skills, and receive recognition.

Uniform

The uniform is more than a place for the proper display of patches and badges. It gives the Scout identity in a world brotherhood that believes in the same ideals.

Scouting’s methods represent the tools we use, the path we take in reaching for our goals. In every Scouting activity, some element of each of these methods will be evident. Sometimes this will be obvious; often it will not. But the methods are where we concentrate our attention and effort. A balanced combination of these will lead us to the aims of Scouting.

You can help your Scout to be successful by encouraging full participation in patrol and troop activities; ensuring proper wearing of the uniform; helping with transportation, meetings, and outings; and, perhaps most importantly, supporting your Scout in following the Scout Oath and Scout Law.

Here are some great resources for families interested in learning more about the BSA Scouts program:

Transition from Cub Scouts to Scouts BSA
Serving Scouts With Disabilities
Scouts BSA FAQ
BSA Youth Protection Mission Statement