What is Scout Spirit?
When does Troop 10 meet?
Where does Troop 10 meet?
How often does Troop 10 go camping?
Does Troop 10 go to summer camp?
How does the Troop decide where they will go camping?
Do I have to provide all of my own camping gear?
How do I get a uniform?
How are the youth leaders of the Troop selected?
How much will Scouting cost me?
What options do I have to pay for camps?
What is the Scoutmaster Workbook?

New "Pedro" Scouts

1. How is Boy Scouts different from Cub Scouts?
2. Who are the Boy Scout adult leaders?
3. Who are the Boy Scout leaders?
4. What is the uniform?
5. How much does it cost for a new Scout?
6. What happens in the troop meeting?
7. What are the activities besides the meetings?
8. What does he need to bring to the meeting?
9. Where can he buy the Scout uniform?
10. What are the different ranks?
11. How does the Scout advance in rank?
12. How does the Scout earn merit badges?
13. What is summer camp?
14. What is needed on a day hike or a campout?
15. What does it take to earn Scout rank or Tenderfoot?
16. What is expected of parents?
17. What is a Venture Crew?
18. What is Order of the Arrow?
19. What is a Den Chief?
20. What is a Troop and a Patrol?
21. Do you still have questions?

When does Troop 10 meet?
Troop meetings are held every Tuesday evening at 7:00p.m. to 8:30p.m. with few exceptions, the Troop meets every week of the year except through the summer months. We traditionally do not have meetings during the Christmas holidays. All exceptions to the weekly meeting will be noted in the Troop Calendar.

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Where does Troop 10 meet?
Troop 10 is fortunate that our chartered organization, West Houston Church of Christ Recreation Center next to the basket ball court in the back of the church, provides access to the church for our meetings. The church is located at the corner of Queeston Blvd & West Road. The physical address is 17100 West Road, Houston, Texas 77095.

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How often does Troop 10 go camping?
The Troop camps or has a planned outing once per month.

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Does Troop 10 go to summer camp?
Yes, we traditionally attend at one week of summer camp. We usally alternate summer camp by attend summer camp in council one year and the following year we will attend summer camp out of council.

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How does the Troop decide where they will go camping?
The troop has an annual planning meeting in August. At that time, Scouts and adults present their ideas for camping locations to the troop, and a vote is taken. Location, facilities, available activities, and time of year are all considered when selecting which locations and which months we will camp at the locations that are voted on by the Troop. The troop calendar is presented to the Troop Committee for final approval.

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Do I have to provide all of my own camping gear?
The Troop maintains camping gear for each of the Patrols to use on campouts. This includes tents, a dining fly, a dutch oven, a cooking stove with stand, a lantern and a patrol box with all of the essential items for food preparation and clean up. Each Scout is responsible for his own personal gear including a sleeping bag, sleeping pad, mess kit, compass, chair, backpack, hiking boots, weather appropriate clothing and outerwear, and other season specific items as needed. A list of recommended items for a typically weekend campout is provided on our Troop Camping Check List. Additional items are recommended for our week long summer camps, and a packing list for those outings can be found on the same page.

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How do I get a uniform?
Boy Scouts wear the khaki uniform shirt with green shoulder loops and the standard Troop 10 neckerchief. Occasionally, the Troop may have an experience uniform available as Scouts outgrow a uniform and want to pass it on for someone else to use. Otherwise, uniforms can be purchased at the SHAC Council Scout Shop located at 12225 North Loop West, Suite A Houston, TX 77008.

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How are the youth leaders of the Troop selected?
Every 6 months, the youth leaders of the Troop are selected through an election process. A scout may choose to run for any leadership position (See the Troop PLC section of the web site for more information.) It is important that the elected youth leaders participate in these activities regularly since serving a leadership role is a rank advancement requirement for the ranks of Star, Life and Eagle. In order for the Scout to get credit, he must fulfill all of the leadership duties and obligations of the role. The Senior Patrol Leader, Assistant Senior Patrol Leader are appointed by the Troop Committee. The Patrol Leaders, Assistant Patrol Leaders, Quartermaster, Scribe, Librarian, Historian and Chaplain Aid are elected positions within the the troop. The Troop Guides and Instructors are appointed by the Senior Patrol Leader in consultation with the Scoutmaster.

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How much will Scouting cost me?
Weekly dues are $2.00 per Scout. The dues are used to pay for advancement awards, annual registration fees, and other Troop operating expenses. Scouts may pay weekly or lump sums may be paid periodically (i.e. monthly, quarterly, etc.)

Patrols are responsible for planning their meals and purchasing the food for the monthly campouts. The typical food costs for a weekend can range from $10 to $15 per Scout.Occasionally, a monthly campout might include an activity or an event that requires a fee. All efforts are made during the planning process to keep Scouting as economical as possible, and these costs may range from $5 to $20 per Scout.

Week long summer camps typically cost in the range of $150 to $250 per Scout. Occassionlly we add an additional amount that is collected to cover meals and/or fuel costs for all vehicles while traveling to and from the camp.

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What options do I have to pay for camps?
To ease the burden of paying for summer camp, Troop 10 sets up a monthly payment plan option that begins in February and runs through April where summer camp can be paid for in monthly installments. In addition, annually, the Troop participates in a Council wide fundraising effort that begins in early November and runs through the end of the month. It is an officially sanctioned fundraising activity where the Scouts sell Trails End popcorn. 100% of the money the Troop earns used to pay for camps. Each Scout has a script account where the money he earns is tracked and can be used to pay for summer camps and other approved camping related expenses. Selling popcorn is a great way for a Scout to earn money to pay for camp.

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What is the Scoutmaster Workbook?
The Scoutmaster Workbook is a book of information and skills for every rank from Scout to Eagle. The intent of this book is to be used in Scoutmaeter Conferences. And, this is a way the Scoutmaster can tell if the Scout has prepared for his conference or not. If the Scout is not prepared, the Scoutmaster could be stop the conference and send them back to study or reschedule for a later date.

We want the Star-Eagle Scouts in the business of teaching younger Scouts – we cannot do that if they do not know their skills. It is the Scouts job to review the material prior to the Scoutmaster Conference.

     Scout SM Conference Worksheet
     Tenderfoot SM Conference Worksheet
     2nd Class SM Conference Worksheet
     1st Class SM Conference Worksheet
     Star SM Conference Worksheet
     Life SM Conference Worksheet

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1. How is Boy Scouts different from Cub Scouts?

   • A Boy Scout has completed the fifth grade and is at least 10 years old OR has earned the Arrow of Light Award and is at least 10 years old but not yet 18.
   • The advancing in rank or obtaining merit badges is earned by the Boy Scout on his own. He goes at his own speed. The adult leaders are there only to advise.
   • Boy Scouts is boy led. The Scoutmaster trains the Scouts to be leaders and then steps into the background and lets them do their jobs.



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2. Who are the Boy Scout adult leaders?

   Ideally adult leaders serve a minimum of 1 year.

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3. Who are the Boy Scout leaders?

   Boy leaders change every 6 months to enable Scouts to hold multiple leadership roles.

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4. When are the meetings?

   The Troop meets generally every Tuesday from 7pm. to 8:30pm.

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5. What is the uniform?

   There are 2 uniforms: Class A and Class B

   • Class A uniform will be worn at most Boy Scout functions and in transit to those functions. Class A includes the official short sleeve shirt, web belt, socks and cap. Accessories include green shoulder loops, neckerchief slide and patches which include council shoulder patch, world crest, troop numerals and patrol emblem. The Troop 10 neckerchief will be presented to the new Scout at their bridging or a troop meeting.
   • Class B uniform is worn generally on hikes or campouts, after arriving at the designated area. It is the same as Class A except in place of the Class A shirt, the Scout wears a Troop 10 T-shirt.

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6. How much does it cost for a new Scout?

   Dues are $6 monthly and $85.00 per year and that includes council and troop dues, insurance and Boys Life magazine. Financial assistance may be available.

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7. What happens in the troop meeting?

   The meetings consists of various segments including opening ceremony, skills instructions, patrol meetings, inter-patrol activity and closing.

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8. What are the activities besides the meetings?

   Generally every month the Troop goes on a day hike, 1-2 day or 2-3 day campout. Other activities include merit badge clinics, youth leadership training, service projects and Eagle projects.

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9. What does he need to bring to the meeting?

   His own Boy Scout Handbook with his name on it and the proper uniform.

10. Where can he buy the Scout uniform?

    Any of the Houston Area Scouts.
    
    • Scout Shop
    • http://www.scoutstuff.org
    • The official retail catalog



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11. What are the different ranks?

    Scout, Tenderfoot, Second Class, First Class, Star, Life and Eagle

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12. How does the Scout advance in rank?

    The requirements for each rank are outlined in the Boy Scout Handbook and must be completed by the Scout. He then goes over his completion of the ranks requirements with the adult leader for that rank or the troop guides. He signs up for the Scoutmaster’s Conference which is approximately a 30 minute meeting with the Scoutmaster and Scout. Topics discussed could be the particular rank, how the Scout is doing and the Scout’s goals. This meeting helps prepare him for the Board of Review for which the Scout must sign up. This 30 meeting before a panel of 3 adults, again reviews the Scout’s knowledge about the rank and more general questions about Boy Scouts. Upon completing the Scoutmaster Conference and Board of Review, the scout is awarded the rank at the next troop meeting and officially at the next Court of Honor. The Court of Honor is an awards ceremony held 2 times yearly during the time the scouts typically meet.

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13. How does the Scout earn merit badges?

    Approximately 120 merit badges exist. Two reasons for the badges are to give the Scout more skills in things he likes to do and give him a chance to try out new activities.

    There is an official Scout booklet for each merit badge explaining that subject and steps needed to earn that badge. To assist the Scout are merit badge counselors, merit badge clinics and summer camp. After completing the steps to earn a merit badge, the Scout has the merit badge counselor review his work. If it is complete the counselor will sign off the merit badge. At the next troop meeting or Court of Honor, the Scout will receive the merit badge.

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14. What is summer camp?

    Usually Troop 10 will alternate between in council and out of council summer camps. Our New Scouts are encourage to go to summer camp and participate in the First Class Emphisis program. It is a wonderful, fun, first experience of a Scout camp emphasizing advancing in rank and earning merit badges. All New Scouts should attend. The Scout and parent should know that if the Scout becomes too ill or is a disciplinary problem, the parent will be responsible for picking up the Scout at the camp.

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15. What is needed on a day hike or a campout?

    Different hikes or campouts may require different equipment. When outdoors every scout should have the 10 essentials, which could save a life.

    See enclosed Waht to take on Campout List and 10 essential lists.

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16. What does it take to earn Scout rank or Tenderfoot?

    See the enclosed

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17. What is expected of parents?

    Success of your Scout and Troop 10 depends on active participation of parents. It is important that every parent participate in some way. Ask the Scoutmaster how you can help. Please fill out the Troop Resource Survey.

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18. What is a Venture Crew?

    A Venture Crew is made up of boys and girls 14-21 who are interested in high adventure activities, which might include rock climbing, rafting, scuba diving or mountain treks. A Boy Scouts 14-18 can be both in a Venture Crew and a Boy Scout Troop. We have a newly organized crew. It is Venture Crew 10. Boys can be a part of a crew even if they were never in Boy Scouts.

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19. What is Order of the Arrow?

    This is an organization in which Scouts, who are at least First Class, and adult leaders are elected by their Troop because they best exemplify the Scout Oath and Law in their daily lives and by such recognition cause others to emulate their action. This is Scouting’s National Honor Society. There are many different levels of participation.

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20. What is a Den Chief?

    This is usually a younger Boy Scout who for 1 year or longer helps Cub Scouts in a den achieve the purposes of Cub Scouting by taking part in weekly Den meetings, by assisting in Den meetings and setting a good example through attitude and uniform. He can have a tremendous impact on Cub Scouts as a role model.

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21. What is a Troop and a Patrol?

    The Troop & Patrol are to Boy Scouts, what the Pack and Den are to Cub Scouts. Each Patrol has about 8 Scouts. Our Troop has approximately 40 Scouts presently. Patrol leaders are elected by each Patrol every 6 months. Adults are assigned to Patrols to assist when needed.

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22. Do you still have questions?

    You can always ask questions at the Tuesday troop meeting or if necessary, contact Donald Banks, Sr. , Scoutmaster.

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