FAQs

A fundamental principle of Scouting is that troops be Youth Led. However, this does not mean that parents cannot have fun too.  There are many different roles to fill and ways to contribute.  If you get involved you will quickly learn that adults in scouting share in the fellowship, participate in activities, have access to some of the best leadership training available anywhere and develop many wonderful new friends.  We need your help, supporting an activity, teaching a skill and helping with advancement.  Your involvement can be as expansive or as limited as your schedule allows but we encourage you to get involved.  Please take the time to speak with one of our leaders.

In Scouting, leaders and parents provide support.  The Scouts lead the meetings and events.  We help with guidance, resources and support.  It is very tempting to jump in when your scout or another scout is struggling.  Our leaders are trained in coaching and in providing enough support so the struggle turns into a learning experience. Our objective is to teach them teamwork and leadership.  The Senior Patrol Leader, his assistants and the individual Patrol Leaders lead the troop.  The troop operates by the “patrol method” using the patrol of 3-8 youths as the core operational element.  If your scout has questions, they are first directed to the Patrol Leader and then the Senior Patrol Leader.  If you are patient and just sit back and watch you will see an amazing transformation.

Scouting America has developed a series of programs and guidelines to help make Scouting as safe an experience as is possible.  Each year, the adults in the troop and the scouts will be trained in the principles of Youth Protection to prevent abuse.  It outlines guidelines for “Two-deep Leadership”, respect for privacy, and no one-on-one contact, among others.  All parents are welcome to participate in the training. If you are involved in Troop activities, you will be requested to attend.  You will find it very helpful for other youth activities with which you are involved.  BSA Guide to Safe Scouting, a 60-page guide to safe conduct of a wide variety of Scouting activities, is now available online at www.scouting.org 

The Scout Handbook is a wonderful source of information for your scout and you.  All the rank requirements are described as well as most of the information to achieve those ranks.  It also includes information to prepare a scout to participate in hikes and camping trips.  Encourage your scout to read it.  When he has questions about scouting, refer him to the book to see if it provides an answer.  It is an exceptional resource and one he should get used to using.  It is also a helpful resource for you.  By reviewing pertinent sections you can guide your scout when questions arise.

Advancement is essential for giving a scout a sense of accomplishment and feeling like an integrated part of the troop.  Unlike Cub Scouts, parents do not sign off on requirements.  Scouts take responsibility for working on requirements, seeking out someone at the scout meeting to provide guidance and approve their work when it is completed.  Simply participating in meetings, hikes, camping trips and summer camp will ensure that a scout has the opportunity to achieve the first 4 of the 7 ranks of scouting, (Scout, Tenderfoot, Second Class and First Class) as the program plans incorporate specific rank requirements.  Parents should become familiar with the requirements and provide support and encouragement for the scout.  If you need guidance in how you can help your scout, please do not hesitate to contact one of the troop leaders.

Scouts will need a Class A and Class B uniform.  Class A is a complete uniform including scout shirt with appropriate badges and insignia (see the Handbook), neckerchief and slide, web belt, pants/shorts and socks.  Class B is a troop t-shirt instead of the scout shirt.  Scout supplies can be purchased at the Scout Store;  the most convenient for most families is the store in Woburn, MA or on-line at scoutstuff.org or by phone at 1-800-323-0732.  Your scout will need some equipment for hiking and camping, particularly a good, rugged pair of hiking boots, rain gear and a sleeping bag.  We will discuss what equipment is necessary during meetings prior to each outing.   You need not purchase official Scouting equipment.  

There are many things to be done and many ways to participate.  We expect every family to help out in the troop.  It is because of the many volunteers the troop has that we offer some many opportunities for the Scouts. Included in this document is a brief survey of your skills and interests.  A few of the ways you can help are listed below:
·         Driving for activities and events
·         Helping out with food or setup at a Court of Honor
·         Sitting on Boards of Review 
·         Coordinating a camping trip or other event
·         Helping with Troop equipment
·         Becoming a Merit Badge Counselor
·         Running a Merit Badge Class
·         Helping a Life or Star Scout plan his way to Eagle
·         Camping with us at Summer Camp
·         Designing, managing or contributing to our website 
Please contact our Committee Chair if you would like to volunteer.  Please pitch in!

All drivers must be registered with the troop and Scout policy recommends liability limits of at least $50,000/$100,000/$50,000.  As scouts register, we will ask for your pertinent information so we will have it on file.

As a scout-led troop relying on the patrol method, direct communication about events, activities, etc. will be passed on directly to your scout.  Through e-mail, newsletters, meeting announcements, Courts of Honor and this Web site, we will do our best to keep everyone informed.  E-mail is the most effective and fastest form of communication for most people.  Please keep us up to date on your e-mail address. 

Medications on camping trips are dispensed at the appropriate time by the Scoutmaster or his designee.  Scouts and parents should provide meds in an original prescription labeled bottle with the scouts name and directions for administration to the Scoutmaster prior to departing for the trip.  Please provide only the amount of medication required for the duration of the trip. At summer camp, medications are controlled and dispensed by the camp nurse. At no time may scouts retain and dispense their own medication, except for inhalers and epipens.

Knives and matches are very useful and often essential tools for scouts participating on camping trips.  Carrying a knife or matches is privilege and scouts must have earned their Totin Chip Card (Knives, Axes and Saws) and Fireman Chit Card (Matches and Fires) in order to take advantage of this privilege.  For a minor violation of usage guidelines, a corner is clipped from a scout’s card.  If all four corners are clipped, the card and privilege is revoked and the scout must meet with the Scoutmaster and earn their card once again.  Knives and matches may be removed by an adult leader at any time.  Major infractions will result in immediate revocation of the privilege and may also lead to disciplinary action under the Scout Law Policy.

For all scouting and camping purposes, one folding pocket knife is adequate as are standard book-type or wooden matches (in a water-proof container).  Scouting America bans all sheath knives greater than 4” in blade length.  Troop 10 believes there is no need for a sheath knife of any length.  Likewise, butane lighters are not necessary and discouraged.  Troop leaders or the Quartermaster generally supplies trigger-style butane lighters for safe lighting of stoves on camping trips.  Cigarette lighters are not appropriate.

Our Troop Committee feels strongly that financial constraints should not prevent a scout from owning a uniform, from having the opportunity to participate in all scouting events or accessing the necessary equipment.  Several events during the year, particularly summer camp, require a financial commitment.  Troop 10 is prepared to find ways to assist any scout with a financial need.  

If you wish to make a donation to help us purchase equipment, please make the check payable to Troop 10, Lexington and give it to one of the leaders or send it to Robert Raposo, our Treasurer at 19 Park Drive, Burlington, MA 01803.  Your donation is tax deductible.  A receipt suitable for filing with the IRS will be returned to you.  We appreciate your support.

100%! Troop 10 has a separate girls patrol which goes on all the same outings and adventures that everyone else does.

We have an annual dinner with scout entertainment and a silent auction.

Advancement is an important part of scouting, and new scouts joining Troop 10 can expect to receive lots of attention and support as they advance through the ranks. The Scout Handbook provides details about advancement from Scout all the way through Eagle.  IN general, advancement is integrated into the overall scouting experience.  Many of the things a scout normally does in scouting (camping trips, hikes, community service projects) all involve learning activities that contribute to advancement.  Information on additional opportunities for advancement (such as summer camp and Merit Badge University) appears regularly on this site.

Troop 10 has written a detailed document describing the Merit Badge Progress, which can be found here: Policy for Merit Badge Progress