Please ask questions! If you feel as if you have grabbed a hold of a speeding train, just ask one of the conductors to explain what is going on. The Scoutmaster, Troop Committee Chairman, Advancement Chair, Assistant Scoutmasters and Committee Members are here to help. Attending Troop committee meetings and campouts on a regular basis will help you get the most out of the BSA program.

Even though the Boy Scout program is boy-lead organization, you have an important role as an adult leader to lead by example. This simple, yet important, rule should be used to guide you in your journey through the Scouting program.

1. What is the difference between a Scout and a Scouter?
2. How do I register my son in the Troop?
3. Do I need to register as an adult?
4. How do I register with the Troop as an adult?
5. Why is the adult registration process so complicated?
6. How do I find out about Troop activities?
7. Where and when are Troop meetings?
8. Are there attendance requirements?
9. What is all this alphabet soup?
10. What are the basic necessities to get started as a Scout?
11. Where do I get the Scout Handbook and uniform?
12. What are the uniform requirements? Class A, Class B, Class C?
13. Does an adult need a uniform?
14. What will my son begin working on first?
15. What are Totin’ Chip and the Firem’n Chit?
16. How do I know which patrol my son will be in?
17. What camping gear is required for my son?
18. Does my son really need to wear boots at campouts?
19. Where can I go on line to get good deals on camping and backpacking equipment?
20. Can I attend campouts and summer camp with my son?
21. Is this family camping?
22. Who decides where to camp?
23. How much do campouts cost?
24. Where can I get more information about summer camp?
25. Is summer camp really that important?
26. When can my son begin working on merit badges?
27. What kinds of merit badges are available? How can I help?
28. How does my son get a merit badge counselor?
29. Can parents sign off requirements in the Scout handbook or merit badges?
30. How can I put my experience and skills to work for the Troop?
31. What does a Troop Committee do?
32. How do I find out about adult training opportunities?
33. Where can I get more Troop information?

1. What is the difference between a Scout and a Scouter?
A Scout is any boy registered with the BSA Boy Scout program and a Scouter is a registered adult.

2. How do I register my son in the Troop?
Troop registration for Scouts is a simple 3 step process: 1) complete a BSA Youth application; 2) complete a Class 1 medical form and; 3) pay annual Troop dues. Please see the Troop Registrar for the necessary forms and to turn in completed forms.

3. Do I need to register as an adult?
All adults are encouraged to register as a BSA Leader, remember the simple rule. Statistics have shown that a boy is more likely to stay with the Boy Scout program when a parent or guardian actively participates in the BSA program too. As an adult leader you can participate in overnight troop campouts and other activities.

4. How do I register with the Troop as an adult?
The adult registration process requires 6 necessary steps: 1) submit an online Diocese of Austin volunteer application at www.eappsdb.com; 2) attend a Catholic Diocese Protecting God’s Children (PGC) workshop (a list of upcoming workshops is found at: www.austindiocese.org); 3) complete a BSA Adult Application form; 4) complete the online BSA Youth Protection Training (YPT) at www.arrowheadcentral.net (this training must be renewed every 2 years); 5) complete and submit a Class 1 medical form and; 6) pay annual Troop dues. Please see the Troop Registrar for the necessary forms.

5. Why is the adult registration process so complicated?
The adult registration process is in place to ensure the safety of our boys. "The safety of our youth has always been, and always will be, the paramount concern for the Boy Scouts of America," said Roy L. Williams, Chief Scout Executive. In addition to the BSA youth protection guidelines, our charter organization, Emmaus Catholic Parish, has their own youth protection guidelines that must be adhered to as part of the Austin Diocese’s Ethics and Integrity in Ministry policy.

6. How do I find out about Troop activities?
Troop 52 maintains a complete 6 month calendar of all scheduled Troop activities on our website: www.travisscouts.org. In addition, the home page shows a list of Upcoming Events for the current month on the home page. Please bookmark this page and refer to it for the latest news and events.

7. Where and when are Troop meetings?
Troop meetings are held at Emmaus Catholic Parish every Monday at 7:00pm. We meet in the front lobby of the church (also called narthex). Make it a practice to check the Troop website at www.travisscouts.org to confirm meeting times and locations. Remember the simple rule of an adult leader: lead by example. If you attend and participate in meetings, it is more likely that your son will too.

8. Are there attendance requirements?
Attendance is taken at each of the troop meetings and campouts and all boys are encouraged to be an “active participant”. An active participant is a scout who attends at least 50% of the troop meetings and completes 50% of camp-outs during the year. Some leadership positions require a higher rate of activity attendance. Please check out the Troop Organization information on our website to find the performance requirements for each position. Scouts are encouraged to be active in school activities (band, athletics, UIL, etc.), and 50% attendance over the course of a year, is easily attainable..

9. What is all this alphabet soup?
BSA – Boy Scouts of America
JLT – Junior Leader Training
SPL – Senior Patrol Leader
ASPL – Assistant Senior patrol leader
PLC – Patrol Leaders Council
OA – Order of the Arrow.
JASM – Junior Assistant Scoutmaster
PGC – Protecting God’s Children workshop required by the Diocese of Austin and Troop 52
YPT – Youth Protection Training, online BSA training required by Troop 52
NLE – New Leader Essentials (Adult training)

10. What are the basic necessities to get started as a Scout?
The two basic necessities are the Scout Handbook and the Class A uniform. A Scout will also need their own personal camp gear but are encouraged to share in the initial camping experience before making major individual camp gear purchases.

11. Where do I get the Scout Handbook and uniform?
You can purchase both the Handbook and uniform at our local BSA council office. Both can also be purchased through the BSA Online retail store at www.scoutstuff.org but two of the primary sources of income for the local council are books and publications. Another source for reasonably priced used equipment and uniforms can be found at: http://users.scronline.com/troop77/equipmenttrader.htm.

12. What are the uniform requirements? Class A, Class B, Class C?
All boys are required to have and properly wear a full BSA Class A uniform to events designated by the Troop. These events include troop meetings (except summer), community events, Court of Honor, Board of Review, flag ceremonies and travel to/from monthly campouts. A full Class A uniform includes the tan BSA shirt with proper insignias, a troop neckerchief (black with red lettering), green BSA socks, green BSA shorts/pants, a BSA belt and close-toed shoes. There may be some events where a full Class A uniform is not required. Class B uniforms are used by the troop in the summer months and at campouts. Class B uniforms include the blue troop t-shirt, troop cap (optional), green BSA shorts/pants or blue jean pants, BSA belt and close-toed shoes. Class C uniforms are the same as Class B but with any Scout related t-shirt replacing the troop t-shirt. Boots are recommended for most campouts.

13. Does an adult need a uniform?
We encourage all adult leaders to have and wear Class A (and Class B) uniforms. At a troop meeting, you may be called upon to sit on a board of review. A Board of Review should be conducted by adults wearing the Class A uniform. To be covered by the supplemental BSA insurance policy, an adult must wear a Class A uniform when traveling to/from campouts. Remember the simple rule of an adult leader: lead by example. If you wear the uniform properly, it is more likely that your son will too.

14. What will my son begin working on first?
Initially, your son will be learning the fundamentals of Scouting including participating in Troop and patrol activities, teamwork, leadership, basic Scouting skills, rank advancement and last but not least… having fun! One of the goals of the first year scout is to work through the ranks of Scout, Tenderfoot, Second Class and First Class.

15. What are Totin’ Chip and the Firem’n Chit?
Your son must earn the Totin’ Chip before he can carry a pocketknife or use a bow saw at any Boy Scout activity. The Firem’n Chit must be earned to start a fire or use any stove or lantern. Both of these are earned by attending classes presented by the Troop several times per year. Typically, both classes are offered at the new Scout crossover weekend.

16. How do I know which patrol my son will be in?
The Scoutmaster will determine the patrol assignments by talking to each of the boys to determine a best fit. Since the boys generally stay in a single patrol throughout their scouting careers, it is best to place boys in patrols with their friends and with similar levels of scouting experience. A patrol can take part in activities outside of the troop as an independent unit but should participate in all troop activities as a patrol.

17. What camping gear is required for my son?
Troop 52 has monthly campouts so getting equipped is important. However, getting some practical experience and advice before rushing out to purchase new camping gear is always a good idea. Camp gear consists of patrol gear and personal gear. Each patrol is given a “chuck box” which contains basic food preparation equipment including stove, pots, pans and utensils. Personal gear includes backpack, sleep gear (including tent), personal eating utensils, clothing and miscellaneous personal items. A more detailed list of these items can be found in the Troop Guide and Brochure section on our website.

18. Does my son really need to wear boots at campouts?
Yes. We realize keeping a growing set of feet in boots can be difficult but we walk places where the rocks and plants you walk on will go through a pair of tennis shoes. Ask for advice on decent, inexpensive boots. Tennis shoes are generally all right but open-toed shoes like sandals cannot be worn to campouts, activities or meetings.

19. Where can I go on line to get good deals on camping and backpacking equipment?
Check out some of the following sites. This is just a small sampling and we would appreciate any sites you think we should add to the list.
http://www.bcstore.com
http://www.outdooroutlet.com
http://www.jomashop.com
http://www.northernmountain.com
http://www.rei.com
http://www.campmor.com
http://www.sierratradingpost.com
A source for reasonably priced used equipment
http://users.scronline.com/troop77/equipmenttrader.htm

More information can be found in the Gear Shopping section of our website.

20. Can I attend campouts and summer camp with my son?
Yes. Please plan on camping regularly. You must complete all the requirements for an adult member including the youth protection programs and adult applications from BSA and Emmaus Catholic Parish. Summer camps, including high adventure camps, may require a Class 2 or Class 3 medical form for all adults.

21. Is this family camping?
Not generally. Many of our camping adventures require backpacking and are not open to non-registered siblings or adults. The Troop sponsors family type events where the entire family is encouraged to attend and adult only retreats from time to time.

22. Who decides where to camp?
The boys decide where the troop will camp on monthly campouts, summer camps and high-adventure camps. Major camping plans are established at the JLT programs that are held twice a year. It is here where they decide the types of campouts for each month. In addition, the PLC provides continuous input on specifics including where to camp and how the camp will be run. The specific dates of the campouts are coordinated by the Scoutmaster along with the Troop Committee to reduce the number of conflicts with other school or community events.

23. How much do campouts cost?
Monthly camping fees are generally between $8 and $15 for boys and adults and cover food and other consumable items needed for that particular campout. Meals are usually done individual patrols where the boys are responsible for menu planning, purchasing and cooking their own food. Campout fees are designated on the permission slip for each campout. Fees for Summer Camp will vary depending on location and duration. Since it is usually a week-long event, fees are considerably more than the standard monthly fees.

24. Where can I get more information about summer camp?
The Troop typically schedules one or two week long campouts for the summer. One of them is a BSA-approved high-adventure campout and the other is a family-oriented campout. The boys decide where they want to go for the summer at JLT or PLC meetings. Information on summer camp is available on our home page under the Camping Section of our website. Any questions should be addressed to the Summer Camp Coordinator.

25. Is summer camp really that important?
Yes, especially for the first-year Scouts. Attending summer camp will help your son get to know others in the Troop. He will begin to learn to work together with other Scouts as a patrol. He will complete many of the requirements for his first rank advancements and earn merit badges. It’s not a requirement but he should plan on attending.

26. When can my son begin working on merit badges?
Your son can begin working on merit badges shortly after he joins the troop. However, we recommend that the primary focus for the first year scouts be on learning Scouting fundamentals and achieving the rank of First Class. In addition to the 15 badges required for Eagle Scout, merit badges are a fun way to learn about a wide variety of interests. The district regularly conducts merit clinics and camps. This is a great way to meet Scouts from other troops, have lots of fun, and earn merit badges all at the same time!

27. What kinds of merit badges are available? How can I help?
The BSA program offers More than 119 merit badges are available ranging from American Business through Woodworking. There are 15 merit badges required for the rank of Eagle. A good resource is the booklet “Boy Scout Requirements” (available at the scout shop) which includes all merit badge requirements, rank requirements, and special awards. Merit badge requirements can be accessed at http://www.meritbadge.com/. If you have any special skills or knowledge about any of the merit badges, you are encouraged to share that knowledge and sign up as a merit badge counselor. You cannot serve as the merit badge counselor for your son on a one-on-one basis.

28. How does my son get a merit badge counselor?
Talk with the Merit Badge Coordinator; they will be able to help get him started.  Merit Badge Counselor names can be found by clicking on the Merit Badge of choice within the list of MBs here.  Merit Badge process can be found here.

29. Can parents sign off requirements in the Scout handbook or merit badges?
Unlike Cub Scouts, a parent or guardian can not sign off rank or merit badge requirements for their own son. You may assist them with completing some of the requirements but it is up to the boy to present and demonstrate knowledge as specified in the requirement to a the Scoutmaster, Assistant Scoutmaster or a designated Scout (usually our senior Scouts - Life or Eagle).

30. How can I put my experience and skills to work for the Troop?
There are several opportunities to participate in the troop activities as an adult. First and foremost actively participate and share in Troop activities with your son including meetings, campouts and service projects. If you have any specific interests, experience or expertise, please consider being a merit badge counselor. There are several opportunities to work behind the scenes as part of the Troop Committee. With proper training, you may want to consider being an Assistant Scoutmaster or Scoutmaster. The possibilities are endless and it only requires an hour a week ;^).

31. What does a Troop Committee do?
The troop committee is a group of adults that provide the necessary support for troop activities and the Scoutmaster. As a registered adult, you are encouraged to attend troop committee meetings as often as possible. Regular discussion topics include SPL reports, campouts, finances, advancements, service projects, leadership positions, upcoming events, and a Scoutmaster report. Troop Committee meetings are held at 7:00pm. on the first Tuesday following the monthly campout, unless otherwise announced.

32. How do I find out about adult training opportunities?
Information about available adult training classes can be found on the Troop website under the Adult Training section. If you have any questions about any training please contact the Adult Training Coordinator.

33. Where can I get more Troop information?
Chances are, you can always find the information you’re looking for on our website at www.travisscouts.org. Browse the different areas to become familiar with the site and bookmark the home page to keep abreast of news and events. New parent registration information can be found in the New Parents section of our website. A good overview of our program can be found in the Troop Guide and Brochure section. This section also includea a comprehensive description of who we are and what we do. Can’t find it? Don’t hesitate to ask any of the adult leaders.