Boy Scout Troop
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Welcome to Troop 570, Boy Scouts of America!Scouting is camping, hiking, swimming, campfires, and friendship. Scouting is learning about the community, our country, and the world. But most of all, Scouting is FUN!
General BSA web sites with good information for a new scout
Here is what you need to know about Boy Scout Troop 570.(Click on a link below to go directly to the desired section.)
Meetings
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 | 7:00 PM in the lower north meeting room at Holy Spirit Lutheran Church |
| Troop Meetings are usually the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, (5th) Tuesdays of each month |
| Patrol Leader's Council Meeting (Greenbar) on 4th Tuesday |
| Patrol Meetings at the discretion of the Patrol Leader |
| Courts of Honor twice a year, usually in April and October (all parents should attend) |
| Parent's Meetings twice a year, typically May and November (all parents should attend) |
Holy Spirit Lutheran Church
10021 NE 124th St.
Kirkland, WA
| Boys must be 11 years old, (or has earned the Arrow of Light Award and is at least 10 years old, or has completed the fifth grade and is at least 10 years old), but has not reached age 18. |
| Submit a completed Boy Scout application and health history signed by your parent. |
| Repeat the Pledge of Allegiance. |
| Demonstrate the scout sign, salute and handshake. |
| Show how to tie a square knot. |
| Understand and agree to live by the Scout Oath, Law, Motto, Slogan, and Outdoor Code. |
| Describe the Scout badge. |
| With your parent or guardian, complete the exercises in the pamphlet How to Protect Your Child from Drug and Child Abuse. |
| Participate in a Scoutmaster conference. |
| Troop Dues (2007) - $42 per year (due in October for following year). This includes membership fee, insurance, and Boy's Life magazine. Dues are prorated for new Scouts joining during the year. Dues for a second boy in the troop are $30 (if only one copy of Boy's Life is desired for the home); registered adult leader dues are paid by the troop. If you cannot afford the Troop dues, talk to the Committee Chair. |
| Fundraiser - the annual Christmas Tree Recycling allows Scouts to earn
credits for Summer Camp and other outings, as well as financing the Troop budget. All Scouts
are expected to participate. Parents with trucks are also needed to help
with tree pickup, and their participation earns credit for their sons.
Unpaid troop dues will be deducted from credits earned by the Scout during
the Troop fundraiser. |
Boys cannot receive the benefits of the Boy Scout program unless they actively participate in Troop meetings and the outdoor program. We understand that homework, sports, church activities, or other commitments will sometimes cause a Scout miss meetings or activities, but regular participation should be encouraged and aided by the parent. Rank advancement to First Class requires participation in at least ten troop activities (other than Troop meetings), three of which must be overnight campouts.
The Troop is divided into groups of 4 to 8 Scouts, called a patrol.
| Experienced Patrols: The Troop currently has 5 patrols of experienced Scouts who have been members of the Troop for approximately 1 year or more. Each patrol elects an experienced Scout (usually 1st Class or higher rank) to act as Patrol Leader, who serves a term of 6 months. Patrols are encouraged to meet on their own to plan for outings and other activities. |
| New Scout Patrols: When Webelos Scouts bridge from a Pack into the Troop, they are placed in a New Scout Patrol(s) for the first 9 months or so. They elect a patrol leader, choose a patrol name and yell, and make a patrol flag. A new patrol leader is elected every 2 or 3 months, and for the first few outings, the new Scouts are split up among the experienced patrols to help them learn outdoor skills and planning. Older, more experienced Scouts, called Troop Guides, are assigned to help them learn Scout skills so they can advance to First Class. In the Fall, New Scouts are permanently assigned to an experienced Patrol. Each Scout has a voice in choosing his permanent patrol, and every effort is made to keep friends together while maintaining a balance of ages, experience, and patrol size. |
| Patrol Leaders Council: The Troop is run democratically by the Scouts themselves through the Patrol Leaders' Council (PLC). The Patrol Leaders meet once a month at the PLC, a.k.a. "Greenbar" Meeting under the leadership of the Senior Patrol Leader and the guidance of the Scoutmaster. The PLC plans activities and outings that the Troop will undertake for the year. Adult leaders are there to teach and assist them, and insure a safe environment. This means that things will not always be as organized or well planned as we would like. But it is important that the Scouts learn by doing, including making their own mistakes. The Senior Patrol Leader (SPL), Assistant SPL, the Patrol Leaders, and other Troop positions are selected by a Troop Election every six months, usually in September and March. |
A Scout is responsible for his own advancement. Rank advancement is an important way for boys to learn Scouting skills, leadership, and responsibility. When a Scout joins the troop, he does not have a rank. He becomes a "Scout" by requesting a conference with the Scoutmaster and discussing the "joining requirements" found in the Scout Handbook. Afterwards, a Scout advances in rank as follows.
| Requirements: Each rank has specific requirements that must be completed by the Scout and signed off in the Scout Handbook. All requirements for a given rank must be completed before requesting a Scoutmaster conference for that rank. |
| Who signs the book? Boys who complete a requirement must present their book for signature to the Senior Patrol Leader, their Patrol Leader, a Troop Guide, or one of the registered adult Scout leaders who can verify satisfactory performance of that skill. The Scout must ask for the sign-off; it doesn't happen automatically. Unlike Cub Scouting, parents should not sign off advancement requirements, except as described in the advancement guidelines. Parents are encouraged to help their son learn the skills needed for advancement and monitor their progress. |
| Progress to First Class: New Scouts should set a goal to earn First Class rank by the end of their first year. This goal is challenging, but attainable. A First Class Scout has learned all the skills needed to be safe and comfortable in the outdoors. A Scout can work on requirements for Tenderfoot, Second Class, and First Class simultaneously, but the badges must be earned in sequence. |
| Star, Life, and Eagle Rank: These are respectively the highest steps in Scout advancement. Those who attain these honors, of necessity, should be real Scouts, representative Scouts -- Scouts on the inside as well as the outside. |
| Merit Badges: Merit badges are not required for advancement to First Class, but may be earned at any time. To work on a merit badge, the Scout must first request a "blue card" from the Scoutmaster. |
| Scoutmaster conference: After completing all the requirements for rank advancement, the Scout must request a Scoutmaster conference. The Scoutmaster will schedule an appointment to review the material for that rank with the Scout to verify that he has mastered the skills and completed the requirements. |
| Board of Review: After the Scout has completed the advancement requirements and the Scoutmaster conference, the Scout must request a Board of Review by contacting the Advancement Chairman. In this conference, members of the Troop Committee will verify that all requirements have been completed, and ask questions to see if the Scout is having a good experience in the troop. The Scout is expected to present himself in full uniform, including the Scout Handbook. |
| Immediate recognition: As soon as a Scout successfully completes his Board of Review, he has officially earned the rank. The badge will be presented to him at the next possible opportunity, usually at a troop meeting. |
| Court of Honor: These ceremonies are held twice a year to formally recognize all Scouts who have advanced in rank, as well as the parents of the scout. Parents and families should attend to support their son's advancement. |
| All Scouts should aim to advance by at least one rank per year. |
The saying goes "three quarters of Scouting is outing", and the Troop schedules at least one outing per month year around. We hike, car camp, backpack, snowshoe, and attend District Camporee, Merit Badge Weekend and Klondike Derby. These outings will be some of the best times you will ever have.
| Monthly Outings: These are financed per event, and generally cost at least few dollars per person for gas money. Camporee and Klondike Derby usually cost $10 or more. Details are found on the permission slip distributed in advance of the outing. For safety and insurance reasons, no Scout may participate in outings without a signed parent permission slip. | ||||||||||||
| Summer Camp: This is a highlight of the year and a great opportunity for Scouts to earn ranks and merit badges. Summer camp costs $150 to $200 for one week, including transportation and spending money. All Scouts are encouraged to attend. | ||||||||||||
| Camperships: If you cannot afford to pay for Summer Camp, talk to the Committee Chair. Limited funds are available from Chief Seattle Council and from the Troop to support needy families. Camperships are based on need, merit, and participation, and are generally limited to 1/2 of the camp fee. Recipients of camperships are expected to help earn their way to camp by participating fully in the Troop fundraiser. | ||||||||||||
| Camping gear: To be comfortable and safe in the outdoors, a Scout
needs proper clothing and camping gear. Most boys starting out in the
troop will not have all of the gear they need right away. Our troop
has a limited supply of equipment that can be borrowed for outings in our
shed. Check with the Quartermaster on what is available if you need
something. In addition, Northwest Scouters (http://www.nwscouters.org)
has backpacks and other equipment that can be rented for a VERY reasonable
fee. Detailed lists of what to
bring on a campout can be found in the Boy Scout Handbook, but every boy
will need the following basics.
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We need parent involvement to make the Troop successful. The adult leaders you see in uniform at meetings and activities are volunteers. They all have busy lives with jobs, family, church, school, sports, etc. just like you. Every parent should be willing and able to help the Troop in some way. Here are some ways you can help:
| drive Scouts to and from a camping trip or outing |
| attend Parent Meetings and Courts of Honor |
| help with the Christmas Tree recycling fund raiser |
| encourage your son and help him advance in rank |
| come with us on a hike or campout |
| share your knowledge of a profession or hobby as a merit badge counselor |
| register and get trained as a Scout leader |
| stay for a troop meeting occasionally to see what's going on |
| go family camping and help your son learn basic outdoor skills |
Each Scout is expected to acquire his own uniform upon joining the Troop. If possible, the money to purchase the uniform should be earned by the Scout himself through chores, allowance, etc. The uniform should be properly worn at every Troop meeting, and especially for Boards of Review and Courts of Honor. The official BSA uniform consists of the following items:
| Boy Scout Handbook (1999 edition) |
| Tan Scout shirt |
| Red shoulder loops for epaulets on shirt |
| Olive shorts or pants with Scout belt |
| Olive socks with red tops |
| Green and White Neckerchief provided by the Troop upon joining. Replacement for a lost neckerchief is $10. |
| Neckerchief slide of Scout's choice (BSA or homemade slide) |
| Various patches - troop number, patrol, etc. (talk to the Advancement Chairman) |
Uniforms are available at one of the Puget Sound Scout Shops or official retailers in the area. The Scout Shop usually carries "seconds" that are perfectly good quality at a discount. Pre-owned uniforms can sometimes be found at local thrift stores.
Need patch placement help? Click on this link to go to where you can download a complimentary copy of uniform inspection sheets from the "Scout Stuff" web site.
| Neckerchief - The troop will provide a green and white neckerchief. It is to be worn with the green on the left side and the white on the right side. The neckerchief should be worn under the open collar. The collar should not be buttoned. |
| Quality Unit Patch - Everyone in the troop will get the current Quality Unit patch after the troop earns the award each year. This patch goes on the right sleeve, 4 inches below the seam. Only the current Quality Unit Patch is to be worn (one at a time). |
| Service Star - The troop will present a service star that indicates how many years a scout has been a registered as a Boy Scout. Service stars are presented at a Court of Honor. They are worn over the left pocket of the uniform. Only the latest service star for Boy Scouts (green background) may be worn (i.e. if you've been in Boy Scouts for 3 years, you only wear the 3 star, you don't wear the 1, 2, & 3 stars). The scout can also wear a service star that indicates years of service in Cub Scouts (gold background). |
| Troop 570 Unit Numerals - A single 570 patch will be given to the scout after they have paid their initial registration to join the troop. This patch goes on the left sleeve. |
| Veteran Unit Bar - Troop 570 has been chartered for over 25 years. A small bar with a 25 on it indicates that we are a veteran unit. This small patch goes on the left sleeve between the Council Shoulder Emblem and the Unit Numerals. |
| Troop Badge of Office - Emblems for elected troop offices will be presented at a Court of Honor. This emblem is to be worn on the left sleeve. Only a single emblem representing the current elected troop office is to be worn. If a scout is elected to a troop office that he has previously held, a new badge will not be presented. The scout should sew on the same badge that he had when he held the office earlier. |
| Activity Segments - Activity segments for some troop activities will be presented at a Court of Honor. These segments are to be sewn around the round temporary insignia that is worn on the center of the right pocket. |
| Badge of Rank - Earned badges of rank will be presented to the scout at a troop meeting soon after the scout has achieved the rank. Badges of rank are to be worn on the left pocket. Only the current badge of rank is to be worn. |
| Merit Badges - Earned merit badges are to be worn on a merit badge sash. Merit badges are to be sewn on the sash in rows of three. |
| Shoulder Loops - Red colored ribbon shoulder loops are worn on the shoulder epaulets. If the scout is "bridging over" from Cub Scouts, then the troop will present the shoulder loops as a gift from the troop as part of the "bridging over" ceremony at a Cub Scout pack meeting. Otherwise the scout provides the red colored ribbon shoulder loops. |
| Council Shoulder Emblem - This emblem is worn at the top of the left sleeve. |
| Temporary Insignia - Most scouts purchase a round council emblem to wear on the center of the right pocket. Other round temporary insignia are issued at such events such as District Camporees or Klondike Derby's. Order of the Arrow regional and national meetings and training activities may also provide them. One of these round temporary insignia may be worn in the center of the right pocket. Activity segments are worn around the round temporary insignia. Most scouts choose to leave the round council emblem on the pocket and do not change it. |
| U.S. Flag Emblem - New uniforms come with this emblem already sewn in the correct position on the right sleeve. |
| World Crest - This patch is worn by all scouts. It is a small, blue round patch that is worn 3 inches below the left shoulder seam and centered over the left pocket. It is an expression of world brotherhood. |
| Neckerchief Slide - There is an official Boy Scout neckerchief slide that can be purchased or the scout may hand craft one of his own. |
| Arrow of Light - The scout's Arrow of Light badge from Cub Scouts may be worn on the left pocket below their current Boy Scout badge of rank. |
| Patrol Patch - Custom patrol patches have been created for each of the patrols in the troop and may be purchased from the troop for $5.00. They are to be worn on the right sleeve below the U.S. Flag Emblem. |
| Merit Badge Sash - Earned merit badges are worn on a merit badge sash. This sash is worn as part of the complete uniform at formal occasions but does not have to be worn during regular scout meetings. The sash is worn over the right shoulder. Merit badges are sewn on the sash in rows of three. Contrary to popular belief and local troop tradition, previously earned badges of rank are not to be worn on the back of the merit badge sash. |
If you are a Scout, ask your Patrol Leader. If you are a parent, ask one of the adult leaders. Contact information for all members of Troop 570 can be found in the members-only area of our web site.
If you wish to download documents that summarize the above information, you have your choice of two formats below.
| Welcome to Troop 570!
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| Uniform and Badges
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Send mail to the webmaster, Dale@dfrae.com, with questions or comments about this site. |
