New Scouts

To new Boy Scouts and parents:

Troop 262 welcomes you to our troop. Whether you are a new Scout or parent, you are in for a life-strengthening and exciting experience that promises adventure, learning, challenges and responsibility. I’m sure you have many questions. Please keep this troop information as an ongoing reference.

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

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.
2. Who are the Boy Scout adult leaders?

   Ideally adult leaders serve a minimum of 1 year.

3. Who are the Boy Scout leaders?

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

4. When are the meetings?

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

5. Where are the meetings?

   St. Theresa’s gym in Palm Springs.

6. 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, pants or shorts, web belt, socks and cap. Accessories include red shoulder loops, neckerchief slide and patches which include council shoulder patch, world crest, troop numerals and patrol emblem. The Troop 262 neckerchief will be presented to the new Scout at a special 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 262 T-shirt.
7. How much does it cost for a new Scout?

   Dues are $80.00 and that includes council and troop dues, insurance and Boys Life magazine. The uniform is about $100.00. Financial assistance may be available.

8. What happens in the troop meeting?

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

9. What are the activities besides the meetings?

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

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

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

11. Where can he buy the Scout uniform?

    • The Scout Shop
      1230 Indiana Court
      Redlands, CA
      PH: (877) 732-1450
    • Yellow Mart on Miles Street in Old Town Indio
    • The official retail catalog
12. What are the different ranks?

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

13. 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 3-4 times yearly during the time the scouts typically meet.

14. 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.

15. What is summer camp?

    Usually Troop 262 New Scouts go to summer camp at Camp Emerson in Idyllwild. 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.

16. 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 backpacking and 10 essential lists.

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

    See the enclosed

18. What is expected of parents?

    Success of your Scout and Troop 262 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.

19. 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 262. Boys can be a part of a crew even if they were never in Boy Scouts.

20. 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.

21. 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.

22. 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.

23. Do you still have questions?

    You can always ask questions at the Thursday troop meeting or if necessary, contact Lonnie Reddick, Asst. Scoutmaster.