About The Scouting Program

Scouting Resources

The troop has tried to gather together a set of resources on the site that will be of use to new and more experienced scouts, adult leaders (known as scouters), and parents alike. Those who are unfamiliar with scouting should first read the factsheet "At A Glance" to gain an overview. In addition to the material below, we hope to place online the full contents of the troop manual.

What Is Boy Scouting?

The Boy Scouts of America was incorporated to provide a program for community organizations that offers effective character, citizenship, and personal fitness training for youth.

Specifically, the BSA endeavors to develop American citizens who are physically, mentally, and emotionally fit; have a high degree of self-reliance as evidenced in such qualities as initiative, courage, and resourcefulness; have personal values based on religious concepts; have the desire and skills to help others; understand the principles of the American social, economic, and governmental systems; are knowledgeable about and take pride in their American heritage and understand our nation's role in the world; have a keen respect for the basic rights of all people; and are prepared to participate in and give leadership to American society.

Scouting's Code For Living
The Scout Oath, Law, Slogan & Motto

THE SCOUT OATH

SCOUT LAW

THE SCOUT MOTTO

THE SCOUT SLOGAN

How Scouting Works in a Nutshell

The Scouting program works on two levels - the patrol method and individual advancement. The patrol is the basic unit of Scouting, a group of 5-10 scouts that work as a group. It is within the patrol method that scouts learn teamwork and develop leadership skills. Each patrol has a Patrol Leader (PL) and an Assistant Patrol Leader (APL) who are responsible for the operation of the patrol. Every scout in the patrol shares in both the tasks and the responsibility for accomplishing the Patrol's objectives. The youth leadership aspect of Scouting continues on the troop level, where the Senior Patrol Leader and his Assistants run the troop and coordinate the patrols. The Troop Guide is the youth leader responsible for new scouts. The focus of the overall program is selected and planned by the Patrol Leaders Council (consisting of the patrol leaders, Senior Patrol Leader, the Assistant Senior Patrol Leaders, and the Troop Guide) under the advice of the Scoutmaster. The PLC meets every month to coordinate that month's activities, and on an annual basis in the late winter to plan the next year's themes and activities.

The second major aspect of the program is advancement. Scouts get the opportunity to master the basic scout skills with the Tenderfoot, Second Class, and First Class ranks. They also get to work on advanced skills and new, broading areas of interest through the merit badge program. A combination of work on 12 required merit badges, 9 elective merit badges, and leadership development in the patrol and troop leads a scout through the higher ranks of Star and Life, finally reaching Eagle Scout. Check out the Troop's advancement pages and the requirements for each of these ranks on the rank requirements page.

The National Council of the Boys Scouts of America issues a great many factsheets on various topics, from a basic overview of the various programs to more specific items such as the William Hornaday Award for conservation. Below is a list of some of these that we've reproduced on the troop website:

  • BSA: At A Glance. An overview of the mission, vision, purpose, and program of the Boy Scouts of America..
     
  • FAQ - Questions Most Asked By Parents. Answers to the most often asked questions by parents..
     
  • Boy Scouting. A program for boys 11 through 17 designed to achieve the aims of Scouting through a vigorous outdoor program and peer group leadership with the counsel of an adult Scoutmaster. (Boys also may become Boy Scouts if they have earned the Arrow of Light Award or have completed the fifth grade.).
     
  • Cub Scouting. A year-round family program designed for boys who are in the first grade through fifth grade (or 7, 8, 9, and 10 years of age).
     
  • Venturing. A program for young men and women who are 14 (and have completed the eighth grade) through 20 years of age to provide positive experiences through exciting and meaningful youth-run activities that help them pursue their special interests, grow by teaching others, and develop leadership skills. Also included in the Venturing program are Sea Scout Ships.
     
  • Scouts With Disabilities and Special Needs. Since its founding in 1910, the Boy Scouts of America has had fully participating members with physical, mental, and emotional disabilities. Find out various accommodations available, including alternate advancement requirements, braille handbooks, etc.
     
  • Eagle Scouts. Information on the highest rank in Scouting.
     
  • Merit Badge Program. The origins and purpose of the merit badge program, those required for Eagle, and a listing of all available badges.
     
  • Project COPE. Challenging Outdoor Personal Experience. It comprises a series of outdoor challenges, beginning with basic group initiative games and progressing to more complicated low-course and high-course activities. Some of these events involve a group effort, whereas others test individual skills and agility.
     
  • Order of the Arrow. The National Camping Honor Society dedicated to brotherhood and service. In the Westchester-Putnam Council, the Order of the Arrow is represented by Ktemaque Lodge.
     
  • Scouting and Conservation. Desription of the integral part conservation plays in the Scouting program, from camping and hiking to service to leadership development.
     
  • The William T. Hornaday Award. An awards program for distinquished service to conservation, initiated in 1914 by Dr. William T. Hornaday, then director of the New York Zoological Park.
     
  • Scouting Around the World. The World Scouting Movement - it's organization, principles, and activities.

    • Many other fact sheets are available at the National Council site.The troop has also gathered a great number of verified and safe links to other scouting resources on the Web which provide additional helpful information on all aspects of the program.

    Training

    Training is the cornerstone upon which good program is built, and Scouting offers lots of it both for adults (Scouters) and scouts (Youth Leaders). For Scouters, training runs from basic Leader Essentials to the advanced Wood Badge Course. First and foremost for Scouter training is Youth Protection, a training course that is mandated for all Scouters and which is aimed at insuring that scouts have a safe experience in Scouting. For your information, the Youth Protection course is accessible online through the Westchester-Putnam Council Training Page.

    There are also a wide variety of courses offered for Youth Leaders, including the prestigious National Youth Leadership Training (NYLT), offered through the Westchester-Putnam Council on two consecutive weekends in April at Durland Scout Reservation. You can click here for descriptions of the various training programs.

    Interested in joining our Troop??? E-mail us at info@troop6nr.org

    This site conforms to the BSA Guideline for Unit Websites and COPPA (Children's Online Privacy Protection Act with regard to scouts 13 years of age or under.
    Last Updated: April 8, 2011