Scouting is a family affair. No Scout is expected to travel the Trail to Eagle by himself. Parents should encourage their son to work on advancement and take full advantage of the Scouting program. Parents are invited to Troop meetings, monthly Committee meetings, and especially Courts of Honor, held three times a year.
On the other hand, it is preferable that parents not sign off on advancement and merit badges for their own sons. Advancements may be signed off by the Scoutmaster, Assistant Scoutmasters, Patrol Advisors, and designated Senior Scouts. Merit badges must be signed off by the registered merit badge counselor. A parent cannot be the counselor for his/her son without Troop committee approval.
If a parent has a special skill or training, we encourage her/ him to serve as a Merit Badge Counselor for interested Scouts. There are over 120 different merit badges available. A sign-up form is available on the troop website.
Without help of all kinds from our parents, Troop 1988 would not exist. We hope you will take an active part in encouraging your son. Your role as “cheerleader” is a big reason for your son’s interest and success. Parents also have a big impact on our Troop Committee, which meets just once a month. The time commitment of a committee member is minimal, but your assistance is invaluable. All parents are welcome on the Troop Committee. You do not need scouting experience, only an interest in helping the troop
Our troop also needs parents to assist with special events and to drive to activities. Because the Scouts lead the troop, “helping” is usually just “watching” but your presence can make the difference. National B.S.A. rules require at least two adults at every meeting and activity. Some activities require adults with special training and EVENTS MUST BE CANCELLED if sufficient trained leaders are not available.
While we encourage adults to attend camping trips with their scouts, we know that some people prefer to help in other ways. While you will hear often that the troop is ‘boy-led’, it still requires many adults to run a successful troop. Here is a list of a few of the many jobs for which adults can volunteer:
- Transportation of Scouts
- Transportation of equipment
- Treasurer
- Hospitality for Courts of Honor
- Roundtable Representative
- Fundraising
- Quartermaster
- Scouting for Food Organizer
- Ceremony Team Coordinator