Troop 107 -- Parent

Statement of Understanding & Expectations

The Boy Scouts of America (BSA) is the nation's foremost youth program of character development and values-based leadership training. Its vision is to:

• Offer young people responsible fun and adventure;
• Instill in young people lifetime values and develop in them ethical character as expressed in the Scout Oath and Law;
• Train young people in citizenship, service, and leadership;
• Serve America's communities and families with its quality, values-based program.

The Scouting program has three specific objectives. They are character development, citizenship training, and personal fitness. The methods by which these objectives are achieved include the use of:

• Patrols – which gives Boy Scouts an experience in group living and participating citizen-ship and places responsibility on young shoulders and teaches boys how to accept it;
• Outdoor Programs – Boy Scouting is designed to take place outdoors where Scouts share responsibilities and learn to live with one another.
• Advancement – Boy Scouting provides a series of achievable objectives through the advancement method. The Boy Scout plans his advancement, progresses at his own pace as he meets each challenge and is rewarded for each achievement.
• Leadership Development – which encourages boys to learn and practice leadership skills. Every Boy Scout has the opportunity to participate in both shared and individual leadership situations; and
• Associations With Adults – Boys learn a great deal by watching how adults conduct themselves. Scout leaders, parents and other adults can be positive role models for the members of the troop.

Boy scout troops depend upon adult volunteers to implement the different methods listed above. In fact, the ongoing success of Troop 107 depends on the participation of its adults. In addition to our volunteer leaders, Troop 107 relies heavily on its parent volunteers to assist our Scouts in achieving the Scouting program’s objectives.

Everybody involved with Troop 107, including the Scouts, parents and adult leaders, has to recognize and agree on certain fundamental understandings and expectations in order for our Troop to be successful. They include, but are not limited to:

1. Adult volunteers are instrumental in the ongoing success of Troop 107;

2. Troop 107 conducts weekly Scout meetings and stages multiple outdoor programs and service projects throughout the year for which adult volunteers are needed;

3. Parents are encouraged to participate in (by attending) the troop’s outdoor programs;

4. Adults are expected to volunteer in some capacity for troop events and programs annually. This could include transporting to (or from) and/or attending the event;

5. No scout will be denied participation in troop programs or activities due to financial hardship. Parents need to talk to the adult leadership to explore options to cover the cost of the program.

6. The family for each Scout who is attending a troop program or activity is expected to pay for his associated expenses as they occur. Scouts who sign up for, then cancel just prior to an event, will be held responsible for associated expenses which are incurred in his behalf;

7. Parents/guardians are expected to participate in Troop fund-raising activities in order to pay for Troop expenses and activities. These activities, including Christmas tree recycling, car washes or other fundraisers, are held during the course of the year.

8. Parents are expected to attend the monthly Troop (Parent) Committee meetings at which most of the decisions occur regarding the running of Troop 107;

9. The troop establishes an annual event calendar (which can be viewed at the troop’s website – www.t107.com) for each fiscal year (September-August). The troop provides the calendar so that, by knowing when events will occur, its families can have adequate notice to make accommodations in their schedules so their son may attend the scouting events;

10. Troop leadership understands the scouts (and their families) will have other personal interests and activities that may conflict with, and (at times) take precedence over scout meetings and programs. However, if a scout is to advance within the troop in a timely manner, it is imperative that he participates in a minimum of 70% of troop meetings, programs and activities. Parents are expected to assist their son so that he can balance his scouting and other interests, in order to ensure his advancement progress;

11. Scouts are expected to keep their scout’s uniform clean and maintain it in a good and up-to-date condition. Scouts are expected to wear their uniform(s), including their official boy scout class “A” shirt, their blue activity t-shirt (class “B”), and their troop 107 hat, to all appropriate events. Parents are expected to acquire all necessary components of the uniform;

12. Adults that attend an overnight outing must complete the Council’s Youth Protection Training. The certification is available online at the council website www.cpcbsa.org;

13. Troop leaders encourage all parents to view the Council’s Fast-Track Leadership Training video, which describes the boy-scouting program and how it operates.

As the parent/guardian of , a member of Troop 107, I acknowledge and agree with, and will make every effort to fulfill the expectations described above.

Signed Date