Getting Started with Troop 484

and
Advancing Through Trailhead

March 2013

BSA Troop 484, 2013

WELCOME TO BSA TROOP 484

We are glad that you have decided to become a part of our
Troop and look forward to sharing your experience with Boy
Scouts.

This guide is meant to help in understanding how to advance in
Boy Scouts. Specifically, we want to help you with your advance-
ment through First Class, also known as Trailhead. The primary
goals of this guide are:

1) Assist you in quickly understanding how the Troop operates
and communicates.
2) Introduce you to the key Scout and Adult leaders.
3) Facilitate the enjoyment of the BSA experience, by helping
you to learn basic Scout skills and how to efficiently
advance to First Class Scout within 12 months.
4) Communicate the key equipment needs.

Thank you for your interest in becoming a member of Troop 484.
We look forward to having an excellent scouting experience with
you.
GOALS OF SCOUTING

Understand and agree to live by the Scout Oath or Promise,
Law, Motto, Slogan and the Outdoor Code.


Scout Oath or Promise

On my honor I will do my best
To do my duty to God and my country
And to obey the Scout Law;
To help other people at all times;
To keep myself physically strong,
Mentally awake, and Morally straight.

Scout Law

A Scout is Trustworthy, Loyal, Helpful, Friendly, Courteous, Kind,
Obedient, Cheerful, Thrifty, Brave,
Clean and Reverent.

Scout Motto
Be Prepared

Scout Slogan
Do A Good Turn Daily

Outdoor Code

As an American, I will do my best to
Be clean in my outdoor manners,
Be careful with fire,
Be considerate in the outdoors, and
Be conservation-minded.
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SUMMER CAMPVERY IMPORTANT!
Troop 484 has two great Summer Camp options for 2013. Camp
Cherry Valley on Catalina Island, and Camp Chawanakee in the Si-
erra Nevada. We are encouraging the new scouts to go to Camp
Chawanakee, fromJune 23-29, since this provides the best first
summer camp experience and advancement opportunity.
Besides completing the forms noted below, communicating your
Scouts desire to attend should be a priority. Please let an adult lead-
er know as soon as possible if your Scout would like to attend.

COMMUNICATION
Troop Website: http://www.BSAtroop484.com

Most activities are reviewed and communicated at the weekly
troop meetings and the monthly parent meetings. BSA Troop
484 also communicates through the Yahoo Groups website at
bsa484clayton@yahoogroups.com

With your parents permission, please send an email to
Shaun Brown, at sb@pixar.com, requesting an invitation to
be added to the group. If you do not receive a confirming email,
either from Shaun or in the form of a troop announcement, within
48 hours, please try again or call Shaun at 510-599-3747.

Troop Meetings are on Monday nights, from 7:30 PM to
9:00 PM, except for the first Monday of every month.

Parent Committee & TLC Meetings are held the first Monday of
the month beginning at 7:30 PM with a goal of finishing by
9:00 PM or sooner. Troop and Parent Meetings are held at:

Holy Cross Lutheran Church
1092 Alberta Way
Concord, CA 94521-3864
UNIFORM and GEAR
BSA and Troop 484 place a high priority on the Scout being in
proper attire at all BSA events. As well, we want the Scout to be
safe and comfortable at all outdoor events. Therefore, it is essen-
tial that you obtain the following items as soon as possible after
joining the troop:

Class A Uniform: Official BSA Scout shirt, neckerchief &
slide (provided by the Troop), pants, belt and socks. Merit
Badge Sash for formal events (Court of Honors, Scout Masters
Conferences, and Board of Reviews).

Class B Uniform: Short or Long-Sleeve Troop 484 t-shirt.


OUTDOOR ESSENTIALS (aka TEN ESSENTIALS+)

The basic essentials listed in the Hiking section of your Scout
Handbook, describe what you will need for outdoor activities:

Orienteering Compass (Basic $10-$12 Compass)
Small Pocketknife (After completing Totin Chip)
Personal First Aid Kit
Extra Clothing (especially socks and underwear)
Lightweight Rain Gear
Water Bottle (Nalgene or Camelback, for example)
Flashlight (Small and packable)
Trail Food (High Energy Snack or Powder)
Matches and Fire Starters (After completing
Firemn Chit)
Sun Protection, including sunscreen, a hat and sunglasses.
+Insect Repellent (Small, packable container)

Youll need to provide your own sleeping bag.
Troop 484 has tents, stoves and pot/pan sets that can be checked-
out from the Quartermaster.

TROOP LEADERSHIP

Boy Scouts of America encourages a Scout-led leadership environ-
ment. Therefore, we encourage you to communicate, as much as
possible, with the Scout Leaders and Scouts.

Senior Patrol Leader (SPL): Matthew Hollenbeck
Asst. Senior Patrol Leader (ASPL): J onathan Sullivan
Troop Guide: Ben Schoffstall, Duncan Bradley, Ben Linzey
Other Leadership Positions:
Patrol Leader, Asst. Patrol Leader, Bugler, Chaplain,
Historian, Scribe, Quartermaster.

Your new Scout will be in the Ninja Penguins Patrol, until they:

1)Reach the Rank of Tenderfoot.
2)Earn the Totin Chip
3)Earn the Firemn Chit.

The Troop Guides primary role is to assist you in learning the
ropes of our Troop and BSA, as well as advancement through the
Trailhead.

Of course, adult leaders are always available to fill in the gaps or
to address any ideas or concerns that you may have. The primary
adult leaders who you will interact with will be:

Scoutmaster: Steve von Ehrenkrook
Advancement Chairperson: Lisa Benson
Asst. Scoutmasters: Kevin Sullivan, Tim Benson,
Steve Bradbury, J ohn Bredehoft, Bill Burmeister,
Dean Hollenbeck, Brin Owen, and Charles Schoffstall
Board of Review (BOR): Phil Newton
Merit Badge Dean: Patty Bradley
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TRAILHEAD

During the first 12 months, the Scout's focus should be on complet-
ing the Trailhead requirements. These requirements can be worked
on at the same time, and will help you achieve the Scout, Tender-
foot, Second Class and First Class Ranks.
All of these requirements are clearly identified in the Boy Scout
Handbook. It is important that you read through requirements for
all four Trailhead ranks, so that you can plan for how you will com-
plete these requirements. Some very important things to consider,
as you plan your advancement:

1. Read and know your Scout Handbook.
2. Bring your Scout Handbook, a pen or pencil, a note
pad, and Calendar to every meeting and event.
3. Some Trailhead requirements have a time element, so
plan for those. (For example, Tenderfoot Requirement
10A requires at least 30 days to accomplish.) Start
working on that right away.
4. Consider every meeting and outing as an opportunity to
complete Trailhead requirements. Make it a goal to
complete 1 or 2 trailhead items at every event.
5. Any Scout who is First Class rank or above can verify
and sign off on your completed Trailhead require-
ments.
6. Contact your Troop Guide or a senior Scout, prior to a
meeting or event, to schedule review and completion of
the Trailhead requirements.
7. Once the requirements for a rank have been completed,
you must make an appointment, with the Scoutmaster or
Asst. Scoutmaster, for a Scoutmaster conference.
8. Once you have completed the Scoutmaster Conference,
contact a Board of Review (BOR) Committee person,
to schedule a BOR.