Parents Guide

Table of Contents

Welcome

We are so glad that your daughter has decided to join Troop 180G. We welcome you and your family to the Troop 180G Family. This handbook was written to help you understand scouting in general and to inform you about how our troop operates. Your understanding of the troop’s mission, procedures, and activities will enrich your own experience and will go a long way in ensuring a meaningful and productive experience for your daughter. Troop 180G was formed in 2023 and is chartered by Old Tennent Church. The troop is a member of the Battleground District in Monmouth Council Scouting America. What do I need to do first? 

  1. Complete the Scouting America Registration form 
  2. Make check payable to “Scouting America Troop 180” for the annual dues. You can also make payments via Zelle or Cheddar Up. 2025 – 2026 dues are $50.
  3. Complete Parts “A” and “B” of the Scouting America health form. 
  4. Purchase Scout uniform and Scout handbook 

Difference Between Cub Scouts and Scouts

Cub Scouts are led by adults, with the adult leadership managing the program. Scouts are led by the youth, with adult supervision and guidance. 

Goals of Scouting

Scouting America is the nation’s foremost youth program of character development and value-based leadership training. The goal of scouting is character development, citizenship training and mental and physical fitness. 

Character Development:

She becomes confident but not conceited; she is honest with herself and others; she develops special skills and interests; she can take care of herself; she can be counted on to do her best, even in difficult situations; she practices her religious beliefs; and she respects other people regardless of their differences. 

Citizenship Training

She learns about and takes pride in her national heritage; she develops an understanding of the social, economic, and government systems; she performs service to others; she has knowledge and respect for cultures and social groups other than her own; she is aware of community organizations and their functions; and she appreciates the environment and seeks to protect it. 

Mental and Physical Fitness

She improves her general physical condition through exercise and participation in vigorous activities that may include outdoor adventures; she follows good health habits; she strives to be mentally alert; she uses good judgment and makes sound decisions; and trains herself to be resourceful in solving problems. 

The New Scout

When your daughter joins the troop, she will be placed into a patrol with scouts of her age/grade. Each patrol consists of eight to ten scouts. A Troop Guide is assigned to each new scout patrol. A Troop Guide is an older scout that acts as a “big sister” to help your daughter feel welcome and adjust to the troop and its activities. The Troop Guide will introduce your daughter to the rest of the troop and work with her on advancement requirements. It is particularly important for your daughter to regularly attend troop meetings and as many camping trips as possible so that she quickly gets a solid understanding of scouting and her role in the troop. 

The New Parent

We want our new parents to feel at home with the troop from the very beginning. You are cordially invited to participate either as an adult leader or as an active parent. We welcome you and your ideas. We encourage you to take an active part in the troop by serving on a committee or working directly with the scouts in an Assistant Scoutmaster position. An active parent makes the scouting program stronger. 

The role of parents within Troop 180G is to:

  • Review the Scout Handbook and understand the purpose of Scouting. 
  • Actively follow your daughter’s progress and encourage her to advance.
  • Teach your daughter goal setting and planning for rank advancement and merit badges. 
  • Track her community service hours and attendance at campouts and other troop events. 
  • Show your support by attending the troop Court of Honor. 
  • Be aware of the Troop Events Calendar maintained on our website and updates sent via email.
  • Be active in the troop by assisting in troop fundraisers and community service projects.
  • Become an active leader by taking on the role of Assistant Scoutmaster or Troop Committee Member. 
  • Consider serving as a Merit Badge Counselor in areas of specialized knowledge or skills. 
  • Save momentos from Cub Scouts and Scouts (it is always nice to display at her Eagle Court of Honor). 

Uniforms

Troop 180G is a full uniform troop. All scouts are expected to wear their uniform to all troop meetings, campouts, and troop activities unless otherwise instructed. 

Class A Uniform

The full uniform is also referred to as the “Class A” uniform. It consists of the following:

  • scout shirt,
  • scout pants,
  • scout socks,
  • troop hat,
  • troop neckerchief.

The troop provides each scout with a neckerchief. The neckerchief is provided once the scout earns Scout Rank. The family is responsible for purchasing the uniform shirt, pants, and socks. Insignias required for the scout shirt are the troop 180 numerals, Monmouth Council shoulder patch, and the World Crest patch. The troop provides the scout with patrol patches, rank patches, and leadership position patches. Consult your Scout handbook for the proper placement of the patches. 

Class B Uniform

Troop T-shirt or another scout shirt is considered a “Class B” uniform. We have a troop store for all Class B apparel. 

Dues

The troop collects annual dues to cover the costs of the recharter fee, advancement badges, patrol patches, leadership position patches, troop neckerchiefs, campsite/cabin reservation fees, troop equipment, the annual family picnic, and refreshments for the Courts of Honor, and much more. The annual dues are collected in October each year and cover the period of January through December.

Organization of the Troop

The troop is organized into patrols. Patrols are a group of 8 to 10 scouts that work together as a team at troop meetings and campouts. There are 3 types of patrols within the troop: senior, regular and new scout. The senior patrol is made up of scouts that are typically high school juniors and seniors. The regular patrol is made up of scouts in middle school, freshman and sophomore high school age. The new scout patrol is made up of scouts that are in 5th grade. When scouts enter 6th grade they are assigned to a regular patrol. Scouts are assigned to patrols by the Scoutmaster with input from her Assistant Scoutmasters, and Senior Leaders. 

Troop Meetings

The troop meets on the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Monday of each month throughout the school year. The meeting times are from 6:30pm to 8:00pm. The troop meets at Neff Chapel in Old Tennent Cemetery. The troop meetings concentrate on skill development, advancement, patrol involvement, competition, games, and fun. Announcements and handouts for upcoming activities and campouts are made at the end of every meeting. The troop holds a Patrol Leaders’ Council (PLC) on the 1st Monday of every month. The PLC plans the upcoming troop meetings and camping trips as well as other troop activities. The PLC is attended by the Senior Patrol Leader, Assistant Senior Patrol Leaders, Patrol Leaders, Troop Guides and Troop Scribe. All other troop members do not have to attend the PLC. Court of Honor (COH) The court of honor ceremony is held two times a year (Oct & June) to officially recognize and present the scouts with their rank advancement and merit badges. All troop families are invited to attend the ceremony. Parents are part of their daughters’ rank advancement. At the June court of honor we have a pot-luck after the ceremony. 

Campouts / Outdoor Activities

Troop 180G camps year-round in all types of weather. We schedule one weekend campout each month during the school year and a weeklong summer camp in July. The schedule of campouts and outdoor activities is included in the Troop Calendar. We publish the troop calendar each September. Each scout will need to provide her own personal camping gear. The troop provides the cooking gear, tarps, lanterns, first aid kit, woods tools, tents (if needed). Read the camping section (chapter 9) in your Scout handbook to learn more. See what to pack for Warm weather camping and Cold weather campouts. See our guidelines on what you need to purchase. Before you go out and purchase any equipment you can talk with the Scoutmaster or any Assistant Scoutmaster for recommendations. For every campout or activity an email is sent out 6 – 8 weeks prior to the event. The email from the troop gmail account will include information about the event and a link to the Google Docs sign up form as well as a participant permission slip. Please submit the google doc form and turn in the registration fee and permission slip to either the Trip Planner or our Troop Treasurer. It’s important that you sign up for events by the deadline so that we can complete the necessary tour permits for our trip and ensure that we have enough drivers for the event. On certain trips we may need to ask for volunteer drivers to take scouts to/from the campsite/activity. 

Medical Forms

All scouts are required to complete an official Scouting America Medical Form. Sections A & B must be completed for weekend campouts. If your daughter is attending summer camp, a doctor’s signature is required. The medical forms are filed by the Scoutmaster in a secured box and kept confidential.

If your daughter is taking any prescription medications, then you will need to make the Scoutmaster aware of the medication. Medical conditions will remain private. During outdoor activities medication will be kept by the leaders with exception of emergency devices such as inhalers or epi-pens. Place your daughter’s medicine in the original container inside a Ziploc bag. Please include a separate note with detailed instructions for administering any medications. At summer camp, medicines need to be turned over to the camp medical officer who will dispense to the scout. Please discuss with the Scoutmaster any concerns with the medications.

Summer Camp

The high point of every year for most scouts is summer camp. Troop 180 attends a rotation of summer camps every July. It is a weeklong camp from Sunday to Saturday. During the week, scouts can take merit badge classes, complete advancement requirements, and take part in many activities such as swimming, boating, rifle shooting, archery, climbing, hiking, mountain biking, and much more. Parents are encouraged to attend the parent day on Friday if the camp in rotation has one. Only registered leaders are permitted to camp overnight and must provide medical forms A, B and C.

Youth Leadership

Troop 180 is a youth-led troop. That means that the scouts determine what the troop will do. The scouts plan the weekly troop meetings and the monthly overnight campouts. There are several leadership positions within the troop. Some of the positions are elected by the youth and other positions are appointed. 

Elected Positions:

Senior Patrol Leader (SPL)

She is the highest ranking scout in the troop. She is the youth leader of the troop, leads the Patrol Leaders Council and is responsible for the troop program. 

Assistant Senior Patrol Leader(s) (ASPL)

She assists the SPL in running the troop program and fills in for the SPL in her absence. Troop 180G has 1 ASPL.

Patrol Leader (PL)

She is responsible for giving leadership to her patrol. She represents her patrol at the Patrol Leaders Council. The Patrol Leader is the first person a scout should contact when they have issues or questions. 

We hold elections for SPL, ASPL and PLs every six months. 

Appointed Positions:

Junior Assistant Scoutmaster (JASM)

Provide support and supervision to the youth leaders in the troop. 

Troop Guide

Works with the new scouts on advancement, skill development and helps the new scouts make a smooth transition into the troop. 

Assistant Patrol Leader (APL)

Assists the patrol leader and fills in for her when needed. 

Instructor

Teaches scouting skills to the troop members. 

Quartermaster (QM)

Responsible for troop equipment at campouts and meetings. 

Scribe

Responsible for troop attendance records and the recruiting volunteers to write articles for the troop newsletter. 

Librarian

Maintains the troop’s library of merit badge books and other scout literature. 

Historian

Collects and preserves troop memorabilia. 

Webmaster

Works with the Committee on maintaining the troop website. 

Outdoor Ethics Guide

Trains the troop on principles of Leave No Trace and ensures LNT and Tread Lightly principles are followed at every Campout.

Order of the Arrow Representative

Is the liaison between the OA lodge and the troop and runs the annual elections. 

Chaplain Aid

Responsible for the religious services at troop activities 

Bugler

Plays the bugle (or a similar interest) to mark key moments during the day on troop outings, such as reveille and lights out 

Den Chief

Assigned to work with a Cub Scout den. 

Adult Leadership

Scoutmaster (SM)

The leader is responsible for the program of the troop. The leader and their  Assistant Scoutmasters work directly with the Scouts. Their responsibilities include: training and guiding the youth leaders, providing supervision at troop meetings, campouts and events. The leader works with the scouts on their advancement and has a conference with each scout as they advance to each rank. The Scoutmaster is required to have formal training for their position including Safeguarding Youth Training, CPR, Hazardous Weather, Safe Swim and Safety Afloat.

Assistant Scoutmaster (ASM)

The ASMs assist the Scoutmaster in the operation of the troop. Their main responsibility is to work with the scouts on advancement and provide supervision at troop meetings, campouts and events. The ASM provides the required two-deep leadership. Troop Equipment The troop maintains an inventory of camping equipment including such items as tents, stoves, cooking gear, lanterns, tarps, and much more. We own 1 trailer to store all of our equipment. The equipment is maintained by one of the Assistant Scoutmasters and the youth Quartermasters. 

Advancement

Scouting America advancement is different from Cub Scouts. Parents can no longer sign off on completed requirements. The scout works on her requirements with the older scouts, adult leaders and parents. The requirements can only be signed off by the Scoutmaster and Assistant Scoutmasters and select older youth in Troop 180G.

There are four steps to advancement: 

  1. The Scout learns 
  2. The Scout is tested 
  3. The Scout is reviewed 
  4. The Scout is recognized 

Each scout is responsible for their own advancement. The troop works on advancement requirements at troop meetings, campouts, and other outdoor activities. There are certain requirements that need to be completed at home or school. The Troop Guide and adult leaders will work with the scouts on their advancement, and the parents should encourage their daughters to advance. The scout can work on rank requirements for more than one rank at a time. The last 2 requirements for all rank advancements are to participate in a Scoutmaster Conference and complete a Board of Review. 

The Scoutmaster Conference

A discussion between the scout and the Scoutmaster or Assistant Scoutmaster about the scout’s activity in the troop and her understanding of the ideals of scouting. It also gives the scout and leader an opportunity to set goals for scouting, school, sports, community, etc. 

The Board of Review

Is a group of Committee members and/or parents to ensure the scout has completed the requirements (not to retest), determine the quality of her troop experience, and to encourage her to advance to the next rank. The handbook is the “book of records” for the scout. When a scout completes their rank advancement, the troop enters it into the Monmouth Council online advancement system. The Troop also maintains its own database for advancement. Given the size of our troop, we are not able to maintain this system for the advancement requirements. We only update the rank requirements when the badge is earned. 

The Advancement Ranks are as follows: 

Scout 

Tenderfoot 

Second Class 

First Class 

Star 

Life 

Eagle 

Merit Badges

For the Senior Ranks (Star, Life & Eagle) a scout must earn a certain amount of merit badges. Some of these merit badges are required and some are the scout’s choice. There are more than 130 different Merit Badges. There are two types of merit badges, Eagle required (silver border) and non-required (green border). Some are good for young Scouts and some are better suited for older Scouts. Your leaders can help guide you to which would be appropriate for you. You can find the requirements for all the merit badges in the official requirements books or on the internet at www.meritbadge.com. Every merit badge has a pamphlet that provides the detailed requirements. The library, maintained by Troop 180G Librarian, has a copy of many of the popular badges. Pick A Subject. Read the requirements of the merit badges you think might interest you. Pick one to earn. If you need some help, talk to the Scoutmaster about what badge you are interested in. The Troop Advancement Chairperson can provide you the name and phone number of a potential counselor. These counselors have special knowledge in their merit badge subjects and are interested in helping you. 

Scout Buddy System.

You must have another person with you at each meeting with the merit badge counselor. This person can be your parent or guardian, a brother or sister, a relative, or a friend as long as they are over the age of 21 

Call The Merit Badge Counselor

First speak to the counselor to confirm that they will work with you on the merit badge. Review how they want to work, and schedule target dates. Before you start any work on the badge, make sure you have the contact information (full name, address and phone number) of the merit badge counselor. 

Approval to Start

Get a merit badge application (Blue Card) from the Scoutmaster or Advancement Chair. Complete the application including the counselor information and you MUST have the Scoutmaster sign it. The counselor needs to see your signed Blue Card as permission to start. 

Getting Started

Get in touch with the merit badge counselor and tell him or her that you are ready to start working on the merit badge. The counselor may ask you to come and visit so he or she can explain what is expected and start to help you meet the requirements. When you know what is expected, start to learn and do the things required. Ask your counselor to help you learn the things you need to know or do. You should read the merit badge pamphlet as it is widely available online. The pamphlet is your responsibility, NOT the counselor’s. 

Show Your Stuff

When you are ready, call the counselor again to make an appointment to meet the requirements. When you go, take along the things you have made to meet the requirements. If they are too big to move, take pictures or have an adult tell in writing what you have done. Again, make sure you understand what the counselor expects and provide it. The counselor will ask you to do each requirement to make sure that you know your stuff and have done and can do the things required. 

Get The Badge

When the counselor is satisfied that you have met each requirement, he or she will sign your Blue Card. Give the signed Blue Card to the Advancement Chairman. Be prepared to explain what you did to earn the merit badge. Your application must be signed by the Scoutmaster and the Advancement Chairman will submit to BSA. You will receive your merit badge at the next Court of Honor. Completed blue cards must be submitted at least two weeks before a Court of Honor. But, don’t wait. Submit it as soon as you are done. Requirements. You are expected to meet the requirements as they are stated — no more and no less. You are expected to do exactly what is stated in the requirements. If it says “show or demonstrate,” that is what you must do. Just talking about it isn’t enough. The same thing holds true for such words as “make,” “list,” “in the field,” and “collect,” “identify,” and “label.” Many of the merit badges require that you accomplish a measured level of skill that will require practice to meet the criteria. Merit badges are awards of accomplishment and proficiency. 

Not Completing it

Don’t worry; it happens all the time and to almost every scout. If you don’t complete all the requirements in the time the counselor can spend or before the end of summer camp, be sure that the counselor signs-off on the requirements you completed. This is called “getting a partial.” Keep the blue card with the requirements that were completed. You can finish any time before you are 18 years old. They don’t expire before then. The SCOUT is responsible for maintaining the blue card until it is signed “completed” by a counselor and turned in. You don’t have to finish with the same counselor with whom you started – BUT, make sure the counselor that signs your blue card is a REGISTERED merit badge counselor. Keeping Records. When you are awarded your merit badge you will get the merit badge patch, an award card and one-third of the BLUE CARD. Keep the blue card in a safe place. You can put them in the plastic holders that sports card collectors use and keep them in a special binder. This works well for many scouts. The Blue Card is the definitive record that you have completed the merit badge. You might be asked for a copy of it with your Eagle Scout application. 

Troop Committee

Committee Chair

Organizes the committee and sees that all functions are completed, presides over the committee meetings, interprets location and national policies to the troop, arranges the annual re-charter, and serves as a liaison with Monmouth Council and the Chartered Organization Representative. 

Activities

Works with Scoutmaster and the PLC to plan monthly trips/activities, recruits and manages the trip planners, maintains troop driving list, and ensures that proper tour permits are filed for all trips. 

Trip Planners

Help to organize a monthly troop overnight outing. Responsibilities include working with the Treasurer and Scoutmaster and attending meetings during the signup period to ensure everyone has properly signed up for the weekend campouts, collecting all necessary paperwork and trip payments, making additional reservations, if needed, and organizing the drivers and scout car assignments. 

Advancement

Encourages scouts to advance in rank, coordinates all Board of Reviews, keeps track of advancements, procures rank advancement, works with SM to coordinate awards for the Court of Honor, and maintains a list of merit badge counselors. 

Court of Honor / Hospitality

Responsible for organizing the refreshments at the October Court of Honor and coordinating the potluck dinner for the June Court of Honor. 

Equipment

Supervises the scout Quartermasters, responsible for managing our troop equipment, maintaining our troop trailers, and equipment shed. Fundraising – manages the annual Popcorn fundraiser and any other fundraising activity. 

Newsletter

Works with Troop Scribe to create the troop newsletter. Produces a special Eagle Scout edition of the newsletter.

Publicity

Sends articles about the troop to local newspapers and media sites. 

Records Management

Maintains the Troop Master database. Scouting for Food – coordinates the Troop’s annual food drive. 

Secretary

Keeps minutes of the committee meetings, maintains correspondence with Monmouth Council, assists in locating meeting rooms, assists the troop webmaster 

Service Projects

Coordinates troop-wide service projects 

Sunshine Committee

Sends out cards (sympathy, get well, congratulatory, etc.) on behalf of the troop. 

Training

Tracks the training for adult leaders and ensures that the troop leadership is compliant with national training requirements. 

Treasurer

Maintains the troop books, checking account, and budget.

Webmaster

Maintains the troop website. 

Communication

Troop 180G communicates via emails, troop website, newsletter and handouts at troop meetings. We have a troop gmail account, scoutmasters_180g@troop180nj.org, to send all troop-wide communications regarding meetings, campouts, events, newsletters, etc. We have the up-to-date contact information in our gmail account. If you need to send any communication to the entire troop, please email scoutmasters_180g@troop180nj.org and we will forward to everyone. This ensures that everyone receives the message. Please let us know if you have changes to your email account so that you are receiving information. The troop website has the latest calendar, troop activity permission slips, and other troop information. The Senior Patrol Leader and Patrol Leaders are responsible for making sure that their patrol is aware of upcoming activities. Patrol Leaders will make phone calls or send emails to their Patrol members on important information related to their patrol. 

Community Service

The troop is very active in community service projects. ∙ We periodically hold service projects. ∙ We partner with the American Legion every Memorial Day weekend and place flags on the graves of Veterans buried at the Old Tennent Cemetery. ∙ Each year we have several scouts that plan service projects for their Eagle Scout that benefit different organizations within the community. 

Fundraising

The main fundraising activity for the troop is the annual Popcorn Sale. The fundraising event takes place in September and October of every year. We ask that all families participate in the Popcorn Sale. The troop also holds a Coffee Fundraiser in October and a. Fundraiser in the spring. Proceeds from the Popcorn sale and other fundraisers are used to help fund our troop operations. 

Order of the Arrow

The Order of the Arrow (OA) is Scouting’s national honor society. To become a member, a scout must hold the rank of First Class or higher, have taken part in a minimum of 15 days and nights of Scout camping in the past 2 years, including one week of resident camping, and be approved by the Scoutmaster. The entire troop (even if they are not members of the OA) elects the candidates for the Order of the Arrow.

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