Does your son return from a scouting activity and seem to be speaking a foreign language?

Do you note some strange words on a flyer or calendar?

This page is an effort to help define some of the more frequently used terms.

If someone uses a term you are not familiar with simply ask them to explain it (we too all had to learn it some where), or sneak a glance at this glossary if your bashful about asking.

APL - Asst. Patrol Leader

See Patrol Leader.

ASM - Asst. Scoutmaster

See Scoutmaster (SM).

ASPL - Asst. Senior Patrol Leader

See Senior Patrol Leader (SPL).

Baden-Powell

Lord Baden-Powell was the founder of the scouting movement. The Baden-Powell training program is designed to get new scouts the basic scout skills and help them to advance to First Class.

Board of Review - BOR

As a requirement for each rank advancement a scout must appear individually before a group of three adults (members of Troop Committee) to ensure that the scout has met the requirements for that rank. The Scoutmaster and Assistant Scoutmasters can not sit on a BOR. A Board of Review takes place after a Scoutmaster Conference for Rank Advancement,  when a Scout requests one, or if the Troop Committee schedules one because they feel a Scout needs one.  Eagle boards are conducted at the district level.

Bridging

A ceremony where Webelos Cub Scouts cross a ceremonial bridge to signify their transition from Cub Scouts to Boy Scouts. This is normally done at a Cub Scout Pack Meeting with Boy Scouts from the Webelos' new troop participating.

Boy Scout Ranks (in order of increasing rank)

Tenderfoot

Second Class

First Class

Star

Life

Eagle

Eagle Palms: Bronze, Gold, Silver

Camporee

Camp out attended by several troops within the district. Usually there are various competitions between the patrols attending. 

Charter Organization

The organization that is official chartered by the Boy Scouts of America to carry out the scouting program. The main liaison between the charter organization and the troop is the Charter Organization Rep. (COR). Our charter organization is the Denbigh Church of Christ.

Commissioner

Adult volunteers working at district or council level. Unit commissioners are assigned to units and should be a friendly resource to the unit leaders.

Committee Chairperson

A registered adult appointed by the Charter Organization to chair the Troop Committee. Presides at Troop Committee meetings. Works closely with the COR and Scoutmaster to ensure the scouting program meets BSA guidelines.

COPE

Challenging Outdoor Personal Experience. (Boy Scout activity involving heights, trust and team building).   More information: at USSP

Charter Organization Representative - COR

A person assigned by the charter organization to be the liaison between the troop and the charter organization. Our charter organization is the Denbigh Church of Christ.

 

Court of Honor - COH

An awards ceremony held semi-annually at which scouts are recognized for their rank advancements, merit badges earned, and other awards.

District

A subdivision of a council. Our council is the Colonial Virginia Council. Troop 313 is in the Chesapeake Bay District.

FOS

Friends of Scouting - annual fund raiser for the council. The council does not get any share of your registration fee and is grateful for your donation.

Jamboree

Scout meeting or camp out on a grand scale. There are national and international jamborees.
 

JASM - Junior Asst. Scoutmaster

A youth between 16 and 18 who has already held major leadership positions within the troop. Appointed by the Scoutmaster to help in guiding the troop and youth leaders.

Klondike Derby

A winter/snow oriented camporee. Overnight camping experience with team building games and activities.

Leadership

To advance in the more senior ranks a scout must hold a leadership position for a set period of time. The rank requirements in the Boy Scout Handbook (as revised) lists the leadership positions that qualify.

NESA

National Eagle Scout Association. Open to membership to any youth or adult who attained the rank of Eagle Scout.

Order of the Arrow - (OA)

A national brotherhood of scout honor campers of the Boy Scouts of America. Members are elected by their peers after meeting basic requirements of camping knowledge and experience. Also called OA. The OA motto of "Cheerful Service" indicates their purpose. They are often found improving scout camps, running council events, and providing service to the scouting community. More Info on OA

OA Ordeal

The initiation ceremony experience for new OA members generally involving personal introspection, service to improve camp or trail and ceremonies based on Indian legend or lore.

Palms, Eagle

After a scout reaches the rank of Eagle, they can earn a Palm for every 5 additional Merit Badges they complete. You may wear only the proper combination of Palms for the number of merit badges you earned beyond the 21 required for the rank of Eagle. The Bronze Palm represents five merit badges, the Gold Palm 10, and the Silver Palm 15. For example a scout with 20 additional Merit Badges would wear a Silver and a Bronze Palm.

Patrol

The Patrol is the basic unit within a troop. Made up of 4-8 scouts who camp, cook and eat together; and work as a team at various activities and events.

Patrol Leader

The elected leader for the patrol. He appoints an Asst. Patrol Leader (APL) to help in running the patrol.

Patrol Leaders Council - PLC

Made up of the youth leadership of the troop. They meet once a month to plan the following months activities and annually to plan the upcoming year.

Recharter

Annual process of re-registering the troop's scouts and scouters. Each unit designates a leader to collect required information and fees and present updated paperwork to the council.

Roundtable

Monthly meeting for leaders to exchange ideas, fellowship, and, a few announcements that is run by the district.

Scouter

Any adult registered leader.

 

Scoutmaster (SM)

 

Adult leader who trains and guides the youth leaders in carrying out the scouting program. One or more Assistant Scoutmasters (ASM) help the Scoutmaster and are often assigned specific roles and duties.

Scoutmaster Conference

A formal meeting that takes place at a Troop meeting or activity between a Scout and the Scoutmaster, or a person he designates, to review a scout’s progress. A Scoutmaster Conference takes place at advancement time before a Board of Review, when a Scout requests it or if the Scoutmaster feels the Scout needs it.

Scoutmaster Fundamentals

The basic Adult Leader Training.  This is an excellent training program for any adult wanting to become more involved in the Boy Scout program, or who just wants to learn more about how the program works.

Scouts Own

The Scouts Own, is a non-specific religious type service that we try to make a part of our outdoor outings. The Scouts Own is short, normally not more than 15 minutes, but, allows each Scout the opportunity to obey the twelfth point of the Scout Law in his own way. Please, let us know if you do not want your son to participate in this activity, as we wish to respect every family's religious beliefs.

 

SPL- Senior Patrol Leader

The senior most elected youth leader of the troop. The SPL is in charge of the troop at all functions and activities. He appoints one or more assistants (ASPL) to help him in running the troop.

Tour Permit

A document that must be filed with the council office before any official scouting activity can take place. Special permits are required for travel out-of-state, over 500 miles, or for flying activities.

Troop Committee

Adult committee of registered adults that provide oversight, assistance, and guidance to the Scoutmaster in carrying out the scouting program within the troop. The Troop Committee is responsible to provide the necessary resources requested by the PLC and Scoutmaster that are required to carry out the scouting program. The Troop Committee meets each month generally on the 3rd Tuesday of the month. All registered adults are part of the Troop Committee, key members include the Committee Chair, Treasurer, Secretary, Outdoor Chair, Advancement Chair, Membership Chair, Adult Quartermaster, and Fund Raising Chair.

Winter Awareness Training

A class held on a Saturday in early January at which scouts, and adult leaders, learn about cold weather camping. In Troop 313 if a scout wishes to attend any winter campout he must attend this short training course.

Woodbadge

Advanced Training for Boy Scout adult leaders. Woodbadge is also referred to as Advance Scoutmaster Training. Any adult who has taken Scoutmaster Fundamentals can attend this advanced training course to expand their knowledge of the scouting program and be of more help to the troop.

Nothing in this glossary should be considered policy or method of operation. It is intended only as a short description of some of the more common terms used in scouting. Official BSA or troop policy  should be consulted if there are any questions.

Last Revised: July 14, 2007

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