Getting Started
Welcome to BSA Palo Alto Troop 14
Stanford District, Pacific Skyline Council
REGISTRATION—Scouts NEW to Troop 14
To Join Troop 14, follow these Instructions [LINK] .
When your paperwork is complete, you will receive:
A confirmation email from the Membership Chair with further instructions about group email communications and database login
Complimentary neckerchief and black cotton Troop 14 t-shirt
Patrol assignment by the Senior Patrol Leader
THINGS TO GET
BSA Class A Uniform. Tan Boy Scout shirt with green shoulder tabs, Boy Scout pants or shorts, belt, Scout socks, and Troop 14 neckerchief.
Boy Scout Handbook. Get the latest edition.
Purchase both items at the Palo Alto Trading Post located at Lucie Stern Community Center, 1305 Middlefield Rd, Palo Alto, CA 94301. Check hours here. Items may also be purchased online: http://www.scoutstuff.org. The troop has a limited supply of outgrown uniforms and other clothing items. Contact the Clothing Coordinator for availability.
Troop 14 logo-imprinted items such as outerwear, tote bags, water bottles, etc, can be purchased online from Lands End: https://business.landsend.com. Ordering information can be found on Troop 14’s Troopmaster website.
MEETINGS
Troop 14 meets weekly during the school year on Tuesday nights, 7:30-9:00 pm. All meetings except for patrol meetings are held at Covenant Presbyterian Church, 670 E Meadow Dr, Palo Alto, CA 94306. The usual meeting schedule is; however you should be sure to check the Troop calendar for any updates:
1st Tuesday, Greenbar Meeting. Scouts in leadership roles meet to plan troop activities and outings. Any scout or adult is welcome to attend.
2nd Tuesday, Troop Meeting and Parent Meeting. All scouts in the troop meet together; parents meet separately. At least one parent of each scout should attend so that you can stay informed and connected.
3rd Tuesday, Patrol Meeting. The troop is divided into smaller groups called “patrols” that are lead by a scout leader (“Patrol Leader”). The Patrol Leader sets the location of each Patrol meeting. It is the scout’s responsibility to confirm the time and location with their Patrol Leader.
4th & 5th Tuesday, Troop Meeting
OUTINGS
We try to plan for at least one outing/camping trip a month during the school year. The troop also participates in community service projects such as Scouting for Food in November, and flag decorating at the Golden Gate National Cemetery for Memorial Day. Summertime activities include Camp Oljato, a one- to two-week residential camp in the Sierras, and other high-adventure camp opportunities, such as Philmont, Northern Tier, Florida Sea Base, the National Scout Jamboree, as well as the World Scout Jamboree. See the Troop calendar for a full activity schedule.
TIPS FOR SCOUTS
Scouting is guaranteed fun if you regularly participate in Troop and Patrol meetings, campouts, and service projects.
Troop 14 is boy-led, meaning boys are in charge of the troop and are the decision-makers. The Senior Patrol Leader (SPL) is the troop’s scout leader. The SPL may have Assistant SPLs serving in various functions for the troop. The troop is broken down into smaller patrols (10-12 scouts) led by Patrol Leaders. Adults provide supervision and safety.
The SPL will assign you to a patrol. Your Patrol Leader is a valuable resource for information and introduction into Boy Scouts. If you have a question about anything Scout-related, go to your Patrol Leader first. If he can’t help, then check in with the SPL or another senior Scout.
Wear your Class A uniform to Troop meetings; wear your Class B (black Troop 14 t-shirt or gray tech shirt) uniform to Patrol meetings and other Troop activities.
The Boy Scout Handbook will answer many questions you may have. Start by reviewing the “Introduction” section at the front of the handbook. There is a part that you will have to complete with your parents. The back part of the Handbook lists all the requirements needed for each rank. You will complete requirements for ranks during meetings and on outings, which is why attendance is important. As you gain more experience in Scouting, you will advance in rank and eventually lead other scouts.
TIPS FOR PARENTS/GUARDIANS
Troop 14 aims to teach boys leadership by letting boys lead and make decisions while being mentored by adults. Read more here.
Parents should attend the parent meetings held on the 2nd Tuesday of each month in order to stay informed about activities, outings, and Troop business, ask questions, and meet other parents.
The adult Troop Committee has many needs in areas of outings planning, equipment/gear purchasing, rank advancement, and other administration. Please discuss your skills, interests, and availability with the Committee Chair.
Adults serving in a Committee position must be formally registered with BSA and must agree to have a criminal background check run by the Council office. To apply, complete:
Youth Protection Training. Go to www.my.scouting.org and create an account if you don’t already have one. Click on Menu, then My Dashboard to take the online YPT video course.
Become a registered adult leader! Follow the instructions at http://wiki.troop14pa.org/membership to submit your online application. The troop pays the fees for registered adults.
You can also sign up to be a Merit Badge Counselor and help scouts earn merit badges. Please discuss your areas of interest with the Scoutmaster or Committee Chair.
TROOP COMMUNICATIONS AND WEBSITE
Troop 14 uses a web-based database called Troopmaster to maintain its records. Once an application is processed, the scout and his parents each receive a login account to the website. Troopmaster is used to check advancement progress, leadership records, activities records, and more. Troopmaster also manages the troop’s group email lists. If you are not receiving troop emails, check with the Database Coordinator.