New Scout Page

1. If you are a NEW Scout (i.e. you have just crossed over from Cub Scouts, or are joining the Troop for the first time), please follow this link to join our Troop: https://my.scouting.org/VES/OnlineReg/1.0.0/?tu=UF-MB-492taa0208. 

2. Parents should reach out to our Advancement Chair, Vishal Kapoor (vishalkapoor1@gmail.com), with their names, emails, phone numbers, and Scout(s)' name(s), email(s), and phone number(s). The Advancement Chair will get the rest of the info required from you, parents, so please frequently check your email!

3. To pay the Registration Fee as per the Advancement Chair, please head over to the Digital Payment page to pay the Troop via PayPal. Remember to follow all instructions listed on that page, and to select the "Pay as a Friend" option!

4. The Advancement Chair may request you to submit completed Medical Forms. They can be found on the Troop Docs page, in the "Medical Forms" folder.

1. Please follow the Advancement Chair's instructions on Parent Registration.

2. Once again, use Troop's PayPal to pay your adult registration fee with the Troop.

3. If you would like to volunteer in the Troop (which we highly encourage, recommend, and need!) please let Committee Chair Sham Gautam know, and he will coordinate forms and training with you.

Congratulations! You're now officially a part of BSA Troop 208. Now, we have to get you looking sharp, and in uniform. This is especially important, as uniforms are a big part of the discipline that BSA teaches.

1. Troop 208 already has you covered for the following items, and you do not need to purchase them:

• 1 x Class A (tan) BSA Uniform

• 1 x Scout Handbook

• 1 x Class B (black) T208 Uniform

• 1 x T208 Hat

2. The Class A uniform is worn in the following circumstances ONLY:

• While in the car to and from a campout or outing, unless otherwise instructed

• During Troop Meetings and PLC Meetings

• During Elections

• During flag ceremonies at campouts, or any time flag will be done

3. The Class A uniform is the MOST important piece of clothing a Scout has. It is imperative that the Scout keeps it clean, tidy, neat, and most importantly, up-to-date. The uniform has multiple badges, loops, and other items that are sewed or pinned on to it, to signify the rank, Troop #, Council, District, and other information about the Scout wearing it. Here is a visual guide as to how to correctly wear a Scout Class A uniform.

• Furthermore, the Class A uniform must be updated as the Scout advances ranks, gains awards, and more. As such, a word of advice is to avoid heat pressing the badges onto your uniform, as the rank badge must be taken off and replaced with the new rank badge every time you advance a rank. Instead, sew it on and save yourself from inevitably destroying your rank badge patch area on your Class A.

• New merit badge patches and rank patches will be awarded to Scouts at every Court of Honor, twice a year (once in Spring, and once in Fall).

4. The Scout Handbook is known as the Bible of Scouting, and for good reason. It holds everything from your rank advancements, to your merit badge signatures, service hour logs, and camping logs—everything that you need for rank advancement is in that book. That's why it's so important to keep it dry, clean, neat, updated, and easily accessible. It can't be stressed enough just how important this book is, so take extra good care of it. Pro tip: buy a waterproof cover for it from the Scout Store on Naito Pkwy.

The very last, but definitely not the least, step for New Scouts and parents is buying good gear and equipment. There are so many different stores and brands out there, that it can become very difficult to figure out what to buy, and from where. Parents: one rule of thumb you should exercise is to stay away from wholesale stores like Costco, and instead go to specialized stores like Columbia Sportswear (hands-down the best place to go, the most knowledgeable campers work there and will help you find whatever you need), REI, Sierra Trading Post, and more.

Another thing to remember is to do your research before buying equipment. Once again, there are so many places and different types of things that it becomes confusing. Asking a senior Scout or experienced adult within the Troop will help you get some really invaluable information, tips and tricks, and more.

The senior Scouts have been doing some gear and equipment walkthroughs and demonstrations in the previous few Troop Meetings, and will also be present at the New Scout Campout on July 16th (see calendar) to help Scouts with their new gear and equipment.

Lastly, think of this gear and equipment as an investment. This does not mean that the Troop or BSA is forcing you to spend lots of money, but instead advises you to make the right decision and buy a good quality item.

Some general words of advice from an Eagle Scout:

• The sleeping bags at wholesale stores (like Costco) are horrible. The ratings on them are inaccurate and will prove very uncomfortable on nights below 60° F. Trust me, I know :)

• The big 3, 4, or more tents at wholesale stores are even worse. They are extremely heavy, bulky, and are nearly impossible to carry around on campouts. Highly recommend staying away from these tents. They're a huge pain to set up, and an even bigger pain to put back into the case/bag, which never seems to be big enough to fit the tent. Go to Columbia Sportswear Employee Store and get a 2-2.5 person tent. I personally prefer 2.5 as my friend and I can comfortably tent together in it, while still having that 0.5 person space for our gear. Plus, it's not as big as a 3 person, which is great!

• Buy lightweight and waterproof shoes. I simply can't stress the latter enough!

• Get a daypack with a hydration bladder in it. They're so easy and useful: instead of having to stop, take off your backpack, open it and get your water bottle, you can drink right out of the spout that comes out and attaches to your strap in the front.

• Columbia Sportswear Employee Store on Science Park is a gold mine for shoes, sleeping bags, and tents. I got mine from there as a first-year Scout and still have the tent and bag that I use on every single campout.

• Have questions? Ask your peers, Scouts. Parents, ask your fellow parents within the Troop. And as always, feel free to reach out to me via email.