New to Troop 626

WELCOME TO TROOP 626!

Thank you for joining the Scouts and families of Troop 626. This guide is here to help your Scout get started on the right foot. It is designed as a checklist of “To Do” items that helps ensure that your Scout is set up for success with our Troop. The New Member Coordinator (Karen Madden) will be able to assist you along this journey.

Scout

  • Make sure you meet the age requirement: Boy Scouting is for boys who have earned the Arrow of Light Award and are at least 10 years old or have completed the fifth grade and are at least 10, or who are 11, but not yet 18 years old.

  • Meet the Scoutmaster (Mr. James Hanley). Tell him a little about you, where you go to school, what activities you enjoy, what you are looking forward to doing in Scouts.

  • Meet you Senior Patrol Leader (SPL). Your Senior Patrol Leader will welcome you to the Troop, get you assigned to a Patrol and introduce you to your Patrol Leader.

  • Meet your Patrol Leader. He will be the main Scout you can go to for questions, meeting activities and outings. He will tell you about the Patrol name and Patrol yell.

  • Meet the Assistant Scoutmaster for New Scouts (Mrs. Liz Anne Bowman). She will help guide you through the first few months of becoming a Scout.

  • Ask for a purple Troop neckerchief and Troop 626 patch from the Assistant Scoutmaster.

  • Purchase a Boy Scout Handbook, tan Scout Shirt (with patches) and neckerchief slide. These items can be purchased at the Seattle Scout Shop, The Grange or ordered online.

    • Seattle Scout Shop – 3120 Rainier Ave S, Seattle WA 98144

    • The Grange – 145 NE Gilman Blvd, Issaquah WA 98027

    • Online - https://www.scoutshop.org/

  • Attach your patches on your Scout uniform shirt. A guide to how the shirt should look is on the Boy Scout Handbook, pages 20-23.

  • Order a green Activity (Class B) Troop 626 t-shirt (Peter Carbon)

  • Read through the Scout rank requirements on page 439 of your Scout Handbook. These will be the first items you’ll need to help you learn more about Scouting.

    • Do this by the next Advancement Night, usually the last Tuesday of the month. Bring your Handbook to all meetings

    • The Troop Guide is a Scout that will help you learn the rank requirements. Look for him at Advancement night

  • Going camping? Great!

    • Make sure you have a BSA Medical Form completed and turned into the Troop

    • Read through the Scout Handbook pages 238-239, Scout Basic Essentials. Mark this page as you will refer to it often

    • Then, read through page 268, Personal Camping Gear Checklist


Adult

  • Meet the Scoutmaster (James Hanley). The Scoutmaster mentors and teaches the Scouts.

  • Meet the Committee Chair (Madhu Motukuri). The Committee is a group of adults that assists with planning and funding Scout activities. Steve is a great resource to learn more about our Troop

  • Complete a BSA Scout Application for your Scout and return to Jiantao Sun

  • Complete an Adult Application for you and return to Jiantao Sun

  • Complete the BSA Health Form for your Scout (https://www.scouting.org/health-and-safety/ahmr/).

    • Turn in the completed Forms to Mia Shin.

    • Parts A and B are required prior to going on any outing.

    • Part C needs to be completed by a doctor prior to attending Summer Camp

  • Once you submit both applications, you should receive information for a TroopMaster web account and the Google email group. The TroopMaster login can be found on the Troop 626 website www.troop626.org

  • Pay the annual Troop dues to the Treasurer (Peter Carbon)

  • Talk with the New Member Coordinator (Karen Madden). She will:

    • Add your Scout’s name to the Advancement Board

    • Point you to the right people for applications, dues, and uniforms

    • Provide you with this checklist and get you started on your Scout’s Advancement binder

  • Talk with your Scout about the Troop. Ask him who is the Senior Patrol Leader (SPL), Patrol Leader, and his Patrol’s name.

  • Start a binder to help track your Scout’s progress. It should include this checklist, some blank pages for taking notes, and 5-10 sheets of 9-pocket trading card pages.

  • Read the “Youth Protection, A Parent’s Guide” booklet in front of the Boy Scout Handbook and have a discussion with your Scout about protection and safety.

  • Complete Youth Protection Training (YPT) online (https://www.scouting.org/training/youth-protection/) It’s required each year for all adult Troop members.

Troop Meetings

  • The Troop meets every Tuesday at Tyee Middle School. Meetings typically start at 7:00 pm and complete at 8:30 pm.

  • The first Tuesday of the month is the Patrol Leadership Council (PLC) and adult Committee meeting. This meeting begins at 6:30 pm. All adults are encouraged to attend the Committee meeting. The PLC is intended for Scouts with leadership positions.

  • The last Thursday of the month is typically an Advancement night. This is a great opportunity for working on the Scout and Tenderfoot ranks. The requirements can be found on pages 439-441 of the Handbook.

  • We start each meeting with a flag ceremony and opening remarks, so it’s very important to arrive on time and in uniform.

We hope this guide helps you and your Scout transition to Troop 626. If you have any suggestions for improving this checklist, please contact James Hanley (SM), Liz Anne Bowman (ASM) or Karen Madden.