Now that you’ve joined Troop 457, its important to understand how Scouting is organized. We’ll discuss the organization starting with the smallest piece (the individual participant) up to the global Scouting Movement.
Scout – The Individual Member
A Youth (ages 10 – 18) who is part of Troop 457 is referred to as a Scout.
Scouters – The Scout’s Family
Moving on from your Scout, let’s talk about your family. We call your family “Scouters” or a “Scouting Family.” While Scouts BSA is primarily geared towards our Scouts, we encourage our Scout’s entire family to participate in some of our events.
Patrol
The Patrol is the smallest group within the Scouts BSA program. Patrols are critical to enacting the Patrol Method that is central to the Scouts BSA program (more on that in an upcoming lesson).
If you’re joining from a Cub Scout Pack, the Patrol is most similar to your Den. It is typically comprised of 8–10 Scouts within the same unit. Scouts are assigned to a patrol when they join the Troop.
There is no set policy for how Patrols are organized. Patrols can be made up of Scouts who joined the Troop at the same time or a mix of ages and ranks.
FUN FACT: Eagle Scout and First Man on the Moon Neil Armstrong’s Troop determined Patrol membership based on height. Members were asked to line up by height and then counted off to determine who was a member of which patrol.
In Troop 457, Scouts are typically assigned to a new or existing patrol depending on when they join and how many new members are joining at the same time. Scouts are typically a part of the same patrol throughout their time in the Troop.
Patrols have their own name (i.e. Radioactive Pandas, Sideways Turtles), emblem, yell/cheer, and flag. Patrols hold a quick meeting during every Troop meeting and are encouraged to conduct independent meetings and events as a patrol. Patrols are led by a Patrol Leader elected by the patrol members for a 6 month term. (We’ll discuss other Troop Leadership positions in a future lesson).
Adult leaders and adults attending campouts are assigned to the “Rocking Chair” patrol.
Troop – The Unit
One or more Patrols roll up to a Unit which, in the Scouts BSA, is referred to as a TROOP. Troops are run by the Youth members (see The Youth Led Troop) led by the Senior Patrol Leader (SPL) and supported by the adult Scoutmaster / Assistant Scoutmasters and the Troop Committee. A Troop is sponsored (a.k.a. “chartered”) by a Charter Organization. Troop 457 has a 80+ year history being chartered by the Zelienople Lutheran Children’s Home and later English Lutheran Church.
Council
The Council is the local group responsible for providing the Scouting program within a defined geographical area. Councils help with recruiting new Scouts to the program, training our leaders, and run camp programs at Council owned camps.
You can find out what Council a Scout is a member of based on the Council patch above their Unit Number on their uniform’s left sleeve. Troop 457 is a part of MORAINE TRAILS COUNCIL.
The Boy Scouts of America
The Boy Scouts of America (or the “BSA”) is the national organization that develops and supports the various youth programs and established Scouting rules and regulations in the United States. The National Organization runs six youth programs:
- Cub Scouts
- Scouts BSA (formerly Boy Scouts)
- Venturing
- Sea Scouts
- Exploring
- STEM Scouts
All BSA programs are co-ed. Cub Scouts is the only program targeted at younger youth. Scouts BSA members must be between 11 and 18 years old and all of the other programs’ participants must be between 14 and 21 years old.
The World Scouting Movement
Finally, we have the World Organization of the Scouting Movement (“WOSM”). This is the largest international Scouting Organization. The WOSM has 172 member organizations (including the Boy Scouts of America). WOSM’s mission is to contribute to the education of young people through the value system based on the Scout Promise / Oath and Scout Law in order to help build a better world where people are self-fulfilled as individuals and play a constructive role in society.