Policy

We're a Quality Unit

Troop 200 consistently achieves the annual BSA Quality Unit award which among other things requires that Youth Protection policies are followed and that all chartered Leaders are BSA trained.

Youth Safety

Troop 200 firmly believes and supports the BSA rules and guidelines for youth safety and supervision. 'Two deep' leaders and the 'buddy' system are always enforced for all troop and patrol activities. Parents are always welcome and are encouraged to participate in our activities but you need to Complete the On Line Youth Protection training.

Parent Involvement

Speaking of parent involvement - Troop 200 encourages all parents (Dads AND Moms) to actively participate in our Troop Committee to help run our Troop. Contact our Committee Chairman (Jeff McDonald), Scoutmaster (Matt Frye) or any Asst. Scoutmaster for more information or a committee member application form. We welcome anyone, dad or mom, who is willing to take the council BSA youth protection and leader training courses to become an Assistant Scoutmaster with our troop. (THEN you can wear one of the cool uniforms! <grin>)

Medical Forms

All scouts participating in any Troop 200 activities must meet BSA medical examination requirements. Scouts must give to Troop 200 a new or updated Class 1, 2, or 3 medical form in the prior 12 months. Scouts participating in campouts longer than 72 hours must have given to Troop 200 a Class 2 or Class 3 medical form (filled out by a Dr. exam) in prior 36 months. Scouts and Scouters participating in High Adventure (and any Scouter 40 or older) must have given to Troop 200 a Class 3 medical form (filled out by a Dr. exam) in prior 12 months. Any Scout that needs to be given prescription OR over-the-counter medicines on a fixed schedule during any scout activity/campout must present a NEW, signed, copy of the Troop Medication Permission Form prior to the start of each activity.

Uniforms

Class 'A' uniforms are to be worn:  1) At all regular indoor troop meetings;  2) When traveling to and entering a camp;  3) As designated during campout activities or meals.

BSA Class 'A' uniform consists of:

• Tan shirt with proper insignia (USA flag, Council patch, troop numbers, current rank and position patches.
• Green BSA pants (long or short depending on conditions)
• Socks, belt, and buckle
• (optional) BSA or Troop 200 cap
• (optional) Approved Troop 200 neckerchief with any scouting slide

The BSA Class 'B' uniform consists of:

• Any scouting shirt - class A, polo, or T-shirt
• Green BSA pants (long or short depending on conditions)

Full class 'A' is expected to be worn within three months of joining the troop.

Equipment Care

Our troop has a good stock of camping equipment, both basic and specialized. Two person tents, tarps, stoves, pot and utensil kits, lanterns, etc. If you want to participate in a campout but lack some equipment contact the designated Quartermaster for the campout to arrange use of any needed troop equipment.

Use of troop equipment comes with the responsibility of caring for it properly. Besides not mistreating it during the campout the user is required to present it back to the troop ready for the next user. For tents and tarps this means cleaning them out and usually setting it up after the campout to allow it to completely air dry before re-packing and returning it. Do NOT let a wet tent stay packed up for more than 24 hrs. Mold can quickly ruin a tent!

Use of personal tents by Scouts at Troop campouts: 

Some personal tents are fair-weather-only and are unsuitable for use on many of our campouts. Others have arrived with missing parts/stakes or without an adequate ground cloth to prevent water invasion when setup on wet ground. Some tents have proved too difficult for scouts (even multiple scouts working together) to set up properly. And some uses of large 'slumber party' tents have become a crowd-control problem at lights-out and all-quiet times. So.... Before a personal tent can be used on a non-Family campout it must be setup (BY THE SCOUT) and shown to a uniformed Troop Leader (preferably the Scoutmaster) so that it can be inspected for proper setup, weather protection, etc. In addition, unless special permission is granted for specific scouts for a specific event by the Scoutmaster, all Scouts will camp TWO SCOUTS PER TENT.

Troop Dues

Our annual troop dues are now $100 per scout and become due at beginning of October or when a new scout joins our troop. The annual Dues pay for the Scout's annual BSA registration fee, Boys Life subscription, as well as for the various patches and awards given out to the scouts during the year. If you haven't paid your dues then you're not in 'good standing' with the troop and you will not be able to get the Scoutmasters' signoff for rank advancements, merit badges, and may not be able to participate in some activities. Special consideration will be given for special family or money circumstances -- contact the Scoutmaster if you need help paying your dues.

Fees

The troop fund raising activities pay for most camp fees, troop equipment, and maintenance costs. Most monthly campouts still have a nominal per-camper fee to cover food costs. These are normally $10 but can be higher for special trips (skiing, rafting, high adventure, Philmont, etc.)

NWUMC Facilities 

The Church facilities are provided for use by the charter Organization.  We are allowed to use the Ministry Center for Tuesday nights.  Other rooms are available by special request.  No Scout or sibling should be in the hallway, narthex, chapel or office without the Scoutmaster's permission.  No running or horseplay at any time is allowed.

Use of Church Van

NW UM Church has its own Van Use Rules document (MS Word) that Troop 200 abides by for use of the 15 passenger church van.  The Troop Scoutmaster and Charter Organization Representative will coordinate our approved van drivers with the church office.

See the full Troop 200 Parent Guide (available from the Committee Table at Tuesday meetings) for more information on these and other areas.