For consistency, the scoutmaster along with two former scoutmasters and Mrs. Lundgren have codified some past decisions and best practices we have employed over years of experience. 

Camping:

Hosting an Outing:

Host: Hosting an outing is a gratifying experience that may seem scary the first time, but afterward you will find it was not as much work as you may think.  Ideally, we would like each parent to host / Co-host at least one event or outing per year.  That takes the pressure off others.  A host is responsible the reserving the location, advertising the outing, recruiting parents, and providing the food / consumables for the outings.  Some outings require more logistics, (Calico admittance, troop movement like Death Valley, Canoeing, Etc.) however, always remember, the scoutmaster corps are responsible for the outing program.  The GE’s will collaborate closely with the scoutmaster corps and are responsible for the outing PLC (where outing times, and types of activities, will occur), morning flags and program, campfire, flag retirement and scouts own.  We just need to provide them with the tools needed to make good choices.  (Times places open or close, logistics, maps, etc.)  If a question arises regarding program, contact the Scoutmaster or his / her designee.  If that question involves logistics, or funding contact the committee chair.

At the end of the outing, we have found it best to offer any left-over food to the parents, leaders, and GE’s who attended the outing and essentially paid for the food.  Any left-over food will be offered to the attending scouts, after the Scouts Own has ended and they have been dismissed by the scoutmaster or designee.  This should indicate all camping items have been packed and the area swept for trash.  On occasion the scouts being young and well, scouts! will run and grab stuff in an un-scout like fashion.  If that occurs, the scoutmaster will immediately instruct all scouts to stop and return the items.  Those items will be taken home by the host or another attending adult.  You will only have to do that once. 

Please do not leave food for other outings without contacting the person holding the outing.  It builds up and we end up with multiple items we are now storing.  Please make sure you leave room in your outing budget to refill the propane tanks and help the people pulling the trailers with gas money. 

After the outing:

Afterward the Host is responsible to present an outing after-action report to the parent committee to include contacts, number of participants, cost / expenditures, and accounting of all finances.  Please retain receipts. 

Outing sign-ups:

          Sign-ups are usually made in person by signing the posted sign-up sheet or may be made contacting the outing host.  It is the decision of the outing host how they want to handle it.  You are considered as officially signed up when payment is made. (A first paid, first signed up)

1. Scouts: Have priority for camping and outing participation.
2. Scoutmaster / ASM: Will have secondary priority regardless of payment status.
3. Adults:  Those adults wishing to attend and helping to transport scouts will have the third priority.  All other adults are always welcome as room permits.
4. Siblings:  As a hard rule, siblings are not permitted to attend.  However, not every situation can be covered, the decision on sibling attendance relies of many factors and shall rest on the Scoutmaster or acting scoutmaster per outing.  Siblings that are in a scouting program should be able to attend most outings.

Sign-up / Camping Cancellations:

          At times cancellations will occur.  On most outings canceling well in advance should not have consequence and the fees paid should be returned.  Anytime the host can return funds and not impact the outing, the funds should be returned.  (Do the right thing for the right reason) However, If the cancellation occurs in the days before the outing, or food has been purchased, then the person who signed up is obligated to pay for the outing.  The person and or host can advertise the openings looking for replacements.  If replacements are found, the reimbursements should be made.

          Some outings and camping events require a great deal of planning and pre-payment to an outside source (Summer camps).  We have a limited number of open positions.  Once you or your scout has signed up and paid in full or are paying overtime, you own that spot.  If at anytime the parent or scout must pull out, they are responsible for the cost of the camp.  Normally, that family will advertise the opening to other members of the troop and can sell the spot.  Whether you get the full amount, or a fraction thereof is your decision.  If the spot cannot be sold to another member, all attempts possible will be made to cancel spot with the camp, but no guarantee of reimbursement is made

Outing Communication:

1. Scouts: Once you arrive at camp or the outing, you should have no further contact with your parent or guardian.  If you forgot something in the car, you should follow our chain of command parameters and get permission from a scoutmaster or ASM to enter the adult area and request your parent to unlock the car so you can retrieve your item.  In no instance should the scout and the parent go to the car together,
2. as the buddy system is always used at outings.  Hopefully, the Scoutmaster Corps can resolve the issue by retrieving the item and taking it to the scout.
3. Parents: Parents should not communicate with their scout(s) after arrival at the event.  If an emergency arises, the parent should request via a scoutmaster / ASM to meet with their scout.  Using the chain of command, the scout will be brought to the parent, normally out of sight from the other scouts. (Please See New Scout Packet)
4. At times, a new scout will have some difficulty being away from the parent.  The Golden Eagle patrol members and scoutmaster corps will make all efforts to resolve the issue.  Sometimes the issues cannot be resolved, and the parent will be asked to meet with them.

Unruly behavior / defiance:

In exceedingly rare instances issues will arise at an outing or campout that will need the parents’ immediate involvement.  Troop leaders will not tolerate violence, defiance, or other non-scout like behaviors.  If a scout does not listen and follow the scoutmasters’ directions and issues cannot be resolved.  The parents will be called and are expected to respond immediately to pick up their scout, regardless of time or location.  

Electronics / Cell Phones:

Cell phones and electronics are not allowed at outings!  Scouts may bring them in the car but must leave them with the driver they came with or give them to the scoutmaster or designee to hold.  The Troop and or leaders / parents will not be responsible for lost or damaged cell phones or electronics.  If a cell phone or electronic is seen, it will be immediately confiscated by the scoutmaster, or his/her designee.  It will be returned at the end of the outing.  If a scout refuses to hand over the cell phone, his parent will be contacted, and the scout will be sent home forthwith.  Golden Eagles sometimes use their cell phone for other things, so they will have some leeway regarding this issue.  But if they are seen talking on it, or texting, it will be confiscated.

Patrol Meetings and scout communication:

          Parents refrain from interrupting the patrol meetings and texts.  After the first-year scouts have moved to the older patrols, it may seem like nothing is being accomplished and the scouts are just talking over each other.  It is all part of the process.  The patrol leader may become frustrated and patrol members might not be happy.  They will figure it out or will learn to seek advice from their chain of command.

If you have questions, contact the ASM responsible for that patrol or the scoutmaster.  In the past the ASM might attend the meetings and or more effectively a GE would be assigned to attend and sort through the problems.  If the Patrol Leader is struggling and frustrated, The PLC is the place to discuss the issues and get input for the others who have probably dealt with the same.  Respectfully, mentor them to seek out answers and solve problems.  It is part of the overall program.  Please read the document “What I wish Every Scout Parent Understood.”