FAQs for AOLs and their Parents
How can my son learn about Troop 10?
Please join us at any of our regular Wednesday night meeting at 7:30 PM at Sacred Heart Church, 21 Follen Road in Lexington.
If you have any questions before then, feel free to contact Scoutmaster using the form on our Contact Page.
What is the transition from Cub Scout to Boy Scouts?
The Arrow of Light ceremony and AOL Cross-over is the culmination of the Cub Scout experience. The three Lexington Boy Scout troops in town work together to help all Arrow of Light scouts make a quick transition into scouts. Activities each year include:
What does a boy need to enter scouting?
Uniform: The troop will supply you with a troop neckerchief, and troop numeral patch and green shoulder loops.
At the Scout Store you will need to buy:
Outdoor Gear:
Start simple with the essentials and build from there: A good pair of boots, a 3-season sleeping bag, foam sleeping pad and plastic plate, cup, “Spork”, knife, and a water bottle. Synthetic, wicking clothes are better than cotton, which gets wet – and cold. The sleeping bag should be a little longer than your scout needs now. He is going to grow soon and fast.
Other items to consider are a good flashlight (forehead type are best as they leave the hands free and warm); a Swiss Army knife (this is needed while camping, cooking, etc and one of the first things we teach is knife safety).
We go camping year around. While most Scouts start with a 3 season bag, our Deep Freeze tends to be cold enough to need a better sleeping bag: when the time comes these can be rented at EMS or you might want to consider a zero degree sleeping bag warm enough for winter.
What should adults know about scouting?
Scouting is Scout led. Adults are there to let the scouts lead, teach them how and make sure that any failures, which are an integral part of learning, happen in a safe environment. The scouts plan the troop’s activities within some guidelines provided by adults. Adults then organize the trips that the scouts have planned, provide transportation and work with the scouts on the outings making sure that all activities are conducted within scouting guidelines and in a safe manner.
Alternatively, or in addition, you can join a great group of adults on the Troop Committee to help with all the behind the scenes activities.
Comprehensive adult training is available by Scouting, both classroom and online www.myscouting.org. All adults working with Scouts must complete Youth Protection Training and Boy Scout Leader Fast Start, both available online.
We can guarantee that you will have a great time watching the scouts grow into capable young men through providing a great Scouting experience for the boys!
Is financial aid available?
Some families are not able to fund all the activities their boys would like to attend. To this end the troop reserves sufficient funds to provide financial aid so that all scouts can enjoy all the activities, regardless of means. This process is completely confidential.
Please join us at any of our regular Wednesday night meeting at 7:30 PM at Sacred Heart Church, 21 Follen Road in Lexington.
If you have any questions before then, feel free to contact Scoutmaster using the form on our Contact Page.
What is the transition from Cub Scout to Boy Scouts?
The Arrow of Light ceremony and AOL Cross-over is the culmination of the Cub Scout experience. The three Lexington Boy Scout troops in town work together to help all Arrow of Light scouts make a quick transition into scouts. Activities each year include:
- Troop Campout - Each Fall Troop 10 invites AOL cubscouts to attend one of their campouts. Per the Scouts BSA policy, an AOL parent must attend the campout with their scout.
- Troop Meetings - In January Troop 10 invites AOL cub scouts to an Open House meeting. AOLs participate in the meeting and parents are invited to chat with other parents from the troop about Boy Scouts and about what makes each troop special.
- Cross-over - Several Boy Scouts will attend each AOL cross-over ceremony to welcome the AOLs into their new troop.
- First Meeting - AOLs will officially attend their first Troop meeting the week after they cross over, typically in February.
What does a boy need to enter scouting?
Uniform: The troop will supply you with a troop neckerchief, and troop numeral patch and green shoulder loops.
At the Scout Store you will need to buy:
- A Scout tan uniform shirt
- BSA Minuteman Council shoulder patch
- BSA World Crest patch
- Neckerchief slide (or anything that works as a slide – this does not have to be “official” BSA)
Outdoor Gear:
Start simple with the essentials and build from there: A good pair of boots, a 3-season sleeping bag, foam sleeping pad and plastic plate, cup, “Spork”, knife, and a water bottle. Synthetic, wicking clothes are better than cotton, which gets wet – and cold. The sleeping bag should be a little longer than your scout needs now. He is going to grow soon and fast.
Other items to consider are a good flashlight (forehead type are best as they leave the hands free and warm); a Swiss Army knife (this is needed while camping, cooking, etc and one of the first things we teach is knife safety).
We go camping year around. While most Scouts start with a 3 season bag, our Deep Freeze tends to be cold enough to need a better sleeping bag: when the time comes these can be rented at EMS or you might want to consider a zero degree sleeping bag warm enough for winter.
What should adults know about scouting?
Scouting is Scout led. Adults are there to let the scouts lead, teach them how and make sure that any failures, which are an integral part of learning, happen in a safe environment. The scouts plan the troop’s activities within some guidelines provided by adults. Adults then organize the trips that the scouts have planned, provide transportation and work with the scouts on the outings making sure that all activities are conducted within scouting guidelines and in a safe manner.
Alternatively, or in addition, you can join a great group of adults on the Troop Committee to help with all the behind the scenes activities.
Comprehensive adult training is available by Scouting, both classroom and online www.myscouting.org. All adults working with Scouts must complete Youth Protection Training and Boy Scout Leader Fast Start, both available online.
We can guarantee that you will have a great time watching the scouts grow into capable young men through providing a great Scouting experience for the boys!
Is financial aid available?
Some families are not able to fund all the activities their boys would like to attend. To this end the troop reserves sufficient funds to provide financial aid so that all scouts can enjoy all the activities, regardless of means. This process is completely confidential.