As a Boy Scout in Troop 62, you are in for great fun, adventure, friendship and camping! You will learn outdoor skills including building fires, handling an axe and knife, compass navigation, cooking, hiking, nature study and first aid.  You will soon feel at home the wilderness as you complete the trek to First Class rank with your patrol.  Achieving First Class marks the beginning of your trek to Eagle Scout.  On your trek to Eagle, you will explore more exciting hobbies and hone your life skills by earning merit badges and serving others.  You can look forward to a high-adventure trip to Sea Base, Philmont or maybe Northern Tier.  You will also step up as a troop leader and pass along your knowledge and skills to the new scouts that follow in your footsteps. 

Upcoming events, like camping trips and summer camp, are posted on the Troop 62 Calendar. 

Each registered member of the troop has a TroopMaster Web account; this is an online database that is used to track advancement, troop activities, contact information and more.  All scouts and adults should know the basics of logging on and navigating TroopMaster Web so you can monitor your official advancement records.  Contact the Advancement Coordinator for details.

Troop meetings
Troop meetings are normally held on Monday nights during the school year and sometimes during summer vacation.  The uniform is Class "A" unless otherwise designated.  Scouts should try to attend every meeting and come prepared with the Boy Scout Handbook, merit badge class materials, etc.  

Uniform
Troop 62 scouts always wear a complete Class A uniform (scout shirt, pants, belt, socks, neckerchief) to scout meetings, official scout gatherings, camporees, ceremonies, service activities and during travel to/from summer camp.  Merit badge sashes will be worn to courts of honor, scoutmaster conferences and boards of review.  Class "C" uniforms (Troop 62 T-shirt, pants, socks) are worn on camping trips and when work clothes are appropriate including service projects and athletic activities.  Troop 62 will provide you with a troop neckerchief, shoulder patch and T-shirt when you join the troop.  The rest of the uniform and patches are your responsibility.  Uniform items can be purchased at the Scout Store at the Central Florida Council office in Apopka, at Travel Country Outdoors in Altamonte Springs and online through BSA Scoutstuff.org. 

Camping
Troop 62's outdoor program includes backpacking trips in the wilderness.  There are also camporees, where many troops gather for a campout, fellowship, competition and scoutcraft.  During the summer, we attend a one-week summer camp at a Boy Scout camp. 

Scouts use the buddy system and share two-man troop tents when backpacking.  Never spray insect repellent inside a tent or it will be ruined.  Boy Scouts do not tent with adults.  Adults usually try to set up camp apart from the scouts in order to give the scouts a sense of independence.  Star Scouts and above may bring their own tent to sleep solo, but the one-man troop tents are for adults only.

Scouts should leave cell phones and electronic entertainment (iPods) at home.   Adult leaders carry cell phones for emergencies.  One of the rewards of camping is taking a break from the noise of modern life and appreciating the quiet solitude of nature.  Please respect your fellow campers by leaving electronics at home.

Always use insect repellent to avoid ticks and chiggers, and always wear a hat and sunscreen because most treks involve hours in full sun exposure.  Each scout should hit the trail with three quarts (liters) of drinking water. 

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Troop Camping Gear
Troop backpacks and camping gear are signed out from the Quartermaster before the camping trip.  Adjust and load your pack using these backpack instructions.  The newest scouts have priority on troop backpacks.  Older scouts are expected to get their own backpacks before the next year's Webelos cross over.

Each patrol checks out stoves, pots, bear bags and a first-aid kit, plus a dining fly if there is a chance of rain.  If water is to be filtered, patrols check out a water bag and filter.  Scouts share the load when backpacking.  Cooking gear and food are divided fairly among the patrol.  Tents and poles are divided between tent buddies.  Bring your own tent pegs; Troop 62 does not provide tent pegs.    Save room in your pack for your share of patrol gear and food.

Tents and other troop gear must be cleaned and dried immediately after the camping trip.  Sand, dirt and mildew can ruin a tent within a few days.  As soon as you get home, set up the tent to dry it out.  After it dries, take it down and turn it inside-out to shake out the dirt.  Zip all zippers and carefully re-pack the tent.  Troop gear is turned-in on the Monday night following the camping trip; the quartermaster will inspect troop gear. 

Personal Camping Gear
Before buying any gear, talk to the experienced backpackers in the troop and get advice on what works and ways to find deals.  There is no substitute for experience when it comes to selecting backpacking gear.    

Here is a list of essential personal backpacking gear for trekking with the troop:
Sleeping bag - Compressible "mummy" style, under 3 lbs, rated to at least 30°F, preferably 20°F.
Sleeping mat - Inexpensive closed-cell foam pads work great.
Rain gear - Lightweight poncho, but eventually you may want a rain suit such as Frogg Toggs.
Backpack cover - Larger is better, but an inexpensive waterproof coated nylon backpack cover is fine.  
Tent pegs - Aluminum tent pegs (8 per tent/4 per buddy), sold at department stores.  Troop 62 does not provide tent pegs. 

Try to get by on your first trek with the things you already have.  Plastic utensils and dishes from your kitchen can serve as your first mess kit and disposable water bottles can be used as canteens.  You will make better purchases after you have some backpacking experience.

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ADVANCEMENT
One big difference between Cubs Scouts and Boy Scouts is how advancement requirements are handled.  Your parents do not sign-off on your requirements.  You complete advancement requirements with other scouts during scout activities.  Please make sure that you save every bit of paperwork, like merit badge cards, certificates and your handbook until you have earned your Eagle Scout rank.  Remember that everyone in the troop is dedicated to helping you on your trek to Eagle Scout rank. 

The Advancement Coordinator keeps your official advancement records, including leadership positions, service hours and merit badges.  You will know the Advancement Coordinator when you see him; he's the guy working at the computer in the scout room during every scout meeting.  See him for a print-out of advancement record before every Scoutmaster Conference.  Make sure that you report all of your advancement milestones to the coordinator, check your record for accuracy.

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Scoutmaster's Conference
The Scoutmaster conference is opportunity to review what the scout has learned, how comfortable he is with his knowledge, his plans for his next steps along the Path to Eagle, and a chance to discuss the troop "one on one" with the Scoutmaster.  It's also an opportunity for the Scoutmaster to make sure that the Scout can feel comfortable with that part of the Scout Promise that says "I Will Do My Best" with regards to having met the rank requirements and can wear his new rank with pride.

The Scoutmaster Conference should be scheduled only after all the other requirements for rank have been completed.  Please contact the Scoutmaster personally to schedule a conference.  Conferences, by troop tradition, are not held on the same day in which they are requested.  Scoutmaster contact info is on the Troop 62 Roster.

Please make sure all your advancements have been recorded with the Advancements Coordinator, and obtain a printout from him to bring with you to your conference.  Be sure the advancements pages of your Scout Handbook are complete, and signed by your patrol advisor or Assistant Scoutmaster (ASM).

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Board of Review
A Scout, having met all requirements for advancing to a higher rank, and having completed his Scoutmaster Conference, should schedule a Board of Review as the final stage in his rank advancement.

At the Board of Review, the scout should have his papers completed and be in his best Class "A" uniform.  He will meet with several members of the adult leadership of the troop, and will discuss with them what he has done to meet the requirements for rank advancement, and in general what his plans for his next steps in the troop are to be.  As it will be necessary to gather several adults together for a Board of Review, the scout should plan ahead for scheduling. To request a Board of Review, contact the Troop Committee Chairman personally.  Upon completion of the Board of Review you have earned the associated rank. 

Court of Honor
The Court of Honor is an important ceremony, conducted by scouts, where your achievements are officially awarded and recognized by fellow scouts and families. Troop 62 has two Courts of Honor per year, one in the Fall, and one in the Spring.  It is the policy of the troop that once a scout has passed the Board of Review, the scout may wear the badge of rank he has earned. He will receive the formal Award at the upcoming Court of Honor.

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Merit Badges
The troop holds regular classes for the most popular merit badges during scout meetings.  Merit Badge classes are also a big part of summer camp.  Special merit badge classes are offered by various groups from time to time, and will be announced when they come up.  If there is a merit badge that you want to complete that hasn't been offered, check the Troop 62 Merit Badge Counselor List on TroopMaster Web under the "Reports" tab.  If there are no counselors for a merit badge you want, contact the Curriculum Coordinator to help you find a counselor for your merit badge. 

When you work on a merit badge, keep track of all of your paperwork until you receive the patch and certificate/card at the Court of Honor.  When you start the merit badge work, you will fill out a "blue card."  Record requirements on the blue card and have your merit badge counselor sign it as soon as you complete each requirement.  Then, if you take a break from working on that badge, you can continue with a different counselor if necessary. The blue card is an important document, so take care of it.

Service Hours & Attendance
The troop attendance policy is that a scout must attend 50% of the troop meetings to qualify for rank advancement. To be counted, the scout will need to be in uniform.  Suitability of uniform will be determined by the Senior Patrol Leader (SPL) and two Assistant Senior Patrol Leaders (ASPL).

Service Hours submitted for rank advancement will need to be pre-approved by the Scoutmaster, Committee Chairman or the Advancements Coordinator prior to their being earned.  Please do not ask for approval on service hours not related to scouting that were not approved beforehand.

Leadership Positions & Elections
Troop elections are held twice a year for Senior Patrol Leader (SPL) and two Assistant Senior Patrol Leaders (ASPL).  Other troop leadership positions, like Quartermaster, Scribe, Chaplain, etc, are appointed by the SPL and Scoutmaster after the troop elections.  Patrols also elect a Patrol Leader during the troop elections.  The Assistant Patrol Leader is appointed by his Patrol Leader.  If you are interested in running for a troop leadership position, contact the Scoutmaster at least one week before the election.  You should only run for a leadership position if you plan to attend all of the troop meetings and activities. 

Eagle Advisor
Eagle candidates need to be working with the Eagle Advisor after they achieve Life rank.  The Eagle Advisor is a member of the Troop Committee whose job is to help the scout on his final steps of the Trek to Eagle. 

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