FAQ
Q-Who can join Boy Scouts
A- Boys who have:
Completed the fifth grade or
Are 11 years old or
Earned the Arrow of Light Award in Cub Scouts but have not reached age 18.
Boys do not need to be students at Pusch Ridge Christian Academy to join Troop 270.
Q-When and where does the troop meet?
A- The troop meets weekly in the cafeteria at Pusch Ridge Christian Academy- Tuesday nights from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m.
Q-How much does it cost to join?
A- The registration fee is $50. Of this amount, $10 goes to the national boy Scout organization and $40 stays with the troop for its expenses (for awards, merit badges, etc.).
Q-What about uniforms?
A- Boys are expected to obtain and wear the standard Boy Scout uniform.
It consists of:
Khaki Boy Scout shirt (long or short sleeve) and red shoulder loops
Olive Scout pants or shorts
Scout belt and buckle
For the shirt, four patches should be obtained: the Catalina Council shoulder emblem and the unit numbers (a red “2″,”7″, and “0″). There is an optional patch, the purple “world crest”.
The uniform can be obtained at the Catalina Scout Shop, 5049 E. Broadway, Suite 200 (at the Catalina Council Service Center). Their hours are 9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. M-F ad 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. Saturdays. They are just west of Rosemont Blvd., one block north of Broadway and just south of the AOL building. Watch for the Scout sign on the sign of the building.
Q-How often do the scouts go camping?
A- The troop has one camping trip each month. Also, the troop attends Boy Scout summer camp for one week in the summer.
Q-What happens to camping trips if the weather is bad?
A- We go anyway! Scouts learn to thrive in the outdoors even during periods of inclement weather. The key is contained in the Scout motto: “Be Prepared.”
Q-Are there other weekend activities?
A- Yes. These are scheduled on an event-by-event basis. The troop will conduct a day-long service project quarterly. There will be occasional single-day activities such as hikes. There are also many activities for Scouts presented by the council.
Q-Are the troop meetings or weekend activities mandatory?
A- No. As in all endeavors, the boys will benefit to the extent they participate in the troop’s activities. However, conflicts do arise and boys do (occasionally) get sick.
Q-What else do we need to buy? What about camping equipment?
A- A Boy Scout handbook ($8.99)
To participate in outdoor activities such as hikes, each boy will need suitable clothing and footwear. He will also need to carry Scouting’s “Outdoor Essentials”: a pocketknife, first aid kit, extra clothing (as appropriate), rain gear (as appropriate), water bottles, flashlight, trail food, matches and fire starters, sun protection, and a map and compass (see pp. 207-210 in the Boy Scout Handbook for more information). He will need a knapsack or fanny pack to carry these items.
To participate in camping trips, each boy will need appropriate personal gear. This gear is listed on pp. 224-225 in the Scout Handbook.
Most troops have group equipment, such as tents, large cook kits, dining flys, ect. As Troop 270 is new, we will obtain this equipment as we are able. Thank you to those families that have gear that the troop may borrow!
Please note: it is not necessary to immediately purchase all the gear you son will use in his Scouting career. To get started, each boy should have a handbook, a uniform, a good pair of shoes for hiking, and the “outdoor essentials”.
Q-What is the role of Pusch Ridge Christian Academy?
A- Troop 270 is “owned” by Pusch Ridge (it is our “chartered organization”), which receives a national charter each year to use the Scouting program as part of its work with youth. The Chartered Organization Representative (presently Mr. Steve Nichols) represents the school to the troop.
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