Download a PDF of the Guide Here Parent's Guide
Welcome to Scouting America’s (SA) Troop 599! We are excited to have you as part of our scouting program. We had a great year this season and are ready to make the next season even better!
This parent guide has all the important information you will need to familiarize yourself with everything scouting and everything Troop 599. It is designed for you, the parents in our unit, so please review it completely.
The scouts have worked hard during the off-season to put together the most appropriate and exciting program yet. Our troop Leadership is committed to exceeding your expectations in helping your scout(s) thrive. A true scouting adventure is awaiting your scout(s) at Troop 599!
We welcome your family to our troop family and look forward to many years of adventures, excitement and learning. Please do not hesitate to contact us for any reason; we are here to serve!
The troop committee has attempted to clarify most of the critical issues surrounding scouting in today's active environment. Any guidelines described within this document act to supplement, but are not intended to conflict with, the national SA policies. If any conflict between SA policy and the troop policy occurs, SA policy will take precedence.
This document is to be viewed as a "living document" subject to periodic review and change. Scouts and their Families can make suggestions for the guide directly to the Committee Chair. The troop committee must approve any changes.
Hopefully, most issues have been addressed. It should be noted that it is impossible to document all the different issues in such a guide. Issues not covered in this guide will be handled, to the best of Troop 599’s Leadership abilities, at the time of the occurrence.
Additional and supplemental documents can be found at our web site: www.troop599miami.com
Scouts BSA is the traditional Scouting experience for youth in the fifth grade through high school. Service, community engagement and leadership development become increasingly important parts of the program as youth lead their own activities and work their way toward earning Scouting’s highest rank, Eagle Scout.
Making sure that the scout gets to the meetings. Patrol and troop meetings are intended to be an activity for youth. They are not a family activity, and the presence of parents can be a distraction. However, parental involvement in the troop is highly encouraged. If a parent or guardian would like to be present during a troop meeting, they are welcomed to attend and observe. The troop has many positions on the troop committee or as an assistant scoutmaster for all interested parents/adults to support the unit. There are always ways for you to be involved.
Just ask! Ask any leader and they will make sure you are paired to a position that supports the troop. As with all troops, Troop 599 is chartered to a local organization. Our chartered organization is Kids 4 Kids and serves as a sponsor of Scouting and is essentially our owner/operator. In this role, the head of the organization approves all adult volunteer leaders. To help us maintain a quality program, there is a chartered organization representative assigned to be a liaison between us and Kids 4 Kids. In addition, we have a committee that oversees proper operation and ensures a safe and fun program. All leaders are required to take the child safety course called “Safeguarding Youth Training (SYT).” SYT and any specific training for your role in scouting is available either online at www.my.scouting.org or in a classroom setting.
Registration fee is due annually and is set by the National Committee
Membership dues are $75 annually
Campouts are around $30/person
Class-B S/S T-Shirts are $20 ea.
Class-A Uniforms: These are purchased through the scout shop and run on average of $150 for an initial full set.
Camping gear: Cost vary on brand and where purchased.
We use the square app to invoice. You can pay via credit card. No cash is accepted. The treasurer can explain all the details about the fees, invoicing, and payments.
The single most important piece of equipment a Scout needs is the Scout Handbook followed by a Class-A uniform. Both can be purchased through the scout shop, the staff there can guide you to get exactly what you need. Troop specific items like the troop numbers and neckerchief can be purchased through our partners at R&L Printing
Our troop is active and likes to camp! For this, additional supplies and equipment will be needed for certain activities such as camping trips or field days. This is a list of the basic equipment that your scout will need. You DO NOT have to purchase all of it, all at once since many of us have extra gear, but items with an asterisk are either for personal hygiene or are part of the 10 essentials of scouting and must be purchased before the first campout.
*-Class-B T-Shirts: You must have one of each day of the campout. The best way to pack these items are in a daily set of 1 t-shirt, 1 underwear and 1 pr. sock rolled into a gallon zip-lock bag (hint: use the zip-lock bags that have the flat bottoms). This will keep them dry and make it convenient and quick to grab during shower time. Additionally, it is recommended that one or two extra pairs of socks are packed in a separate zip-lock bag and one or two extra pair of underwear in a separate zip-lock as spares in the event of heavy rain or an accident that makes a change between shower time necessary.
*-Class-B shorts: These are in addition to Class-A and travel pants. Since pants do not generally need to be changed daily, there is no need to bring as many but make sure to pack enough for the entire campout. These should also be folded, rolled and stored in a gallon zip-lock bag. This will keep them dry and make it easy to distinguish the clean ones from the dirty ones.
*-Mess Kit: The troop does its best to reduce its impact on the environment. We limit the use of disposable paper goods and utensils. Each scout must have a mess kit that is stored in a mesh bag so that it can hang and dry after being washed. The mess kit at minimum, should include a plate/bowl, spork (spoon and fork), knife, cup and storage mesh bag.
*-Sleeping bag: The best sleeping bag is determined by the average temperature at camp and if your scout normally sleep “cold” or “hot”. Generally, the sleeping bag should be rated to at least +40 degrees, but +20 degrees is best for the summer camps we go to. The sleeping bag must fit inside your scout’s backpack, so a compression bag will almost surely be necessary.
-Sleeping bag liner: This is essential, but not required, for helping to keep the sleeping bag clean, to use as a sheet when it is too warm to sleep inside the bag or to add insulation when the bag itself is not warm enough. Most liners will add 10-15 degrees of warmth to the rating of a bag. The liner should be a material that breathes and dries quickly if it gets wet and should be compact.
-Sleeping pad: This will keep your scout off the floor, add some comfort and add insulation between your scout and the floor of the tent. It must fit in your scout’s backpack so consider getting an inflatable pad.
-Camp pillow: This should be compact to fit in your scout’s backpack and should dry quick if it gets wet.
-Shower sandals: Your scout must protect their feet to and from the showers and also while in the shower.
-Camping towels: These should be of a quick dry material and compact enough to take up little room in the backpack.
*-Toiletry kit & supplies, wash cloth or loofah, and laundry bag: The toiletry bag should be one that either hangs or stands up on its own (no zip-lock bags). This will make it easier to get what is needed out without an excessive amount of water dripping into the kit and helps prevent items from falling to the floor. To help keep the kit small and manageable, use small bottles which can be refilled after each campout. The wash cloth should be of a quick dry material and hung up to dry with the towels. The laundry bag should be vented (mesh material) so that damp clothes can air and dry. This will keep mildew and smells to a minimum.
*-Sun block & insect repellant: Sun block should be for active use or water use so that it does not just run off with sweat. This will keep re-application time to a minimum. When considering insect repellant, keep in mind where we are camping. DEET is widely considered the most effective insect repellant for the widest selection of insects. DEET comes in a range of percentages from 4-100%. The percentage of DEET in the repellant will affect its effectiveness and duration. DEET has been known to cause some skin irritation and in high concentration, damage some materials. If you choose to use an insect repellant with DEET, use one your scout has used before. There are other repellants that are natural and don’t contain the chemical DEET. At the end of this guide, there is a section on increasing the insect repellency of your scout’s clothing so as to reduce the need to apply additional insect repellant.
-The backpack: Should be large enough to fit all the items your scout needs to carry (normally between 50L-70L), keep them organized, and most importantly be comfortable to wear. It should either be compatible with a hydration system or have external pockets for the water bottle. Water bottles are recommended over hydration systems for the following reasons: they are easier to fill and refill, easier to clean, no drinking tip to roll on the ground. The backpack should have attachment points or straps where sunblock, insect repellant, hand cleaning lotion and the such can be hung. The backpack should be water repellant or have a water-proof cover.
-Daypack: The backpack will get your scout’s gear to the campsite and once camp is set-up, they will need a daypack to carry around the gear they need for the day’s activities. It should be comfortable, water resistant, have side pockets for the water bottle, a way to attach or carry sunblock, hand sanitizer and insect repellant and large enough to carry their raincoat, notebook and snacks.
*-Rain gear: Staying dry during a campout or hike is key to keeping warm. Light weight packable rain gear is best. Rain pants are recommended but not required. Your scout should have a separate water-proof stuff-sack or zip-lock bag to store them after use and keep other items in the backpack from getting wet.
*-Reusable water bottle or hydration pack built into backpack: A reusable water bottle is preferred over a hydration pack since they are easier to fill and refill, easier to clean, and have no drinking tip to roll on the ground. The water bottle must securely (won’t fall out easily, but you can get at it when your scout needs to drink) fit in the outside pocket of the Back/daypack.
*-Compass & Whistle: Orienteering compass and whistle with a lanyard to wear around the neck or clipped onto the daypack. These are safety equipment! Enough said.
-Notebook with pencil/pen and spare pencil/pen. Your scout needs to have a compact notebook to take notes during class sessions at campouts. The paper must be sturdy enough to hold up to some light rain and the pen/pencil should be able to write in light rain. A notebook cover is recommended but not required.
*-Pocket knife/multi-tool: A small pocket knife with a folding blade not exceeding 3” with a case or a multi-tool such as a Leatherman, or Swiss Army Knife with a case are handy tools that can come in handy during some merit badge classes or in an emergency situation.
-Scout Handbook with cover: Required to follow along during class.
-Baseball cap: To keep the sun out of the eyes.
*-Sweater or fleece jacket: To keep warm.
*-Headlamp & spare batteries: Unless your scout has x-ray vision, they will need this to get around camp and for any night activities.
-Hand sanitizer: This is essential to keeping from getting sick or passing along germs when snacking or at times where a hand wash station is unavailable. Should be small bottle that can be clipped on to the Back/day pack.
*-Snacks: Snacks should be trail snacks that will not melt or be messy if they get hot. Granola bars, etc. these are a great source of quick energy between meals.
*-Firestarter/matches: Part of the 10 essentials
*- Personal First aid kit: For the obvious and also part of the 10 essentials.
-Camp Chair: Should be light and easy to fold small.
-Paracord: Two 25’ sections or one 50’ section is great to have to use as a drying line for camp towels, mess kits, etc. It can also be used to tie down a tarp or tent and many other uses.
One way to Increase the protection against insects and reducing the need to apply and re-apply insect repellant is by treating the clothes with Permethrin.
Permethrin ("per-meth-rin"), is a synthetic, man-made insecticide, whose chemical structure is based on natural pyrethrins. Pyrethrins are pesticides found naturally in some chrysanthemum flowers. They are a mixture of six chemicals that are toxic to insects. Pyrethrins are commonly used to control mosquitoes, fleas, flies, moths, ants, and many other pests.
It is available under different brand names such as Sawyer, Repel, and Ben’s. When properly applied to clothing, it will protect your scout not only against mosquitos but also against ticks (including disease causing deer-ticks) and fleas among others. The protection will last for around four weeks. Since the protection is on their clothing, only exposed areas need the application and re-application of insect repellant. Having a bandana that also has been treated, can aid in spot protection e.g. around the neck, covering the ears, etc.
To apply correctly, it takes a considerable amount and it is not the cheapest so look for the best deal on the largest quantity. You will be happy you made the investment in
money and the time it takes to apply correctly to the clothing. Less bites, less chance of disease, less application of DEET chemicals.