Troop activities are divided into meetings and outings. Meetings include troop meetings, Patrol Leader Council meetings, troop committee meetings, Courts of Honor, and the Annual Planning Conference. Outings include day outings, weekend campouts, summer camp and District activities. We expect all activities to start and end on time, and we expect Scouts and adults to arrive and to be picked up on time. Some activities require permission slips and we request these be returned in a timely fashion.

Regular troop meetings occur on Wednesdays, usually 4 times per month, year round, from 7 pm until 8:30 pm, as designated by the Scoutmaster. Scouts and leaders are expected to arrive on time, in uniform, and to be picked up promptly. The Patrol Leader Council plans and conducts all troop meetings under the direction of the Senior Patrol Leader. Attendance is open to all members (Scouts, uniformed adult leaders, and troop committee members) and to visitors who are interested in joining a Scout troop.

The Patrol Leader Council (PLC or "Green Bar") generally meets about one day per month in addition to a regular troop meeting. At the meeting, the PLC plans the troop meeting and outing programs through the next PLC meeting. Attendance is restricted to PLC members and uniformed adult leaders.

The troop committee generally meets once per month on the first Wednesday of the month at 6:15 pm. The Committee Chairman and Scoutmaster jointly plan the agenda. Attendance is open to troop committee members, uniformed adult leaders, and all interested Scout parents. The Scoutmaster needs to attend to present the plans and needs of the troop as decided at the PLC meeting. If the Committee Chairman is unable to attend a meeting they will appoint a designee to run the meeting.

Troop 405 generally holds one formal Court of Honor per year, in February. The Court of Honor is preceded by a family dinner as determined by the troop committee. Attendance is open to all members (Scouts, uniformed adult leaders, troop committee members, and family members), interested family friends and relatives, and visitors who are interested in joining a Scout troop. Since badges and awards are presented as soon as possible after being earned the Court of Honor is a second, formal recognition, in front of the parents, of rank certificates, mother’s pins, and of all other significant accomplishments that have occurred since the last Court of Honor.

Prior to the beginning of each program year, the PLC meets to plan the troop’s annual program. Planning should include monthly theme ideas, dates/places/themes for outings, and special events. The conference is also an opportunity for the Scoutmaster to conduct junior leader training. Attendance is restricted to PLC members and the uniformed adult leaders (including JASM’s).

Scouts learn by advancing. Advancement is one of Scouting’s eight methods because it teaches useful skills and because it teaches leadership and service. The Scoutmaster may require a specific level of advancement for some activities, due to the nature of that activity or as an inducement to encourage advancement. Troop 405 expects each Scout to advance regularly, to achieve First Class within one year of joining (the BSA standard). Advancement requirements are outlined in the Boy Scout Handbook and on the Troop website.

The first three ranks (Tenderfoot, Second Class, First Class) emphasize basic skills. The higher ranks (Star, Life, Eagle) emphasize leadership and service; skills at this level are secondary. Advancement in Troop 405 must operate in full accord with the requirements contained in the current editions of the appropriate BSA literature. Advancement through the six ranks consists of performance in the following seven categories.

A Scout must meet the troop’s active service standard for meetings and campouts to be eligible for ANY advancement. A Scout must meet the standard for at least the minimum period of active service required for each rank.

The basic Scout skills for Tenderfoot, Second Class, and First Class must be certified (signed off) by Patrol Leaders, by the First Class Scouts certified as instructors, or by the uniformed adult leaders. Parents may certify a skill only with the Scoutmaster’s approval (the intent of the advancement plan is to let Scouts learn leadership and develop their own skills by teaching other Scouts).

There are about 120+ merit badges. Twelve specified merit badges are required by the time a Scout achieves Eagle. Eagles must earn an additional nine optional badges for a total of 21. A Scout of any rank may earn any merit badge. Troop 405 has determined some merit badges to be age appropriate and scouts meeting those requirements will be eligible to complete the merit badge. The merit badge system is designed to propel the Scout beyond the home, to learn to communicate with strangers, and to learn about a subject from a local expert. Scouts desiring to earn a merit badge must first secure the name of an approved adult counselor and a blue card from the Scoutmaster. The District Committee is responsible for maintaining a current list of merit badge counselors. Parents may counsel their son on a badge only if they are the approved counselor for that badge.

A Scout must hold an approved troop office and execute it in an acceptable manner for at least the minimum period of active service required for Star, Life, and Eagle. For Star or Life, a Scout may also carry out a specific leadership training approved by the Scoutmaster.

This is useful service to the church, school, community, or Scouting, performed under the direction of troop leaders and with the Scoutmaster’s prior approval. It is important to future citizens to develop the habit of service to the greater community. An Eagle Scout candidate must be the leader in charge during his project, and the Eagle project must benefit the community outside of Scouting.

After completing all requirements, and prior to the Board of Review, a Scout meets with the Scoutmaster or another adult designated by the Scoutmaster to discuss past progress and future plans.

After completing all requirements, a Scout is reviewed on work done. The troop committee conducts reviews for all ranks from Tenderfoot through Life, under the direction of the troop advancement chairman. In addition, the BSA requires that an Eagle board of review be conducted per the District and Council guidelines. The District Eagle Advancement Chairman will be responsible for conducting the board of review.

Scouting is a uniformed movement. Throughout our society, only certain special people are entitled to wear a uniform. Just as a sports uniform proclaims one’s membership on a team, the Scout uniform proclaims one’s membership in the largest voluntary youth movement in the world. The Scout uniform tends to diminish the importance of an individual’s financial, social, and ethnic background, while clearly showing his degree of accomplishment in Scouting. At the same time, the uniform maintains one’s individuality since no two uniforms are completely alike, and they show off that individual’s Scouting achievements.

The uniform is so important it is one of Scouting’s eight methods. Troop 405 requires a complete and correct Scout uniform for all Scouts and uniformed adult leaders, and has a Membership Standard (Chapter 4) on uniforming.

The troop committee is responsible for providing a uniform exchange of used uniform items for resale at a reasonable price.

Troop funds are kept in a checking account (interest-bearing, if possible) under the name of Troop 405 BSA. The troop treasurer is the primary disburser of troop funds and is the sole keeper of all blank checks and of all receipts. Checks over two hundred dollars require two signatures to be valid. It is recommended that the treasurer and Scoutmaster be check co-signers, with the Committee Chairman as a backup in case one of the others is unavailable.

The troop committee is responsible for the conduct of all fund raising. Troop fund raising programs are voluntary and not mandatory for the Scouts but we are to encourage all Scouts and families to participate in fund raising efforts. All profits will be disbursed and credited to each Scout’s account according to their fund raising participation.

Annual expenses for the family of each Scout include annual troop fees, summer camp, monthly campouts, activities and other expenses depending on the activity. Less frequent expenses include purchase of Scout uniform and small fees for certain activities, such as camporees. We expect families to encourage their sons to develop thrift by requiring them to earn a reasonable part of their Scouting expenses.

Annual dues for the Troop 405 calendar year are payable by the end of November. Registration/Renewal fee must be paid by December 15. Any Scout who fails to pay may be excluded from that activity, at the discretion of the Scoutmaster. All fees are payable in advance of the activity.

Annual fees for the current calendar year are not refundable. Fees paid by new members are not refundable. The intent of this policy is to encourage families to evaluate their interests carefully and to commit fully to Scouting in Troop 405, as well as to allow the troop to budget adequately. Other monies paid to the troop are refundable on request, if not already spent by the troop, and subject to any other applicable troop policy. The troop may make refunds only after the family requesting them has fulfilled all its other family financial obligations to the troop. The troop committee is the final arbiter on all refunds.

All active uniformed adult leaders or active troop committee members are required to pay the $10.00 BSA registration fee. The troop pays the cost of BSA basic training for active uniformed adult leaders, and the troop pays a portion of the cost of any advanced training for active uniformed adult leaders, as determined by the troop committee.

The only expense on most campouts is for food and transportation. Scouts generally eat in their patrol groups. Each Patrol Leader is responsible for collecting and disbursing the money for campout food.

We encourage families to make all payments to the troop by check. This provides a record of payment and a safeguard for both the family and the troop in the event of a mistake. Make all checks payable to Baden Troop 405.

The troop sponsoring organization, Baden Scouters Committee, owns top quality equipment for troop outings, including troop trailer, tents, stoves, etc. The troop committee is responsible for overseeing troop equipment and assessing appropriate charges to individuals or patrols for any lost or damaged troop equipment checked out to them. Troop and patrol equipment is intended for use by troop members on troop activities. Equipment may not be loaned to non-members. The Scoutmaster or Troop Committee Chairman is responsible to determine when equipment may be loaned to current or to former members for non-troop activities; such use should be infrequent.

In order to provide quality equipment to our Scouts, especially our newer Scouts, the troop owns some equipment for rental. This reduces some of the costs of Scouting for newer Scouts and ensures that they have access to quality equipment appropriate for our types of outings. The troop sells this equipment while it is still in good condition for a reasonable price to troop members, which provides our Scouts with a chance to purchase good quality equipment at a bargain price. Renting, then selling, this equipment provides the troop with sufficient income to maintain a supply of modern, top-quality equipment for our Scouts. The rental also encourages Scouts to care for the equipment and provides funds for maintenance and repairs (although renters are responsible for the cost of any damages or losses). The troop committee determines sale prices and rental rates. Rental equipment may also be rented to troop members for non-troop outings if the rental does not conflict with a troop activity. Preference in use should go to first-year Scouts.

Troop 405 requires each Scout to have a copy of the Boy Scout Handbook and requires the Scoutmaster and each Assistant Scoutmaster to have a copy of the Scoutmaster Handbook.

The following items are banned from all troop activities for all youth and adult participants, unless specifically approved by the Scoutmaster:

Because communication is vital to a successful program, the troop publishes a schedule monthly. The schedule keeps families and Scouts informed of dates, activities, changes, BSA and troop policies, and other useful information. We expect all Scouts, leaders, and parents to read every schedule entirely.

The troop will maintain an Internet web site with appropriate information available to troop families and the general public. The purpose of the web site is to inform troop families, promote the troop to potential members, and help other troops and Scout leaders benefit from our experience. Keeping in mind the public nature of the Internet, the troop "webmaster" will take care not to publish names, dates, or other information that could be used to harmful purposes.

The troop will create and distribute other publications as needed to keep families and Scouts informed.

As required by BSA policy, the troop will make every possible effort to provide a completely alcohol-free, and drug-free environment for our Scouts.

No Scout and no adult may possess or consume alcoholic beverages at any time during any Scouting activity. Violators will be dismissed form the activity and suspended from the troop until they appear at a troop committee meeting (with a parent, if a Scout). The committee will determine any further actions, including the possibility of permanent expulsion from the troop.

Use of tobacco products is not consistent with the Scout Law and Oath. No Scout may possess or use tobacco products at any time on any Scouting activity, regardless of parental consent. Adults who smoke/chew must do so away from the Scouts.

Troop 405 bans the possession or use of illegal drugs (marijuana, etc), other substances (glue, prescription drugs, etc, except when used for their intended purpose), and drug paraphernalia (roach clips, pipes, etc). Adult violators (age 18 & up) will be turned over to the police. Police involvement for Scout violators will be at the discretion of the adult leader in charge based on individual circumstances. All violators will be dismissed from the activity and suspended from the troop until they appear at a troop committee meeting (with a parents, if a Scout). The committee will determine any further actions, including the possibility of permanent expulsion from the troop.

The troop discourages but does not ban the consumption of caffeine-containing beverages (coffee, tea, caffeinated pop) by Scouts. If necessary, the adult leaders may limit consumption by Scouts who drink excessive amounts.

Scouting is based on trust, and we prefer to trust our Scouts. Unfortunately, a very few dishonest boys have abused this trust to bring contraband or to steal from other Scouts. It is sad that the honest majority must pay the price for the unethical few. In view of our obligation to protect our Scouts from harmful influences, we must reluctantly reserve the right to ask a Scout to show the contents of his pockets, pack, or tent, or to call the police to assist. We especially want those few who may be goaded by the temptations of dishonor to know that they may be checked at any time. At the same time, we want to maintain an environment based on trust where we are not tempted to search anyone. Only the Scoutmaster or other adult leader in charge is empowered to conduct a search of a Scout, his pack, or his tent, upon reasonable suspicion. A minimum of two adults and the Scout must be present during any search. The adult leader in charge has the responsibility to determine if police involvement is required.

The troop will not accept any kind of commercial or personal advertising in its newsletter or web site. This does not prevent the troop from making families aware of sales or other business offerings that may be advantageous to the Scouts. The committee will decide any question of interpretation.