A youth-led troop is one in which the leadership is carried out by the Scouts themselves. Scouts do the planning for meetings and outings. Scouts run the meetings and are in charge of the outings. Adults are in the background providing advice, safety, training, and transportation. 

Lord Baden Powell, the founder of the Scouting movement stated the following, 

“The Patrol system is not one Method in which Scouting can be carried on. It is the ONLY Method.”

“Train Scouts to do a job, and let them do it”

“Never do anything a boy can do”

Keep in mind that while the Scout troop is to be youth-led, Troops need trained adults to be Scoutmasters, Troop Committee members, Merit Badge counselors, and even some to transport Scouts and equipment on outings. We, as adults, provide a support system and cheerleading squad. We need parent participation in our Troop Committee to make this a good experience for the Scouts. Parents may participate at any level within their ability, desire, or frequency. Any assistance is welcome & appreciated, but not required.

The main responsibility of each Scout is to take charge of himself and participate in patrol and troop activities. Wearing his uniform to meetings. Taking care of gear before, during, and after outings. Doing a good job in learning from older Scouts and progressing in rank with responsibilities of leadership positions within the troop, and continuing with the Scouting Method of teaching younger Scouts.

Senior Patrol Leader (SPL)

Assistant Senior Patrol Leader (ASPL)

Patrol Leaders (PL)

Junior Assistant Scout Master (JASM) age 16

Patrol Guide (Advises New Scout Patrol)

Den Chief (Helps with Cub Scout Den)

• The Scout Master (SM) (adult position) advises the Senior Patrol Leader (SPL) (youth position).
• The SPL is in charge of the Troop, leads troop meetings, and the Patrol Leaders Council (PLC) consisting of ASPL, PLs, Scribe & Patrol Guides.
• The SPL is elected by the entire Troop, and Patrol Leaders are elected by each Patrol.
• Additional Troop leadership positions appointed by the SPL (with the Scoutmaster’s approval) are Quartermaster, Scribe, Instructor, Chaplain’s Aide, Bugler, Librarian, Historian, Webmaster, Outdoor Ethics Guide, and Order of the Arrow Representative. Each Patrol Leader will also appoint an Assistant Patrol Leader, Scribe, and Quartermaster positions within their patrol.

“By dressing alike, Scouts show they are equals.” Scouts will act like Scouts and will be recognized by others as helpful and courteous when in uniform. 

Rank is knowledge and demonstration of skills, such as cooking, knots, first aid, etc., tenure, and service. The requirements for each rank are more difficult than the prior rank.

The ranks in Scouting are

• Scout
• Tenderfoot
• Second Class
• First Class
• Star
• Life
• Eagle.

Doing the requirements for “rank” prepares Scouts to become better campers, hikers, better Scouts, and most important of all, better leaders and citizens. Each rank also has a requirement of a Scoutmaster Conference, where the Scoutmaster has a conversation on how your son’s overall Scouting experience is going. All ranks except the first Scout rank will also have a Board of Review, where 3 adult members of the Troop Committee will have a review of how the rank experience went. Your Scout will need to schedule these 2 requirements as he completes each rank.

Scouts move along the Scouting trail at their own pace. Active Scouts could earn 1st Class within a year of joining, most achieve this in 18 months. We have a program in place during this time to help new Scouts begin working on and completing requirements for each rank. Requirements for Tenderfoot, Second Class, and First Class may be worked on simultaneously, however, each rank must be earned in sequence. These first set of ranks are based on Scouting skills and need to be practiced and used during this time. Star, Life, and Eagle ranks have Merit Badge requirements and are focused on Scout Leadership and service to the community. These Scout ranks require a minimum time of service. Scouts have until their 18th birthday to achieve the rank of Eagle Scout.

We encourage you to attend a Monday night meeting to check out the Troop. If you are interested in joining, you will be given an application at the meeting.

Interested adults can learn about getting involved on our parent page.

Our committee chair, Nia Miller.

Our committee chair, Nia Miller.

Troop 220 requires that Scouts demonstrate “current involvement” in Troop 220 functions, defined as attendance / participation in the majority of EACH of the following areas: Troop Campouts, Troop Meetings, and Courts of Honor.

No. The Scoutmaster of the troop decides who, other than himself, may sign off on rank. Currently, it is the SM and ASMs, JASM, Eagle Scouts, NYLT Scouts, and the Advancement Chairman. To sign off on Merit Badges you must be a trained and registered Merit Badge counselor with knowledge for that specific Merit Badge. You can always share your knowledge and help your Scout learn information towards the requirements, but ultimately, it is the Scout’s responsibility to demonstrate his knowledge of each requirement and to work with a Merit Badge counselor or an approved individual for rank.

Merit Badges are an invitation to explore an exciting subject. By earning Merit Badges, Scouts gain career, social, and physical skills, and they may even begin new and healthful hobbies that are kept for a lifetime.

There are currently 138 Merit Badges offered. 14 of these are specifically required Merit Badges for the Eagle rank (along with 8 additional miscellaneous of a Scout’s choosing). The Scout ranks of Star(4+2), Life(7+4), and Eagle Ranks(14+7) each have minimum numbers of these Eagle-required Merit Badges, and a minimum number of non-Eagle (any of the Scout’s choosing) Merit Badges needed for the Rank.

After deciding on a badge, your son needs to speak with the Scoutmaster to obtain an MB application and the name of a Trained & Registered Merit Badge qualified counselor to contact and be approved to begin. Required activities are outlined in each merit badge pamphlet. Requirements are only approved and signed off by trained and registered counselors. Parent Counselors cannot sign off on their son.

Learn more about Scouting merit badges.

Your son may begin working on activities for rank and Merit Badges (MBs) as soon as he is a registered Boy Scout, but he should speak with the Scoutmaster and Counselor prior to beginning a Merit Badge. He can continue earning MBs until his 18th birthday. Any Scout can work on a badge without regard to his current rank. Your son will also be able to earn Merit Badges at the Merit Badge Academy, each February, and at Bartle Summer camp each year. We try to schedule 2 Eagle-required Merit Badges at each event to help your Scout earn 8 of these in the first 2 years. This satisfies the four merit badges needed for Star, and the additional three needed for Life Ranks.

Camping, hiking, backpacking, canoeing/kayaking, bicycling, winter survival, summer camp, pioneering, orienteering, rock climbing, horseback riding, snorkeling, fishing, and museums to name just a few. The types of activities depend on the choices each patrol/troop makes and the skill levels of the boys in the troop. The Troop tries to have an outdoor camping event of some type each month of the year. 

Each summer, the Troop also attends a 10-day session at Bartle Scout Camp near Osceola, MO.

This is a good question to ask when you visit the troop. Types of equipment depend on the outings the troop takes. We provide suggested gear lists for some of our unique campouts, as well as seasonal activities. The troop always provides tents, stoves, cookware, and mess kits for the Scouts, and sometimes has extra equipment that boys can borrow. As your son grows, he may find other and additional equipment that he prefers. The Troop will always stress bringing a Nalgene Water bottle to all activities.

No, if he packs his own duffle bag or backpack he will know where everything is. He will also learn some valuable lessons on what is necessary to bring, what is best left at home, and what he should not forget.

You are always welcome to attend and camp in your own tent in the adult area, but not in a tent with your son. Camping, cooking, and interacting within his patrol and the troop is where your son builds self-confidence, self-esteem, and independence. You will also eat meals with the adults. You must also complete Youth Protection Training prior to any campout and should complete a yearly health form to be on file. Additionally, adults are limited to 48 hours of camping without becoming a registered adult in the troop.

Meal planning is done by each patrol during troop meetings and is approved by the SPL and SM. The planning and preparation are overseen by the Patrol Leaders, SM and ASMs. 

The boys learn many skills, including camp cooking, from each other, older Scouts, and adult leaders. Each incoming New Scout Patrol will have a Troop Guide providing guidance and assistance. They will work on these skills while doing activities for rank and Merit Badges. Scouts can also learn at home from you and should practice cooking different types of food and meals as much as possible at home.

Sure. Encourage, and let him plan and prepare a meal for the family. Have him be responsible for the clean up after the meal. Make sure he understands the health and safety rules of food preparation.

We encourage you to attend a Monday night meeting to check out the Troop. If you are interested in joining, you will be given an application at the meeting.

Interested adults can learn about getting involved on our parent page.

Our committee chair, Nia Miller.

Our committee chair, Nia Miller.

Troop 220 requires that Scouts demonstrate “current involvement” in Troop 220 functions, defined as attendance / participation in the majority of EACH of the following areas: Troop Campouts, Troop Meetings, and Courts of Honor.

All Scouts are expected to wear their full Class “A” dress uniform to Troop Meetings on the first and third Monday of the month. We also travel to all campouts in our Class A uniforms. Scouts change into Class B uniforms upon arrival.

The full Scout Class A Uniform includes:

• Tan shirt
• Green Khaki pants
• Scout Belt
• Scout Neckerchief
• Scout Slide
• Socks
• Close-toed shoes

A Class B Uniform consists of any t-shirt or sweatshirt with the Troop 220 or BSA Scout logo.