Parent Newsletter

General Statement - All troop policy decisions are based on: “The BSA Guide to Safe Scouting”, “The BSA Scout Handbook”, and the collective experience of the staff and committee, many of whom are long-time troop members and Eagle scouts themselves.  All policy decisions are made in the best interest of the boy and the troop while adhering to the time tested ideals of scouting.

Program - Troop 15 places strong emphasis on camping and outdoor activities. All scouts of the troop are expected to participate in:

The annual week-long summer camp at 7 Ranges Scout Reservation.

Winter weekend camping (September through May)

Special event camping (Winter District Klondike Derby, Fall District Camporee).

Meetings - Troop 15 meets every Monday evening from 6:30pm to 8:00pm at Christ United Methodist Church. Members are expected to acquire and wear complete uniforms to meetings throughout the year. Exceptions are made at the discretion of the scoutmaster. Scouts who have outgrown their uniform are encouraged to donate it to the troop for re-use by an incoming scout.

Dues / Finances - A monthly dues of $4.00 is required of each scout or you can also make a one time payment of $48.00 per year. As a practical demonstration of the 9^th point of the Scout Law - “A Scout is Thrifty”, dues should come from the boy’s own earnings whenever possible. Monthly dues cover the annual registration fee of each scout.

Dues money is also used to help pay for troop insurance, badges of rank and other scout awards troop equipment (tents, cook gear, etc.), winter and summer camp reservations and other associated items are raised by fund raisers sponsored by the troop committee. Scout families, friends, and relatives are encouraged to support these events, Donations are greatly appreciated.

Troop 15 collects aluminum cans to help defray operating expenses and keep dues at a minimum. Families can support this effort by bringing cans in to any Monday meeting.

Regular installment savings toward the summer camp fee (“Camp Savings”) are encouraged from each boy and can be paid into an account maintained in the scout’s name by the troop treasurer.  Incremental payments can be made each meeting from October through May. This plan helps to spread out the cost of summer camp over the better part of the year and encourages each boy to bear some or all of the expense himself.

Committee - The Troop 15 committee oversees the troop’s finances and general operation. It provides its full support to the scoutmaster and his staff and is dedicated to provide a superior scouting program to its members.

Expectations - What is expected of every scout of Troop 15:

Regular attendance at meetings and events.

Honoring dues obligations regularly.

Diligence in studying the Scout Handbook and maintaining a regular advancement schedule.

Full participation in summer camp and other camping activities.

Regular practice of his faith (a scout is reverent), fidelity to our country (a scout is loyal), and a serious effort to live up too the Scout Oath and Law.

Ongoing respect to all scouts and troop leadership. Disrespectful and disorderly behavior will not be tolerated.

CAMPING – There are no electronic devices of any type to be brought to any campout or scout meeting.  For the short time we work with your son, our goal is to teach and develop their scout skills without distractions.  Every February we have an incentive campout for the scouts.  To be eligible to attend this campout a scout must advance rank or earn two merit badges after the previous summer camp.  Scouts can bring any electronic game to this campout only.

WINTER CAMPING – No scout is allowed to attend any winter campout with tennis shoes and shorts.  This is for their own health and safety.

Boy Scout Troop 15

Louisville, Ohio