Scout Glossary

Adult Patrol
When the troop goes camping, all of the adults form their own patrol for meal planning, shopping, cooking, eating, and sleeping. The adults try and set a good example of how a patrol should operate.

Annual Planning Meeting
The PLC (see below) meets to plan the next years activities with the guidance of the Scoutmaster. This plan is then present to the Troop Committee (see below) for approval to make sure the plan meets BSA guidelines and that necessary resources can be provided. This normally occurs in the spring to plan the next school years activities.

APL – Asst. Patrol Leader
See Patrol Leader below.

ASM – Asst. Scoutmaster
See Scoutmaster below.

ASPL – Asst. Senior Patrol Leader
See Senior Patrol Leader (SPL). Troops often have more than one ASPL.

Baden-Powell
Lord Baden-Powell was the founder of the scouting movement.

Be Prepared
The motto of Boy Scouting.

Blue Card
In order to work with a Merit Badge Counselor the scout must first obtain a Blue Card from the Scoutmaster. Blue Cards are the record of Merit Badge progress and are turned in to receive the Merit Badge after all the requirements have been met and the counselor has signed off the card. The scout should keep his copy of the blue card until after he has reached the Rank of Eagle. The plastic baseball trading card holders work well for storing completed Blue Cards.

Board of Review – BOR
As a requirement for each rank advancement a scout must appear individually before a group of three to six adults (members of Troop Committee) to ensure that the scout has met the requirements for that rank. By policy the Scoutmaster and Assistant Scoutmasters cannot sit on a BOR. A Board of Review takes place after a Scoutmaster Conference (see below) for Rank Advancement, or when a Scout requests it or if the Troop Committee feels the Scout needs it. Eagle boards are conducted at the district level.

Boy Scout Ranks (in order of increasing rank)
Tenderfoot, Second Class, First Class, Star, Life and Eagle

Eagle Palms
Bronze, Gold, Silver

Bridging
A ceremony where Webelos Cub Scouts cross a ceremonial bridge to signify their transition from Cub Scouts to Boy Scouts. This is normally done at a Cub Scout Pack Meeting with Boy Scouts from the Webelos’ new troop participating. This is NOT a graduation ceremony from Cub Scouts, it is rather an induction ceremony into Boy Scouts.

BSA Lifeguard
A 3-year certification awarded to scouts or scouters who meet prescribed requirements in aquatic skills.

Buddy System
When ever a scout needs to go somewhere at camp, hiking, Merit Badge Class, etc. it is always done in groups of at least two. A
scout always takes a “buddy” scout with him. Also used as part of the “Safe Swim Defense” program.

Camporee
Campout attended by several troops within the district.. Usually there are various competitions between the patrols attending.

Chaplain
Adult member of the Troop Committee who provides guidance to scouts related to observance of the 12th point of the Scout Law – A Scout is Reverent. This adult works with the Chaplain Aide, a youth leader.

Charter Organization
The organization that is officially chartered by the Boy Scouts of America to carry out the scouting program. The main liaison between the charter organization and the troop is the Chartered Organization Representative (COR). Your COR could be a church, school, PTA/PTO, civic club or a business.

Class A or B Uniform
Different types of activities require different uniforms. Class A is a complete uniform, Class B is a scout polo shirt or T-shirt often worn for camp or for other activities. (These are now known as Dress and Field Uniforms.)

Commissioner
Adult volunteers working at the district or council level. Unit commissioners are assigned to units and should be a friendly resource to the unit leaders.

Committee Chairperson
A registered adult appointed by the Chartered Organization to chair the Troop Committee. This person presides at Troop Committee meetings and works closely with the Chartered Organization Representative (COR) and Scoutmaster (SM) to ensure the scouting program meets BSA guidelines.

COPE
Challenging Outdoor Personal Experience. (Boy Scout activity involving heights, trust and team building).

COR
Chartered Organization Representative – A person assigned by the chartering organization to be the liaison between the troop and the charter organization.

Council
A group of Districts make up a Council.

Court of Honor – COH
An awards ceremony, usually held quarterly, at which scouts are recognized for their rank advancements, merit badges earned, and other awards.

Cracker Barrel
A scout term for a social gathering with refreshments after a meeting or activity. Often an evening activity at camp before taps.

Den Chief
A Boy Scout who helps a Den Leader direct the activities of a Cub Scout den.

District
A subdivision of a council. The National Capital Area Council has more than 20 districts, including our Goose Creek District.

Dutch Oven
A large cast iron covered pot used to bake and cook in over a wood or charcoal fire.

Firem’n Chit
A certification given to Scouts who know and understand fire safety rules.

Friends of Scouting (FOS)
Friends of Scouting – annual fund raiser for the council. The council does not get any share of your registration fee and is grateful for your donation.

Good Turn
“Do a Good Turn Daily” is the scout slogan. A good turn is something you do without being asked or expected to do it and for which you expect no reward.

Guide to Safe Scouting
This booklet is the the best reference when it comes to safety related issues in Scouting. Those items in BOLD print are rules that MUST be followed. Everything else in the booklet are recommendations that should be followed. Troop leaders frequently consult this to see if planned activities are being done safely and within prescribed BSA policy.

Jamboree
Scout meeting or camp out on a grand scale. There are district, regional, national and international jamborees.

Jamboree On The Air (JOTA)
Scouting and ham radio join forces to make many international contacts through the “air” waves. Traditionally, the 3rd weekend in October.

JASM – Junior Asst. Scoutmaster
A youth between 16 and 18 who has already held major leadership positions within the troop. Appointed by the Scoutmaster to help in guiding the troop
and youth leaders.

Klondike Derby
A winter/snow oriented camporee. Overnight camping experience in the snow with team building games and activities.

Leadership
To advance in the more senior ranks a scout must hold a leadership position for a set period of time. The rank requirements in the Boy Scout Handbook (as revised) lists the leadership positions that qualify.

Leave No Trace (LNT)
A set of guidelines that set standards for outdoor activities that are environmentally sound and considerate to others using the same area.

Merit Badge Sash
As scouts earn Merit Badges they are sewn on a Merit Badge Sash (available at the Scout Shop). The Merit Badge Sash is normally worn only for formal occasions such as a Court-of-Honor.

NESA
National Eagle Scout Association. Open to membership to any youth or adult who attained the rank of Eagle Scout.

Northern Tier High Adventure Base
Northern Tier is a Boy Scout High Adventure Base which is focused on canoeing in the Boundary Waters area of Minnesota and Canada.

Order of the Arrow (OA)
A national brotherhood of scout honor campers of the Boy Scouts of America. Members are elected by their peers after meeting basic requirements of camping knowledge and experience. Boys and adults leaders can be elected to the OA. The OA motto of “Cheerful Service” indicates their purpose. They are often found improving scout camps, running council events, and providing service to the scouting community.

OA Ordeal
The initiation ceremony experience for new OA members generally involving personal introspection, service to improve camp or trail and ceremonies based on Indian legend or lore.

Palms, Eagle
After a scout reaches the rank of Eagle, they can earn a Palm for every 5 additional Merit Badges they complete. You may wear only the proper combination of Palms for the number of merit badges you earned beyond the 21 required for the rank of Eagle. The Bronze Palm represents five merit badges, the Gold Palm 10, and the Silver Palm 15. For example a scout with 20 additional Merit Badges would wear a Silver and a Bronze Palm.

Patrol
The Patrol is the basic unit within a troop. Made up of 6-10 scouts who camp, cook and eat together. They work as a team at various activities and events. They elect their own leader.

Patrol Equipment
The Patrol Equipment consists of tents, stoves, lanterns, and cooking equipment. The Patrol is responsible for the storage and upkeep of this equipment. This equipment is stored and transported in Patrol Boxes which need to be cleaned after each outing.

Patrol Leader (PL)
The elected leader for the patrol. An Assistant Patrol Leader can be elected or appointed by the PL to help in running the patrol.

Patrol Leaders Council (PLC)
Made up of the youth leadership of the troop. They meet once a month to plan the following month’s activities and annually to plan the upcoming year.

PFD
Personal Floatation Device (PFD) otherwise known as a life vest. Those used in scouting must be U.S. Coast Guard approved.

Philmont
A high adventure Boy Scout camp located in the northeast corner of New Mexico.

Pow Wow
Pow Wow is a one-day training program for Cub Scout leaders held each November. Pow Wow provides training beyond basics with a wide variety of topics including ceremonies, games, songs, crafts, advancement ideas, Scout skills and much more.

Re-charter
Annual process of re-registering the troop, scouts and scouters. Each unit designates leaders to collect the information and present updated paperwork to the council.

Roundtable
Monthly meeting for leaders to exchange ideas, fellowship, and, a few announcements that is run by the district. Safe Swim Defense: A eight-step plan for conducting swimming activities in a safe manner.

Safety Afloat
Guidelines for safe troop activities utilizing water craft.

Safety Circle
A safety zone around someone using a pocket knife, hatchet, ax, or other sharp tool. Basically it is an arms length plus the length of the tool in all directions. No one should be in another person’s Safety Circle when a sharp tool is in use. Be sure to check the Safety Circle when your knife is closed.

Scouter
Any registered adult leader.

Scoutmaster (SM)
Adult leader who trains and guides the youth leaders in carrying out the scouting program. One or more Assistant Scoutmasters (ASM) help the Scoutmaster and are often assigned specific roles and duties.

Scoutmaster Conference
A formal meeting that takes place at a Troop meeting or activity between a Scout and the Scoutmaster, or a person he designates, to review a scout’s progress. A Scoutmaster Conference takes place at advancement time prior to a Board of Review, when a Scout requests it or if the Scoutmaster feels the Scout needs it.

Scoutmaster-Specific Training
The basic Adult Leader Training. Although this is sometimes called Scoutmaster Fundamentals, this is an excellent training program for any adult wanting to become more involved in the Boy Scout program, or who just wants to learn more about how the program works.

Scouting for Food
National Good Turn. Every year, Scouts collect food for the fight against hunger. The food is turned over to local food banks for distribution to needy families. Scouting for Food is a national “Good Turn” of the Boy Scouts of America.

Scouts Own
Non-denominational religious observance of reflection usually conducted on camp outs. Allows each Scout the opportunity to obey the twelfth point of the Scout Law in his own way Let your troop leaders know if you do not want your son to participate in this activity, as we wish to respect every family’s religious beliefs.

Scout Spirit
The way a scout tries to live up to the Scout Oath, Law, Slogan, and motto in his everyday life.

Seabase
A high adventure Scout camp located in the Florida Keys.

Service Star
A pin worn over the left shirt pocket of the uniform to denote the number of years of service.

Silver Beaver
A recognition given by the National Court of Honor for distinguished service to youth within the council.

Senior Patrol Leader (SPL)
The senior most elected youth leader of the troop. The SPL is in charge of the troop at all functions and activities. He appoints one or more assistants (ASPL) to help him in running the troop.

Totin’ Chip
A certification that enables the bearer to use knives, axes, and saws. It must be earned by the Scout through educational and hands-on safety sessions led by an adult leader or older scout appointed by the scoutmaster. Any time a Scout is observed doing something unsafe with a sharp tool, a corner is cut off his Totin’ Chip card. When all four corners are gone, the card is taken away and must be re-earned.

Troop Committee
Adult committee of registered adults that provide oversight, assistance, and guidance to the Scoutmaster in carrying out the scouting program within the troop. The Troop Committee is responsible to provide the necessary resources requested by the PLC and Scoutmaster that are required to carry out the scouting program. All registered adults are part of the Troop Committee, key members include the Committee Chair, Treasurer, Secretary, Outdoor/Activities Coordinator, Advancement Coordinator, Membership Coordinator, Equipment Coordinator, and Fund Raising Coordinator.

Two Deep
Two Deep Leadership is a Boy Scout Policy. A minimum of two adults must always be present with any youth. One of these adults must be 21 years old. This is part of the BSA Youth Protection Guidelines.

Wood Badge
Advanced Training for Boy Scout adult leaders. Any adult who has taken Basic Leader Training can attend this advanced training course to expand their knowledge of the scouting program and be of more help to the troop.

Youth Protection Training (YPT)
A 90-minute interactive video presentation and training program that is offered several times a year. Each unit should encourage all leaders to attend one of these sessions that provide valuable information on how to recognize child abuse, how to set up safe guards, and how to report suspected abuse. The training can also be done online through the link on this page:
https://www.scouting.org/training/youth-protection/