Glossary of Some Common Terms
As in any organization, acronyms and unfamiliar terms are often used that can be confusing. Does your son return from a scouting activity and seem to be speaking a foreign language? Do you note some strange words on a flyer or calendar? This page is an effort to help define some of the more frequently used terms. If someone uses a term you are not familiar with simply ask them to explain it (we too all had to learn it some where), or sneak a glance at this glossary if your bashful about asking.
- APL
- Asst. Patrol Leader
See Patrol Leader.- ASM - Asst. Scoutmaster
- See Scoutmaster (SM).
ASPL - Asst. Senior Patrol Leader
- See Senior Patrol Leader (SPL).
- Lord Baden-Powell was the founder of the scouting movement. The Baden-Powell training program is designed to get new scouts the basic scout skills and help them to advance to First Class.
- 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. The SM and ASMs can not set on a BOR. A Board of Review takes place after a Scoutmaster Conference 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.
- 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.
Boy Scout Ranks (in order of increasing rank)
- Tenderfoot
- Second Class
- First Class
- Star
- Life
- Eagle
- Eagle Palms: Bronze, Gold, Silver
- Camp out attended by several troops within the district. Usually there are various competitions between the patrols attending. These are generally held twice a year. The Spring Camporee is put on by the OA and Fall Camporee is put on by the troop that won it the previous year.
- The organization that is official 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 Charter Organization Rep. (COR). Our charter organization is the Sacramento Zoological Society.
Commissioner
- Adult volunteers working at district or council level. Unit commissioners are assigned to units and should be a friendly resource to the unit leaders.
- A registered adult appointed by the Charter Organization to chair the Troop Committee. Presides at Troop Committee meetings. Works closely with the COR and Scoutmaster to ensure the scouting program meets BSA guidelines.
- Challenging Outdoor Personal Experience. (Boy Scout activity involving heights, trust and team building).
- More information:
at USSP
at Scouters Belay- Charter Organization Representative - A person assigned by the chartering organization to be the liaison between the troop and the charter organization. Our charter organization is the Sacramento Zoological Society
- An awards ceremony held quarterly at which scouts and sometimes scouters are recognized for their rank advancements, merit badges earned, and other awards.
- A subdivision of a council. The Golden Empire Council (GEC) has 16 districts. The districts are Amador, Buena Vista, Buttes Area, El Dorado, Golden Bear, Gold Country, Pioneer, Pony Express, Prospector, Ranchero West, Rio Del Oro, River City, Northern Rivers, Soaring Eagle, Trailblazer, and Yolo. Troop 136 is in the River City District which includes Downtown, East and South Sacramento Communities.
- 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.
- Golden Empire Council covers the counties of Amador, Sacramento, Chico, Davis, El Dorado, Nevada , Placer , Redding, Solano, Tehama, Trinity, Shasta, Woodland, and Yuba city. Councils are subdivided into districts.
- Training classes to prepare adults and older youth leaders to plan, lead, and supervise High Adventure Activities such as backpacking, white water, rappelling, wilderness first aid, etc.
- Scout meeting or camp out on a grand scale. There are national and international jamborees.
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.
- A winter/snow oriented camporee. Overnight camping experience in the snow with team building games and activities.
- 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.
- National Eagle Scout Association. Open to membership to any youth or adult who attained the rank of Eagle Scout.
- 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. Also called 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. More Info on OA
- 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.
- 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.
- The Patrol is the basic unit within a troop. Made up of 4-8 scouts who camp, cook and eat together; and work as a team at various activities and events.
- The elected leader for the patrol. He appoints an Asst. Patrol Leader (APL) to help in running the patrol.
Patrol Leaders Committee - PLC
- Made up of the youth leadership of the troop. They meet once a month to plan the following months activities and annually to plan the upcoming year.
- 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.
- Monthly meeting for leaders to exchange ideas, fellowship, and, a few announcements that is run by the district.
- The Scouts Own, is a non-specific religious type service that we try to make a part of our outdoor outings. The Scouts Own is short, normally not more than 15 minutes, but, allows each Scout the opportunity to obey the twelfth point of the Scout Law in his own way. Please, let us know if you do not want your son to participate in this activity, as we wish to respect every family's religious beliefs.
- Any adult registered leader.
- 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.
- 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 scoutís progress. A Scoutmaster Conference takes place at advancement time before a Board of Review, when a Scout requests it or if the Scoutmaster feels the Scout needs it.
- The basic Adult Leader Training. Although this is sometimes called Acorn Training, 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.
- National Good Turn: Every year, Scouts collect food for the fight against hunger. Bags for canned food are distributed on a Saturday in November and then collected the following Saturday. The food is turned over to local food banks for distribution to needy families. This is a national "Good Turn" of the Boy Scouts of America. Food distribution centers rely on this huge influx of food right before the Thanksgiving holidays.
- Large scouting event. Cub Scout Packs and Boy Scout Troops display some of their favorite activities. The scouts help out their units and also get time to visit other units displays.
- Non-denominational religious observance of reflection usually conducted on campouts.
- 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.
- A document that must be filed with the council office before any official scouting activity can take place. Special permits are required for travel out-of-state, over 500 miles, or for flying activities.
- 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. The Troop Committee meets each month generally on the last Wednesday of the month. All registered adults are part of the Troop Commitee, key members include the Commitee Chair, Treasurer, Secretary, Outdoor Chair, Advancement Chair, Membership Chair, Adult Quartermaster, and Fund Raising Chair.
- Advanced Training for Boy Scout adult leaders. Woodbadge is also referred to as Advance Scoutmaster Training. Any adult who has taken Scoutmaster Fundamentals (Acorn Training) can attend this advanced training course to expand their knowledge of the scouting program and be of more help to the troop.
Woodbadge Fact Sheet in PDF format. - ASM - Asst. Scoutmaster
Nothing in this glossary should be considered policy or method of operation. It is intended only as a short description of some of the more common terms used in scouting. Official BSA or troop policy should be consulted if there are any questions.