FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
General Questions
A. Youth can join Scouts BSA if they are at least 10 years old, currently in the fifth grade and register on or after March 1st; OR have earned the Arrow of Light Award and are at least 10 years old, OR are age 11 but have not reached age 18.
A. At minimum, each Scout will need a uniform and a handbook. Additional supplies and equipment may be needed for certain activities such as camping trips or high adventure activities. What equipment is needed, as well as whether it will be provided by the unit, will vary. For more details please refer to the Camping Gear section below.
A. The cost associated with Scouting varies depending on your level of involvement with the Troop. There are annual membership registration fees assessed at the National and Local Council level, and there are annual Troop dues. The table below itemizes the various fees associated with membership and participation in Troop 854 activities. For more details on how these fees are broken down between national and local levels please visit the MichiganScouting.org membership and registration page.
| Description | Cost |
|---|---|
| Annual Registration / Dues | |
| BSA National/MCC Registration – Youth Members | $170 |
| BSA National/MCC Registration – Adult Volunteers | $75 |
| Troop 854 Dues – Youth Members | $80 |
| Scout Life Magazine | $15 |
| Merit Badge Counselors – Adult Volunteers | $25 |
| Event Costs (estimates) | |
| Campout | ~$25-$75 |
| Day Activity | ~$15-$25 |
| Summer Camp | ~$450 |
Additional costs for personal gear and equipment vary drastically depending on what is being purchased. These costs are difficult to estimate because it depends on what gear the scout already has, and the quality or brand of gear being purchased. For more information on purchasing personal gear or the types of items typically needed by a scout please review our Camping page.
A. Absolutely! Youth can join Scouts BSA with no prior Scouting experience (i.e., Cub Scouts) as long as they meet the age requirements.
Handbook / Uniform
A. All boys will need a copy of Scouts BSA Handbook for Boys, 14th edition.
You will want to purchase the spiral bound version. This can be purchased at local stores that carry Scouting apparel, such as Nankin Hobby, or online at www.scoutshop.org or Amazon.com. It is also highly recommended to buy a cover for the handbook. A popular cover, or the official BSA Handbook Cover can both be found on Amazon.
A. You can always check our Scout Closet to see if there is a suitable donated uniform that you can have for free, just ask at our next Troop Meeting.
If you prefer to purchase your own, the best place to purchase the official scout uniform is locally at Nankin Hobby. You can also purchase it from one of the local BSA Scout Shops (Ann Arbor Scout Shop or Detroit Toyota Scout Shop).
NOTE: Please do not order from Amazon because you may not get an official uniform.
A. The Boy Scout uniform has several patches, all with a specific placement. Please refer to this BSA insignia guide to learn exactly what can be worn on your uniform and where everything should be located. You can also find this information in your Scout Handbook, 14th Edition, on pages 20-23.
A. Merit badges are a great way to learn about sports, crafts, science, trades, business, and future careers. Each merit badge has a set of requirements that must be completed to earn the badge. There are over 135 merit badges to choose from and some are required to earn various ranks in Scouting. To earn the rank of Eagle Scout, you must complete 21 merit badges and at least 12 of them must be Eagle required. Eagle required badges are identifiable by the silver border around the badge. Normal merit badges will typically have a green border. Follow the link to find out more about merit badges.
Parent Questions
A. Parents are always welcome and encouraged to attend a troop outing or campout. However, parent attendance is not a requirement. Scouts can attend outings even if their parents cannot attend. Attending camp is a great way to see how the Troop operates. It’s also a great way to get to know the other adult leaders and parents, and it’s always a great time! The troop will always need adult leadership, so if you have a particular skill or just enjoy the outdoors, consider attending the various troop outings to see how you can contribute.
Update: Effective September 1, 2023, all adults staying overnight in connection with a Scouting activity must be registered as an adult volunteer with the troop. This requirement is part of Scouting’s Barriers to Abuse, and ensures that all adults attending BSA events have been properly screened prior to participation.
A. If your scout will need to take any medication during camp please ensure the medications are listed on your scout’s medical form part B2. Please label all medication including the name of the scout, type of medication, frequency, and dosage. All medication will be handled by adult leadership who will be responsible for recording and administering all medication.
A. Inform the scout’s Patrol Leader and Scout Master of any dietary or food restrictions. Each Patrol is responsible for meal planning and shopping. If your scout has a serious allergy it is very helpful to participate in patrol shopping before camp. This way the scout can participate in the purchasing of food and ensure their needs will be meet while at camp.
Summer Camp
A. Yes! It is highly encouraged for all Scouts to attend Summer Camp. It is a great way for Scouts to earn Merit Badges, make rank, and participate in loads of fun activities. Conflicts with camp can arise, but if you can attend you don’t want to miss it.
We understand that cost can sometimes be a prohibiting factor for some families. There are scholarships available that can help subsidize the cost so all Scouts have the opportunity to attend camp. If you are interested in learning more please contact one of our Adult Leaders.
A. Yes! Summer Camp is a lot of fun, and it offers opportunities for Adult Leaders as well as Scouts. The troop requires at least 4 adult leaders to function properly for the week, but we typically have 6-10 adult leaders or parents attend for at least a portion of the week.
Summer Camp does require all adults attending camp to be registered adult leaders with the troop, and all participants are required to complete medical forms A, B, and C prior to camp.
A. Follow the links provided under the Resources > Merit Badges menu to learn more about the merit badges offered at Cole Canoe Base for Summer Camp. The CCB schedule will show you what merit badges are available and what times of day they are offered. Also check the CCB merit badge prerequisite listing for each merit badge to ensure you are prepared for camp. Most merit badges run Monday-Thursday and last one hour a day. Some badges may require more or less time, as noted in the schedule. You can use the Merit Badge Selection Worksheet to submit your merit badge selections to the appropriate adult leader managing merit badge sign up for camp.
Camping Gear
A. When attending camp, scouts are only responsible for bringing their personal items. This includes clothing, sleeping kit, hygiene items, and essential gear. The scout handbook has a personal camping gear checklist, along with warm and cold weather clothing checklists.
Review the documents in our Troop 854 – Camping Resources section for a useful printable packing checklist and our new scout basic camping guide. The checklist and guide also includes page numbers to cross reference in the most recent edition of the Scout Handbook. Also check out our Packing Guides literature section for other handy suggestions on what you might want to bring to camp.
A. The troop has tents available for scouts to use, so purchasing a tent is not mandatory. Also keep in mind that scouts are typically going to be camping with at least one tent partner, so before purchasing a tent, check with your scout to see if their tenting partner already has a tent they can use.
If you do choose to purchase your own tent, you’ll have to consider what you will be using it for. If you are buying a tent for weekend campouts or summer camp, it is recommended that you buy a camping tent that is large enough to fit a minimum of two scouts with cots. Refer to the tent footprint diagrams on our Camping page for guidance on the best tent sizes for different configurations. These tents will be larger, so weight is not really a concern.
If you are purchasing your own backpacking tent, then the criteria will differ, but you’ll be looking for something that is smaller and lighter to carry in your backpack. If you are going to share a backpacking tent with another scout, remember you can split the weight across multiple people. For most troop organized backpacking trips you’ll likely be tenting with a partner, so we recommend a larger 2 person or 3 person tent to allow two scouts to fit comfortably in the tent. To accommodate two 25″ wide sleeping pads, you may want to consider a tent at least 52″ wide and 88″ in length (interior dimensions). Many 2 person tents will have a width narrower than 52″, so this may limit your options on sleeping pads. Typically a backpacking tent will have a packed weight between 3 and 5 pounds, including poles and stakes. Some ultralight trekking pole tents can weigh less than 1 pound. The lighter and smaller the tent the easier it will be to carry, but backpacking tents can also be expensive due to the ultralight materials used in the construction of the tent, so more affordable tents may have a weight penalty. All of these factors should be considered when purchasing a backpacking tent. We advised asking our camping chair, or one of our scout leaders for more information if you are considering purchasing a backpacking tent for yourself or your scout.