"WE ARE A MOVEMENT, NOT AN ORGANIZATION."
Baden-Powell, The Scouter, July, 1921
The 39th Cypress is a Scout Group. The Scout Group will be in the charge of a Group Scoutmaster (GSM) and each section of the group will have a Section Leader (or Scoutmaster/Cubmaster) with Assistants. A Scout Group is organized by the following sections:
Scouting is supposed to be for all ages. We start with an informal pre-school Chipmunk Section for siblings of Scouts as that is an ideal age to harness a youngster’s desire to explore their environment. A Rover Crew is comprised of not only parents/guardians, but any 18 year-old or older who wishes to continue to improve themselves and to help others. Think of a Mardi Gras Social Aid and Pleasure Club. They organize to provide service to their community and have fun by sharing resources and experience to go on outdoor adventures.
Each of these sections is further divided into Dens, Sixes, or Patrols of 6-8 each. Each of these sub-units encourages its members to be both teammates and individuals.
For Pathfinders and Rovers there is an option of creating a Seafarer Ship to do more "hiking on the water".
Volunteer Parents. They are essential to supporting the group, providing adequate supervision, and assistance to the leaders. There should be a rotating Den/Snack Parent at every Otter or Timberwolf meeting (remember to let they young scouts learn by doing their best by themselves first though!). Volunteers do not have to be registered as Rovers or pay group dues, but may need to pay for a back ground check. Parents may step up to mentor or educate on occasion, but they may only do so if accompanied by a registered leader. Parents are encouraged to join the Auxiliary Committee or assist them with short-term special committees, event planning, or service projects.
The Group Council. This will consist of all the registered scouters (section leaders) in the group and this council will, under the guidance of the Group Scoutmaster, deal with all matters affecting the training of the group. The Group Council is responsible for determining what requirements are necessary to carry out its duties, and the views of the Group Council are put to the Group Auxiliary Committee by the Group Scoutmaster.
The Auxiliary Committee. The Group Auxiliary Committee consists of a Chairperson, Treasurer, Secretary, representatives of the Sponsoring Authority (if any) and parents, supporters, and friends of the group. They are responsible for property and equipment, and to assist with finance, fundraising, publicity (to include newsletters and website), finding appropriate accommodation, camping grounds, finding leaders for the Group, and other support functions.
Uniformed, warranted leaders (including Group Scoutmaster) do not take on the roles of officials on the Auxiliary Committee. They may, subject to the group’s own desires, sit on the Auxiliary Committee, but should not take an active part and should be acting in an advisory capacity only. Parents who are also scouters in the group may not sit on the Auxiliary Committee in any capacity.
Responsibility. One of the main principles on which Scouting works is self-instruction through fun activities by taking personal responsibility. This is true not only of our youngest scouts, but also of our adult leaders. The volunteers with the National BPSA provide us with a discussion board, policies, guidelines, and manuals, but they do not oversee our day to day activities. It is up to us volunteers who consist of our parents, Group Council, and Auxiliary Committee to ensure that we have an exciting, quality program.
- A Chipmunk Scurry (<5 or pre-school) is an unofficial section of the BPSA.
- Otter raft (5-7 years old or K to 2nd grade)
- Timberwolf Pack (8-10 years old or 3rd to 5th grade)
- Pathfinder Troop (11-17 years old)
- Rover Crew (18 and + years old)
Scouting is supposed to be for all ages. We start with an informal pre-school Chipmunk Section for siblings of Scouts as that is an ideal age to harness a youngster’s desire to explore their environment. A Rover Crew is comprised of not only parents/guardians, but any 18 year-old or older who wishes to continue to improve themselves and to help others. Think of a Mardi Gras Social Aid and Pleasure Club. They organize to provide service to their community and have fun by sharing resources and experience to go on outdoor adventures.
Each of these sections is further divided into Dens, Sixes, or Patrols of 6-8 each. Each of these sub-units encourages its members to be both teammates and individuals.
For Pathfinders and Rovers there is an option of creating a Seafarer Ship to do more "hiking on the water".
Volunteer Parents. They are essential to supporting the group, providing adequate supervision, and assistance to the leaders. There should be a rotating Den/Snack Parent at every Otter or Timberwolf meeting (remember to let they young scouts learn by doing their best by themselves first though!). Volunteers do not have to be registered as Rovers or pay group dues, but may need to pay for a back ground check. Parents may step up to mentor or educate on occasion, but they may only do so if accompanied by a registered leader. Parents are encouraged to join the Auxiliary Committee or assist them with short-term special committees, event planning, or service projects.
The Group Council. This will consist of all the registered scouters (section leaders) in the group and this council will, under the guidance of the Group Scoutmaster, deal with all matters affecting the training of the group. The Group Council is responsible for determining what requirements are necessary to carry out its duties, and the views of the Group Council are put to the Group Auxiliary Committee by the Group Scoutmaster.
The Auxiliary Committee. The Group Auxiliary Committee consists of a Chairperson, Treasurer, Secretary, representatives of the Sponsoring Authority (if any) and parents, supporters, and friends of the group. They are responsible for property and equipment, and to assist with finance, fundraising, publicity (to include newsletters and website), finding appropriate accommodation, camping grounds, finding leaders for the Group, and other support functions.
Uniformed, warranted leaders (including Group Scoutmaster) do not take on the roles of officials on the Auxiliary Committee. They may, subject to the group’s own desires, sit on the Auxiliary Committee, but should not take an active part and should be acting in an advisory capacity only. Parents who are also scouters in the group may not sit on the Auxiliary Committee in any capacity.
Responsibility. One of the main principles on which Scouting works is self-instruction through fun activities by taking personal responsibility. This is true not only of our youngest scouts, but also of our adult leaders. The volunteers with the National BPSA provide us with a discussion board, policies, guidelines, and manuals, but they do not oversee our day to day activities. It is up to us volunteers who consist of our parents, Group Council, and Auxiliary Committee to ensure that we have an exciting, quality program.