Unit Chaplain

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Troop Chaplain

The Troop Chaplain or Team Chaplain is appointed by the committee chairman to provide spiritual tone, guide the chaplain aide, give spiritual counseling, and promote the regular religious participation of each member.

Unit committee position

• Troop Committee in a Boy Scout troop
• Team Committee in a Varsity Scout team

Team Chaplain

Responsibilities

• Provide a spiritual tone for troop/team meetings and activities.
• Give guidance to the chaplain aide.
• Promote regular participation of each member in the activities of the religious organization of his choice.
• Visit homes of the Scouts in time of sickness or need.
• Give spiritual counseling service when needed or requested.
• Encourage Scouts to earn their appropriate religious emblems.
• Report to the troop/team committee each month.

Qualifications

“ Qualification. Adults citizens, or adult non-citizens who reside within the country, may register with the Boy Scouts of America in any capacity if they agree to abide by the Scout Oath or Promise and the Scout Law, to respect and obey the laws of the United States of America, and to subscribe to the precepts of the Declaration of Religious Principle. All leaders must be 21 years of age or older, except assistant Scoutmasters, assistant den leaders, assistant Cubmasters, assistant Webelos den leaders, and assistant Varsity Scout coaches, who must be 18 or older. ”

— Adult Application, No. 524-501A PDF (420 KB) (Previous editions obsolete.)

Additionally,

References

• 36 BSA Monthly Troop Programs with Troop Meeting Plans (free & online), Printed: Vol I - Vol II - Vol III - Resources
• Introduction to Leadership Skills for Troops (ILST) - Troop Meeting Planner - Campfire Planner - Resource Survey - Troop Committee Challenge
• Senior Patrol Leaders Handbook - Patrol Leaders Handbook - Scoutmaster Handbook - BSA Nameplates

• Applications: New Unit - Adult Application
• Fundraising, Popcorn, and the importance of Individual Youth Accounts
• Advancement - Advancement Report - First Class-First Year - Advancement Campout - Merit Badge Day - Individual Record

Online or classroom Leader Training

Youth protection (MANDATORY) – every registered adult must be re-certified every two years.

New Leader Training for new Cub Scout, Boy Scout, Varsity Scout and Venturing leaders includes:

• Fast Start Training – online training you can take right now.
• Basic Leader Training includes:
  • This Is Scouting (formerly New Leader Essentials) – online overview of values, history, aims, and methods.
  • Leader Specific Training – provides the specialized knowledge a new leader needs.

BSA Online Learning Center – provides a variety of materials courses.

• Other: Roundtable – University of Scouting – Trainer’s EDGE (formerly Trainer Development Conference)

Outdoor Leader Training

In addition to fulfilling other requirements, some unit leaders need outdoor-specific training.

• Cub Scout Pack: BALOO – To have a Pack camp-out, at least one unit leader must be BALOO trained.
• Webelos Den Leaders: Outdoor Leader Skills for Webelos Leaders (OWL) – To have a Webelos Den camp-out.
• Scoutmaster & Assistants and Varsity Scout Coach & Assistants: Introduction to Outdoor Leader Skills – To have a camp-out.
• Wood Badge – Advanced Leadership skills for Cub Scout, Boy Scout, Varsity Scout, Venturing, district and council Scouters.
• Seabadge Underway – Advanced Leadership skills for unit, district and council Sea Scouters.

Other outdoor-related links

• Camping Links
• Outdoor Awards Links

Boy Scout Troop Committee
(Adult Leaders)

Troop Committee Chairman	Secretary	Treasurer	Advancement Chair
Equipment Coordinator	Activities Chair	Membership Chair	Training Chair
Fundraising Chair	Public Relations Chair	Friends of Scouting Chair	Scouting for Food Chair
ScoutParent Unit Coordinator	Chaplain
Reports to: Chartered Organization Representative		Advisers: Scoutmaster & Assistant Scoutmaster(s)

Troop Positions of Responsibility
(Youth Positions)

Senior Patrol Leader  Asst.(s)	Quartermaster	Junior Asst. Scoutmaster(s)	Order of the Arrow Rep.
Patrol Leader(s),  Venture Patrol Leader,  Asst.(s)	Historian	Instructor(s) & Troop Guide(s)	Chaplain Aide
Scribe	Librarian	Den Chief(s)	Bugler & Musician
Advisers: Scoutmaster,   Troop Committee Chair,   Assistant Scoutmaster(s)

Varsity Team Committee

Reports to:	Chartered Organization Representative
Lead by:	Team Committee Chairman
Members:	Committee Secretary • Committee Treasurer • Advancement Chair • Equipment Coordinator • Activities Chair • Membership Chair • Training Chair • Public Relations Chair • Friends of Scouting Chair • Scouting for Food Chair • Fundraising Chair • ScoutParent Unit Coordinator • Chaplain
Program Advisers:	Advancement • High-Adventure/Sports • Personal Development • Service • Special Programs and Events
Advisers:	Team Coach • Assistant Team Coach(es)