From Arrow of Light to a troop

What changes in a troop

In Cub Scouts, adults planned the meetings and your adult helped you through adventures. In a Scouts BSA troop, the Scouts run things. You'll be in a patrol, a small team of Scouts who camp, cook, and work together. Patrols elect their own patrol leader, and older Scouts lead the troop's meetings and plan its campouts. Adults are still there, coaching and keeping everyone safe, but they try hard not to do things for you.

• You set your own pace. Nobody moves you up with your grade. You earn each rank, from Scout to Eagle, when you've done the requirements.
• You talk to leaders yourself. Instead of your parent asking, you ask your patrol leader or Scoutmaster when you're ready to be signed off.
• You camp more, usually with your patrol, cooking your own meals and pitching your own tent.
• You can earn merit badges on more than a hundred subjects, from Camping to Robotics to Chess.
• You can lead. Even new Scouts can take on a small job, and older Scouts lead the whole troop.

Your family is still part of it. Parents and guardians drive, volunteer, and cheer you on. The difference is that you do the work and make the decisions, which is exactly what makes it feel like yours.

Visiting troops

Visiting a troop is part of the Arrow of Light Bobcat adventure, and it's worth visiting more than one if you can. Troops can feel very different: some are big and busy, some are small and close, some camp every month, some do lots of service or high adventure. Go with your den or a parent, and if you can, visit a regular meeting and an outing.

• Who's running the meeting? Look for Scouts leading, with adults on the side.
• Do the older Scouts talk to you and the other visitors?
• Does it look like the Scouts are having fun, and would you want to be in one of those patrols?
• Does the troop calendar have things you're excited about?

Choosing a troop

There's no perfect troop, just one that fits you. Talk it over at home after each visit. Pay attention to how you felt more than to how many Eagle Scouts they have. A troop where you want to come back next week is the right kind.

Your first year

Your first year is about learning the basics and finding your place in your patrol. Most troops help new Scouts work toward the first ranks together, so you won't be figuring it out alone.

1. 1

   Earn the Scout rank

   It's your first rank: the Oath and Law, the patrol method, a few knots, pocketknife safety, and the Parent's Guide with your family. Many Arrow of Light Scouts have already learned some of this.

2. 2

   Go on your first campout

   Camping counts toward Tenderfoot and beyond, and it's where you'll get to know your patrol. Ask what to pack, and borrow before you buy.

3. 3

   Keep your own records

   Use your handbook or ScoutHitch to track what you've done and who signed it. Write down campouts and service hours as you go.

4. 4

   Ask for help early

   If you're stuck, ask your patrol leader or an older Scout first. Learning from another Scout is how a troop is supposed to work.

5. 5

   Try summer camp

   Many troops go for a week. It's a great time to earn a first merit badge or two and work on rank skills with your patrol.

What to do next

Ask your den leader or Cubmaster which troops are nearby and when they meet, and plan your visits with your family. Once you join, read How advancement works to see the whole path, and Leading your patrol for when you're ready to take on a job.

• Scouting America: Scouts BSA (opens in a new tab) — What Scouts BSA is and how troops work, from the national organization.