Joining for Scouts & Leaders

Scouts

Scouts visit the troop by attending one of the regular troop meetings. The scoutmaster and senior patrol leader (SPL) will introduce the scout to the troop. The parents will meet the membership coordinator and committee chair who will answer their questions about the troop.

• After deciding to join, the parent completes the BSA Youth Application online.

  • If there are problems with the online application please fill out this PDF application and scan and send to our scoutmaster for signature and then to our membership chairman for filing with the council.

• Parents will also need to complete the Parental Consent, Release, and Indemnity Agreement.

  • All parents or legal guardians must physically sign this document with a pen.

• In addition, medical forms for the scout must be submitted. See below section

Adult Leaders

Youth Protection

The cornerstone responsibility of an adult leader is youth protection. This troop requires the following youth protection trainings.

• Like all BSA units we require BSA Youth Protection Training (YPT). YPT certification expires 2 years after date taken. If you have any questions please contact the troop training coordinator.

• As we meet at St. Martin de Porres Catholic Church, we require the Diocese of Austin’s Ethics and Integrity in Ministry (EIM)Training. EIM certification expires 3 years after date taken. You will have to create a new account the first time and complete information for a background check. For any additional questions, please contact the committee chair or membership coordinator.

Both trainings must be re-taken before expiration. In addition to BSA policies we strive to achieve a ratio of one adult for every three to five scouts

BSA Adult Application

The BSA Adult Application must be filled out by adult leaders once in order to join the troop. Some key points:

• The form may ask for some information that is for the unit to fill out. You can help us by providing the following information:

  • Do you intend to stay registered with another BSA unit? For example, are you a leader in a cub scout pack. We will then mark this as “Multiple Application”.

  • If you were formerly in a different BSA council, what was your former council’s name or number. If you don’t know the number, the name should be fine.

  • If you were formerly in another unit, what is that unit type (pack, troop, crew, ship) and unit number.

  • What is your BSA membership number? If you just took YPT for the first time, the number is on your form.

• If there are problems with the online application please fill out this PDF application and scan and send or provide a hard-copy to our membership chair. Please note that both page 3 and 9 have to be filled out.

Charter Organization Representative Interview

The troops charter organization representative will need to approve your form and will interview you to that end.

Merit Badge Counselors

If you are interested in becoming a Merit Badge Counselor, email a copy of all these to the Merit Badge Coordinator in Troop 280, which is currently Chas Semple. 

Merit Badge Counselor (MBC) -- 6 steps to follow:

1. Complete paper (or pdf) Adult Application with the position code 42 (on page 3

2. Complete background check signed (page 6 of the Adult Application)

3. Complete Merit Badge Counselor Information sheet
   List 5-10 merit badges. Eagle required MBs are great to have listed since all scouts need those. Some badges require special certification such as shotgun, climbing and other potentially hazardous badges. See the Guide to Advancement for the list.

4. Complete Youth Protection Training (YPT) – Complete online at my.scouting.org

5. Complete Ethics and Integrity in Ministry (EIM) Training – Youth Protection training.  You are going to need to create an account at VIRTUS.org and fill out the application. The course is "Protecting God's Children."  You can see dates and locations for the training.  This first course is in-person only.  You can renew the training every 3 years online.

6. Complete Merit Badge Counselor online training at my.scouting.org.

Medical Forms

Must be updated annually – should not be over 1 year old

• Parts A & B and copies of health insurance cards required for troop activities. Does not require doctor’s signature.

• Parts A & B & C Required for all activities longer than 72 hours and high adventure bases and activities. Requires a doctor’s signature.   TIP!:  Print out and take to your or your scout’s annual physical

• Make copies of your forms so that you aren't using your original copy for a camping event

Renewals

• Annual renewals:  BSA sends notifications to youth and adult members prior to the anniversary of the renewal.  Complete the renewal process at the link in the email, or login to your account at my.scouting.org. 

• YPT:  The BSA notifies each adult leader prior to YPT expiration.  We expect each leader to keep track of this.  If they let this lapse, the BSA/council will drop you from leader status and you will have to painfully complete a new adult leader form.

• EIM:  The church will notifiy the troop when an adult leader's renewal will expire, and the membership coordinator will in turn notify the member