Your Scout is a member of a Patrol

• The Patrol is the small group of same-grade Scouts within the Troop. It is generally between six and ten Scouts
• New Patrols often have at least one older and experienced Scout mentor, as well as an Assistant Scoutmaster to guide them through the first few months while they learn the ropes.
• Each Patrol elects a Patrol Leader to be responsible for ensuring outings and activities are planned, and the patrol members are progressing toward their goals.
• Patrol outings and activities definitely benefit from adult support. This does not mean adult planning and execution; it means an adult assists with teaching their Scout about how to find information, pick a date and time, and communicate it to the other patrolmates.

Your Scout is a member of the Troop

• The Troop consists of all the Patrols and other Leaders. The Troop meets weekly on Monday evenings from 7:00 to 8:30.
• The Senior Patrol Leader leads the weekly troop meetings, with guidance and support from the Scoutmaster, Assistant Scoutmasters, and other adult volunteers.
• Troop meetings have hands-on learning activities, skill building, special guests, patrol time breakouts, games, challenges, and all manner of fun.

The Troop is run by a Troop Committee (Group of Adult Volunteers)

The Committee is made up of a Chartered Organization Representative, Committee Chair, Treasurer, and many other positions. Most of these leaders are parents of Scouts in the troop. All leaders and interested parents are encouraged to attend.

• The Committee meets once a month.
• The Committee supports the Scoutmaster and Assistant Scoutmasters in delivering the program, especially with logistical planning.
• The Committee selects leaders, performs record keeping, manages troop finances, orders awards, maintains troop equipment, and helps train leaders.

Troop 1865 is chartered by VFW Post 1865

• The Chartered Organization approves leaders, provides a meeting place, and operates the troop within the guidelines and policies of the chartered organization and Scouting America.
• The Chartered Organization selects a Chartered Organization Representative who serves as a liaison between the troop and the organization. The Chartered Organization appoints and approves of the adult leadership group that leads the troop.

Beyond the Troop

Three Harbors Council

Our council is Three Harbors Council. To effectively support local Scouting programs the national Scouting America organization provides a charter to a community board of volunteers to be responsible for providing the Scouting program to a defined geographical area.  These geographical areas are called councils.  Councils have a volunteer board which employs a Scout Executive to serve as the CEO and give leadership to the day to day operation. The Scout Executive hires staff to provide direct and indirect support to local Scouting programs. In each council there are many more volunteers than staff as the organization is volunteer lead and professionally guided.

Red Arrow District

Our district is part of the newly formed Red Arrow District. To provide more localized support to scouting, councils create districts.  Districts are geographical areas of service.  Districts have a volunteer District Committee that provides support to local programs in the areas of membership, finance, and program.  Another group of volunteers called commissioners provide direct service to Scouting programs.

National Organization

Scouting America is the national organization that develops and supports various youth programs.  It provides charters to communities to operate a council.  The national organization provides service to local councils and develops Scouting programs and establishes rules and regulations.