New: Knots. With the 2024 interest in more backpacking and the information shared at and after the October Troop Meetings, see this Camping and Backpacking Resources page under our Menu to the left of our Website that collects the various and sundry emails plus other information that may be useful about camping generally as well as backpacking.  So yes you can literally text https://atlanta631.mytroop.us/node/10781 to share that information.

As announced several times here in the "Two Annual Scouting Payments" announcement and in our "2024-25 Youth Troop Registration and Troop Dues" page, there are now two parts of payment to be in Troop 631 annually.  One is our Local Troop Program Fees (a/k/a "Dues") paid by (for) each Scout for the school year -- this can be paid now on this page, and the second is Scouting America (f/k/a BSA) National Registration Fee paid by (for) each Scout and each Leader directly to the Scouting America (BSA) National organization for the next 12 months -- these can only be paid within 60 days of your "Anniversary Date" (more below).

Many of you are now receiving emails from Boy Scouts of America <noreply@scouting.org> entitled "Your BSA Membership is up for renewal". Please follow the instructions in that email to pay that second amount directly to the Scouting America National Organization.  If you have questions after review of that email and the "Two Annual Scouting Payments" announcement, contact your Troop Chair Bert Bender. 

See this page for how Scouts BSA Troop 631 applies the Advancement Method of the Scouting program.

Key Topics are Listed below -- click on the link to jump to that Section:

• Advancement Overview
• Four Steps of Advancement (A Scout Learns, is Tested, is Reviewed, is Recognized)
• Rank Requirements
  
• Advancement through First Class
• Advancement from First Class to Eagle
• Advancement Details, Instruction and Signoff
• Scout Spirit
• A Note about Parent Advancement Signoff
• Merit Badges
• Merit Badge Process
• First: Find A Merit Badge Program or Counselor
• Second: Obtain “Initial Merit Badge Approval” From the Troop
• Third: Attend the Program / Meet with the Counselor
• Fourth: Complete the Requirements – Be Tested
• Fifth: Obtain Signoff of Completed Requirements
• Last: Report to the Troop Your Merit Badge Signoff
• Three Notes about Merit Badge Signoffs
• Advancement Process and Rank Advancement Paperwork
• Scoutmaster Conference
• Board of Review
• Court of Honor
• “Scout of the Year” Award  

Here is the beginning of the content of this Section of the Troop 631 Operating Handbook:

Advancement Overview.  Scouting provides a series of surmountable obstacles and steps in overcoming them – skills to learn and master – through the advancement method.  Scouts plan their own advancement and progress at their own pace as they meet each challenge.  Scouts are recognized and rewarded for each achievement, which helps them gain self-confidence.  The steps in the advancement system help a Scout grow in self-reliance and in the ability to help others.  The Scouts BSA advancement program provides a ladder of skills that a Scout climbs at the Scout’s own pace.  A Scout is assisted by and supported by the Troop in acquiring these skills and moving up through a series of ranks for which badges are awarded.  Upon joining the Troop, one may work not only on the Scout rank, but also Tenderfoot, Second Class, First Class because there are similar skill elements at each level; after First Class, a Scout works in sequence towards Star, Life, and, eventually, Eagle.  The higher the Scout climbs, the more challenging the tasks, and the more rewarding it becomes.  All advancement must be completed before the Scout’s eighteenth birthday. 

The Advancement method includes:

• Learning skills that enable the Scout to experience Scouting’s more exciting outdoor challenges.
• Developing body and mind, growing self-confidence, and helping younger Scouts climb the advancement ladder.
• Discovering how it feels to go further than you ever thought you could.
• Becoming a true leader. 

Advancement is a natural outcome of a planned, quality Troop program.  And Advancement is but one method of Scouting, no more important than the Ideals, the Patrol method, Leadership Development, and the Outdoor Program, all of which help meet the aims of Scouting.  

There are four steps of advancement:

1)    The Scout learns

• The Scout learns by doing, and as they learn, they grow in the ability to do their part as a member of the Patrol and Troop.  
• As they develop knowledge and skill, they are asked to teach others, and by this the Scout learns about developing leadership.

2)    The Scout is tested

• The Scout approaches a qualified adult to sign-off on specific requirements.  
• Unit leaders such as the Scoutmaster and trained Assistant Scoutmasters test and pass the Scout on rank requirements.  
• Merit Badge Counselors teach and test them on requirements for Merit Badges.  

3)    The Scout is reviewed

• After a Scout has completed all requirements for a rank, the Scout meets with the Scoutmaster for a Scoutmaster Conference.  
• Once this is completed, the Scout requests a Board of Review with the Advancement Team – the Scout may sign up for a Board of Review (often, on the Troop Website).  

4)    The Scout is recognized

• When a Scout’s advancement has been approved by a Board of Review, the Scout deserves recognition as soon as possible.  This is typically done at the next Troop meeting or event.  
• The certificate for their new rank will be presented later, during a formal Troop Court of Honor.   

More on advancement is found in the links above and in the Advancement Files and Advancement Links on the Troop Website, and in this BSA National page on Advancement and Awards. 

Erin Murphy has set up a GroupMe for Troop 631 Adults to chat in a text way.  To be added to it if you are not on the chat, adults need to text Erin at 404-808-8658.

How Troop 631 does Scouting (at least as seen by the lame duck Troop Chair who does not see everything and needs comments from those who see more) is documented so far in the Troop 631 Operating Manual and the links and resources from those pages.

• This includes how functions have been handled and how they might be handled better into the future with greater involvement by more parents.
  
• More resources can be added and connected for future use by those who will lead Troop 631. 
• If you have updates or improvements to those pages or other resources here, please email the Webmaster at webmaster@atlanta631.mytroop.us or the Chair at chair@atlanta631.mytroop.us.