FAQ – Basics – BSA Troop 77 Geneva

How big is Troop 77 and when does Troop 77 Meet ?

Troop 77 meets Tuesday evenings at the College du Léman Campus in Versoix. When there are scouts who live on the other side of Geneva and there is enough interest, we can also have meetings at La Grande-Boissiere campus of the Ecole Internationale de Genève.

Scouts are to wear their Class A uniform (see below) to Troop Meetings.

Once a month the Troop also organises other activities, such as campouts, hikes or other adventures. Class B shirts (see below) are often worn on these weekends instead of the full Class A uniform.

Troop 77 has 20 Scouts ranging in age from 11 to 17. These Scouts have split themselves into 3 patrols; The Vikings, The Pandas and the Cobras. There are five uniformed leaders (two of which are Eagle Scouts) who are regular attendees at the weekly troop meetings, and numerous other adults registered as committee members and/or merit badge councilors, each committed to the well-being and growth of the Scouts.

Do scouts have to come to every meeting/event?

We certainly won’t send the “Scout Police” out to find you if you don’t show up, but you miss out on a big part of the BSA Program if you don’t attend regularly. Scouting is NOT just playtime, or “Billy’s weekend fun” away from his kid sister. Scouting is a carefully crafted character-development program.

Each boy is a member of a PATROL, and as such, is part of a smaller group (as compared to the whole Troop of boys) where he is given AMPLE opportunity to play an active and valuable “hands on” role in the patrol’s success. A boy who shows up sporadically DEPRIVES himself of the chance to make key decisions within his patrol; choose trip ideas and destinations, make menu selections, divvy out workload, and build close friendships. Every meeting includes a period of valuable skill instruction and fun inter-patrol competitions that relate to the upcoming camping trip. If a boys misses a meeting, he will find himself less prepared for the upcoming weekend in the outdoors. The troop meetings are where we “learn”, but the camping trip is where we reinforce the skills by putting them into practical use.

Scouts should make every effort to attend meetings on a regular basis. Those who don’t are missing out on the full experience of their limited Scouting years, and are causing their patrol members to do the same.

What do “Scouts” do?

The Boy Scout Of America Program is a 100 year old, professionally crafted, program of education and character development. By using the “Outdoor Method” (camping, fishing, rock climbing, etc) the scouts work together to do the things they like to do. In the process, they learn the value of teamwork, honesty, communication, mutual respect, and more as they work towards their goal and overcome any obstacles they encounter. By employing the Methods of Scouting, we reinforce the AIMS of Scouting, which are reflected in our Oath and Law. The goal is to see that they become permanent fixtures in the character of each Scout as we teach them to be Trustworthy, Loyal, Helpful, Courteous, Kind, Obedient, Cheerful, Thrifty, Brave, Clean, and Reverent.

What do Scouts wear, what is the “official” uniform?

Officially, the BSA has ONE uniform, and any historical version of it is acceptable (once official, always official). It is found in the front pages of every Scout Handbook.

The official BSA uniform is comprised of:

a troop-issued hat
a troop neckerchief
BSA tan shirt (with patches placed in the proper spots)
a Merit Badge Sash **
BSA olive pants
BSA web belt w/ buckle
BSA socks

This is THE official uniform, but in many pieces of BSA literature it may be referred to as the FIELD uniform, or commonly, the “Class A”*.

We wear BSA tan shirt and the neckerchief bearing our logo is to be worn UNDER the collar with the top button of the shirt unbuttoned.

** The Merit Badge Sash, worn over the right shoulder, is impractical for most Scouting-related activities. It is therefore only worn at ceremonial events or select meetings such as a Court of Honor.

* It is not always practical to wear the Field Uniform shirt every minute a Scout is involved in a scouting-related activity. It is customary practice that when a troop (as a whole) agrees on a standard shirt, they will opt to wear it INSTEAD of the BSA Class A uniform. In many items of BSA literature, this will be referred to as an ACTIVITY uniform, or sticking with military nomenclature, “Class B”.

Troop 77’s Class B shirt is dark grey with a green Troop 77 logo on the front and can be purchased from the Troop.

Why do scouts wear a uniform?

Scouting’s founder, Lord Baden Powell realized long ago, that when people look the same (uniform), they not only show they are members of an organization, but being dressed the same ERASES all trace of “class” or “wealth” or “social status”.

In Scouting, all are equal and treat each other with respect. In doing so, we learn to look past class, income, race, religion, nationality, and social status.

Despite the attacks from some of Scouting’s detractors, there has never been a program so OPEN and SUPPORTIVE of diversity as Scouting. Considering this was taken into account in 1907, Lord Baden Powell was clearly a man ahead of his time.

How much does Scouting cost?

The Troop charges an annual fee of between CHF300 and CHF375 depending on the year’s budget. (The fee for 2022 is CHF315.) One part of this fee covers the rechartering (registration) with our BSA Council (Trans-Atlantic Council) the rest covers the cost of running the Troop. That is, new/replacement equipment (tents, stoves, cooking gear, propane tanks, etc.), rank badges and merit badges, each scout’s first uniform (dress shirt, T-shirt, scarf, slide, merit badge sash) and their scout book (replacements are charged at retail value). There is also a fee charged in USD to register with the National organisation (BSA).

For each monthly camping trip, there is a modest “food fee” to cover the purchase. Each patrol creates their own menu for the monthly camping trip and can decide to raise or lower this fee to be aligned with their menu choices. TYPICALLY, this is CHF15-20 per scout per month.

For each activity, there is also an “Activity Fee” which helps to pay for annual registration, numerous awards, badges, pins, campground fees, and more. It usually is NOT enough for all expenses.

Finally, there is a fee for special events, such as the Summer Camp (often Camp Alpine at Kandersteg). This week-long Summer Camp is a great experience and we encourage Scouts to attend every year. Please start saving for this NOW so that Camp is not a “financial burden” when payment is due (usually Spring of each year).