BSA Troop 1707

Troop 1707 Code of Conduct

Acceptance of the Troop 1707 Code of Conduct IS REQUIRED for Troop membership.

Scouts are to be members in good standing with ALL dues paid.

These policies will ensure the safety and enjoyment of all Scouting members.

Participation in Troop 1707 and the BSA program is a privilege, which carries responsibilities of each Scout/Participating Adults; to conduct themselves at all Scout functions in accordance with the principles set forth in the Scout Oath and Law, to show good Scout Spirit, to follow all policies and procedures written in the Guide to Safe Scouting and The Boy Scout Leaders Handbook as well as all policies contained in this document.

Appropriate Behavior

Inappropriate Behavior

• Physically touching another with the intention of hurting, injuring or teasing.

• Encouraging another person to physically or emotionally injure another person.

• Mentally or emotionally injuring another.

• Fighting, teasing, bullying, intimidating, coercing, hazing, harassing or discrimination.

• Profane or bad language.

• Derogatory or disrespectful comments about another.

• Use of unapproved electronic equipment, i.e., cell phones, MP3’s, radios, video games, etc.

• Leaving an activity without permission or notification.

• Not giving or showing respect to Adult Leaders/ Adult Participants, as well as fellow Scouts.

• Use of Alcohol, Illegal Drugs or Tobacco.

• Intentionally or conspiring to destroy personal property or Troop equipment.

General discipline within the Troop is the responsibility of the PLC, SPL, Scoutmaster or Adult Participants.

It is intended that the Scoutmaster or Adult Participants attend to nearly all conduct issues that may occur within the Troop with only the most serious or recurring conduct problems involving the discipline process.

The Scoutmaster or Adult Participants have broad discretion to impose just and reasonable discipline that is deemed necessary and correct at the time.

Any Scout who (in the opinion of the Scoutmaster) does not conduct himself according to the Scout Oath & Law will be considered to be exhibiting inappropriate behavior.

The policies contained in this document have been compiled to ensure the safety and enjoyment of all Scouting members.

“The Scout Oath and Law will guide my conduct in all Scouting activities and my daily life.”

Each Scout shall:

• show respect to Adult Participants and fellow Scouts at all times

• follow all directions promptly and respectfully

• not disturb others

• not make disrespectful comments to OR about other Scouts/Adult Participants

• not use profanity.

No Scout or Adult Participant will physically touch another Scout with the intention of hurting, injuring, hazing, intimidating or teasing.

No personal property will be taken or used without the permission of the owner of the property. If another person’s property is broken or lost, regardless if used with permission or not, it is the responsibility of the individual who damaged or lost the item to replace or repair the damaged, destroyed or missing equipment at  their own expense.

Troop equipment lost, damaged or destroyed through neglect or gross misuse will be replaced or repaired at the expense of the Scout or Adult that lost, damaged or destroyed it.

Alcohol and Illegal Drugs

Are NOT allowed at ANY Scout function. This rule applies to Scouts and Adult Participants alike.

Tobacco Usage

No tobacco or tobacco related products are allowed by Scouts at ANY Scout function.

Adult use of tobacco is to be confined to times and locations when and where the Scouts are not present and in designated tobacco use areas.

Two Deep Leadership

No Adult is permitted alone with a Scout; two Adults and two Scouts must be present.

No Scout is permitted alone with an Adult; two Adults and two Scouts must be present.

Buddy System

Must be employed by all Scouts and Adults at all Scout functions.

“I will not go off alone. I will always go in pairs, with a buddy”.

Scouts will not leave an activity area (Troop meeting etc.) without permission and a buddy.

Fire

A Scout is allowed to start a campfire, use stoves and lanterns only if he has attended the Troop's Firem'n Chit class and carries his Firem'n Chit card.

Only adults and “Trained” Scouts are allowed to connect propane tanks.

Fireworks

Of any kind are NOT permitted at any Scout function.

Knives

Are never permitted on School property.  This is why Scout Outings leave from places other than School property. A Scout is allowed to carry a knife at Scout functions, only if he has attended the Troop's Totin' Chip class and carries his Totin' Chip card as well. Folding knives, such as Swiss Army knives or lock blade knives, with blades 3 inches or less, are acceptable. Switchblades, sheath knives, butterfly knives, and hatchets are NOT permitted.

Prescription and Nonprescription Medicine

Written parental permission is required for a Scout to take prescription or nonprescription medicine at a Scout function. A medical permission slip and medicine is to be turned in to the adult Health and Safety Officer at each event. The medicine MUST be in its original labeled container.

Drinks

No “energy”, “high content” caffeine/sugar drinks will be allowed at ANY Scout functions.

Soda Pop is only approved by the PLC & Scoutmaster or Troop Committee.

Not all violations of the Code of Conduct are created equal. Some fall under good manners and socially acceptable behavior like having Good Scout Spirit and living by the Scout Oath & Law. Others fall under a much more serious violation of the Code of Conduct like bullying, personal safety, blatant disrespect, grossly malicious behavior.

Discipline Policy

The discipline policy is designed to be straight forward and fair to all Scout/Adult Participants. It is hoped that the Discipline Policy never need to be implemented, but it is necessary to have it in case a situation arises that requires it. Every attempt will be made to work with a Scout and his family to avoid dismissal from the Troop.

Violation of the Code of Conduct

First Offence

• If a Scout/Adult Participant does not acknowledge and correct behavior considered inappropriate in the judgment of the SPL, Scoutmaster or responsible Adult Participant following a verbal warning then the Scout/Adult Participant may be required to:

• Cease to participate in the remainder of the meeting or scout activity (removal may involve a supervised timeout from the activity or a call to the parent(s) for a pickup and removal from the activity at the discretion of the Scoutmaster). Code of Conduct violations that result (in the judgment of the SPL, Scoutmaster or responsible Adult Participant) in removal from an activity requires the completion of an incident report by the witnessing adult.
  
  

• Violations of the Code of Conduct that are considered serious, that involve the safety and well being of participants, that involve the intent to or conspire to physically or emotionally harm a Scout/Adult Participant as well as the intentional destruction of personal property or Troop equipment may escalate to Continued/Multiple Offence Status.

Second/Third Offence

• Immediate removal from the remainder of the meeting or activity

• Automatically will not be permitted to participate in the  next two scouting activities, campouts, or meetings (including obtaining Merit Badges and Rank Advancement) with the exception that participation in fund raising commitments are not excused.

• Loss of leadership position

• 10 hrs of documented community service not counting toward advancement required for reinstatement

Continued/Multiple Offences

• Consequence of repeated/serious violations of the Code of Conduct may include expulsion from the Troop.

• All proceedings will be documented and placed in the Scout’s file by the Committee Chairman.

• Minimum (Consequence)

·         1 month suspension from Troop.  After 1 month, suspension may be modified to only allow attendance at Patrol and Troop meetings until proper behavior is demonstrated.

·         No Merit Badge activity

·         No Advancement

·         No Meetings, Campouts or Other Scout Activities.

·         20 hours of documented community service not counting towards advancement

·         Loss of all leadership positions

·         Maximum (Consequence)

·         Removal from Troop 1707 AND possible notification given to local Law Enforcement (POLICE)

Discipline Procedure

When a violation of the Code of Conduct occurs the following shall happen.

1.    The Scout/Adult Participant shall be pulled aside away from the rest of the group by the leader who witnessed the violation (Two deep leadership-a second adult participant must be present).

2.    The Scoutmaster, Patrol Leader and Senior Patrol Leader will be made aware of the violation.

3.    Immediate Scoutmaster Conference for discussion of the infraction.

4.    The Scout/Adult Participant will be informed of the nature of the code of conduct violation.

5.    The Scout/Adult Participant will be required to follow directions (participate in a supervised time out at the event or depart/leave the event).

1. Parent of the Scout is responsible to pick up, or remove their child from the meeting/outing when needed.

2. No reimbursement of meeting/outing fees will occur.

3. Any costs incurred for pick up will be the responsibility of the Scouts family.
   
   

6.    The violation will be recorded on a Discipline Form by the leader who is issuing the violation and witnessed by another Adult Participant. The Scout/Adult Participant (or as appropriate to the scout’s parent or guardian) will be given a copy of the Discipline Form used to record the violation at the conclusion of the event.

A.    The Scout/Adult Participant will write on the Discipline Form, a detailed statement as to why the violation occurred and what will be done to avoid such a violation in the future.

B.    The Scout/Adult Participant will sign the Discipline Form and return it to the Scoutmaster (in the case of a scout with parent/guardian) to the next activity the Scout/Adult Participant wishes to participate in.

C.    The Scout/Adult Participant shall continue to participate in fundraising activities until the form and statement is returned to the Scoutmaster.

7.    The Scout/Adult Participant will not be permitted to participate in the next scouting activity, campout, or meeting (including obtaining Merit Badges and Rank Advancement) if these activities occur before the Discipline Committee meets.

8.    Scout/Adult Participant meets with Discipline Committee for review of behavior/incident(s). The violation will be reviewed with the Scout/Adult Participant, Parent (as appropriate), and Discipline Committee within a timely fashion (ideally within 7 days).

9.    Discipline Committee shall consist of a minimum of 3 members (none of which will be related to the Scout).

a)    The Scoutmaster will present documented discipline/behavior problems of the Scout/Adult Participant and recommendations to the Discipline Committee as to the remediation or consequence of their behavior.

b)   The Scout/Adult Participant will discuss the incident and present a plan to correct the documented discipline problems. 

c)    The Discipline Committee will then privately discuss and vote on the remediation / consequence of the code of conduct behavior violation.

d)    The Discipline Committee will consider guidelines outlined above in first/second/third/continued offences but will utilize judgment as well as consider mitigating factors in decisions on the consequence of a code of conduct violation.  

e)    If Suspension of leadership position is considered an appropriate consequence of a code of conduct violation a suspension may will reduce time in leadership position and adversely effect advancement.

f)     The Scout/Adult Participant will abide by the decision(s) of the Discipline Committee.

g)    The Scout/Adult Participant who violated the Code of Conduct will write a letter of apology and read it aloud to the parties involved in the Code of Conduct violation. This process shall be witnessed by the Scoutmaster & Adult Lead or “Two Deep” Adults. All witnesses of the violation will be notified of the apology.

h)    At the discretion of the Scoutmaster OR by Discipline Committee those violations of the Code of Conduct that are serious, resulting in harm to another person may result in escalation to Second/Third or Continued/Multiple Offence Status.

i)     Every 90 days, Scout/Adult Participants with an unresolved incident on their record will have a conference with the Scoutmaster and parent (as appropriate) regarding behavior/conduct.