FAQs

1.  Who can become a Boy Scout?
2. When and where does troop 355 meet?
3. What kind of activities does troop 355 organize?
4. How much does Scouting cost?
5. Do I have to buy a lot of equipment?
6. What are the ranks in Boy Scouts?
7. What is required to become an Eagle Scout?
8. Are scouts required to advance toward Eagle Scout?
9. What is a Merit Badge?
10. What is a Blue Card?

1. Who can become a Boy Scout?

Any boy can join Boy Scouts regardless of his outdoor experiences or whether he was a Cub Scout. He must however satisfy any one of these three requirements:

A. Be eleven years old
B. Graduate from the fifth grade
C. Earn the Arrow of Light award in Cub Scouts

2. When and where does troop 355 meet?

Troop 355 meets twice a month on Monday evenings at the Lacy Park Scout House located at 1196 Saint Albans Road in San Marino. Meetings typically start and 7:30 but are often preceded by a merit badge class at 6:30. Check the calendar on this website for the actual dates and times.

3. What kind of activities does troop 355 organize?

Troop 355 schedules outdoor adventures at least once a month. In the past few years we have gone backpacking, fishing, gliding, hiking, horseback riding, mountain biking, river rafting, rock climbing, sailing, skiing and surfing. Each summer we attend a week of summer camp on Catalina Island and typically send a contingent of scouts on a ten day backpacking trip at the Philmont Scout Ranch in the mountains of northern New Mexico. Check the calendar on this website for to view our upcoming outings.

4. How much does Scouting cost? 

The Annual Dues for Troop 355 vary year to year. To see the current pricing, please click here. This includes registration with BSA, maintenance of our scout house, a donation to the San Gabriel Valley Council, rank patches, merit badges, leadership patches a troop neckerchief and a slide. You will also need to purchase a class A uniform and a Scout handbook. There are also fees associated with each outing designed to cover the cost of that outing.

5. Do I have to buy a lot of equipment?

You will need to by a tent, a ground cloth, a sleeping pad and a sleeping bag. Beyond that you can borrow camping gear from the troop for each campout and return it when you get home. Most scouts borrow gear for a while and then begin to purchase more of there own equipment as they become more experienced campers.

6. What are the ranks in Boy Scouts?

The scout handbook provides the requirements for six ranks. They are; Tenderfoot, Second Class, First Class, Star, Life and Eagle Scout. Our outdoor activities, merit badge and leadership programs are designed to provide every scout with an opportunity to advance in rank at the pace they select.

7. What is required to become an Eagle Scout?

BSA has established these requirements for the rank of Eagle Scout:

1. Be active in your troop and patrol for at least 6 months as a Life Scout.
2. Demonstrate Scout spirit by living the Scout Oath (Promise) and Scout Law in your everyday life.
3. Receive the recommendations of six individuals who know you personally.
4. Earn a minimum of 21 merit badges, including the 12 “eagle required” badges.
5. While a Life Scout, serve actively for a period of 6 months in one or more positions of leadership responsibility.
6. While a Life Scout, plan, develop, and give leadership to others in an Eagle service project
7. Complete a Scoutmaster conference.
8. Pass an Eagle Scout board of review.

8. Are scouts required to advance toward Eagle Scout?

No, Troop 355 is not just about rank advancement. Our program is structured to provide four separate areas for growth; outdoor skills, merit badges, leadership skills, and self reliance. Most scouts begin their climb up the ranks of scouting right away, others proceed a little later and some enjoy scouting just for the outdoor fun with their buddies. Every boy can benefit from the scout program.

9. What is a Merit Badge?

A merit badge is an award for completing the requirements in one of 120 career and hobby fields. Each merit badge is designed to provide a scout with an introduction to that specific field of interest. The subject matter of these merit badges vary wildly. Each merit badge has a specific list of requirements that must be completed by the scout, then reviewed by a qualified merit badge instructor and finally signed off by the Scoutmaster. Merit badges are worn on the scout’s sash as part of his class A uniform.

10. What is a Blue Card? 

A blue card is the document that the scouts and merit badge councilors complete once the merit badge requirements are met. The card has three parts. The first part is retained by the merit badge councilor. The second part is retained by the Council who records the scout’s completion of the badge. The third part is returned to the scout with the merit badge. The third portion of the blue card should be kept in a safe place as it becomes the scout’s proof of completion in the event that the merit badge of sash are lost.