As in any organization, acronyms and unfamiliar terms are often used that can be confusing. Does your son return from a Scouting activity and seem to be speaking a foreign language? Do you note some strange words on a flyer or calendar? This page is an effort to help define some of the more frequently used terms. If someone uses a term you are not familiar with, simply ask them to explain it (we too all had to learn it somewhere) or sneak a glance at this glossary if you're bashful about asking.

Acorn Training / A.L.T.

The basic Adult Leader Training. Although this is sometimes called Scoutmaster Fundamentals, this is an excellent training program for any adult wanting to become more involved in the Boy Scout program, or who just wants to learn more about how the program works.

A.P.L. - Assistant Patrol Leader

Assists the patrol leader and represents him in his absence.

A.S.M. - Assistant Scoutmaster

Assists the Scoutmaster (S.M.) in providing adult guidance for the troop.

A.S.P.L. - Assistant Senior Patrol Leader

Assists the senior patrol leader (S.P.L.) in troop leadership.

Baden-Powell

Lord Robert S. S. Baden-Powell was the founder of the Scouting movement. The Baden-Powell training program is designed to get new Scouts the basic Scout skills and help them advance to First Class.

Board of Review - B.O.R.

As a requirement for each rank advancement a Scout must appear individually before a group of three to six adults (members of troop committee) to ensure that the Scout has met the requirements for that rank.  A Board of Review takes place after a Scoutmaster Conference for rank advancement.

Boy Scout Ranks

(In order of increasing rank)

• Scout
• Tenderfoot
• Second Class
• First Class
• Star
• Life
• Eagle
• Eagle Palms: Bronze, Gold, Silver

B.S.A.

Boy Scouts of America

Camporee

Weekend campout put on by the district. Usually there are various competitions between the patrols attending. These are generally held in the spring and fall.

Charter Presentation

A formal ceremony at which the charter, Scouter commissions, and membership certificates are presented to organization authorities and members of the unit.

Charter Renewal

Annual process of re-registering the troop, Scouts and Scouters. Each unit designates leaders to collect the information and present updated paperwork to the council at the charter presentation.

Chartered Organization

The organization that is officially chartered by the Boy Scouts of America to carry out the Scouting program. The main liaison between the chartered organization and the troop is the chartered organization rep (C.O.R.).  Our chartered organization is the First United Methodist Church in Garland, Texas.

Circle Ten Council

National Boy Scouts of America is sub-divided into regions, then councils. Ours is Circle 10 and covers Northern Texas from Dallas County, east to Heath, south to Athens and north into Bryan County in Oklahoma.

Commissioner

Adult volunteers working at district or council level. Unit Commissioners are assigned to units and should be a friendly resource to the unit leaders.

Committee Chair

A registered adult appointed by the C.O.R. to chair the troop committee. Presides at troop committee meetings. Works closely with the C.O.R. and Scoutmaster to ensure the Scouting program meets C.P.A. guidelines. Our current committee chair is Mr. Kevin Richards.

C.O.P.E.

Challenging Outdoor Personal Experience. (Boy Scout activity involving heights, problem solving, trust, and team building).

C.O.R.

Chartered Organization Representative - A person assigned by the chartered organization to be the liaison between the troop and the chartered organization.  Our current C.O.R. is Mr. Jack Troutt

Council

A regional division of the B.S.A. that provides support to local Scouting units. Troop 57 is a member of the Gray Owl District, which in turn is part of the Circle 10 Council.

Court of Honor - C.O.H.

An awards ceremony held twice each year at which Scouts (and sometimes Scouters) are recognized for their rank advancements, merit badges earned, and other awards.

District

A subdivision of a council. Troop 57 is a member of the Gray Owl District, which is in turn part of Circle 10 Council.

F.O.S. - Friends of Scouting

Friends of Scouting is an annual fund raiser for the council. Registration and activity fees collected at the troop level remain to support the troop. F.O.S. is one of the ways that the council funds its operations.

Gray Owl District

Troop 57's district which covers Garland, Heath, Rockwall, Rowlett and Sachse.

Jamboree

Scout meeting or camp out on a grand scale. There are national and international jamborees.

Jamboree on the Air

Scouting and ham radio join forces to make many international contacts through the "air waves."  Traditionally the 3rd weekend in October.

J.A.S.M. - Junior Assistant Scoutmaster

A Scout aged 16 or 17 who has already held major leadership positions within the troop. Appointed by the Scoutmaster to help in guiding the troop and other youth leaders.

Leadership

To advance in the more senior ranks, a Scout must hold a leadership position for a set period of time. The rank requirements in the Boy Scout Handbook lists the leadership positions that qualify.

N.E.S.A. - National Eagle Scout Association

The National Eagle Scout Association is open to any youth or adult who attained the rank of Eagle Scout.

O.A. - Order of the Arrow

A national brotherhood of Scout honor campers of the Boy Scouts of America. Members are elected by their peers after meeting basic requirements of camping knowledge and experience. The main focus of the O.A. is service to Scouting.

Ordeal

The initiation ceremony experience for new O.A. members generally involving personal introspection, service to improve camp or trail and ceremonies based on American Indian legend or lore.

Patrol

The patrol is the basic unit within a troop. Made up of 4-8 Scouts who camp, cook and eat together and work as a team at various activities and events.

Patrol Leader

The elected leader for the patrol. He appoints an assistant patrol leader (A.P.L.) to help in running the patrol.

P.L.C. - Patrol Leaders Council

Made up of the youth leadership of the troop and chaired by the senior patrol leader. They meet once a month to plan the upcoming activities for the troop and to make decisions regarding troop policy and direction, with guidance and assistance from the Scoutmaster as needed.  The P.L.C. constitutes the true leadership and decision-making body of the troop.

Philmont

Philmont Scout Ranch, located near Cimmarron, New Mexico.  The 'holy grail' of high adventure in Scouting.  Each summer, crews of up to 12 Scouts and Scouters go on wilderness treks consisting of 11 days/10 nights of backpacking, hiking, camping and high adventure.  In 1998, Troop 57 sent two 12-man crews to Philmont where we hiked approximately 70 miles and climbed as high as 12,000 feet. Troop 57 goes as often as possible, but positions are limited and distributed by Circle Ten, lottery-style. Scouts must be at least 14 years old to participate.

Re Charter

Retired term. See Charter Renewal.

Roundtable

Monthly meeting run by the district for leaders to exchange ideas, fellowship and a few announcements..  Roundtable for the Gray Owl District occurs on the first Thursday of the month and is held just north of the Troop Room in downtown Garland.

Scout House/Scout Hut

See Troop Room.

Scouter

Any registered Adult Leader.

Scoutmaster (S.M.)

Adult leader who trains and guides the youth leaders in carrying out the Scouting program. One or more Assistant Scoutmasters (A.S.M.) help the Scoutmaster and are often assigned specific roles and duties. Our current Scoutmaster is Mr. Robert Garrett.

Scoutmaster Conference

A formal meeting between a Scout and the Scoutmaster (or his designee). A Scoutmaster Conference is required prior to any rank advancement to review a Scout's progress and records. It may also occur when a Scout requests it, or if the Scoutmaster feels the Scout needs it.

Scouting for Food

A "good turn" event. Bags for canned food are distributed to neighborhood homes on the first Saturday in February, and then collected on the second Saturday. The food is turned over to local food banks for distribution to needy families in the local community. This is a national event of the Boy Scouts of America.

Scout-O-Rama/Scout Show

Large Scouting event. Cub Scout packs, Boy Scout troops, Varsity teams and Venturing crews display some of their favorite activities. Scouts help out their units and also get time to visit other units' displays.

Scouts' Own

Retired term for Scouts' worship service at camp.

S.P.L. - Senior Patrol Leader

The senior-most elected youth leader of the troop. The S.P.L. is in charge of the troop at all functions and activities including the P.L.C. He appoints one or more assistant senior patrol leaders (A.S.P.L.) to help him in running the troop.

Tour Permit

A document that must be filed with the council office before any official Scouting activity can take place. Tour Permits ensure that the troop and its members are covered by Scout insurance during the activity.

Troop Committee

Committee of registered adults that provide oversight, assistance and guidance to the Scoutmaster in carrying out the Scouting program within the troop. The troop Committee, led by the Committee Chair, is responsible for providing the necessary resources requested by the P.L.C. and Scoutmaster that are required to carry out the Scouting program. The troop Committee meets each month, generally on the first Monday of the month following Roundtable.

Troop Room

Our meeting place, located in the basement of the First United Methodist Church building on Avenue B in Garland.

Wood Badge

Advanced Training for Boy Scout adult leaders. Any Adult Leader who has taken Scoutmaster Fundamentals (Acorn / A.L.T. Training) can attend this advanced training course to expand their knowledge of the Scouting program and be of more help to the troop.

For a more extensive list, refer to Scouting.org.