A Scouting Glossary

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 your bashful about asking.

Our main objective is to help those new to U.S. Scouting with new jargon so they can learn and understand the program. It is intended to supplement other official publications of the different programs. Basic Leader Training courses are highly recommended for those who need more information, for these definitions are not intended to be the last word on Scouting.

Should there be any discrepancies or missing terms, please E-Mail us. It is our wish to be as current as possible.

| A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z |

A

Advisor - A mature person, man or woman 21 years or older, who is appointed to lead a Venturing Post.

Akela - A name of respect for a good leader in Cub Scouting, such as Cubmaster, Den Leader, Den Chief, school teacher, or parent.

Alpha Phi Omega (APO) - A college service organization made up primarily of former and current members of BSA.

APL - Assistant Patrol Leader

Arrow of Light - The highest rank in U.S. Cub Scouting. It's the only Cub Scout rank that a Scout can wear on his Scout uniform.

ASM - Assistant Scoutmaster

ASPL - Assistant Senior Patrol Leader

B

B-P - Short for Lord Baden-Powell.

Baden-Powell, Lord Robert Stephenson Smyth - (1857-1940) Founder of the world-wide Scout Movement. As a British officer, he was sent to South Africa to defend Mafeking. To help teach the poorly prepared troops under his command how to live in the out-of-doors, he made up games he called "Stunts for Scouting." When he returned he wrote them into a book called Aids to Scouting that found their way into boy's hands. Thus started the Scout movement.

Bear - the third rank in Cub Scouting.

Beard, Daniel Carter - (1850-1914) Author, artist, conservationist, and naturalist, and one of the organizers of the Boy Scouts of America. He found the " The Sons Daniel Boone" and brought them into the scout movement. He was Mark Twain's illustrator.

Be Prepared - The Boy Scout Motto. When B-P was asked, "Be prepared for what?" He said "Why, for any old thing." One of the distinctive features of the scout movement introduced by B-P.

Be Square- Be fair and honest in all dealings with people. Part of the Cub Scout promise until 1970, when it became a derogatory remark.

Board of Review - One of the steps needed for advancement, where a boy scout is questioned, but not re-examined, by a group of scouts and scouters usually connected with the scout's own troop.

Boatswain - The elected youth leader of a Sea Scout ship.

Bobcat - The first rank of Cub Scouting (after Tiger Cubs); a newcomer to the Cub Scout program who is generally seven or eight-years-old.

Boyce, William D. - (1858-1929) The man who brought Scouting to America, and the main organizer of the Boy Scouts of America. He knew how to work with boys for he ran weekly publications that employed over 20,000 sales boys. And when he was helped in a London fog, by a Boy Scout who would not take pay for his service, he was impressed. He was so impressed that after talking with Baden-Powell, he brought the idea back to America. He also founded the "Lone Scouts."

Boy Scout - A registered male member of a nationally recognized Scout Program. In America, he is a registered member, who is 11 or has earned the Arrow of Light Award, or has completed the fifth grade, but not yet eighteen years of age. Also see SCOUT.

Boy Scouts of America - A national organization chartered by Congress to teach boys to become good citizens. Founded and incorporated on February 8, 1910.

Boy Scout Ranks (in order of increasing rank) - Scout, Tenderfoot, Second Class, First Class, Star, Life, Eagle, Eagle Palms: Bronze, Gold, Silver

Boys' Life Magazine - Official magazine, published monthly for all scouts belonging to the Boy Scouts of America. Began in 1912 by Joseph Lane as a part of a reading program for boys.

Bridging - A ceremony where Webelos Cub Scouts cross a ceremonial bridge to signify their transition from Cub Scouts to Boy Scouts. This is normally done at a Cub Scout Pack Meeting with Boy Scouts from the Webelos' new troop participating. This is NOT a graduation ceremony from Cub Scouts, it is rather an induction ceremony into Boy Scouts.

Brownsea - In order to test his theory on Boy Scouting, B-P selected twenty-one boys from every economic level to camp for one week on Brownsea Island off the southern coast of England in July, 1907. In this first scouting experiment B-P tried his ideas of scouting aims and methods. Now BSA calls a youth training "Brownsea" in honor of this event.

BSA - Short for the Boy Scouts of America.

C

Camp Fire - An evening activity where scouts gather for relaxation, fun, and song. There may be an actual fire, or not.

Camporee - A demonstration of camping by troops and patrols in which they camp for one or more days and nights.

Charter - Written permission given by a youth program or governing body to an sponsoring institution to form, organize and maintain a unit of the movement.

Chartered Organization - An entity chartered by a national scout organization to operate a unit of the movement.

Coach - A leader, 21 years or older, who works with Varsity Scouts, just a Scoutmaster does with Boy Scouts.

Commissioner - A volunteer Scouter who is the quality control person for the program at the unit, district, or council level.

Committee Chairperson - A registered adult appointed by the Charter Organization to chair the Troop Committee. Presides at Troop Committee meetings. Works closely with the Charter Organization Rep (COR) and Scoutmaster (SM) to ensure the scouting program meets BSA guidelines.

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

Council - A unit responsible for a number of districts in the same geographical area. It organizes training courses, summer camps, and other events as needed. It responsible membership, advancement, and records for its units and members.

Court of Honor - A public ceremony at which a scout is awarded the rank or badges he or she has earned.

Cracker Barrel- A scout term for a social gathering and refreshments after a meeting or activity.

Crew - The working group within Venturing Posts of BSA, like a den or patrol.

Cubmaster - An adult leader of a Cub Scout Pack, who usually runs a pack meeting.

Cub Scout - A registered male member of the Boy Scouts of America who is six to ten years of age.

D

Den - A small neighborhood group of Cub Scouts, who meet weekly.

Den Chief - A Boy Scout who leads Cub Scouts in their den activities and helps the Den Leader.

Den Leader - A leader of a den who plans and conducts den meetings, whose back yard or home the Den commonly meets.

Denner - A cub Scout who is the leader of his den, generally selected by the den members.

Distinguished Eagle Award - Presented to Eagle Scouts who has distinguished themselves in a career of public life at least 25 years after earning their rank. Some who have earned it are; President Gerald Ford, Apollo astronaut Neil Armstrong and Astronaut James Lovell Jr..

District - A geographical entity within a local council, that meets monthly to over see the operation of local units.

District Executive - A professional Scouter responsible for district (or districts) within a local council.

E

Eagle Scout - The highest rank in the Boy Scouts of America. The scout has earned 21 Merit badges, planned and conducted a service project, has learn to be equipped to take care of others, has lived the scout ideals and has essentially learned to take care of himself. First Eagle Badge, 1911, show in image on right.

Explorer - A registered member of the Boy Scouts of America, sixteen years of age or older that is in a special interest post. Can be of either gender.

F

Fast Start - A video training tape for U.S. Boy Scout Leaders.

Field Signals- Signals that a scout leader makes with his arms and hands to form formations and request order from his unit without using his voice. Most common one in Boy Scouting is the Scout Sign when used to request quiet or attention in a meeting room.

First Class Scout - The third rank in the Boy Scout program of the Boy Scouts of America

Fleur-de-lis - Lily or iris flower; the shape of the Scout Badge.

FOS - Friends of Scouting - annual fund raiser for the council. The council does not get any share of your registration fee and is grateful for your donation.

G

Gilwell Training Center - An international Scout Training Center in England founded by Lord Baden-Powell. Woodbadge Training was started here, and where ever one is held world wide, it's honorary called "Gilwell."

Good Turn - An act of service to someone else without expecting a reward or praise. It is the main part of the scout slogan, "Do a good turn Daily," which is one of the distinctive features of the scout movement introduced by B-P.

Green Bar Bill - William Hillcourt's nick name, because he wrote the Patrol Leader's column in the Official Boy's Life magazine for five decades. The Green bars are from the two green bars found on the patrol leaders patch.

Grubmaster - A scout who buys, stores and distributes the food for a patrol activity.

H

Handclasp - The scout handshake is made with the left hand, the hand nearest the heart. Known as the hand of friendship. Whether in uniform or not, all scouts and guides world wide use it as a form of greeting.

HAT - High Adventure Training - Training classes to prepare adults and older youth leaders to plan, lead, and supervise High Adventure Activities such as backpacking, white water, rappelling, wilderness first aid, etc.

Hikemaster - A member of a patrol appointed by the Patrol Leader to locate and lead hikes.

Hiking Staff, Hiking stave - A walking tool used for outdoor travel.

Hillcourt, William (1900-1992)- A native of Denmark, author of 12 scouting handbooks. Became National Director of Scoutcraft.

Hornaday Award - An award given to Boy Scouts or Scouters who have devoted their life to conservation and the preservation of wildlife.

I

International Conference - A conference for leaders involved World Scouting. Held every two years to maintain the high standards of Scouting, and exchange methods and techniques.

Interpreter strip - A badge that scouts or Scouters can wear who are proficient in more than one language, including the sign language for the deaf.

J

Jamboree - A big world or national camping event which brings together Scouts from every corner of the world or nation. Each is held every four years.

Jamboree On The Air (JOTA) - Scouting and ham radio join forces to make many international contacts through the "air" waves. Traditionally the 3rd weekend in October.

Junior Assistant Scoutmaster (JASM) - An older youth, who may still be working on rank, that aids the scoutmaster as an assistant.

Jungle Book, The - Written by Rudyard Kipling (1865-1936), The Jungle Book tells the story of Mowgli and the wolf pack, and is the story the B-P used as the basis for Cub Scouting.

K

Kim's Game - A game requiring a keen eye and memory. Played by first studying twenty or so articles on a tray, then retiring to make a list of what's on the tray. From Rudyard Kipling's story Kim.

Klondike Derby - A winter/snow oriented camporee. Overnight camping experience in the snow with team building games and activities.

Kudu Horn - A long spiral horn from an African deer like animal, made into a wind instrument. First used on Brownsea Island to call the patrols together, its use is now traditional.

L

Law of the Pack - Four ideals for U.S. Cub Scouts to try to follow every day.

Learning for Life - A BSA program that is classroom and worksite based. This new program helps youth of both genders to successfully handle the problems of life.

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 (as revised) lists the leadership positions that qualify.

Life Saving Awards - A committee call the National Court of Honor, awards the following awards for saving or attempting to save a life; Honor Medal, Medal of Merit, Medal for Heroism, and the Honor Medal with Crossed Palms.

Life Scout - The fifth rank in the BSA.

Lion Scout - The old fourth rank in U.S. Cub Scouting that was replaced in 1967 by the Webelos badge.

Living Circle - A den ceremony in which Cub Scouts form a circle, while their left hands hold the thumbs of the scout on their left and they make a cub Scout sign with their right hands.

Lone Scout, Lone Cub - A boy who follows the Scout program as an individual with out membership in a troop or pack.

M

Merit Badge - An award for U.S. boy scouts for completing requirements in one of 120 career and hobby fields.

Merit Badge Counselor - An expert in the field of a merit badge that helps a scout complete the badge.

N

National Council - The corporate entity of the movement, that has been given rights by a national governing body to administer the Scout program.

National Office - 1325 W. Walnut Hill Lane, Irving, Texas, 75015.

National Eagle Scout Association (NESA) - An association for Scouts and former Scouts who have earned the Eagle Award.

Neckerchief- A bandana that is smartly worn around the neck of a scout, which is secured by a neckerchief slide. One of the distinctive features of the scout movement introduced by B-P.

O

Order of the Arrow (OA) - BSA's national brotherhood of honor campers which promotes Scouting's outdoor programs. Found in 1915, by E. Urner Goodman. To be eligible for membership, a scout must prove his camping and scouting ability.

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

P

Pack - A group of dens in Cub Scouting; the unit that conducts the Cub Scout program for the chartered organization.

Palms, Eagle - After a scout reaches the rank of Eagle, they can earn a Palm for every 5 additional Merit Badges they complete. You may wear only the proper combination of Palms for the number of merit badges you earned beyond the 21 required for the rank of Eagle. The Bronze Palm represents five merit badges, the Gold Palm 10, and the Silver Palm 15. For example a scout with 20 additional Merit Badges would wear a Silver and a Bronze Palm.

Patrol - Subdivision of a Boy Scout troop, usually with five to ten members. It meets together for activities and elects its own boy leaders.

Patrol Leader - The elected leader of the patrol.

Patrol Leaders Council (PLC) - Made up of the youth leadership of the troop. They meet once a month to plan the following months activities and annually to plan the upcoming year.

Paul Bunyan's Axemen - A double-bitted axe patch that can be earned in BSA by those boys skilled in using and caring for an ax.

Pedro - The burro mascot of Boy's Life.

Phillips, Waite (1883-)- A Wealthy Oklahoma oil man who is best known for giving BSA Philmont Scout Ranch. He also provided income for maintaining the property from the Philtower office building in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Philmont Scout Ranch- It's 137,000 acres of wild country was gift to BSA by Waite Phillips. Later he gave 91,000 acres more so that the scouts could have best backpacking, horseback riding, mountain climbing, and other outdoor adventures around. There are more than 10 base camps, and fourteen trail camps that individuals or troops can enjoy. Training courses are held for Scouters, both volunteers and professionals. Families are welcome along for a businessman's holiday. A trek at Philmont is called a Philtrek.

Post - The unit that conducts the Venturing program for the chartered organization. A unit of 16 to 21 year old male (or female) scouts.

Pow Wow- A one-day training conference, held annually, for Cub Scout leaders.

President-elect - The top elected volunteer of the Boy Scouts of America.

Q

Quartermaster - A troop or Patrol officer who looks after the equipment and meeting place; The highest award in Sea Scouting.

R

Rank - In scouting, positions of degrees earned by passing tests.

Recharter - 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.

Region- one of the geographical administrative units of a national program.

Registration- All individuals of the movement must be listed in an entry in a register of members. Generally done by form.

Religious Awards- To aid a Scout in his duty to God, churches and synagogues have developed awards for the Scouts of their faith. These are not Scout awards or metals but may be worn on the Scout uniform, along with a special Knot patch issued by BSA. Some of them are; "Ad Altare Dei" for the Catholic Faith, "Ner Tamid" for the Jewish, "Pro Deo et Patria" for the Lutheran, "God and Country" for the Protestant, and the Mormon's have their "Faith in God," and "On my Honor Awards."

Rockwell, Norman (-1978)- He was the main illustrator for BSA for over 60 years. He became the visual spokesman for the movement, defining scouting for the nation. He started with BSA in the fall of 1920, with a commission to do an illustration for Boys Life. Nearly every year from 1925 to 1976, he illustrated the annual Boy Scout calendar. He was honored with the Silver Buffalo. He was famous for his art outside Scouting too.

Roundtable - A program-planning and morale-building meeting of adult leaders, usually held monthly on a district level.

S

Salt Training - The basic Scoutmaster/Assistant Scoutmaster Training. Also known as 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. Also known as Blue Oak and Acorn

Schiff, Mortimer (-1931)- One of the founders of the Boy Scouts of America. He was an International Commissioner and National President of the movement. His mother gave the land for the Schiff Scout Reservation to BSA as a memorial to him and his father John M. Mortimer.

Scout - The word means one who listens, from the French word "to listen." B-P said that the term Scout means "the work and attributes of Backwoodsmen, explorers, seaman, airmen, pioneers, and frontiersman." So with a scheme to make his new program with character building appeal to boys (and girls), he gave it a name to draw them. "Scout" is now synonymous with his program.

Scout Badge- The design of the Scout Badge is the north sign on the mariner's compass. It is used by all scouts, with only slight changes. Called by many names, the Fleur-de-lis, trefoil, or arrowhead shape was one of the distinctive features of the world scout movement introduced by B-P. It means that a Scout can point the right way in life as truly as a compass can in the field.

Scoutcraft - The act of being a scout.

Scouter - a registered member of a scout group, who is 18 years-of-age or older, who serves as a leader for the movement.

Scout Executive- A full-time professional director of a local council.

Scouting - The activities of the scout program.

Scouting for Food - National Good Turn: Every year, Scouts collect food for the fight against hunger. Bags for canned food are distributed on a Saturday in November and then collected the following Saturday. The food is turned over to local food banks for distribution to needy families. This is a national "Good Turn" of the Boy Scouts of America. Food distribution centers rely on this huge influx of food right before the Thanksgiving holidays.

Scoutmaster - The registered adult leader of a Boy Scout Troop. This volunteer is the key man in a Boy Scout Troop.

Scoutmaster Conference - A formal meeting that takes place at a Troop meeting or activity between a Scout and the Scoutmaster, or a person he designates, to review a scout’s progress. A Scoutmaster Conference takes place at advancement time before a Board of Review, when a Scout requests it or if the Scoutmaster feels the Scout needs it.

Scout Motto- "BE PREPARED".

Scout Oath and Law - Two of the codes of conduct expected of a Scout.

Scout-O-Rama - A fair like activity where Scouts demonstrate their skills and scoutcraft for the general public.

Scout Participation - Needed for rank in BSA, it means a scout attends scout meetings, wears his uniform correctly, and shows Scout spirit.

Scout Signs - The signs that show you belong to the world brotherhood of Scouting; the Scout sign, the Scout salute and the Scout handclasp.

Scouts Own - Non-denominational religious observance of reflection usually conducted on campouts. Allows each Scout the opportunity to obey the twelfth point of the Scout Law in his own way. Please, let us know if you do not want your son to participate in this activity, as we wish to respect every family's religious beliefs.

Scout Slogan - "Do a Good Turn Daily".

Scout Spirit- The way a scout tries to live up to the Scout Oath, Law, Slogan, and motto in his everyday life.

Scout Week- A week that brackets the birth date of scout program. BSA's is observed in February (Feb. 8) each year, with window displays of Scoutcraft and Blue and Gold Banquets for the Cub Scouts.

Scribe - The keeper of the patrol or troop records or log.

Sea Scout - A registered member of a U.S. Sea Explorer ship; first termed Sea Scouting in 1912. It was the first branch of Scouting for the older boy, and was started by Arthur A. Carey.

Second Class Scout - The second rank in BSA

Senior Patrol Leader (SPL) - The key elected boy leader over a troop. His duties include Troop administration, and those assigned to him by the Scoutmaster.

Seton, Ernest Thompson - (1860-1946) One of the Organizers for the Boy Scouts of America. English born, he immigrated to Canada, then moved to the United States. He was an artist, illustrator, naturalist, and fiction writer. He organized the " Woodcraft Indians" and brought them into the scout movement, but because of a clash of personalities, he left scouting in 1916. He wrote the First U.S. Handbook for Boys.

SFBAC - San Francisco Bay Area Council covers the cities of San Francisco, Daly City, Oakland, Emeryville, San Leandro, Hayward, Fairview, Castro Valley, Cherryland, Ashland, San Lorenzo, Fremont, Newark, Union City, Livermore, Pleasanton, Sunol, and Dublin in San Francisco and Alameda counties. Other councils in the greater bay area include Alameda, Pacific Skyline, Santa Clara County, Mount Diablo Silvarado, Marin, and Monterey Bay Area. Councils are subdivided into districts

Ship - A chartered Unit of five or more Scouts specializing in seamanship.

Silver Award - The highest award that a Venturer can earn in the Boy Scouts of America.

Silver Beaver Award - An award to Scouters made by the National Council for noteworthy service to boyhood by a registered Scouter within a Council.

Squad - a patrol of about eight Varsity Scouts.

Star Scout - the fourth rank in BSA.

T

Team - The unit that conducts the Varsity Scout program for the sponsoring organization.

Tenderfoot - The first rank in Boy Scouting.

Tiger Cub Scout- A registered male member of the Boy Scouts of America who is six or seven years of age, who with an adult partner participates in a monthly activity with other Tiger Cubs.

Totem - An emblem or design indicating the name or nick of the patrol, den or person. First used by American Indians for a person or clan.

Totin' Chip - A card that enables the bearer to use knives, axes, and saws. It must be earned by the Scout through educational and hands-on safety sessions led by an adult leader or older scout appointed by the scoutmaster. Any time a Scout is observed doing something unsafe with a sharp tool, a corner is cut off his Totin' Chip card. When all four corners are gone, the card is taken away and must be re-earned.

Tour Permit - A document that must be filed with the council office before any official scouting activity can take place. Special permits are required for travel out-of-state, over 500 miles, or for flying activities.

Troop - The unit that conducts the Boy Scout Program for the chartered organization.

Troop Committee - Adult 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 is responsible to provide the necessary resources requested by the PLC and Scoutmaster that are required to carry out the scouting program. The Troop Committee meets each month generally on the 3rd Tuesday of the month. All registered adults are part of the Troop Committee, key members include the Committee Chair, Treasurer, Secretary, Outdoor Chair, Advancement Chair, Membership Chair, Adult Quartermaster, and Fund Raising Chair.

U

Unit Committee - A group of adults appointed by the sponsoring organization to administer the affairs of the unit.

Unknown Scout - The unidentified Scout of England who performed the Good Turn which brought Scouting to America.

V

Varsity Scout - A registered male member of a BSA Scout Team, 14-17 years-of-age.

Veteran Scout - A registered Scouter who has been active in BSA, either as a youth or adult, for at least five years.

W

Webelos - The Cub Scout den for ten year-old boys, that prepares them to become Boy Scouts. It means "We'll be loyal Scouts," and comes from the words Wolf, Bear, Lion, and Scout, the earlier ranks of Cub Scouting.

Webelos Scout - A cub Scout who is 10 years-of-age and is preparing to become a Boy Scout.

West, James E. (1876-1948)- He was the first Chief Scout Executive, who first took the job on a temporary basis but stayed for 32 years. He was orphaned at age six and crippled at age seven while in the orphanage. He worked his way through law school and became a crusading attorney for the rights of children. He is credited with building BSA from a struggling organization into a household name.

Winter Awareness Training - A class held on a Saturday in early December at which scouts, and adult leaders, learn about cold weather camping. This course is put on by the OA youth members. In Troop 103 if a scout wishes to attend any winter campout he must attend this one-day training course.

Wolf - The universal Cub Scout symbol; the second rank in U.S. Cub Scouting.

Woodbadge Training - A training course adapted from the famous Gilwell Wood Badge Course by B-P. The badge is two beads on a thong worn around the neck.

World Friendship Fund- Funds administered by BSA to aid Scout associations around the world.

World Scout office-Box 241, 1211 Geneva 4, Switzerland. Tel. (+41 22) 705-1010.

X

There are currently no Scouting Terms that begin with the letter X.

Y

There are currently no Scouting Terms that begin with the letter Y.

Z

There are currently no Scouting Terms that begin with the letter Z.