Program Activity Positions

Event Planning

Event planning for Troop 455 is focused on the four Court of Honors we have each year. While the troop leadership handles the presentation and awards, we rely upon parent volunteers to coordinate refreshments. Please reach out to our Scoutmaster to learn more. 

Board of Review (BOR) Member

You can volunteer to serve on a Board of Review for rank advancement. This is a critical role in affirming the Scout's growth and understanding of the program's ideals, and is required for every rank after scout. Each BOR needs three adults, and we can't draw from our scoutmaster corp. During the year Troop 455 will typically do more than twenty BORs. We offer BORs Tuesday nights during the scout meeting. Each volunteer for a BOR is provided with a set of rank specific questions to help ensure even those with no scouting experience can help support this important step in each scout's journey. Please reach out to our Advancement Chair to learn more. 

Merit Badge Counselor

This is one of the most impactful, flexible roles. You share your knowledge, skills, or hobby (e.g., cooking, finance, law, first aid) with Scouts to help them earn specific merit badges. It's a registered position, but the time commitment is limited to the badge requirements. With over 100 merit badges ranging from climbing to first aid to graphic arts to photography there's something for everyone. Please reach out to our Advancement Chair to learn more. 

Skills Instructor or Subject Matter Expert

Have a unique skill that applies to scouting? Want to share that knowledge with the troop? Teach a specific Scout skill or rank requirement during a troop meeting, such as knot tying, first aid, fire safety, or map and compass. An example is requirement 9a for First Class rank: "Visit and discuss with a selected individual approved by your leader (for example, an elected official, judge, attorney, civil servant, principal, or teacher) the constitutional rights and obligations of a U.S. citizen. Please reach out to our Scoutmaster to learn more.

Trip Chaperone

A Trip Chaperone is any additional registered adult volunteer who attends the outing to assist the Trip Lead. Their role is to provide the required two-deep leadership and adult supervision, but they generally take their direction from the Trip Lead. Without enough chaperones, we can't have successful outings. Please reach out to our Outings Chair to learn more.

To be an trip chaperone you must be a Registered Adult Volunteer. Find out more here.

• Supervision: Provides direct adult oversight to ensure Scouts are following safety protocols and acting in accordance with the Scout Oath and Law, particularly on hikes or during activities.

• Driving/Logistics: Often responsible for transporting Scouts to and from the activity.

• Adult Patrol: Typically participate in the Adult Patrol, camping, cooking, and eating separately from the youth patrols to serve as a positive role model while allowing the Scouts to practice the youth-led Patrol Method.

• Non-Interference: Critically, the chaperone's role is to mentor and guide, not to lead or take over the Scout-planned activities (unless safety is a concern). They allow the youth leaders (like the Senior Patrol Leader and Patrol Leaders) to run the program.

Trip Lead

The Trip Lead is the single, designated adult leader who is ultimately responsible for the administrative planning and safety oversight for an outing outing. The trip lead is supported by our Outings Chair to help ensure everything goes smoothly. During the outing the trip lead is supported by the scoutmaster corp to assist with any safety or disciplinary matters. Please reach out to our Outings Chair to learn more.

To be an trip lead you must be a Registered Adult Volunteer. Find out more here.

• Planning & Logistics: Coordinates with the youth Senior Patrol Leader (SPL) to plan the agenda, confirms the location, secures necessary permits/reservations, and prepares the trip budget.

• Safety & Compliance: Ensures the outing follows all aspects of the Guide to Safe Scouting, including two-deep leadership (a minimum of two registered adult leaders) and required adult-to-Scout ratios.

• Administration: Collects all necessary paperwork, such as permission slips.

• Adult Patrol: Coordinates the Adult Patrol on an outing including identifying a grubmaster to provide food for the outing. 

Trailer Transport

Troop 455 is fortunate to have a troop trailer. The trailer can weigh approximately 2,500 pounds when fully loaded. Transporting the trailer to and from outings is crucial to enable our outings. If you have a vehicle that can tow the trailer please reach out to our Outings Chair to let us know you are an option. Even if you can't attend an outing, helping drop off and pick up the trailer is still incredibly useful and important. 

Committee Positions

If you're interested in any of the positions below please reach out to our Committee Chair to learn more. 

Troop Committee Chair

Lead and organize the committee. They preside over committee meetings, maintain a close relationship with the Scoutmaster, ensure all committee roles are filled and functional, and oversee the annual re-charter process.

Advancement

Encourages Scouts to advance and manages the entire advancement system. They maintain all official records, schedule and organize Boards of Review, process paperwork, and secure and distribute all earned badges and awards at Courts of Honor. 

Treasurer

Handles all troop funds. They create and manage the annual budget, pay bills authorized by the committee, maintain bank accounts, supervise fundraising efforts, and present a financial report at each committee meeting.

Fundraising - VACANT

Oversees all money-earning projects (e.g. pine straw sales), ensuring they follow Scouting America policies and meet the troop's financial goals.

Secretary

Keeps the official records for the committee. They take and distribute meeting minutes, send out notices, and manage official troop correspondence and sometimes troop publicity.

Outings Chair

Supports the youth leaders by coordinating all logistics for outings. This often includes securing camping reservations, completing necessary Tour Permits, and coordinating transportation (drivers and vehicles) for trips.

High Adventure Chair

Assists with the coordinating travel, insuring leaders have necessary training, and managing the crews. Troop 455 does a three year rotation between Sea Base, Philmont, and Northern Tier.

Camp Coordinator

Serves as the liaison with the council or camp staff to track deadlines and registration. Works closely with the Treasurer to collect and track all payments (deposits, final balances, activity fees) from Scouts and adult attendees. Manages the online for the entire troop, including Scout merit badge class sign-ups.

Equipment Coordinator - VACANT

Works with the youth Quartermaster to manage troop property. They maintain an inventory of all troop equipment (tents, cooking gear, tools, etc.), ensure proper storage, and coordinate repairs or replacement of broken items.

Service Project Chair - VACANT

Coordinates all troop-level community service efforts, ensuring Troop 455 fulfills its required service hours and commitment to the community. They are responsible for identifying, scheduling, and approving non-Eagle service opportunities, finding projects that are appropriate for Scouts of all ages and abilities. This role manages communication with outside organizations to arrange logistics, secure necessary permissions, and ensure proper record-keeping for all service activities. The chair promotes a culture of selfless service by providing meaningful chances for Scouts to live the Scout Oath and Law.

New Family Coordinator

Vital ambassador focused on integrating new Scouts and their parents into the troop community. They are responsible for welcoming new families, providing crucial orientation to troop policies and the patrol method, and ensuring all required paperwork is completed. A primary goal is to increase engagement by personally inviting parents to volunteer for specific tasks, leveraging their skills to support the troop. The key objective is to ensure every family feels informed, valued, and connected to the Scouting program.

Life to Eagle Advisor

Dedicated coach to Life Scouts, guiding them through the complex final phase of their advancement to the Eagle Scout rank. This volunteer provides essential mentorship by helping the scout create a clear timeline for completing merit badges and serving in their required leadership position. The advisor also helps the scout through the Eagle Scout Service Project, ensuring the project idea is viable and the meticulous paperwork (Project Workbook) is prepared correctly. They serve as a liaison, ensuring the Scout obtains all necessary unit and district/council approvals before starting the project and submitting the final application. Ultimately, the advisor ensures the scout meets every requirement and is well-prepared for the final Board of Review, but they never take over the Scout's leadership responsibilities.

Unit Training Coordinator

Essential for ensuring a safe and effective Scouting program by managing the training status of all adult volunteers and youth leaders. Their primary duty is tracking and promoting the completion of mandatory courses, particularly Safeguarding Youth Training (SYT) and position-specific training like IOLS. They also work with the Scoutmaster to organize and confirm that youth leaders receive training, such as Introduction to Leadership Skills for Troops (ILST), to foster a truly youth-led environment. By maintaining accurate training records and communicating upcoming opportunities, this coordinator ensures the unit's adult support structure remains compliant and knowledgeable.

Scoutmaster Corp

Scoutmaster

Adult leader directly responsible for the program of Troop 455, serving as the chief mentor, coach, and guide for the youth. Their primary role is to facilitate a youth-led troop, providing the young leaders (like the Senior Patrol Leader) with the training, tools, and support they need to plan and run the troop's activities, meetings, and outings. They are responsible for implementing the methods of Scouting to achieve its aims, which includes conducting Scoutmaster Conferences for rank advancement and serving as an ever-present, positive role model who upholds the Scout Oath and Law. Finally, the Scoutmaster ensures that all troop activities are conducted safely and adhere to the policies of both the organization and the chartered partner.

Assistant Scoutmaster

Extension of the Scoutmaster, directly supporting the troop's program and youth development. Their main function is to coach and advise the youth leaders, like the Senior Patrol Leader and Patrol Leaders, ensuring they successfully run the troop while only intervening when safety is a concern. ASMs often specialize in a program area, such as guiding the new Scout patrol, overseeing advancement efforts, or managing the logistics of outdoor activities. Crucially, they help fulfill the mandate for two-deep leadership, ensuring at least two registered adults are present at every event for safety compliance. By mentoring youth and providing specialized support, the Assistant Scoutmaster is key to running a safe, effective, and youth-led program.