Unit Parent Guides and By-Laws
Many units work off the philosophy that the only by-laws the unit needs are the
Oath or Promise, and Law. They may or may not create a parent guide to help answer
parent's questions about the unit. Other units incorporate additional rules, over
and above the BSA rules. Sometimes these rules are placed into additional documents.
In this page we will look at some example parent guides, unit handbooks and supporting
documentation that units have put together.
We encourage the use of a "Troop Guidebook" or "Pack Guidebook" that contains
information about the who what when where and how of the Troop. The BSA has a set
of by-laws and would prefer that units not use the expression "by-laws".
Some Guidelines
- Keep it short. Parent Guides that are longer than 15 pages will not be read.
If you have a lot to communicate, consider a short parent guide, and place additional
information into handouts for a particular activity. For example, instead of
incorporating a sample parent permission slip, and all the rules associated
with an outing, into the Parent Guide, simply say that there will be permission
slips issued prior to an outing and that no Scout can attend the outing without
one.
- Make the font at least 12 point (remember, we are all getting older). If
the guide is hard to read, it will not be read.
- Write it with the parent in mind. Try to anticipate the questions the parents
will have. Parent guides tend to be read by people just entering the unit. Ask
youself: What was it that I was concerned with when I joined the unit? For example,
tell a Boy Scout parent about uniforming, sleeping bags, and tenting. Don't
go into details about white water rafting, since a 11 year old won't be participating
in that activity.
- Don't let your program suffer. Paper is fine, but the boys are active in
Scouting because of the program. Don't get caught up in administrative details
at the expense of the program.
- Many Scouters advise not calling anything a by-law. That is an official
term that has a lot of hidden meaning. Call your handbook a 'guide'.
Examples
Here are a few links to parent guides created by a few units.
For more ideas for unit documents see our
US Scouting Document Library.
Originally Created by: Bill Nelson, Assistant District
Commissioner, Salt River District, Grand Canyon Council, Boy Scouts of America.
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