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Scouts BSA Troop Meeting Visit

The Arrow of Light is the highest rank in Cub Scouts. It is a special rank because it helps Cub Scouts get ready for Scouts BSA. Earning the Arrow of Light means a Scout has learned many skills that will help them as they move up. It is an important step in a Scout’s journey.

To earn the Arrow of Light, Cub Scouts have to complete a list of requirements. One of these requirements is a Scouts BSA troop meeting visit. They are usually supposed to go with their Arrow of Light den. This gives them a chance to see what Scouts BSA is all about.

James sent in this question:

My son has earned his Webelos badge and is working on AOL . all he has left to do for his AOL is with your den attend one boy scout troop meeting . The other boys in his den have barely got there badge req. done (they are not as into cub scouts as my son )

MY question is does he have to wait until the whole den is ready to visit a troop meeting or is that something he can do in order to get is arrow of light . seems kinda unfair to him that they are not progressing as fast as him . If he got permission from his den leader to visit a troop meeting with out the den would that be ok.

Not all Scouts work at the same speed. Some Scouts finish their requirements quickly. They are eager to move forward. Other Scouts take more time. They might need extra help or might not be as interested yet. It is common for Scouts to finish at different times.

Parents often ask, “Does my AOL Scout have to wait for the rest of the den to finish before the troop meeting visit?” This is a good question. Many parents want to know if their Scout can move ahead, even if the rest of the den is not ready yet. It can be confusing to know what to do next.

Can My Scout Attend a Troop Meeting Alone?

Usually, Arrow of Light Scouts go to the troop meeting together as a den. This helps them learn and share the experience as a group. But sometimes, one Scout is ready before the others. If this happens, the Scout may be able to go to the troop meeting on his own.

Before doing this, the Scout must ask the den leader for permission. The den leader will decide if a solo Troop meeting visit will count for the Arrow of Light. The rules are flexible, so it is possible for one Scout to attend without the rest of the den.

It is very important to check the den leader first. This ensures that the Troop meeting visit can count toward the requirement. This way, your Scout can keep moving forward without waiting for the others to catch up.

Staying in touch with the den leader is key. The den leader will make sure your Scout is on track, meeting the requirements, and completing all the steps for Arrow of Light. It’s fine if a Scout is ahead of the others, as long as they follow the proper steps.

Invite the Whole Den to the Troop Meeting

Even if your Scout is ready first, it’s a good idea to invite the whole den to the meeting. You can plan a Troop meeting visit for everyone. Your Scout might be the only one who attends, but at least the invitation is open to all. Sometimes, seeing a troop in action can get other Scouts excited and more involved.

A Troop meeting visit is a fun part of earning the Arrow of Light. It gives Cub Scouts a chance to see what Scouts BSA is like. Even if some of the other Scouts aren’t ready yet, they might still want to come along just to check it out.

Planning more than one Troop meeting visit is also a good idea. Multiple visits help Cub Scouts get to know the troop better. The more familiar they are with the troop, the easier the transition will be.

Going as a group can also make the experience more fun. It gives all the AOL Scouts a chance to ask questions and learn together. This makes moving from Cub Scouts to Scouts BSA smoother for everyone.

Scouts Progress at Different Speeds

Not all Scouts will finish their requirements at the same time. Some Scouts move through them quickly. Others take a little longer. This is perfectly normal. Scouting is about personal growth, but it’s also about working together as a group.

Sometimes, a Scout needs to work alone to move forward. If a Scout is ready, it’s OK to take the next step, like attending a Troop meeting visit. Other times, it helps to work as a team, especially when the whole den can learn together.

Both individual progress and group activities are important in Scouting. Each Scout should grow at their own pace. At the same time, it’s important to support the den as a whole.

Finding a balance between moving forward on your own and working with the group is key. Both approaches help a Scout learn and grow in different ways. Both are part of the Scouting experience.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does my Scout have to wait for the whole den to visit a troop?

No, your Scout can attend a troop meeting visit on his own if the den leader agrees. Just make sure to ask for permission first.

Will a solo troop meeting visit count for Arrow of Light?

Yes, if the den leader says it is OK, a solo troop meeting visit can count toward the Arrow of Light requirements.

Can we plan a troop meeting visit for the whole den?

Yes, it’s a great idea to invite the whole den to the troop meeting visit. Even if only a few Scouts attend, it helps everyone learn more about Scouts BSA.

What if my Scout is the only one ready to visit a troop?

That’s fine! Your Scout can still attend the troop meeting visit with permission from the den leader. The others can catch up when they are ready.

Can my Scout visit more than one troop meeting?

Yes, your Scout can attend more than one troop meeting visit. Multiple visits help AOL Scouts get to know the troop better before joining Scouts BSA.

Ready, Set, Troop!

When Cub Scouts work toward their Arrow of Light, one of the requirements is to attend a troop meeting visit. This gives Scouts a chance to see what Scouts BSA is like and helps them get ready to cross over. Normally, the den visits the troop together. However, sometimes one Scout is ready before the others.

If your Scout is ready, it is possible for them to attend a troop meeting visit on their own. The key is to ask the den leader for permission. If the leader agrees, the meeting will count for the Arrow of Light. This way, your Scout can keep making progress without waiting for the rest of the den.

It’s also a good idea to invite the whole den, even if not all Scouts are ready. This could help the other AOL Scouts get excited and want to move forward, too. Whether they go together or alone, the goal is to help Cub Scouts make a smooth transition to Scouts BSA.

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Comments

3 responses to “Scouts BSA Troop Meeting Visit: Ensure Success in 2025”

  1. Scoutmom2 Avatar
    Scoutmom2

    Ask the Den Leader to set up Troop meeting visits with area Boy Scouts. If the Den Leader is not interested or wants to wait, then you can contact local troops and set up visits. Once your child has received his Arrow of Light and meets all requirements for Boy Scouts, he can join a troop at that time. It has been done.
    My son is a Super 20 Achiever and is very into Scouting. Almost lost him as some parents did not want him to get his badges for things he finished and wanted him to wait for other boys to earn them. Not my son’s fault if you do not bring your child to meetings or to the activities to earn them. So they held onto some of the badges until right before he bridged. Although he earned the Arrow of Light in November, it was not awarded to him until late March. It felt like it was being held hostage so he could not go ahead and join the Boy Scouts. My son went to every Boy Scout outing that he could find to keep interested.
    If this is what he is experiencing, then set up troop visit, have the Scout Master for the troop sign off in his book that your son was present at the meeting. Take it to your Den Leader and ask for him to submit Arrow of Light requirement met, have DL sign off in son’s book that all requirements have been completed. If your son meets the requirements for Boy Scouts – then join a troop. Your son should not be held back due to other’s disinterest in Scouting.

  2. Scoutmaster Shawn Avatar
    Scoutmaster Shawn

    There is no reason that you have to wait for the rest of the den…if you and your son want to do 18 visits, then so be it.

    On another note, as the den leader, you are *not* obligated to set up any meetings for your den. If you set up a visit, put out the blanket invite for all the Scouts in your den to attend. If they show up, they show up.

    If they don’t make it, then some time down the road decide they want to attend a Boy Scout Troop meeting, I would say your duty ends at providing the Scout and his family, the contact information for the Troop, and nothing more.

    Any unit that “holds” advancement is in the wrong. All BSA literature talks about Immediate Recognition. If the work is done, it’s done, and it’s not anyone else’s place to question when a Scout says the work is done. A Scout is Trustworthy.

    My troop offers many chances for visits and activities. Actually, I encourage Webelos to visit us whenever they want. We do have a couple Webelos-specific opportunities, but for the most part, we want them to see how we operate from a day-to-day perspective. No canned presentations for us.

  3. Heather Avatar
    Heather

    We had a den leader that held onto the AoL award until everyone else was done too. It wasn’t fair to my son either. But in order for him to get that award, he had to wait until the Blue and Gold Banquet before he could join the Troop. We also had to keep attending den meetings, even though he had earned all 20 activity badges too, or he would not be considered “active”. I too felt like he was being punished. He was upset because that meant he could not start working on the computers merit badge before the December 31 deadline. But we did not have a choice. To keep his interest going, we checked out quite a few Troops and went on a few camp outs. We went to a few Troop meetings of the Troop he wanted to join, so all the boys knew him before he officially joined the Troop. He is much happier now and has earned his Scout rank and is egging on the rest of his patrol to earn theirs (he crossed over at the end of February this year.). He is quite the motivator.

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