How to Join Troop 541

Scouts:

  1. Complete the following three documents:
    • Scouts BSA Application form - You can either complete this application form and turn it in with your other documents and payment, or you can apply online and pay national BSA fees at that time.
    • Troop 541 Family Contact Form - We want to know the best way to contact you should the need arise.
    • BSA Medical Record Form - Parts A & B are needed before the Scout can participate on weekend events. Part C will also be required for the Scout to attend summer camp.
  2. Pay the remaining portion of the registration fee either via Venmo to fundraising@troop541.com or with a check made out to Troop 541. The payment will be:
    • $40 if you paid the national fees, which total $110, online or if the youth is already registerd with the BSA, i.e. crossing over from Cub Scouts or transferring from another troop. Includes the following:
      • Troop 541 dues for the balance of the calendar year
      • Scout Handbook
      • Troop 541 neckerchief and slide
      • Council, Troop, and Patrol patches
    • $150 If the youth is new to Scouting and you didn't pay the national fees online. Includes the following:
      • One time National BSA new Scout fee
      • One year National BSA registration fee
      • One year subscription to Scouts Life magazine
      • Troop 541 dues for the balance of the calendar year
      • Scout Handbook
      • Troop 541 neckerchief and slide
      • Council, Troop, and Patrol patches
  3. Either turn the forms and check in at our meeting, or, if you paid by Venmo, send an e-mail to our Scoutmaster with photos or scans of the completed forms attached. Our Scoutmaster must approve the application before the Scout will appear on our roster.

Adult Volunteers:

  1. Take the BSA's Youth Protection Training - Go to My Scouting, create an account for yourself, take the "Youth Protection Training" course, and print out a certificate of completion.
  2. Complete a BSA Adult Application - You can either do this online or download and complete this application form.
  3. Complete and upload your PA Background Checks:
    Pennsylvania law mandates that youth serving organizations require volunteers to provide background check clearances. This applies to anyone who helps with the girls including parents who drive a car pool on an outing. We count on all families to help out once in a while, so we request that at least one adult member from each Scout household provide these clearances. For volunteers who have lived in Pennsylvania for 10 years or more, these clearances are free and easy to obtain. Here's how:
    • Obtain the PA State Records Check - Use this link to the Pennsylvania Access to Criminal History (PATCH) website and be sure to click the button for "New Volunteer Record Check." That way there will be no charge. Cherck the box and accept the terms at the bottom of the page, and follow the prompts. Either print the certificate to a pdf file, or print a hard copy and scan it to a pdf file.
    • Obtain a PA Child Abuse History Clearance Create an individual account on the PA Child Welfare Portal After receiving your ID and customizing your password, sign in and fill out the Child Abuse History Clearance form. Choose 'Volunteer having contact with children', select 'OTHER' as your Volunteer Category, and enter BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA as your agency name. Note that once your request has been submitted it can take up to two weeks for it to be processed. When you receive an e-mail notification that your request has been processed, log back into the site and either print the certificate to a pdf file, or print a hard copy and scan it to a pdf file.
    • Do one of the following:
      • If you've lived in Pennsylvania for 10 years or more - Print and sign the Disclosure Statement Application. Once signed and witnessed, you will need to scan this document to a pdf file.
      • If you have NOT lived in Pennsylvania for 10 years or more - You must obtain an FBI fingerprint check. Although this sounds like a big deal, the state has made it a pretty painless process using their vendor Identogo. When you receive your results letter, scan it to a pdf file.
    • Upload Your Documents to the Cradle of Libety Council BSA Once the three steps above are complete, you'll need to upload your documents using the Council's Volunteer Background Check Submission Tool. Complete the form with requested information. Our Unit # is 0541 and District is BADEN POWELL. You will be asked to attach the three .pdf files. You will receive an email back confirming that the Council has all of your paperwork. Please forward that email to clearances@Troop541.com. A roster of registered volunteers will be maintained, updated and consulted for each Troop 541 trip/event.
  4. Pay your BSA registration fee, good for 12 months. If you didn't pay on line, either pay $80 via Venmo to fundraising@troop541.com or with a check made out to Troop 541.
  5. Either turn in copies of the forms at our meeting, or, if you paid by online, send an e-mail to our Scoutmaster with photos or scans of the completed forms attached. Our Chartered Organization Representative must approve your application before you will appear on our roster.