National Scouting America Council
Scouting America is the national organization that develops and supports various youth programs. It provides charters to communities to operate a council. The national organization provides service to local councils and develops Scouting programs and establishes rules and regulations.
Local Council
To effectively support local Scouting programs, national Scouting America provides a charter to a community board of volunteers to be responsible for providing the Scouting program to a defined geographical area. These geographical areas are called councils. Councils have a volunteer board which employs a Scout Executive to serve as the CEO and give leadership to the day-to-day operation. The Scout Executive hires staff to provide direct and indirect support to local Scouting programs. In each council there are many more volunteers than staff as the organization is volunteer lead and professionally guided.
Councils are different in size based on factors such as population, geography, and local markets. Most councils operate Scout Camps and local Scout Shops and have a regional office to provides administrative support and record keeping. To identify what council a Scout or an adult belongs to, an identifying patch is worn at the top of the left sleeve shoulder of the uniform. Troop 318 operates under the Heart of America Council.
Districts
To provide more localized support to scouting, councils create districts. Districts are geographical areas of service. Districts have a volunteer District Committee that provides support to local programs in the areas of membership, finance, and program. Another group of volunteers called commissioners provide direct service to Scouting programs. Troop 318 operates within the Blue Elk District.
Chartered Organization
This is the organization that partners with the Boy Scouts of America to deliver a Scouting program. They adopt Scouting to serve the youth in the community. Troop 318's Chartered Organization is the Lexington Lions Club and has been the Chartered Organization since the founding of Troop 318 in 1922.
Chartered Organization Representative
This person appoints the Troop Committee Chair and approves all adult leaders.
Troop
The Troop is led by the Senior Patrol Leader under the direction of the Scoutmaster. The troop is made up of patrols with each patrol having its own Patrol Leader. The make-up and size of the troop varies based on local interest and resources.
Troop Committee
The Troop Committee is made up of parents, leaders, and other caring adults. The Troop Committee works to support the Scoutmaster.
Troop Committee Chair
The top volunteer in the troop is the Troop Committee Chair. They are responsible for ensuring enough qualified adult volunteers are in place to provide the program. The Committee Chair leads the Troop Committee meetings.
Scoutmaster
The Scoutmaster oversees troop meetings which are led by the Senior Patrol Leader. Troop 318 is a "boy led troop" meaning the Senior Patrol Leader and the Scouts run the program under the direct supervision of the Scoutmaster and other leaders. The Scoutmaster also serves as the master of ceremonies such as the Court of Honor in which Scouts are recognized for their achievements.
Senior Patrol Leader
The Senior Patrol Leader is elected by the other Scouts within the troop. They coordinate and run the troop meetings under the direct supervision of the Scoutmaster.
Patrols
A small group of scouts within the troop which are led by a Patrol Leader who is elected from within the patrol. The patrols are all led by the Senior Patrol Leader on the Patrol Leaders Council.