Glossary of Scout Terms

APL - Assistant Patrol Leader

ASM - Assistant Scoutmaster

ASPL - Assistant Senior Patrol Leader

BOR - Board of Review

B-P - Baden-Powell (Scouting’s Founder)

BSA - Boy Scouts of America

COPE - Challenging Outdoor Personal Experience

COR - Chartered Organization Representative

COH - Court of Honor

CSE - Chief Scout Executive

DE - District Executive

DiD - District Director

EDGE - Training method (Explain, Demonstrate, Guide, Enable)

FOS - Friends of Scouting

JASM - Junior Assistant Scoutmaster

LNT - Leave No Trace

NESA - National Eagle Scout Association

NYLT - National Youth Leadership Training

OA - Order of the Arrow

PRAY - Programs of Religious Activities with Youth

PL - Patrol Leader

PLC - Patrol Leaders’ Council

PTC - Philmont Training Center

SE - Scout Executive

SM - Scoutmaster

SPL - Senior Patrol Leader

YPT - Youth Protection Training

Council is a local governing body of Scouting America that oversees and supports Boy Scout troops, Cub Scout packs, and other scouting units providing resources, training, and events. Our council is NCAC, or National Capital Area Council. It covers the DC metro area plus the U.S. Virgin Islands and U.S. citizens abroad in North, Central, and South America.
District is a subdivision of a council that provides support, training, and resources to local Scout units in a specific region. In 2024, we were moved to a new district, Difficult Run.
Troop is similar to a Cub Scout Pack. We have a Boys’ Troop and a Girls’ Troop, as well as a Venturing Crew.

Patrol is similar to a Cub Scout Den. A patrol is usually between 6 & 10 Scouts. For example, the Boys’ Troop has five patrols: Baked Potatoes, Cyber Ducks, Disco Yetis, Nuclear Penguins, and Pirate Monkeys. No, we are not entirely sure how they got their names.
Senior Patrol Leader (SPL) is the Scout in charge of the Troop. He/she is elected by the Troop every 6 months.
Assistant Senior Patrol Leader (ASPL) helps the SPL. He/she is chosen by the SPL.
Patrol Leader (PL) is the Scout in charge of the Patrol. The Scouts in the patrol elect him/her every 6 months.
Assistant Patrol Leader (APL) helps the Patrol Leader.
Patrol Leaders’ Conference (PLC) is a meeting we hold every month to plan activities and assign responsibilities for the coming month. All Scouts are invited and encouraged to attend.
Board of Review (BOR) is a panel of adults who review a Scout’s qualifications for advancement. The BOR also provides an opportunity for the Scout to talk with adults about their Scouting experience, goals, and ideas for improvement of the Troop. These are held monthly, usually on the 2nd Tuesday of the month over Zoom.
Court of Honor (COH) is the meeting where rank advancement, merit badges, and awards are officially recognized. They are typically held quarterly in March, June, September and December. Actual rank advancement may occur at any time, but the recognition takes place at the COH.