ScoutSigns: Troop Leadership Training: Patrol Positions of Responsibility

I came across an interesting article about Troop Leadership Training. (ScoutSigns: Troop Leadership Training: Patrol Positions of Responsibility) While I respect the decisions made by other troops - I'm sure they have their reason - I have a hard time agreeing with scrubbing an entire month's of meetings to perform training.

Please don't misunderstand. Training is very important in Boy Scouts. But I have a problem with holding training instead of regular meetings for a few reasons.

First, TLT is generally designed for Scouts currently or soon-to-be in a leadership role. What do the patrol members do for the month? Perhaps they could participate in the training, but without knowing that the skills are going to be applied soon I suspect many boys will lose interest. Additionally, the youngest boys probably won't fully appreciate the material in the first place!

Troop Leadership Training should also be done outside of regular troop meetings because it completely disrupts the monthly program. Is there an overnight that month? If so, who's planning it while the boys are busy training? It would be even worse not to hold an overnight for a month because the troop is training!

Finally, consider the audience for Troop Leadership Training. These are the leaders of the troop. They've been elected or appointed to perform the responsibilities of their role. One of those responsibilities should be attending leadership training - despite the additional time needed to attend it.

No. Let's not forget what Troop Leadership Training is designed to be: an introduction to leadership skills - not a master course. Training needs to be quick and simple and equip the leader with some basic skills. True mastery comes only through practice ... at troop meetings!

Additionally, Troop Leadership Training doesn't need to be a chore! It can be an overnight or held at a fun location. Bring some good food along. These new and returning leaders will spend a lot of time and energy serving the troop. It's best to reward them early and give them a positive first step down their journey.

“Never do anything a boy can do.”

As a Scoutmaster, it’s no surprise that I desire to have the most well trained group of young men possible leading our troop. So I was pretty happy to have conducted a long overdue Troop Leadership Training course this weekend. Four boys completed their basic training.

At the beginning of the course are three quotes that I quite liked; especially the last one:

“Never do anything a boy can do.” – Lord Robert Baden-Powell

At first glance, the phrase is short and simple. It’s a pretty clear message that Scouting is boy-led. Yep. Right. I got it.

Now read the first three words again. Never. do. anything. It’s fairly common for low-functioning troops to have adult leaders *do* everything. In these troops adult leaders may plan and execute camping events, hikes, community service projects, and special meetings. Trained adults would already recognize that’s not the ideal. That’s just an easy call.

But consider this interpretation of “Never do anything.” Suppose your troop’s PLC has decided to go camping. They’ve decided where they’re going camping, what they’ll do, and what they’ll need. The only thing they’ve missed is deciding what they’ll eat. Simple enough, but here’s the rub: does an adult leadership bridge the gap and decide on food or do the boys starve?

Quickly thinking about the situation I tend to think the boys would be responsible for the last-minute arrangements or perhaps rescheduling the event. It seems like poor oversight by Scoutmasters to allow a trip be planned without meals, but I wonder what sort of example is set when the “always mindful” adult leadership saves the day and makes last-minute arrangements. I guess I would argue that it might not be poor oversight, but a deliberate decision by the Scoutmasters to allow Scouts to fail safely. Adult leaders certainly are not going to let Scouts starve for a weekend, but perhaps the initial surprise of being unprepared will be the proper lesson to remind Scouts to plan accordingly next time.

Troop Hobby Fair

Tonight was our first ever troop hobby show. The PLC had taken the idea from the "Hobbies" program features. The event went swimmingly!

Fifteen Scouts each displayed their own personal hobby. I saw instruments, stamp and coin collections, pets, games, and sports memorabilia. It was very enlightening to see the boys' interests out for display. We gave each boy half of a 6-foot table to use and required that each Scout submit their hobby for approval early (just to avoid any embarrassing moments).

To make things more interesting, three secret judges were roaming around the audience. They scored Scouts' presentations on how unique, informative, and entertaining it was. The committee sponsored the event with three $30 gift certificates to Gander Mountain for Scouts selected in each of those categories. That really lit a fire for the Scouts!

council program launch

It’s telling (but not intentional) that I became Scoutmaster March 8th and my last blog post was March 9th. It’s been a great ride for the past few months as I’m starting to get my bearings. Hopefully I’ll be able to come back to this blog more often now.

Yesterday was the Hudson Valley Council Program Launch. It’s an event we hold where all of our districts get together to share information and ideas regarding our Scouting program. I was there representing the council’s National Jamboree 2010 Committee, so I did my best to promote the event to adults. I believe it went well – we had several units sign up for unit presentations and a few submitted information forms.

The theme for the event was pirates! Leave it to scouts to embrace a theme fully. There were tables completely decorated to appear like old wooden ships. Council members were dressed up as an unsavory crew. I think I even saw a Captain Jack Sparrow walking about.

Needless to say it was a good time. It’s a chance to see some Scouters I haven’t seen in a while. We swapped some stories and ideas. And I even won some popcorn! Not a bad haul.

It's Official

I'm officially the Scoutmaster of our unit. Last night we held our winter Court of Honor. At the end of the evening we held an installation ceremony for the Scoutmaster and Committee Chair (since I was CC at the time). I had a hand in writing them, and I think they went really well. It was nice to receive a compliment or two on them as well. Since I had trouble finding more than a handful of resources regarding installation services, I thought I'd share what I wrote. This ceremony is inspired by Scouter Liam Morland.

IH/CR:

Before we begin, I would like to review what a Scoutmaster does. To provide this explanation, I now call upon the Leader of this Troop, ***, the Senior Patrol Leader of our Troop.

SPL:

The Scoutmaster works closely with me as I lead the Troop. The Scoutmaster and I manage the program and he insures that I get the training and coaching I need to do my job and to lead other boys in our Troop. He also works with the Troop Committee Chair and members of our Troop Committee to insure that the proper support is given to whatever we as Troop leaders plan -- a camp-out, a day trip, or just a regular Troop meeting. The Scoutmaster is also the visual example for all of us here and works hard to insure that each Scout is guided in the direction toward Eagle and is making good progress toward his goal.

[Senior Patrol Leader may address specific comments about Scoutmaster and wishes him or her well]

IH/CR:

I wish to call upon our Scoutmaster, *** to come forward.

[*** comes forward]

*** accepted the position of Scoutmaster when few others would. His enthusiasm for the hiking and the outdoors has been a strong anchor to our Scouting program. We have enjoyed working with you as Scoutmaster and look forward to your continued contribution as an Assistant Scoutmaster for years to come.

[any words you'd like to add]

[thank *** for his years of service]

***, do you have any words of wisdom wish to leave as Scoutmaster?

SM:

[words of wisdom]

IH/CR:

***, please step forward.

[*** comes forward]

Are you *** who comes to be Scoutmaster of this troop?

***:

I am.

IH/CR:

Are you prepared to dedicate yourself to the betterment of this troop and its members through the Principles and Method of Scouting?

***:

I am.

IH/CR:

Do you come with the necessary Attitudes, Skills, and Knowledge to be a Scoutmaster and are you prepared to seek help where these may be lacking?

***:

I do.

IH/CR:

***, I ask that you reaffirm the Oath in front of the Scouts that you will be serving and the Scouters that you will be working with.

***:

[Scout Oath]

IH/CR:

***, I confirm you as the Scoutmaster of Troop ***, ***. I am confident in your abilities, excited about your potential, and I wish you strength and spirit in all your endeavours.

Please join me in congratulating our new Scoutmaster, ***.
[shake hands, *** sits]

Scouting Ahead: the experiment

I recently decided I would like to comment on my experiences in Scouting. There just doesn't seem to be enough in the digital domain about it! Sure there's some good resources for ceremonies or events, but I think it really just scratches the surface of it all. In addition, as an Eagle Scout and new Scoutmaster I think I have something to add to the conversation. I'm not entirely sure what that addition is, but that may be the point.

I could have simply added a category label to my existing blog and forced readers to sort through the other random thoughts I often write about. However I decided a fresh step out would allow me to better brand this blog.

I'm not sure where this blog will go or how long it will last! But, as I often remind the boys in our troop, it's about the journey - not the destination. If this blog contributes to someone's good program idea or sparks thoughtful conversation or even just entertains a reader with a good camp story I'd call this digital adventure a success.

Scout on!