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Putting Scouting Back Into a Troop

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7:07 am
December 22, 2011

BigMc

Houston

PTC Tenderfoot

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Our Troop is in the process of putting Scouting back in Scouting. Over the past year and change, our ScoutMaster has been working a great deal and has missed a large number of meetings. One of the ASMs stepped up to fill the gap and that is when the problems began. Although the ASM lives and breathes Scouting, in the words of one of the Scouts, “He’s condescending. He talks down to everyone.” Additionally, he started taking control away from the Scouts. When I challenged him on turning it into “Webelos 3”, his response was “We need to go to Webelos 3 and then spend a year or so getting back to Boy Scouts.” As a result, about 10 Scouts – 1/3 of the Troop, have left the program. Additionally, the SM and this ASM alienated the Committee with comments like, “Sounds like a Committee problem” and other derogatory comments directed at anything not specifically Program. I have even heard the SPL make similar comments.

Advancement has dropped drastically. At our last Court of Honor, we had three rank advancements and 12 merit badges and the COH included summer camp.

Knowing my younger son was about to bridge which would free me from my DL position, I signed on as an ASM. My goal was to act as a counterweight to this ASM and try and keep us closer to how a Troop should operate. I met with limited success because I was bucking both this ASM and the SM.

In October, the ScoutMaster informed the Committee Chair that he was stepping down as of the end of the year and that he was going to transition the role of SM to this ASM. The CC announced that the SM was stepping down, and asked that anyone interested in the position to let him know so that the Committee could choose a new SM. I thought about it, discussed it with my wife, sons and several friends, and threw my name in the hat. The ASM was not happy and apparently decided that he might not win and so chose not to run and I am the new SM. After telling our District Commissioner “If I can’t be in charge, I’m not going to stay”, he and his son have left the Troop.

I do have a good relationship with the CC – his son was my Den chief for several years, so I can easily mend that relationship. Additionally, my older son told me that most of the Scouts were glad I was going to be SM (although that may a lesser or two evils thing).

In moving from Webelos 2.5 (we went past Webelos 3) back to Boy Scouts, where should I start? There are so many things to focus on, that I’m not sure where to start. I plan to reimplement the Patrol method and get Advancement back into our weekly meetings. We have Troop elections in a few weeks and the incoming SPL wants to move in the same direction I do. (We elect the ASPL who moves up after 6 months). We just bridged 4 Webelos and I don’t want to lose them. Besides the Patrol Method and Advancement, where should I focus?

Kevin Mc.
ScoutMaster – Troop 1865;
Copperhead District;
Sam Houston Area Council;
Houston, TX;
Twitter TaxgeekKM

7:43 pm
December 24, 2011

SM Shawn

Green Bay, WI

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Post edited 7:55 pm – December 24, 2011 by SM Shawn
Post edited 7:56 pm – December 24, 2011 by SM Shawn
Post edited 7:59 pm – December 24, 2011 by SM Shawn

Welcome to the Big Show, Kevin!

Youth Leadership – how is it structured? SPL & ASPL along with Patrol leaders and Troop Guides.
PLCs – monthly, maybe start having a mini-PLC after each meeting for a while
Program – I would recommend using the Troop Resource Guide. They are easy to follow and help the scouts plan the program
Training – have a session within the next 60 days, for youth and adults. Get on the same page as the SPL and the CC to show a united front that "this is the way things are going to be." Sign up someone from your troop to attend NYLT.
Outings – get outside and "do"…'nuff said there…
Annual Program Planning conference – plan out your ideal scouting year, and try to make it happen as close to the original plan…district outings, camporees and summer camp are the lynch-pins, so plan around those

I know that this is probably stuff that you are already aware of, and I don't want to state the obvious, but this is where it starts. Solid, youth-planned and executed program will be the savior to your program. It's going to be OK to help guide the PLC, just make sure it's an agenda that everyone wants, not just you.

Keep us posted, I know that Bryan will be chiming in once he is back from Italy…

Host of the True North Podcast
Co-Host of Scout Nation
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1:09 pm
January 26, 2012

scoutmasterjerry

Troutdale, OR

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The question was where do you start… well you have started.

In addition to the things that Shawn has outlined (he has been mentored well) I would say stop using the term Webelos 3 around your Scouts. The more it is said the more they will conform to it.
They are Boy Scouts.
I would start by gathering the PLC and letting them know in no uncertain terms that the Troop belongs to them. I would reinforce that idea with the Committee.
Keep your expectations low and allow the Scouts to grow into their new roles as the leaders of the Troop.
Praise them for every success! Small success's lead to big ones.
Youth leadership is critical.
You are the to Teach, Coach, Train and Mentor theose young men.

With the Patrol method will come the rest. Get out and camp EVERY MONTH! That is what they joined Scouts for.
Focus on getting out and having fun!… Teach them to lead with a positive attitude.
The more you give them.. the more they will take.
Let us know if we can help more.
Jerry

Jerry Schleining Jr.

Scoutmaster

Have A Great Scouting Day!!

http://www.thescoutmasterminute.net

twitter: smjerry

12:43 pm
March 1, 2012

BigMc

Houston

PTC Tenderfoot

posts 244

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Shawn and Jerry – Thanks as always for the input.

We are two months in and things are looking good. We went survival camping in January and the new Scouts loved it. A valuable lesson was learned by a new Scout (and his PL who helped pick the site) who built his shelter about 6 feet from an armadillo burrow. The leaves rustling around 2 am chased him out of his shelter, but to his credit, he did not wake anyone. He just moved his sleeping bag to a spot about 50 feet from the adults and slept like that. When we walked around Sunday morning taking down shelters, it was pointed out and we talked about the O of STOP from Wilderness Survival MB. Observe your surroundings. (The entrance was not full of leaves when the ground was covered. That might mean something lives there.)

Our February campout was stormed out (Tornado warnings and flood alerts were what actually canceled it).

We have gone from having 6-8 Scouts at a Troop meeting to having 14-15 (out of 16).

We had a Court of Honor with 23 merit badges and 7 Rank advancements.

Camping this weekend and they are looking forward to it. They will work on getting ready for Camporee at the end of the month and getting the new guys into the swing of a "regular" campout. We already have half the Troop signed up for the April campout and Summer camp. (Having to reschedule May, since it was scheduled right before finals).

The SPL is my older son and he and I are on the same page. Things are running a lot smoother since there is not friction between the Committee and the SM/ASM team. In general, all I do at meetings is listen from the back, make any announcements requested by the SPL and the SM minute.

In general, attitudes are good. The three scouts who have had Boards of Review have had positive comments and several guys are talking about inviting friends! The guys are learning to be more pleasant to each other. Over the holidays, we had a small MB camp. If someone was not being nice, I would ask, "Is that a 4 or a 6?" referring to the points of the Scout Law. At meeting this past Monday, someone made a snarky comment and another Scouts whipped around and asked, "Hey, is that a 4 or a 6?"

Jerry – Webs 3 has not been used around the Scouts since last summer. Not a term I like so it is not used. Also, thanks for the reminder to praise accomplishments regardless of size. I have missed several opportunities in small wins. Embarassed

Thanks again for the advice and encouragement.

Kevin Mc.
ScoutMaster – Troop 1865;
Copperhead District;
Sam Houston Area Council;
Houston, TX;
Twitter TaxgeekKM

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