Troop Organization

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Troop Organization
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Troop Organizaton
New Scout
Scoutmaster
Junior Assistant Scoutmaster
Den Chief
Patrol Leadership
Council
Scribe
Troop Guide(s)
Bugler
Trainer(s)
Historian
Chaplin Aide
OA Representative
Quartermaster
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Small Troop Organizaton
Patrol Leadership
Council
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Troop Committee
Committee Chairperson
Secretary
Advancement Chair
Treasurer
Charter Representative
Scoutmaster
Eagle Scout Advisor
Cub Scout Liaison
Publicity Chair
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Working With Boys
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Working With Boys

• What Scouting can provide a boy
• A sense of belonging to a group
• Achievement and recognition
• Self-esteem
• Confidence in himself
• Self Discipline
• Self Reliance
• Healthy Interactions with others
• Importance and effectiveness of teamwork

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Scoutmaster Role

• Set the tone of the troop
• Allow scouts to try new things
• Allow scouts to fail sometimes
• Encourage when they usually succeed
• Deal with behavior not tolerated
• Provide a safe environment both physically and
  psychologically

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Common Troop Characteristics

• Wide range of ages in the troop (11-18)
• High energy
• Highly Influenced
• Highly Independent
• Fearless
• Self conscious
• Awkward
• Wide Diversity (religious, dietary, etc)

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Your Toolkit

• Your experience
• Be supportive
• Channel energy positively
• Show respect you would an adult
• Criticism should always be constructive.
• Dont exhibit anger
• Know your scouts
• Listen, Listen, Listen
• Reflection

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Patrol Method Role In Problem Resolution

• Use the Troop Organization
• Allow patrol issues to be solved at the patrol
  level
• Allow troop issues be solved at the Troop level
  by the PLC
• Only when issue cannot be resolved at the proper
  level should the issue be raised to next level

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Benefits of Patrol Method

• Provides opportunity to develop leadership skills
• Practices cooperation
• Builds teamwork
• Cooking and Eating together bonds the unit
• Provides a sense of belonging
• Provides a sense of identity
• Duty Rosters establish Fairness

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Tobacco, Alcohol, andControlled Substance
Policies

• BSA Prohibits use of alcoholic beverages and
  controlled substances
• Adult leaders should support the attitude that
  young adults are better off without tobacco
• Scouts are not permitted to use of tobacco
  products at any BSA activity
• All scouting functions, meetings, and activites
  should be conduced on a smoke-free basis.

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Sexual Issues

• Physical and Emotional Maturity varies
• Boys are trying to figure out where they fit in.
• Scoutmasters Responsibilities
• Keep Environment Safe
• Require scouts to keep it clean.
• Remind scouts the meaning of being morally
  straight
• Discourage
• Vulgar jokes
• Inappropriate Skits
• Inappropriate literature
• The Lumberjack Song

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Sexual Issues (Cont)

• Whats Not Your Responsibility
• To formally teach scouts about sexual behavior
• This is the parents/guardians responsibility

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Youth Protection

• Starts at home and with Handbook
• How to Protect Your Children from Child Abuse A
  Parents Guide
• Troops are encouraged to provide training
  periodically (annually)
• Video A Time to Tell
• Inform parents/guardians of intent to show video
  and encourage them to also attend
• Attend Leader Training
• Youth Protection Training Training for Volunteer
  Leaders and Parents (Online available)
• Your Obligations
• Anytime you suspect an instance of child abuse
  within the Scouting movement you must contact
  your local council Scout Executive.
• It is NOT your role to investigate.

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Youth Protection (Cont.)

• BSA Youth Protection Policies
• Two Deep Leadership
• No one-on-one contact
• Respect of Privacy
• Separate Accommodations
• No Secret Organizations
• No Hazing
• Appropriate Attire
• Junior Leader Training and Supervision

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Outdoor Program
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Outdoor Program

• Three quarters of Scouting is
• Outing
• Why is it important?
• Without it a troop will struggle or fail
• The outing program provides
• A classroom without walls
• An opportunity to work together
• An opportunity to face leadership challenges
• Adventure!!
• Appreciation for the environment
• Exposure to the creations of the world

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Outdoor Program Resources

• Current Troop Members
• Council Members
• Roundtables
• District Members
• For special trips, outside organizations may be
  appropriate
• IOLS Introduction to Outdoor Leadership Skills
• Scout Handbook!!
• Scout Field Guide
• World Wide Web

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Outdoor Experiences

• Troop and Patrol Day Hikes
• Resident Camping (Summer Camp)
• 5 to 6 days and nights
• Highlight of the year
• Rank advancement
• Merit Badge
• Skill Acquisition (C.O.P.E, Mountain Man, etc)
• Fun
• Promote it!!

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Outdoor Experiences (Cont)

• Short Term Camping (Weekend)
• Patrols in Action
• Plan Menus
• Shop For Food
• Plan the Gear they will Need
• Cook Together
• Sleep Together
• Clean up Together
• Task Assignment Duty Roster

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Outdoor Experiences (Cont)

• Short Term Camping Possibilities
• Scout Camps, State and National Parks and Forests
• Backpacking
• Canoeing
• Hiking
• Whitewater Rafting
• Island Camping
• Sailing
• Only limit is imagination (and safety)

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Special Events

• Camporees
• Jamborees
• High Adventure
• Philmont Scout Ranch
• Florida Sea Base
• Northern Tier (Minnesota/Canada)

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Safety Outdoors

• BSA Safety Sweet 16
• Qualified Supervision
• Physical Fitness
• Buddy System
• Safe area or course
• Equipment Selection and Maintenance
• Personal Safety Equipment (PFD, helmets, etc)
• Safety Procedures
• Skill Level Limits
• Weather Check
• Planning
• Communication
• Permits and notices
• First Aid resources
• Applicable laws
• CPR resource
• Discipline

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Safety Training/Certification

• BSA
• Safe Swim Defense
• BSA Life Guard
• Safety Afloat
• Climb on Safely
• Other Highly Recommended
• First Aid
• CPR/AED

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Reflection
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Reflection

• What is it?
• Careful listening and sharing of ideas and
  experiences
• Like a mirror, an opportunity to evaluate
• Part of the Troops Quality control process
• A time to mostly use the eyes and ears

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Directed Reflection

• Think about questions before starting relating to
  the activity
• If it helps, consider jotting down notes during
  activity
• Ask open ended questions that cant be answered
  with yes and no answers.
• Encourage scouts to think through their answers
• Provide enough time do not rush them
• Everyone should be arranged so that everyone see
  everyone
• Establish rules
• No interruptions permitted. (Pass a token?)
• No judgmental statements are permitted
• Encourage participation by all but allow a scout
  to take a pass
• Be Positive
• Highlight positive examples of leadership and
  teamwork
• Highlight what was learned and experienced

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Undirected Reflection

• Roses and Thorns
• Everyone Stands in a circle
• Pick up two objects
• Each person presents
• What went really well or was really fun, etc
• Something that could be improved on.
• Let SPL (or other means) decide who starts
• Toss 1st object into center of circle to for
  positive comment.
• Toss 2nd for improvement suggestion.
• Work clockwise or counterclockwise
• Comments about weather and things out of control
  of the troop should be avoided
• Finish up with Scoutmaster for final observations

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Opportunities for Reflections

• Formal Opportunities
• Scoutmaster Conference
• Board of Reviews
• Post Weekend Outing Wrap-up
• Roses and Thorns
• PLC Meetings
• What did we do well this month?
• What could we have done a better job of?
• How could we have done a better job?

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Opportunities for Reflections (Cont)

• Informal
• Campfires
• Moral building opportunity
• Foul Weather
• Hike rest stops
• Conflict Resolution

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The Scout Uniform
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Uniform

• Develops a sense of belonging
• To Scouting at Large
• To their specific troop
• To their patrol
• Reinforces that all scouts are equal
• Helps promote good character
• Scoutmasters provide the example
• Correct Patch locations found in Scout Handbook
• Scouts are NOT Required to have a uniform to be a
  scout.

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When to Wear

• All Ceremonial and indoor activities
• Troop meetings
• Scoutmaster Conferences
• Boards of Review
• Courts of Honor
• Special Activities
• Good Scout Dinner, etc
• Summer Camp
• Opening Ceremonies
• Closing Ceremonies
• Dinner

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When Not to Wear

• When selling a commercial product or service
• Includes scout fundraisers
• Any event that the uniform could be mistakenly
  taken for endorsement
• Of a product
• Of a service
• Of a political candidate
• Of a philosophy
• Any activity that could dishonor or discredit the
  Boy Scouts of America