Handbook for New Scoutmasters
Adult Leaders Guide
As boys change from Cub Scouting to Boy Scouting, the transitioning adult leaders must understand the different nature of their roles as Boy Scout leaders. In Cub Scouts they were in control of their den and led the boys in a program tailored by them. The adult Cub leaders study the book, set goals for their dens, and push/encourage their Cubs and Webelos to achieve as much as they can, as quickly as they can. It is a wonderful program, one most of us adults and most of our boys have experienced.
Boy Scouts, on the other hand, is designed to teach young men to be leaders. The Troop is led by the Senior Patrol Leader and by the Troup Leaders Council (TLC -see description in T-351 guidebook). The Scoutmaster (SM) or his designated Assistant Scoutmaster (ASM) is there to guide the TLC as it runs the Troop. With a troop as large as ours, the Scoutmaster needs the support of many Assistant Scoutmasters. He may assign them to certain areas or simply rely on them to be there to assist at meetings.
At the Patrol Level:
The new patrols may need an ASM to help get them started in Boy Scouting, especially if we do not have an older boy who has volunteered to be a Troop Guide for that patrol. The ASM does not run the patrol or take over when the boys are making mistakes.
A short example will illustrate how this can work: In planning a menu for a campout, the patrol must decide on which boy will be the cook for that campout. Ideally the cook has read the section on cooking in his Scout Handbook before the planning meeting. He really should read the book before the actual campout. The Troop Guide, or ASM if necessary, could help them by suggesting wise choices for meals that are healthy, easy to cook and easy to clean up after. However, the meals do not have to always be perfectly planned in advance--if they run out of food, going hungry until the next meal will teach them to think about portion planning, and a messy meal that is tough to clean up will teach them to think ahead. The patrol cook should be familiar with cooking the meal before the campout--he might want to ask his parents to help him cook a similar meal at home before the campout.
The scouts should divide the food purchases evenly between campers and put together a duty roster of who prepares, cooks and cleans up for each meal. The Guide (or ASM) can explain how the rosters are made, but then should let them do the planning and let the boys monitor who is following through with his responsibilities during the campout. Let the boys use peer pressure (not adult pressure) to change the slacker's behavior--if boys complain about a slacker, the Guide or ASM can ask them how they think they can handle it, but should not be the one to reprimand the boy.
On the campout an adult hooks up the propane tank to the stove and lantern. The Guide (or ASM) should give the new patrol a brief talk on how to safely light the stove and how to control the temperature. Most older Scouts can relate their own experiences of raw-in-the-middle and burned-on-the-outside pancakes! But these new Scouts will have to learn from their own mistakes. After the brief explanation, then the Guide or ASM should back off.
The key, then, is to let the boys flounder a bit as they learn. Do not hover over the boys. Do not jump in and help them cook. Go to the adult area, cook with the adults, and eat with the adults. Of course, if you see dangerously unsafe or unscoutly behavior (See discipline in T-351 Guidebook), stop the behavior and call in the Troop Guide, SPL or Scoutmaster.
Advancement
Boy Scout advancement is a program in which a Scout's progression is the natural outcome of his regular Scout activities. When a Scout leader recognizes that a Scout has mastered a given skill and satisfied the requirement he will tell the Scout so and record his achievement.
At Scout meetings when skills may be demonstrated, a Scout should join in and participate and try to learn the skills. If he has fully learned a skill, he should go to a Scoutmaster (SM, ASM or JASM) and demonstrate the requirement completely. It will then be signed off.
Some advancement is done in formal classes where we instruct them. The boys should have read their books before the class, but for some Scouts, adding more "schoolwork" will drive them away from Scouting. After they have been taught the skills; the class is broken up and each Scout must individually demonstrate the skill to a Scoutmaster. A small amount of help may be given to a Scout during his demonstration; but if he doesn't get it right, have him reread it, or reteach it. Do not sign it off then; have him come back later and demonstrate his mastery of the skill. Do not expect that all the boys who watched the demonstration deserve to get their requirement signed off that night--some boys don't pick things up as fast, some boys don't pay much attention, sometimes there isn't enough time to test each boy individually that night. The same holds true for requirements that state, "Explain…." Each boy must personally and separately from the group explain that requirement in order to get it signed off.
A spirited Scout is one who reads his book and comes to meetings prepared to demonstrate his knowledge. These Scouts will advance more rapidly than others in his patrol.
Most Scouts work at a moderate rate, earning one rank per Court of Honor or one rank every second Court. The Trail to First Class ideally takes about a year, but usually it takes longer. Scouts who advance to quickly may have a hard time adjusting to the program change after reaching First Class.
Some Scouts are not very interested in advancement. They are in Scouts for other reasons. We try to recognize them and offer them opportunities for advancement; but if they're not interested we do not force them.
A balanced patrol, then, will always have boys at various ranks. It is highly unlikely that all the boys in one patrol will have the same level of motivation and same number of opportunities to get their skills learned, demonstrated, and signed off at the same rate.
As a boy advances in Scouting he will work with different aged boys and many different adults. He will gain confidence by leading other Scouts and talking with adults.
SCOUTMASTER CONFERENCE
Please read about conferences in the Scoutmaster Handbook (A Troop BSA resource). We have conference sheets with sample questions. Please feel free to add your own; but remember you are not retesting their skills. A conference should last 15-25 minutes.
BOARD OF REVIEW
A boy should be in full uniform. Below First Class, he should bring his Scout Handbook to the Board. Above First Class, he should bring his personal scrapbook. At these formal meetings conducted by a group of Committee members and other parents, he may be asked to talk about his experiences earning this rank and what he needs to work on for his next rank. Although the first few Boards are somewhat scary for a boy, they teach him public speaking skills and prepare him for the ultimate Board--his Eagle Scout Board. When he goes for his first job interview, he will be able to speak with a sense of confidence gained from these interviews about his skills and experiences.
At the Troop Level
MEETINGS
The TLC plans the Troop meetings. A good meeting will provide the "Trail to First Class" Scout ( TFC ) opportunities to practice skills. Some of the older Scouts will teach these skills. Other older Scouts will be in merit badge classes or venture crew meetings. A balance of activities for the younger TFC and older Scouts must be maintained. A game for the whole Troop is usually last.
Summer meetings are more centered on fun than advancement.
CAMPOUTS
A good campout will have a number of planned (at the TFC meeting) activities. Campouts are not for advancement only. Scouts are encouraged to have fun and learn from experiences, and make friends by hanging out together. On a good campout an average Scout may get 4-5 skills signed off. Some campouts are more centered on fun, and the November campout is for planning only, not advancement.
The older boys are a precious resource in Scouting. It is our duty to enable them to run their program. We do not make demands on them to add activities beyond the TLC plan.
TROOP LEADERSHIP COUNCIL
At the monthly TLC meetings, the TLC plans the meeting and campout agendas under the supervision of the Scoutmaster or his designate. The Scoutmaster and other adults sit at a separate table during the TLC meeting. They have their own discussions and may agree to ask the TLC to include certain things in their plans. The Scoutmaster or his designate has the final decision and will talk to the TLC. The TLC and SM will always be most concerned with advancement for the least advanced Scouts.
They must come up with a balanced program for TFC and older boys. Older Scouts need merit badge classes, leadership positions and other opportunities besides teaching TFC skills. They may make plans for separate campouts, high adventure activities, a split campout where they camp separately from the TFC, a split meeting where they may go for an activity away from St. Ignatius. These are at the discretion of the Scoutmaster. If Scouting is not fun for the older boys we will lose them.
(Click here to see the TLC Bylaws in the T-351 Handbook)
CHAIN OF COMMAND
The Scoutmaster is selected by the Troop Committee; with the approval of the Chartered Organization Representative. The Troop Committee must also approve all ASMs, new committee members and merit badge councilors. The Committee deals with any problems that arise with parents or leaders in the Troop.
The Scoutmaster's duties are:
Assistant Scoutmasters support the Scoutmaster in all of the above areas at his discretion.
The Senior Patrol Leader is the leader of the Troop. He conducts the TLC meetings and plans the program with input from the Scoutmaster. He is in charge of the Troop, with the help of his selected assistants (ASPLs). All meeting and campout agendas are planned at the monthly TLC meetings.
Assistant Scoutmasters and other adults should not interfere with the plans of the SPL and TLC. They may, however, make suggestions to the Scoutmaster for ideas they'd like to see included in the next month's TLC planning. It is not appropriate for the ASMs to call the SPL or TLC members at home to ask about the plans, to confront them during an activity, to criticize an SPL's meeting plan, or to demand additions to the plan. It is absolutely expected that some Troop meetings will seem to be without a solid focus, with SPLs floundering and young boys undirected. This is part of the big picture. Only the Scoutmaster may ask for changes in the plan due to special circumstances. Remember he has approved the TLC's plans and you are there to support him. Just as the young boys will learn how to cook by burning their food, the SPLs will learn how to lead by making some plans that more experienced adults can see were perhaps weak.
Remember, Boy Scouting is designed to teach leaders, not followers. LET THEM LEAD!