Troop 571 Handbook

Boy Scout Troop 571

Troop Handbook

http//www.troop571.org

September 2012 Revision

Table of Contents

Introduction to Boy Scouting:5

BSAs Mission, Vision, Scout Oath, and Scout Law:7

Troop 571s Mission, Vision & Views On What Makes a Good Program:8

The Methods of Scouting:9

The Nature of Boy Scouting:11

Troop & Patrol Meetings:13

Troop Structure:14

Parents and New Leaders Guide to a Boy-Led Troop:17

Introduction:17

Adult Leaders and parents work together:18

Always Rigidly Flexible (Semper Gumby)18

Adults are there for the Boys18

Parent Involvement19

The Troop Committee19

Adult-led symptoms and impacts:19

Boy-led advantages:21

Boys learn critical planning skills21

Boys learn to lead in a safe environment21

Boys learn from mistakes21

Boys learn to lead others and work in teams22

Boys learn respect when treated with respect22

Role of the Adult Leaders in a Boy-Led Troop:23

Follow the lead of the Scoutmaster23

Train the Youth Leaders23

Mentor The Youth Leaders23

Back-Up The Youth Authority24

Step Back & Delegate24

Set The Supportive Tone24

Encourage the Patrol Method25

Make Sure The Rules & Regulations Are Followed25

How to Make a Boy-Led Troop:25

Get adult buy-in first25

Train the adult leadership25

Train the boy leadership26

Get the adults out of the Patrol Leaders Council (PLC)26

Check that the boy leaders are prepared27

Dont expect rapid change!27

Treat your Senior Patrol Leader very well27

Allow failure to be a learning experience27

Encourage Patrol Activities27

Ideas for Mentoring Leadership:28

In Conclusion:28

Boy-Led Model Scenario:30

Advancement:31

The Boy Scout Handbook31

Boy Scout Ranks31

BSA Requirements Book31

Special Needs31

BSA Fieldbook32

Signing Off Requirements32

Merit Badges32

Merit Badge Rules32

Scout Spirit33

Active33

Scoutmaster Conference33

Board of Review34

Court of Honor34

Demonstrating Leadership and Scout Spirit:35

Troop 571 - Boy Scout Uniform Standards:37

Scout Shares FAQ:40

The Troop Committee:42

Required Training for a TCOM Member:44

The Scoutmaster & Assistant Scoutmasters:45

SM/ASM Meetings45

Required Training for SM/ASMs:46

Outings and Events:47

Event Calendar47

Event Highlights47

Iron Scout Swim Test:48

General Outing Procedures:49

Adult Leader Training For All High Adventure Outings50

Troop 571 MED LOG Form:52

The PDF File For The Troop 571 Med Log Is Located on the Troop Website52

Equipment:53

Backpack Fitting54

Troop Gear Rules58

Dutch Oven Seasoning Before Use & Care Instructions60

Additional "New Scout Outing" Info On Equipment:61

Winter Camping Tips63

Troop 571 - High Adventure Outing Standards:66

Scouts:66

Adults:66

Order of the Arrow:68

Additional Awards Available:73

What to do if???74

What you can do to help:75

Scout Vespers Song:76

Taps:76

You & Troop 571:77

More Information On The Training Available/Required:78

Troop 571 Required Courses For ALL Scout Parents:78

Wood Badge is highly recommended!80

Eagles Nest Program:81

Misc Resource Info:83

Web Resources:84

Handbook Acknowledgement Form86

Welcome to Troop 571

Chartered by Mary Queen of Peace Catholic Church, Sammamish, Washington

"The Gateway to Your Sons

Greatest Outdoor Adventure"

"Scouting promises you the great outdoors. As a Scout, you can learn how to camp and hike without leaving a trace and how to take care of the land. Youll study wildlife up close and learn about nature all around you. There are plenty of skills for you to master, and you can teach others what you have learned."

- The Scout Handbook (previous rev.) and BSA National website http://scouting.org/Youth.aspx

"In these pages and throughout our organization we have made it obligatory upon our Scouts that they cultivate courage, loyalty, patriotism, brotherliness, self-control, courtesy, kindness to animals, usefulness, cheerfulness, cleanliness, thrift, purity and honor. No one can doubt that with such training added to his native gifts, the American boy will be in the near future, as a man, be an efficient leader in the paths of civilization and peace."

- From the preface to Handbook for Boys, 1911

Introduction to Boy Scouting:

As a new member of Troop 571, your family is joining a group of boys and adults who share your interests in the outdoors, adventure and learning. Troop 571 was 25 years old as of 2010, and has a proud history. As a Scout in this Troop, your son will have the opportunity to learn new skills, accomplish goals and be recognized for his achievements. He will also have the opportunity to learn leadership, organizational and motivational skills that will serve him well into adulthood.

The Aims of Scouting are to reinforce character development, promote the development of citizenship and to build mental and physical fitness (Source: The Scout Handbook (#34622)). Along the way, your scout will also find friendship, fellowship and a lifetime of memories. It will also be a lot of fun, for both him and you if you both understand and function within the BSA/Troop program.

Boy Scouting is fundamentally different than Cub Scouting, in that the program is primarily driven by the boys themselves, and much more is expected of them. They are advised when setting the program, planning the outings, and reaching their goals. With that said, there is a certain amount of background adult involvement that is necessary to keep both the Troop and the individual Scout going, but it must be balanced. In short, adult leaders on the program side (Scoutmaster/Assistant Scoutmasters or SM/ASMs) benefit the young men by mentoring/advising them. The Troop Committee Members (TCOM) provides another group of adults that the Scouts interact with during Boards of Review (BOR).

It is important that parents become involved in the troop by attending parent meetings, keeping up to date on communications, providing positive support and encouraging Scouts to be advocates for themselves. There are also many ways to support the troop from; driving to outings, teaching a merit badge course, being a Troop Committee Member (administration side), or being an ASM (program side). All parents are requested to help in some way. Many hands make light work. Please remember, we are all volunteers and we give of our time since we all believe in the BSA program.

This Troop Handbook will help guide you through the methods of scouting, and how Troop 571 works. It will also point you towards the BSA references that we use, however we do specify a few additional requirements (primarily for Scout safety and adult training) above BSAs, this is for safety and effectiveness within our Troop 571 program. These additional requirements take precedent within our Troop. Please have you and your son take the time to read this Handbook carefully. We are always happy to answer any questions that you may have. Even with the extensive amount of information herein, there still are some additional and/or event-specific details that do not reside within this document, or it would become unwieldy. We will discuss some these topics in our monthly parent's meeting, as those events come up. Some of them primarily reside around specific safety and age/size limits we've established for appropriateness of an event. Others may cover specific High Adventure, or other topics.

In this Troop Handbook, the terms boy-led, Scout-led, or youth-led, are interchangeable and mean exactly the same thing. The terms parent and guardian are interchangeable too.

Two excellent websites that each provides a wealth of information are:http://scouting.org/scoutsource/BoyScouts/TheBuildingBlocksofScouting.aspx & http://scoutparents.org/Resources.aspx

The document numbers referenced throughout this Handbook are the BSA SKU# to facilitate easy ordering, if desired.

Our Goal Is To Help To Enable Youth To Light Their Own Way As They Mature

BSAs Mission, Vision, Scout Oath, and Scout Law:

The following items are taken directly from BSA National, and provided to assist the Scouts and adults in understanding the big picture of the BSA and Scouting.

Mission:

The mission of the Boy Scouts of America is to prepare young people to make ethical and moral choices over their lifetime by instilling in them the values of the Scout Oath and Law.

Vision:

The Boy Scouts of America will prepare every eligible youth in America to become a responsible, participating citizen and leader who is guided by the Scout Oath and Law.

Scout Oath:

On my honor I will do my best to do my duty to God and my country and to obey the Scout Law; to help other people at all times; to keep myself physically strong, mentally awake, and morally straight.

Scout Law:

A Scout is: Trustworthy, Loyal, Helpful, Friendly, Courteous, Kind, Obedient, Cheerful, Thrifty, Brave, Clean, and Reverent.

The Scout Oath and Law Establish High Standards To Live Your Life By

Troop 571s Mission, Vision & Views On What Makes a Good Program:

(as determined by Eagles Nest members)

The mission of Troop 571 is to prepare young men with the tools and methods of leadership development - by providing a supportive environment, to allow them to make ethical and moral choices over their lifetime, and instilling in them the values of the Scout Oath and Scout Law.

The vision for Troop 571 is to provide every enrolled youth the opportunity to grow as a person, to learn new skills, and to aid the youth in personal advancement both in Scouting, and in life.

Diverse/Overall Program The Eagles felt that a good, diverse, organized program was beneficial to the unit. With the diverse types of outings, which range from events like the Museum of Flight Camp-In, to all of our High Adventure treks - there is something for everyone. This was deemed a STRENGTH within the Troop.

Monthly Outings All Troop - The point here is that all of the outings blend the young men of various age groups together, versus just an older or younger Scout outing. They felt it was critical for the older Scouts to demonstrate, and practice, leadership. This was deemed a STRENGTH within the Troop.

High Adventure Keep the entire/extensive, productive program, Tenderfoot Trail, Alpine Adventure, Cascade Challenge and all of the National Bases (N. Tier, Philmont & Sea Base). This is a MAJOR capability, and retention means, within Troop 571s overall program. It is something the boys really enjoy, and keeps then engaged. This was deemed a STRENGTH within the Troop.

Motivators (what brings and keeps boys engaged in the program) - Friendship, OA, Early Scout Advancement, Lots of Events on Calendar, Setting and Achieving Goals (do more of this at PLCs and meeting checking back to Mission Statement to see if we met the intent), being better about being ahead - not last minute. Some additional effort is needed to work on a few of the underlined items here, but the BOLD items are considered STRENGTHS within the Troop.

Traditions Are An Important Way To Help Carry On The BSA Message To Our Youth

The Methods of Scouting:

The Boy Scouts of America (BSA) uses eight fundamental methods to meet the boys hope for fun and adventure and to achieve Scoutings aims of encouraging character development, citizenship, and mental and physical fitness. A Scout Troop functions at its best when all eight methods are used. (Sources: The Scout Handbook, SM/ASM Specific Training, and The Scoutmasters Handbook)

Method 1 -The Ideals

The ideals are spelled out in the Scout Oath, Scout Law, Scout Motto and Scout Slogan. When a scout lives by these guidelines, he is said to have Scout Spirit - a goal for all Scouts.

Method 2 Patrol Method

Within the larger community of the Troop, the Patrol is the Scouts "family circle" of 6 to 8 members. Often made up of boys who are close in age and/or experience level, each Patrol develops a sense of pride and identity. The boys elect their Patrol Leader, divide up jobs to be done, learn about leadership and teamwork and camp together. The boys are coached in their development by older/leadership Scouts, Troop Guides, Instructors and by the Scoutmaster and Assistant Scoutmasters - in the background.

Method 3 The Outdoors

Boys join Scouting for the adventure, the challenge and the fun. Scouting offers a real adventure that cannot be found anywhere else. The boys experience being in charge of their decisions, actions and results and learn in an outdoor environment that is beyond daily life, yet sometimes more real. Scouts enjoy hiking, camping, biking, canoeing, sailing, backpacking, snow shoeing, skiing, rafting, rifle, black powder or shotgun shooting, archery these are just some of the possibilities!

Method 4- Advancement

Boys have the opportunity to learn many types of skills and knowledge. Through rank advancement and merit badges, the boys can chart their progress and be recognized for their accomplishments. Scouting provides a progression of requirements that grow as the boy grows. The advancement program is designed to assist boys in developing a pattern of positive goal setting that focuses on service to others and developing leadership goals.

Method 5 Association with Adults

Boys learn a great deal by watching how adults conduct themselves and by their genuine interest in the boys development. The Scoutmaster (SM) and the Assistant Scoutmasters (ASMs) who are willing to listen, encourage and guide boys can have a significant impact on their lives. The Troop Committee Members (TCOM) also play a role here too, since they interact with the boys during all Boards of Review (BOR). All of this provides a more interactive model for learning that can prepare boys for the working/adult world.

Method 6 Personal Growth

Scout-age boys experience tremendous changes in their physical and emotional development. Scouting offers them opportunities to channel their energy into productive endeavors. Boys can learn about their place in the community through service projects. Scouts can explore different adventures and ideas through outings and merit badges. Scouts can also learn about themselves as they learn to work with all types of boys, face challenges accomplishing goals and choose directions of what to pursue in life.

Method 7 Leadership Development

Leadership is a skill that can only be learned and validated by doing it. There are many opportunities and many ways for boys to participate in the leadership of a Troop. A Troop is a team, and in teamwork, all of the leadership roles are important. Boys learn to lead effectively as well as being good followers. As a boy continues in Scouting, he discovers areas of expertise and takes turns practicing the leadership he develops.

Method 8 The Uniform

Since 1910, the Boy Scout uniform has been a recognizable part of the American scene. Wearing the uniform promotes a sense of belonging to both their Patrol and to the Troop. It reinforces the brotherhood and the equality of Scouting. People will live up to what is expected of them, and while wearing a uniform, we are all more inclined to walk the walk. See our uniform standards for Troop 571 herein.

The Troop Is to Enable Boys To Grow Into Young Men

The Nature of Boy Scouting:

Boy Scouting is by design, different from Cub Scouting. As parents, it is good to understand that difference, so we can step back and watch our sons grow into their new roles.

Cub Scouts

Boy Scouts

Adult driven

Boy driven

Adults lead activities

Boys lead activities (Meetings & Outings)

Parents are partners

Parents step back & adult leaders mentor

Adults teach, boys learn

Boys teach, boys learn

Parents select & plan activities

Boys select & plan activities (Troop Calendar)

Parents lead Dens

Boys lead Patrols (PL - youth)

Parents lead the Pack

Boys lead Troop (SPL - youth)

Minimal outdoor activities

Focus on outdoor activities

Parents sign achievements

Higher rank boys sign advancement (1st Class rank on up) then SM/ASMs

n/a

Scout has both SMC & BOR for rank advancement

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Boys Learn by Doing - There is a certain amount of trial and error that takes place as boys learn how to lead and follow. As they learn independence and personal responsibility, they will make mistakes. The adults in the troop ensure that this learning occurs in a safe environment. They also help the boys learn from their mistakes. Scouting gives the boys an arena to explore decision making and leadership styles. It is important to give the boys the room they need to discover who they are and what they want to become.

We welcome your involvement with the Troop and invite you to become trained so we can all understand the way that the BSA program works to provide freedom and safety. Under the new BSA policy, all "contact" adults (Registered or not) require an on-line Youth Protection Training (YPT) course. We therefore require that all parents/adults take this 15-20 minute on-line class and provide our Registrar a copy of your completion card. This is for understanding the YPT specific requirements and for safety of all of the Scouts. We also strongly encourage Fast Start (SM/ASM & TCOM sessions) & This Is Scouting to help you understand what the BSA & Boy Scouting program is, for a Troop even if you are just the parent of a Scout and are taking on no role in the program.

You can assist your son by helping him set up a system for keeping track of his achievements and records. We have found that a binder with trading card sheets works well to hold the various completed merit badge cards (Blue Cards), Totin Chip, Fireman's Chit, the rank cards,etc., that he earns over time. This will become his "Master Record" and he will need it to verify his achievements, especially for the higher ranks, such as Eagle.

You can also help your son by encouraging him to be an advocate for himself. If he encounters difficulties, the first person for him to approach is his Patrol Leader (PL). The PL would then raise the concern with the Senior Patrol Leader (SPL) asking for advice and assistance. If the nature of the difficulty requires maturity beyond his own PL, your son can approach the Patrols Troop Guide (an older scout), or the SPL directly. It is the goal of Scouting to help the boys develop problem solving skills and to encourage them to help each other. You are always welcome to discuss anything behind the scenes with the Scoutmaster (SM), or the Troop Committee Chair (CC). If they are not available, then you may go to a 1st Assistant Scoutmaster. We are here to help your son and value your input.

Scouts are never to discipline other Scouts. If this issue arises, please see the Scoutmaster. If the SM is not available, see the TCOM Chair. If the TCOM Chair is not available, see one of the 1st ASMs.

The Scout Oath & The Scout Law

Troop & Patrol Meetings:

Troop 571 meets every Monday night from 7:00 to 8:15pm in the main basement room of Mary, Queen of Peace Catholic Church. We also ask that you be available to pick up your son at the advised time, so we don't have to occupy the times of others to wait around until you can get there. The 1st, 2nd and 3rd Mondays are regular meetings. Currently, the fourth Monday of each month a merit badge workshop is held. If there is a fifth Monday, it is treated as a regular meeting. Once your son has his Scout rank, he can join in with a merit badge class already in progress, if it works for the class, or he can take the time to work on his own projects. He could also use the time to meet with the Scoutmaster, or an Assistant Scoutmaster - to get acquainted and make personal goals for the year. New crossover Scouts typically work together to begin the backpacking (or some other, appropriate) merit badge in preparation for their first trip in summer (Tenderfoot Trail).

Boys schedule Scoutmaster Conferences (SMC) as needed for rank advancement. These can be held during the regular troop meetings, or at an appropriate, designated, time and place. The Scoutmaster, or the appropriate Assistant Scoutmaster, talks with the boys to make sure they have fulfilled all the requirements and to measure their readiness for advancement. The 2nd and 3rd Mondays are reserved for Boards of Review (BOR), where committee members interview boys who have passed their Scoutmaster conferences, for rank advancement. The purpose is both to formalize their achievements and to obtain feedback about the troop, and the boys experience in it.

During one of the Monday scout meetings, the parents typically gather in the St. Bernard Room for a monthly Parent Meeting - where you will hear how trips went, learn about upcoming events, hear a report from the Scoutmaster, have the opportunity to ask questions, and mingle with other parents. Typically these are the 2nd or 3rd Monday - check the Troop calendar as we have to shift these depending upon holidays, etc.

All Scouts are encouraged to attend every Troop meeting. The meeting may be broken into sections such as skill building, patrol meeting, games and competitions, trip planning, announcements and sometimes - special presentations, as defined by the PLC. If your Scout misses a meeting, he should contact his PL to get any information he may have missed. Your son will get the most out of his scouting experience by participating as much as he can.

We will follow the calendar of our sponsor (Mary Queen of Peace) for holidays and closures, so please check their website during those periods. http://www.mqp.org/home.asp

Patrols are highly encouraged to have a Patrol Meeting at least once a month to build teamwork, work on advancement, and have fun. Patrol Leaders must get all Patrol events approved by the Scoutmaster for appropriateness to the Guide to Safe Scouting. It also informs him how active the Patrol is, and how the Patrol Leader is meeting his leadership requirement. New Scout Patrols will now have a Troop Guide, and Instructor, assigned directly to these Patrols, to help guide the new Patrol Leader and provide support for the advancement of the younger Scouts. This approach was initiated starting Jan 2012.

Troop Structure:

Patrols - The Troop is made up of Patrols, groups of 6 to 8 boys that are usually the same age. The Webelos Scouts will form their own Patrols and begin their Troop life together. Each Patrol has an elected Patrol Leader (PL) and an Assistant Patrol Leader (APL). Only PL counts toward the advancement requirement (see Scout Handbook). The PL organizes the boys for outings and activities and provides encouragement. He can receive help from a Troop Guide, who is an older scout assigned to their Patrol, to help coach them and keep them pointed in the right direction. Also, Assistant Scoutmasters (ASM) are in the wings, to ensure a safe environment.

Senior Patrol Leader (SPL) - The Senior Patrol Leader (SPL) is THE youth leader of the Troop (14 by the start of his office and at least 1st Class). For 6 months this elected Scout plans and implements activities and outings, and he is the responsible youth for making things happen. The SPL is assisted by a team of 3 to 4 Assistant Senior Patrol Leaders (ASPL) (who are at least 13 and 1st Class) and the Scoutmaster in carrying out those activities. When the Troop comes together for meetings or outings, the Senior Patrol Leader is the Scout in Charge (SIC). He is responsible for running the meetings and the programs, along with his leadership team.

Patrol Leaders Council (PLC) - The PLC is the "executive council" or "decision-making device" for the youth-led portion of the Troop. All of the boy leadership meets with the Scoutmaster each month for planning. The Patrol Leaders come to the meetings with ideas gathered from their Patrols. The PLC then discusses and determines what the Troop Meetings will cover for the calendar, and Scouts also step forward to be the "Scout in Charge" (SIC) for a particular outing. The Scoutmaster provides advice to help the Scouts find a good direction. This is the heart of where boys in Scouting learn and develop leadership skills through practice.

This team also leads the Troop, with the Scoutmaster in a "Troop-wide" PLANNING SESSION every 6-months, such that each incoming SPL always maintains a 1-year calendar ahead of them. This takes some of the pressure off of the SPL & his PLC, as they are not generating "outing ideas" at the last-minute, therefore they can focus on successfully carrying out the events during their term of office.

The Senior Patrol Leader (SPL) is elected every 6 months - in November and May. In order to help our Scouts be successful, we are also implementing elections of the ASPLs, to ensure a greater opportunity for growth, for all of the Scouts. The SPL will then be elected from previous ASPL or SPL Scouts. This plan allows for Scouts to really prepare themselves as ASPLs before stepping into the role of SPL. They will better understand the responsibilities, and they should be a more effective SPL due to the pre-training that this allows for. This method has been employed by several other Troops, with success, and as a recommended "best practice" - Troop 571 implemented this method starting with the elections in May 2011.

Patrol leaders will be elected every 6 months (November & May), from within their Patrols.

Youth Leadership Positions:

The youth positions listed herein are not all inclusive and the job responsibilities are summarized only. For additional information on each position, see The Scout Handbook, The Scoutmasters Handbook, and the BSA Requirements Book.

There are also other positions of leadership that change every six months. These include:

The Quartermaster - responsible for maintaining the Troop equipment & the equipment records. He checks the Troop gear in & out of the Troop storage.

The Scribe records and distributes meeting plans & publishes these to the Troop.

The Historian maintains Troop photos and history for review by the Troop at COH.

The Chaplains Aide leads the Troop in grace and Scouts Own services.

The Librarian maintains the Troop library of merit badge books.

The Webmaster - this youth helps to update & maintain our Troop website.

Troop Guides they primarily act as advisors to younger Patrols. These Scouts also help to teach them the basic Scout skills up to 1st Class.

Instructors they have mastered Scout skills. They teach and coach the younger boys on the Scout skills up to 1st Class.

Junior Assistant Scoutmaster is at least 16 years old and has outstanding leadership skills. Assists the Scoutmaster by setting an example and carries out a Scoutmaster assigned task(s). He is assigned by the Scoutmaster to this office, and his role supports the SPL indirectly.

Den Chiefs assist Cub Scout Dens with their meetings and outings. This position is for 1-year tenure, in order to earn the Den Chief Award:

They run part of the Den's activities under the guidance of the Scoutmaster, Cubmaster and Den Leader. Activities performed shall meet the Den Chief Handbook (#33211B) requirements and are signed off by the Den Leader. Then the Cubmaster, and Scoutmaster, sign off the final paperwork. See requirements in http://usscout.org/cubscouts/cspack.asp. They must ensure that they keep the Scoutmaster appraised of what duties they are performing in at the Pack.

This position has a specialized training which can be done on-line at http://olc.scouting.org/courses/dc/base.html or in an interactive classroom setting during the annual, fall Program & Training Conference (P&TC) sessions, offered by the Chief Seattle Council.

The Scoutmaster may also run a specific training class for these individuals, and has also generated a specific training document, which is available on the Troop web site.

The Order of the Arrow Troop Representative (OATR) This position is for 1-year tenure, and it must be held by an actively registered Arrowman. He informs the Troop of OA activities and conducts elections within other units in the District. They also expected to serve on at least 1 Ordeal, in a leadership role during their term (as either an Elangomat, an Ordeal Master/Deputy Ordeal Master (OM/DOM), or as Support Staff).

The OM is the person who is in charge of the entire Ordeal event, and all of the Staff (Youth and Adults). He has an adult Ordeal Adviser to consult with.

The DOM is like an SPL in a Troop. He is the youth leader and runs the Ordeal Troop during the event. The Ordeal Scoutmaster is available to consult with.

The Elangomat is like a Troop Guide. He guides his Clan (Patrol) through the Ordeal, making sure that each Candidate is performing whatever task is provided during the event.

Support Staff serves in many different functions during the Ordeal.

The OATR may also take on a Chapter Leadership position (Chapter Chief or Vice Chief).

The OATR is also expected to try and serve the District/Chapter on at least 1 other specific event, during his term (such as Winter Camp Staff, or other Camp Staff, or a Service Day at the Camps).

OUTING Makes Up 3/4th Of The Word SCOUTING

Parents and New Leaders Guide to a Boy-Led Troop:Introduction:

Welcome! Whether you have just crossed over with your son from Cub Scouts, or you are new and have just joined Boy Scouts (as your first introduction to Scouting), we appreciate your enthusiasm and encourage your participation in Troop 571, The Iron Scouts.

The aims of Boy Scouting have already been discussed, but as they are important well state them again, they are; character development, citizenship training, and mental and physical fitness. To accomplish these aims, Scouting employs the eight methods already stated: the ideals, the patrol method, the outdoors, advancement, association with adults, personal growth, leadership development, and the uniform. It is important that you and your Scout understand that the aims and methods of Scouting are trying to help the Troop in why we run the program the way we do.

Troop 571 strongly encourages each adult to take the full Boy Scout training offered on-line and by the District to find out what we are trying to accomplish and how you can help, even if you are not taking on an adult leader role. With this stated, just taking the training will not make you understand everything, or how to be effective in your role - that is only achieved by actively putting your training in action, in concert with the Scoutmaster, and those other leaders - who have learned what it takes to support, and mentor, a boy-led Troop.

One of the major differences between the Cub Scouting and the Boy Scouting programs is the very important method youth leadership development. This method is not the foundation of a Cub Scout Pack (adult-led), but it is in a Boy Scout Troop (boy-led). In order to teach leadership, we have to let the boys lead. In fact, one of the more vigorous debates you can have with others in Scouting is over the feasibility of a boy-led Troop. Some adult leaders will argue that while a boy-led Troop is the BSA ideal, it is not possible in their particular troop for any or all of the following reasons: the boys are too young, too lazy, too irresponsible, or just not interested. The fact of the matter is that a boy-led Troop is the only way a Troop should be anything else is not acceptable, and not the BSA Troop program.

A boy-led Troop can be more work for the primary adult leadership (i.e.the Scoutmaster), and therein is the problem, why we need your aligned cooperation, help, and working together with the Scoutmaster. It can be so much easier for the adults to just take charge themselves than to teach the necessary leadership skills to the boys avoid this impulse.

All Scoutmasters and Assistant Scoutmasters are taught the basics of a boy-led Troop and Patrol in the Scoutmaster Specifics class. However putting that training into practice is often difficult without a mentor who truly understands how that works in a Troop. This chapter of the Troop 571 Handbook, will hopefully bridge that gap between theory and practice. It covers some of the common pitfalls and offers suggestions for getting to a working boy-led Troop. The importance of a boy-led Troop and Patrol is emphasized in The Scoutmasters Handbook (#33009B); Chapter 3 The Boy-Led Troop starts with this strong statement:

Empowering boys to be leaders is the core of Scouting. Scouts learn by doing, and what they do is lead their Patrols and their Troop. The boys themselves develop a Troop Program, and then take responsibility for figuring out how they will achieve the goals. One of our most important challenges is to train the Scouts to run the Troop by providing direction, coaching and support. They will make mistakes now and then, and will rely upon the adult leaders to guide them. But only through real hands-on experience as leaders can the Scouts learn to lead.

As mentioned before, perhaps the most common reason for the existence of adult-led Troops is that it is easier for the experienced adult leaders to run things; teaching leadership to boys is not always easy (both as a process and also letting go as an adult - we are mentors and advisors).

A second, common reason is that the adult leaders may be afraid of failure; they want a smooth running Troop. A boy-led Troop is a project that will occasionally falter, and adults may feel it necessary to take over to ensure success. (Make sure that you do not act upon this impulse and step-back. We all can learn from our mistakes and failuresthese become teaching moments.)

A third, common reason is that the Troop may have adult leaders that do not delegate well to the boys, or they do not wish to give up control, or dont follow the lead and direction of the Scoutmaster. In fact, many consider that the main barrier to a boy-led Troop comes from the attitudes within the adults. (How true this is, as there are many examples out there where this has happened in various Troops.)

Adult Leaders and parents work together:Always Rigidly Flexible (Semper Gumby)

This chapter is meant more as guidelines than actual rules. Just as every Troop, Scout, adult leader, and parent are different, what works best for one is not always the same for others. Also what worked yesterday may not work tomorrow. We do not want change for the sake of change, but to meet the changing needs of the Troop, boost the confidence of the youth to take the reins, and to make the boy-led program even stronger and more vibrant.

Adults are there for the Boys

The adults need to keep in mind that they are here for the Scouts, and for the program the Scouts need to run. In Scouting, parents will meet other parents with similar values and goals for their son. Parents can build good friendships, and they can provide each other support and suggestions. Scouting is a way to become a better parent through association with, and with the help of other like-minded adults. However, adults should keep in mind that they are there for the boys, and they should try to not let socializing or other activities dominate their time or cause distractions for the Scouts.

The Scoutmaster is in charge of the Troop

All parents should understand the structure of the Troop. There is a chain of command within the youth leadership, and also within the adult leadership. The Scoutmaster has the final say - as the ultimate/responsible leader of the Troop Program. He will work together with the other parents and adult leaders, toward supporting the boy-led goal. It is imperative that the other adults support the Scoutmaster in the boy-led mission and vision. The boys understand that they have only as much authority as allowed by the adults, primarily the Scoutmaster, the BSA program guidelines, and they in turn need to show the appropriate respect for the adults in their lives. (What this really means is The buck stops with the SM for anything in the unit. He, in turn, gives as much responsibility to the boys as allowed by BSA. Troop 571 Scouts have done an excellent job as a boy-led unit, it really shows, and the Scouts deserve many accolades for this.)

Parent Involvement

Parent support and involvement is essential for a Troop to be a viable unit. Unlike the full parent involvement in Cub Scouts, parents are asked to become much less involved with their own child, and more within the structure of the Troop - as a Troop Committee Member, or an Assistant Scoutmaster. Very few new parents actually come into Boy Scouting with a good understanding of the Troop program. To get all the parents on the same page and starting to work toward the goals of Boy Scouting, we ask you to take the on-line SM/ASM Fast Start Training, TCOM Fast Start Training, This is Scouting, and Youth Protection Training. Parents wanting to come on outings should understand the requirements listed in this Handbook, what BSA requires, and work with the Scoutmaster, in order to understand the required training necessary for what Troop 571, and the BSA - asks of all adults. Troop 571s adult training requirements may be stricter than BSAs, and they take precedent. As of January 1, 2013, all direct contact adults who work with the Scouts, are required to be registered and fully trained as an ASM. There is more information as to what direct contact versus the other ways adults work with the boys in later sections of this Handbook. The Scoutmaster also will meet with all of the parents at the monthly Parents Meeting to share his vision for a successful Troop and discuss how the boys are doing. Troop 571 desires to involve all of the parents in accomplishing the Troops goals by having you assist in the program (many hands make light work, so please step up and help us).

The Troop Committee

From Fast Start Training: If you haven't been involved in Scouting, you may think that the whole organization is the Scoutmaster and the youth members. The truth is the success of the Troop depends on a lot of adult volunteers who work behind the scenes to make it all happen. The Troop Committee is like a steering committeevolunteers who actually handle the business end of running the Troop. From the Scoutmaster Handbook (#33009B): The most important responsibility of a Troop Committee is recruiting qualified adult leaders for the Troop.The Scoutmaster should be able to turn to the committee at any time for assistance, support, and encouragement. The Troop Committee must then step back and not try to run the Troop. That is for the Scoutmaster to train the boys to do.

Adult-led symptoms and impacts:

Adults loudly asserting authority

An adult yelling at the boys in front of the Troop is but one characteristic of an adult-led

Troop. In this example, the adults have not transferred authority to the youth. Yelling at the boys has a toxic effect on the supportive atmosphere we want to nurture in a Troop. We use the Scout hand sign as a silent way to bring the Troop to order for this very reason.

Also, the boys never learn to lead if the adults dominate. The only time an adult should step in is if there is an immediate safety threat. Otherwise, there is time to work through the youth leadership chain of command. The only way for boys to learn leadership is to actually hand them the reins of power, with plenty of instruction of course. If you watch a Troop Meeting, the adults who announce an item, actually wait for the SPL to invite them forward to speak.

Adults jumping in with more enthusiasm than patience

Volunteers who take charge are usually a good thing except when they preempt the boys' responsibilities. It is hard to wait for a boy to do something that you could do better in much less time. However, if you do something for someone, they will not learn the skill. Adults already know how; boys still need to learn. Scout meetings and outings should provide a hassle-free environment in which to learn leadership. (Remember Give a man a fish and you provide a meal, but teach him to fish and you provide a profession and sustenance for life. We try to do the latter. Its not easy to do, so and we all can falter here.)

Adults operating in Cub Pack mode

Parents and former Pack Leaders crossing over with their boys can often feel more comfortable slightly modifying the structure they know from Cub Scouts than to adopt the significant changes demanded by a boy-led Boy Scout Troop program. They continue the parent-child authority structure, and dont hand power over to the boys. This leads to an extension of the parent-child relationship into the teen years - when the youth should be transitioning to independence. (A former Pack Leaders desire to help is wonderful, but they need to learn the BSA/Troops methods which are different. Ask and follow the lead of the Scoutmaster, and some of the other experienced leaders, who truly understand how a boy-led Troop functions.)

Adults enabling codependency

Parents of Scouting age boys are often comfortable with the roles they have established with their young children. They organize the program and the boys follow along. But the boys remain in a dependent role. Very young Scouts may be comfortable with a dependent role for a while, and never push back. Adults feel useful and boys don't have to put out much effort. The Troop then operates like an adult-run, uniformed, high adventure/outing & camping club. But as the boys grow older, their lack of control of the program begins to chafe and cause friction between the youth and adult leaders. Older Scouts may tend to drop-out, or not be well mannered - if brought up in this type of Troop environment. They also tend to fail if they join a youth-led unit since they simply dont know what to do, or do it well, because they havent had the leadership experience.

Adults contributing to older boy attrition

Boys can stay dependents only so long before they rebel from imposed adult authority. Adults giving the boys more control over outings can help solve an older boy attrition problem. High Adventure and similar-age (older Scout) Patrols allow them to plan the type of outings and events that increase retention.

Scouting trains boys in life skills. Removing boy-led from the program removes these extremely important aspects of Scouting: leadership and teamwork. Boys need to practice team leadership in the safe environment that Scouting provides. Without this practice, they are less prepared to enter college and/or the workforce, where mistakes will have dire and significant consequences.

Boy-led advantages:Boys learn critical planning skills

Adults should involve the boys in the process of planning an outing. We do that by the Scout in Charge (SIC) position, working with the Adult Outing Advisor (AOA). Boys need to learn how to set achievable goals. For example, start planning a canoe trip with Safety Afloat highlighted as a requirement on the outline, makes them aware of safety concerns. Including the boys in the process allows the adults to teach the logistics of planning:

setting goals and objectives;

breaking the project into smaller tasks and determine when deadlines need to get done;

assigning responsibilities to individual team members;

putting the plan into action and tracking progress;

evaluating the outcome and modifying the plan.

There is always the need to check in with others on the project to see if all is going well.

Boys learn to lead in a safe environment

Leadership is not only knowing what you need to do to succeed but also knowing what to do if things go wrong. Before each boy-led activity, an adult leader should sit down with the boy leadership and go over their plan, to make sure that the boys are not set up to fail (but not step-in and take-over only to advise the boys of the potential shortfalls), and then they let the event happen. The adult leaders are responsible for maintaining a non-confrontational environment by letting the boys know the adults support them, and will be available if needed. Adults minimize the fear of failure by maintaining a supportive environment.

Boys learn from mistakes

It is hard to watch a process get done poorly, but if a boy-led Troop meeting or event does not go as planned, there is no great loss. This can be a difficult concept for parents, or new adult leaders, to accept and allow it to happen - but happen it must. For example - If a meal on a campout does not work out, it becomes a learning experience, a teachable moment to show how one responds to mistakes and still shows respect for others. We will never allow a dangerous situation to occur, but sometimes letting some minor failure happen (or even an event to drop) it is a valuable teaching moment. The Scouts will learn from having to ask to share with another Patrol because they forgot their food, or they may have to learn to share with another Patrol since they forgot their tent, or how to plan better. These are real examples that have happened. The Scouts learned, and never made the same mistakes again. (We will let them get a little hungry, but we shall not allow an unsafe issue to happen. The only exception to failure is we (the adults) must NEVER let an event/outing fail due to the adults not having something covered. We are here to support the Scouts, and we cannot let them down.)

It is very important to meet after each activity with the boy leadership to help them conduct a Start, Stop, Continue evaluation (SPL Handbook #32501, page 97). How could this activity have been done better? Good judgment comes from experience, and experience comes from learning from your mistakes.

We also explain RAAs and expectations during Troop Leader Training sessions:

1. They are RESPONSIBLE and have the RESPONSIBILITY to make the tasks/outings/meetingsetc all happen.

2. They are ACCOUNTABLE to the parents, Adult Leaders (SM/ASM/TCOM), and their fellow Scouts. &

3. They have the AUTHORITY to execute the program within their limits as established by the Guide to Safe Scouting, Troop Policy and Guidelines, and by the Adult Leaders (i.ethe Scoutmaster primarily) guidance/review & approvals.

Another important statement from BSA is "through advancement & peer group leadership" - this is the youth-led aspect of Boy Scouting.

Boys learn to lead others and work in teams

Working well with others is perhaps the most important life skill that youth can learn. Boys gain confidence by being entrusted with power and in leading their peers. Section Six in the Senior Patrol Leaders Handbook talks about leadership styles and developing your team. The youth leader learns that their leadership style needs to change from Explaining, to Demonstrating, to Guiding, and finally to Enabling as the group develops into a working team (the Leading EDGE in SPL Handbook pages 88-89, and the Scout Handbook).

Boys learn respect when treated with respect

Adults should show respect by not interrupting or criticizing the youth leadership during a Troop meeting, no matter how badly things may be going. Instead, the adults should praise youth leaders in public when they do well, which helps boost both their confidence and the Troops faith in them. If the Troop believes in their Senior Patrol Leader, they will treat him with respect and listen to him more readily, which in turn makes the Troop run more smoothly. The time for critique is after the meeting, in private. If you have a concern, please bring it to the Scoutmaster, not the boys.

Sadly, it is much more difficult to build up confidence in others than to tear it down. The adults will earn the respect of the boys by their actions and example, not by demand.

Statue Outside of the Registration Office at Philmont Scout Ranch

Role of the Adult Leaders in a Boy-Led Troop:Follow the lead of the Scoutmaster

Just as the Scouts need to know that their SPL is in charge, the adults need to know that the Scoutmaster is in charge! Scouts will follow the example of the adults, good or bad. Please criticize only when you can give a suggestion to correct the problem, otherwise it is nothing more than whining, and please do this in private with the Scoutmaster. It is crucial for the adults to follow the Scoutmaster, as well as the Scouts. (Servant Leadership)

Train the Youth Leaders

This is especially necessary if the Troop does not participate in District or Council youth training. The boys need to know what is expected of them. Troop 571 follows BSAs Troop Leadership Training (BSA publication #34306A).

First is a section on how the Scoutmaster should train the Senior Patrol Leader. Then the Scoutmaster and the Senior Patrol Leader jointly train the rest of the boy leadership in three modules:

Module One - Introduction to Troop Leadership (Know). The boy-led Troop and boy-led Patrol chapters in the Scoutmaster Handbook is discussed. The Troop organization and overview of each position is next.

Module Two - How to Do Your Job (Be). The Scoutmaster and SPL share their vision of success. This is followed by a discussion of the teaching EDGE (Explain, Demonstrate, Guide, and Enable) as the method used for teaching skills. Finally a Troop progress discussion is held using the Start, Stop, Continue assessment tool.

Module Three - What is Expected of Me (Do). This section focuses first on the position descriptions and expectations. The Scoutmaster, or the SPL, then leads a discussion on servant leadership. It closes with defining success in your position and possibly a Scoutmaster conference. What each Scout establishes here, is used for demonstrating his leadership achievements - for his advancement.

Over the years we have taken much of this info and distilled it into some key elements, which is how we currently teach the TLT sessions, with the majority of some sections in the class being taught by the boys. Currently, the Scoutmasters participation in TLT mainly sets the expectations, provides advice, and support for the youth instructors and boys in the class. There are also some excellent sources for training contained in the documents referenced in this Handbook.

Mentor The Youth Leaders

Leadership mentoring must continue beyond the initial training. An important rule to remember is to praise publicly and criticize privately. It is best to start with simple leadership tasks first, so the boys are not set up to fail. The Scoutmaster must be notified of all Patrol events since he must approve them for appropriateness to the Guide to Safe Scouting. It also informs him how active the Patrol is, and how the Patrol Leader is meeting his leadership requirement. A designated, trained ASM, or the Scoutmaster, should always meet with the Patrol Leader before the activity to go over preparation. The youth leadership should be able to rely on the adults to provide the skills and resources for them to succeed, in addition to 2-deep adult support for safety and compliance to the Guide to Safe Scouting.

The Senior Patrol Leader Handbook (#32501) and the Patrol Leader Handbook (#32502) are excellent resources. Robert Baden-Powell in the Scoutmaster Handbook (#33009B) said, Training boy leaders to run their Troop is the Scoutmasters most important job.

Back-Up The Youth Authority

Your youth leaders will have to learn how to deal with problems appropriately (SPL

Handbook pages 95-96). Managing conflict is an extremely valuable skill for both youth and adults to master - that is why it is included in both National Youth Leadership Training and Wood Badge. If the Patrol Leader can't resolve the issue then it goes to the Assistant Senior Patrol Leader and then the Senior Patrol Leader, but disciplining actions are carried out by the Scoutmaster. In a well-run, boy-led Troop, if the disciplinary problem has to be brought to the adult leadership, many feel that it is serious enough that the offending boy should go home immediately. Boys will respond and understand a consistent and uniformly applied set of rules. If the Scoutmaster, or other adults, deviate and are not consistent, then chaos will happen. If there is a behavioral issue, the Scoutmaster will talk to the boy, if the next step needs to happen, he then holds a meeting with the boy and parent, if that fails to resolve the issue, the SM and the TCOM then meet with the boy and parent.

All things are taught best by example. Just as there is a chain of command in the Scouts, there is a chain of command with adults. The better we follow this chain of command, the better the example is for the boys to follow. We cannot expect the boys to follow a chain of command if what they witness with the adults is chaotic and controversial. The adult chain of command is to be the model for the Scout chain of command. This is why it is crucial that the Senior Patrol Leader be the leader of the youth and the Scoutmaster be the leader of the adults.

Step Back & Delegate

Often an adult will get asked a question from a boy in a Patrol because the adult is viewed as the authority. It is best if the adult does not give the answer. One of the most important things an adult or Patrol Advisor can say is "Did you ask your Patrol Leader?"

By respecting the chain of command, you build the authority of your boy leaders. Some relevant quotes from Robert Baden-Powell in the Scoutmaster Handbook are, Train Scouts to do a job, and then let them do it. and Never do anything a boy can do.

Set The Supportive Tone

Adults should not be yelling at kids, except in a safety emergency to prevent/alert someone of a danger. A major part of creating a supportive environment is training the adults how to respond to the youth with patience and respect. The boys need to know that they will not be yelled at if they fail. (Again, its a teaching moment)

Note - One way we set the tone is by silently raising the Scout sign and patiently waiting when we want order. Adult behavior should follow the Scout Oath and Law: teach good behavior by example. (In Troop 571, we simply hold up the Scout Sign and the room calms down.)

The adults need to know how to operate within themselves before they can function with the Scouts. Any adult should refer back to the Scout chain of command whenever possible for reference and follow that model. If the adults do not know how to operate within their own chain of command, they will not know how to respond to, or interact with the boys appropriately, to support a boy-led Troop.

Encourage the Patrol Method

The Scoutmaster Handbook (#33009B) states, Patrols are the building blocks of a Boy Scout Troop. It quotes Robert Baden-Powell: The Patrol Method is not a way to operate a Boy Scout Troop, it is the only way. Unless the patrol method is in operation you dont really have a Boy Scout Troop. Weve made huge strides here but we can always get more Patrol interactions going.

The Patrol is the team that we train the Patrol Leader to build. This may be that Patrol Leaders first leadership experience, so he will need plenty of training and coaching. Patrol spirit, respect, and cooperation will help build that team. To help make this happen, Troop 571 has started implementing the assignment of a Troop Guide and Instructor to each New Scout Patrol.

Make Sure The Rules & Regulations Are Followed

Safety is the primary adult responsibility. The adult leaders are responsible for the Troop following the rules found in the Guide to Safe Scouting (GSS) and in the Youth Protection Training (YPT). The adult leadership trains the youth leadership to stay within the boundaries set by the Troop and BSA, and they are ultimately responsible to see the rules are followed. The better the youth understand the reasons for BSAs safety rules the more likely they are to cooperate and comply. This is why the Scoutmaster must be notified of any Patrol outing, and this is the role he also performs when he attends the Troop Planning sessions. Remember, the BSA safety rules apply to everyone, boys and adults alike.

How to Make a Boy-Led Troop:Get adult buy-in first

The cooperation of the adults can make or break the Troop. The Scoutmaster needs to have all the adults on board with what their role is trying to accomplish. They must align with the Scoutmasters approach and vision, in supporting the boy-led Troop.

The safe, nurturing environment that the Scouting hopes will be established in a Troop can easily be ruined. One take-charge, or an adult who treats then like Cub Scouts, can strip the boy leadership of the opportunity, and enthusiasm to lead, potentially causes a boy-led Troop to fail. Basically, the boys cant lead if the adults are treating them as if they have no power and authority. Even if your Senior Patrol Leader is fully trained, he cannot be effective with the boys unless he is empowered by all of the adult leadership. Any leader who is denied any actual power is set up to be ignored, and will eventually fail.

Train the adult leadership

Adults need to see the big picture of Scouting and there is no better way to do this than by becoming fully Trained. Our Troop requirement for all adult leader training is specified in the chapters that follow. Ideally, we desire all adults who attend outings to be fully trained as ASMs (including TCOM, if outside of any normal TCOM functions) due to the interactions with the boys, and this becomes a National standard as of the end of 2012 for all direct contact (i.eASM) adults. You can, however, still attend an outing as a trained TCOM member, within the function of that role. You can also attend as a registered Scout Parent with YPT (on an appropriately designated outing as specified by the Adult Outing Adviser with the Scoutmasters approval). Your role will be in the function of whatever your registered position is. As always, reading the Scoutmaster Handbook (#33009B) and the Troop Committee Guidebook (#34505B) is a great way to start learning, regardless of what position you may be.

A simple start, stop, continue assessment can compare the Troop to the ideals set in the Scoutmaster Handbook. We usually do this at each Troop Leader Training (TLT) session and at some Patrol Leaders Councils (PLCs). This tool may be used by the Scouts, or a Patrol, at any time to evaluate how things are going and what they can do to improve. Based upon past sessions, our Scouts understand the program and really are taking the lead to effectively meet the BSA program.

If it has been a while since an adult leader has taken their leader specific training, maybe it would be a good to sit through this one day training session again, to refresh your memory of what the course covers. Chief Seattle Council also offers the Program and Training Conferences (P&TC) every fall, as well as the Commissioner Convention which covers many areas of the Scouting program.

By far, the best Scout Leader training available is Wood Badge, which merges some of the best corporate leadership training with a Scouting context. If possible, the Scoutmaster should be Wood Badge trained at a minimum, but this training is valuable for all adult leaders.

Remember just taking the training is not the point; its all about putting what you learned, in action per the context of the Boy Scouting Program, and in alignment with the Scoutmaster, to fully support a boy-led Troop appropriately.

Train the boy leadership

This can be as simple as BSAs Troop Level Training (TLT). One of the best boy leader training is NYLT - National Youth Leadership Training. It is essentially a Wood Badge course for the youth. Ideally a Senior Patrol Leader should be NYLT trained. However you do training, realize that youth leader training is a continual process. Often Scouts (and adults too) will not succeed the first time they try to lead.

The adult leadership may need to continually encourage and remind them until good leadership habits form. This continuing training may take quite a while, so the adult leader must have patience with the process. It has taken several years of reinforcing the boy-led Troop aspect in Troop 571 to get us to where we are today, and we are one of the stronger boy-led programs around. This requires a delicate balance to keep this going, knowing when to advise, and knowing when to step-back. The goal is to continue that reinforcement and make this aspect even stronger as we continue to build our youth leader capabilities.

Get the adults out of the Patrol Leaders Council (PLC)

Patrol Leaders Council (PLC), not the adult leaders, is responsible for planning all of the Troops activities and outings. From Fast Start for Boy Scouting: The PLC, Patrol Leaders Council, is run by the Senior Patrol Leader and not the adult leadership. The presence of just the Scoutmaster, in support of the SPL, is enough to remind the boys that their Senior Patrol Leader is in charge, and is backed up by the adult leadership. In a nutshell, the only adult that should attend the PLC is the Scoutmaster, or his designated stand-in!

Check that the boy leaders are prepared

It is very important that your SPL and his PLC make up an agenda for each activity. The Scoutmaster should meet with the SPL before the PLC, and the Troop Meeting to go over the agenda and make sure the youth leaders are prepared. The Scoutmaster Handbook (#33009B) says, The Senior Patrol Leader is in charge of every Troop meeting. Help him plan ahead, coach him along the way, but stay in the background and let him be the leader.

Dont expect rapid change!

It takes years before a fully functional boy-led troop is operating well. There will always be boy leader turnover and new boys coming in. Every Troop election requires a new set of boy leaders to be trained. One cannot allow setbacks to trigger a reversion to an adult-led Troop. Good Patrol Leaders (PL) should ultimately be nominated and elected by their peers to Troop level leadership as an Assistant Senior Patrol Leader (ASPL). The Assistant Senior Patrol Leader is a training position for Senior Patrol Leader (SPL), that way each SPL has had 6 months of Troop-level leader training as ASPL before taking office.

Treat your Senior Patrol Leader very well

The Senior Patrol Leader is the leader of a boy-led Troop, and you want other boys in the Troop to really want that position because it carries status and power. You want the Troop to respect and work hard for your SPL. The SPL has the best job in the Troop!

The adult leadership showing respect for the SPL and his decisions and input reinforces his status. If possible defer to your SPL.

Allow failure to be a learning experience

Within the bounds of a safe scouting experience, the adult leadership should allow the boy leadership to make, and learn from their mistakes. If the SPL shows up unprepared for the Troop Meeting, or an outing, he will have to wing it and do the best he can. The adults should not bail him out by taking over and running the meeting or event themselves. Adult-led is not Plan-B.

A teachable moment becomes Plan-B. Keep other adult leaders from interrupting the Troop Meeting, no matter how badly they think it is going; it is the SPLs show, not theirs. The Scoutmaster should talk with the boy leadership after the activity to evaluate what they can learn from the experience. Keep these meetings short and to the point. Set an encouraging tone if something did not go well, and keep the boys place from blaming anyone. Failure can be a better teacher than success.

Encourage Patrol Activities

The only way the Patrol Leader will get experience is if the Patrol actually does something that requires his leadership. There can be a Patrol Meeting within the Troop Meeting, but the best Patrol Meetings are part of Patrol Outings. Patrol activities should be planned within Troop outings also. Patrols can, and should, plan outings independent of the Troop (with the Scoutmasters approval). (See Chapter 4 - The Boy-Led Patrol in the Scoutmaster Handbook)

Ideas for Mentoring Leadership:

Use The Senior Patrol Leader Handbook

The Senior Patrol Leader Handbook (#32501) should be read by not only your SPL and ASPLs, but also by the adult leadership. This new handbook incorporates important new material from National Youth Leadership Training (and by derivation from Wood Badge).

Leadership Tips to Get You Started (excerpted from SPL Handbook (#32501) pages 20-21):

Keep your word. Dont make promises you cant keep.

Be fair to all. A good leader shows no favorites.

Communicate. A good leader knows how to get and give information so that everyone understands.

Be flexible. Meetings, campouts, and other patrol events will not always go as planned.

Be organized. Time spent preparing for troop meetings and events will be repaid many times over.

Delegate. Among the greatest strengths of a good leader is the willingness to empower others to accomplish all they can.

Set the example. Whatever you do, Scouts in the Troop are likely to do the same.

Be consistent. When the Troop members know what to expect from you, they will be more likely to respond positively to your leadership.

Give Praise. Offer honest complements whenever you can.

Ask for help. Do not be embarrassed to draw on the many resources available to you.

Criticize in private. Pull the Scout aside and quietly explain what he is doing wrong. Add a suggestion on how it should have been done correctly.

Have Fun. Most of all have fun learning to be a leader. Your joy and enthusiasm will spread to other Scouts and will help energize the Troop.

Use Scenarios:

First aid courses like Wilderness First Responder spend a lot of time in running Scenarios, in addition to lectures. Boy Scouts uses scenarios to teach youth protection training.

This is primarily because people learn by doing. Leadership can also be taught that way. The National Advanced Youth Leadership Experience at Philmont uses scenarios like search and rescue to teach leadership. Closer to home, the SPL Handbook has five example scenarios (pages 90-91) but any seasoned adult leader probably has many more real-life examples to use. Consider taking time with your boy leadership to work through known challenges, so that they will feel prepared if a similar situation arises. Discussing alternatives ahead of time with an adult leader will help build a youths confidence that their responses would be correct. Scenarios can also allow the Scoutmaster to train the adult leadership in the proper responses to boy-led challenges.

In Conclusion:

Like many things, working with a functioning boy-led Troop is a journey to be enjoyed, and not necessarily a destination that will always be smoothly achieved. Troop turnover guarantees that it will always be a work in progress, and changing. Working toward a boy-led Troop will give you a platform to teach leadership and the satisfaction of watching boys mature into good leaders.

While scouting is for boys, it is under the guidance and mentoring of the adults. The adult's influence will ultimately control 100% of the direction of the Troop through their actions, and how they let the boys lead and succeed. It is ultimately their responsibility to develop and foster a boy-led program, in concert with the boys, and for the boys. This may seem complicated but it really isn't.

Do the following:

Guidance & Vigilance from a distance,

Patience & Understanding the boys point of view,

Trust and employ your skills as a trained leader to enable the boys to lead,

Trust in the Boy Scout program as it was designed by the BSA, and follow it, &

Trust in the boys themselves.

These are the 7 keys for adults helping to foster a Boy-Led Troop.

Boy-Led Wiki on the web (non-BSA source):

www.boyledtroop.org

Scouting Magazine articles available on the web:

http://www.scoutingmagazine.org

Jan-Feb 2009 Let Your Scouts Lead

Mar-Apr 2004 Strictly for Scoutmasters

Sept 2003 Front Line StuffHow can a large Troop be boy-led?

Nov-Dec 2000 Front Line Stuffsome strategies for realizing the important goal of boy-led Troop leadership

Additional perspective info from the web (non-BSA source):

Lessons and Suggestions on Boy-Run Troops by Barry Runnels, ed. by Chuck Boblitz http://bsaroundtable.org/boyruntroop.html

From BSA National:

http://www.scouting.org/scoutsource/boyscouts/trainingmodules/orientationfornewboyscoutparents.aspx

The following is from a handout by Col. Red Dog Maynard (Ret.), and slightly modified for clarification (non-BSA source)

This reference follows the appropriate concept of the methodology and is enclosed to show some different, but aligned, perspective. There are specific times when we deviate from, say #9 to #8, since the Scoutmaster and the TCOM must support the program that the SPL and his PLC develop, but it is their job to ask and ensure that the boys have realistic goals which must be achievable. Sometimes we have to question, and even push-back, if we see something that is not achievable or does not comply to the Guide to Safe Scouting. There may also be times when we also operate in #7 mode, that is when the Scout in Charge (SIC) is working on developing an outing plan with the Adult Outing Advisor (AOA), and it may be the SICs 1st time in this role, so he has no other reference point. In that case the SIC proposes, and the AOA then evaluates and informs the SIC why he might want to include, or consider, some specific actions within his plans.

Our goal is to always try and enable the Troop to operate at #9, but there are specific times when we may need to work at #8 or #7, such as the above scenarios. We must try to not drop into the Red zone unless a safety issue dictates that the adults need to step in and prevent something bad from happening. A good Troop will operate in the Blue zone, and Troop 571 currently does.

Boy-Led Model Scenario:

Degrees of Participation (BLUE is Goodness RED is Bad)

1. Youth Initiated and Directed The ultimate GOAL!!!

Designed and run by youth and decisions made by youth.

2. Youth Initiated, Shared

Designed and run by youth, decisions with adults who share decisions with youth.

3. Youth and Adult

Designed and run by youth, initiated and directed adults in full partnership.

4. Adult Initiated, Shared

Designed and run by adults, decisions with youth who share decisions with youth.

5. Consulted and Informed

Designed and run by adults who consult with youth. Youth make recommendations that are considered by adults.

6. Assigned but Informed

Youth do not initiate, but understand and have some sense of ownership.

7. Tokenism

Symbolic representation by few. May not have genuine voice. May be asked to speak for the group they represent. (Adult leaders doing all the planning, boys just show up the SPL just a figure-head, PLC not engaged or used)

8. Decoration

Adults use youth to promote or support a cause without informing youth. Youth are not involved in design of the program, or decisions. (Adult leaders doing all the planning, boys just show up)

9. Manipulation

Youth involvement used by adults to communicate adults messages. (i.ePuppet Master led Troop)

Much Like This Philmont Signpost Leading a Troop Has Many Choices

Which Direction Will You Choose?

Advancement:

The Boy Scout Handbook Both boys and parents should become familiar with the contents of the official Boy Scout Handbook, as it will provide answers to many questions. Descriptions of the requirements for each Scout rank, Scout Skill Awards and several key merit badges are covered in the book. As your son advances in rank, youth instructors, or Scout Leaders will sign off on the completion of each requirement in his Scout Handbook. Over time this book will become a valuable record of your sons achievements. First-year Scouts should bring their book to every meeting, and encourage your son to take good care of his book as he will need it for a long time.

Boy Scout Ranks - The first rank of Scout must be completed as soon as possible after joining the Troop. We usually get these completed on the first outing, along with many other items, but this may be completed at any Troop meeting. It is mandatory that the parent sign the Youth Protection Booklet (at the front of the Scout Handbook or the specific line under the Scout rank) so we know that the required discussion took place, as that can only be done by the parent. Failure to do this will hold us up in providing this rank to the boy.

The first of the three regular ranks (Tenderfoot, Second Class and First Class) must be obtained in sequence, but can be worked on simultaneously. A detailed list for each rank is listed in the Scout Handbook. We focus on ensuring that we have/provide a program that allows Scouts to achieve their First Class rank by the end of their first year, to year and a half, of Scouting, if they actively participate and work within the program. During this time, the boys will have many opportunities to learn basic skills and advance. They will also learn to work together which is often more essential than rank advancement.

Studies have shown that boys stay more engaged in continuing the program if they make 1st Class within the timeline stated herein. Unlike Cub Scouting, just attending does not earn the rank, he must put the effort into this, and for all other endeavors in Boy Scouting too. He is also responsible for obtaining the sign-off after he has performed the requirement to the leadership. Each year we have several boys that achieve the 1-year timeline to 1st Class, so we know the basis of the program is there, for it to happen. The Troops, and BSAs, goal is that all Scouts can achieve this, but we can only provide the structure, he must engage, be present, and do the work.

BSA Requirements Book (#34765 current edition) This along with the BSA National site (below) are the official documented sources listing all advancement requirements. This book is reprinted every year in order to be current. It is recommended that each leader obtain a current copy. All awards, advancement requirements, and merit badge requirements are contained within this resource. http://www.scouting.org/scoutsource/BoyScouts/AdvancementandAwards.aspx

Special Needs - For a Scout with a permanent mental or physical disability, there are alternate rank and merit badge requirements for advancement. Please see the latest version of the BSA Requirements Book (#34765) for the procedures on these.

BSA Fieldbook (#34024) - Includes information relative to outdoor activities and is an excellent source of supplemental information for all Leaders and Scouts.

Signing Off Requirements

To have the requirement signed off, the Scout needs to ask someone to sign it. Older Scouts with First Class Rank (and above) are authorized to sign the requirements for Scout, Tenderfoot, and Second Class. All Star, Life and Eagle Scouts can sign up to First Class. All ASMs can sign up through 2nd Class, the 1st Asst ASMs can sign up through Life, and only the SM can sign through Eagle, or for Eagle Palms. The first goal is to have Scouts always sign for Scouts, where appropriate. If no Scout is around that can sign, then the appropriate Adult Leader (SM, or specific ASMs) may sign.

Merit Badges - The Scout is also free to work on individual Merit Badges which are required for the higher ranks of Star, Life and Eagle. For many Scouts, Summer Camp is a fine opportunity to earn several Merit Badges. During the year we usually conduct two to three Merit Badge workshop series that also provide a way to work toward their goals. We have several Merit Badge Counselors and can always help to find one to work with your Scout - on any of the Badges he has interest in.

Merit Badge Rules The following procedures need to be followed:

A Troop Merit Badge - clean-up session is a time to finish partials, not to ask to start a new merit badge.

Troop Merit Badge session - No merit badge can be started by a Scout without approval from the Counselor, and/or the Scoutmaster. For a Troop Merit Badge session, approval is assumed when the Counselor hands out the Blue Card at the start of the class.

A Scout wanting to start a Merit Badge, working with the Counselor on their own MUST first: 1. Find a registered Counselor for the badge. 2. Discuss with that Counselor their desire to do that badge. 3. Obtain the Counselors agreement. 4. Discuss this with the Scoutmaster in order to obtain a signed Blue Card. 5. The Scout then needs to manage the Blue Card and worksheet on their own. It is the Scout's responsibility to keep that record and he is to make sure the Counselor signs it off.

Do not expect Counselor sign-off for Merit Badge completion if you hand over your merit badge worksheets without a Blue Card.

Partial worksheets, with requirements signed off by a registered Counselor, are equivalent to partial blue cards with requirements signed off (as long as the MB was started properly by following the above steps). In other words, if we see a worksheet with another registered Counselor's signature on various requirements, we will mark those requirements as completed on a blue card. No signature anywhere on the requirement simply means that requirement needs to be reviewed by the Counselor for completeness, and if lacking then it must be redone by the Scout to meet the requirement.

If a Merit Badge worksheet is incomplete and prerequisites are not completed prior to the long-term activities (Personal Fitness, Personal Management or Family Life) then the Scout will need to re-do that portion of the Merit Badge to be in compliance to the requirement. Most Merit Badges do not typically have these, but a few do.

Scouts have even asked to have Blue Cards signed as completed by the Scoutmaster (in the completed sections) prior to being complete and before the Counselor signature is obtained - they know better as these were 1st Class Scouts. If a Scout is trying to "by-pass" the proper process in this manner, it'll be a teaching moment. The Scoutmaster will simply collect that Scouts Blue Card, and then they'll be asked to re-do the MB - since they have demonstrated that they are not following the Oath and Law by trying to sneak it by - and a Scout knows better.

This is to teach the boys to be accountable. The Counselors are here to help and teach, but we shall hold all Scouts to the proper process and all Merit Badge documented requirements. No more / no less.

The above merit badge procedures are referenced from the Boy Scout Requirements book (#34765), current revision.

Over time, there have been parents that have been seen telling their Scout what action he needs to do down to each specific detail. This is not the Boy Scouting method, and while done with good intentions, it is wrong! Please simply ask "Do you know what you need to do?" and please do not tell him his specific actions unless he is unsure. If he is still unsure, have him ask his Patrol Leader, an older Scout, the Scoutmaster, or a seasoned ASM. We are all here to help your Scout succeed.

Scout Spirit - In addition to the skills and Merit Badges required for each rank, Scouts must also show Scout Spirit. Scout Spirit includes a number of elements such as participation, contribution, leadership and maturity - relative to rank. It also includes making effort to live by the Scout Law in their daily lives. The new Scout Handbook requires 4 specific examples of this to be demonstrated at each rank. During the Scoutmaster Conference, the SM/ASM may select 4 points of the Scout Oath or Law and ask how the Scout shows "Scout Spirit" for each. This method is useful if the boy cannot readily think of some concrete examples.

Active BSA and our Troop also count how active a Scout is, relative to his leadership position. A reasonable assessment is made given what he needs to accomplish, and how he performs his leadership tasks. Emails, Troopmaster records, and photographs can all are used to document this, along with his attendance at Troop Meeting/events, which are used to sign this off - per the requirements stated in the BSA Guide to Advancement (#614448).

Scoutmaster Conference (SMC) - At the completion of each rank, the Scout is required to schedule a Scoutmaster Conference. The Scout has the responsibility to request the conference. Then the Scoutmaster, or an assigned Assistant Scoutmaster, talks with the boy to make sure they have fulfilled all the requirements and to measure their readiness for advancement. A prime purpose of the SMC is also to see how the boy is doing. Boys should dress neatly in the appropriate uniform for their conferences. The specifics of the uniform required are different for the lower and upper ranks, see the uniform standards section herein. If they fail to wear the uniform specified they will be turned away until they can comply. This is to teach being prepared, responsibility, and accountability. Imagine if, in the future, they dress inappropriately for a college or job interview...What happens? Our goal of the entire program is to teach them skills they will use for life, and understand the topics/concepts of responsibility, authority and accountability.

Board of Review (BOR) A Board of Review are also a part of rank advancement. Committee members interview boys who have passed their Scoutmaster conferences to both formalize their achievements and to obtain feedback about the troop, and the boys experience in it. The Board of Review is an opportunity to engage in conversation. It is not intended to be an examination or a retesting. Again, the Scout shall be in complete uniform per the requirements herein.

Court of Honor (COH) The purpose of a Court of Honor is to recognize the accomplishments of the boys. It is to acknowledge and appreciate the ranks, Merit Badges and leadership roles earned by the Scouts since the last Court of Honor. They are held quarterly. If there is a meal or social portion announced beforehand, it will usually be held in the upstairs multipurpose room and the honors are awarded in the sanctuary. We also have used our standard Troop Meeting room as well as some outdoor/alternate venues for Courts of Honor. We are actively trying to find additional venues away from our sponsor to continue to enhance the environment and make these special events.

A Proud Moment

Demonstrating Leadership and Scout Spirit:

Troop 571 has also implemented a standard of asking how each youth has "Demonstrated Leadership" or "Scout Spirit" to meet the requirement from 1st Class rank on up - for their leadership position. The SM/ASM corps will now ask "Tell me about3 or more,verifiable actions you've done, while you've been in your position?" This relates back to the Oath taken at TLT, the TLT handouts, and the Leadership card where each youth leader stated (at least) their 3 key leadership goals/actions needed. These can/will all be used to show how you they met their stated actions. The leadership goals the boys set should be SMART, where S is SPECIFIC, M is MEASURABLE, A is ATTAINABLE, R is REALISTIC, and T is TIMELY. This all relates to the BSA Guide to Advancement #614448 & Scoutmaster Handbook #33009B.

1. It should be very easy for theScout to discuss these 3 or more achievements if they've done anything of note - within their leadership role. Acceptable responses might be "I've taught the following/specific skillsto several Scouts onouting", or "I helped lead this activity/outing as the "SIC for", or "I taught this Scout aboutand signed off his advancement for", or "I Staffed this Ordeal/Camp", which are all perfect answers and the results can be seen, validated and explained in some depth. These answers all show a degree of actively taking on the position for leadership, which is paramount in a "Scout-led program."

2. Attendance at Troop Meetings, PLCs, etc., are really expectations of what those Scout needs to do as an active member of the Troop, and in taking an office. These do not count towards demonstrating the leadership requirement.

3. If we see a Scout that is just wearing the patch, the SM will ask him to do his position, or he will not get the leadership requirement signed off. If the Scout continues to not take an active role after any additional time passes after coaching, the SM will remove him from the office. This is a last resort, but if after a reasonable period of a 6-month term has expired without any effort on the Scout's behalf, it is completely justified. BSA National supports this. References - BSA Guide to Advancement #614448 & Scoutmaster Handbook #33009B.

Per the above, the specific BSA statement is: "The unit leaders are responsible for maintaining contact with the Scout on a regular basis. The Scout is not required to attend any certain percentage of activities or outings. However, unit leaders must ensure that he is fulfilling the obligations of his assigned leadership position. If he is not, then they should remove the Scout from that position." from http://www.scouting.org/scoutsource/BoyScouts/GuideforMeritBadgeCounselors/RankAdvanceFAQ.aspx

In addition, the term "ACTIVE" is now defined by BSA National as; Registered, In good standing & Meets the units reasonable expectations. (See: BSA Guide To Advancement #614448). Our reasonable expectation of the Scout, is that he will try and attend as many meetings and outings as possible. We understand there are external influences such as school (very important), sportsetc, so please just let the Scoutmaster know if hell be absent for a while. He also needs to inform his Patrol Leader when he will not be there.

Where we hold boys accountable is by the demonstration of "Scout Spirit", "Active" and by the "Demonstrate Leadership" in a position. (See: BSA Guide To Advancement #614448). Troop 571 endeavors to follow all of the documented requirements from BSA National, and we recognize that it is critical to achieve that as our goal. There's a lot of "tribal" knowledge, andopinions, throughout the Council, District, and the individual units, that can't connect back to specific BSA references on topics. Troop 571 strives to maintain pedigree of all decision processes, and we will endeavor to the stay with the specifics of the rank requirements and ask nothing more or less. Our only deviation to this will be for certain age-specific and/or safety related items, based upon the Unit Leader's judgment. We always strive to have a safe, and appropriate, environment for your son, and we do hold all boys to the same behavior standards desired.

For Example: Taken from an actual District training class: "There was a discussion where another unit's Adult Leader stated that he had a Scout that (in his opinion) just met the requirements, but he wanted to hold him back since the other Scouts in that Patrol did a better job by far exceeding what was asked.I had to explain to this well-intended Leader that we ask no more -or less- than the documented requirements. If they all met it, then they should all get it signed off. We don't grade performance on a curve, nor do we push for performance beyond what the requirement specifically states."

Note - Looking at what our Troop 571 Scouts achieve, we do tend to have a abundance of "over-achievers" (just look at the Merit Badge sashes and the High Adventure patches that are worn - very few of our Troop 571 Scouts do "just the requirement" - they tend to excel and go beyond the minimums). The level of performance they do is not a bad thing, but we need to remember that each Scout is an individual. While we will push him t