Information, Observation, and Inspiration for Scouters
This month’s What Would You Do? question in Scouting Magazine comes from Scoutmaster D.M. of Ft. Myers, Fla.:
We recently had our troop leadership elections, and the Scouts elected a senior patrol leader who is inexperienced, uncommitted, and has no real sense of responsibility. I am worried about the direction of the troop, but I want to respect the boys’ choice. What do I do? Continue reading “Dealing with troop election results”
Many den leaders make the mistake of assuming that the Webelos program is conducted the same way as the Wolf and Bear program. In doing so, they usually shortchange the boys from the excellent features of the Webelos program, sidetrack the transition to Boy Scouts, and find they are falling behind on where they are supposed to be. Continue reading “Webelos is different!”
While we’re on the subject, let’s think about the adult role at the patrol leaders’ council meetings.
Simply put, adults have no role, because the PLC is composed of the youth leaders of the troop, and the PLC meeting is their meeting — not the adults’ meeting! Continue in Chapter 3 of the Scoutmaster Handbook, which states that “the Senior Patrol Leader chairs the Patrol Leaders’ Council meetings.” Continue reading “Adult involvement, part 2”
Even though Boy Scouts is boy-led, adults are absolutely essential for the program to operate.
However, it’s very easy to cross the line between boy-led and adult-led, just by doing things adults would normally do without thinking about it.
Even something as seemingly minor, helpful and innocent as a stage direction during a flag ceremony, or injecting information into an announcement by the SPL, can send the message to the boys that they really aren’t in charge of the troop meeting. Continue reading “Adult Involvement: How much is too much?”