Boy Scouts of America
Boy Scouts of America
Boy Scout is designed as a boy led program where youth from the ages of 10 to 18 can learn and grow in a safe environment that is guided by volunteer adults.
One of the most difficult aspects of Boy Scouts for the parents is learning the importance of staying out of the way and allowing the boy led program to operate properly.
There are many training programs offered by local and national councils to both adults and youth alike. Training ranges from safety to skills, leadership and more.
An adult volunteer in the position of Scoutmaster offers guidance to the troop through the Senior Patrol Leader (SPL). The only time the Scoutmaster addresses the troop, aside from safety issues, is through the Scoutmaster minute at the end of a troop meeting. Guidance, discussions, and planning happens between the Scoutmaster and SPL outside of the troop meeting. Because, the troop meeting is for the youth and is run by the SPL. Adults should NOT interfere with the meeting unless there is a safety concern. Any issues that arise outside of safety get addressed through the Scoutmaster and SPL interaction later. This allows the learning process to occur.
For example, if the youth are rowdy during a meeting and the SPL does not have a good handle on the meeting – this can and will be addressed after the meeting. Not during the meeting. This is where the parents have issues. BUT… if you allow for this process to happen, the scouts are better for it. Lots of learning occurs along with personal growth and character building.
An Outdoor Program
Scouting is designed to be an outdoor program. Let me repeat that. Scouting is an outdoor program. It is NOT designed to be a bunch of troop meetings and and no outdoor connection. One of the main purposes of the Troop meetings are to organize and prepare for the outdoor camping events that should occur each month. The “real” learning occurs out in nature where the scouts can explore and learn skills and knowledge through the merit badge program.
Learning Opportunities
Beyond the manuals and adult guidance, there are several training opportunities for both youth and adults. National Youth Leadership Training (NYLT) for example is for youth and the Wood Badge is for adults – Just to name two. The local scout council also offers monthly meetings that include small group sessions and training.
Safety Training
Boy Scouts offers a required training program for all volunteer adults. The program is designed to provide adults with the tools to recognize situations or better yet prevent situation from occurring that place scouts in harms way.
A Boy-Led Program
From the Scoutmaster.org site: One of the major differences between Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts is the very important method, leadership development. In order to teach leadership, you have to let the boys lead. In fact, one of the more vigorous debates you can have 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, itʼs not possible in their particular troop for any or all of the follow- ing reasons: the boys are too young, too lazy, too irresponsible, or just not interested.
A boy-led troop is more work for the adult leadership, and therein is the problem, and our need for your cooperation and help. It is so much easier for the adults to just take charge themselves than to teach the necessary leadership skills to the boys.
! All Scoutmasters and Assistant Scoutmasters are taught the basics of a boy-led troop and patrol in Scoutmaster Specifics. However putting that training into practice is often difficult without a mentor in the troop. This guide will hopefully bridge the gap be- tween theory and practice. It covers some of the common pitfalls and offers sugges- tions for getting a working boy-led troop. The importance of a boy-led troop and patrol is emphasized in two chapters of the Scoutmasterʼs Handbook; 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 pro- gram, then take responsibility for figuring out how they will achieve the goals. One of our most important challenges is to train boy leaders to run the troop by providing direction, coaching and support. The boys 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 boys learn to lead.”
Scouts is an outdoor oriented structured program allowing youth to learn about themselves through the selfless services of others while growing strong character traits. What’s good for the inside is the great outdoors!