Growing Troop Success
Barry C Runnels (Barry_C_Runnels@MMACMAIL.JCCBI.GOV)
Wed, 11 Dec 1996 10:33:47 CST
>>Two years ago we resurrected a dead Troop with 10 Webelos and 5 Scouts
>>from the old Troop. I believe success starts with a program plan. Our
>>plan was to be a Boy Run Troop with FUN as a primary objective for every
>>Troop activity. We also were looking for the ideal Troop size of 30 - 35
>>Scouts to give all boys a chance to be leaders.
>>Two years later, we have 65 Scouts, averaging 2 new Scouts every month
>>with another joining last night.
>>Barry Runnels
>>Edmond OK
>Barry,
>I read your Dec 3 posting to Scouts-L with great interest. Would you
>mind sharing some of your successes and (not the not so successful)
>programs that enabled your troop to achieve so much. There are many
>Scouts and Scouters that would benefit from your experiences.
>YIS,
>Rick Covington, UC, WA, SA
>North District / P874 / T713
>Circle Ten Council
>Dallas, Texas
>rcovingt@ccmail.dsccc.com
>covingto@gte.net
Rick, what a great chance to brag. My wife says yaking is my gift from God.
We believe our success from new Scouts comes from our Fun Boy Run program.
To many other places these guys would rather go if they are not having fun.
We strive to make every campout and Troop meeting have a fun theme. Some of
our outings in our first year of the Troop, were a canoe trip, fishing
trip, backpacking trip, Air Force Base visit, lockin, bike riding campout,
and repelling. Now I know that this is a typical for many Troops.
Our Scout Master set a goal of trying to design fun Troop meetings so that
the Scouts had something different to look forward to. Like every Troop, we
have good and bad meetings, but the Scouts seem to have fun. If they don't'
we make changes. Last month was cooking and KP training with a cooking
contest at the last meeting. I was a judge and can those boys cook when
they want to. The next two months theme are Search/Rescue and Survival. We
have been having trouble on camp outs.
We had Webelos visit again this week. For us this was a bad week because we
just got back from a successful Orienteering Campout and the Scouts had to
refold tents that were laid out to dry from the morning frost, and clean
and take inventory of the Camp Boxes. The adults were doing Scout Master
conferences and Board of Reviews. Boring stuff for Webelos. But the Webelos
leaders like it because they got to look at all the Troop equipment, they
saw the Scouts work as a team run by a 12 year old SPL and 12 year old PLC.
The only adults around was the Webelos leaders and the guide showing them
around.
The Webelos Leaders asked if they could watch one Board of Review session,
so I asked the leaders and the Scout and they had no problem. I was
surprised because the Webelos did not want to leave after the Scout was
through.
We tell the leaders our success and downfalls. We show them we are very
young and young Troops require more help from adults. We are growing so
fast that fund raising for equipment is always in our face. But they see
first hand Scouts in good spirits and generally having fun. We push boy run
very hard so there is a lot of confusion and yelling also but we are all
learning how to do it better.
We generally get about half the Webelos who visit. The other half tell us
they wanted a Troop with older Scouts and we understand that. I always give
the Leaders 3 or 4 other Troops to visit. Other than Webleos groups, we
average 2 new Scouts a month, most of these guys are coming from friends in
the Troop.
The problems we have are that the adult leaders are learning with the
Scouts. It took us four months to get used to going from 15 boys to 45. We
are trying different methods with new Scouts. Now that we have 12 and 13
year olds, that job is getting easier.
I think our Troop is to big now but what can you do? We had a discussion
with our DE and he says the problem is most parents are looking for very
active small Troops and if you have that you wont stay small long. We are
wanting to look at ways to maybe divide the Troop up into two groups but we
have been so busy this year, we are just now catching our breath.
Finally, I was on the board of review for 6 Scouts this week. I love one on
one with these guys. I ask a lot questions about their likes and dislikes
of the Troop. Not many dislikes but that because they are nervous. I will
get their dislikes at another time. Their primary likes were the fun they
had at camp outs. Canoeing, fishing and backpacking were on the top of
their list. Great, at least that part of the program is working.
We are still very rough around the edges, but I notice that Webelos leaders
and parents seem to look around that when they understand what your trying
to achieve. As a Cub Master I had my Webelos look at a minimum of 4 Troops.
I ask a lot questions from Webelos and Webelos parents to find out why they
choose a particular Troop so I have a good grasp of what they want and
Troop programs in our area.
I know of one Troop that is having a big problem reqruting and the reason
from parents is most of the adult leaders have no boys in the Troop.
Parents are very concerned about adults they leave their loved ones with
these days. I don't think there is anything wrong with leaders who have no
boys in the Troop but this Troop has a lot. I bring this up because this is
a question that Webelos leaders are asking us when they visit.
By they way, the leaders of the last group liked us and are interested, the
boys are disappointed because we ran out of time for a game. Webelos love
games. Whoops.
We get many of our ideas from Scouts-L. We have a lot of good experience
here. I use it a lot for my Pack and Troop.
Sorry this is long but I agree with you Rick, something here may help other
Troops.
Thanks for letting me brag a bit about our guys because I love this
Scouting Stuff.
Barry Runnels
"Mighty" Pack 339
Troop 386
Edmond OK
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