Re: SA-New Scout Patrol
Berk Moss (mossfam@TELEPORT.COM)
Fri, 28 Nov 1997 10:31:02 -0800
Yesterday, James D Wellborn 325 795 2010 <WELLBOJ@a1.firn.edu> wrote:
> I have been asked to and happily accepted the job as the SA
> to the New Scout Patrol (4 AoL crossovers, 1 four weeks into it, and
> 2 more floating in the wings maybe for February).
>
> I tried to do the Scouts-L archives search for related
> material.... Reinforced my decission to use a professional accountant
> for IRS filing...
>
> I have a pretty solid idea about what I'm doing, but any
> pointers from any "been there, done that"'ss would be welcomed.
>
> Thanks
Well, Jim I've done some of that. My role in our troop was to (1) deal
with advancement (field work not records) for Scouts under first class and
(2) deal with parents of new scouts.
Here are some pointers I'd offer for the ASM of the new boy patrol.
* The parents are the audience you should focus on. Your Troop Guide and
other boy leaders should focus on the new scouts.
* When a boy visits the troop, but him in a patrol for the evening and sit
with his parents and explain what is going on. Have them focus on the "boy
led" aspect. They might be looking for a higher level Cubmaster and Den
leader and think the adult leaders in your troop are not doing their jobs.
(I'm afraid my experience is that the deeper the parent is in helping with
cubs the harder it is for them to understand "boy led".
* Encourage any Cub leader to crossover with their sons (literally cross
over the ceremonial bridge if you use one) and transfer them up as adult
leaders in your troop. Insist that the get training ASAP. Tell them to give
themselves a year to learn all the First Class outdoors skills.
* Be available to answer informal questions from parents and hold formal
meetings at key points (Just after cross over, just before summer camp)
* Answer parent questions. IF the question is really someting the new scout
should hav from his patrol leader or TG, then help the boy ask them. Don't
do something for a boy he can do for himself. (In this case listen for
inforation) I often send the boy to the PL or TG and then shilper the
answer to the parent.
* Let them know there is a role for them in the troop, but it is working
with all the Scouts in the Troop and not just their own son. Often parents
and boys of joining age want to camp together. It is important that the boy
camps with his patrol and the parent camps with the adults. Very often,
after a 6 to 9 months (not related to scouting) the boy will need to exert
some independence and not be dominated so much by the parent. If scouts is
another place where the parent dominates, he will drop out. I think the
role of the parent of an adolescent is to see that he has the right mentors
and to mentor the sons of other people. Help parents understand that.
* A few boy things. Be sure your Guide teaches the scouts (and you teach
the parents) about the right equipment. Here in the Northwest it has to do
with rain gear and a warm sleeping bag. I don't know what the keys are for
where you are in Florida.( I'd be interested.) Here a person camping who is
cold and wet is at best miserable and not going to come back and an worst
in danger of hypothermia and in fact a danger to the whole unit. Equipment
doesn't have to be expensive and in fact can be borrowed from other scouts
if needed.
* Support your Guide and the New Scout Patrol leader by advising and
counseling them. If you have a new Scout who can't believe he should let
himself be led by other youth, talk to the TG or PL about how they are
going to deal with this. When they have some ideas about what they will
say, ask if they want you to stand next to them as they talk to the new
boy. Only intervene in that conversation if the new boy won't listen and
then only to point out that this is their leader. Then let the leader talk
again.
* Be sure to let natural consequences teach. If a new boy won't do his
share of the breakfast cooking and the patrol decides not to feed him,
don't let the adults feed him. He'll cooperate at lunch or definitely at
dinner. Be sympathetic to him. Help him make a plan for how he can make
suggestions to the group and how he can help at the next meal. Be sure the
Guide is accepting of boys who had to try out a method of non-cooperation
and are now ready to work with the patrol.
Catch them being scout-like and praise it and point out how it pays off.
When they are not, ignore lots and be around to talk about ways of
recovering.
That said, everyone (Youth Leaders, Adult Leaders, New Boys, New parents)
need to know there are some lines we don't cross. Youth protection, Scout
Safety, and Safe Haven are not things we bend. Kids don't ride in the back
of pickups. Hazing is forbidden, Adults don't go off one-on-one with
Scouts.
If I've gone on too long, there are twelve key points to your job that I'm
sure you will remember. "A scout is. . . " Live those points and help
others live them and your New Boy Patrol will be a success.
YiS
Berk Moss Pioneer District Advancement Committee
Assistant Scoutmaster Troop 204 Cascade-Pacific Council
Multnomah Village, Portland Oregon O/A Brotherhood
e mail: mossfam@teleport.com Bear Patrol Woodbadge WEM 492-1-94
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