doakley

I understand that the Scouts BSA uniform for girls is slowly arriving at the Scout shops. Does anyone know if the Scouts BSA uniform will be the norm for adult leaders in the future--women and men? The Scout Shop still has men's Boy Scouts of America uniform shirts. Will they simply start selling the updated Scouts BSA uniform shirts when the current stock is gone?

Regards, 

Oak

Adults and older scouts are the most resistant to change. Have you spoken to the adults?

 

In general, not always, but in general change comes from the youngest to the older scouts, not the other way around. 

 

Have you developed an explanation for the reason you want to change the present program? "Because I say so" never comes off well to the scouts or adults. You should rehearse your reasoning over and over in your mind until you can say a simple one or two sentence explanation that is as coherent to the 11 year old as it is to the adult leaders. It doesn't hurt to be able to reference BSA material as well so that you don't appear as some narcissist trying to prove your new mouse trap ideas of scouting. Your troop is doing it wrong, be able to show them why.

 

You say you have read everything, but have you read the PL and SPL handbooks? Instead of the SM trying to explain how patrols should work, let the books explain it for you with you working along with the boys as a student. As much as possible, don't push, follow along. In fact, make those handbooks required reading for all the adults working with the scouts so that everyone understands the direction YOU are going. 

 

You have our support and I'm excited to watch your troop progress.

 

Barry

Barry,

Yes I have read the SPL and PL's handbook and freely give them out to all. You're right though, not all the adults are onboard yet and I'm still not the acting SM. It's true that the only ones that can affect change in a troop is the SM, COR and CC. I have to be patient while trying to steer this aircraft carrier. I'm dealing with years of "this is how we've always done it." I expected push back from adults, but I was really surprised when I spoke to the PLC about Scouts choosing their own patrols. They looked at me like people who were just released from a gulag after 50 years. No one has ever tried that before-it can not be done. 

Since the patrol method is probably the most important method, I thought that was sufficient justification. But you're right--I have to sell it to the Scouters and Scouts to whom the patrol method is completely foreign. I must practice patience.

Yes I've been planning on doing some sort of ILST that focuses on the patrol method. I've led ILST before with another troop that was in worse shape. I realize that the training doesn't stop with just one weekend event.

That's one of the parts that's been missing from current troop--any sort of training. It's just assumed that they'll figure it out and it's not working. Nothing works and it turns into chaos and not the good kind where the Scouts are managing it.

Beavah-I'm going to Wood Badge this weekend. I had my eye on Bobwhite, but maybe Beaver is more appropriate. 

Thanks for everyone's help.

Oak

We have about 40 Scouts on paper and maybe 20+ show up for campouts. Troop meetings are probably in the average of 30. We are not strong in the Patrol Method and that's the first place I need to focus. Our troop is not used to patrols acting as a defined group that cooks, eats, cleans, sleeps together etc. We've been run by the herd method where patrols don't have any meaning. On campouts patrols always mixed because two would show up from a patrol. There was never any patrol identity. It didn't help that patrols were appointed by the SPL instead of letting the Scouts  form their own patrols. 

So yes it was painful to watch a 13-year old patrol leader try to mange the big herd. Many times it was a train wreck and left it inviting for the adults to step in.

We have elections coming up in June and I will taking over as SM then. My plan is to allow the Scouts to form their own patrols. Hopefully that will make them want to come on campouts and work as a group. Then I can the SPL work with the PLs. 

Hello, I'm new here. I am wondering if anyone else has come across this one. My son and I joined a new troop a year ago. I threw myself into it and now I am the next Scoutmaster. I've read everything I can get my hands on and listened to all of ScoutmasterCG's podcast at least four times now. I've never come across the standard practice of our troop. For each campout, a PL is designated for leading that month's trip. So all the trips logistics are on the PL and on the campout, everyone looks to this PL for direction. Our current SPL is fine with this practice, because it's what he is used to and alleviates any of his responsibility. We've had about five of these campouts since last September. In practice it stinks. It's like starting over with a new SPL every month instead of every six months or year. We had one trip ultimately fail because the PL couldn't get everything together in time. I think the PLs have enough on their plates managing their patrols rather than being responsible for the actions of the whole troop.

Full disclosure-the patrol method is a bit foreign to this troop and has been managed by the herd method in the recent past. The thought of eating, cooking, camping as a patrol is an uphill battle. Trying to reinstate the patrol method is my first and foremost task, but this will take time.

In my experience, the SPL should lead on campouts. I'm fine with a different PL helping to plan and facilitate the trip, but when on the trip, the buck should  stop with the SPL. Has anyone else come across with monthly revolving door in campout leadership?

Regards,

Oak