Scouting is a Safe Place to Fail?

09/02/20 • 5 min

The primary goal with all Scout leaders is Safety. We as adult leaders need to understand that some times we learn more by failing. A Senior Patrol Leader may not have a meeting planned out to the Scoutmasters' satisfaction or liking. That doesn’t give the Scoutmaster license to take over the meeting. Scouting is "highly organized cause" at times. When the meeting ends the Scoutmaster should ask the Senior Patrol Leader open-ended questions like; What would have made the meeting better? What resources would prevent the meeting from failing? What are you planning for the next meeting?

Cub Scout leaders have a plan for every meeting. Some time things go wrong. Often it becomes a fond memory of the good times. You know... Cub Master “Shrek” at the Halloween Pack meeting.

🌎 Troop Leader Resources: https://troopleader.scouting.org

🌎 Program Features for Troops and Crews: https://www.scouting.org/programs/scouts-bsa/resources/program-features-vols-1-3/

📺 Troop Leader YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCEmQR5W4PkcSLfLV96SOH7w

🎬 Planning Seminar: https://youtu.be/yavqFuYiEX4

⚜️ Note: Cub Scout leaders need to use Scoutbook for guidance on leading meetings.

Cub Scout leaders have a plan for every meeting. Some time things go wrong. Often it becomes a fond memory of the good times. You know... Cub Master “Shrek” at the Halloween Pack meeting.

🌎 Troop Leader Resources: https://troopleader.scouting.org

🌎 Program Features for Troops and Crews: https://www.scouting.org/programs/scouts-bsa/resources/program-features-vols-1-3/

📺 Troop Leader YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCEmQR5W4PkcSLfLV96SOH7w

🎬 Planning Seminar: https://youtu.be/yavqFuYiEX4

⚜️ Note: Cub Scout leaders need to use Scoutbook for guidance on leading meetings.

Previous Episode

Running a Good Planning Meeting or Seminar

In a Pack, the planning meeting/seminar is usually a subcommittee of adults. In a Troop the planning is done by the youth members, guided by SPL and the Scoutmasters, and approved by the committee. It's recommended to make this an all-day seminar. With brakes and sack lunch. It could be broken up into several meetings however momentum might be lost. Tell participants to come with new ideas and surgeons. Bring flyers, articles, and an open mind. Don’t forget to bring something to write on. Have the following items at the planning seminar:

School calendars (Elementary, Middle, and High Schools may have different schedules.)
The Council and District calendars
A copy for everyone, of the JTE for your unit
Last few years of your units past calenders

Make an agenda that covers the following:

Planning – Make sure you have some big event or camping every month. Troops decide on a Summer Camp and witch month they plan to go.
Membership – Plan out a recruitment effort every month. Put Den Chief training on the calendar.
Program – Meeting should be planned with advancement in mind. Camping is key.
Leadership – Recognize completed training of leaders at COH or Pack meetings.

Most Packs fallow the school calendar and take the summer off. Then struggle to restart every year. Planning day events each month will help keep the Pack together. Schedule a time for Day Camp. In a Troop, the planing is done by the youth and approved by the committee. The committee should approve it or send it back for more revisions or details. The committee can make a budget and fundraiser goals can be set. • Budget & Fundraisers – Scouting should never be a burden on the family's bank accounts. Communications should be published to all parents, leaders, and Scouts. This is Friendly, Courteous, and Kind.

🌐Planning resources for your next Scouting year: https://blog.scoutingmagazine.org/2020/08/06/download-these-planning-resources-for-your-next-scouting-year/

📄 2020 JTE Cub Scouting (Pack): https://i9peu1ikn3a16vg4e45rqi17-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/2020-JTE-Pack-Scorecard.pdf

📄 2020 JTE Scouts BSA (Troop): https://i9peu1ikn3a16vg4e45rqi17-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/2020-JTE-Troop-Scorecard.pdf

📄 2020 JTE Venturing (Crew): https://i9peu1ikn3a16vg4e45rqi17-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/2020-JTE-Crew-Scorecard-Updated.pdf

🎬JTE Find Out What It Means to Me: https://youtu.be/EHmOmpgJ76Y

Next Episode

Lost Unit?... Scouting Has A Road Map to Success!

Do you know a successful Pack or Troop? They are the ones that have a gigantic AOL cross-over ceremony. You know the one Troop who has 2 or 3 new Eagle Scouts every year. It’s no secret. Every unit can do it, and it's as simple as reading a map. You don’t need a unit leader with 6 rows of square knots ether. J. T. E. (Journey to Excellence)!

The road map for all Scout unit's success is the Journey to Excellence:

Planning – Scheduling events that will fill a calendar for a year or more. See the link below for the Planning Seminar video.

Budget – Scouting will cost money and budget & fundraising are part of it.

Membership – Recruiting is year-round. Not just youth. Retention is the program. See the link below for the Recruiting Scouts video.

Program – Camping, short, and long-term. Advancement & Training. Service projects.

Volunteer Leadership - Communicates with parents leaders & scouts. Training for ALL! See the link below for the Training For All video.

⚜️ Note: All units who work the Journey to Excellence into everything they do, succeed. "If you do Journey to Excellence then you're doing Scouting wright."

🔗LINKS:

📄 2020 JTE Cub Scouting (Pack): https://i9peu1ikn3a16vg4e45rqi17-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/2020-JTE-Pack-Scorecard.pdf

📄 2020 JTE Scouts BSA (Troop): https://i9peu1ikn3a16vg4e45rqi17-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/2020-JTE-Troop-Scorecard.pdf

📄 2020 JTE Venturing (Crew): https://i9peu1ikn3a16vg4e45rqi17-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/2020-JTE-Crew-Scorecard-Updated.pdf

🎬 Planning Seminar: https://youtu.be/yavqFuYiEX4

🎬 Recruiting Scouts: https://youtu.be/xSjVPuzgt8o

🎬Training for ALL: https://youtu.be/CxMmurNp2iI

🎬 JTE Find Out What It Means to Me: https://youtu.be/EHmOmpgJ76Y