PARENT-SCOUT HANDBOOK OF
TROOP OPERATING PROCEDURES
Troop Organization & Leader Responsibilities
"A new Scoutmaster is likely to approach his troop with self-confidence. He anticipates that his enthusiasm will excite his young charges to get the most they can out of Scouting. Learning about the characteristics of boys, how to motivate them, how to deal with their behavior, and how to help them with their problems will give the Scoutmaster the insights necessary to enjoy working with his Scouts."
Troop 813 will consist of new scout and regular patrols. If enough interest is shown by the boys, a Venture crew or Varsity team may be incorporated within the troop. Exact numbers and composition of patrols will be in accordance with established BSA guidelines.
Troop elections will be conducted during the first Troop meeting in March and September to elect the Senior Patrol Leader (SPL) and each Patrol Leader (except Patrol leader for new scout patrol). The Patrol Leader (PL) for the new scout patrol will be elected monthly or when the PL moves up to a regular patrol. The Crew Leader will be selected at the beginning of each new Venture activity. The Team Captain will be selected at the beginning of each new season for the sport they have chosen. Eligibility requirements for each position are based on the date of the Troop/Patrol elections.
What You Can Do
"There are a number of easy ways you can make Scouting an interesting, challenging, yet safe place to be, worthwhile experience for troop mem-bers and an enjoyable one for you. These measures also create an atmosphere that prevents behavior and interpersonal problems, while it motivates Scouts to do their best."
Relax. Scouting is fun. You'll be off to a good start if you see that fun and excitement are planned into all activities.
By maintaining your good attitude and persevering when problems arise, you can show your troop that difficulties can't stop a worthwhile experience.
Provide new experiences.
Make your troop a safe place.
Think ahead.
Assign responsibility. Scouts need to be held responsible for what they do.
Give Scouts freedom.
Don't fall into the trap of controlling the Scouts' experiences and doing everything for them.
Recognize Scouts as individuals.
Contribute to their sense of belonging.
As much as possible, treat Scouts as partners.
Recognize their need to know.
Demonstrate self control and he consistent.
Reflect with Scouts on experiences. This means you take time to talk with them about their experiences, ideas, plans, and desires. It's a con-versation in which a Scout should feel free to voice an opinion without fear of criticism. When several participate, they learn to understand them-selves and one another.
Responding to Problems
The best way to deal with problem behavior is to prevent it.
Understand the problem first.
Respond reflectively rather than reactively.
Use simple requests and questions to help a Scout get control of his behavior, rather than trying to control him yourself.
If necessary, feel free to express disappointment with inappropriate behavior.
Never criticize or degrade a Scout's character or personality.
Don't discount his feelings.
Help him reflect on his problem behavior.
"Parents and Scout leaders expect young people to develop the qualities of integrity and compassion for others. They want them to know right from wrong. How can you teach ethical values? You will find continual opportunities arising from the activities and interactions of your troop members. After an activity or in the middle of a problem, it is a good idea to stop, sit down, and discuss what happened. We call this reflection."