Scoutmaster help/guidance

[DrResQ]

Hi all, here is my background in Scouting. I Have been involved in Scouting for only 4 years and at the beginning of this year, I volunteered to take over SM duties. I have taken all the adult leadership courses I could attend within our Council (Illowa 133). I wear the trained patch and I am currently in Woodbadge.

I am asking for help from experienced Scouters to share with me what works and what doesn't.

#1 The issue I am having is how to get the Scouts to understand, embrace, and execute to the best of their ability, the Boy-Led troop/patrol. To me it means, they decide what they want to do (within reason), figure out the steps to get there, and assign responsibilities to try and get it done. I am there to guide them as needed.

That being said, The boys show up consistently, they are good at Scout skills, they give a lot in the form of service projects, and work very well as a team. The first winter camp outing I went on with these young men was about 8 degrees at night. It froze all our food (oops, my bad), yet none whined. I am proud of our Scouts. Every summer camp I get at least half of the troop to do the mile swim with me. Some of them have done it 3 times.

Earlier today^
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Later tonight \/

Reading on here that I should learn everything and know my group's history, I decided to buy Scoutmastership by Baden-Powell.

Is my problem patience ? I just read this and it gave me pause.

"A man dared to tell me the other day that he was the happiest man in the world! I had to tell him of one who is still happier. You need not suppose that either of us in attaining this happiness had never had difficulties to contend with. Just the opposite. It is the satisfaction of having successfully faced difficulties and borne pin-pricks that gives completeness to the pleasure of having overcome them.

Don't expect your life to be a bed of roses; there would be no fun in it if it were. So, in dealing with the Scouts, you are bound to meet with disappointments and setbacks. Be patient: more Britons ruin their work or careers through want of patience than do so through drink or other vices. You will have to bear patiently with irritating criticisms and red tape bonds to some extent; but your reward will come. The satisfaction which comes of having tried to do one's duty at the cost of self-denial, and of having developed characters in the boys which will give them a different status for life, brings such a reward as cannot well be set down in writing.

The fact of having worked to prevent the recurrence of those evils which, if allowed to run on, would soon be rotting the nation, gives a man the solid comfort that he has done something, at any rate, for his country, however humble may be his position."

_____

Thanks to JJ_BPK for helping me this morning. Your pm got me from a buckshot post to a bullet point with just 1 word.

Earlier today ^
-----
Later tonight \/

I am having a difficult time writing what I want to say. I took JJ_BPK pm advising me on when I can "enumerate" my need for a mentor to post a thread. I did not know that word and looked it up and dwelled hard on what I need help with. Keeping that word in mind and reading a post on having purpose, got me to what I want to happen (#1). Reading here to know my group's history, got me to buy a book. That book, and the quote from it above, is telling me I am lacking patience. If I am proud of boys, they work well as a team, why am I sweating the small stuff. I just need to make it fun.

Anyway, thank you JJ_BPK for taking the time out to pm me. That just seemed to help. Strange what things can create a spark (this place is a tinderbox). I still look forward to talking to other Scouters on here and learning from their experiences.

[DrResQ]

I was asked several pointed questions. One question got me going on a path I have been pausing at, getting to know the theory of Scouting by reading what the founder himself says it should be. (NDD's words of, "know the history of your group", also helped). I went and read, took notes, and completed the book, Scoutmastership by Baden-Powell. That got me to answer my own question of my point #1, patience. I still need help in developing a true Boy-Led Troop/Patrol, but the foundation of patience is what I need to focus on.

Another question was,

"... I am at a loss as to why you think Special Forces individuals can mentor you?"

I may have to clarify that mentoring isn't one on one to me. I may be using the wrong word. Guidance may be a better word and not only from Special Forces individuals, but experienced Scouters who may share what works well and what doesn't work at all. I find this sight to be a good source on how to be a good example, be it by "Training the Mind" or other wonderful posts that get you thinking.

This is what happened to me tonight.

This evening, after 2230, one of my Scouts ( the Senior Patrol Leader also) called (texted) me with a problem he was having at a birthday party for a Cub Scout. He explained that some Cub Scouts were acting poorly, not listening to him, and the adults did not support him. He was frustrated. He was in the right, but unfortunately, it didn't matter to anyone else. He did his best, but in the end, no one did as he asked or helped him. (I will be going with him to the Cubmasters of these Cub Scouts.)

Having a Scout in our troop call me with a problem they are having, especially that late at night, was awesome and motivating to say the least. Especially after what I had posted last night. What really stood out is what he said after I told him, " He is a good example of a Scout. Keep up the good work all your life."

He texted, " I will work until there isn't anything else to do."

If he can keep that attitude all his life, what a great, unselfish man he will be.

I may have read Scoutmastership eventually without this site, but...I don't know how to express this, the way this site operates, seems to make me more thoughtful.

Be it how if you ask stupid questions, you will be brought to task. So you better know what you are asking and is it important to you. Or the posts of " read more, post less" should make one be very sure the the question needs to be asked and not searched. And of course the great many words of wisdom found within these halls. That is what I am most grateful for. I am allowed to come in and read so I may develop.

I'm not going into SFAS, I'm not involved in what most of this site is about, and I am no longer in public safety ( I miss it sometimes, but only from the hours of 0800-1800 M-F :)). I usually stay in the areas like mindset and if I think I got something to say/ask, write a post. I view being an adult leader in Boy Scouts important enough to make sure I don't sell these kids short. I lost 3 through inexperience ( they needed something like this ) and my nephew failed to reach Eagle ( inexperience by giving too much autonomy ). I want to do the best job I can and I know I am no natural leader.

If it is ok, I would like to use this thread for Boy Scout questions and discussions.

Thank you.

[Pete]

Back in the day I remember our meetings as having a lot of hands on.

It would be progressive like one night the different kind of knots and lashings. The next meeting would be constructing tripods and other similar things.

Fire making with one match, flint & steel, etc., sharpen axes, first aid, CPR.

Every thing was instruction, patrol practice followed by patrol competition.

Lots of tasks in the Manual to work on. Geared to our camp outs. Didn't have to give a lot of instruction when setting up camp and doing chores.

[Dean Jarvis]

I recall the first day of phase two, 12B training. Our instructor asked how many of us were Eagle Scouts. In a class of about 20, about three quarters of us raised our hands. He said the response was the same in every class he taught. He said there was something about young men that worked hard to achieve the Eagle rank that were attracted to the challenge of Special Forces.

I wonder how many of the QP's on P.S. are also Eagle Scouts?

[2018commo]

Q,
I am on my sixth year as ASM, feel free to ping me as needed.
A couple of thoughts,
1: The most important piece of gear you need is a camp chair, be patient, let them problem solve. We provide them a secure environment to learn within, using the outdoors as a classroom. Teen age boys are seldomly organized, but they will use their budding social skills and get things done.
2. Take youth protection seriously, it's a brave new world out there. I choose not to text with Scouts, will use e-mail, coping their parent(s) or another ASM.
3. There is more to scouting than being an Eagle Scout, much more. The process can become brutal and ruin boys experience.
4. Do not play up your military experience, be the Quiet Professional. Spend some time reading here, it will come to you. The word will get out to the Scouts eventually.
5. The Scouts watch your every move.
6. Use the Scoutmaster Conference to gauge the pulse of the troop
7. Use Scouts to teach Scouts. Yesterday one of my ASPLs told a new Scout, " one is none, two is one", I Smiled, poured a cup of coffee, and sat down.

[Santo Tomas]

Q,
I am on my sixth year as ASM, feel free to ping me as needed.
A couple of thoughts,
1: The most important piece of gear you need is a camp chair, be patient, let them problem solve. We provide them a secure environment to learn within, using the outdoors as a classroom. Teen age boys are seldomly organized, but they will use their budding social skills and get things done.
2. Take youth protection seriously, it's a brave new world out there. I choose not to text with Scouts, will use e-mail, coping their parent(s) or another ASM.
3. There is more to scouting than being an Eagle Scout, much more. The process can become brutal and ruin boys experience.
4. Do not play up your military experience, be the Quiet Professional. Spend some time reading here, it will come to you. The word will get out to the Scouts eventually.
5. The Scouts watch your every move.
6. Use the Scoutmaster Conference to gauge the pulse of the troop
7. Use Scouts to teach Scouts. Yesterday one of my ASPLs told a new Scout, " one is none, two is one", I Smiled, poured a cup of coffee, and sat down.

This.
Led my boys and a bunch of other from Cubs to Eagle. It's called Boy Scouts not Man Scouts. Let them figure it out. They will.

[Abu Jack]

Good advice above. I attached a pretty good document. Our troop transitioned from an adult led troop to a boy led troop. It was an amazing transition. I took over as Scoutmaster 2 years into it. Once I realized that the end wasn't important, but the boys leading the way wherever the way ended up was what mattered.

NYLT is important too. The conflict resolution training they received there became a key tool for the boy leaders. Before I would get involved in a problem, the Patrol leaders first and then the ASPL and SPL would handle it. It usually never got to me.

Shoot me a PM if you'd like my number. I'd have time to talk over the weekend.

[Abu Jack]

Sorry I just reread your original post.

Is my problem patience ? I just read this and it gave me pause. "

Don't expect your life to be a bed of roses; there would be no fun in it if it were. So, in dealing with the Scouts, you are bound to meet with disappointments and setbacks.

This is my point "disappointment and setbacks" are your issue not the boys they are probably having a great time whatever they are doing, otherwise they would not still be coming to the meetings. Give the boys structure and support the leaders and let them lead. All my input was through the SPL away from the rest of the troop. Once I let go of worrying about the small stuff, SM life got way better.

[DIYPatriot]

I don't have much to contribute because this is my first year leading scouts. It's definitely different being on this side of it. I loved my time in Boy Scouts and look forward to leading them, now. Just wanted to follow this thread so that I can educate myself and learn.

[SF_BHT]

I recall the first day of phase two, 12B training. Our instructor asked how many of us were Eagle Scouts. In a class of about 20, about three quarters of us raised our hands. He said the response was the same in every class he taught. He said there was something about young men that worked hard to achieve the Eagle rank that were attracted to the challenge of Special Forces.

I wonder how many of the QP's on P.S. are also Eagle Scouts?

There are a bunch of us that are Eagle Scouts :D:D

I was once on a team that had seven Eagle Scouts on it....

[trinity]

2018commo nailed it. Pete also has it right with the hands-on stuff. Scouts are in school all day. They don't want Scouts to be more "school" (i.e. sitting in chairs in a room while an adult lectures them).

When I took Scoutmaster Fundamentals (17 years ago!), they taught us that there are two rules for adult leaders:

1. Train the Scouts to run the troop.

2. Stand in the back of the room, drink your coffee, and keep your mouth shut.

One thing that our current troop does is allow Scouts to sign off requirements for two or more ranks below them. For instance, a Star Scout can sign off requirements for Scout, Tenderfoot, and 2nd Class. Believe me, the boys are stricter on each other than the adults would ever be. In the process, they are also serving as mentors to the lower-ranking Scouts.

"I, too, have kept the Vigil."

[Flagg]

There are a bunch of us that are Eagle Scouts :D:D

I was once on a team that had seven Eagle Scouts on it....

11 out of the 12 men who landed on the Moon were Scouts.

Both my sons are NZ Scouts and both just learned that fact in their school presentations on the U.S. Space program and bio on Neil Armstrong.