wiseskier

Okay. I have given up the thought of using merit badges as the program activity, but if we are doing something along the lines of a MB, I will let the boys know the reqs could count. Yes, our troop does have our calendar planned and as I said in my last post, I was planning the March meeting around our Valley Forge camping trip. The OA Elections have been scheduled for 2 months. The webIIs recently wanted to come again, having come earlier in January. I want to do something where they can participate and use their knowledge and have fun. Also, I have been incorporating candy as prizes during games. I think I might try a survivor theme for knots (sort of a knot relay) and I like the idea of having like a mock disaster for scouts to respond to with their first aid skills. Thanks for the suggestions.

I'll look into the program books. I guess my real dilemma is, some scouts have the initiative to be working on the merit badges and others just want to sit around and do nothing. The problem is that when you then start up a game for the scouts doing nothing, the scouts doing MBs want to stop and play the game. Any one else have this problem?

Thank you all for your great suggestions. I do have the meeting planning sheet but alas I have absolutely no formal Junior Leader Training. The only thing that came close was the ASM asking the former SPL to come to the PLC to help me through it. (He must have forgotten I'd been a PL and knew how the PLC worked). I've basically been going on the leadership skills I developed in school and during my Eagle Project. Truthfully my troop could care less whether or not I do a good job since meetings used to have no strucure or purpose, the boys were just allowed outside with an adult to supervise and that ate up the whole meeting. I'll try and stop by the Scout Shop and pickup the SPL Handbook. My Scoutmaster had mentioned themed months to me before and I have sort of planned it for March by doing Compass work and orienteering leading up to our trip to Valley Forge (where the boys will do the 5 mile compass hike and other compass requirements) as well as how to pitch a tent and what to pack (and how) for our new boys. Then the weeks after that are knots and lashings. For February, I am working on an activity for a certain meeting. A den that was interested in our troop is coming back to make the final decision. Naturally I want to do something fun that will make them want to join our troop. Also that night are OA Elections, so they might be able to see how that works, get a gist of what the OA is (but not vote). Any ideas for activities? Our other two meetings in february are youth protection and then a crime prevention thing with the police.

Thank you for your input. The merit badges I had in mind were Crime Prevention and Safety kindof things because I could have guest speakers like the local Police and Fireman. I don't have an SPL handbook, I'll look into it. I am trying to run the meetings better because before they had no purpose. I may try to kick my PLC into actually working and have the Patrol leaders brainstorm program ideas.

I am the SPL of my troop and am working hard to change things. Meetings used to be completely meaningless, but I want scouts to be interested and to have a purpose to come. I also want new scouts to join our troop and we have a few Dens interested right now. Would I be allowed to work on merit badges with the whole troop at meetings? I want to use the packets that many sites have for MBs and then have a councilor sign off at the end. Suggestions/Comments? Thanks