Troup Guide

[ScouterCa]

I was wondering how many of your troops had a scout serving as a Troup Guide. I don't think our troop has ever had one serve as a Troop Guide. If you do, in what capacity does this scout fulfill his position? How does he use his position to serve in his troop? I know what the requirements of position say, I was just wondering how it worked in your troop.

[Stosh]

My TG's always started out functionally as the PL of the NSP's. After getting the boys oriented to the troop, he would begin the process of teaching by example leadership of their patrol. Rotated out the leadership responsibilities and did what most adults do to help the new guys get their feet on the ground, so to speak. He lined up Instructors, helped with the gear with QM, organized the first outing and walked through the steps of meals, gear, camplife, etc. Then began the process of turning the patrol over to the boys and backing out of the process gradually.

 

Stosh

[mikecummings157]

Our Troop Guide is a member of the Senior Patrol and represents the new scouts on the PLC. He is assigned an ASM to support him (not the other way around) and is given the job of overseeing the advancement of the new scouts for a year, or until they reach 1st Class.

[Pack212Scouter]

Our Troop has a Troop Guide for each incoming patrol of new Scouts. He serves as PL for the fist two months until elections and then as a patrol advisor and trainer for the rest of the first year. This Scout is Star or above.

[Fehler]

I have a Den Chief for my Bear Den (now Webelos) who says he wants to stay on as Den Chief and eventually become the Troop Guide for this group.

[Jay K]

The easiest way to think of what a troop guide is, is that a Troop guide is to a patrol as a den chief is to a den. It's more than that, but that's a good starting point. We had young men in our Unit set Venturing Crew who were dual-registered and served in the troop as Troop Guides. Some of our Boy Scouts served in our Unit-set pack as Den chiefs. It made for cohesion among our unit set.

[ScouterCa]

Would this position be a good position for a 12 year old Star scout who has already served as a Den Chief for over a year and recieved many great reviews from the leaders he's served under for that? He's eager to teach new scouts what he's learned. I don't see an age requirement in the discription, just a rank, which he's earned. Just trying to figure out if this is a position usually reserved for older scouts or not.(This message has been edited by ScouterCa)

[SSScout]

Question: Is the "Troop Guide" the same as the "Instructor"?

 

In my experience, the T/G is a specialist, an instructor in Totin'Chip, Whittlin' Chip for Cubs, Fireman Chit, LNT, Knots and Lashing and ropes, Nature, etc.

He would be a "more senior" Scout, and preferably really involved in being SKILLED in his specialty, not just for the patch, but for the fun of being really good at something, the "Go To Guy" for that stuff.

[Pack212Scouter]

Troop Guide is and isn't the same as an Instructor. It encompases the same things as Instructor, but is more. From the BSA Troop Leadership Training...

 

TROOP GUIDE

Introduces new Scouts to troop operations.

Guides new Scouts from harassment by older Scouts.

Helps new Scouts earn First Class rank in their first year.

Teaches basic Scout skills.

Coaches the patrol leader of the new-Scout patrol on his duties.

Works with the patrol leader at patrol leaders council meetings.

Attends patrol leaders council meetings with the patrol leader of the new-Scout patrol.

Assists the assistant Scoutmaster with training.

Counsels individuals Scouts on Scouting challenges.

Sets a good example.

Enthusiastically and correctly wears the Scout uniform (all four parts).

Lives by the Scout Oath and Law.

Shows Scout spirit

 

INSTRUCTOR

Teaches basic Scouting skills in a troop/team and patrols/squads.

Schedule/Coordinate Merit Badge Counselor(s) for troop/scout instruction.

Sets a good example.

Enthusiastically and correctly wears the Scout uniform (all four parts).

Lives by the Scout Oath and Law.

Shows Scout spirit

 

Also worth noting is that according to the training, a Troop Guide is selected by the SM and reports to either the SM or the ASM in charge of new Scouts. The Instructor is selected by the SPL and reports to the SPL/ASPL.