Cub Leader Basic - Is there a problem?

[Overtrained]

I see I started a healthy debate. I hope I haven't misrepresented how my council and district operate.

 

First of all, New Leader Essentials we run as a stand alone for all leaders - Cub, Scout, Varsity and Venturing. Although it can be done for a specific group, the benefits aren't the same.

 

SM/SA Leader Specific is done over 3 nights or one Saturday Session.

 

Venturing and Varsity are done on a Saturday, seperately.

 

Troop Committee Challenge is done by unit, with two sessions a year in a large group for those that missed their unit prsentation.

 

The topic at hand, Cub Scout Leader Specific, has been more difficult. I have 26 packs and have training scheduled 3 times a year. As there are 5 seperate leader specific sections to this training, I need 15 sessions with 2 TDC (Trainer Development Conferance) trained trainers, or ten trainers per scheduled session. This hasn't happened yet because of resources. Until we have the resources (we're getting there) we run the first 3 sections of the training with the videos as one group for the first 1 1/2 hours, we then break out for the last hour to discuss the 5 leader specific aspects. This way I only need 5 trainers per session instead of 10.

 

I trust many are doing something similiar because of resources. We teach units the ideal situation and they adapt based on their resources. Trainers are no differant. I brought this up because I think many of us have resigned to doing things the way we always have or been told instead of going by the syllabus. We adapt and forget to correct the problem that forced us to adapt in the first place -not enough trainers. You may never have enough, but if your chairman isn't addressing it monthly, you will never have enough.

 

Okay, enough of my soap box. Thanks for reading all of this. I gotta go rinse now.

 

YIS

Bob

[Bob White]

If you would be open to a "third solution" overtrained, I would like to offer one. First I need to know how many trainers you have that you feel could present a 2 1/2 to 3 hour Cub Leader Job Specific course, keeping in mind that much of the training is on video tape.

 

Bob White

[Overtrained]

Bob White,

 

I'm always open to ways to better train our scouters.

 

I have 5 dedicated staff of Cub Scout Trainers. My goal is to have 5 more by July from of prospect list of 25.

 

What's your idea?

 

Ovetrained

[Bob White]

Offer training the Same Day every Month, let's say the third Saturday. On odd number months hold NLE from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.

 

On even months hold three Sessions of Cub Leader Job Specific Training. Do them in three locations or in the same place but three different rooms, one trainer to each course. I recommend 9 am till noon.

 

Don't worry about how many people come. Train 1 or 20, it still puts more trained leaders in the program every 30 days. This way your trainers work about 90-minutes a month (a month on and a month off) and nobody burns out. You meet the needs of the leaders and you increase the visibility of training services in the District.

 

Since Your leaders have such a light load they won't mind making the occassional trip to a pack's home to train an entire committee.

 

The national training goal is that 100% of leaders are trained in the first 90 days. Yes it's a challenge but not impossible. But it will not be done by using the old model of of holding training just once or twice a year.

 

Good Luck,

Bob White

(This message has been edited by Bob White)

[Overtrained]

BW,

 

Thanks for the suggestion.

 

The 3 nearest districts (all within 20 minute drive from mine) have our calendar coordinated so within any 4 months, we offer a basic training.

 

Training the Pack Committee the way we do Troop Committee Challenge, at their unit home makes a lot of sense. Just couldn't see the forest through the trees.

 

The rest of your suggestions have merit and are similiar to my end goal. It is taking time to change old patterns, and thus my drive for new trainers. But it will come.

 

Only two challenges I see:

 

1. My own bias of always having two trainers. I believe it is possible to work your suggested plan and to have two trainers.

 

2. Audio/Visual Equipment. The most logical is to have training at different locations as most places have one unit to use. I'm not sure how I feel about that. I'll have to try it a couple times to see.

 

I think this subject will remain an issue, but hopefully this thread has helped. Lets see what I learn a Philmount this summer.

 

Overtrained

[Bob White]

Overtrained,

What week will you be at Philmont?

BW

[dsteele]

Hi folks:

 

I know this thread is reserved only for trainers, but I feel like I qualify. I've been the advisor to the council training committee for years. In other words, I've forgotten how long I've been staff advisor and sometimes get my syllabi confused.

 

Have you looked into the I.Y.O.S. offered up by Trail's End popcorn. It stands for Ideal Year of Scouting. Now, before anyone gets started, I've worked for three councils and one of them did a different popcorn company than Trail's End. I'm not a T.E. loyalist by any means.

 

However, the ideal year of scouting stuff, while offered by people interested in commerce only, is quite good.

 

A unit can go on-line and make up their own passwords. The web site will allow them to input their entire year's unit program, costs, roster, etc. It will then figure out how much per Scout needs to be sold in popcorn to pay for that year. It will even manage Scout accounts on-line. It's worth checking out. Yes, it pushes the unit toward popcorn sales, but if it is in keeping with the BSA budget plan (which enough people don't know about, it's worth doing. At least that's my philosophy.)

 

I think it's worth checking out. In my council, I've offered to go to the home of any unit who is interested and help them set up the program. No one has taken me up on it, but I'm going to push it again this year. I'm also going to train my D.E's to do it.)

 

It's worth a shot.

 

DS

[Overtrained]

BW,

 

I'll be there the last week of July with 4 other District Training Chairman.

 

Well, off for a weekend of camping.

 

Overtrained