Boring

[LauraT7]

"Open in case of broken meeting."

 

i like that!

 

ok - here's some -

 

A book of skits - they don't have to use these, but it's amazing how they will twist them - you can find hundreds here on "Scouter" site - a box of any weird props for skits or run-ons

 

Skill competitions - write 'em out and put them in the box - or you won't be able to think of them when you need them -

 

Putting up a tent race - between patrols - handicap the older boys by adding blindfolded members that have to work under direction of seeing members. not only will it "even the field" but its hilarious and will motivate the younger ones to get to that level!

 

various relay races - tying knots, putting up a tent on piece at a time, teamwork ones,

 

teach a song - 1 silly and one serious

 

here's one to motivate them to plan - make them inventory your equipment! (just kidding)

 

work on advancements, who needs hatchet? who needs lighting stoves? (providing your equipment is handy)

 

Any first aid is good - keep basic bandages/splints on hand

 

Unifornm inspection!

 

go for a star hike (winter nights are cold but clear!)

 

get out the compasses! map out a hike to take later in your town. (our boys are creating a map for the 5 mile/compass 2nd class requirements with "test answers" at each point - that way, later, any scout needing that requirement can pick up the directives, follow the map coordinates thru town and get the requirement, without having to wait for a troop activity that suits the requirements.)

 

Do an improptu service project - pick up trash, etc.

 

For plan ahead meetings -

 

Do a cooking "round robin" have each patrol cook something new - a new food, a new way, etc. then everybody gets to go around and taste.

 

do team building excercises & games -

 

we had one at a camporee were they had to stack milk crates as high as they could in one tower - outside on a breezy day! it's not as easy as it sounds!

 

another where they had the whole patrol on a board about 10'long and logs under it and sticks to push (like paddling) with. they had to keep passing the back log forward to put under the front in order to move without 'sinking"

 

_____

 

yes the BOYS are supposed to plan the program. But if they can't or get stuck - the adults have to guide them by being prepared to "prime the pump" with motivation and ideas. make these ideas available to the boys - they will embellish and add to them.

 

We are re-building our troop - our boy were never boy -lead before, and they WANT to do it, but haven't been taught how - even the older ones. It's so easy to fall back on the adults to bail them out. Don't let them. hand them the book / box of ideas and back off a little - tell them "you're bored? ok - heres some ideas to get you started - what are you gonne do?"

 

Good luck!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Chippewa29]

I once asked the SM of a very large and successful troop in our area (80 plus Scouts for over 20 years) what they did at their troop meetings that helped them. He said their meetings were kind of boring and that he never had a kid join for the meetings. They joined for the outdoor program (1-2 activities a month). I'm not sure if the Scout Handbook still says this, but it used to say, "You'll learn more in a couple days in camp than you will in months of troop meetings".

[eagle90]

AMEN! Chippewa. Well Said!

 

[wffarrell]

Hello All,

 

Thanks for all the great replies and ideas. I'm all pumped up, now!

 

We have some work ahead of us to solve this "boring" problem.

 

As a major objective we need to teach the Scouts how to plan and execute troop meetings and have fun. So, all of our behind the scenes work will be directed to teaching. Yes, obvious, but sometimes we lose sight of the objective.

 

We need to do better planning and that includes execution. We need to make sure the Scouts have the resources they need and guide them in this process. We will use Troop Meeting planning guides, meeting themes and ideas from literature and the Internet. We will have a backup plan. We will create the Mystery Meeting Resource Kit -I'll report back on how THIS works!!.

 

We will have the Scouts figure out how we can go to Brownsea Island or Kandersteg. If that troop could go to Hawaii, we could go somewhere exotic, too.

 

The ASMs will get together and put together a long-range plan to get the Scouts up to speed on planning and execution. Not only troop meetings, but outings and expeditions. We will use a combination of JLT sessions, campouts, and lots of patrol competitions to teach planning and leadership without telling the Scouts that we're teaching planning and leadership.

 

We will reorganize our First Class emphasis program to involve Troop Guides to a larger degree, and we will use a combination of games and patrol competitions to enable Scouts to pass requirements, rather than holding specific classes (like knife and axe, compass, etc), somewhat like the Brownsea Island Adventure concept.

 

My next step is to take all these ideas generated by the forum and figure out how to execute them in the troop. As I have found out from experience, there is a big difference between theory and practice. The possibilities are endless....

 

YIS,

Bill