What challenged you as a new scout leader?

[mashmaster]

As someone who is a scoutmaster for 3 weeks.....  I am trained (Woodbadge, IOLS, course director for OWL/BALOO, District Committee challenge).....

 

2 things so far:

 

   Trusting that the boys will get anything done, holy cow it is like watching chaos......   And resisting the urge to step in and say, "Hey!  stop and think for one second!"  but rather just small words of advice to try to steer them back on track.

 

   The overwhelming amount of focus from everyone from the boys to parents wanted to ask me and expect me to have the answer to everything right now.....  

 

I am hoping that time will address both of these.  We are a brand new troop from a large existing troop that didn't follow the patrol method.  We are trying to get the patrol method taught and hopefully followed along with some adult coaching to help them do a great job rather than just tell them it is boy led and let them not able to do anything due to lack of direction.    

[David CO]

Of course, my biggest challenge was not having scouter.com to go to for wisdom and advice.

 

Many of my greatest challenges, then and now, has been in balancing my duties as a scout leader with the obligations of my religious faith. 

Edited January 19, 2017 by David CO

[Cambridgeskip]

My biggest problem was that I switched to Scouts after 12 years running Cubs. And that meant letting go far more than I was used to.

 

I had a bit of an advantage in that I tried to give the cubs as much independence as I could and we camped far more than most cubs did. Nevertheless I remember my first couple of camps with scouts and how hard it was sitting on my hands and letting them make mistakes. Far more used to it now of course, but initially it was tough and I think would have been less so if I hadn't so long with cubs.

[T2Eagle]

I was a new SM in a very old troop.  My biggest challenge was getting people, scouts and adults alike, to do anything differently.  Just because we've always done things that way is not an argument to either keep doing it that way, or stop doing it that way.

 

My best advice, pick two or three specific things you want to change, that are illustrative of the bigger things you want to accomplish, and focus, focus, focus on them.  

 

If you don't have a boy led troop pick three things you want the boys to do now.  Push, them, cajole them, and train them to do them, and don't accept their not doing them.  Let the adults keep doing other things even if you would like that to change later.  Especially early on, and especially if you have a younger base of scouts, you are going to have to spend a lot of time following up with them to get them to carry out what you want them to do.

[qwazse]

Of course, my biggest challenge was not having scouter.com to go to for wisdom and advice.

 

Many of my greatest challenges, then and now, has been in balancing my duties as a scout leader with the obligations of my religious faith. 

It's like I have an evil twin!

 

As soon as I got handed that Advisor patch, I started getting cross-talk from untrained scouters on "how it's gonna be done." Two things that served as a sanity check:

• Council VOA and advisors who confirmed that I may be crazy, but I'm also right.
• The Area 4 Venturing Commissioner who told me to check out scouter.com.

[Eagledad]

Of course, my biggest challenge was not having scouter.com to go to for wisdom and advice.

 

Many of my greatest challenges, then and now, has been in balancing my duties as a scout leader with the obligations of my religious faith. 

Davids post really hit home with me. I had a lot of passion, youth experience and idealism when I started, but I was lucky that forums were just getting started so I could balance my "actual experiences" with different (better) ideas.

 

And I did find myself abusing the time between God, family and scouting. It came to a head after about three years into my Scoutmasting gig where I was forced to make tough decisions. But one thing I must add, scouting helped give me the street smarts that confirmed my beliefs in my faith. Scouting and family grounded my relationship with God. I didn't expect that when I joined the BSA.

 

Barry

[fred johnson]

.... .... If you can't beat them, go camping.  

 

(patrol discussion) ...  too forced.  Probably micromanaged a bit and they don't get the chance to figure things out for themselves that well.... Patrols are supposed to be groups of friends that want to hang out together...... 

 

What is the biggest challenge?

in my estimation, it's either

   lack of clear and simple definition of what the program should be... the aim and method.

 

 

My biggest challenge as a new leader was to develop the right frame of mind.  

 

I finally have the right one, or so I think.  I can sum it up with:  Mellow out.  IMHO, the program works the best when the focus is on doing things and letting the scouts figure it out.  Carry your own load.  Help out.  Keep the scouts safe.  Help them be friendly and nice to each other.  Through your actions, be the example of of who you want your scouts to become.  And, have fun.

 

The program is continually damaged by people that obsess about creating the perfect PLC, patrols, and other troop structures.  To be explicit, you don't help the program by creating yet another meal checklist, camping checklist, code of conduct, procedure list.  You don't help by continually injecting into the scouting program.  

 

Scouting is about doing and the inter personal skills.  

 

I once thought BSA lacked in training.  But if BSA does lack in training, I think it's in mellowing out.  BSA needs to counteract the nature of people that value scouting so so much, that they obsess on how to do it exactly right and there-by damage the program. 

[krikkitbot]

My biggest challenges so far are:

 

Being an ASM who wants to work the Patrol Method in a troop that is very comfortable with the Troop Method. (I've looked through every piece of literature and can't find Troop Method training anywhere )

 

Dealing with adults and youth leaders who eagerly will do something for the scouts because they can do it faster and better instead of letting the scouts try.

 

Lastly, fear. Fear that if I do become scoutmaster (which is a possibility in the near future) and move the troop more to a boy-led patrol method, we will lose families who have been used to the "smooth" operations of an adult-led troop method operation. 

[blw2]

I wish I could go back and un-post that bit about speculating why NSP's don't work...... as I think this through some more, i can't begin to understand the dynamics in someone else's troop or situation.

 

As a new Scout leader at 18 my biggest challenge was unlearned what I had learned about Scouting and the patrol method as a youth. Besides what I'd learned at NYLT for a week, everything else I knew about the Patrol Method was wrong. 

Admitting that is a huge step...one that a lot of folks will never take.

Curious, what tipped you over to understanding that what you had learned was wrong?

 

My biggest challenge as a new leader was to develop the right frame of mind.  

 

I finally have the right one, or so I think.  I can sum it up with:  Mellow out.  IMHO, the program works the best when the focus is on doing things and letting the scouts figure it out.  Carry your own load.  Help out.  Keep the scouts safe.  Help them be friendly and nice to each other.  Through your actions, be the example of of who you want your scouts to become.  And, have fun.

 

The program is continually damaged by people that obsess about creating the perfect PLC, patrols, and other troop structures.  To be explicit, you don't help the program by creating yet another meal checklist, camping checklist, code of conduct, procedure list.  You don't help by continually injecting into the scouting program.  

 

Scouting is about doing and the inter personal skills.  

 

I once thought BSA lacked in training.  But if BSA does lack in training, I think it's in mellowing out.  BSA needs to counteract the nature of people that value scouting so so much, that they obsess on how to do it exactly right and there-by damage the program. 

I agree about an additional checklist not helping one bit.... but a dilemma, especially for that new leader or new scouter in any role, is how to counteract that well intentioned  list maker???

I'll point the finger at myself, as "people that obsess about creating the perfect PLC, patrols, and other troop structures. " But I think I do a pretty good job most of the time about being "mellow".  I'm not one to charge in and try to fix it.... mainly because I'm not in a position to do so as a relatively new MC, but also because often I'm just not sure how to FIX it...... but we have other MC's that all up in it.  I obsecc more behind the scenes and dry to drop a hint or suggestion now and then, when the opportunity seems right....and meanwhile I get frustrated at times but I try not to let it show to the troop or scouters.

[TAHAWK]

My biggest challenges so far are:

 

Being an ASM who wants to work the Patrol Method in a troop that is very comfortable with the Troop Method. (I've looked through every piece of literature and can't find Troop Method training anywhere )

 

Dealing with adults and youth leaders who eagerly will do something for the scouts because they can do it faster and better instead of letting the scouts try.

 

Lastly, fear. Fear that if I do become scoutmaster (which is a possibility in the near future) and move the troop more to a boy-led patrol method, we will lose families who have been used to the "smooth" operations of an adult-led troop method operation. 

 

There is training for parents. http://www.scouting.org/Training/Adult/Supplemental/OrientationforNewBoyScoutParents.aspx

 

You will need to eliminate the last sentence of the section on Patrols.  It's 180 degrees off.

 

The material can be helped with role-playing.

[JasonG172]

Before some jump of the deep end this isn't sexist! 

 

Mom's are my biggest Challenge...Where are all the DADS!!!!!!!

 

I want my son to go up for PL, ASPL yadda yadda yadda...."john what would you like to run for this time?  Scribe!" Why isn't he already 1st class....he just joined 6 months ago!

"Where is your change of sock?  I don't know mom packed my bag"  ugh

[blw2]

um, yeah.... valid point jasong172