A Time To Tell...how often?

[SemperParatus]

Our troop has fallen into the cycle of showing the youth protection video, A Time To Tell, to the whole troop every other year? We make it available to parents/scouts as they join for private viewing, but no one ever seems to check it out. What do other troops do?

 

Also, do you have any professionals come in to lead discussion/reflection or do the adult leaders just muddle through the discussion as best they can?

[EagleInKY]

Our troop is just 1 1/2 years old, so we don't have a set practice yet. We are going to decide shortly about what to do this year. We did decide that a boy didn't need to see it every year. The prevailing thought is to show it to first year scouts, toward the end of their first year, and leave it at that.

 

As for discussion, I've always understood that there was to be NO discussion. Watch the tape (boy and a parent must be present), then thank them for coming and dismiss.

[KoreaScouter]

Once a year, after a Troop COH. We do it as BSA recommends, with the letter that goes out ahead of time. We follow the outline in the literature...

 

KS

[SemperParatus]

EagleInKY

I believe the attached is an exhibit in the G2SS with discussion suggestions.

 

http://www.scouting.org/pubs/ypt/pdf/46-013.pdf

 

 

[EagleInKY]

Thanks. That's new information to me.

[OneHour]

... once a year and prior to Summer Camp in our troop (usually in May which would catch all entering Webelos). It is mandatory whether you are going to Summer Camp or not or whether you have seen it or not. We also recommend the parents to be there as well. We follow G2SS prescribe methodology.(This message has been edited by OneHour)

[SemperParatus]

OneHour,

 

"It is mandatory whether you are going to Summer Camp or not or whether you have seen it or not."

 

What do you do about that 'mandatory' rule if a boy misses the meeting for one reason or another (or the parent decides they do not want their child to watch the video)?

 

[OneHour]

We offered in one sitting and an opportunity for the family to check out the video if they miss it. We let the parents know what the video is about and the reasons behind the video, namely for the protection of their son. So far (knock on wood), no one has objected and we get about 85% of the boys. Most of the boys who missed the sitting are older boys who have gone through this at least 3-4 times in their scouting career. We feel that they have gotten the message imprinted once, if not twice during those times. We usually encourage the new scouts and those who have not been through the video to attend. We keep record of the attendees in TM.

 

If they object, there is nothing that we can do other than make them aware of the issues at hand and the availability of the resources. We found out that if it were left as a choice, most boys (and parents) will opt out. Our troop feels that this is an important training for the boys especially in preparation for the long summer camp and for the new boys.

 

1Hour

[anarchist]

We do 'it' once a year in April, after all of our N.S. Patrols are set up at a troop/Family meeting

ALL of our SCOUTS sit through it with the SM/ASM corps, while upstairs, the N.S. parents and others are indoctrinated and hopefully hog-tied into helping with various Troop activities. WE ALSO require thr Troop Committee to sit through it once a year and all leaders do a youth protection training course annually. VHS and DVD's are available to check out year round. The troop has a leader training coordinator who makes sure we all renew training and gives us a heads up when additional training classes are offered.

have fun!