Successful annual planning weekend

[gwd-scouter]

We held our third annual planning campout last weekend. Each year brings more boy involvement and less adult involvement in coming up with ideas. As I mentioned in the thread about boy-run/boy-led, the weekend was chaotic at times, but I'd like to share the good stuff.

 

This year was particularly gratifying. We now have a good spread of ages in our Troop: oldest is 16, youngest just turned 11, with ages 12-15 filling in the rest. We don't have the meeting for just the PLC since our troop only has nine guys in total. So, they all come. What made this year different than the past two was that the 16 y.o. and our 15 y.o. SPL (PL in reality since we only have one patrol), controlled the planning and managed to keep the other guys focused.

 

Without going into long boring details, I will use a couple of moments during the meeting that I overheard as examples of how the day went. Guys were talking about trips they took this past year, what they liked, didn't like, and wanted to do again. Everyone agreed they wanted to go skiing and caving again and put the trips on the calendar for February and March.

 

That's when the more mature reasoning skills of our 16 y.o. Scout came in. He talked to the guys and noted that we did both those trips last year back to back, both being a bit expensive, and wouldn't it be a better idea to spread them out and have a few less expensive or even free trips in between. Then, 15 y.o. SPL mentioned that would be a good idea but they also should plan to do some fundraisers so that cost wouldn't be such a concern.

 

Also, the enthusiasm of our older Scouts for more adventurous activities is spreading and they have planned two backpack trips and a canoeing/wilderness survival weekend to an island in one of our State's beautiful mountain lakes.

 

After the planning, everyone went swimming in the lake. I was a bit worried since no plans were actually made for what to do during free time and I thought they would get quickly bored of just splashing around in the lake all afternoon. Shouldn't have been worried, they had a great time together. That's the thing I've noticed that is so different from our old Troop. The older guys actually DO STUFF with the younger guys. At one point, we adults watched as our two new Scouts practiced rescues with a couple of the older guys as the "drowning" victims. Beautiful!

 

Shining moments. They are thinking for themselves. They put together a wonderful calendar for the upcoming year. Can't wait to get started.

 

 

 

[jambo]

You were the guiding force, which you showed your leadership, and not your immature, 14yr old youth ,one year in Scouting lead the group I used to have these overnight troop sessions, too.The one that did attend , where the ones that wanted Scouting ,the other ones stayed home to watch TV, or belonged to a sport team . I had a Troop of very dedicated JASM's and of leadership corp members, who would stimulate and generate discussion topics. We had ' theme topics' for our yearly calender, that would be the envy of 'Scouters Magazine ". Would you say , that I had a ' boy run unit' or adult leadership guided unit ? jambo

 

 

[Beavah]

Yah, gwd-scouter, here's a round of applause for you and your kids! I know it's been a bit of a haul da last couple of years.

 

Huzzah! Huzzah! Huzzah!

 

Beavah

 

[Scouter&mom]

Great Job!! You and the boys should all be proud.

[gwd-scouter]

Jambo, I'm sorry but I am not sure what your post is asking or commenting on. Are you suggesting that I took control of the weekend by being the "guiding force" rather than relying on "immature 14 year old youth."

 

While I may have only mentioned the 16 year old and 15 year old that ran the weekend, I'm am extremely proud of our corps of younger Scouts (2 of whom are 14) who I see as the next wave of leaders in our Troop.

 

Sorry if I have misinterpreted your message, but I've read many of your posts that have been very critical of efforts by those Troops that support and work toward being scout-led.

[John-in-KC]

gwd,

 

For something that successful, those kids deserve being taken out for ice cream

 

You're doing well, mentoring them, whilst they start making good collective decisions independently!

[jambo]

GWD-SCOUTER, I am sorry that you have only 14 or so Scouts in your unit. You should have 40 boys by now. And I hope you are not a glorified (Baby Sitting Association ) I started the same as you did, holding the boys hand, and showing them how to lead. ( boy lead principal ), which was not succceeing. I was maximizing my time and afford, and I was losing boys. It should be more of adult guidance, and a lot of times an adult run. Boys usually don't know what they want, and you ....the experienced adult leader ,must create an incentive for them to remain in Scouting. Talking about character building and citizenship is not what keeps the boy in Scouting. Parents and Scouts want to see leadership and an active exciting program that will keep their son 'LONGER' in Scouting. Why do boys join baseball, because it is 'boy led' ? No ! , ....because you have adult coaches leading them to success. jambo

 

 

[OldGreyEagle]

As Spiro Agnew would say, dont let nattering nabobs of negativism get in your way, you are doing fine

[Lisabob]

Give yourself and those boys a big pat on the back, gwd. It sounds like they are really getting the hang of things and enjoying it too. I've appreciated reading about your troop over the last couple of years and I hope you'll continue to post as the rebuilding saga unfolds.