troop guides

[LauraT7]

Our troop has recently gotten back into boy lead and the patrol method after years of being run by adults. The boys are doing great - but since THEY have never had a NSP, or been really lead and taught by the older boys themselves, they don't know how to do it for our new boys.

 

For the past few years, we have had only 1 or 2 new scouts fly up. Thanks to our recruiting efforts, we are getting at least 5 and possibly up to 10 new scouts! We want to do this right!

 

So what kind of skills should our troop guides have? what should we look for, in addition to knowledge of the scouting skills, in the way of abilities and rank?

 

Almost all our current boys are at least first class, and a number of boys have expressed interest in being 'troop guide' or 'instructor' -some of them, however I think are motivated because they think they can then boss the younger boys around, or that it will be and "easy" job, and we we want to avoid that scenario.

 

Some suggestion has been to make an older boy their patrol leader AND troop guide - but I think that it's better to do the 1 month plan from the new scouts as PL. Besides, wouldn't the older boy get bored doing all the young kid stuff ALL the time, and want to hang with his own age buddies?

 

Suggestions, please?

 

 

[Bob White]

If you want the full benefit of the New Scout Patrol program you have to use the whole program.

 

The Troop Guide should be at least 1st Class in rank, work well with younger kids be a good communicator and be competent in all skills leading to 1st Class. (see the Scoutmaster handbook)

 

The Troop Guide IS NOT the patrol Leader but guides each newly elected leader for a month to teach them how the troop's boy lead system works. The guide is also a voting member of the PLC. SM handbook)

This gives the normally outnumbered new scouts a weighted vote so that they can have a fairly balanced representation on the PLC.

 

New scout patrol Leaders are elected each month so that each scout gets an opportunity to take an active role in a PLC during the first year. (SM Handbook).It is also a chance for each to be introduced and interact with the older scouts on the PLC.

 

In addition each of the other patrol members rotate through the other patrol responsibilities of APL, QM, Scribe, historian, librarian etc. So that when they reach 1st Class about the end of their first year, they will have a feel for what each job enatails and how they fit in the big picture of patrol and troop operations.

 

So now whether he stays in his existing Patrol and they become a regular patrol with no Guide and elections every 6 to 9 months or if he joins another regular patrol he will have 1st Class rank and possess all his basic camping skills and have a basic understanding of troop and patrol operations and responsibilities.

 

This will not happen if you do not rotate positions every 30 days and use the first class emphasis program.

 

I urge you to stick with the New Scout Patrol system as outlined in the Scoutmaster Handbook.

 

Bob White

[red feather]

Most all of our TGs are star or life. These are the scouts that have fulfilled their leadership requirments and are members of our older scout patrol.(various names over the years) These scouts are normally assigned to mentor other patrols to verify skills are being taught and advancement is documented. This gives them more leadership opportunity and fall under the direction of the SPL. Also gives the PL another source of help and info if needed.

 

yis

[dan]

Should a troop guide be in a patrol? Or should he be part of the leadership role? Seems that to do a good job with the new scouts for the first few months he would not have time for his patrol.

[acco40]

Don't no if it is official BSA policy, but we put the Troop Guide (with his approval) in the patrol that he is guiding.

[Bob White]

We leave him as part of the leadership so that as the NSP develops in skills and performance the Guide can slowly reduce his prescence. for the first 6 months he will camp and eat with the patrol and be at all patrol meetings and compete with the patrol. Then he will camp with the leadership but spend the day and maybe have one meal with the NSP. Eventualy he will only be with them for skill training and patrol meetings and of course PLCs. By the 12th month he will be a friend to the patrol and available for questions but will have recieved a new NSP to Guide and begin the process over.

 

Unlike other troop offices we have the troop guide in place for a full year so that the NSP has continuity. Both of our Troop Guides are beginning their second year.

 

Bob(This message has been edited by Bob White)