Issue 601 – May 28, 2019

Dear Andy,

I know that many families—especially military families—move during the summer and then have to find a new troop for their Scout(s) to join once the school year starts. (We live in a city that hosts a military training base, which means we have plenty of families that go through this each summer.) This can be a daunting task as many families try to make a decision based on their attendance of one or two troop meetings as they check out multiple options. But what should they be asking and looking for?

I’ve come up with a set of four key questions that parents and their Scouts can ask, that should show whether or not a troop is delivering a quality Scouting program. I’d like your input and, if I’m not too far off track, maybe you might share this in one of your columns? (But if I’m definitely off-track, please let me know! Thanks! (Chris McNew)

Parents and Scouts – When you’re searching for a quality Scouts BSA Troop, consider asking these four questions, in order of importance:

1 – HOW OFTEN DOES YOUR PATROL LEADERS COUNCIL (“PLC”) MEET AND WHICH SPECIFIC SCOUTS—BY POSITION HELD—ATTEND?

What you’re looking for: PLC meetings are run by the Senior Patrol Leader (SPL) and include (only) the Assistant Senior Patrol Leader (if any), Troop Guide, Patrol Leaders, and Scribe; only the Patrol Leaders “vote” and the SPL acts only as a tie-breaker. The troop holds an annual PLC planning meeting to decide on the troop’s events and activities for the coming year, and then meets monthly to plan the troop meetings in support of those events and activities. Also, the PLC meets briefly after the closing of each troop meeting to firm up the plan for the next meeting.

Red flags: Skipping the PLC at the end of each troop meeting, allowing Scouts in general, or with other positions of responsibility to participate in the decision-making process. PLC meetings run by the Scoutmaster or other adults.

2 – MAY WE SEE THE TROOP EVENT/ACTIVITY CALENDAR FOR COMING YEAR, PLEASE?

What you’re looking for: A monthly campout at a specific place or venue set for at least the next ten months (summer camp next year can, optionally, be decided later). Courts of honor quarterly and clearly marked.

Red flags: No calendar or a calendar that’s vague concerning when and where the campouts will be. Courts of honor are only twice a year.

3 – FROM A PATROL PERSPECTIVE, WHAT DOES THE TROOP DO WITH NEWLY CROSSED-OVER SCOUTS?

What you’re looking for: Brand-new Scouts are formed—as much as possible by self-selection if there are eight or nine or more of these—into one or more New Scout Patrols comprised of exclusively new Scouts, with an assigned Troop Guide and Assistant Scoutmaster to guide the Patrol Leader the new Scouts have elected.

Red flags: Brand-new Scouts are “seeded” into existing patrols. A Troop Guide is assigned to the patrol of new Scouts, to be their “temporary patrol leader” till someone decides the patrol can function on its own. The Scoutmaster (or some other adult) decides who each new Scout patrol’s Patrol Leader will be.

4 – DOES THE TROOP RUN MERIT BADGE CLASSES AT THE TROOP LEVEL?

What you’re looking for: No, the troop doesn’t do this, or run any other kind of “group” merit badge “classes.” The BSA Merit Badge Program is Scout-initiated initiated in almost all cases, the exceptions being summer camp, perhaps a council-wide winter camp, and perhaps a council-sponsored “Merit Badge Fair” that Scouts sign up for on an individual or “buddy” basis. Most usually, when a Scout is interested in a merit badge, the Scoutmaster gives that Scout (with a buddy is encouraged) an appropriate Merit Badge Counselor’s contact information, and the Scout takes over from there.

Red flags: The troop’s adults run merit badge classes. The troop’s adults invite specific Merit Badge Counselors to attend troop meetings and “teach classes” that will result in all Scouts earning a badge. The troop’s adults arrange to take the troop to, for example, a firehouse, so all Scouts can get the Firemanship merit badge.

This is an absolutely brilliant set of questions, for which you have my thanks! I would take nothing away from your questions or for what to look for and where there may be a muddy road ahead. But I’m going to take the liberty of adding one more (you can decide on where it goes on the “importance scale”)…

– HOW ARE POSITIONS LIKE SENIOR PATROL LEADER (“SPL”) AND PATROL LEADER (“PL”) DETERMINED and DO THESE SCOUTS RECEIVE LEADERSHIP TRAINING FROM ANYONE? WHAT ABOUT OTHER POSITIONS, LIKE ASSISTANT SENIOR PATROL LEADER (“ASPL”) OR QUARTERMASTER?

What you’re looking for: Every six months (or annually), the SPL is elected by the entire troop of all Scouts and then each patrol elects their own PL. All other troop positions are appointed by the SPL, with guidance from the Scoutmaster. Each newly-elected PL selects his or her Assistant Patrol Leader (“APL”). The SPL and all PLs are leadership-trained by the Scoutmaster on an ongoing process of mentoring, coaching, and training.

Red flags: The Scoutmaster (or other adults) make all (or even some) youth leadership decisions and appoint Scouts to positions. No training in needed skills.

Finally, just look around the room while the troop meeting’s in progress. You should see two things that are critical:

1 – All adults—even the Scoutmaster—stay away from the meeting, and the meeting is run by the SPL through the PLs.

2 – The Scouts are HAPPY and HAVING FUN! (If you don’t see this aspect, continue your search!)

Finally, what about the troop your son or daughter is in, right now? If you asked the same questions as Scouter Chris McNew suggests, how would they be answered?

Happy Scouting!

Andy

Have a question? Facing a dilemma? Wondering where to find a BSA policy or guideline? Write to askandybsa@yahoo.com. Please include your name and council. (If you’d prefer to be anonymous, if published, let me know and that’s what we’ll do.)

[No. 601 – 5/28/2019 – Copyright © Andy McCommish 2019]