Troop Committee
Training
Boy Scout Troop Committee Challenge
Overview
The Troop Committee Challenge training for Boy
Scout troop committees has been developed to help troop
committee members better understand their roles and
responsibilities. Through hands-on experiential learning,
this training will also enable troop committee members to better
deliver the promise in support of the troop, Scoutmaster, and
Scouts.
This training is best when delivered to all
members of the troop committee at once. It should also include
the Scoutmaster and, if possible, assistant Scoutmasters.
It has been designed to meet the learning needs of all
participants, no matter what their role. It incorporates
the use of hands-on learning tools and activities to keep
everyone involved. The games, case studies, and
discussions -- along with the Troop Committee Guidebook --
combine to make this a learning experience that will enhance
every individual's ability to deliver a quality program.
This fun and interactive training serves as a
vital tool for new troop committee members as well as for
veterans. The mission of the Troop Committee Challenge
training is to help each troop committee work as a team to
improve the Scouting experience for adult and youth members.
It helps build the commitment of individual committee members as
well as cultivates a better troop committee team.
The fast-paced three-hour session begins with
the introduction of the philosophy of Scouting. Key areas
of discussion include the mission and values of Scouting and its
aims and methods. Participants review newspaper clips that
illustrate how the Scouting spirit abounds in everyday life.
The mission of the Boy Scouts of America is to
prepare young people to make ethical choices over their
lifetimes by instilling in them the values of the Scout Oath and
Law.
In the Big Picture,
participants become familiar with the organization of Scouting.
Participants put together a puzzle that provides insight into
how the various organizational pieces of Scouting depend upon
one another for the complete picture of Scouting to unfold --
the purpose of the troop committee and how each individual role
fits into the overall scheme.
The training ends
with a focus on real-life situations, teamwork, and how to
conduct an effective troop committee meeting -- all toward the
goal of delivering a quality program to Boy Scouts. All
participants have an opportunity to share with the group their
perspectives on the purposes of the troop committee. This
discussion may include topics such as recruitment and troop
oversight and operations support. The roles and
responsibilities of troop committee members are defined through
an interactive game -- the Troop Committee Challenge.
Players learn about the different roles as they answer questions
that move them closer to completing the game. Position
descriptions and the value of each role unfold as players face
questions that may sometimes stump even the veterans. As
the game progresses, participants better understand the critical
interrelationships of each troop committee member. As
committee members work together to solve the case studies, they
answer the question "Who does what?"
Troop Committee Challenge Training
Learning Objectives
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At the end of
this session, participants should be able to:
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Explain the
aims and methods of Scouting.
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List the three major components of Scouting.
Administration, Adult Leaders, and Youth Leaders.
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Describe the
12 elements that make up Boy Scouting.
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Aims and Methods
GROWTH IN STRENGTH AND MORAL CHARACTER--
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We may define this as what the Scout is-his
personal qualities, his values, his outlook.
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PARTICIPATING CITIZENSHIP---
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Citizenship means the Scout's relationship to others.
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DEVELOPMENT OF PHYSICAL, MENTAL, AND
EMOTIONAL FITNESS--
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Fitness includes the body, mind, and
emotions.
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IDEALS--
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The ideals of Scouting are
spelled out in the Scout Oath, Law, motto, and slogan.
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PATROLS--
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The patrol method gives
Scouts an experience in group living and participating
citizenship.
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OUTDOORS--
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Boy Scouting is designed
to take place outdoors.
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ADVANCEMENT--
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Scouting provides a
series of obstacles to overcome and goals to reach through the
advancement method.
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ADULT ASSOCIATION--
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Boys learn from
the example set by their adult leaders.
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PERSONAL GROWTH--
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As Scouts plan
their activities and progress toward their goals, they
experience personal growth.
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LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT--
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Boy
Scouting encourages boys to learn and practice leadership skills.
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UNIFORM--
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The uniform makes the
Scout troop visible as a force for good, creates a positive
youth image in the community, and gives boys a sense of
belonging.
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The Organization of Scouting
The Scouting organization provides program and services for
the Scout. The organization may be divided into three areas:
administration, adult leaders, and youth leaders.
ADMINISTRATION--
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Includes the National Council, which administers the Scouting
program through the BSA's four regions. The National
Council issues a charter to each local council, whose
responsibilities include promoting the Scouting program,
granting charters to community organizations, registering units
and council personnel, and providing training and facilities for
a year round outdoor program. Within a local council are
geographical areas called Scouting districts.
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ADULT LEADERS--
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Volunteers form
the membership of the district committee. This committee
is responsible for training adult volunteers and providing
programs for units. Unit commissioners give direct
coaching and consultation to troop committee members and other
adult leaders.
Your troop is
"owned" by a chartered organization: a business,
religious, educational group, or other community organization.
Volunteers like you form the troop committee, working on behalf
of the chartered organization.
The Troop
Committee Guidebook details how the troop operates, and the
adult leader positions supporting the troop's operation.
The Scoutmaster is the adult leader responsible for the image
and program of the troop. The Scoutmaster and assistant
Scoutmasters work directly with the Scouts.
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YOUTH LEADERS--
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Add youth
leaders and the Scouting organization is almost complete now.
The patrol leaders' council is responsible for planning and
conducting the troop's activities. Several of the youth
leaders form part of this council. The troop is actually
run by its youth leaders. They plan the program, conduct
troop meetings, and provide leadership among their peers.
The Scout troop is made up of
patrols-groupings of six to eight boys who work together.
Each patrol elects its own boy leader, called a patrol leader.
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The Scouting organization is
complete now, and for one very important reason -- to provide a
great Scouting experience for the Scout.
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