Key Concepts when working with Boys.

What are we trying to do here?

By Steve marquis

Abstract

I’ve had the benefit of learning as a young Scout leader from great Scouters who knew the Lord and saw the vision of how Scouting could take boys and build godly men, strong citizens and faithful fathers. Subsequently, for some 30 years now, I have been further blessed as I served the Lord’s youth in every capacity from Cubs to the Stake Young Men’s Presidency. I was able to see how the Lord, though the opportunities provided by scouting, was able to effect great positive changes in young people.

In other instances, we found that common interpretations of policies got in the way of ministering to the boys and played a role in losing LDS youth that were once with us. Our efforts at missionary outreach were also hampered as we failed to either attract or keep new recruits from the community at large.

Addressing both “how to do it right” and “what we need to change," this document has evolved to be a compilation of both policy discussions and general in-service presentations regarding the Church and Boy Scouts. In its current form, this document it is targeted significantly to policy makers. Sections highlighted in red text are specifically speaking to policy makers and discuss existing policies that may inadvertently hinder the success we seek. The remainder of the document hails from its in-service origins.

· A hyperlinked Table of Contents is provided to quickly navigate to Key policy matters which I have generally highlighted in red-text. Additionally, two major sections,8 & 9 are devoted to discussing only such policy matters

· This Document may be freely used, copied or assimilated. The in-service sections can be incorporated as basis for a day long “Little Philmont” in-service workshop - which had its genesis when I served in the Stake YMs.

As for the size of this document, Einstein is reported to have said that, ”Everything should be made as simple as possible, but not more so.” Like a good business plan, this document is both thorough and as compact as I could make it and is divided into these easily digested sections:

Note: better organization, dual table of contents and changes section hyperlink to get quickly to new good stuff!

Major Topics

1 Scouting the Lord’s way. 7

2 Key Concepts when working with Boys and some structural impediments to success. 10

3 Axioms: 14

4 Twenty Two Keys to Successful Scouting in the Church: 15

5 Appropriate Activity Checklist 20

6 Theory and Practical Advice for All Scout Leaders. 22

7 Safe and Sane High Adventure. 31

8 Key Structural Defects that hobble our Success in the Key Missions of the Church. 35

9 Discussion on impediments to success: 39

10 Cub Scouts & Webelos: 44

Specific Helps

11 Appendix: 46

11.1 Example of Specific plan for the Sabbath Day: 46

11.2 Know the Advancement Procedures. 48

11.3 Scoutmasters Conferences. 48

11.4 Board of Reviews: 49

11.5 Performances. 49

11.6 Specific Merit Badge Errata. 50

11.7 Selecting Youth Leadership. 51

11.8 Developing and Utilizing Youth Leadership (or just your puppet?) 52

11.9 Leadership Requirements for Trips and Outings. 54

11.10 Adult Scout Leadership Duties. 55

11.11 Boy Scout Leaders responsibilities. 57

11.12 Varsity Scouting. 60

11.13 Explorer/Venture Scouting. 62

11.14 Scout Committee. 63

11.15 Year, Quarter, Week Night Sample Planning Forms. 64

11.17 Year Plan Short form.. 66

11.18 Quarterly Detail plan - Screaming Eagles. 67

11.19 Building Men “The Right Stuff” by Kent Brooten. 69

11.20 “A boys need for Adventure” by Stephen Wunderli 70

11.21 Ceremonies Traditions Appendix. 72

11.22 Weeknight Opening. 76

11.23 Weeknight Activities. 76

11.24 Weeknight Closing. 76

11.25 Campfires. 76

11.26 Eagle Courts. 77

11.27 About the author: 77

Changes/Additions

Added new section10 Cub Scouts & Webelos

Added Section11.14 Ceremonies Traditions Crossovers

Added Section 11.22 Weeknight Opening

Added Section 11.23 Weeknight Activities

Added Section 11.24 Weeknight Closing

Added section 11.25 Campfires

Added Section 11.26 Eagle Courts

Updated 11.27 About Author

TABLE OF Contents Detailed

1 Scouting the Lord’s way. 8

Scouting is: 8

The main Job of a Scout Leader?. 9

“Zion’s Camp” is a laboratory experience. 9

What about Advancement, (what we often think about Scouting)?. 9

2 Key Concepts when working with Boys and some structural impediments to success. 11

‘Good Enough’ is the enemy of excellence: 11

Build on activities. 11

Touching their Lives with the Savior IS the goal 11

Stake activities may exclude local leaders. 11

Shared Rooms?. 11

Ceremonies, Tenure and Mentoring?. 12

And the Moral of the Story is?. 12

Consistency and Unity. 12

Convolution: Understand People Math! 12

Golden Time Theory. 12

Transferal of Sovereignty theory. 13

Catalysts for Growth. 13

Tyranny of the Majority and the one. 13

Drafting. 13

3 Axioms: 15

The outdoor Program is a Key Tool (A challenging Outdoor program link) 15

Focus on our Savior is not an event - its organic (Touching their Lives- link) 15

Be Missionary minded in planning (Yearly Schedule - link) 15

Understand Drafting and Brotherhood (Drafting - link) 15

Appreciate Theater (Appreciate theater - link) 15

Keep them together (Stay Together - link) 15

4 Twenty Two Keys to Successful Scouting in the Church: 16

A challenging Outdoor program IS Zion's Camp for our youth. 16

Every moment is a teaching moment 16

Yearly Schedule. 16

Detailed Week by week agenda. 16

Advisers recruit 17

Weekly meetings happen. 17

Weekly meetings happen weekly. 17

Scout Rooms are good sized. 17

Speaking of basketball - that's what a ball bag is for. 17

Boys are Boys. 17

Appreciate safety in numbers. 18

Cub Scout Recruiting. 18

Appreciate theater in ceremonies. 18

Have Occasional activities suitable for all age groups, 18

Scoutmaster Conferences should be a spiritual highlight 18

Scout rooms set the mood. 19

Pizazz and timing in our Court of Honors. 19

Troop Historian/Scribe. 19

Train for activities; 19

Boys need adventure. 19

Start together Stay together, Finish together. 19

Duty to God Award - The path to heaven is an ‘individual sport’ not a team bus ride. 20

5 Appropriate Activity Checklist 21

Physical capability. 21

Spiritual emphasis. 21

Cost & Distance. 21

On Fundraising. 22

Significant Extended Physical challenge. 22

Immersion experience. 22

6 Theory and Practical Advice for All Scout Leaders. 23

Be the Good Shepherd. 23

Sacrifice to make it happen. 23

Visit your boys families. 23

Occasionally drop in on your boys. 23

Teaching moments. 23

Use your Priesthood to bless them.. 23

Inspire them: 23

Use the Program.. 23

Camping is our modern day Zion’s Camp. 24

Inspiring Campfires will always be remembered. 24

Be Dependable. 25

Have a yearlong schedule. 25

Canceling activities is the bubonic plague of LDS Scouting. 25

Re-publish unavoidable schedule changes early. 25

About Running the Week by Week Meetings. 26

Service is a key aspect of a Godly program.. 27

Opportunities to build & help each other and Trail Psychology. 27

1 Scouting the Lord’s way

Why has the Church embraced Scouting as the activity arm of the youth priesthood? Because, it meets the needs of the Missions of the Church. In fine, the process that makes Eagles makes Godly men. The same process that brings a boy to the rank of Eagle, builds the spiritual basis for a lifelong devotion to God.

Scouting is:

· The very embodiment of priesthood principles.

· The Savior’s guidelines to life condensed to a few phases that the boys can memorize.

· The Zion’s Camp for refining the Lords youth, building manly character and bringing them to Christ.

· A long exciting trail in which to be mentored, rubbing shoulders with other Godly men and youth.

1.1.1 Perfecting the saints

All things hinge on this key emphasis. Every aspect of our programs must have a focus on the Savior and thereby salvation. Without being highly orchestrated and scripted, ongoing activities that have elements of Zion’s camp can be catalysts for personal and spiritual growth. In fact, the less orchestrated the better as to the spiritual content so as to be led by the spirit, blending seamlessly into the activity and conversations. They also need to be immersion experiences outside the comfort zone and distant in time and space from the familiar. Boys that don’t overcome challenges are more likely to become weak men and feckless missionaries, (if they go or manage to survive the MTC at all). If our youth programs focus more on entertainment and ease, intended to appeal to the lowest denominator, they won’t provide these challenging ‘rites of passage’ for our boys.

1.1.2 Proclaiming the Gospel

Faithful, worthy youth, who know the Lord and live and embrace the gospel, will be anxious to share the fruits of salvation with their friends with one proviso. They must not only be convinced of the rightness of the cause (testimony), but they but also be proud to invite their friends to our activities. Our activities for our boys need to be consistent and exemplar, but by exemplar we need not infer extravagant. Put simply - If we are going to use Boy Scouts to meet the purposes of the church, then we need to execute a program that we can showcase without hesitation.

Unfortunately, our weekly meetings and the meeting places, more often than not, fail to resemble what non-members would reasonably expect from a well-oiled Scouting machine. Meeting together for opening exercises for all age groups from 11-18 would go a long way to helping that image. Without fail, having monthly challenging outdoor activities, executed from a yearly calendar, with leaders having a focus on spiritual and personal growth opportunities is crucial. Having occasional outdoor activities across age groups provides a “drafting effect” and is a crucial component of evangelizing our own youth. More one this topic later…

1.1.3 Redeeming the Dead

We can see that through faithful worthy youth, that baptism for the dead and even genealogy work will happen. Focusing on “Perfecting the Saints will be key so that these faithful young people will become endowed and continue to serve God’s family. All that however depends on accomplishing Purpose of the Church 1 and 2.

The main Job of a Scout Leader?

· First, the job is not to provide activities just to entertain the youth.

· The Advisor’s job is first to teach the love of the Savior but this teaching is seldom done effectively just a classroom on Sunday or even Wednesday, nor once a year in a big flurry at a Scout “Bible” camp (or ‘Camp Helaman’ etc). While “flash in the pan” miracles in boy’s lives do occur, often it’s the steady simmer of influence over months - shouldering shared fun, adventures and some hardships that enable those miracles.

· The Advisor next most important job is to teach good citizenship, leadership, teamwork, quorum brotherhood and rugged self-reliance (to be a good team member you need to be a solid individual contributor).

· An astute advisor understands that activities, advancement and outdoors skills are useful and important but they are not the end in themselves. They do provide the setting and mood.

“Zion’s Camp” is a laboratory experience

A challenging, age appropriate, outdoor program is the modern day “Zion’s Camp” - a laboratory experience where the Sunday lessons are really learned and put into practice. The outdoors are where the ‘diamonds in the rough’ have their edges polished and they have opportunities to shine.

What about Advancement, (what we often think about Scouting)?

1.1.4 “Paper” Eagles

· “Paper” Eagles miss benefits of the outdoor program. Some youth are so booked in community sports camps and such that at best they make token, compromised, often truncated, participation. They and their dedicated parents work on all the merit badges and check boxes and end up with an Eagle Badge with no love for Scouting and having achieved too few of its goals in their lives.

· An oft overstated correlation between Eagle rank and spiritual destiny may encourage advancement without full participation in the outdoor program. A better correlation in spiritual destiny may be found with the process that makes an Eagle rather than the Badge itself. Short change the process with minimalist participation (but check the boxes!) and the youth may find he has the badge, but missed much of the benefit.

1.1.5 Overbooked Youth

· Youth, overbooked in the world’s counterfeit youth programs, are unavoidably crowded out of full participation in the Lord’s outdoor program or stated another way, in the outdoors with the Lord!

· When conflicts arise, most are reluctant to prioritize so as to preferentially participate in the Lord’s program, yet diligently checking the boxes, feeling all the while that the important goals were being met. They miss the key benefits of the Lord’s outdoor program.

1.1.6 Advancement does have intrinsic worth

· Nevertheless, advancement does have intrinsic worth – providing positive spiritual feedback because of interaction with men and women of good citizenship and spiritual focus. Any time spent in a relationship between a spiritually oriented Scoutmaster and counselors and Scouts will provide opportunities for spiritual growth.

· Boys that don’t advance lose interest. This is because they don’t feel a real part of the action and may even feel alienated and resentful when Courts of Honor showcase other boys. If a boy is not advancing, it is often because of sporadic attendance or difficult family situations. This should be a red flag for a caring Scout leader or quorum President.

· Activity and advancement gives the Scoutmaster a chance to publicly praise the boys.

· Advancement is so closely associated with the quorum that is has the effect of establishing virtual Spiritual Mile Posts that a boy can look back on marking his path alongside the Iron Rod. This is the gold star effect. This provides an anchor for the future as the youth envisions himself as one who walks the path of God.

· The skills they learn make them more capable individuals. They know how to help themselves and others and to push through trying situations. This is true if and only if the adult advisors focus on challenging activities. Too many push entertainment and ease, hoping to attract reluctant “game boy” youth sometimes confusing excitement for challenge. For example, a guided whitewater raft trip may be exciting, but it is not necessarily challenging in the same personal way as a backpack trip to the high country.

· They become more rounded individuals as they are exposed to areas they might not have had an initial interest in. Many adults found their occupational niche after exposure to a merit badge. Funneling the boys to God centered Merit Badge councilors afford numerous additional encounters with other men and women of God providing cross functional benefits.

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2 Key Concepts when working with Boys and some structural impediments to success

Some of these points are addressed in the proactive sense – Do this for success. Others, such as the 1^st set on this page are addressed in the negative – we do this poorly and by inference, what we should change.

‘Good Enough’ is the enemy of excellence:

“Our Stake leader told us we don’t have to do a high adventure activity this year because we are doing Trek” (recent conversation with youth leader)

So in fine, if one of the main points is to get godly men in long contact and influence with the respective youth then saying, “I don’t have to …“ suggests that neither that local leader nor the stake leader who advised him ‘get’ the importance of that critical part of God’s program. The opposite of “magnifying ones calling” is a “check box” mentality. It is too common. In some cases, we can be very good at churning out ‘paper eagles’ with ‘Duty to God’ boxes checked that in may not know God nor even like Scouts.

Build on activities

Exceptional programs use the device of building precursor events targeting a big idea (super trip) to catalyze activity throughout the year. Not having a super activity gives up this key opportunity – losing out on the incentives that would encourage more opportunities for extended influence throughout the year.

Touching their Lives with the Savior IS the goal

In our stake, there is a recent but pervasive move by local and Stake leaders to restrict any auxiliary’s opportunity to touch a youth’s life to no more than once in a week M-Sat. This is sending a clear message. That message is that the Church youth activities are a bother and not worth the time; certainly not two events’ worth! Soccer or football? Definitely – 5 even 6 days a week seems quite normal but having a pack check on Wednesday followed by a weekend campout – now that just too much! The youth most definitely do get the message and our few non-member families also got the message and quit the troop!

When the Wednesday Scout night is cancelled with little notice because someone decided to add in a Temple trip on Tuesday, the non-members really-really don’t appreciate that. Building resentment instead of interest is the likely result.

Stake activities may exclude local leaders

Trek, Girls camp and many other activities sponsored by the stake, too often come with a specific un-invite to local leaders. It can come across as snobbery as a tight clique individuals working on the stake events assume that they alone are going to save the youth and don’t want the local leaders to screw it up. (Yes I can provide quotes but those who have been in the church long know about these “activity cliques”) This violates the Convolution goal.(see hyperlink)

Shared Rooms?

Borrowing the seminary room – but making no effort to transform it and sitting about a table for Scouts may seem ‘good enough’ but an appreciation of theater (setting) will help create a mini-immersion effect. Put Scout Rockwell pictures, Plaques, Leadership Rosters, Advancement charts out each week. Patrol & Troop flags. Transform!

Ceremonies, Tenure and Mentoring?

A closing ceremony is not a mumbled prayer, but after finding good ceremonies, passing them on so they actually become traditions is another big problem. It is common in the Mormon Church culture to be released summarily from a position and to be replaced by a new fellow with no apprenticeship or mentoring in your troop’s methods and traditions. Whamm traditions and often much of what you worked for, organizationally speaking, is swept away. One thing that can help is you can write your traditions down and pass them along that way. History has shown repeatedly though that most traditions don’t last more than a scoutmaster and whatever wisdom and skills that were acquired are gone with him. This can only be solved by an incremental/overlapping approach to callings to allow for some mentoring and transfer of knowledge. More on Ceremonies

And the Moral of the Story is?

A Scoutmasters minute is a key spiritual opportunity not to be missed. A quick prayer is not good enough. Non-members frankly expect that a religiously sponsored troop will have some spiritual content woven into the fabric and will actually be disappointed if they don’t see it whether the venue is a campout or a varsity basketball league game. Likewise, your efforts with member boys will not be as effective if a “good-enough” approach is taken. The trick is to always follow the spirit and consistently share that spirit. Take good advantage of your wrap-up “minute” but try to avoid overly scripting that religious element. DC 84:88 DC 84:85

Consistency and Unity

One may be reluctant to invite non-members due to the disjointed structure (4 very separate groups). Even when one of the three groups are working well, when the boy “graduates” he leaves his buddy behind or he is forcibly separated by adult coercion from his younger friends. To make matters worse, the next group, being completely separate may or may not have much of a program at all. “What are you doing this Wednesday?” I don’t know” or the perennial – “we are planning” is just too consistent to be comical. When the groups are totally separate, there is less oversight; more cancelations and folks get dropped at the age boundaries.

Convolution: Understand People Math!

(Convolution is the mathematical process of multiplying an input data (number) sequence by a set of coefficients (more numbers) one at a time and summing the individual products to create a new set of numbers. You have modified the input data by interacting with the coefficients. Applied to people, we call this the Lilies of the Fields effect. Influence does not take place too well by some big flash in the pan event. Much better is the slow simmering effect of long frequent contact and interaction as the leaders and the spirit have an incremental but steady accumulative effect. Time is generally a powerful ally unless whittled down to insignificant by the ‘Good Enough’ attitude.

Golden Time Theory

This speaks to the difficulty of getting past pre-programmed behaviors so the advisor can work more deeply with the youth at a root level. That takes several days of distance from ‘game boys’ on both sides (coming and returning) in an Immersion Experience to get there. Experience teaches it can just barely be done in 6 days – 8 is much better but it is increasingly harder to get them approved. That lack of approval doesn’t change the validity of this observation that it takes a significant bolus of time, on the order of a solid week, to achieve a chunk of ‘Golden time’ in the middle.

Transferal of Sovereignty theory

This examines why a young person, desperate for independence from his own folks, would willingly take potentially distasteful treatment and orders from another individual – say a football coach. It comes down to this; that coach, through what he is offering, has something that youth wants and wants so badly he’s willing to comply with “get down and give me 5!” When we leaders/advisors help our youth develop a program, it has to be appealing enough - more like so appealing, that the youth want to be there badly and are willing to work around other conflicts because what you are doing has become a priority. It’s got to be good!

The companion with transferal of Sovereignty is the “Convolution effect” that demands that building relationships that can effect change takes rubbing shoulders over time and is best forged under the heat of some shared joys and adversity.

Catalysts for Growth

Catalysts require fire to effect change. This works the same with people too. Significant challenges, physical, emotional, spiritual can be met with significant growth. Taking the boys on a ‘good time trip’, seldom qualifies in this category. Shared hardships can bond a quorum – it is the Zion’s Camp Effect. This is the core reason for the outdoors program. Our young men have almost no ‘Rights of Passage’ anymore. Significant, demanding, high adventure, immersion experiences can be that Rite of Passage for our modern boys. Note that I coupled together ‘Demanding’ with ‘Immersion’. Split them apart and you might as well go on a cruise!

Tyranny of the Majority and the one

If we run our “General Interest” scout groups by simple majority, we will miss and drop boys. No, not every boy is a basketball nut or a rock hound, but if each boy knows that by him fully supporting the other activities that the other boys will support his #10 activity, this builds synergy and helps round out the boys and builds brotherhood. This can be accomplished readily for the entire year in one evening where the boys put their ‘number 1’ activity on a slip of paper into a hat. You pull from the hat unique items until you have but duplicates and counting them tells you which activity types to duplicate. This sets your monthly themes and your weekly meetings built toward supporting those monthly themes. Your super trip can benefit from complementary elements in the monthly activities to build momentum all year long! More notes on planning (link)

Drafting

This works with boys just like it does in cycling. When we isolate the boys with no shared experiences – chopped up as they are by arbitrary age groups, the boys don’t get to really be tied to those about to go on those missions. We don’t take full advantage of the drafting effect unless the older boys have significant shared activities with the younger. “Age appropriate activities” sets some limits, but we go too far driving the separation with zealousness.

On a week long camp with each group doing age appropriate challenges each day, we would gather together in the evening for campfire. This youth (lower left photo) opened his mission call in front of all the boys from 12-18! How can there be a relationship if they don’t know each other? I once had a primary representative explain that 11 year olds should not meet for opening exercises or participate in shared campouts with deacon age youth because they aren’t deacons! I wonder if that logic holds with prospective elders?

Bottom line is that drafting works and only in situations where you are working with some older ‘sour apples’ is it justified to keep high walls of separation.

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3 Axioms:

To achieve the 3 purposes of the church itself, we need at all levels of leadership to have a solid appreciation for these axioms for working with boys. To be that ‘Light, that City on the Hill that draws all men to it,’ we need to have more than shiny new walls. When it comes to Scouting, we need to be the Citadel of Excellence not the Shanty Town of Good Enough; having some of the form of scouting, but denying through hobbling policies or laziness the power thereof.

The outdoor Program is a Key Tool (A challenging Outdoor program link)

With its attendant trials, a challenging outdoor program is a key tool to help boys grow and prepare for and fulfill priesthood purposes.

Focus on our Savior is not an event - its organic (Touching their Lives- link)

Every aspect of our programs must have a focus on the Savior and thereby salvation. We are not talking about salvation by the numbers. Outdoor activities that are challenging have elements of Zion’s Camp can be catalysts for personal and spiritual growth. Sitting around tables having orchestrated ‘Bible Bees’ will only take you so far and may give a false sense of actual personal religiosity.

Be Missionary minded in planning (Yearly Schedule - link)

Carefully consider the impact to our outreach to non-members and any negative effect when changing schedules or canceling scout activities in favor of a strictly religious one.

Understand Drafting and Brotherhood (Drafting - link)

Appreciate Theater (Appreciate theater - link)

Keep them together (Stay Together - link)

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4 Twenty Two Keys to Successful Scouting in the Church:

(Use this as a Scout Group Health check list)

A challenging Outdoor program IS Zion's Camp for our youth.

Advisers understand that fun is an element but not the program. The Adviser’s chief job is not to provide entertainment.

Every moment is a teaching moment

Advisers working with the Presidencies understand how to make every moment a "Lilies of the Field" teaching opportunity. Prayers are not perfunctory; Scoutmaster's minute is given serious contemplation. Kneeling 'warrior prayer', missionary stories and songs at campfires is tradition not exception. Avoid scripting and overly structured campfires but let the spirit inspire the sharing. Your best missionary stories are inspired by the flickering light and the ‘Spirit of God Like a Fire is Burning’ never sounds so good as when the embers are glowing hot.

As a guest at another troop one evening, I was invited to join around their fire. After some funny and a few scary stories the conversation drew long and slowed and the bishop mentioned something about thinking about heading off to bed. I leaned to him and asked if he thought a few missionary stories might be told? “Sure,” he said and the boys who overheard became very engaged & enlivened. Even though the adults may be separated by many years of time, a well told story will bridge that separation to a narrow gap where ‘drafting,’ even with old goats, can take place.

Yearly Schedule

Advisers make certain that each year a ‘year schedule’ is Created, Published and Followed. More detail here

Detailed Week by week agenda

Advisers make certain that a detailed week by week agenda is maintained by the youth leaders and any changes communicated well in advance. Committees set expectations and help the advisers follow through with tangible support so changes are very few. Start time and Start location is almost never changed. Using the year Schedule as a guide, take the monthly theme listed and once every 1-3 months, using the Patrol Leader’s Council, flesh out weekly meetings to focus on related skills to be used at the monthly campout. If, for example, you planned a 50 mile river canoe trip for your summer super trip, then some campout might involve canoeing merit badge or whitewater or lifesaving or swimming. Weave these into the run up over months and the whole year will tie together and you will build excitement and anticipation. With that comes bragging rights and the boys will be desirous to participate themselves and invite their friends too!

Remember to have as much changeup as possible. Never let them have their fill and they will always want to come back for more.

A typical evening should have an opening, (preferably including several of the Scout groups) a skill, a game, an activity, a short patrol corner for near term planning (who’s brining the hot dog buns…)

Blood is drawn before the word “cancel” ever leaves an adviser’s lips. "Postpone a week" may be spoken on rare occasion.

Advisers recruit

Dads and other members of the community are recruited to flesh out their two-deep to 3 or 4 so inevitable no-show adults don't cause activity cancellation. Only legitimate orphans should be unrepresented and say, “isn't that what Home teachers are for?” Even mothers can help out driving and supporting in other ways. If several mothers come, it may be acceptable to have them overnight staying separate of course in a “Mothers patrol”.

Weekly meetings happen

Meetings happen and are not canceled or replaced due to other worthy events like Temple trips. Resist last minute changeups. It breaks your momentum, irritates everyone and repels non-members like few other insults. Those worthy Church-only events should be planned as part of the year-plan so non-members are not left out and alienated wondering why Scouts was suddenly canceled. Better yet plan the temple trip for some other night altogether.

Weekly meetings happen weekly.

Yes I said that twice. If there is a Tuesday temple trip and your normal Scout night is Wednesday, meet on Wednesday! When that coming weekend is a camp-out, wise leaders don't cancel their weekday meeting but foster good preparation and momentum by pack checks on that preceding Wednesday night. No one squawks when soccer demands 3- even 5 days in a row of activities. Ours is God sponsored and we should not be ashamed of them - practically apologizing for being such an interruption to the worship of sports.

Scout Rooms are good sized

Use of the Gym regularly and if possible, have it allocated to the boys generally for scout games - common to well-run troops - Not just Basketball.

Speaking of basketball - that's what a ball bag is for.

Other than when specifically scheduled, scout night should not be 'Shooting Hoops' night. Done very much at all, it becomes more distraction and more time eating than it's worth. The key is just barely enough sports to keep the addicts from getting the shakes! Even in the Varity Scout program, formal team Sports is just 1 of 5 areas of emphasis.

Boys are Boys

Baden Powell taught us wisely that Boys need to be up and about - moving; reserve chairs for old men and visiting ladies and open the room up for activity. Have them sit Indian style for a few minutes of teaching and then up and moving practicing what they just learned. Forget the long winded mono classroom approach - more suitable for girls, and move from one event to another every 20 minutes so that they neither get enough nor get tired of even the most fun activity. That’s right, stop the activity BEFORE they are done with the activity. Change-up is a key to success.

Appreciate safety in numbers

All the Scouts, from the 11 to 18 year olds should meet together as often as practical for brief opening exercise -, flag ceremony before breaking out to separate age appropriate patrols/groups and only occasionally return for closing ceremonies. This gives each age group advisers key quiet time during closing ceremony with their respective boys. Understand and use peer pressure and hook them like a barrel of monkeys - rather than stratifying them into prideful exclusive groups. The way we often split them up, it's no wonder we lose so many boys from 14-17.

Cub Scout Recruiting

Exciting, wonderful, thrilling, special, even challenging should describe our Webelos-New Scouts Crossover Ceremonies. Don't turn 11 without one! and have the older Scouts participate- It's about the boys! If you have a troop that actually looks like a troop, has a year schedule that you keep and follow and a copy to hand out and advertise, a Web site showcasing your activities, a leadership core that knows what they’re doing and has tenure, THEN you can confidently reach out to the community and advertise your troop with many positive effects in both the Perfecting the Saints and the “Teach all nations” category.

Appreciate theater in ceremonies

Find a nice set of opening and closing ones that become tradition. I use 1/2 dozen tried and true ones but welcome new ones. A perfunctory prayer with our Saviors name rushed and slurred as is so common is not a closing ceremony. However, a heartfelt, specific prayer focusing on the detail of the boy’s lives would be a nice finish to a ceremony. Change up is key. Leaving a community pool after lifesaving training as we approached our cars, I wanted to close, but where/how. Standing in the parking lot for a quick prayer would not do! I spotted a large old growth stump. Perfect! “Everyone on the stump!” We had too many of us to comfortably stand. Perfect. With the left hand around the waist of your neighbor to hold us all together in a circle of brotherhood, we raised our right arm to the square and recited the Scout oath…followed by a prayer with arm on shoulder. Now that was special in an otherwise ordinary parking lot. Break the mold – stand on a berm - anything but the parking lot!!!

Have Occasional activities suitable for all age groups,

Separate by patrol, as Baden Powell and the Church manual advises, outdoor activities involving all the Young Men groups should be encouraged when the activity can be done age appropriate. I have attended 50 mile hikes with 12-18 year scouts with but positive effect. Members of the older patrols should also have mentoring (Guide) positions to foster overall group cohesion. More youth are lost from our ranks due to failure of this point than most realize. Older Boys can shine as they provide leadership and younger boys can look forward to advancing in the priesthood and doing ever challenging adventures because they have more than casual association with the older boys. When they go on mountain climbs and on to other mountains (like missions) the younger boys will naturally aspire to follow in their footprints because they have done that literally on the trails and look up to the older boys! This is the drafting effect (link).

Scoutmaster Conferences should be a spiritual highlight

These events should really be on a rock somewhere overlooking God's handiwork; not some hurried chat in a cramped church classroom just before a Board of Review is to be convened.

Scout rooms set the mood

The shared Scout-rooms should be at least transformed each week with pictures, hanging stuff and props to make it look and feel like a Scout-room. Look what Seminary and YW do to a room. Scout leaders should appreciate theater.

Pizazz and timing in our Court of Honors

Our Court of Honors should have a bit of Pizazz but decorum. You don’t have to go overboard, but too little formality and Cub Scout-like slapstick can be death to the significance of the event. Have them once a quarter and publish early.

When to hold them is more controversial. The minimalists will suggest displacing your normal scout night with this Court activity. Since most LDS scout troops meet on the same night as Young Women’s, to do that fairly guarantees small token participation of the family and precludes ANY participation and cross support from the young men’s female peers. While convenient for some, double booking family and friends on purpose is guaranteed to fail the goal of a family centered program with wide ward support. More support from family friends and peers and just plain larger numbers in attendance is a good thing.

Troop Historian/Scribe

The boys should work with a Committee member to publish the Camp pictures, journals, schedule updates each month.
Put out a poster each month with the pictures too, and be sure to list the names of the attendees prominently. Publicly displaying that has a remarkable positive peer affect.
Web site! A Scout built ours and it had a clear positive impact in attracting non-members who sited it as reason they were interested in our troop.
Record attendance at outdoor activities and report to the advancement chair who can report statistics useful in advertising and focusing leader’s attention on low participants.

Train for activities;

Have proper equipment and prudent leaders bring backups. Learning from experience should be for those who won’t learn from your careful mentoring and preparation opportunities and managed so the boys DO want to return. Bring extra gear! Boys will be boys...

Boys need adventure.

Adventure and challenge are catalysts for personal and spiritual growth. This is a key take away from the Zion’s camp experience which must be thoroughly appreciated by youth and ecclesiastic leaders. Don't kill them but don't airbag them either. See “The Right Stuff” “A boys need for Adventure”

Start together Stay together, Finish together

Never - ever separate your group on a hike due to ability. Teach the Saviors love and let the more capable help out by taking some of the burden. Those helped will feel loved. The helpers will feel that admiration and the Lord's confirming Spirit AND get a better workout to boot. Failure to follow this last piece of advice and instead of building brotherhood you will sow and fertilize the weeds of pride and low self-esteem; oh and you will probably lose some part of your team taking the wrong fork!

Duty to God Award - The path to heaven is an ‘individual sport’ not a team bus ride.

With the advent of the formalized Duty to God requirements with their specific requirement, some dedicated youth advisors have been allocating significant and consistent formal meeting time to orchestrated religiosity. Such marathons can be occasionally useful, but when too frequent may give the appearance of saving souls while not actually affecting the inner boy. As a guest at one LDS troop campout, significant scripture study was mandatory and orchestrated. I happened to overhear boys in one tent finish the reading and proceed seamlessly to extreme off color behavior and conversation! Of course, there are no guarantees by any approach in the business of saving souls, but the point is that leaders should not confuse form and structure with affect.

Boys (really men in general) are best affected incrementally, snuck up upon, if you will, in conversation and coincident with unrelated events, where the spirit moves the in tune, astute leader to have an influence at just the right time and place. (See Convolution Effect)

Furthermore, with one night allocated to joint activities with Young Women and often another to a priesthood service projects, if another is allocated to a scriptural ‘jam session’ that leaves but 1 week for a traditional scout night; not much to build that momentum we spoke about and certainly not enough to secure and encourage the participation of non-LDS members.

In fine, by trying to force feed religiosity, one may feel very accomplished on the surface, but in fact lose out in the participation with outdoor activities that have been demonstrated to facilitate real and significant influence and provide missionary opportunities. See President Becks Ensign Article; and David Packs inset Article on 50 Milers

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5 Appropriate Activity Checklist

A key point is selecting activities is that they meet the needs of the Church; in other words, “Activities with a Purpose.” Be cautious here. Some may be tempted to take that advice and intensely orchestrate “spiritual” experiences. Better to be organic, but if you are not having spiritual moments, you are failing. See the balance? The point is to have connection. If you dig into Indian lore, find the laudable attributes of Indian culture (Self-reliance, care and honor for the elderly and widows etc) and bring that out and worth of emulation…

This matrix (5.1-5.6) may be useful to weigh how well ideas meet the needs of the sponsor and fit BSA criteria and goals.

Kids might ask for the moon and we adults have our passions and limitations. All that plays a role in what looks attractive, but measured by the following criteria you can feel confident that choices are good ones.

Physical capability

(Age appropriate -beware of paid guides having a monitory incentive to say, “Yes” )

In addition to "capability," some activities (especially fast moving or big water activities) have significant risks that are multiplied with a crew of marginal physical capabilities. One or two young or marginal boy is one thing - a whole group of young or marginal or underage boys is another.

Spiritual emphasis

Think of time and miles, rubbing shoulders with God minded men rather than a series of carefully planned events like a structured "Bible camp". Refer the reader to President Becks Ensign Article and The Lilies of the Field Effect

Cost & Distance

We should minimize the effect of cost including attendant fundraisers and time of travel. Try to keep cost less than a typical Council Scout camp. A great backpacking trip, costing much less than a scout camp even with store bought freeze dried, will long be remembered and its impact felt for generations. (I dehydrate my own food for exceptionally low cost trips) Backpacking is the mainstay of traditional scouting experience. There were some troops in times past who spent a great deal of time throughout the year in excessive fundraising to sponsor various out of state and even out of country super-trips of every sort. The brethren felt that their gentle admonitions were not being heeded so they outright banned long distance camping and most fundraising. Now, this was quite abrupt and at 1^st extreme, and has since being somewhat moderated but I think it was meant as a wake-up call to the hard of hearing. They wanted us to utilize our resources and time in a continuous series of activities wherein each directly met the priesthood goals. Remember the goal is a long term sizzle – not the flash in the pan. Neither is the job to be entertainer in chief. Consider this quote about backpacking from the Ensign article by David C. Pack.

“By the second night around the campfire, you have the most teachable, ready-to-learn, ready-to-listen-to-the-Spirit young men you will ever see. You won’t see them that way in priesthood meeting or at home or at school or on activity night. As a result, there will be an opportunity around that campfire for testimony bearing and teaching that will sink deep into their hearts and that they will remember for a lifetime.”

On Fundraising

Subsequently, the guidelines for both location and fundraising have been softened somewhat, but the goal of keeping the costs low, and finding quality effective activities as close to one’s own back yard as possible are still in effect. Note that the effect referred to is ‘changing lives.’

Significant Extended Physical challenge

This can be a catalyst for personal growth on all levels. (not Mt. McKinley but not a Carnival Cruise either) As to meeting this imperative, as much as we enjoy doing thrilling activities, one should not confuse an immersion activity like a 50 miler with the thrills of a top roped rock climb that can be opted out of or a rafting event where you go for a thrilling ride. “Band of Brothers” group cohesion is built from shared experiences overcoming hardships together.

Immersion experience

“Long enough to catalyze” is key to getting to a more intimate relationship. The longer you can immerse the better for achieving the "Golden time" effect - usually a week. Activities that constantly change up or interlace back to civilization have a harder time achieving that key goal.

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6 Theory and Practical Advice for All Scout Leaders

Be the Good Shepherd

Sacrifice to make it happen

· We must do as well as and really should be better than the secular world in committing to and keeping our word.

· We have made covenants as to our willingness to sacrifice to the cause of the lord. Can we expect 2 years of dedicated sacrifice from our young men if we can’t commit and follow through on 1 weekend a month?

· The youth need to see our modern day sacrifices. Set your planning standards to the same standard expected of all Scout troops and any business! It is very easy to do - if only they are willing. If you set the standard clearly, your youth and adult leaders will step up to the task.

Visit your boys families

· Present God’s program as something that aids the whole family and solicit their enthusiasm. Talk about scouting theory focusing on the Oath and Law, Slogan and Motto. Rites of passage and catalysts for growth.

· Have a complete detailed year short form schedule to present to the parents. Get parental support by visiting with each family and walking through the year plan. Yes you have one! Let the Dad’s and even Sisters as appropriate know that they are expected to join the youth on at least one (preferably two) campouts each year. There is a place on your Year plan to pencil in their name so try to get the commitment right then and there.

Occasionally drop in on your boys

· Be involved in their lives. If you want to make a difference in their lives you have to be in their lives!

· Stop by their home or perhaps at a sports game just to say “hi” and chat for a few minutes; it’ll mean worlds.

Teaching moments

· Distill the doctrines of heaven. Like the Savior, teach them in parables and stories.

· Feed them at every opportunity. Let the mountains, a bike ride, a sports event, a rushing river provide constant fodder for teaching the doctrines of salvation and a Godly life filled with good citizenship.

Use your Priesthood to bless them

If the boys are sick, injured or mentally struggling, keep yourself in tune with God and worthily bless them. Don’t necessarily wait to minister to them. Be there for them.

Inspire them:

· Sing with them, play with military cadences. Fill them with stories.

· Talk to the ring leaders as confidants who will help “work the crowd.”

· The Scout Law, Oath, Slogan and Motto shall be the ruling guidelines.

Use the Program

· Scout night is not basketball night. Sports may be incorporated into the program, but only as a scheduled event. Whether scheduled or not, all balls and other distractions will be placed in a "Ball bag” at the beginning of the meeting. This means as early as 6:45.

· A scout shirt and neckerchief are to be worn at scout functions. Youth don't forget their football pads; their patrol expects and depends on them to not forget their scout uniform. A scout that looks like a team member acts like a team member.

Camping is our modern day Zion’s Camp.

· Stress handled in a Godly way builds character. Stressful situations bring out the best and worst in individuals. When it’s rainy and the crew has to work together to put up a shelter fast, there’s opportunity for stress. When the inevitable rough edges show up, the watchful leader has the opportunity to help lop them off. Conversely, when the youth help each other and cooperate, there are great opportunities for the astute advisor to pat them on the back polishing those ‘diamonds’ so they shine for all to see.

· Activities without challenge miss out on opportunities. I have found that the youth that most beamed about rock climbing were the stockier boys that had the most challenge.

· Leadership is honed when it is called on but not in a vacuum of advice or poorly taught by mistakes.

· Coach the leaders for success. The ‘exhilaration of victory’ is a much better motivator than the ‘agony of defeat’. Spend a lot of time with your youth leaders planning and being organized.

· Learning from mistakes is a lousy way to learn and indicts us as leaders. A youth, who survives a miserable camp with cold feet, might indeed learn his lesson or on the other hand he might just conclude that this stinks and in the future to not provide you with another opportunity to ‘teach’ him.

Inspiring Campfires will always be remembered.

· Our Campfires should be as inspirational as Moses’ burning bush.

· Inspire them as you weave missionary stories into the fun of the evenings. .

· Sing with them at every opportunity. ‘The Spirit of God like a Fire is Burning’ never sounds better nor stirs the heart more than around a blazing campfire. .

· Scavenge every moment for analogies. The importance of feeding ones testimony with new and strengthening experiences is taught one log at a time around the fire and 1 step at a time down the trail. The Holy Spirit’s radiating influence is easy to understand as the boys bask near the evening fires glowing embers. Take the Scouts on a hike though a mountain meadow; The Lord’s comments about watching over us and keeping priorities straight are brought clear to eager minds as you point out the ‘lilies of the fields’. .

Be Dependable

· Regular weekly and monthly activities a must.

· Batch processing doesn’t work for boys! “Cats in the cradle” “we are going to have a good time then…” doesn’t work any better for scoutmasters than it does for fathers.

· Have a rock steady dependable schedule of activities.

· Even for 1 youth, put in the full effort, just go! My 1^st activity with a new group had just me and the assistant adviser in attendance but we had such a good time and bragged accordingly that soon the youth were dedicated attendees.

Have a yearlong schedule

Many groups seem to be in a perpetual planning mode. “What are you doing Wednesday? Uh …planning” I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard that, yet an hour, once a year, is really all it takes! Click here to learn how.

· Be absolutely dedicated to sticking to your published schedule and make very very few changes even if it is less convenient.

o Boys won’t get discouraged

o Parents won’t get frustrated or mad

o You’ll be less stressed, and your wife will get less phone calls

o Participation will grow.

Canceling activities is the bubonic plague of LDS Scouting

· Have at least 1 parent signed up and scheduled for each outdoor activity. PUBLISH NAMES on the year calendar.

· Line up your assistants and communicate lots with them.

· Double up with other Quorums if you get into real unavoidable trouble.

· Camp in your back yard if you have to but don’t bail out.

· If there is no choice, rather than cancel, postpone to the nearest weekend and mean it. Your word is your bond - Keep it.

Re-publish unavoidable schedule changes early

· Think things through well in advance.

· DO NOT expect to phone folks up at the last minute or even the ‘week of’ with sudden changes of venue. Inevitably you will miss someone. They will be angry. They will become less devoted and you will be much less successful.

· If you absolutely have to change the nature of an activity, if at all possible, at least maintain the Start Location & Start time!!! Follow this rule regardless of personal inconvenience. You might think you got the word out to everyone, but its remarkable how people mess up!

About Running the Week by Week Meetings.

· Don’t! Don’t run the meeting – Stand beside the youth if you must to coach him, but help them run the troop. Don’t be one of those “let them fail” types either – the whole troop ought not to have to suffer. Help them be successful by them knowing and guiding what is going on at a detailed level – see PLC meeting. Bring extra agenda copies in case they forget what was planned in PLC.

· Be reasonable about time

· Reign in the activities as needed to follow agendas.

· Especially have reasonable expectations of when you will be finished.

· Have fun doing your activity and always go.

· Even if it’s only you and your assistant advisor who show up for a week night or even a campout, go any way and have fun. As you show your absolute dependability and dedication, and brag a bit about the blast you had the boys will learn to trust you and will follow. You will build momentum.

· Coach the youth in successful planning skills

· The PLC makes the detailed weekly agendas

· PLC is to be held faithfully every month – all week night agenda detail is to be planned out 1 -3 months in advance using your yearly plan as a guide.

· Have a written plan for each upcoming meeting sketched out by the monthly PLC! Use the planning form religiously. A sample is available in the Appendix

· Really discipline yourself to limiting Activities to 10-15 minutes each. They should always feel that they didn’t get enough – they’ll want to come back for more…

· Always leave time for a quality Scoutmasters minute but try to keep it to a minute!!!

· Always have a formal closing ceremony. Make it simple and sweet – you don’t have to do everything every time.

· Look in the resource manual for ideas.

· Whistles: This is a much better way than hollering and has proven itself fantastically for developing discipline and team minded, cooperating youth; gone are arguments delays and dilly dallying. The key is to get all youth to agree to the method ahead of time.

1 A single short whistle may be used to gain quick attention. It means just that- your attention is desired.

2 Two short whistles mean to gather toward where the whistle originated; no question asked.

3 Three whistles are used strictly for real emergencies and means a real danger exists and/or help is requested.

4 Four Whistles cancels the emergency or alerts that the lost person has been found.

· Publish or perish. Publish the filled out meeting planning form and give it to each patrol leader the month before the activities. Document document document and PUBLICLY DISPLAY!

· Have a backup copy to give the youth presiding leader in case he forgets his copy. Remember that the meeting MUST be successful. It’s not just the one youth leader you are trying to train and serve. His failure impacts the whole group!

· Scribe/secretary documents each person who attended an activity -adults and youth.

· The scribe presents this report in the Troop committee meeting each month.

Service is a key aspect of a Godly program

· Find those in real and obvious need and help them out. Do this at least 3 times each year; For the older youth – even as often as monthly.

· At campouts, always teach the principle of leaving the place better than when you found it. Bring extra garbage bags, as other slouchy backwoodsmen will always provide you opportunities to tidy up.

· Service teaches love for others and gives the advisor and opportunity to point out their blessings.

Opportunities to build & help each other and Trail Psychology

Teaching selflessness and building of the brotherhood takes an understanding of trail psychology.

· The group that helps each other succeed rather than promoting individualism and arrogance will be a true brotherhood.

· If 1 or a few run up ahead on a difficult assent, the athlete inevitably feels pride in himself and often contempt for the stragglers. On the other hand if the strong stays with the weaker take some of the load of those struggling or gives them a push at a tough spot, then the helper feels a good kind of feedback for his assistance and the person being assisted feels loved, cared for and encouraged. This is service in the best tradition and is the basis for brotherhood.

More on Understand Trail Psychology:

· Teaching care for others and simultaneously boosting self-esteem is a key goal of hiking.

· . Rotate your point man(boy) a bit but give the slow guy more time in that front position. Just don’t leave him there as some boys may feel stigmatized. Nevertheless, there is a big positive mental effect that happens when you are in the front. You are able to physically put out more because you feel better. When in the rear, the opposite affect can happen and a person can simply ‘feel’ slower. The rate of slowness in often in mere fractions of an inch per step, but it adds up. Appreciate this behavioral reality.

· Let the strong help the weak. This can have a huge positive effect on the brotherly cohesion of a unit. The strong feel God’s hand of approval and the weak feel God’s love through the hand of their friends.

· Hold the group close. Do not allow the group to stratify based on ability. The stronger/faster will become proud and the weaker/slower will become disheartened and quorum brotherhood will be the casualty. A patrol member lending a hand from behind to lift the pack a little on a steep section can have an incredible positive effect.

· This may be repeated advice, but never, ever separate the group. This is a plague. It violates so many rules of safety, group cohesion and logistical prudence. Don’t do it and don’t acquiesce to other youth’s or even adult’s competitive pressure.

· Beware of the tendency for adults to clump together, especially at the back of the line. Whole troops of boys have been separated from otherwise very competent advisors for hours as the boys took one fork and all the leaders another. I know the desire to chat with one’s peers is strong, but the point is to intermingle with the boys so godly men can sprinkle wisdom and spiritual insights along the way. What a waste to miss hours of that precious opportunity!

· Make sure all who attend – especially visiting Dads and other adults, AGREE AHEAD OF TIME to the rules of hiking as outlined here. Speaking plainly, men are notoriously pompous, prideful and un-teachable! Compared to the youth they can be far more trouble, so get them signed on and understanding of the concept of a trail boss and get their free will agreement up front. This may sound a bit over the top, but it is far more necessary that you might imagine. This is even more important when your activity is on the water.

What about Sports?

· First of all, every sporting activities should have a devotional –NOT just a perfunctory prayer. Each activity should take the opportunity to build us both physically as well as spiritually. There should be no doubt when we invite our neighbors to a sporting or Scouting activity but that God plays center court on our team. We don’t need to be timid about this when our friends join us. There’s a good chance they’ll be surprised if there is no spiritual emphasis.

· Sports should not be considered a suitable substitute for a regular monthly outdoor program. It may augment the outdoors program and may play a larger role as the youth become teacher/priest age. Sports, by the fast paced nature and singular focus, provide only a subset of the benefits afforded by an effective outdoors program. Nevertheless, it provides yet another opportunity to reach out and meet some of the needs of the youth in a God centered setting.

· A spiritually minded coach will be looking out for the displaced youth. He will be coaching the ‘jock’ to be acting as a big brother to help the less skilled feel wanted and included. The coach will never allow the desires of the youth or his own ambition to supersede the need of the ‘one’. He will always give fair playing time not just ‘token’ playing time.

· Sport nights should rarely occupy the schedule for Deacon-age boys (perhaps tied to a merit badge) and should occupy the schedule of the older youth no more than once every month or two. Extra practices prior to tournament play should be at other times than the normal meeting time. (ie 1 hr before or another day) .

What about Merit Badges?

Like a Bible camp’s structured religiosity, when participating in a Merit Badge mill, those 1 afternoon wonders where the words “do and tell” too often morph into a group thing, one may pass though the event, get the badge and have little recollection or impact. This isn’t saying “never,” but the intent of the program was to provide more opportunities in a more intimate setting were godly men skilled in various arts could rub shoulders, teach and influence our youth. When we orchestrate these encounters to a packed, classroom setting, some or even much of that goal is missed. For example, the learned ability to phone call and make an appointment is a solid adult, even missionary skill that will be missed if the badge is handed on a silver platter just for sitting in on a meeting.

Know the Advancement Procedures

Each committee should establish procedures with regular opportunities for Boards of Review that are known well in advance and published on the calendars. By having published deadlines the boys will be motivated and the adults working on the advancement committee will be less stressed prior to Courts of Honors. Scoutmasters should be keen to take advantage of monthly campouts to do the important Scoutmasters Conference He can do the perfunctory check of the scout book anytime. Parents and boys should have a good understanding of what to do with a Merit badge “blue card.” See Appendix Advancement for details.

Know the details of the organization

· Many a LDS Scout has floundered before his Eagle Board of Review because his Adult leaders maintained a casual attitude about the leadership positions and elections.

· Furthermore, since they didn’t even know what the position was, it is most unlikely that they really did much of its attendant duties.

· Boys who don’t have a ”real” job to do lose out on one of the major goals of the program; teaching leadership and responsibility. More than anything else, this one issue is responsible for the LDS Churches sullied reputation with non-LDS scouters.

· When a person is elected or called as the case may be to an adult or youth leadership position, it important that he or she know what is expected. Don’t minimize it to try and get buy in. Use the Appendix-Leadership detailing the positions responsibilities, meetings etc to outline the task so they know right up front. Nothing is gained by trickle feeding someone and especially with adults; they may feel gamed and resent it if they suddenly come to know of greater scope. This is especially true in regards to the “Sunday Guy” syndrome.

Discipline:

A) Language: No demeaning language will be tolerated. 'Shut up', 4 letter words, religious epitaphs, sex/bathroom language and jokes and macabre will have a ZERO tolerance level. Remember; we are Disciples of Christ. End the practice of ‘Mormon Lite’ cursing. If you are not scraping it off your shoe then don’t let the words pass your lips. Follow the 13^th Article of faith and see that your speech measures up. By the way; mixing in God’s name as in “Holy C…” only compounds the error.

B) No put-downs. Scouting/priesthood is a brotherhood - not a war on self-esteem.

C) Scout Hand Signs: Whenever possible silent hand signals will be used to signal attention, gathering in different formations etc.

E) Maintain some formality at meetings rather than lounging in chairs.

F) Hazing, Initiations, Pranks. I’m astonished at the level of adult encouragement this get. This is absolute death to spirituality and brotherhood. Have a zero tolerance regardless of how funny or innocent it sounds and no – (fill in the blank) it won’t grow hair on your chest!

Disciplinary Measures:

Flagrant insubordination, disruptive behavior, physical violence, violations of personal property, lying and littering are considered significant violations of the spirit of Scouting and will not be tolerated. Of course your aim must be the reclamation of souls – even the disruptive one, but as a leader of a group, their welfare must also be considered. In some cases you cannot effect a timely change without rational consequences. Young men who have crossed these significant lines of decorum can be subject to troop disciplinary measures directed only by Adult Scout leaders; never parent to child or boy to boy.

Leaders and visiting Dads should always recuse themselves when their own boy needs discipline. Rather than from a family member, let some other leader be the bad cop for even minor discipline. This is so important when dads come along that they know that they get to have all the fun and someone else gets to be the heavy if required…Make this clear to invited dads and leaders too. The adults should have a clear understanding with a little pow-wow that the leaders should be on the lookout to help ‘Dad’ avoid having to be the “heavy” by timely action by other alert leaders.

While no physical punishment such as swat-lines, being tossed into the river etc should ever administer (speaking from experience on the receiving end!), the following corrections may be applied:

1. Pushups (5-50) Used only at the discretion of the Scoutmaster and Assistant Scoutmasters,

2. Suspension: The youth may return after designated time chaperoned by parent. The bishop should be informed and included in such action.

3. Permanent expulsion. Only Very very rare. Physical endangerment issues or extreme and unrepentant violation of scout moral code.

Hint: Don’t be afraid to join the young man in the pushups! – that act can often break an impasse of defiance and bring you closer to the youth. This is especially useful in the “I didn’t do anything!” situations that one may encounter when the whole patrol is assigned a few pushups.

Parent/family participation:

Parental support is essential for the success of your boy and the operation of the Troop.

· Bring the whole family to courts of honor - it really shows your young man that he and his friend’s scouting achievements are truly important!

· Plan on participating in some way at least once per year at an outdoor activity. A schedule showing slots is available.

· Parents, if your boy is in the Troop 701, you are obligated to attend troop committee meeting. Only legitimate orphans should be un-represented.

Motivation

A quality program will have a consistent weekly planned activity. Developing a youth led organization will be emphasized. A monthly outing will take place rain or shine. Youth/parents will be expected to make arrangements in advance with coaches to avoid conflicts. Remember, it is typically only once a month will be hard calendared 1 year in advance and unlike secular activities, Scouting is the only GOD sponsored youth activity in town. Let’s keep priorities straight.
Emphasis; Scouting ideals, which include developing good citizenship in the home and community and a relationship with GOD are our main goals. The details of the program like the outdoor program and advancement are the tools - vigorously utilized - but not the end in themselves.
Goodies; The unofficial 13th scout law is: A scout is hungry. Endeavor to provide some goodies after regular scout meetings. You can tie these to patrol uniform inspections. 1st ups and double ups for the winning patrol is surprisingly motivating.

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7 Safe and Sane High Adventure

Outdoor Challenges and Rites of Passage

(see Appendix Right stuff and a Boys need for Adventure)

· Overcoming self-imposed limitations and stretching is important. In our modern society, there are few rites of passage for our boys.

· They need adventure and demanding circumstances. Pushing through difficult and challenging events builds men out of boys. It builds confidence and character that will hold them in good stead in their life ahead and future service to God.

· Safety should be given good and serious thought and planning to mitigate risks, but should not be so overdone with the modern padded cell - airbag mentality, that no risk is left. There should be very low probability of death, low probability of broken bones and other such serious injury, and high probability of trilling age-appropriate adventure.

· Don’t let this age appropriate thing be a cop-out for the “air-baggers”. Our very young guys are far more capable, when trained and empowered through conditioning than many acknowledge. As a very small fellow, I went on my 1st 50 miler when I was 12 and loved it. It was also very hard that 1stday as I recall. I have taken 12 year olds on both class2+ kayaking and canoeing trips and found they did fine but I come to the conclusion that due to upper body strength issues, it is best to leave kayaking and whitewater canoeing to 14-18 year old; plenty of fun to be had on foot!

· They are quite happy doing more simple adventure like hiking, but go for the 50 miles. If you can, get permission for 8 days. Be advised that the BSA 50 Miler award does give you “mileage” credit for elevation so that is helpful when constrained to 6 days. Another approach if you are constrained to M-Sat is to do a few base camps along the way and do lighter loaded day excursions from those bases.

Outdoors Comfort: Teach – THEN implement.

As you get ready to head into the winter it bears a good review of what makes successful and safe BSA outdoor programs. IE Boys having success, challenge, personal growth and yes, fun in the outdoors. This is a real big one many miss. Don’t air bag them but being miserable won’t be constructive either. I always bring some backup items. On a snow trip I have an extra bag, mittens, even boots stored discretely away to save the day. Like my climbing rope, I don’t intend to fall, but I don’t want to pancake on the rocks if I do screw up! One boy came to me complaining of cold feet. I had an extra pair of Moon Boots to loan IF he would cut some snow steps down to my tent. (The idea is to get his blood working and warm and then put him in the boots) He surprised me by saying his “feet weren’t THAT cold”… I had to laugh at that one.

Bottom line is that It’s your responsibility to teach and guide. Learning from the College of Hard Knocks should be reserved for the few knuckle heads who WONT listen. Be very concerned when you see or hear of casual attitudes about planning and execution of high adventure activities. On some trips, that ol’ College of Hard Knocks can knock them right out of desire for future participation.

· Be empathetic.

· Be careful to dress comparable to the boys. If you are cold, then you are likely to recognize that the boys are too.

· Watch the weather especially when wet weather or snow camping. Marginal conditions for snow caving can cause dripping or even sagging and collapse. Make sure you understand what you are doing or bring a mountain/snow savvy individual along until you become that man. Teaching the youth is your prime consideration until they too become that man.

Confucius say, “There are 3 ways to learn wisdom; the 1st is by reflection, which is noblest. The 2nd is by imitation, which is easiest; the 3rd is my experience, which is bitterest.”

Safety/risk balance:

· Bring ‘em back alive and well – is a top priority.

· Become the expert or get one to accompany.

· If they are in the water, it only takes a few seconds to lose someone in the murk.

· Follow your safety afloat plan absolutely at all costs.

· If it doesn’t feel right – stand up and say something – even if you are not in charge.

I nearly lost my wife and several other girls on a joint YMYW canoe trip. I noticed that all the presumed skilled boys were naturally parked in the canoes with the cute girls but several canoes had totally unskilled crews. As a guest, I did attempt to say something, but was assured the river was no danger. Perhaps, in times past for that leader but this day a sweeper extended at a corner and we lost 3 canoes into it! I watched in horror as my wife went under and thanked God when she popped out somewhat injured but alive by the grace of God. I learned from that to seriously respect even gently moving water and to speak up forcefully if need be whether in charge or not, when I saw danger un-mitigated.

· Avoid activities for which there are no contingency or backup plans possible.

· Avoid situations were a simple act of nature becomes deadly.

· Avoid ‘single point failure mechanisms’ in both plans and gear.

Gear

· Have good equipment and backup equipment. Look at how others skilled in the activity dress and prepare and use that as a good guide. Do it right or don’t do it. If it is common to wear a helmet or other such gear, don’t expect God to make up for your foolishness. Remember the lesson of Captain Martin’s handcart company. If you live in the North-West or other wet or cold territory, know what a gaiter is. If you travel in sand like southern Utah, know what a gaiter is. In fine, know what a gaiter is!

· Appreciate the difference between gloves and mittens and have a few spare mittens.

· Bring backup gear from troop stores like extra sleeping bags, bibs and gloves on snow camps. When the lesson has been learned, bring out the backups but not before.

· Be the last one to bed and the 1st one awake. In nasty weather check up on your boys during the night; Don’t just hunker down early in your own comfy bunker hoping all goes well for them.

Get an Expert or Become One

· Get expert help and/or become the expert. Don’t ‘wing it’.

· On mountains and definitely on whitewater there in no experience like local experience. Accept no substitutes.

Don’t Be Stupid

· Avoid the probability game whenever you can.

· Don’t do obvious stupid things like sitting on tailgates or on truck bed walls. While I told the boys to sit inboard of my station wagon’s open tailgate, one boy failed to follow that instruction and got flipped right out of my wagon onto his head on the beach we were driving on. He survived without harm, but man! things could have just as easily been very very bad!

· Don’t do Illegal things thinking your greater purpose justifies it. The lesson of hypocrisy will be better learned than whatever else you intended to teach! Respect property and don’t assume you can do things on

Good Planning

· Have solid backup plans that will as a minimum keep you alive.

· Have a plan, communicate your plan and stick to your plan.

· DON’T wing it. Save the improvisation for the unavoidable.

Stay Together

· Never ever separate the group for anything but real emergencies.

· Use the rule of 4. For example, if there were an injury, 2 would go for help while 1 stayed with the victim.

Trail Boss

· Assign/vote on leadership responsibility before the activity and stick to it.

· The trail/water boss’ word is the last word; once the leader is chosen, he stays chosen for the duration of the activity

· It is NOT a democracy and his final judgments should not to be voted on unless the Trail Boss suggests a vote. I would have to strain to find an exception to this rule.

Safety rule of four:

· No fewer than four individuals (always with the minimum of two adults) go on any backcountry expedition or campout.

· If an accident occurs, one person stays with the injured, and two go for help.

· Additional adult leadership requirements must reflect an awareness of such factors as size and skill level of the group, anticipated environmental conditions, and overall degree of challenge.

Water Safety

There is more to a safe activity than one’s personal ability; that is the 1st requirement out of 8. The most prevalent cause of death of scouts is drowning. For this reason, the BSA has established guidelines which when followed significantly reduce the likelihood of serious accidents. There are 2 short courses offered at the council office to acquaint and certify a scout leader for sponsoring a BSA aquatic activity; a certified adult, is required to be in charge of the aquatic portion each activity.

It’s said that”Safety is no accident”- it does take some planning and often some inconvenience and a little less fun for the Adults occasionally.

· Develop personal swimming skill

· Safe Swim Defense (SSD)

· Safety Afloat.(SA)

· A critical requirement: ‘two deep leadership’

· SSD rule 3,7 tells us that the boys swimming skill level must be a known quantity and that the water conditions match that ability

· SSD rule 4 Designated lifeguards are to have lines, torpedo buoys or similar flotation assistance gear available. On a back pack trip for a lake swim a dry bag on a 550 cord works nicely.

· SSD rule 4-5 Lifeguards/lookouts are designated who continuously monitor where they can see and hear. Marginal and undemonstrated skill levels beg for someone to be designated on each side for a river swim. It only takes a few seconds for a boy to flounder and go under. It doesn’t matter how strong a swimmer you are if you don’t see the victim go under or can’t hear them. It’s so easy to be distracted.

· SSD rule 7 requires buddies of similar skill level which swim together and stay together. This is very important.

Inclement Weather – surviving and enjoying the outdoors

Scouting is Outing, but nasty weather can get you about anywhere. Don’t ignore this issue! In the NW, rain is a common companion and can make a great trip miserable unless mitigated.

Here is one of my best tricks. If there is a chance of rain, I ALWAYS bring my parachute. I cut a hole in the top center canopy to let smoke out. In drizzle or steady rain as long as I have some trees to camp among, in the 1^st 5 minutes we erect a center pole and spread its welcome shelter and a modest campfire can be built underneath. Cooking and stories are sooo much more welcome when not being rained or snowed on; rain being the worst.

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8 Key Structural Defects that hobble our Success in the Key Missions of the Church.

While it is true that our execution is too often leader dependent, certain structural impediments are even more stunting as they truly preclude our being attractive to the community at large even with our very good leaders. While our missionaries enjoy the envy of Christianity (even if sectarians don't like it) our Scouting programs often receive deserved censure from experienced non-LDS and serious LDS Scouters for having some of the forms of Scouting but missing the power that Scouting could have in meeting the missions of the Church. Unless the structural impediments, detailed below, are addressed, the following deficits will be the expected results:

Little to no missionary outreach
Difficult to legitimately achieve 1st class scouts by 12
Little or vastly scaled back religious mentoring due to minimal outdoor program
Little or vastly scaled back leadership mentoring
Loss of momentum – (you develop a relationship and whamo the boy turns 14 and he’s gone.)
Inactivity spikes at age boundaries 12, 16, 16 due to sudden change of leaders, programs and friends.
Shorter and fewer interesting activities (loss of Zion’s Camp effect and convolution)_
Loss of non-member youth to a community sponsored troop.
Loss of some LDS families boys to community sponsored troop
Discouragement of capable Scout leaders
Special spiritual Sabbath day experiences like having a Sacrament or Priesthood meeting in the wild overlooking the grandeur of His handiwork don’t happen. Many troops don’t even attempt a 50 miler. It’s so hard that some of those youth that do may not ever want to repeat it. Adults not in top shape will discourage even attempting it. The boys miss out on multiple levels.

Structural Impediments imposed by existing policy or common interpretation:

The idea that the age and sex separation described in the guideline is to be interpreted as isolation is a huge stumbling block. Moving boys from one isolated program to another by age is incompatible with the friendship/patrol concept driven more by school year cycles. When boys are forced to move to the next isolated group, some lose interest when they lose the associations. This is true for LDS youth and even more so with non-members friends. What happens to that program driven relationship when one turns 14 and leaves his buddy behind?

Unstable Calendaring

Unstable YM-YW activities calendar drives frequent changeups to the Scouting program sometimes replacing the meeting night making it unattractive to non-members as their night gets cancelled for church only functions like baptisms.

The ‘1 activity per week’ policy that’s not a policy…

Certain stake leaders have without the blessing of the Stake Presidency or the General YMs board have promoted a no exceptions “1 activity per week” policy. This means that we freely substitute temple trips and other strictly religious activities for scheduled scout meetings and trips. This insensitivity to the non-members is precisely why non-members often leave. It is poison to building momentum and dedicated participation of even the LDS youth. That is a BIG structural problem.

A related calendaring issue with broad spiritual impact is the placement of Awards nights (Court of Honors). The minimalists will suggest displacing your normal scout night with this Court activity. Since most LDS scout troops meet on the same night as Young Women’s, to do that fairly guarantees small token participation of the family and precludes ANY participation and cross support from the young men’s female peers. While convenient for some, double booking family and friends on purpose is guaranteed to fail the goal of a family centered program with wide ward support.

More support from family friends and peers and just plain larger numbers in attendance is a good thing.

Allowing no inter-group interaction

Some Stake and Ward leaders have demanded such isolation, that not even an opening flag ceremony with the 11 yr scouts is permitted. That means the Scout meetings will have few attendees and their weekly meetings will lack much of the formality that would be attractive to a visiting non-member. The tiny group size of a typical quorum means completely isolated meetings look minuscule to any visiting individual because they are - miniscule. A common opening and sometimes a closing ceremony, combining the “separate” groups solves that structural problem.

Restricting 11 year olds to 3 campouts or 4 outdoor activities per year

This is death to effective scouting and recruiting. All scouts including the 11 year olds should have a monthly outdoor program. Enough overnight trips should be provided to achieve the 3 overnighter limitation for each11 year olds. The root policy problem limiting 11 year old Scouts to only 3 overnight camping trips implies that our 11 year olds are too week, too childish or immature to act as young men once a month on an overnight camping experience. A previous Stake presidency, responding to an influential sports focused person actually restricted ALL outdoor activities for 11 year old Scouts to just 4 for the whole year. Try selling that to a non-member! This fails completely to understand a key observation in President Becks article, quoting David C. Pack about how influence with boys is best accomplished in an outdoor setting “You won’t see them that way in priesthood meeting or at home or at school or on activity night.”

Separate and most definitely NOT equal!

There seems to be a pervasive philosophy (given that the quorum definitions are somewhat arbitrary) that in order to make quorums seem more important that we must isolate them to emphasize their distinction. I have heard some argue that, “The 11 year olds can’t meet with the 12 year olds on a camp out or scout night flag ceremony because they aren’t yet deacons.” That’s like saying the prospective elders can’t meet with the elders quorum! What JV football player did not relish the privilege of scrimmaging with the varsity? This policy violates the key principle of “Drafting” and is responsible for losing boys at each boundary.

Training AND Mentoring.

Our common “Out with the old – in with the new” approach to callings causes us to lose momentum, history, traditions and learned wisdom. Our leaders are in critical need of training and mentoring and the outdoor program is inconsistent, lackluster in the adventure department and occasionally even life dangerous. That is a structural problem.

Immersion experiences are almost non existent

While I have done a number of 50 milers spanning 8 days or more, blessed by the Bishop and Stake presidents, camping that extends over a Sabbath according to the manual of instruction is generally not approved. This makes it particularly challenging to do the classic 50 Miler and for practical purposes means you must push very hard every day for 5 days (car travel makes up the 6^th). Given the wide swath of physical capabilities, this may be unattractive to some – even many groups. Also, 5 days is barely enough time to have a window of “golden time.”

The Sunday Guy and the 'calling' process

It’s important to not understate the scope of the calling. A dedicated effective scout leader can often put in the sort of time you might associate with the Bishop!

Anyone in LDS scouting has sadly heard someone say, “I’m just the Sunday Guy” Unfortunately this epithet is responsible for many LDS scouting units failing to achieve its mission in the church.

A key take-a-way from Brother Beck's seminal article on using Scouting in the Church was that the most effective teaching and influence do not take place in the classroom on Sunday or even on Wednesday but on challenging outdoor activities - campouts.

When the Bishop calls a team knowing that a key member is too busy or too physically challenged to consistently commit to Wednesday nights, a monthly outdoor adventure and a week-long yearly super trip he may be tempted to say those program fatal words, "Don't worry, you'll just be the Sunday Guy.” He might as well drive the nail into the coffin of his success as to say those words.

Of even more concern is when a Bishop calls a scoutmaster for his outdoor talents and then a "Sunday guy" for his spiritual strengths. He typically calls the "spiritual" one as a member of the YMs presidency.

This causes two problems.

1) Foremost, it fails to recognize the pivotal spiritual role the Scoutmaster should be playing. He should be a spiritual giant who happens to know or be willing to learn how to tie knots !

2) If the Sunday Guy is not an integral part of the weekly activity meetings and outdoor adventures then a common disconnect happens at BYC where the scout's schedules and interest often get trampled upon. He and the youth leader may do their best to represent the scout program, but unless they are truly involved that representation is often flawed.

The same goes for the youth leader. When a Bishop calls a quorum president who is over-booked, especially in community sports leagues, haphazard attendance and focus in weekly meetings and outdoor adventures is often the result. To run the program at all, sometimes another youth may be elected as the senior youth scout leader solving that leadership gap but compounding the representation problem at BYC.

Bishops and counselors should use the responsibility matrix listed in the appendix to familiarize with the basic job duties and pass this on to the new leader. Even better when possibly for a host of reasons is to apprentice the new leader as part of the group for some significant time before swapping leadership roles.

See Leadership Duties in Appendix

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9 Discussion on impediments to success:

Drafting vs Group Isolation generally and 11 year old Scouts specifically

Our Scouting Groups, as missionary opportunities, more often than not, are structurally incompatible with an outreach to the community and as typically practice, their fragmented, segmented programs lose too many of the LDS boys and fail to benefit from the “drafting” effect that a cohesive integrated program would certainly achieve.. I am persuaded we can significantly improve by removing these impediments. Doing so will will allow us to confidently showcase our ministry based scout program to our community.

Unless you had some real bad eggs that you wanted separate, totally isolating our groups achieves no benefit and is contraindicated by history and logic. Furthermore, scouting’s patrol method is sufficient to meet the Church’s guideline for age separation. Consider that our YW YM meet separately but have joint Opening Exercises with no one arguing we violate the Church’s guideline for separate programs for the sexes. One cannot find an appeal in the manual that details how that logic is different for the New Scout Patrol. Experience shows that LDS Scout groups who practice this high wall isolation @11, 12, 14, 16 & 18 lose the boys at those same boundaries. Priesthood does not need moats and walls to create some specialness or artificial celebrity status. Quite the contrary, rubbing shoulders with the varsity members is in fact the best way to sweep the younger boys along to the next level – like drafting in cycling - that is the only thing experience validates.

What about prospective priesthood holders, the 11 year old Scouts?

There are several restrictions to 11 year old scouts such as the 3 overnights their 1^st year currently listed in the Manual of Instruction. As to this idea that our 11 year olds are too immature to camp each month; this is simply an anachronism. Whether it’s a valid read of the guideline or not it is readily shown that nothing magic happens at 12. I have personally run years of 11 year old Scout meetings at the same time as the 12-16 year olds, sharing opening exercises and occasional campouts with the older Scouts and I can assure you that the boys have no problem – no problem at all. The only problem 11 year old Scoutmasters have had is with Primary leadership occasionally thinking that following the strictest interpretation of the guideline is a good thing– it’s never been the boys complaining. If it true, that our boys can’t handle it, then somehow our LDS mothers and our Primary are failing them since all and I do mean ALL non-LDS units have no such structured weak-sauce accommodation for 11 year old Scouts.

In fact 10 ½ is the age others begin attending weekly meetings at 7pm-8:30 along with a monthly campout. Yes I did say monthly. Only our LDS boys, by this interpretation of the guideline, are somehow too immature to see the inside of a tent but 3 times a year. Logic tells us that if they can handle it once, then twice and even thrice then why nor four or 6?

Still, as a compromise, by doing good solid day hiking trips all the other months , a good assistant scoutmaster can work around this unfortunate 3X/year anachronism without too much embarrassment. Being told as we were to have no more than 3 or 4 outdoor experiences total per year is a disaster for accomplishing the goals of the church.

On “One Night per week is ‘Good Enough’ ”

The 11 year old Scouts (New Scout Patrol) are the gateway from Cubs to YMs. They are also a key non-utilized opportunity for missionary outreach to the community as many boys and parents are troop shopping at that age only.

As that 10 ½ -11 year old gateway, we perform a Crossover ceremony about once a quarter for the graduating cubs. As an example of how poorly understood using the new-scout patrol for outreach is, we were once criticized by the Church Primary leaders for what they perceived as too elaborate of crossover ceremony. Not only that, we were told that two back to back evenings (our normal Wednesday and the following day’s Cub pack meeting) was too much a burden. Nevertheless other youth groups do not cancel their Wednesday night mutual activities in favor of Pack Meeting and I similarly concur.

The irony was that the boys had developed such a spirit of brotherhood in our meetings that the boys on their own requested to come to pack meeting and showed up in uniform to welcome a new boy to their ranks, which was a proud moment for me. That is exactly the kind of story of quorum brotherhood I have heard Elder Monson relate about his youth with equal passion in his Priesthood session talks. I was overjoyed to see a glimpse of the Saviors love as expressed by these boys. Our parents and Auxiliary leaders need to appreciate that sort of victory.

On Underachievers

Our Primary side leader had criticized us for doing too much after seeing that we had constructed a simple monkey bridge for our Webelo to Scouts crossover ceremony. I explained that this is the sort of thing other great troops in our area do, and by working the construction into multiple meetings as part of our skill building time each week, building a monkey bridge was not so remarkable at all. What seems like a huge effort to the uninitiated is handled well by our boys in our normal meeting times and they are so excited they can hardly wait to come back for more. By chaining activities and skill development from week to week you build continuity, excitement and momentum.

This question speaks to a key point missed by under-achievers. Who would want to come to a meeting where they are occasionally dressed down, ordered to do pushups and often engage in sometimes harsh outdoor physical conditions and demands? Who indeed! Referring back to our discussion on –sovereignty, these are boys! If you want to teach them and knock off a few rough edges and grow the great spirit in them then you need to hold their attention with challenging activities.

On Sabbath Day:

“There are only a couple sacrament meetings I remember as a youth; the day as a young new convert I was confirmed and the day I, as a new deacon, passed the emblem of our Lord (we used broken sea biscuits) to my troop on the side of a 10K mountain during our Sacrament/testimony meeting.” S Marquis

Current ban.

The current church guidelines clearly say that Scout camping on the Sabbath is not approved. This may seem odd given that the church has sponsored scouting jamborees that go over the Sabbath. The terse note in the Church-Scout guidebook about the importance of deacons handling the sacrament for the ward is hardly compelling reason for the defacto ban. The real root of the dichotomy is that history showed that too many Scoutmasters, w

ho are good at winging it with their outdoor skills, apply the same minimalist, fly by the seat of their pants approach to Sundays in the woods. For some of those troops, Sundays was then left at best, empty and flat; hence the general prohibition.

Approved Anyway?

The only way our bishops and stake presidents have approved particular ‘over the Sabbath’ trips is by demonstrating a solid plan and by explaining to both ward and stake ecclesiastic leaders exactly what we were going to do and sometimes by augmenting the staff with a highly trusted individual such as a High Councilor. (When our stake sponsored an ‘All Varsity Teams’ trip to Philmont, two Sabbaths were crossed in the woods as theirs is a 10 day program)

The spiritual aspects of these trips are the only reason we do them and should not be left as an afterthought or just for logistical conveniences. See the appendix for an example of a Sabbath day outline

A Spiritual Plan for Sabbath worship when in the wilderness

Why 7 or 8 days instead of 5 or 6.

I have one other significant observation I call “Golden Days”. After several days in an unfamiliar and challenging environment, the participants finally become immersed in the experience and lose sight of either distant shore. In these “Golden Days” you can finally work with the root of the soul of the respective boys. Get within a couple days of the end of the journey and mentally some are already back at McDonalds! Having that Golden time in the middle makes all the difference in the world for changing hearts. The goal is not the peak but the valley of change; that takes time. 6 day trips generally with 1or 2 of those days in transit makes it a real squeeze to achieve much Golden time.

What makes Philmont Scout Ranch the premier scouting opportunity it is known for (for years, the church trained their stake presidents there), is the daily intermix of high and or unique adventure activities and advancement opportunities with the patrol based wilderness backpacking experience. They take a day after arrival to outfit you and acclimate you to the high mountain plane and make sure that pack weight is limited to 30% of ones ideal body weight. Then comes 8 days of hiking to trek 50 or more miles. Each day has an element of hiking, some unique activity like climbing, horseback, Indians etc and finishes off with an optional organized group campfire with other patrols from across the world. The LDS chaplain at the base camp holds the 1^st Sabbath or Fireside meeting with the crews in the main base-camp and works with the LDS unit leaders with suggestions for the next Sabbath or two that will be held in the wilderness.

Contrast that experience with the grind of hard hiking day after day. There is little energy and no time left to conduct anything other than brief perfunctory devotions in the morning, few opportunities to include merit badges and firesides seldom happen. I have been on such hikes and heard of many more. I know of many leaders who have abandoned, appropriately, the 50 Miler as just too miserable in the 4-5 hiking/Canoeing days the Monday-Saturday schedule affords.

The scriptures are replete with stories of the men of God who went to the mountains to meet God. It is a significant reason I go. I’ve been on the hard driving hikes. For a man such as myself who has a love for the outdoors, I can enjoy that for the outdoors experience alone, but those trips pale in significance to the life changing experience our boys have had in seriously God centered more extended wilderness treks.

I would never condone Sabbath day actives done just to placate a heathen schedule.

Other than emergency, I would always avoid traveling by car or foot on the Sabbath as this is proscribed by God.

In a nut shell:

Lower mileage/day means a wider physical mix of youth and adults can participate (and walk away from it with fond memories).

A carefully planned and strictly observed wilderness Sabbath (I call it Enos time) is often a major spiritual landmark and for some a turning point in their lives.

A little extra time built into each day accommodates unforeseen events and gives time to promote and run advancement activities – thus accomplishing the best of all worlds; advancement, spiritual growth and personal growth though demanding but memorable adventure.

On ‘Church Building’ based Troops:

A Practical guideline for implementing building based YM/YW groups when wards have limited numbers of youth is presented:

The advantages of such an arrangement can be follows:

1. Small one-patrol size troops with untrained, inexperienced leaders are typical of our wards. This type of troop has a hard time attracting non-member boys and would not be able to practice the “patrol method’ which is so essential to the scout program. The “super” troop would use the most experienced/trained leader from the three wards in the building. It would automatically have three patrols and yet it would keep each quorum together. This philosophy applies to all other scouting organizations, and could apply in young women as well where classes only have a few young women

2. A big plus would be that with fewer committees, there would be more parents available for each “super” committee and therefore the committees would be better staffed- a rare event for many ward scouting organizations where typically a few people do all the work.

3. By having cubs meet on other than the second Wednesday, and having all scout troops meet on Tuesdays, there would be no conflicts preventing our scout leaders from attending the roundtables on Thursdays.

4. Young Men and Young Women from the different wards (and cultural backgrounds) and from ‘different schools would have more opportunities to socialize regularly outside of Seminary.

5. Larger groups would provide more opportunities for growth promoting competitive and fun activities.

6. Continue to have Stake activities on Tuesdays but have all Relief Society and Primary (including Cub Scouts) on Wednesdays (not including 11 yr old scouts).

7. Have all Young Men/Young Women sporting activities on Thursdays.

8. Fridays would be for Ward, Young Adult, and Single Adult activities.

9. Another option combines the activities, but has each ward organizing its troop, varsity team, and explorer post as completely as possible as though they were going to be separate organizations, then the unit committees would meet together and elect a “lead” unit committees chairman for each of the combined scouting organizations. Then each committee would choose the best scoutmaster, varsity coach, and explorer advisor, as applicable. The other leaders would serve as assistants. Patrols, squads, etc., would still be based or ward boundaries so that, for instance each Deacons’ quorum could be a scout patrol and the assigned leader would still be responsible for working them as well as other assigned duties.

What about Council based Scout Camp & Order of the Arrow?

1. The lack of spiritual centeredness is a significant reason why I do not encourage nor generally sponsor participation council led scout camps not run and staffed by LDS leadership. While a “Camp Helaman” sort of arrangement may be suitable as an occasional event, how much better that the local Scout leaders conduct their program influence in such a way that all their activities and high adventures bear the organic spiritual impact that some hope to achieve in these once in a while “Bible camps.” Forced or heavily orchestrated spirituality doesn’t actually work that well.

2. Order of the Arrow lack priesthood leadership and oversight, and in some circumstances may be a Gay breeding ground.

10 Cub Scouts & Webelos:

If you can indulge me, Id like to pass along a few pearls picked up along the way for those involved with Cub Scouts that you may find useful. These little jewels were acquired beginning from my own tenure at my Mother’s Den or attending the Packmeeting my Father Mastered and then my own service as Webelos leader, Packmaster and Committee Chairman. I’ll 1st mention some general philosophy and then offer some direct pointers.

Key to keep in mind the Priesthood Purposes of ‘Perfecting the Saints’, ‘Proclaiming the Gospel’. This plays out in the orientation our youth leaders and organization heads take. Activities aren’t checkboxes - they each have purpose; the two I just mentioned. How does that play out in real life? Even a zany theme with a bit of effort can have a gospel & citizenship angle woven into it. I attended a pack meeting that had a very fun Mindcraft theme. Maybe I missed it but I didn’t catch any gospel or citizenship message. There should be no question in any visitor’s mind that this is a pack sponsored by a very religious focused group and that means a bit more forethought and focus than arranging for an opening prayer to make sure we are all “safe.” and the food doesn’t poison us (a little Mormon humor!)

There are moments to be somber and more moments to be a bit crazy and zany. Cubs is targeted at young boys so get ready to leave your old ‘banker proper’ self behind and have some fun. Yes, you get to clown it up a bit (OK a lot!)

When I was 1st asked to be pack master as a young father, I thought “Oh this is no big deal” I’d been doing Boys Scout high adventure programs for several years …and then I was coaxed into attending a “Little Philmont” day of training and let me tell you I walked out of that meeting thinking – “wow! I didn’t know anything!” So my 1st advice is to assume you don’t know anything and attend Roundtable like your new religion. If I was ever asked to serve again, the 1st thing I’d tell myself is, “Steve, you’ve forgotten everything and your eyes need to be reopened – You better go to Roundtable!”

The enemy of our success in meeting that ‘Perfecting and Proclaiming’ gig is the ‘good enough’ checkbox approach. On the other hand, the key to excellence is just a little forethought (imagination) and advance planning so the tasks gets spread. Plan the entire year out; right up front. It’s really easy. EVERY year you have similar quarterly events; the same events. Qt1 Blue Gold Dinner; 2nd Qtr Pinewood Derby; 3rd Qtr Rain gutter Regatta; 4th Qtr Rocket Race. 3 of these are a direct parent child activities. The rest come straight out of the cub manual. It’s all laid out. Themes are set or recommended for various months.

Especially on these quarterly events, the Dads and Moms get to teach and work with the boys on these fun fun projects. They should be ‘boy built’ but not ‘Orphan built’. The idea is to teach, train, show, work with, have fun together. My boys learned how to run a drill, use a wood chisel, belt sander, hand sand, melt lead, hand sand, wet sand, spray paint, more wet sanding and …more wet sanding until it gleamed like a show car!, They learned center of gravity, tolerances, wind resistance counterbalancing – Oh we had so much fun scheming and dreaming of crazy stuff that would only affect a derby car going 800 MPH, but that didn’t matter, we were having adventure together. Some tools I had to have my hands on theirs every second for safety, but their hands were on the tools and they learned and had fun.

Now for you guys and gals with two left thumbs, folks like myself and a number of other can help with clinics. There are folks more skilled by far than I in every church and community that would be happy to share themselves for an evening around their work shop. No secrets withheld!

Cubs is designed to facilitate Parent Child and Child to Child positive interactions. The Badges and electives and these famous projects like Pinewood Derby, Rain gutter Regatta and the ever fun Rocket Race, give frequent routine venue for those interactions. Don’t just get stuck on the more renowned Pinewood Derby. This is a key point. This should not be just a once a year deal. Those cars boats and rockets are supposed to be ongoing fun projects throughout the year to encourage that family participation – not a onetime flash in the pan.

Cubmasters, Den leaders - Ham it up. Once we did the rocket derby and I got a crazy idea (the crazier the better) I got the dens to each make a two liter water bottle rocket (decorate and add fins) and I made a launcher (still exists to borrow) To start the Rocket Race pack meeting, we all slipped quickly outside and for each den we counted down as the boys pumped up their dens rocket and in a blast of water, we too blasted off into our Rocket derby; Myself , I had put on my motorcycle helmet covered with a big sweatshirt hood and spoke with Dark Vader/Cyclon speak; did I mention Clown it up!

So have fun, be zany, keep the families involved. Make sure the pack meetings are understood to be a whole family affair by having something for all to participate in. For Knight’s of the round table theme (Honor, chivalry integrity Duty to God and Others) we had dragons, Joisting platforms sword fights where everyone had a cracker tied to the head and with sward in hand (newspaper role) they whacked away until the last one with a crack on the head stood victorious! What a riot. You can guess how the cubmaster was dressed!

Use the Boy Scouts as an ally and understand “Drafting”! See section on Webelos Crossovers. Make them fun don’t be too wordy. Let the actions and the activities carry your message.

A special note for Den mothers (Leaders)

Boys are boys and few there be that will appreciate yet another hour sitting politely hands in their lap in another chair. Get rid of the chairs! Get them up, set them back down Indian style. Keep those little legs in motion and it will be easier to keep their attention when you want to speak. They will love to come; not so much if you treat them like girls in part dresses! March them about Keep it short, change it up and have fun with them as a big older sister. I don’t in any way mean a lack of discipline and a free for all. You will get more control, more respect when you’ve got something they want 0- FUN, Adventure, New interesting stuff, Challenge; for that they will trade some of their sovereignty for far more willingly that a stern look and a sharp voice. See

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11 Appendix:

11.1 Example of Specific plan for the Sabbath Day:

11.1.1 Goals:

· Provide a spiritual landmark

· Turn hearts to Christ.

· Build Men

These goals need as much effort as any other aspect of logistics. We should devote as much preparation and continuous effort to these goals as we do to our merit badges.

Our Sabbath day should be focused on interesting faith building experiences and stories. Leadership training and preaching commandments is best left for another venue. As the brethren have taught in our recent leadership meetings; to the general congregation, we should teach doctrine over techniques and laws and behaviors.

There are gospel themes that denote the activity from hour to hour. We can really play up on these themes.

11.1.2 Sabbath Day Plan

· Priesthood meeting can involve action events like a " Forces of Light and Darkness" field trip and a discussion afterwards. (A blind folded event where they youth hear different voices, trusted and otherwise, as they are led over rough ground)

· During "Zenos Zone", there will be time for a few youth to prepare short talks from the scriptures for Sacrament Meeting "House of God".

· During "Good Books" time we will break up into groups and teach certain merit badges like Citizenship.

· During " House of God", it should function as a normal Sacrament meeting with talks from Adults and youth. Any one of the Adults in this highly capable group can respond to this call even on what will now be short notice. I speak for myself as well.

· Enoch's Testimony time is to be an opportunity for several Adults to share inspirational testimony building stories - setting the tone for the week. It has been my experience and that of camp directors everywhere, that the best formula for success is to have GARANTEED adults set the spiritual stage in the beginning of the week, have consistent fun and spiritual moments throughout the week and THEN END the week with a testimony meeting led out by your best youth leaders. Planning for high boy participation in a testimony meeting on your 1st night out will more than likely yield disappointment. Exceptions exist, but experience teaches that ‘boys will be boys!’

11.1.3 Daily Campfires:

· Firesides other than the 1st and the last one are to have a substantial fun factor and a significant missionary/spiritual factor. Each evening should include singing a church hymn and the boys entertained with a building missionary story. An individual has been assigned to arrange and/or lead each fireside but beware over structuring campfires. Structure stifles the spirit and the scriptures tell us not to over plan – we don’t heed that injunction enough. Plan but don’t plan! The key for advisors is to allow the spirit to work into the activities ‘organically’.

11.1.4 Every Night

· Warrior Prayer: Always used at the close of each day in the woods. This is so effective; I would NEVER ever miss a day without closing with it. It is simply this; an outdoors practical version of a kneeling prayer. We call it Warrior Prayer to remind the boys of humility toward God yet quick and ready to defend the faith and virtue. You teach them those values with this symbolism and repetition. Since camp experience is seldom on a dry rug but in rain, mud, snow or at best dirt and consistent with the theme of the Stripling Warrior, our prayer is specifically, by design, a 1 knee prayer. When wet and muddy the “knee down is actually “on the haunch” so you don’t get even that knee wet.

· Pray for specifics: Our prayers are very often way too perfunctory, and we use the Lords name in vain running through it. This special way of prayer helps set a proper tone. Teach them to pray about important things beyond the tired repetition "safe" and "be here next time" …asking the voice to remember xyz in his prayer and to remember that when we close in the Lord’s name we are asking Jesus to advocate our needs to the Father; don't rush it - emphasize it. We too often give lip service to our relationship with Jesus. This is how they can build it in a tangible understandable way.

11.1.5 Devotionals:

· Each morning a youth should be assigned to lead us in a short devotional. These are short and may be readings or other scripted presentations.

· What does the camp chaplain do? Plenty. The plan is nothing without making sure folks follow up. Saying we will have a devotional on paper doesn't get assigned youth or adults to follow through in a timely manner. We need talks assigned, meetings lead and presided over. As camp chaplain, it is your responsibility to make the spiritual plan happen for the whole week. You should follow up with each person assigned to assure that the priesthood purpose of the event has been addressed.

· Remember that ‘plan’ does not mean micro-manage. The spirit cannot be force-fed nor orchestrated. Plan to have opportunities – do not over-plan what those will be.

· You should also be on the outlook for boys in trouble and reach out as you can. Watch for how discipline plays out that it follows the scriptural injunctions. Watch carefully that all activities lead to more brotherhood and less pride, more outreach to the one and less cliques, more forbearance and reconciliation and less anger and pettiness.

11.2 Know the Advancement Procedures

11.2.1 Merit Badge procedure

1. Starting - Obtain Blue card and have it signed by Scoutmaster or Assistant Scoutmaster.

2. Contacting Councilor - The youth personally contacts councilor.

3. Maximum Blue Cards from any one councilor is 10. There is no hard rule, but one should generally avoid using his own parent for more than one or two Merit Badge councilors

4. Youth completes MB & councilor signs off. Other adults, with the councilor’s permission may certify completion of "partials" on the back in space provided.

5. Final sign off by Scoutmaster or Coach or Assistants. Scoutmaster or Coach turns in all accumulated blue cards once a month on the 4th Sunday to the Advancement chairman.

11.3 Scoutmasters Conferences

11.3.1 Scout rank, 2nd Class, 1st Class

May be administered by delegation from the SM by any of the assistant Scoutmasters - principally the ASM over the new-scout patrol (11 yr scouts).

11.3.2 Star rank and above

Should be administered by the SM, Varsity Coach or Venture Advisor. This may be delegated on a case by case basis to an assistant scout leader. Scoutmaster or ASM should recuse himself from formally interviewing his own family members.

11.3.3 SM conferences

These are a key opportunities to have a one on one with the youth, touching on scout spirit, the Lords spirit, the youth’s strengths and weaknesses and helping him to see a bright future and to plan for it. This is golden time, which should not be relegated to a rushed conversation in a church cube room; no, sitting high overlooking God’s handiwork is the right venue. See campout-time as prime-time and don’t get so caught up in the functional execution of a trip as to overlook carving out time for reaching out personally to the boys. (By the book, do stay in eye sight of other members of the troop) The technical detail of reviewing his book is requisite and must be done and signed prior to his BOR, but that’s a minor detail. The key is the relationship time. Don’t come home without having spent it wisely!

11.4 Board of Reviews:

11.4.1 Who administers & signs off?

The advancement chairman is responsible. This can be delegated to anyone registered on the committee on a case-by-case basis. At least 1 registered committee member should be present and should conduct the review. Any other member of the community may participate. At least 2 adults participate, but 3 or more is better. At least 2, but all adult attendees initial the scout’s book and sign the green advancement form.

11.4.2 What should take place?

In short, the board re-verifies that the technical requirements have been met and recorded, dated and signed in the scout’s book. They can review information or experiences the youth has been exposed to and ascertain if the boy meets the requirements of scout spirit and general knowledge. They can also ask questions to verify that actual work was done. It is not a technical test and a boy should not be rejected for failing to remember some skill or item of knowledge associated with a merit badge. It doesn’t mean you can’t ask a technical question. Some take a very kid glove approach. We need not be afraid to ask questions. Just remember that it is not to be an inquisition that they never wish to endure again! Lastly, it is used as a time to help set/clarify future goals and direction. As deemed appropriate, boys that could not respond about a topic may be challenged to take a near term opportunity at their scout meeting to teach that same topic.

11.5 Performances

Any Assistant Scoutmaster or Scoutmaster can sign & date the partials in the boys scout book.

11.5.1 Point to clarify; Do and Show:

Do means do - not just talk about or watch someone else.

Fulfilling the requirement for 10 scout activities other than normal weekly scout night means: Campouts, Scout breakfasts, Court of Honors on other nights, Merit badge clinics, Scout leadership training activities, service projects under Scout auspices.

Check with the scoutmaster to approve any other activity. If it’s on the regular “Tuesday“ night, it's not approved. Period. Just replacing their normal weeknight with another variation is not the point. These should be over and above the general weekly activity.

11.6 Specific Merit Badge Errata

11.6.1 Camping Merit Badge

· All camping experiences counted toward the camping merit badge should be conducted as a patrol or quorum activity. Family vacations and other backyard camping activities are not to be counted toward fulfilling this requirement.

· The requirements do, however, specifically allow a council-run Boy Scout camp to be considered a camping experience toward this requirement.

· It is the responsibility of the troop scribe to report attendance at all campouts to the advancement chairman on the 4th Sunday of each month so credit can be properly entered in the troop computer database.

· It is the responsibility of the Boy, Councilor, Scout Master, and finally the Advancement chairman to see that opportunities exits and that the requirements have been fulfilled.

11.6.2 Swimming/Lifesaving vs. Sports/Emergency Preparedness

· By the book, it’s possible to meet the current minimum requirements for Eagle without even knowing how to swim well let alone to be prepared to help other people at all times.

· If there was a handicap boy, the alternative badges might be appropriate. Otherwise, it would not be thought in keeping with Scout Spirit. Sports/Emergency Preparedness should be considered electives for the final application to an Eagle Board of review.

· It has been the long standing opinion of the committee that no physically capable youth should approach the eagle board of review without the lifesaving merit badge. This is not BSA policy, but I’d hate to be the one to pin an Eagle medal on the boy that skirted that honored path.

11.7 Selecting Youth Leadership

11.7.1 Bishop nominates the top youth Scout leaders.

· The Scout leadership should be in close alignment with the Quorum leadership, but with the Bishops approval it may be any other person.

· Unlike a secular troop, the top leadership in LDS Scouting are selected by the theocracy. Scoutmasters are NOT selected by a proposal and vote of the committee, nor are the top youth leaders proposed by their peers. When a Scout Advisor does the selecting either by a free vote or an Advisor promoted ascension, this undermines the very basis for claiming this organization as led by God.

· The Scouting activities represent most of what a quorum does together. To execute that program independent of the priesthood line of authority is inconsistent with the stated claims of our theology.

· The 1^st presidency has stated clearly that the Bishop nominates the top Scout leaders. Period. If the advisor or the President of the respective quorum feels another youth might better serve that position, then they can lobby the priesthood channel.

· Finally, even if another youth, other than the quorum president, possibly even non-member boy is selected by the Bishop to conduct the top Scout leadership position, that position still reports to the quorum president NOT the quorum Advisor.

11.7.2 Other Youth positions

Other than the top leadership positions all other positions may be freely elected and promoted as the Adult Advisor sees fit.

11.7.3 Rotate positions

· Every 4-6 months consider rotating positions. This is not mandatory and you should use your judgment.

· Training and coaching those youth leaders is a top priority so that even in that short period they can be successful and make a meaningful contribution.

· Each youth position needs to understand his mission.

11.8 Developing and Utilizing Youth Leadership (or just your puppet?)

Who’s’ show is it anyway? There is the easy temptation for the advisor or adult Scout leader to implement the scouting program as if it’s his show, but his proper role is one of advice, motivation and facilitator. The following sections look at this topic from several perspectives.

11.8.1 Make each leadership position count

· This is where the real work is; helping each youth leader shine and truly contribute. If you really want to see success and steam roller advancement then the youth have to be actively encouraging each other. Some Scoutmasters do this with various competitive contests.

· The youth leadership positions themselves can really have a big impact. The historian, for example can be publishing collages of pictures from past campouts. Placed in the halls at the meeting place will promote future participation. Kids love to see themselves. This also sets standards for future plans.

· The Librarian can be actively involved in promoting merit badge work by keeping a log of checked out books and making sure each person has an active advancement plan. He would work with the Advancement chairman to promote target merit badges to support rank advancement. This kind of philosophy would be followed for each position.

11.8.2 Empty church figureheads?

· Our young Priesthood leaders must not be empty figureheads relegated to performing a few perfunctory duties at the church meeting.

· Unless the individual is unable or unwilling to run and fully participate in the Scouting group, the church youth quorum leader is generally to be at the helm of the Scouting program making sure it consistently meets the priesthood purposes. Even a non-member youth in that leadership position would find meeting priesthood principles in keeping with Scout Spirit.

11.8.3 Youth Running the meetings?

Some scouters argue that you can tell a properly run program as to where the scoutmaster is standing. I would argue though that a young man floundering due to poor preparation indicts a poor Scoutmaster as well. Coach them through the planning meetings and make sure they succeed. If the youth leader fails, then all the boys suffer. The youth leadership should never come to a meeting asking you, what they are doing. If that ever happens then you as advisor are failing them in an important objective. This failure will have ramifications throughout the program, as the youth leaders will not feel ownership. If they do not feel ownership, then they will not internally promote the program and participation will suffer.

· Always bring your ‘copy’ of the troop meeting plan in case it is forgotten. Then call the SPL up to remind him in the future.

· If your SPL is a green – stand beside him and coach him at 1st. He might or might not learn from his mistakes, but the rest of the troop should not be punished with a retarded meeting and program for the sake of his on the spot training or lack thereof.

· If you want a good boy run troop, then make darn sure that you hold PLC meetings and have a detailed agenda made out for each weekly meeting a month in advance.

· Both you and the SPL must have this written plan so the SPL does not come to you and say on Tuesday night, “So what are we doing tonight?”

11.8.4 Vision and Youth Run

Youth run does not mean they have to come up with all the ideas. You can be wealth of knowledge and a wellspring of ideas. You should teach them how to be successful. Learning by bad experience should only be reserved for the stubborn that will not learn from your good experience and teaching. In Cubs there is the “dad-built” pinewood derby problem, but equally troubling is the “no dad involved at all in the car” problem; the latter fundamentally misses much of the value of the program. The successful scouting experience is intended to be mentored, taught, guided, not left to the whims of the “Lord of the Flies.”

Furthermore, the activities should meet the purposes intended by the Troop Sponsor. Just because the boys think it will be “fun” to snowmobile or go to Disneyland does not mean it meets the intent of the program. That is where the inspirational mentorship comes in to help the youth with vision. The kind of activities the boys need may well be beyond their own vision. Two wonderful short articles reprinted in the appendix speak to the importance of meeting the need even if the boys don’t see it initially. Great story telling, and drafting on the adventures of the more experienced scouts can help spread this vision. See “ the Right Stuff” and another article called “A boys need for Adventure”

11.8.5 Line of authority

Interestingly, in terms of line of authority, the Scoutmaster reports directly to the Bishop – not the deacon’s advisor. The Deacons’ advisor reports to the YM’s president and the Bishop. Deacon’s Quorum President Reports to the Bishop. Note, that the youth leadership does not report to the advisor. This is not to say that they don’t all work and communicate together, but simply to emphasize the critical roll representing the Bishop that the Scoutmaster plays and the actual presiding role of a properly acting Quorum president.

11.9 Leadership Requirements for Trips and Outings

11.9.1 Two-deep leadership:

· Two registered adult leaders, or one adult and a parent of a participating Scout, one of whom must be at least 21 years of age or older, are required for all trips or outings.

· There are a few instances, such as patrol activities, when no adult leadership is required.

· In general including travel, the minimum required is one adult and two or more youth members, or two adults, if only one youth - avoid one on one.

11.9.2 BSA Guideline for Mixed Company:

· Coed overnight activities require male and female adult leaders, both of whom must be 21 years of age or older.

· Male and female leaders require separate sleeping facilities. Married couples may share the same quarters if appropriate facilities are available.

· Male and female youth participants will not share the same sleeping facility.

11.9.3 Logistics:

· Meet for departure at a designated area.

· Prearrange a schedule for periodic checkpoint stops as a group.

· Plan a daily destination point.

· A common departure site and a daily destination point are a must.

11.9.4 BSA Guideline for Privacy

· When staying in tents, no youth will stay in the tent of an adult other than his or her parent or guardian.

· Adult leaders should try to avoid situations where the youth are changing clothes or taking showers, and intrude only to the extent that health and safety require. Adults also need to protect their own privacy in similar situations. There are common situations, such as a public pool locker rooms, were such situation will occur. Use prudence and be circumspect.

11.9.5 Safety rule of four:

· No fewer than four individuals (always with the minimum of two adults) go on any backcountry expedition or campout.

· If an accident occurs, one person stays with the injured, and two go for help.

· Additional adult leadership requirements must reflect an awareness of such factors as size and skill level of the group, anticipated environmental conditions, and overall degree of challenge.

11.10 Adult Scout Leadership Duties

11.10.1The Scoutmaster's duties include:

General

· Train and guide boy leaders.

· Work with other responsible adults to bring Scouting to boys.

· Use the methods of Scouting to achieve the aims of Scouting.

· Scoutmasters may also me assigned Quorum and YM leadership roles

Meetings

· Meet monthly with the patrol leaders' council for training and coordination in planning troop activities.

· Attend weekly troop meetings

· Attend Monthly overnight Campout adventure

· Attend once a year week long adventure

· Attend troop committee meetings each month.

· Attend monthly Roundtable in-service

· Participate with youth in annual fundraiser

· Participate with youth in scheduled service projects

· Conduct periodic parents' sessions to share the program and encourage parent participation and cooperation.

· Take part in annual membership inventory and uniform inspection, charter review meeting, and charter presentation.

Guidance

· Conduct Scoutmaster Conferences for all rank advancements.

· Provide a systematic recruiting plan for new members and see that they are promptly registered.

· Delegate responsibility to other adults and groups (assistants, troop committee) so that they have a real part in troop operations.

Other Activities

· Make it possible for each Scout to experience at least 10 days and nights of camping each year.

· Participate in council and district events.

· Build a strong program by using proven methods presented in Scouting literature.

· Conduct all activities under qualified leadership, safe conditions, and the policies of the chartered organization and the Boy Scouts of America.

As you see, the Scoutmaster has many responsibilities.

11.10.2The Assistant Scoutmaster

Each assistant Scoutmaster is assigned specific program duties and reports to the Scoutmaster. They also provide the required two-deep leadership standards set by the Boy Scouts of America (there must be at least two adults present at any Boy Scout activity). An assistant Scoutmaster may be 18 years old, but at least one in each troop should be 21 or older, so he or she can serve in the Scoutmaster's absence.

Assistant Scoutmasters may be given group or focus related assignments and may also me assigned Quorum and YM leadership roles

Assistant Scoutmaster - New Scouts

Assistant Scoutmaster – Advancement

Assistant Scoutmaster – Outdoors program

· Meet monthly with the patrol leaders' council for training and coordination in planning troop activities.

· Attend weekly troop meetings

· Attend Monthly overnight Campout adventure

· Attend once a year week long adventure

· Attend troop committee meetings each month.

· Attend monthly Roundtable in-service

· Participate with youth in annual fundraiser

· Participate with youth in scheduled service projects

· Conduct periodic parents' sessions to share the program and encourage parent participation and cooperation.

· Take part in annual membership inventory and uniform inspection, charter review meeting, and charter presentation.

A troop should recruit as many assistant Scoutmasters as possible. It has been found that many successful troops have three or more.

11.11 Boy Scout Leaders responsibilities

11.11.1The Patrol Leaders' Council

The troop is actually run by its boy leaders. With the guidance of the Scoutmaster and his assistants, they plan the program, conduct troop meetings, and provide leadership among their peers. The patrol leaders' council, not the adult leaders, is responsible for planning and conducting the troop's activities. The patrol leaders' council is composed of the following voting members: senior patrol leader, assistant senior patrol leader, patrol leaders, troop guide. The troop's activities are selected and planned at the annual program planning conference. The troop's yearly plan is then submitted to the troop committee for approval. The troop committee either approves the plan or makes alternative suggestions for the patrol leaders' council to consider. At its monthly meetings, the patrol leaders' council organizes and assigns activity responsibilities for the weekly troop meetings. The troop committee interacts with the patrol leaders' council through the Scoutmaster.

11.11.2Patrols

The Scout troop is made up of patrols. A patrol is a grouping of six to eight boys who work together. Each patrol elects its own boy leader, called a patrol leader.

· The new Scout patrol is composed of new members who are under 12 years of age.

· The experienced Scout patrol is for those boys who are age 12 and older.

· For ad-hoc combined activities, a troop can be organized provisionally incorporating advanced “virtual” patrols comprised of the Varsity team and Venture Crew. One of those leaders may take the role of SPL for the activity.

11.11.3Senior patrol leader

He is the top junior leader in the troop. He leads the patrol leaders' council. This position is nominated by the Bishop and sustained by the troop. It is typically filled by the Deacons Quorum President. If this position is not to be filled by the Quorum president himself, then the bishop should make this selection in consultation with the Deacons Quorum President. The SPL calls the final shots as to which activities are to be implemented and works with the PLC and adult advisors to implement a consistent quality program. He runs the troop meetings and activities.

11.11.4Assistant senior patrol leader

Fills in for senior patrol leader in his absence. He is also responsible for training and giving direction to the quartermaster, scribe, troop historian, librarian, and instructors.

11.11.5Librarian

Keeps troop books, pamphlets, magazines, audiovisuals, and merit badge counselor list available for use by troop members.

11.11.6Instructor

Teaches one or more advancement skills to troop members.

11.11.7Chaplain Aide

Assists in troop religious services and promotes religious emblems program.

11.11.8Junior assistant Scoutmaster

A Scout 16 or older who supervises and supports other boy leaders as assigned.

11.11.9Patrol leader

Gives leadership to members of his patrol and represents them on the patrol leaders' council. Calls the youth and promotes upcoming activities. Is responsible for a successful experience during activities and that proper planning and follow through occur.

11.11.10 Troop guide

Advisor and guide to the new Scout patrol. He watches out for the 11 year old Scouts when joint activities are planned making sure they have a positive experience interacting with the older scouts.

11.11.11 Den chief

Works with a Cub Scout den as a guide.

11.11.12 Quartermaster

The Quartermaster is responsible for troop supplies and equipment. He implements equipment and storage projects. He works with the equipment Supervisor to obtain equipment for upcoming activities. He maintains an inventory and a sign-out sheet and follows up to make sure equipment is returned clean, orderly and in a timely manner. Makes sure all troop gear is labeled.

11.11.13 Scribe

The troop secretary is usually the Quorum secretary. He takes legible notes of key decisions and assignments. He calls reminders in advance of key events. Works with the SPL and Advisors to publish and update in a timely manner the detail year plan. In PLC meeting he writes up on the fly the troop-meeting planner that the SPL and Scoutmaster will use to run subsequent troop meetings.

The boys should work with a Committee member to publish the Camp pictures, journals, schedule updates each month.
Put out a poster each month with the pictures too, and be sure to list the names of the attendees prominently. Publicly displaying that has a remarkable positive peer affect.
Web site! A Scout built ours and it had a clear positive impact in attracting non-members who sited it as reason they were interested in our troop.
Record attendance at outdoor activities and report to the advancement chair who can report statistics useful in advertising and focusing leader’s attention on low participants.
Scribe/secretary documents each person who attended an activity -adults and youth.
The scribe presents this report in the Troop committee meeting each month.
It is the responsibility of the troop scribe to report attendance at all campouts to the advancement chairman on the 4th Sunday of each month so credit can be properly entered in the troop computer database.

11.11.14 Troop Historian (non- eagle required)

Collects and maintains troop memorabilia and information on former troop members and activities. Takes pictures and makes posters to promote activities.

11.11.15 Assistant patrol leader (non-eagle required)

Fills in for the patrol leader in his absence.

11.12 Varsity Scouting

11.12.1Team Captain

This position is nominated by the Bishop and sustained by the team. It is typically filled by the Teachers Quorum President, but other youth and nonmembers may fill this role. In any case, the bishop would make this selection in consultation with the Teachers Quorum President and advisor. The Team Captain directs and implements activities presented to and approved by the Team Committee, the Quorum President and the Bishop. He works with the co-captain, program managers and squad leaders and adult advisors to implement a consistent quality program. He runs the Team meetings and activities in concert with the respective Program Manager.

11.12.2Co-Captains

Any youth may fulfill this responsibility. He assists the Captain, program managers, squad leaders and adult advisors to implement a consistent quality program. In the absence of the Captain, he runs the Team meetings and activities in concert with the respective Program Manager.

11.12.3High Adventure (Outdoor) Program Manager

This program manager works with the High Adventure Supervisor and other youth leaders to implement on a regular monthly basis memorable but safe high adventure activities.

11.12.4Advancement Program Manager

He encourages each Scout to continue on the trail to Eagle rank. He works with the Advancement Supervisor to follow the progress of each boy. Reports on the same in the Team Huddle meetings. Should contact individual scouts on a regular basis to promote progress on merit badges and ranks. Promotes merit badge clinics and maintains a list of councilors.

11.12.5Personal Development Program Manager

This youth position is typically filled by the one of the councilors to the Teachers Quorum President. He is responsible to make sure that all activities have some express devotionals. This definitely includes sport activities. He should work with the Adults advisors and/or youth so that they are prepared to add a spiritually edifying element to campfires and activities. He plans and implements meaningful experiences in the following areas:

Spirituality
Leadership
Citizenship
Social & Cultural
Physical Fitness

11.12.6Service Program Manager

Plans and implements a service oriented activity once per quarter or more. Promotes and oversees service opportunities that may arise during the course of normal activities – such as clean up on a campout.

11.12.7Special Programs and Events Program Manager

This person might be assigned to work on planning a Super trip or promoting other youth activities like Trek, plays etc.

11.12.8Squad Leaders

Gives leadership to members of his squad and represents them on the team huddle. Calls the youth and promotes upcoming activities. Is responsible for a successful experience during activities and that proper planning and follow through occur.

11.12.9Secretary/Historian

The team secretary is usually the Quorum secretary. He takes legible notes of key decisions and assignments. He calls reminders in advance of key events. Works with the SPL and Advisors to publish and update in a timely manner the detail year plan. In Team Huddle meeting, he writes up ‘on the fly’ the team-meeting planner that the Team Captain and Coach will use to run subsequent team meetings. If he also fills the Historians role, he would be taking pictures of activities, posting pictures in the foyer and adding pages to the Historians book.

11.12.10 Quartermaster

11.13 Explorer/Venture Scouting

11.13.1President

This position is nominated by the Bishop and sustained by the Post. It is typically filled by the Priest Quorum 1st Assistant. If this position is not to be filled by the 1st Assistant himself, then the bishop should make this selection in consultation with the 1st Assistant. The 1st Assistant calls the final shots as to which activities are to be implemented and works with the vice president to implement a consistent quality program. He runs the Post meetings and activities.

11.13.2Vice-President

This position is also nominated by the Bishop and sustained by the team. It is typically filled by the one of the councilors to the 1st Assistant. The bishop would make this selection in consultation with the 1st Assistant. He works with the 1st Assistant and adult advisors to implement a consistent quality program. He runs the Post meetings and activities in the absence of the Post President.

11.13.3Secretary

The team secretary is usually the Quorum secretary. He takes legible notes of key decisions and assignments. He calls reminders in advance of key events. Works with the President and Advisors to publish and update in a timely manner the detail year plan. He writes up ‘on the fly’ the post meeting planner that the President and Advisor will use to run subsequent team meetings.

11.14 Scout Committee

(See Procedures)

11.14.1Committee Chairman

Holds regular monthly committee meetings and works with the Bishopric to make sure each group is properly staffed. Seeks volunteers for committee positions and trains as needed. Provides oversight and represents to sponsoring organization to make sure the troop meets to organizations needs and standards – are priesthood principles and goals followed. Makes sure that the troops function following BSA standards. Reviews with the committee the schedules and plans presented by the respective youth Scout leaders. With committee approves and supports those plans or provides feedback to improve or alter plans. May provide a coordination effort when activities are combined. Provides assistance as needed for logistics support and additional manpower as needed.

11.14.2Committee Assistant Chairman

In the absence of the Committee Chairman, holds the monthly committee meeting. Works with the chairman in such assignments as given.

11.14.3Secretary

The committee secretary takes legible notes of key decisions and assignments and calls reminders in advance of key events. Works with the Troop, Team and Crew Secretaries/scribes to make sure that each group publishes and updates in a timely manner their respective detailed year plans. Works with the ward web master to publish this and other information on the wards web page.

11.14.4Treasurer

Prepares a report each month detailing the expenditures and income. The report should break down expenditures into logical categories useful for future planning purposes.

11.14.5Equipment Supervisor

Obtains and maintains equipment as needed to support activities. Works with the Quartermasters on equipment, storage and maintenance projects.

11.14.6Outdoor program & High Adventure Supervisor

Works with the Troop, Team and Venture Crew leadership to train for and execute age appropriate outdoor programs.

11.14.7Advancement Supervisor

This person maintains all troop records and is usually the advancement chairman or a special “Eagle” advisor. (See Procedures)

11.14.8Personal Development Supervisor

This role is usually filled by the Quorum Advisor or his assistant.

11.14.9Service Supervisor

This role is usually filled by a Bishopric member or the Quorum Advisor or his assistant.

11.14.10 Special Programs and Events Supervisor

This role is usually filled by the sports coaches or other event oriented individuals.

11.15 Year, Quarter, Week Night Sample Planning Forms

Screaming Eagles (your troop pet name)

TROOP 701 MEETING PLAN DATE

Activity	Description	Run by	Time	Materials
Pre-opening	Something fun – only available for those who show up early	boys	10 minutes
Opening	Flag, Devotional & Business		10 Minutes
Breakout for Varsity, Venture and New Scout Patrols/Groups 10 minutes
Skills taught by boys	EDGE opportunity, Skill races and games built in		10 minutes
Patrol Corner	Planning for upcoming outing		10 minutes
Patrol Activity	Merit badges, Guest Presentations		30 minutes
Closing	Scoutmasters Minute Closing Prayer		5 Minutes 8:25 to 8:30pm
After Meeting	Refreshments Cleanup

11.16 11.17 Year Plan Short form

JAN Week/Day		Theme- Camp Dad Bro. Jones	Start Location
1T	1	Holiday
2T	8	Prsnl Fit/Mgmt Snow Shoe 1^st class	C 7pm
3T	15	Combined - Deacons	C 7pm
3S	19	EFY
4T	22	Personal Fit/Mgmt Snow Camp Prep	C 7pm
4FS	25	Snow Shoe Camp	C 7pm

FEB Week/Day		Theme- Camp Dad __________	Start Location
1W	3
2W	10
3FS
3W	17
4W	24
5W	31

MARCH Week/Day		Theme- Camp Dad __________	Start Location
1W	3
2W	10
3FS
3W	17
4W	24
5W	31

APRIL Week/Day		Theme- Camp Dad __________	Start Location
1W	3
2W	10
3FS
3W	17
4W	24
5W	31

MAY Week/Day		Theme- Camp Dad __________	Start Location
1W	3
2W	10
3FS
3W	17
4W	24
5W	31

JUNE Week/Day		Theme- Camp Dad __________	Start Location
1W	3
2W	10
3FS
3W	17
4W	24
5W	31

JULY Week/Day		Theme- Camp Dad __________	Start Location
1W	3
2W	10
3FS
3W	17
4W	24
5W	31

AUGUST Week/Day		Theme- Camp Dad __________	Start Location
1W	3
2W	10
3FS
3W	17
4W	24
5W	31

SEPT Week/Day		Theme- Camp Dad __________	Start Location
1W	3
2W	10
3FS
3W	17
4W	24
5W	31

OCT Week/Day		Theme- Camp Dad __________	Start Location
1W	3
2W	10
3FS
3W	17
4W	24
5W	31

NOV Week/Day		Theme- Camp Dad __________	Start Location
1W	3
2W	10
3FS
3W	17
4W	24
5W	31

DEC Week/Day		Theme- Camp Dad __________	Start Location
1W	3
2W	10
3FS
3W	17
4W	24
5W	31

11.18 Quarterly Detail plan - Screaming Eagles

Example Quarterly detailed (Rev B)

Month	Day	Date	Time Start	Time End	Theme	Start Loc	Where	End Loc	What to bring	Support
Oct.	1T	3	7pm	8:30pm	Communications	Church		Church	Scout book/notebook/pen
			8:30pm	9pm	PLC meeting	Church		Church	notebook/pen
Oct	2T	10	7pm	8:30pm	1st Aid/Pioneering	Church		Church
Oct	3T	17	7pm	8:30pm	BOR	Church		Church	Scout book/notebook/pen
Oct	3SAT	21	6:30pm	7pm	Tallus Caves	Church	Tiger Mnt	Church	Caving essentials	(1)
Oct	4Sun	22			Awards list due	Church			Any Merit Badge Cards
Oct	4T	24	7pm	8:20pm	Communications	Church		Church	Scout book/notebook/pen
			8:30pm	9pm	PLC meeting	Church		Church	notebook/pen
Oct	5T	31	7pm	8:20pm	Combined -Holoween	Church		Church	Costume

Month	Day	Date	Time Start	Time End	Theme	Start Loc	Where	End Loc	What to bring	Support
Nov	1SUN	5	3:45pm	4:45pm	Committee Mtg	Church		Church		All Parents
Nov	1T	7	7pm	8:30pm	Combined	Church		Church
Nov	2T	14	7pm	8:30pm	Communications	Church		Church
Nov	3FS	17-18	6:30pm	7pm	Iron Horse Trail Biking Camp	Church	Sno Pass Gold Creek	Church	Camp Gear	(1)
Nov	3T	21	7pm	8:30pm	Safety - (BOR)	Church		Church	Scout book/notebook/pen
Nov	4Sun	26			Awards list due	Church			Any Merit Badge Cards
Nov	4T	28	7pm	8:20pm	Cit Nation	Church		Church	Scout book/notebook/pen
			8:30pm	9pm	PLC meeting	Church		Church	notebook/pen

Month	Day	Date	Time Start	Time End	Theme	StrtLoc	Where	EndLoc	What to bring	Support
Dec	1SUN	3	3:45pm	4:45pm	Committee Mtg	Church		Church		All Parents
Dec	1T	5	7pm	8:30pm	Service Sub for Santa	Church		Church
Dec	1TH	7	7pm	8:00pm	Court of Honor	Church		Church	Full Uniform	All Families
Dec	2T	12	7pm	8:30pm	Fall /winter Camp			Church
Dec	3FS	15-16	6:30pm	18th/7pm	Fossil Pits Camp	Church	Sno.N Fork/ Auburn	Church	Camp Gear	(1)
Dec	4T	19			CHRISTMAS BREAK			Church
Dec	5T	26			CHRISTMAS BREAK			Church

11.19 Building Men “The Right Stuff” by Kent Brooten

http://peoplespassions.org/peoplesservice/troop701/Training/The_right_stuff.htm

The other day I was chatting with several of my former Scouts (now in their 30’s). It’s VERY interesting to hear their memories of Scouting. They remember getting the troop across a raging river near North Bend. Someone had set fire to the bridge the night before. It took us hours in bitterly cold water to get everyone across. They remember the hike to Kennedy Hot Springs in late November. Eighteen inches of snow on the ground and 10” of rain in 24 hours. It was a test of their ability to stay dry. Several new boys and the older boys helped them with breakfast, break camp and get on the trail. In the cars on the highway. we couldn’t see the road. It was covered by the flood waters. We drove halfway between the fences lining both sides of the road. The State Patrol was closing the roads behind us.

They remember the time it snowed so much we were stranded at Snoqualmie Pass for an extra day. We had to pool our emergency supplies and make do. They remember the time one of their fellow Scouts spilled boiling water into his boots while hiking in a remote part of the Yukon. We had to get him to the other end of the trail - 40 miles away.

They remember the winter ski trip around Crater Lake, where it snowed 18 inches - every day for a week. They endured the exhaustion of breaking trail through many feet of fresh snow. They remember “the rest of the story” of what looked to be a beautiful climb of Rainier (photo in BSA handbook, page 15). That night we had 75 mph winds and blowing snow. No one slept during the howling blizzard. When we left high camp the next morning, several were literally blown over. Navigation in the whiteout was challenging to say the least.

The regular outings all seem to run together. It’s the tough ones that are memorable. It’s the time when everyone had to make an extra effort to insure success; where the group was challenged to do far more than their share. Taking care of themselves wasn’t enough. These few precious moments in their lives let them see for themselves what they could do, what they were made of. This is character building at its best.

Supreme Court Justice William 0. Douglas said this:

“If, throughout time, the youth of the nation accept the challenge the mountains offer, they will help keep alive in our people the spirit of adventure. That spirit is a measure of the vitality of both nations and men. A people who climb the ridges and sleep under the stars in high mountain meadows, who enter the forest and scale the peaks, who explore glaciers and walk ridges buried deep in snow — these people will give their country some of the indomitable spirit of the mountains.

11.20 “A boys need for Adventure” by Stephen Wunderli

http://peoplespassions.org/peoplesservice/troop701/Training/A_Boys_Need_for_Adventure.htm

In our rush to ensure equal time and rights for our daughters, we have neglected our sons. In a year when the defining sports moment for girls was the US Women's soccer victory, the moment for boys was Columbine High School. Some of the players on that women's soccer team had children. They brought them to practice, depended on their teammates, worked hard and were tremendous sports. Who do the boys have? Dennis Rodman.

Certainly feminism has something to do with it---the rhetoric in our elementary schools and in children's book publishing was designed to make boys more like girls, rather than acknowledge the differences in gender and deal with them separately.

I am not bashing females here. Certainly boys have to accept their sensitive side. But discouraging competition, and making a young boy feel guilty for any expression of aggression only confuses him, buries real emotions so deep he never comes to grip with them. Boys are different than girls in more ways than physical. They develop differently emotionally, they are more aggressive, more restless at a young age, less focused, more spontaneous, more difficult to channel.

Punishing Boys
What feminism did to our boys is preach that all of the above should be punished (albeit passively) as if it were all categorically "bad" behavior. The backlash is epidemic problems in the boy population. Their overall academic performance is down, they are more likely to turn to violence to solve disputes, they suffer from depression in greater numbers than their female classmates, a higher percentage of them are criminals and they are more likely to commit suicide. I believe some of these problems are a result of the confusion our boys are feeling---the homogenizing of interpersonal relationships until they are all the same, sensitive, non-confrontational examples of what normal should be.

There is a way to nurture both boys and girls, to give women the rights they deserve without patronizing them. I am wholeheartedly for women who choose to have a career, just as I applaud men who are more dedicated to their families than they are their jobs. And I am convinced that it is much more difficult to be a good parent than it is a good salesman, or surgeon or carpenter. But today we are talking about boys.

So I have to ask: Where have all the great adventure stories gone? Where are those heroes for boys that embody honor, courage, and integrity? When I was a boy of 12 or so, I loved Huck Finn. I also read the antics of anti-heroes so popular in the sixties in books like The Outsiders, and Bless the Beasts and the Children. In my mind, these were some of the last great books for young adult readers that dealt honestly with boy's feelings. Before them were the wonderful (yet improbable) adventures for boys published in the 20's, 30's, and 40's. The Hardy Boys series, imagined by Edward Stratemeyer and written by ghostwriters such as Franklin Dixon, captivated millions of restless boys. This series has been reprinted by Applewood Books in hardback like the original, with all the original language. The publisher notes: "Much has changed in America since the books were first issued. The modern reader may be delighted with the warmth and exactness of the language, the wholesome innocence of the characters, their engagement with the natural world, or the nonstop action without the use of violence; but just as well, the modern reader may be extremely uncomfortable with the racial and social stereotyping, the roles women play in these books, or the use of phrases or situations which may conjure up some response in the modern reader that was not felt by the reader of the times."

With that disclaimer, the books are still a lot of fun; just as Huck Finn and Tom Sawyer are a lot of fun, even with their stereotypes. As parents, we should talk to our children about those stereotypes and explain why they have changed. But let's not take away the adventure in the process. Boys need adventure to encourage their independence and growth, to develop that part of them willing to sacrifice for a greater good. They need conflict to play out in their imaginations so that it won't have to be played out in their lives. A make-believe sword fight helps a boy understand the consequences of violence, and mercy. It also helps him come to terms with his frustrations, his fears. By imagining his way through a battle, a boy almost always wins. This process develops in him an optimism he'll carry with him the rest of his life. By thwarting that imaginative process, a boy won't develop the hope or confidence he needs to solve problems.

Adventure always brings a boy safely home. And knowing that there is always a home to return to encourages a boy to venture out, to grow, first as a child using his imagination, and then as an adult using his experience.

Adventurous Fun
There are more recent adventure stories that help boys deal with their aggression, and channel their imaginations. My boys love the books by Gary Paulsen, especially The Hatchet, and The Winter Room. Still, Huck Finn does it for me. I grew up by a large horse pasture with a canal rimming its edge and abandoned chicken coops at the far reaches of my childhood territory. We had everything Huck and Tom could want in our world. We were free to imagine ourselves hunting for gold or rafting the Mississippi.

When we ventured out too far, we hacked at our fears with swords made of branches and scrambled back to some hideout among fallen elm trees. We bonded as friends. We trusted each other. We rarely fought, and when we did, we forgave easily without the intervention of parents. And though we didn't quite like girls yet, I think each of us secretly had an eye out for Becky Thatcher.

* See "The War Against Boys," by Christina Hoff Sommers.

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11.21 Ceremonies Traditions Appendix

I mentioned earlier about Ceremonies & Traditions. There is no right or wrong in construction or execution but there are some maxims that I will review. I repeat this next vignette at risk of redundancy as it so aptly illustrates the point that some of the best memorable ceremonies come quite organically with little preparation, only the eye looking for the right stuff is important. Others may take an hour or so to prepare; I’ll list out some that I did that were quite special and memorable. I say that with some certainty because scouts have come back many years later and with no solicitation remarked on how influential these milestones where in lighting a fire under them at critical junctures.

Find a nice set of opening and closing ones that become tradition. I used 1/2 dozen tried and true ones but welcomed new ones any time one came my way! A perfunctory prayer with our Saviors name rushed and slurred, as is so common, is not a closing ceremony. However, a heartfelt, specific prayer focusing on the detail of the boy’s lives would be a nice finish to a ceremony. Change up is key!

“Leaving a community pool after lifesaving training as we approached our cars, I wanted to close, but where/how. Standing in the parking lot for a quick prayer would not do! I spotted a large old growth stump. Perfect! “Everyone on the stump!” We had too many of us to comfortably stand. Perfect. With the left hand around the waist of your neighbor to just barely hold us all together in a circle of brotherhood without falling off, we raised our right arm to the square and recited the Scout oath…followed by a prayer with arm on shoulder.”

Now that was special in an otherwise ordinary parking lot! Break the mold – stand on a berm - anything but the parking lot!!! You don’t have to do everything each time. In fact DON’T. Mix it up, blend something new.

11.21.1Crossovers

This section applies directly to 11 year (new Scout) patrol. An area I have a lot of fun with is crossover ceremonies.

· Teach a principle

· Explain the difference between Cubs and boys in terms of parent child interaction – crossover!

· Set the stage for anticipation of adventure and “bragging” rights – talk up your planned adventures!

· Not required but toss in a small challenge

· Involve some of your current boys.

Special note on challenges. There will be some that say don’t ever ask a boy to do something he’s not comfortable. I’d say “baloney” a ton of what we do is bring boys out of their comfort zone. Just use encouragement and not shame. Build. Be sensitive but don’t give them an easy pass. Know the boys ahead of time. If he’s freaked about heights, don’t have him do a high wire as his opening act! Do but be careful the challenge is meaningful and not some dumb dare you that would easily be classified as hazing or initiation rite. Keep it simple.

There was a Boy in a group of 3 to crossover. I used the articulating ladder at a park setting. I did my speal about adventure growth comfort zone and indicated to join our group, crossover the bridge! 2 of the boys clattered over. The 3^rd , a bit heavy set I could see would be more a challenge. He immediately balked and said, “ill just go around!” It would have been easy with the crowd looking on to give him a pass, but I pressed him further “No you got this you can do it!” right to the point that I felt I might be over the line, but I told him that I would be right there next to him the whole way. We would do it together, and he did! Afterwards his mother came straight to me and I figured I might be in for a rebuke, but instead she thanked me profusely for not giving him a pass as so many had done his whole life prior. I’ve learned that the key is to be there with them and show genuine love and care. Be the rock.

Reactor Transport

This curious structure was built by the 11yr olds over the course of a few weeks as they learned knots and lashings. It was without much trouble collapsible so it could be moved outside. We decided to use it in a crossover ceremony. It was very impressive, but no extra work to double dip! The key takeaway is REUSE. The wannabee new scout was instructed to get into the transport and stand on the onside cross member holding on to the upper section. His new patrol would pick the structure up (8 boys/adults) to transport the new dangerous /precious cargo. The youth was instructed with a wink in the eye that IF he could survive the ride around the parking lot, he could join the New Scouts! Loads of fun. Can’t recall if the newbee wore a helmet or not but no one ever fell.

Crowd talk: Trust brotherhood, good companions, skills, adventure and bragging rights

Zipped Dee Doodah

Recruit your local rock climber to help with this one. I’ve doe this indoors Upper to lower basketball supports with a tittle sag. His mother belays him up. His scout leader clips him in and then when he is demonstrated to be supported by the zip line, she is instructed to let him go!

Interesting Variant: Outdoors with a little more room between a couple trees. Make sure there is a bit more sag so the boy stops about mid-way. On the far end have a 4 way pulley line extending to the youth so the 11 year oud scout from his new patrol can haul him in the rest of the way. Challenge his mother to try and restrain him. She won’t be able to overcome the 4 way pulley.

Crowd talk: Cutting the apron strings, Trust brotherhood, good companions, skills, adventure and bragging rights. BRIEFLY explain the critical importance of good companions like his new Scout Patrol as a strong positive peer pressure.

Monkey Travers

Lean the X frame up against the standard for indoor variant. Your New Scouts may escort him along the way but definitely be on the far side to “receive him”

Crowd talk: Cutting the apron strings, Trust brotherhood, good supportive skilled companions, personal skill development, confidence, adventure and bragging rights

Taut line

Prep: This one is very simple and can be done with only a little prep. Use a stout 1-1/2” – 2” rope. Hemp natural fiber is ideal as low stretch is a bonus. Using a double figure 8 or taught line with perhaps a 3^rd inner turn to make disassembly easier; attach to Hitch/balls of two vehicles positioned pointing away from each other. Alternate with one tree or one vehicle with brakes firmly set. The other vehicle is slowly driven a few feet until the rope is as tight as a guitar string and its brakes set – then the parking brake. Remember in that order!!!.

The boy gets a blue ribbon and a green ribbon to hold. Preferably His mother or the alternately the Cub master holds the blue ribbon. The 11 year old scout leader holds the green ribbon. The boy is then instructed to walk the tight rope and if he can get to the other side, he can join the troop. I use this one for boys with some modicum of agility, but almost any boy can do it. If the boys aren’t too uncoordinated, I then instruct the mother to drop her line. The boy has to then lean out against just the new scout leader’s tether. It sounds hard and it’s a bit challenging but doable. The boys are just 1 foot off the ground but he may use helmet if he falls; never happened other than to have to step back up.

Ladders

A simple articulating construction ladder can be folder to be self-supporting indoors and outdoors – say over a little creek or depression. The youth is instructed to climb up and crawl over to his waiting future patrol. Cub master spots on one side. Assistant Scoutmaster on the far side.

Crowd talk: Take some extra time explaining that before Cub Scout things were pretty benign, but now he is going to be taught how to do dangerous things – safely; to build personal confidence and earn trust by his companions. He will learn many things dealing with fear, sharp thing and even play as it were with fire without getting burned.

Becoming the man, Trust brotherhood, good supportive skilled companions, personal skill development, confidence, adventure and bragging rights

Simple Park Bridge

Nice crossover bridges exist; some cheesy ones are around too. I’d rather do something else than have a cheesy presentation. These are little archway constructions. The youth is on one side; the scoutmaster on the other. He explains the new adventures to be had and invites the youth to cross over.

Crowd talk: Take some extra time explaining that before Cub Scout things were pretty benign, but now he is going to be taught how to do dangerous things - safely, to build personal confidence and earn trust by his companions. He will learn many things dealing with fear, sharp thing and even play as it were with fire without getting burned.

Becoming the man, Trust brotherhood, good supportive skilled companions, personal skill development, confidence, adventure and bragging rights

Trust dive or Jump

You have to have a trustworthy “catch crew” and a suitable youth but you can arrange to jump or dive from a stage to your waiting catch crew. No prep, just lots of trust and a daring youth.

Becoming the man, Trust brotherhood, good supportive skilled companions, personal skill development, confidence, adventure and bragging rights

11.22 Weeknight Opening

This should have a bit of pizzazz. Have a stand for each patrol’s flag. Get the New Scout , Scout, Varsity and they are their the Ventures together for a short opening ceremony. If there are YW then at least once a month it’s great to have a general devotional. Have a table set with a Eagle table cloth, Open with a flag ceremony and recite together something. Don’t try and do them all – that gets tedious. Better to do the law one time and the oath or slogan another time. Changeup is king. Brief meeting announcements germane to all groups and then break off to age appropriate activities and programs.

11.23 Weeknight Activities

Changeup is king. Get rid of the chairs. Bag the balls and other distractions. Have Scout and supporting pictures say from Normand Rockwell on the walls Leadership Rosters, Advancement Charts, Rough wooden plaques with the boys names engraved under their respective patrols. Campout attendance posted. Picture collages from recent activities on easels. – Seriously it just takes 5 minutes to transform the room. Get the Scouts to help and they own the transformation. Have some cool stuff that only the early birds get to have do or perhaps eat!

Brief meeting announcements germane to all groups and then break off to age appropriate activities and programs.

11.24 Weeknight Closing

This should generally be by groups. LDS BSA typically has 4 groups. This is where you get to take a serious moment; your Scoutmasters minute. Do try to keep it to a min- maybe 2 but don’t drag it out. Let me repeat for the wind bags like me. DON’T DRAG IT OUT!

11.25 Campfires

Somewhere between ‘few and NONE’ should be the campouts without a camp fire. I recall an area with open campfire ban, when many folks – all the adults had gone to bed with no closing ceremony. I was just a guest, with only my pack goats for companions. I sat on a log and added a few twigs to the top of my all metal Whisperlight stove. The small yellow flicker soon attracted not moths but boys. I was surprised to note a ½ dozen boys soon gathering around. I told mission stories & climbing tales and left the boys with an evening I hope they might found building and memorable. See: Activities with a purpose.

Sing with the boys. Tell them mission stories. Make the spiritual content organic, let the boys and other men chime in easily, less scripted; avoid some written talk and for heaven’s sake don’t open up some electronic device to read some content. If you must – really must, read some short clip – print it out.

Do scare them occasionally with preferably real stories and this next and final point should become tradition. ALWAYS use a 1 knee “warrior” closing prayer; ready to jump up and fight for the right and serve the God we love. This works in snow and mud. The down knee is actually not even all the way down in such conditions. It’s a special tradition reserved for our campfires.

11.26 Eagle Courts

The boys should be prepared by experience for the court, but some groups have such poor compliance to BSA rigor that the boy may answer teacher’s quorum president rather than Varsity Captain when asked about his leadership. Yes coach the youth on language, but better yet, comply with the modest formalities in your actual program execution and everybody wins.

Some men running Eagle courts so dumb them down that its hardly a court of usefulness. Telling the youth don’t sweat it , we are not going to turn you away as an opening comment robs the youth of probably his first real interview that might help prepare him for an employment interview where it is guaranteed you will not get an “everybody wins” attitude.

My own son was asked to prepare and return to better answer how he performed his leadership acting as troop instructor. This was a very good opportunity for growth as he learned how to present himself and make a case. He did stellar 2^nd pass.

Sadly this “everybody get a gold star” attitude is becoming more common even at this level in some councils.

11.27 About the author:

Steve Marquis joined the Church at the age of 8 as a convert along with his family. His father was called immediately as Scoutmaster over a troop of 50 boys; quite large compared to typical LDS troops. His understanding of boys and organizational skills applied in this youth ministry produced many eagle scouts and valiant missionaries including 4 of 5 of his own sons. Later as a High Councilor, he was commissioned by his stake president to study what can be improved in the Explorer Scout program. Key recommendations detailed in their final report, some 35 years later, were recently adopted by the church in the general handbook; yes that’s a long time to wait as we have discussed.

3 of his 5 sons, including Steve, have spent the better part of their lives following in our father’s footsteps training up generations of young men. The recommendations and frank discussion included in this document are derived from mentoring by sage Scout leaders like his father Leland and other wise “boy”men along with Steve’s direct experience ministering to the youth over nearly 30 years. A visiting 70 recently recommended that this document be delivered directly to the respective YM and Primary general boards who he said would be very interested in reviewing our “Boots on the ground” experiences and observation.

Author Contact information

May be contacted at: steven.r.marquis@gmail.com