The Boy Run Troop
The transition from Webelos II to Boy Scout is challenging and exciting for both the boy and his parents. The scout will face new challenges and responsibilities and his parents will face less. This is not always an easy transition. Scouting is about developing future leaders. While adults serve as key leaders, Boy Scouts hold leadership positions and plan the troop's program. The boys plan and carry out all aspects of the troop activities from the weekly meetings to the camping trips. The adults act as guides, and are responsible for 100% of the direction of the troop. A good adult leader provides guidance, vigilance (from a distance), patience, and understanding of the boy’s point of view and trust in the Boy Scout program as it was designed by the BSA. As a crossover parent it is sometimes hard to understand that this is boy scouts and not Webelos III.
Here are some helpful habits that help a troop grow towards a boy run program:
It's not the job of the adults to take the responsibility for the scouts, but to guide the scouts in their responsibilities. The more the adults take responsibility for troop management, the harder it becomes for them to hand that responsibility back to the scouts, and it takes all that much longer for the scouts to become accustomed to shouldering this responsibility. When questioned about this, one of the South Florida District assistant commissioners said “If the boys plan meals for a campout and forget to bring meat. What happens? They are vegetarians for a weekend and nobody dies. The next time they will remember to bring meat”.
The senior patrol leader, patrol leaders and scoutmaster must look at troop activities, situations, and meetings and ask, "If the adults weren't here, could this part of the program still run with only the scouts?" When you say no, it's time for the scoutmaster to work with the patrol leaders’ council to develop habits that would bring the troop to that point. It's a slow process--solid boy-run programs take months and years to develop, not days or weeks.
The senior patrol leader runs the troop, so there is no reason for an adult to assume the role for any reason. Any concerns by adults should be addressed through the scoutmaster and senior patrol leader. Adults are allowed to guide, to suggest, to coach--but not to do scouts' jobs for them. It's very difficult for adults to keep from helping scouts (out of a sincere desire to be helpful and friendly). No adult should directly interact with their own child during scouting events regarding scout issues. If a boy has questions or issues they always need to use the boy scout chain of command starting with his patrol leader. If a parent has a question it should be brought to the scoutmaster or assistant scoutmasters.
All behaviors, good and bad, are the scout's responsibility. Most boy-run programs have very few behavior problems where adults need to get involved. That's because each scout is held responsible by all the other scouts. Until safety becomes an issue, the senior patrol leader and patrol leaders should be held responsible for taking care of bad behavior. The senior patrol leader and patrol leaders should also report misbehavior to the scoutmaster so he can talk with the scout if needed. That is one of the Scoutmaster's jobs. Bad behavior should be seen as an indicator of a scout needing guidance. Too many adults see bad behavior as an embarrassment of their program, rather than a part of the program--but if scouts were perfect, why would we need the Oath & Law? Adults must be passive in their guidance, but fearless in their objectives.
Adults should never lead a group of scouts. Scouts are the leaders, let them lead. If you can't trust the scouts, then something needs to change. The adults' place is well behind the scouts. A good example of this is summer camp. The boys will be given a tour by a member of the camp staff, showing them every aspect of the camp. The boys are capable of getting where they need to go and should not need to be led around by any adult.
Scouting should not be taken away as a punishment or rewarded outside of scouting. Taking scouting away from a boy as punishment defeats the purpose of trying to teach responsibility and other skills. Offering gifts or rewards for achieving a rank or merit badges takes the focus away from scouting and shifts the focus on the gift.
As adult leaders we should:
Never do what a boy can do and a boy can do everything.
If skill is missing from the troop, teach it to one capable scout and he will teach others.
The boys should help each other and not depend on parents to do things such as setting up tents, cooking and packing up at the end of a campout.
Be patient
Too many directions from different people frustrate them.
Stand back, observe and wait for results.
Be willing to let them make mistakes, goof off, argue and resolve their owndisputes.
Step in when it is becoming a safety issue.
Remember this not about the destination. It is about the journey. A boy that is forc
ibly rushed through on his way to the Eagle rank gains far less than the boy that is allowed to progress at a normal pace.
Whisper
No yelling
Guide behind the scenes, but let the boys do.
Don't take over meetings.(Large or small)
Praise and reward rather than criticize, yell, and punish.
Let the scouts teach others. (Even with merit badges when possible)
Be an example
Wear your full uniform. (Shirt, socks, belt, shorts/pants, patches, etc.)
Attend and complete training.
While many of these ideas may seem foreign and unattainable this is the basis of the Boy Scouts of America, to develop future leaders and quality well rounded young men. There is a very fine line between letting the boys flounder and letting them lead and succeed. As good adult leaders it is our job to find this line and walk it. All of this can be achieved if the above ideas are practiced within the troop. The life lessons and experience that our youth receive will hopefully be invaluable.