Transcript PowerPoint - Troop 732

Troop 732 Introduction
&
Code of Conduct
Tips for new Parents & Adult Leaders
This presentation focuses on a basic overview of our scouting
program and the conduct of the troop leadership. Adult leaders in a
scouting program undergo significant training to work with youth, it
is a system that has developed and evolved for 100 years!
It is important for parents to understand how a scouting program
works. Parent volunteers that would like to get more involved in the
program need to understand some basic principles, or our code of
conduct. These concepts are taught in the advanced adult leader
training such as Scoutmaster Specific, Outdoor Leader Skills and
Woodbadge.
A very brief overview of our program and this training is provided
here for new troop parents to understand the program and for new
adult troop leaders to understand what is expected of them.
Scouting promises
fun,
friendship,
and
adventure.
Scouting offers frequent
positive recognition.
Scouting
develops
social skills
and
leadership
skills.
But, Fun—With a Purpose
Scouting is a
well-thought-out,
highly structured program
that provides
a step-by-step sequence of
skills and personal
development.
Personal Safety
One of the focuses of early rank advancement is that of
personal safety. For instance, while each scout will be allowed
to carry and use his own pocket knife, it is only after very
specific instruction. The use of his pocket knife is then
constantly monitored by the other scouts and adults and there
are clear consequences when any rules are not observed.
Independence
Through early rank advancement and attending out door events,
your son will learn many basic personal skills. He should be
allowed to develop his own skills by working on his own rank
advancement and learning to interact with other adults. Please
allow him to develop his own skills, e.g. learning to pack for
camp-outs himself.
Patrol Method
Within our Boy Scout Troop, your son will be in a group of boys
close to his own age, called a patrol. This is literally a troop
within a troop and the first line where scouts learn to work
together as a team. The Patrol Leader has significant
responsibility both within the patrol and within the troop.
Troop Structure
Beyond your son’s patrol is the Junior Troop Leadership. The
Senior Patrol Leader, Assistant Senior Patrol Leader, and a list
of other positions provide scouts with an opportunity to learn
various leadership skills and provide credit for advanced rank
advancement. This group works collaboratively through what is
known as the Patrol Leaders Council (PLC), the junior leader’s
governing body.
•The Patrol Leader is your son’s primary leader in the troop.
•The Senior Patrol Leader is the primary youth leader of the
troop. He leads the troop by building consensus on the Patrol
Leader’s Council, and by frequent consultations with the
Scoutmaster.
One Degree of Separation
• Parent’s need to learn to
give their son’s autonomy in
scouting—let another scout
or scout leader work with
your child.
• Parents do not sign-off on
their son’s advancement
requirements, or work
directly with their own son’s
in instruction.
Our Philosophy on Discipline
In its most general sense, discipline refers to systematic
instruction. This concept is at the core of our troop’s philosophy
for working with our youth.
To discipline means to instruct a person to follow a particular
code of conduct, or to adhere to a certain "order."
Consequently, in the field of child development, discipline
refers to methods of modeling character and of teaching selfcontrol and acceptable behavior.
Self-discipline refers to the training that one gives one's self to
accomplish a certain task or to adopt a particular pattern of
behavior, even though one would really rather be doing
something else…
In Troop 732 We do not consider Discipline as punishment.
Our Philosophy on Punishment
In Troop 732, we do not punish Scouts.
We redirect Scouts.
When we redirect a Scout,
• We do so in private, in a calm voice.
• We don’t yell at scouts. (unless safety might be at risk!)
• We never publicly humiliate any Scout.
• Whenever possible, we “sandwich” correction between two
positive comments.
• Boys should be redirected by boys first, then by the
Scoutmaster. (Chair of Command Rule)
• Other trained leaders may intervene in the Scoutmaster’s
absence.
When a Scout Misbehaves…
The five steps for handling misbehavior by a scout are:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
The Scout will be warned by his Patrol Leader.
The Scout will be again warned by both the Senior
Patrol Leader and the Patrol Leader.
The Scout will be required to write and sign a note
acceptably explaining his inappropriate behavior.
The Scout will meet with the PLC or with the
Scoutmaster for counseling.
The Scout and the Scoutmaster will meet with the
Scout’s parents to discuss the problem and develop an
action plan, which could include the scout being barred
from certain troop activities or even expulsion from the
troop.
When a Scout Misbehaves…
The sixth and unwritten step (for the kids) is that the Scoutmaster may
choose (at any point in the five point system) to appoint a trained adult
leader to shadow a problem scout, or a scout with special needs--to
help him to succeed in the program or at camp.
Parents, please remember our Five Step process and the chain of
command within the troop. For the most part, what happens at camp,
stays at camp! Unless you get a call from the Scoutmaster.
You MUST respect this process. Every kids will be challenged, and will
challenge us. At some point he will screw-up! Unless you have had a
call from the Scoutmaster, you must assume that you son has been
held accountable with-in this troop process.
EDGE Teaching Method
Through systematic Explanation,
interactive Demonstration,
and Guided practice,
Scouting Enables
young men to discover and develop their
own unique strengths and interests through
hands-on instruction. EDGE is the scouting
teaching method that we use in this
process.
If your Scout has any special needs,
let your Scoutmaster know.
Tell him
what
works well
AND
what
does not help
your son.
Be sure to tell the Scoutmaster what your son’s
needs are if he is going on
– a day trip
– a weekend camping trip, or
– a week at summer camp.
There are many things the Scoutmaster
can do to help your Scout
be safe, successful and to have fun
— if he is informed.
Make Your Son Responsible Too…
Make sure your Scout understands
his own medical condition, and
any limitations or situations he
needs to be careful of.
Each scout should understand his
own medications, when they
need to be taken or the
“triggers” indicate when they
should be taken…or have been
forgotten.
As a trained Scout Leader, you will be
Consider
becoming
a trained
Scout
Leader!
taught that the scouting method is
NOT the military method. We use the
Servant Leadership method, not the
Top-Down method taught in the
military.
And while we appear to wear military
style uniforms, the scout uniforms
help to create a sense of brotherhood,
signify the scout’s achievements
within scouting (through the display
of ranks and other awards)
Adults that are trained and wear the
uniform serve as role models for the
scouts!
WHEN ADULTS WORK WITH SCOUTS
To work with Scouts in the Program, you must have
the basic Youth Protection Training, a simple on-line
course that teaches you about Scouting’s basic rules
for adults.
In Troop 732, we have specific codes of conduct
regarding the Scout leader to Scout interaction.
While each adult’s own style and life experience is
respected, the actual conduct with the scouts need
to be consistent from leader to leader.
WHEN ADULTS WORK WITH SCOUTS
1. We must wear the scout uniform correctly and
enthusiastically.
2. We are roles models for good behavior. (no
swearing, drinking or smoking in front of the
scouts)
3. We must have the appropriate training for our
level of involvement within the troop program.
4. We must observe the chain of command with-in
the troop.
Adults must allow the scouts to run
their own program. But there will
be situations where adults will
work directly with the troop. This
may be in a period of instruction,
or with a patrol
that is struggling
to be organized or
to stay on task. Perhaps
it is with an individual scout on a
merit badge or that is
struggling to stay on task
…or who has special needs.
In these situations, try to let the Scout(s)
know ahead of time
what is expected.
When activities
are long or
complicated,
help them
write down
a list of smaller steps
Or help them “chunk” them
into smaller more manageable tasks.
When we see a scout is having
trouble staying on task, repeat
directions one-on-one
when necessary,
or assign
a more
mature buddy
to help him
get organized.
Compliment the Scouts whenever
you find a genuine opportunity.
Ignore minor
inappropriate
behavior if it is
not dangerous
or disruptive.
Instruction Periods
During instruction we need to provide frequent
breaks and opportunities for Scouts to move
around actively but purposefully.
• Technical presentations should be short, 20 to
no more than 30 minutes.
• Long instruction periods should provide
opportunities for hands-on learning to break the
pace.
• Scouting should not feel like “school.”
During active games and transition times, be
aware when a Scout is starting to become more
impulsive or aggressive.
If it has not been possible
to intervene proactively
and you must impose
consequences for
out-of-control
behavior,
use time-out
or “cooling off.”
Be aware of early warning signs, such as fidgety behavior,
that may indicate the Scout is losing impulse control. When
this happens, try…
Private, nonverbal signal
Or
Proximity control
(move closer to the Scout)
This will alert the scout that he needs to refocus.
Constantly calling attention to misbehavior is not good for a
scout’s esteem and may further serve to annoy other
members of the troop.
Offer feedback and redirection in a way
that is respectful and that allows the Scout
to save face.
When Scouts are treated with respect, they
are more likely to respect the authority of
the Scout leader.
Keep cool!
Don’t take challenges personally.
Scouts want to be successful,
but they need support,
positive feedback, and clear
limits.
Frame behavior in context of the
requirements listed in the
Scout Oath and Scout Law
Also remember…
Each scout is an individual, but there are
also some pretty distinct characteristics
by age group.
Consider the age of the scout, or groups of
scouts, that you are working with.
Stages of Scout Development
• New Scouts are energetic and use to everything
being done for them. They may not be feel very
secure in the Troop.
• Young Scouts are learning basic personal and basic
scout craft skills. (Pre-First Class)
• Intermediate Scouts with a closer mastery of basic
personal and scout craft but little patience for
younger scouts (First Class)
• Advanced Scouts, full mastery of scout craft and the
patience to work with younger scouts. (Star Scout
and above)
New Scouts
New scouts are energetic and use to everything being
done for them.
Engage them by:
• Be very patient as they bridge away from the cub
scout methods they are use to.
• Coaching them in personal skills and scout craft.
• Keep them on track with quick, engaging
demonstrations…not long sit down presentations.
Young Scouts
Young scouts are also energetic and want to do this
themselves. They will often outperform Intermediate Scouts
due to their enthusiasm.
Engage them by:
● Allowing (insisting) on more autonomy & self discipline
● Coaching in scout craft skills
● High praise for their work as a patrol
● Encouraging rank advancement and their own
accountability in getting things signed off in the scout
handbook.
Intermediate Scouts
Intermediate scouts should now be proficient in personal
and scout craft skills, but often do not have patience with
the younger scouts. Also, may not show much enthusiasm
toward their work and events.
Engage them by:
• Encouraging (and help plan) more high adventure to
keep their attention.
• Help them to continue their focus on rank advancement.
• Reinforce the importance of patience with younger
scouts (the early stages of leadership development)
Advanced Scouts
Advanced scouts are now proficient in personal and
scout craft skills, and should have the patience and
maturity to work with the younger scouts. Generally
they are very serious and focused scouts.
Engage them by:
• Encouraging them in advanced leadership positions
in the troop.
• Re-enforce the importance they are in the troop as
role models.
• Don’t forget to praise then for their continued rank
advancement toward Eagle.
When the guys start getting out
of hand…
Offer opportunities for purposeful movement by
• Leading cheers
• Performing in skits
• Assisting with demonstrations
• Teaching skills
This may help to
• Improve focus,
• Increase self-confidence, and
• Benefit the troop as a whole
Challenging Scouts
If a scout keeping challenging you, find out if he has
any specific conditions or special needs that may
require some additional understanding or training on
your part.
Always refer to the Scoutmaster for the inside track
on any challenging scout issues…
Expect the Scout with special needs
to follow the same rules as other
Scouts.
Example: Attention Disorders
are a reason for, NOT an
excuse for uncontrolled
behavior.
Enable the Scout with special needs
to achieve the same rules and goals
as other Scouts.
Example: A scout should
never be put in a situation
whereby he fails to succeed
because of a physical or
medical limitation.
Be very respectful and
understanding of families that have
a scout with special needs
Often times these families feel that their
child’s condition is their burden, and no
one else should (or can) deal with it.
Help parents understand that many
families in the troop also have scouts with
special needs, and that they are not
alone.
Scouting is for these kids too, and our
troop is a fantastic support opportunity for
the family.
When Medications are Required
• When medications are administered to a scout, we
do so in a private and respectful manner.
• Our troop medical officers are usually Assistant
Scoutmasters that are trained medical professionals.
• Parents must turn-over all scout medications
directly to the Health and Safety Officer for any trips.
• Scouts are not allowed to administer their own
medications without the oversight of the acting
Health & Safety Officer.
In Conclusion…
All scouts are to be handled with dignity
and respect. Adult leaders are role models
and for the scouts and should abide by the
rules of the Boy Scouts of America.
The scouts must be allowed to run the
troop meetings, outdoor activities and
community service events. Only if given the
autonomy to run their own troop will they
be faced with the challenges, and in turn
rewarded with the successes that make
scouting such a unique and enriching
experience.
In Conclusion…
The role of the trained adult in the scouting
program is to support and nurture the scouts
to learn both personal skills and group
dynamics (in the patrol, the troop and through
leadership opportunities)
Adults needs to understand the goals and aims
of scouting and use these methods to allow
the scouts to succeed.
Thank-you
I personally find my involvement with Troop
732 to be one of the most rewarding and
personally fulfilling experiences that I have
ever had the privileged to be a part of.
I think you will too, and encourage each
parent to become involved as a part of our
Troop Committee or active within our Troop
Program. We cannot do it without you.
Yours in Servant Leadership,
Ernest Otter
Scoutmaster, Troop 732