Scoutmaster Responsibilities

Podcast Episode (00:41:24): Download MP3 Listen to Scoutmaster Podcast 224 | Sponsored By ScoutmasterCG.com Backers The Scouting program is like any good camp fire, both require the right materials and right conditions, the x factor is how much patience you have for kindling the fire. Answers to email questions on Scouts and political functions, youth protection, and how many merit badges are a large amount. Get The SCOUTMASTERCG APP Podcast Archive Podcast: Play in new window | Download...

Instead of worrying about what Scouts aren’t doing look for what they are doing. Exchange your expectations for their aspirations. If we look for problems, we’ll find them; there will always be plenty of room for improvement. If we look for effort and initiative we’ll find them too. Your encouragement of the good you find leads to more good. Our goal is motivation by responding rather than dictating and suggesting rather than requiring....

A reader sent a link to a venerable work published many decades ago titled “Principles of Scoutmastership in Relation to Boy Development” prepared by a commission who set themselves the task of answering these questions What is this development we seek for the boy? What is the boy? How does he develop? What elements of the Scout program are effective in his development? What are the resulting principles for the guidance of the Scoutmaster?...

If I could change one thing about Scouting I’d do away with the term ‘adult leader’. Leaders are directive, they tell people what to do and how to do it. Advisors and mentors , on the other hand, are motivational – they help people develop skills and find the inspiration in their work. The greatest responsibility of an adult working with a Scout Troop or Venture Crew is engaging youth members in leading themselves using the patrol system....

Scouting laws, like the laws of physics and those recorded by Murphy, reflect the way things are rather than the way we wish they were. Andy is a Unit Commissioner who answers Scouting questions though his online column, Ask Andy with a pithy, direct style that has helped many Scouters find their way out of difficulties. Here are 60 or so of Andy’s Scouting ‘laws’; Commissioners are responsible for everything and have authority over nothing....

There’s no way to compel Scouts to respect you (or anything else for that matter). We can make them act respectful towards us or the things we say but acting respectful towards someone or something and having respect for someone or something are two very different things. You’ll earn respect from your Scouts by being who you are, not some idealized concept of what you think you should be. Scouts can spot a hypocrite at a hundred yards....

Here’s three handy phrases for Scoutmasters from an interview on next week’s podcast. You may find these useful in any number of situations. How would you use these phrases?

This email about one Webelos crossover to a troop needs little introduction or explanation, but one part bears repeating; Meetings don’t cut it, selling the parents on how great a troop is doesn’t cut it, your “reputation” of being a strong troop doesn’t cut it. What does? Read on; Clarke – I recently stumbled across your podcast and blog. I have been listening my way through the podcast archive. I just listened to one show about visiting Webelos....

Sometimes it seems we are doing all the right things but the results we are hoping for never materialize. When Scout leaders grow frustrated with their work it’s usually because they are making one or more of the following mistakes: 1. Scout Leaders Become Over Involved You’ve heard the term ‘helicopter’ applied to parents, teachers and Scout leaders who are over-involved in children’s lives. Scout leaders can over-plan, seek to control too many of the variables and reduce the Scouting experience to something more like a carefully guided tour rather than an open-ended adventure....

Talking with Scouts about tragic events is one way we can help relieve some of the anxiety, anger and uncertainty we all feel; lend perspective, and find constructive action in response to tragedy. When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, “Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.” To this day, especially in times of disaster, I remember my mother’s words and I am always comforted by realizing that there are still so many helpers – so many caring people in this world....

Here’s an easy way to introduce visiting parents or new adult volunteers to the concept of youth leadership – a Scout leader business card that explains things simply, politely yet directly. THANK YOU FOR LENDING A HANDOur Scouts are on the field playing a game. Head Coach = ScoutmasterTeam Captains = Youth LeadershipTeam Members = Scouts Head coach manages communication with team captains. No coaches or spectators allowed on the field of play....

Scoutmaster survival can hinge on these three P’s – proportion, perspective and preparation, every Scoutmaster should know: ProportionYou can only do so much, you have limitations and you have a breaking point. Having a sober estimate of these things about ourselves is important. Your Scouts can only do so much, they have limitations and they have a breaking point. Focus on building their enthusiasm and vision for the possibilities in front of them....

Priceless! Dear Andy, I returned from Scout camp after spending six days with my son and his troop a couple of weeks ago, and I have to say is I’m shocked. I was there with the Scoutmaster, and he never lifted a finger to help the boys. All he did was sit in his lawn chair and watch them fail, time after time. I’m still so angry I’m ready to pull my son out of Scouts....

You have been asked to take on one of the greatest, most challenging roles in Scouting; you are a new Scoutmaster. What next? Get trained! Here’s the steps; Be prepared for training by being teachable. A new Scoutmaster may have a strong, determined personality. While this is desirable in some respects it can also make us less than receptive to training. You may have a number of preconceived ideas of the work of Scouting that may or may not help your Scouts achieve the aims of Scouting....

Ten skills Scoutmasters needbased on The Ten Essentials of Scoutmastership penned by William ‘Green Bar Bill’ Hillcourt were part of the Scoutmaster’s Handbook for many years. 1. A belief in boys that will make you want to invest yourself and your time on their behalf. As Plato said “Of all the animals, the boy is the most unmanageable”. But our work is not merely managing boys as if they were our employees, teaching boys as if they were students in a classroom or preaching to boys as if they were our congregants....

How are we doing? Are we hitting Scouting Aims? Scouting has many measures for success; finances, membership, activity, advancement, training, miles hiked, feet climbed, distances paddled, roads biked, all serve to give us different perspectives but only partially and imperfectly answer the question. We may strive to distinguish our efforts by producing impeccably uniformed Scouts who can tie every knot in the book, whip up impeccable dutch oven feasts, and win contests....

Tradition is a form of complacency and innovation is a form of restlessness. Complacency resists change: “We’ve always done it that way” “Nobody would like that change” “We don’t get any complaints (well, one or two from people with sour grapes.)” “People will get confused if we change that.” Innovation begins with inquiry: “Why are we doing things that way?” “Is what we are doing actually achieving our goals?” “Is the cost of staying the same greater than the cost of change?...

Do your Scouts share your ambitions? You may be pulling in different directions if they don’t. How can we align the ambitions of our Scouts, our adult leadership and those of the Scouting program? One way to find out is to make three lists: List number one; adult leader ambitions Sit down and make a list of your ambitions. Not what you think they should be but what they are. Do a little soul searching and write down the ones that come to mind without editing and see what you come up with....

Badges and awards are results; but Scouters understand the importance of recognizing effort. In his book Shine: Using Brain Science to Get the Best from Your People Psychiatrist Ned Hallowell concludes that acknowledgment of effort provides vital encouragement, motivation and inspires greater confidence, but also promotes moral behavior; “When a person feels recognized and connected to the larger group, she knows viscerally, not just intellectually, that she has made a contribution others value....

This post on Doug Stowe’s The Wisdom of the Hands blog discusses the hand-brain connection: “The way to the brain, goes through the hand” This isn’t a new thought, but it is particularly relevant to Scouting. (If you take the time to look at Doug’s writings you’ll soon discover that this isn’t just a saying; it has a scientific basis.) Are we at our best when we are telling, showing or doing?...