July, 2005

Lost in the woods?

Have you ever wondered how our troop does the things we do? How do our outings get planned and executed? Does your son just seem to show up, disappear into the big gray bus, and return with a smiling face or tired eyes? I would like to tell you how we plan an event or how we are supposed to plan outings so that you will understand a little of what is going on with your boy and how you can support him.

If you do not know what is going on it may be because we are a boy lead troop with adult organization and support. Being boy lead often leads to communication gaps. Once or twice a year the senior patrol leader and his staff assemble together to plan the year. In this planning the boys decide the theme for the year and the places they would like to go. In the past we have had themes from the 1911 Scouting handbook or high adventure themes like the trips to Colorado and Mount Washington. We try to have a high adventure trip every other year and try to have a summer camp out of our council every other year. Their plan is then presented to the troop and if the boys support the SPL's theme then the plan is taken to the troop committee for their permission and support. This plan is just an outline and must be fleshed out during the year. The Senior Patrol Leader does this by having monthly meetings on the second Wednesday of every month. In these meetings the SPL, along with his assistant, his patrol leaders, and support staff (quartermaster, historian, scribe, guides, and others) meet with the scoutmaster, the assistant scoutmasters, and the monthly theme sponsor. The details of each week's meetings are hashed out and special arrangements are made to support the outings. Coordination is done with the adult sponsor. Each sponsor is responsible for the event by calculating project costs, getting special permits or permissions to go on the trip, obtaining topographic or trail maps, generating equipment lists or supplies, arranging for special training, etc. Usually the adult sponsor has a special interest in the monthly theme and is considered the troop expert in that subject. As scoutmaster I further arrange for additional adult support, obtain a tour permit from our council, write up a permission slip and show up as leader. My efforts generally focus on making sure quality is instilled in the outings and that the goals of scouting are followed. I also consider my primary role is to have safe events.

Our outings are usually on the third weekend of every month. Two Wednesdays before the event the SPL makes an event announcement. He reminds everyone that the outing is coming up and if we need signups and commitments for certain events then he gets them on that Wednesday. On the Wednesday before the event the boys divvy out responsibilities. They plan meals, assign food shopping, tent sharing, stove numbers, water purification needs, and other special equipment requirements. They also divide into patrols and assign patrol leaders and assistants. Your son is supposed to fulfill his responsibilities. If he fails to buy the food then the patrol suffers. Sometimes a boy decided not to go or double books his schedule. In that event he is supposed to make arrangement to cover his responsibilities. It is not uncommon to be left wanting. Sometimes the assistant scoutmasters covers the needs or sometimes not. Lessons in responsibility and commitment are to be earned. Each boy is to pack his own pack and as our motto says, "Be Prepared". This is not to say that he is not supported; however, he needs to be in charge and learning to be self-sufficient. He is to show up on time, with cash, and packed correctly. He is to make sure that his permission slip gets signed and turned into the Quartermaster. Once the bus is loaded and we have full accounts of boys, adults, and money we are off on our adventure. We generally try to get back at a certain posted time and in most cases make it back within 15 or 30 minutes of that time; however, we can run into difficulties. We usually call all parents when we are about hour from the church. Once you get the call I ask that you show up to pickup your child. Some may ask why should they should be on time when the scoutmaster may not be so accurate in his return time. I spend a lot of time with your sons. I have had your children all weekend and chances are I am ready to give them back. Please be ready to take them. Once we return a series of thing must happen before the boys can leave to go home. The bus gets unloaded and the packs go back into the pack line. None of the boys' equipment should go to their cars. The bus gets cleaned out and the quartermaster inspects the bus which is verified by the scoutmaster. The troop is then turned over to the senior patrol leader who then dismisses the troop. This process ensures that the bus will be ready for our next outing. The boys' then get their equipment and go home. I stay until every boy is picked up.

So there you have it. You still may not know what is going on but at least you know why. It really depends on so many things: the development of the SPL and his team, how far along are they in their learning process, if they are communicating effectively. Secondly you may not be getting information from your son. Nearly every meeting information goes out. Does it come home? If you need more troop news I strongly recommend you attend the monthly committee meetings held every 2nd Wednesday at 7:30. This meeting is held by James Giesel our Troop Committee Chair. As chair he is responsible for the overall behavior of the troop and has the final say in all we do. Attending this monthly meeting should provide you everything you need to know and more. Additionally I am going to increase my scoutmaster's corner to provide written updates on what we are doing and how we do it. If you have any subjects you would like to know about, please contact me.

See you on the trail,

David Dierken, Scoutmaster
BSA Troop 315
Scoutmaster@Troop315.org