Welcome to Scoutmaster Specific Training

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Scoutmaster and Assistant Scoutmaster Leader
Specific Training
PROGRAM PLANNING
By Mike Minello SM Troop 251
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Learning Objectives

• Guide your Troop in developing annual program
  plans and stick to them.
• Involve Scouts in planning a troops program,
  feeling invested in it, and taking responsibility
  for bringing it to life.
• Understand how the planning process connects
  activities with the values of Scouting.
• Resources available that help conduct effective
  troop program planning.

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Resources

• The Scoutmaster Handbook Chapter 8
• Troop Program Features, Vol I, II, III
• Troop Program Resources
• BSA Video Troop Program Planning
• The Boy Scout Handbook

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Program Planning

• Why is planning important for carrying out an
  effective troop program?

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Answers

• An annual planning meeting encourages troop
  leaders to explore a wide range of program
  opportunities.
• Too often, a troops program is planned by adults
  and offered to the boys
• Adults should support and coach from the
  background

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Planning - Two forms to ensure the best possible
program

• Annual long-range planning
• Attended by the patrol leaders council, the
  Scoutmaster, and other key adults
• Monthly short-term planning

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Annual Troop Program Planning

• Creates stability for the troop
• Increases Scout participation
• Allows Scoutmaster to give the boys much of the
  leadership of meetings and activities
• Develops a coherent and inviting troop program

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The Five Steps of Annual Troop Program Planning
1. Do your homework. 2. Get patrol input. 3.
Hold a planning conference. 4. Consult with the
troop committee. 5. Announce the plan.
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Your Primary Planning Tools

• Troop Program Features
• Troop Program Resources
• Troop program support
• Council calendar
• Other calendars

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Step One Do your homework

• Evaluate the past years activities
• Gather dates of BSA district, council, community,
  church, school, personal life, etc. that could
  affect troop activites
• Review advancement status of troop members
• What are patrol priorities for the troop
• Prepare an outline of the annual program
• Review the plan with the Senior Patrol Leader

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Step Two Get Patrol Input

• The Senior Patrol Leader shares the outline of
  the annual program plan to the patrol leaders
  council
• Patrol Leaders presents plan to his patrol for
  discussion
• Senior Patrol Leader leads troop members in a
  discussion of choices, then offers opportunity to
  vote
• The patrol leaders council and other key troop
  leaders are ready to meet

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Step Three Hold a Troop Program Planning
Conference

• The heart of determining a troops activities for
  the coming six months or year
• Should be attended by
• Senior Patrol Leader
• Assistant Senior Patrol Leader
• Patrol Leaders
• Troop Guide
• Scoutmaster and Assistant Scoutmasters
• Junior Assistant Scoutmasters

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TheTroop Planning Conference
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Troop Program Planning Conference Agenda
1. Conduct Team-building activity 2. Review
methods and objectives 3. Develop Troop
goals 4. Consider major calendar
events 5. Consider suggested program features
6. Vote on list of program features 7. Fill in
Troop Planning Work Sheet 8. Discuss and schedule
repeat events and program events 9. Finalize
Troop Planning Work Sheet
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Team-building Activity
Scouting is a game with a purpose Robert
Baden-Powell
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Troop Program Planning Conference Agenda

• Will the Program Features help the Troop reach
  its GOALS?
• What are the opportunities for ADVANCEMENT?
• Where does it best fit the annual calendar?
• Will it be exciting for all ages of Scouts?
• How does it incorporate the VALUES of Scouting?

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Planning Items to Consider

• Boards of review
• Courts of honor
• Year-round recruiting plan
• Webelos-to-Scout transition

• Monthly Activities
• Service /Conservation project
• Troop Leadership Training

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Troop Program Features

• Volume One
• Aquatics, Athletics,Backpacking,
  Boating/Canoeing, Business, Camping, Citizenship,
  Communications, Cooking, Cultural Awareness,
  Emergency Preparedness, Engineering
• Volume Two

• Environment, First Aid, Fishing, Forestry, Health
  Care, High Adventure, Hiking, Hobbies,
  Leadership, Mechanics, Nature, Orienteering
• Volume Three
• Physical Fitness, Pioneering, Public Service,
  Safety, Science,
  Shooting, Special Cooking, Sports, Tracking,
  Wilderness Survival, Wildlife Management, Winter
  Camping

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Patrol planning exercise

• Outline a FIVE month Troop program using the
  material we have discussed in this session, the
  Troop Program Features (vol I, II, and III), The
  Scoutmaster Handbook and the Troop Planning
  Worksheet.
• Give a brief report to the (training) Troop

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Step Four Consult with the Troop Committee

• Senior Patrol Leader or Scoutmaster present the
  plan to the Committee
• The Committee lends its support but retains the
  right of refusal if plan is unsafe or unwise
• Committee reviews plan monthly to determine how
  they can best support it
• Scoutmaster delegates parts to assistants to
  provide guidance and accountability

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Step Five Announce the Troops Annual Plan

• Announce the Annual Plan
• Distribute photocopies to troop members,
  parents, committee, chartered organization.
• Publicize
• Good for member planning, keeps parents and
  committee aware, its an effective recruitment
  tool
• (newspaper - troop newsletter - troop web site -
  council newsletter - chartered organization
  publications - school publications and bulletin
  boards)

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Implementing the Troop Program

• Consult with the Troop committee
• Announce the Troops Annual Program
• Publicize the Troops Annual Program
• Monthly Troop Program Planning at the Patrol
  Leaders Council Meeting
• Sequencing of Adult leader Meetings
• Weekly Review by Senior Patrol Leader

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Planning - Two forms to ensure the best possible
program

• Annual long-range planning
• Attended by the patrol leaders council, the
  Scoutmaster, and other key adults
• Monthly short-term planning

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Scoutmaster Steps to ensure best possible program
1. Review annual plan (use Troop Program
Features) 2. Attend Roundtables 3. Review
themes/activities with assigned Asst.
Scoutmasters 4. With S.P.L. draw up agenda for
Patrol Leaders Council Meetings 5. Assist
S.P.L. in conducting Patrol Leaders Council
meetings
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Scoutmaster Steps to ensure best possible program
cont...
6. Use an written agenda so S.P.L. can fill in
plans and events 7. Scoutmaster can share
information from Troop Program Features and
Roundtables etc. 8. Use Troop Meeting Plan
Sheets 9. Work out the details
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Sequencing of Adult Leader Meetings

• Roundtables
• Troop Committee Meetings
• Meetings with Assistant Scoutmasters
• Patrol Leaders Council Meeting

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The Weekly Review

• After each meeting or activity of the troop
• Review activity just completed
• Go over plan for next event
• Make changes

- A BOY LED PROGRAM -
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Summary

• Scoutmasters who put energy into program planning
  will find their job as troop leaders much easier
• Use the BSA literature, specifically The
  Scoutmasters Handbook Troop Program Features,
  Volumes I, II, and III and Troop Program
  Resources

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Questions ?
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