2012 University of Scouting – MGT111

Troop Level Youth Leadership Training

Agenda• Some Background• How does this fit in your overall program• A Possible Model• Course Content - including the new ILST• The Event• Supporting your program with additional

resources

“Training boy leaders to run their troop is the Scoutmaster’s most important job.”

“Train Scouts to do a job, then let them do it.”

“Never do anything a boy can do.”

My Woodbadge Ticket(partial)

• Develop and conduct a youth leader training program that is led by the senior scouts

• Conduct bi-annual Training & Planning events in order to maintain a calendar of events that supports the goals of the Troop program.

• Survey the participants to ensure continuous improvement

How Does Training Fit In?• How often do you elect Youth Leaders (SPL and

PL’s)?• What is your planning process and horizon?• Do you set troop goals? How does the new Journey

to Excellence program fit in?• What are the current “leadership” issues that need

to be addressed?• How are your meetings running? Is the PLC

effective?

Journey to Excellence• 2012 Requirements…– Trained Leadership

• Added requirement for “Introduction to Leadership Skills for Troops” Course

• Youth Elections Completed– Patrol Method

• PLC Meetings• Annual Planning meeting• Patrol Leader Training• NYLT

– Other Goals need to be supported by a Troop’s annual planning process

An Effective Program Can Help…• Promote and reinforce a boy led program• Facilitate an effective PLC that understands roles

and responsibilities• Provide more structure to Troop meetings and

campouts• Scouts understand how to work together as a team• Instill a level of commitment for the youth that

accept a leadership role• Integrated with planning – training becomes more

actionable

A Model based on Electing Youth Leaders twice per year…

An Example Program• Elect Youth Leaders twice per year allowing

opportunity for 6 month assignments– Elections in March and September– April-September & October-March Terms

• Troop Leadership Training Events– Early April and early October (following unit elections)– October event is extended to include yearly planning– April event is a one day event– A good portion of the event is Youth led– Attended by the entire PLC

Troop Timeline

JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC

Term 1 Aligns with new scouts starting and provides continuity through the active summer months

Term 2Term 2

Elections

Elections1 Day Training

Event

Weekend Training &

Yearly PlanningEvent

PLC PLC PLC PLC PLC PLC PLC* PLC PLC PLC PLC PLCPrimary Planning Horizon 2 months (current +1)

Example Program - continued• During the events…– Always include a review of roles and responsibilities– Have each youth leader set personal leadership goals and

sign a contract with the Scoutmaster– Yearly planning should include a calendar and goals for the

coming year– Vary the content as best as you can to keep things fresh

and address current needs– Include some fun activities!– Get feedback and improve

Example Program - continued• In Between Events…– Use PLC meetings to assess progress towards goals– Keep some important statistics to measure progress –

like some of the JTE measures

• Market Your Program…– It’s a privilege to attend – make it special– Recognize your youth leaders– Supplement with other opportunities like NYLT for scouts

with high potential