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Eleven Year Old ScoutsFirst-Year Scouting the LDS Way

Darrell HurtApril 23, 2016

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Outline

• Why “Eleven-Year Old” Scouting?• The Eleven-Year Old Scout Leader• The Eleven-Year Old Scout Program• Practical tips for Leaders, Committees, and Parents

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Bottom Line, Up Front

• The year of EYOS is the most important period of a young man’s Scouting career from 8 to 18– Demands most organization, communication, record-keeping– Capstone experience for Scouting in Primary and sets tone for

next six years of Scouting in the Young Men organization• But it is often neglected

– Young Men ignore it– Primary focuses on Pack

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“We’re all in.”Scouting is the activities arm for LDS boys from ages 8 to 18

• President Thomas S. Monson– Longest serving member of the BSA National

Executive Board (since 1969)– Silver Buffalo & Bronze Wolf Recipient

• General Young Men’s (YM) President – Also serves on the BSA National Executive Board

• General YM & Primary Presidencies– Serve on the BSA National Advisory Board

• 12,300+ Wards in U.S., each with 4 BSA Units

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Stephen W. Owen

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Duty to God (2013 LDS Centennial)

https://www.lds.org/callings/aaronic-priesthood/video-gallery?lang=eng#bsa-duty-to-

godor

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_HkE_07QKXI

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Purpose StatementsThe Purposes of Primary are to help children:

1. Feel Heavenly Father’s love for them.

2. Learn and understand the gospel of Jesus Christ.

3. Feel and recognize the influence of the Holy Ghost.

4. Prepare to make and keep sacred covenants.

The Purposes of the Aaronic Priesthood are to help each young man to:

1. Become converted to the gospel of Jesus Christ and live by its teachings.

2. Serve faithfully in priesthood callings and fulfill the responsibilities of priesthood offices.

3. Give meaningful service.4. Prepare and live worthily to receive the Melchizedek

Priesthood and temple ordinances.5. Prepare to serve an honorable full-time mission.6. Obtain as much education as possible.7. Prepare to become a worthy husband and father.8. Give proper respect to women, girls, and children.

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Mission Statements

BSAThe mission of the Boy Scouts of America is to prepare young people to make ethical and moral choices over their lifetimes by instilling in them the values of the Scout Oath and Law.

LDSScouting can help young men and boys enhance close relationships with their families and the Church while developing strong and desirable traits of character, citizenship, and physical and mental fitness.

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The Three Points of the Scout Oath

Aims of Scouting• Character Development• Citizenship Training• Personal Fitness

Scout OathOn my honor I will do my best• to do my duty to God and my

country and to obey the Scout Law;

• to help other people at all times;• to keep myself physically

strong, mentally awake, and morally straight.

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Methods of Scouting prepare boys to receive the Aaronic Priesthood

• Ideals (Mission, Aims, Scout Oath & Law)• Patrols (group living & participating

citizenship)• Association with Adults• Outdoor Programs (shared responsibility &

purpose)• Advancement (self-paced achievement)• Personal Growth (progress towards goals)• Leadership Development• Uniform (commitment & brotherhood)

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Online ResourcesAuthoritative web sites• https://www.lds.org

/callings/primary/leader-resources/scouting-in-primary/eleven-year-old-scouts?lang=eng

• http://www.ldsbsa.org/new-leaders/eleven-year-old-scouts/

Other web sites• http://www.utahscouts.org/eyo• http://www.lds-scouts.org/ElevenYO.asp• http://www.boyacks.com/scouting/

Blogs• http://www.ldsbsa.org

/category/blog/stans-eyo-blog• http://voluntoldscouter.blogspot.com• http://ldsscouter.blogspot.com

Social Media• https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Scout

s-LDS

• https://www.facebook.com/ScoutsLDS• https

://www.facebook.com/LDSScoutersAssociation/

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LDS-Chartered Units Reflect Church Structure;Scouting is Age-Based and Year-Round

BSA ages:

LDS ages: 11 12–138–10

7–10 11–18 14–18 14–21

16–1714–15Primary Young Men

What are the implications of organizing this way?

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SM vs. EYOS LeaderUnit Leader of Boy Scouting in the Young Men organization

– YM Presidency is ecclesiastical leader

Unit Leader of Boy Scouting in the Primary organization

– Primary Presidency is ecclesiastical leader

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Registration Form

Deacons

Priests

Teachers

Each Unit Leader has the right to:• Conduct Unit Leader Conferences• Sign Merit Badge cards (blue cards)

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EYOS Leader Training

Required• Before initial contact

– Register– Youth Protection Training (online)

• First 90 days: Scoutmaster Position-Specific Training

• First 120 days: Introduction to Outdoor Leader Skills (IOLS)

Optional• General

– Training Awards & Keys– University of Scouting– Wood Badge

• Activity-Specific– Safe Swim Defense– Safety Afloat– Climb On Safely– Powder Horn

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How to Call an EYOS Leader

• Job description & expectations– Training: give a checklist– Weekly Scout meetings– Monthly Roundtable & Committee– Communication and Records

• Plan for at least 3 years in calling• Call an EYOS ASM (two deep!)

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If the one being called

cannot commit, do

not extend the call!

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EYOS Advancement Goals

Scout Tenderfoot 2nd Class 1st Class*

• Achieve First Class in 12 months*• Complete Faith in God (Primary)

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2016 Program Changes

Camping emphasis• 6 nights for 1st Class• Outdoor Ethics

Other areas of emphasis• Knowledge of program• Service hours• Safety & emergency

preparedness• Fitness

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Merit Badges for EYOSPersonal Fitness

– 12 weeks for 1st Class

Swimming– Nearly every requirement covered

Cooking– Cannot double dip; only ~10%

covered

First Aid– Only 25-30% covered

Pioneering– Half covered

Nature– Only 25-30% covered

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Easy Optional Awards for EYOS

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SwimmingEnviron. ScienceCommunicationsFirst Aid

Eagle-Required Merit Badge Schedule

Family Life*Personal Fitness*Cit. NationCit. World

Personal Mgmt.*Cooking*Cit. Community

Emergency Prep.Sustainability

Hom

eC

amp

Younger Older Alternates

CampingLifesaving

HikingCycling

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More Optional Awards (for later)

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Practical Tips for Leaders

Program• Camping is your highlight!• Use Introduction to Leadership

Skills for Troops (ILST)– PL selected by Bishopric

Leadership• Well-planned annual program

– Clear communication– Rapid and efficient advancement

• Vigilant record-keeping• Uniform

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Instant Program in a Bottle!

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Kent HansenUniversity of Scouting Co-ChairCouncil Training CommitteeUtah National Parks Council http://www.utahscouts.org/eyo

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Practical Tips for Record Keeping

ScoutBook.com• Endorsed by BSA!• Web app – works on any device!• Revolutionary for leaders• Purchase for Ward or Stake• Record, learn, share,

communicate• Output for Internet Advancement

Most important to record• Journey to Excellence &

ScoutBook.com– Service hours

• Internet Advancement & ScoutBook.com

– Boards of Review dates• ScoutBook.com only

– Nights of camping– Miles hiked

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ScoutBook.com video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dNr_mIHXDi8

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Practical Tips for the Committee

Organize• Ideally, you have separate Pack,

Troop, Team, & Crew Committees…

• Differentiate Committee meetings from YM & Primary Presidency meetings

• Offer monthly Boards of Review

Emphasize & Focus On• Training for Leaders (non-

negotiable)• Journey to Excellence as a

benchmark• Annual re-chartering• Merit Badge Counselors• Policies on travel and fundraising

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Practical Tips for Parents• If the program is struggling, step in and help!• Work together with other parents and avoid petty comparison• You MUST work on Scouting outside of Troop meetings (at home and

with Merit Badge Counselors)• Know the requirements

– Many of your normal family activities will count towards advancement– Plan regular family activities that will fulfill requirements– Some activities are seasonal. Plan for this!

• Take advantage of summer or non-busy times

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Practical Tips for District & Council

Be Informed• Go to Roundtable (ideally all attend;

minimum of one per Unit)• Sign up for (and READ)

District/Council newsletters• Check District/Council website

regularly for activities and trainings• Have an open mind during

District/Council training– “How can I use this information to improve my

Unit?”

Participate• COR should attend District Committee

Meetings as voting member• Actively participate in District/Council

events, especially if they have tried to accommodate LDS schedules and constraints

• Volunteer to be part of District/Council Committees

• Talk to other Leaders in the District/Council

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Practical Tips for Recruiting• DO NOT have to be LDS to be part of an LDS pack.

– LDS Scouting Handbook: “[Boys from other faiths] should be welcomed and encouraged to participate in Scouting.”

– http://BeAScout.org• DO have to agree to abide by LDS church standards

• Take advantage of “crossing over” ceremonies• LDS Units should excel at recruiting!

– Like Missionary Work with a slightly different message– Easier, because public is more familiar with Scouting– President Hinckley: every “convert” needs a friend, a responsibility, and nurturing (a good

experience)

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Growing Scouting: New York City

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w33k8G7zCgI

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EYOSL Minute – “We’re all in.”

• Use LDSBSA.org, UtahScouts.org, and ScoutBook.com• EYOSL functions in parallel to Scoutmaster

– SM is, by default, also the ecclesiastical leader (the YM 2nd Counselor)– Primary Presidency is ecclesiastical leader of EYOSL

• 2016 increased emphasis on Camping and Fitness• Do it smart (annual program, appropriate MBs)

– Your Committee Chair should be at least as experienced as your Leaders

• Do it right (District, recruiting, training, uniform)

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