Successful LDS Scouting

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A Roadmap to Scouting and Advancementfor Young Men in Units Chartered byThe Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints

Why the Church does ScoutingThe 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.

“Scouting 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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Basically: to make strong & righteous missionaries, husbands, and fathers

The Three Points of the Scout OathAims 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 for Priesthood & Missionary Service

• Ideals (Mission, Aims, Scout Oath & Law)• Patrols (group living & participating citizenship)• Association with Adults• Advancement (self-paced achievement)• Personal Growth (progress towards goals)• Leadership Development• Uniform (commitment & brotherhood)• Outdoor Programs (shared responsibility &

purpose)

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Realities of LDS ScoutingProblems:• Adult leaders are

assigned and often not passionate volunteers

• Boys have no choice; all are registered

Solutions:• Clear expectations

– Trainings (time & money)– Meetings (Roundtable)– Tenure (3+ years)

• Adapt & expand program– Some boys will not be motivated

by advancement– Engage them with other “Methods”

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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

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TroopPatrol

Senior Patrol LeaderScoutmasterCommitteeRoundtable

TeamSquad

CaptainCoach

CommitteeHuddle

Crew“Mini-Crew”

PresidentAdvisor

ConsultantsForum

Varsity & Venturing?• Recognition (awards) as valid &

prestigious• Expands on Merit Badge program• Leaders have equivalent

authority & responsibility• Increased opportunities for

planning & leadership• Only been recognized locally

since 1998– We are less familiar with it!

• First Class Rank (except for camping requirement)

• Merit Badges– Personal Fitness– Swimming

• Go to EYOS Camp• Complete Faith in God

(Primary)

Eleven Year-Old Scout Priorities

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Boy Scout (12-13) Priorities• Life Rank & Merit Badges

– At home: Cit. World, Cit. Nation, Family Life

– At camp: Communication, First Aid, Environmental Science

• Scout Camp• Duty to God (LDS) & On My

Honor (BSA)

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Varsity Scout (14-15) Priorities• Eagle Rank & Merit Badges

– At home: Cit. Community, Cooking, Personal Management

– At camp: Camping, Lifesaving• Letters & Denali Award

– Youth-organized Quarterly Program• High Adventure Camp• Duty to God (LDS) & On My

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Venturing (16+) Priorities• Venturing & Expert awards

– Real-world certifications– Plan own events; develop a theme– Project Management & Leadership

• High Adventure Camp• Remaining Scouting awards• Duty to God (LDS) & On My

Honor (BSA)

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SwimmingEnviron. ScienceCommunicationsFirst Aid

Recommended Schedule forEagle-Required Merit Badges

Family LifePersonal FitnessCit. NationCit. World

Personal Mgmt.CookingCit. Community

Emergency Prep.Sustainability

Hom

eC

amp

Younger Older Alternates

CampingLifesaving

HikingCycling

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Adult & Youth Leadership8.3.4 The Young Men president and his counselors serve as Aaronic Priesthood quorum advisers. The president is the adviser to the priests quorum, the first counselor is the adviser to the teachers quorum, and the second counselor is the adviser to the deacons quorum. … Where Scouting is authorized by the Church, members of the Young Men presidency are generally called to serve as Scout leaders, but they may be called to serve as assistant Scout leaders (see 8.13.4). 8.3.6 The bishopric may call assistant quorum advisers to help the Young Men presidency with their responsibilities. … Where Scouting is authorized by the Church, assistant quorum advisers are generally called to serve as assistant Scout leaders, but they may be called to serve as Scout leaders (see 8.13.4). 8.13.4 Scouting should help young men put into practice the gospel principles they learn on Sunday. … In each quorum, the bishop usually appoints the quorum president or one of his assistants in the priests quorum to serve as the youth leader of the Scouting program. However, he may appoint other young men as youth Scout leaders

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Practical Tips for Record KeepingScoutBook.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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Practical Tips for the CommitteeOrganize• Your Committee Chair should be

at least as experienced as your Leaders

• 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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Committee Tasks• Advancement

– Maintain Scoutbook.com– Eagle Adviser– Manage Merit Badge Counselor lists

• Money– Annual fundraiser– Manage budget & finances– Friends of Scouting

• Records– Annual rechartering– Training records– Continuous registration for boys and adults

throughout the year (as they age up)

• Public Relations– Coordinate service opportunities– Recruitment events & activities– Scouting for Food

• Outdoor activities– Maintain equipment– Apply for Tour & Activity Plans– Manage Health Forms– Summer Camp & High Adventure

Camp registration

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Practical Tips for Interacting with the 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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Resources• http://LDSBSA.org• http://UtahScouts.org• http://ScoutBook.com

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