Before bridging to a new Troop it’s important to consider your options within your local area of Troops to choose from. This episode explores the different considerations that go into choosing the right Troop.
Show Notes:
- What questions to ask when selecting a Troop (Bryan on Scouting)
- Choosing a Troop (ScoutmasterCG)
- What to look for in a Troop (USSSP)
Transcript:
While a Webelos scout to earn thw Arrow of light, a scout must complete the Scouting Adventure.
As part of this requirement scouts must visit a Boy Scout Troop meeting and with their Webelos den leader, parent, or guardian, participate in a Boy Scout troop’s campout or other outdoor activity.
As mentioned in last week’s ScoutmasterDave there are some packs that have a direct relationship with a Troop, and while its never required to go to a specific Troop, it can be strongly encouraged depending on the nature of that cub unit – boy scout unit relationship.
While there is nothing wrong with cubs always bridging to the same troop, it’s important to understand that it is the families choice on where to go, not the pack or the Troop’s
When I was cubmaster, and also my two tours as Webelos den leader I would encourage scouts to visit multiple local troops to make sure they were choosing a place that was right for them.
This perspective did not change when I was Scoutmaster either, as the thing of paramount importance is the scout transition to a Troop to continue the scouting journey, and it does no one any good for the scout to transition and then not be happy only to drop out a month later.
This does happen though for many reasons.
The cub and boy scouting programs are very different, and some cubs don’t want to make that transition. But it shouldn’t be because they don’t like a particular troop for some reason.
Most often cubs move as a pack of lemmings, and all transition to one troop together. This is also ok, as at least they are together in an unfamiliar surrounding. This only works however if they got along in the first place. If not, as I mentioned, there is no reason they can’t go to another troop alone.
Our troop has been the recipient on both ends, both getting the entire Webelos den and getting one-off scouts from other packs in the local area.
But what should you be looking for in a troop? There are 3 basic things.
First, the adult leaders. Watch how they interact with the current scouts. Don’t be do concerned with how they act with your boys or girls, while this is important, its not as critical as how they interact with those in their troop. Remember, you have just foisted a pack of wild dogs on them, so your cubs may not be the most well behaved
Secondly, look to the boys in charge. Are the boys in charge? They should be. Do they have a program going on, or are they just sitting around. Different troops have different ways of running a program. If your scout has lots of energy, and the main thing they do is lots of reading out of the book, it might be worth looking to another Troop.
And thirdly, look at the size and makeup of the Troop. Do they have lots of scouts or only a few. Do they have lots of older scouts and very few younger scouts?
Less scouts can mean more opportunity for leadership, but can also mean there are less scouts to run the troop properly.
More scouts can make it more difficult to gain leadership experience, as more of the positions of responsibility will be held by older boys.
The good thing about more boys however is you have more opportunity for trips and events, and on any given trip you get about 50-60% of the troop attending. A troop of 10 boys, means you have one, maybe two patrols, which can limit you for troop centered activities.
There can also be personal reasons to join one troop or another, as not all boys get along, or the location, meeting day or time may be inconvenient. Also, some troops may be largely one religion or culture.
While a religion or culture shouldn’t be a reason not to join a troop, the results of the culture may not fit in with your scout’s schedule or dietary requirements.
For example Jewish religious Troop may not camp on Fridays and Saturday morning. Opting for Saturday night to Sunday night campouts, and scouts may be involved in sports on Sunday mornings.
A Troop with predominately Islamic scouts may opt for no pork products, or the troop may be primarily vegan. If your scout is a very picky eater, this might be something to consider.
The point is, ask questions as part of your investigation process.
Take what you like and leave the rest, and as we say in Woodbadge, feedback is a gift, leave yours below in the comments, with the hope we can all learn together.
I’m Scoutmaster Dave, and this was the choosing a troop.
