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Meeting Ingredients
Before the Meeting
Opening Exercises
Troop Formations
Scoutcraft
Patrol Corners
Scoutcraft Games
Recreational Games
Council Fire Period
Closing Exercises
After the Meeting
Scout Books
Site Contents
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THE INGREDIENTS OF THE TROOP MEETING
SCOUTCRAFT INSTRUCTION-By this we mean the introduction of some Scoutcraft that will help each Scout to
become better prepared. If you use the idea of planning the program of your Troop
around a monthly theme, this presentation will, of course, cover the skill you are
concentrating on at the time. This part of the meeting may be put on in several
ways:
Talk-a SHORT
and snappy one, by a qualified speaker on the theme of the month.
Pictures-A
talk will be greatly strengthened by the use of a blackboard, charts or large-sized
pictures. Filmstrips or slides are even better. Occasionally, use one of the
special Scoutcraft training films that are available through your Local Council.
Demonstration-Many
subjects are best treated in the form of a demonstration with the actual materials at
hand: "Packing Your Pack," "Making a Camp Bed," and so on.
Dramatization-A number of skills
adapt themselves easily to dramatization-axe safety and first aid, among
others.
SCOUTCRAFT PRACTICE-The
actual use during the Troop meeting of some Scouting knowledge, for practice in the
subject, or for testing. This, too, will be based on the "theme of the
month."
Scoutcraft Games-involving Scout skills, quickness of action or thought, observation and
deduction, use of the senses-with the Patrols the teams.
Scoutcraft Projects-each Patrol showing its ability in a skill by completing a project in it.
Such projects lend themselves especially well to contests between the Patrols.
Scout Formations – Just enough practice in the use of silent Scout hand signals to keep the
boys alert, and to move the Patrols quickly into various formations for games and other
activities.
FUN-Different
program features that will add variety to the meeting and will help to build Troop spirit
and enthusiasm:
Recreational Games-Recreational Games-with emphasis on physical action and fun.
Songs-serious or humorous,
old and new.
Yells-to "blow off
steam," for unity and morale.
Story-Telling
by Scouts,
leaders, outsiders.
INSPIRATION-Various
means of keeping the ideals of Scouting before the boys in a natural manner:
Ceremonies-opening
and closing ceremonies, investitures and advancement ceremonies.
Scout Oath and
Law-occasional recitation of the Law, and re-dedication to the Scout Oath
at special, outstanding events in the year's program.
Scoutmaster's Three Minutes-a short, inspirational talk by the leader.
Scoutmaster's Three Minutes.
ADMINISTRATION-Business
matters will have to be looked after, but keep the time spent on them at a minimum.
Reports-by
Patrols on attendance, advancement, uniforming. Reading of the Troop log by the Troop
Scribe.
Dues-Payment of the Troop
dues.
Inspection-of Uniform-for neatness and correctness and proper wearing of Badges and Insignia.
Announcements-of
forthcoming meetings, hikes, camps, and so on.
SKELETON
TROOP MEETING PROGRAM |
PERIOD |
ACTIVITY |
| BEFORE MEETING |
Service Patrol arranges room.
Patrol meetings.
Games for arrivals to join.
Personal conferences.
Business (dues, attendance, library).
Final check with leaders. |
| OPENING EXERCISES |
Patrol Reports.
Opening ceremony.
Scribe's Report.
Inspection.
Announcements relative to meeting. |
| FORMATIONS |
Patrol Formations-silent signals. |
| SCOUTCRAFT PRESENTATION |
Short talks on Scoutcraft.
Instruction movie. Demonstration-Dramatization. |
| PATROL CORNERS |
Patrol projects.
Preparing for Patrol's participation in later contests, stunts, etc. |
| SCOUTCRAFT GAMES |
Scout skill games.
Sense games. |
| SCOUTCRAFT PROJECTS |
Contests between Patrols or between Patrol
representatives. |
| RECREATIONAL GAMES |
Strength games.
Fun games. |
| COUNCIL FIRE |
Songs. Yells. Story telling. Stunts. Scoutmaster's
Minute. |
| CLOSING EXERCISES |
Announcements of future events.
Closing ceremony. |
| AFTER MEETING |
Personal interviews.
Service Patrol cleans up.
Short Leaders' Council meeting. |
Planning the Details
When the skeleton of the Troop's meetings is once determined, it becomes
comparatively simple to lay out the details of each individual meeting. While the
program for the month as a whole is planned at the monthly meeting of the Patrol Leaders'
Council, the plans for the Troop meeting immediately ahead are best checked at the short
get-together of the leaders after each meeting is adjourned.
This short meeting has several advantages:
1. The leaders have the meeting just finished freshly in mind.
2. There may have been weak spots in the meeting that need to
be corrected in the future, or good points worth following up.
3. All the leaders are present so that responsibilities for the
next meeting may be assigned or volunteered for, and arrangements made for having
necessary equipment on hand.
4. Patrol Leaders may get further suggestions for tying the activities of their
Patrols in with the Troop activities.
The Senior Patrol Leader, as usual, is in the chair for this planning
get-together. He has before him the Troop meeting skeleton, and the general program
for the month. Now the specific meeting details are decided.
What ceremonies for the next meeting? What business do we
have to cover? Is everything in readiness for the Scoutcraft presentation?
What Scoutcraft games and projects? What Patrol corner activities? What fun
games? What songs for the camp fire session? [See Philmont Songbook]. Put the details
down on paper in a suitable arrangement:
Troop One
Troop Meeting Program, Jan 15th |
| 7:25 |
Dues Collection and Attendance |
John |
| 7:30 |
Line up. Opening: Flag Ceremony |
Ralph |
| 7:40 |
Scribe’s Report. Patrol
Contest Report. |
Art |
| 7:50 |
Game: Noises in the Night |
Marshall |
| 8:00 |
Game: Who am I? |
Ralph |
| 8:10 |
Morse Signal Demonstration |
Chief |
| 8:20 |
To Patrol Corners. Make Signaller |
|
| 8:30 |
Morse game |
Marshall |
| 8:45 |
Newspaper Calisthenics |
Art |
| 8:55 |
Campfire – Songs |
Sam |
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Stunts |
Patrols |
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SM’s Minute |
Chief |
| 9:20 |
Taps. Candle Ceremony |
Ralph |
Who will lead what? Some responsibilities are routine, such as: The
Senior Patrol Leader in general charge of the meeting; the Scribe reading the accounts of
the last hike from the Troop log book, handling dues and attendance, and so on.
Other leaders and Explorers may receive special jobs for the meeting: One Assistant
Scoutmaster will make the inspection and check on the month's advancement; the other will
see how the decoration of the Patrol corners is coming along; the Beaver Patrol will put
on the traction splint first aid demonstration; one Junior Assistant will handle the
Bandage Relay and the Tourniquet Race, another will take Horse and Rider and British
Bulldog. And so it goes. Put the leader’s names down on paper next to their
subject. (See sample Troop Meeting Program, above).
Many Troops rotate special duties among the Patrols: The Patrol
which is the Service Patrol arrives early; puts room in shape; starts the fire, if
necessary; has material ready for games; is the last Patrol to leave after tidying up the
room. The Patrol that has the job of being the Program Patrol is in charge of
opening and closing ceremonies; of the "council fire" period with its songs and
stunts, and of the Scoutcraft demonstration of the evening. These duties may be
assigned on a monthly basis or from one meeting to the next. Put the names of the
duty Patrols down and make sure the Patrols know what is expected of them.
With everything planned in advance, the Troop meeting
should run off without a hitch.
Keep your old Troop meeting programs on file. In this way
you will have on hand a list of good things which have been tried in the post and which
have worked -games and projects requiring little preparation. They may come In handy
some evening in a dull spot, when the program planned seems to slip.
The Scoutmaster's Part
What's your responsibility at the Troop meeting?
Your job will be on the side lines mostly. Your job will be on the side lines mostly.
You may get a questioning glance from the Senior Patrol Leader,
that plainly says "Is the game dragging?", which you may answer with a slight
nod: "Better shift, Joe."
A Junior Assistant may come to you: "Bob couldn't be here
tonight. Will you be one of the judges in the relay?"
You may spend some of the time examining a new boy in his
Tenderfoot requirements.
You may have occasion to say at the close of the meeting:
"You did a swell job tonight, fellows!"
And you may catch yourself feeling good all over for the way in
which the boy leaders run the Troop!
The Ideal Troop Meeting
The ideal Troop meeting-like the ideal after-dinner speech-is
one that runs smoothly and is truly informal. But just as the successful
"improvised" speech is the one that has been carefully planned, so the really
informal Troop meeting is one in which the informality has been carefully thought out.
Don't be discouraged because every detail doesn't click as was
expected. A meeting that looks perfect on paper may not quite work out that way,
because boys are, at times, something less than predictable. But, just as often, a
meeting will turn out to be infinitely better than it looked on paper-so it more than
evens up.
Just keep working and hoping. Some day your Patrol
Leaders' Council ... will devise a program for the Troop meeting that will work 100 per
cent ... maybe!
A FEW MEETING HINTS |
Begin on time-close
on time. |
ACTION-VARIETY-PURPOSE-The
Three Musketeers of all Troop activities. |
Recipe for a good meeting:
Something old (a couple of the old favorite games)
Something new (a brand-new game; a new song; a new Scoutcraft trick)
Something surprising (a special visitor; a treat; a Scout movie)
Something true (a story based on the Scout Law; a story of a hero)
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Boys have a
thousand muscles to wiggle with and only one dozen to sit still with. That dozen
gets mighty tired mighty quickly. |
Keep every moment
busy. Crowd things along, and you will have no discipline problems, no uncontrolled
rough-housing. |
As a general rule,
allow no more than twenty minutes to any one activity. |
Plan for more than
can be accomplished rather than too little. Better leave some good things undone
than to have the meeting "peter out" a half hour early. |
Shift to something
else before the boys tire of what they are doing. |
If the planned
program doesn't work, be resourceful. Throw some out, if necessary, to suit
conditions. |
Encourage members
of the Troop Committee to attend regularly. When they come, have something definite
for them to do. |
Keep visitors on
the side lines. Most of the time visitors come to see what is happening. Don't
let them interrupt the meeting. |
THE PROGRESS OF THE TROOP MEETING
Now that we have discussed the general idea behind
the Troop meeting and the planning of it, let's
follow the progress of a full and well-rounded meeting.
In the following pages you will find a great variety of
suggestions from which your Patrol Leaders' Council can select the features that
will best suit your Troop.
Well, let's say it's Troop meeting night tonight, and let's
see what may happen:
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