PUBLICATIONS MARTHON:

Order of the Arrow • Boy Scouts of America

CREATING A SUPER TROOP: PRESCRIPTION FOR SUCCESS

I = INVOLVEMENT, L = LEADERSHIP, L = LAUGHS

Goals

Following this cell, each participant should:

Understand the components of building a super troop

Have experienced a great troop meeting that follows the prescription for success. - recognize that a super troop does not need to be a big troop

SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES OF THE SESSION:

Following this session, each participant should

Understand how the involvement of the youth members, parents, sponsor and community contribute to a great troop
Recognize how to involve the various groups within the troop
Understand the rote that the troop leadership (adults, youth, committee) plays in making a super troop
Understand the importance of making the troop program fun for all of the members
Develop a list of ways to make a troop fun for all.

MATERIALS AND EQUIPMENT REQUIRED

For this session, you will need the following: - dry erase board and markers - flip chart and

markers

PHYSICAL ARRANGEMENTS

For this session a conference room setting is preferable. It should have tables at which large groups (10) can gather. The groups should be assigned to a different trainer from session two if possible.

OTHER ADVANCE PREPARATION

The participants for this third session should be grouped by their assigned patrols from the first session. Have patrol signs/flags at the tables so members can find their seats.

Prior to the arrival of the participants, print on the white board:

The session name

Your name
Your home town,
lodge,
council, and
scouting position

The words:

PROGRAM

INVOLVEMENT

LEADERSHIP

LAUGHS

SESSION NARRATIVE

After you have welcomed the group, you should assign one of the three topics (Involvement, Leadership, Laughs) to each group, dividing them evenly. The groups should discuss and answer the following questions: 1 ) Why is/are important to the success of a super troop? How could it/they be used to improve a troop or keep it strong? What are some specific examples of how they have been used within your troop? Write these on the white board so that everyone can see them. Allow the groups 5 or 10 minutes. After that time, go through each of the topics with the groups that discussed that topic. Make sure that the discussion includes the information found below.

Involvement

How involved are the boys in the troop? Are they committed to participating? Do they attend meetings camping trips and other events faithfully? What does the troop do to ensure this? Are there attendance requirements or incentive (perfect attendance awards). How do you get the boys involved as members of their troop? Do they know how to express their voices (through the patrols leaders council)? Do they get a chance to make choices (meeting topics, camping trip programs, evaluations, etc..-.)? What role do the parents play in the troop? Are they a welcome part? Can they attend trips and participate? Are they called on as resources for programs rather than just labor/transportation/supervision? Do they feel welcome to make suggestions or express concerns? Do they know how to go about doing it? Are they kept well informed about what is happening in the troop? How is the sponsor represented within the troop? Do the boys recognize who the sponsor is and what it does? is the sponsor involved with the troop? Does the troop do anything for or with the sponsor? How is the troop involved in the community (service projects, parades, scout shows, activities)? Is the troop recognized in the community?

Leadership:

Does the troop have enough adult leadership to spread out the work? Do the adult leaders have and know their role within the troop? Are they active participants? Do the adults meet regularly outside of the regular troop activities? Are they trained? What role does the youth leadership play in the troop? Do they make decisions and have a true voice? Do they have supervision or someone to advise them? Are there specific functions of their job? Are they aware of these? Are they trained to succeed at them? Is the troop committee an active body? Are they involved in the major decisions of the troop? Are they aware of how the troop operates?

Laughs:

What types of things does the troop do to help everyone have fun or enjoy their experience?

For the conclusion to the coil, write the four components on the board vertically, enlarging the first letter of each. Relate that these four components are a prescription for success for a super troop. Get them to see the word "PILL" Explain that just like in the practice of medicine, a pill is not a cure all. It is just part of a plan to help one's condition to improve or to keep it healthy. A super troop is not created overnight. It takes time and a lot of effort on everyone's part. The "PILL" is an aid to achieving a super troop.

SOURCE MATERIALS AND REFERENCES:

The Patrol Leader's Handbook
The Scoutmasters Handbook