Youth Leadership

Contents:

Positions of Responsibility

Serving your troop in a position of responsibility (POR) is a requirement for Star, Life, and Eagle. The PORs are described in general terms in Section 14 of the Scouts BSA Handbook. Specific responsibilities for each POR within Troop 561 are detailed below. PORs are typically selected twice a year.

SENIOR PATROL LEADER

Responsibilities:

Preside over all troop meetings, events, activities, and annual program planning conference
Chair the patrol leaders' council
Appoint ASPLs with the advice and consent of the Scoutmaster
Assign duties and responsibilities to other youth leaders
Work with the Scoutmaster in training youth leaders
Effectively communicate information to the troop through email or other electronic means
Attend most meetings and at least half of the outings
Appoint a temporary senior patrol leader in your absence if you will not be at a meeting or outing
Attend ILST

Responsible to: Troop members, Scoutmaster

ASSISTANT SENIOR PATROL LEADER

Responsibilities:

Help the senior patrol leader run meetings and activities
Guide the troop in the senior patrol leader’s absence
Perform tasks assigned by the senior patrol leader
Responsible for training and giving direct leadership to the Instructor, Historian, Quartermaster, Outdoor Ethics Guide, Bugler, and Chaplain Aide
Serve as a member of the patrol leaders' council
Attend most meetings and at least half of the outings
Attend ILST and the annual program planning conference

Responsible to: senior patrol leader

PATROL LEADER

Responsibilities:

Prepare the patrol to participate in all troop activities
Help Scouts in the patrol complete requirements to advance to First Class
Plan troop meetings when assigned and include the other members of your patrol
Instruct skills at troop meetings when assigned or coordinate with instructors, leaders, or other experts to do so
Present plan for troop meetings at the patrol leaders’ council meeting
Lead patrol corners for the patrol at troop meetings
Ensure the patrol is prepared for outings with a duty roster and menu
Effectively communicate information to the patrol through email or other electronic means
Designate an assistant patrol leader and patrol quartermaster
Work with the patrol quartermaster to ensure patrol equipment is well maintained
Attend most meetings and at least half of the outings
Attend ILST

Responsible to: patrol members, senior patrol leader

ASSISTANT PATROL LEADER

Responsibilities:

Help the patrol leader plan and lead patrol meetings and activities
Help the patrol leader keep patrol members informed
Lead the patrol in the patrol leaders absence
Show and help develop patrol spirit
Represent the patrol at all patrol leaders' council meetings
Work with other troop leaders to make the troop run well

Responsible to: patrol members, senior patrol leader, patrol leader

TROOP GUIDE

Responsibilities:

Introduce new Scouts to troop operations.
Guide new Scouts through early scouting activities and scouting challenges
Teach Scout skills to new Scouts
Coach the New Scout Patrol Leader on his duties and work with him at PLC meetings

Responsible to: New Scout Patrol members, assistant Scoutmaster advising New Scout patrol, senior patrol leader

QUARTERMASTER

Responsibilities:

Lead the packing and unpacking of the troop trailer for outings, ensuring all necessary gear is packed
Ensure patrols have checked their chuck box and patrol gear before and after each outing and provide material to restock as necessary
Report any equipment missing or in need of repair to the adult quartermaster
Keep equipment shed neat and clean

Responsible to: assistant senior patrol leader, adult quartermaster

SCRIBE

Responsibilities:

Attend patrol leaders' council (PLC) meetings
Record notes at PLC meetings on the PLC Agenda using the Google doc or paper copy
Fill out Troop Meeting Plan forms at the PLC meeting using the Google doc or paper copy

Responsible to: senior patrol leader

DEN CHIEF

Responsibilities:

Serve as the activities assistant at den meetings including games and experience
Meet regularly with the den leader to assist & review the den meeting & field activity plans
Lead songs, stunts, and skits for den and pack meetings
Project a positive image of Scouting
If serving as a Webelos den chief, help prepare the Scouts to join ScoutsBSA

Responsible to: senior patrol leader

CHAPLAIN AIDE

Responsibilities:

Lead closing prayer at the end of each meeting
Lead grace before meals or ensure that patrols say their own grace
Ensure that prayers and grace are inclusive of the religious beliefs of all Scouts and adults

Responsible to: assistant senior patrol leader

TROOP HISTORIAN

Responsibilities:

Take pictures at troop meetings and outings and upload them to the troop Google Photos account
Write a short summary (2-4 sentences) of troop outings and other significant events and send it to the Scoutmaster by Sunday night to include in the weekly email

Responsible to: assistant senior patrol leader

INSTRUCTOR

Responsibilities:

Teach Scouting skills as needed within the troop or patrols
Refresh knowledge of Scouting skills in order to be an effective teacher
Prepare well in advance for each teaching assignment

Responsible to: assistant senior patrol leader

BUGLER

Responsibilities:

Play the bugle (or a similar instrument) at troop functions including campouts, flag retirement ceremonies, and courts of honor and other special events
Know the basic bugle calls or commit to learning them within the first month

Responsible to: assistant senior patrol leader

ORDER OF THE ARROW TROOP REPRESENTATIVE

Responsibilities:

Serve as a communication link between the troop, the Lodge & the Western Shore District OA Chapter
Attend monthly District OA meetings & report any important information back to the troop OA members
Encourage Arrowmen in the troop to be active participants in lodge and/or chapter activities and to become Brotherhood members

Responsible to: OA Chapter Vice Chief

OUTDOOR ETHICS GUIDE

Responsibilities:

Lead the troop in the Outdoor Code at the beginning of each meeting
Work with the PLC to plan a time to review the Leave No Trace principles with the troop at least once during the term
Ensure the troop practices good outdoor ethics on outings, suggest ways to improve during the outing if necessary, and reflect on any positives and negatives during Roses & Thorns
Help Scouts complete the relevant Leave No Trace requirements for Scout, Tenderfoot, Second Class, and First Class
Read the Outdoor Ethics Guide Handbook

Responsible to: assistant senior patrol leader

JUNIOR ASSISTANT SCOUTMASTER

Responsibilities:

Perform the duties of an Assistant Scoutmaster (except for leadership responsibilities reserved for adults 18 years of age or older)
Advise an assigned patrol on how to execute the patrol method
Handle any duties assigned by the Scoutmaster

Responsible to: Scoutmaster

Patrol Leaders' Council

What is the PLC?

The purpose of the monthly Patrol Leaders' Council (PLC) meeting is to plan how the troop will implement the month’s program elements. At the conclusion of an effective PLC meeting, the youth leaders of the troop should understand the plan for upcoming meetings and events. They should also understand who is responsible for various portions of those meetings and events and be clear about what information must be shared with the patrols.

The PLC meets on one Thursday of each month at 7:00 pm. This is the main planning meeting for the month’s activities and should take approximately 90 minutes. The PLC should also convene prior to each troop meeting for about 15 minutes to discuss the execution of that meeting, after each troop meeting for about 5 minutes to discuss how the meeting went and what needs to be done prior to the next meeting, and on the first night of a campout for about 10-15 minutes to discuss the execution of the campout.

Who attends PLC meetings?

The senior patrol leader (SPL) runs the PLC. Assistant senior patrol leaders (ASPLs) assist the SPL or run the PLC in his absence. Patrol leaders represent their patrols at the PLC and help the SPL plan the month’s events. The troop guide and the new Scout patrol leader represent the new Scout patrol. If the new Scout patrol doesn’t have an official patrol leader, it may rotate members to send to the meeting. The troop scribe attends to take notes and keep the minutes. If any member of the PLC cannot attend, he is responsible for finding an alternate and/or providing inputs to the SPL prior to the meeting. The Scoutmaster and assistant Scoutmasters attend the PLC as advisors.

Preparing for the PLC meeting

The PLC meeting is organized and run by the SPL. He is responsible for working with the Scoutmaster to create the agenda and for guiding the discussion. The Scoutmaster and assistant Scoutmasters are available as resources but their participation should be limited. Prior to the PLC, the SPL and Scoutmaster should discuss the agenda and any specific objectives that need to be accomplished. The SPL should send the agenda to the PLC. Patrol leaders and the troop guide should review the agenda and get input from their patrols on the upcoming activities. They should also be prepared to provide a report on patrol activities during the Patrol Report section of the agenda. The troop scribe should make sure he has the minutes from the previous meeting so he can refer to them to review decisions made at previous meetings.

Agenda

The agenda can be tailored as desired, but the main elements should still be addressed at each PLC.

Opening (~5 minutes)

Old Business (~5 minutes)

Main Event Planning (~5 minutes)

Troop Meeting Planning (~60 minutes)

Patrol Reports (~5 minutes)

New Business (~5 minutes)

Closing (~5 minutes)

Other PLC Meetings

Before the Troop Meeting

The PLC should meet 15 minutes before the rest of the Troop starts arriving at a Troop meeting to review the plan for the meeting. The SPL should go through the agenda and review the plan for instruction. The SPL should remind patrol leaders of any specific items that need to be discussed with their patrol during patrol time, such as planning for an upcoming campout.

After the Troop Meeting

The PLC should gather immediately following the conclusion of the Troop meeting for about 5 minutes to quickly review the meeting, discuss what elements were successful or unsuccessful, and discuss what the patrols accomplished during patrol time. The SPL should review the plan for the next Troop meeting and ensure any required resources will be available.

On a Campout

The PLC should gather on the first evening of a campout for about 10 to 15 minutes after camp has been set up. Patrol leaders should report on the status of their patrol and bring up any issues such as missing personal gear or patrol gear. The SPL should review the plan for the remainder of the campout so patrol leaders can report it back to their patrol. Be sure to include timing of events such as wakeup, meals, and activities. The SPL may find it beneficial to repeat this each evening to review the plan for the following day.

Page updated

Google Sites

Report abuse