Attend a Troop Meeting
Plan Campout / Troop Activity
PREPARATION AND MATERIALS NEEDED
• Paper for drawing pictures of the troop meeting
• Paper for ballots to record each Scout’s choice for patrol leader
• Materials for making a patrol flag (cloth or canvas, markers or paint, for example)
• Extra paper and pencils to create a patrol name and emblem that is appropriate and aligns with the aims of Scouting
• 9 balloons (check for latex allergies)
GATHERING
• Give everyone time to show their square knots and how to tie them. These knots were learned in the Outdoor Adventure
• For those who were unable to complete the at-home assignment or were absent from the previous meeting, have Scouts draw a picture of a troop meeting. The Webelos Scouts can make special note of aspects of the meeting they enjoyed. Ask them to state what badges they are most looking forward to earning their first year. They will share this with the other den members in the activity part of this den meeting.
• (Requirement 1D) Have available copies of the First Class badge puzzle (Resources Meeting #2 Scouting Adventure) for each member of the den to assemble and repeat the meaning of each piece. Let them take the puzzle home to review with a parent for this part of requirement 1. Have the Scout explain these part of the Badge.
OPENING
• Conduct a flag ceremony of your choosing that includes the Pledge of Allegiance and the Scout Law.
TALK TIME
• Carry out business items for the den.
• Allow time for sharing among Webelos Scouts.
• Inform the Scouts of the date and time of their outing with the Scout troop and let them know what they will be doing. Hand out an informational flier for the Scouts to take home to their parent or guardian regarding this activity.
ACTIVITIES
Based on information they learned at the previous meeting and the at-home assignment, have Scouts present to the group what they are most looking forward to about joining a troop (this can be the creative representation they made) or have them state what badges they are most looking forward to earning their first year.
Have each Scout (individually) repeat from memory the Scout Motto, take volunteers first.
Have each Scout (individually) repeat from memory the Scout Slogan, take volunteers first.
Have each Scout (individually) repeat from memory the Scout Law, take volunteers first.
Have each Scout (individually) repeat from memory the Scout Oath, take volunteers first.
Have each Scout (individually) demonstrate the Scout Sign, take volunteers first.
Have each Scout (individually) demonstrate the Scout Salute, take volunteers first.
Have each Scout (individually) demonstrate the Scout Handshake, take volunteers first.
If they cannot recite from memory then give them another chance after others are complete. If a Scout is still unable to recite from memory give them a home assignment to work on reciting form memory. They can try again next meeting.
• Patrol leader speeches: Have those Scouts who would like to be the patrol leader for this month give their brief speeches to the den.
• Pass out ballots for voting.
• Have the Scouts vote.
• Tally the votes and announce the patrol leader.
• Blow up balloons and label each one with a duty of the patrol leader, such as the following:
a. Meeting planning
b. Duty rosters
c. Meal planning
d. Equipment care
e. Communication in patrol
f. Communication with other patrols
g. Promoting participation
h. Responsibilities for troop meetings
i. Responsibilities for troop outings
• Have the newly elected patrol leader try to hold on to all the balloons. If they can do it, start asking for some of them back in a specific order. The goal is to illustrate to the patrol leader AND the patrol that one Scout cannot do all the work; it’s a team effort! Pass out the balloons, a couple to each member, and show how much easier it is to take care of patrol business when everyone pitches in.
• Share with Scouts that patrols are the building blocks of a Scout troop. A patrol is a small group of Scouts who are similar in age, development, and interests. Working together as a team, patrol members share the responsibility for the patrol’s success. They gain confidence by serving in positions of patrol leadership. All patrol members enjoy the friendship, sense of belonging, and achievements of the patrol and of each of its members.
• Help your newly elected patrol leader by letting them know they are to provide leadership in working with the other members of the patrol to create a patrol name and emblem, a patrol yell, and a patrol flag (if the den does not have a den emblem, flag, or yell).
Materials: Scouts’ knot practice ropes; additional 20-foot length of rope; neckerchiefs or bandannas for blindfolds
• Direct members of the den to tie their practice ropes end to end with square knots. Tie the extra 20- foot length of rope to the smaller pieces of rope to make a continuous loop of rope.
• Ask Scouts to blindfold themselves and to then grasp the rope. While blindfolded, direct the Scouts to form a geometric figure: square, triangle, pentagon, etc. After each try, invite everyone to look at the figure they made. Webelos Scouts will likely struggle initially as they come up with a strategy to make the desired figure. Reflect on the experience using the following questions:
— What did the group think the purpose of this activity was? (focus on task: to create the assigned figure) — How did being blindfolded make you feel?
— How did being blindfolded change the way you had to work together?
— How could they improve?
• Give the group the option of trying the activity a second time. Then ask these questions:
— What happened this time that was different?
— Can you think of specific examples when the group cooperated in completing this activity? Explain. — What did you learn from this experience?
— What did you learn during this activity that will help your den/patrol work better as a team?
CLOSING
• Build in a reflection on the patrol method: What makes the patrol method an important part of a good troop?
• In keeping with the idea of modeling a troop, the troop meeting usually closes with an inspirational or thoughtful message called a Scoutmaster’s Minute. Close this meeting by giving this Scout- master’s Minute:
Do a Good Turn Daily. This is the slogan of the BSA.
Some Good Turns are big—saving a life, helping out after floods or other disasters, recycling community trash, working with your patrol on conservation projects.
But Good Turns are often small, thoughtful acts—helping a child cross a busy street, going to the store for an elderly neighbor, cutting back brush that is blocking a sign, doing something special for a brother or sister, welcoming a new student to your school.
A Good Turn is more than simple good manners. It is a special act of kindness. Remember, a Scout is kind.
AFTER THE MEETING
• Serve refreshments, if desired.
• Work together to clean up the meeting place.
• Prepare the acting patrol leader for the upcoming third meeting. Let them know what you want them to be responsible for at that meeting—gathering activity, etc. (See preparation notes for Meeting 3.)
• Record completion of any of requirements 1 and 3 that each Webelos Scout has completed.