Youth Leadership

Patrols are the building blocks of a Boy Scout troop. A patrol is a small group of boys 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.

"The patrol method is not a way to operate a Boy Scout troop, it is the only way. Unless the patrol method is in operation, you don't really have a Boy Scout troop."

Robert S. S. Baden-Powell, founder of Scouting

The Scouting program offers our young men one of the strongest programs for developing core leadership values in our nation.  At the heart of this program, our youth are provided with hands-on learning opportunities for leadership, communication, ethical decision making, and team work.

Troop 750 is a boy-led, boy-run organization.  Decisions within the troop are made by the Scouts through the framework of the Scout youth leadership.  This includes the annual program calendar, each meeting’s agenda, menus, what troop equipment is needed, etc. Meetings will be run by a Scout called the Senior Patrol Leader who has been elected by the Scouts in the Troop.  The Senior Patrol Leader is even responsible for starting and ending the meeting on time.  No matter what his experience is when he is first elected, the Senior Patrol Leader will run the troop meetings.

In Troop 750, the Scouts are supposed to be the leaders!   The Scoutmaster and the supporting adult leaders will provide mentoring, coaching, training, and direction for the Scouts.  This empowers the boys with the skills they will need in order to lead and to have a successful program. 

Please note that a boy-led troop is not necessarily perfect and without hiccups.  The Scouts need to learn to make decisions without intervention and to be accountable for them - everyone learns from their mistakes.  We ask parents that if they observe something that is incorrect but is not a health or safety concern that they let it go and bring the observation to the attention of one of the adult leaders at an appropriate time and place.   Never scold, belittle, or embarrass a Scout.  They are here to learn to be a leader.  Troop 750 is a safe place where Scouts can learn and experiment with their individual leadership capabilities.

This document further explains the working of a boy-led troop.

Serving as a youth leader requires serious commitment on the part of a Scout.  There are additional meetings and camping trips.  There is the need to be thinking about Scouting over the week between events, there is a requirement to arrive early and stay a little later to camping trips and meetings, and in order for all this to work, parents must be supportive of their Scouts.

This form explains the youth leader election process.  A form must be submitted before a Scout can hold a youth leadership role.  Please understand that when a Scout takes on a youth leadership role, if they do not meet the requirements of that role, they not only negatively impact themselves, they also impact their patrol and the troop.  In a boy-led troop, service as a youth leader is a meaningful and significant commitment.

Please talk to a Scoutmaster or Assistant Scoutmaster with questions.  Thanks!