New Troops

Planning Troop Meetings  Basic Resources  Program Features New Troops 

 

The New Troop’s First Month
Samples of an initial meeting plan, as well as four regular troop meetings have been developed, based upon themes contained in Program Features, volume I. The sample meetings lead to a main event. There are two sets of sample meetings which may be used, one featuring Hiking as the monthly theme and the other First Aid. These meeting and activity plans have been modified to reflect the possible needs of new troops. They are only suggestions and your troop’s first meetings may be different, based upon the resources and membership of the troop.

Initial Meeting
The goal of this meeting is to welcome and orient new Scouts and their parents. The method utilized is to initially meet as a group, conducting a formal Opening and welcome (Group Instruction), and then allowing the Scouts to continue with the troop meeting separately, while their parents meet with the troop committee. During the orientation for parents, the troop’s calendar will be distributed. The troop calendar should have as much information regarding scheduled troop meetings, committee meetings, and Patrol Leaders’ Council Meetings as possible. Ideally, these will be calendared throughout the remainder of the Scouting year. In addition, the dates of activities and camping trips, including summer camp, should be included to the extent determined. The specifics of each activity can be determined by the Patrol Leaders’ Council and troop committee at a later date.In addition to the Troop Calendar, Welcome to Our Troop a customizable PDF, which explains the basics of the Scouts BSA program, will be distributed to the parents during the orientation. Troop specific information may be added utilizing the meeting link.

Troop Meetings
The sample meeting plans are designed to be primarily adult lead. During the course of the first month new troops will elect youth leadership, including patrol leaders and a senior patrol leader. The idea is there will be a transition from adult lead to youth lead meetings and activities as the youth leaders grow into their positions of responsibility. New troops, which have already identified appropriate youth leaders, may also begin to utilize these leaders from the beginning. The method for establishing and developing youth leadership really depends upon the circumstances of the individual troop.

First Aid Series

Initial Orientation Meeting

Meeting 1

Meeting 2

Meeting 3

Meeting 4

Main Event

First Aid Games

First Aid Program Feature Information

Hiking Series

Initial Orientation Meeting

Meeting 1

Meeting 2

Meeting 3

Meeting 4

Main Event

Hiking Games

Hiking Program Feature Information

Dining Fly Sequence