How To Rotate The Role Of Scoutmaster & Why It Is Beneficial To The Boy Scout Troop

May 19, 2011 - PRLog -- Boy Scout Troop 333 (online at http://www.thefamilytroop.org) is a mix of homeschool, private and public school children. The scouts, who reside in the Charlotte, NC metro region come from diverse cities and backgrounds. In order to foster better leadership skills among the scouts, the scoutmaster has created a rotating scoutmaster concept so each adult leader, in turn, takes on the scoutmaster role and duties very early into their tenure with the troop.

While Boy Scouts of America® wants a single scoutmaster to conduct the conferences, there is no reason multiple assistants cannot attend and learn the same process. There are benefits to being able to designate an alternate scoutmaster.

Handing Off The Duty & Responsibilities Of Scoutmaster For The Boy Scout Troop
Any boy scout troop with a solid concept for the program should have a fairly easy time of handing off the duties of the scoutmaster to an assistant at any given moment. The only troops we’ve witnessed that have a hard time substituting a scoutmaster are those where the reigns of control are closely held, and the scoutmaster intentionally wishes to make all important decisions. We consider that less an example of leadership and more of centralized authority akin to an elite class and workers who answer to the figure.

It is true the scoutmaster is chosen to design and build the overall program, but that is in name only. A good leader without a stable ego should be able to delegate, incorporate and include the thoughts and abilities of other parents and leaders to build an even stronger troop program and concept.

Think about how we function in companies today. A good CEO does not have everyone run to them to answer the most mundane question about daily operations. Skilled managers are given leeway and authority to make field decisions so the company runs smoothly. The CEO places their trust in those they have chosen to execute to company concept, much as a scoutmaster works with his assistants and committee members to carry out the troop concept. Even the military, which more closely resembles scouting, trains soldiers to go out in the field and be self-reliant, or at least make important decisions themselves. While they may not define overall strategy, they are allowed the ability to make fluid decisions.

Troop 333 of Huntersville, NC has a scoutmaster with extensive business background running the operations for companies, providing a myriad of executive level support for corporations and working in dozens of industrial categories. That has given him the insight to approach the role of scoutmaster differently.

The troop designates one leader as scoutmaster for each meeting, event, or campout. The troop scoutmaster hands off the leadership role and makes it clear to the scouts and parents that he is not their source contact for questions. All information is now related through the designated scoutmaster, who is responsible for the execution of the meeting or campout. The formal scoutmaster now becomes an assistant and fulfills the role requested of him - from merit badge instruction to head of KP for cooking cleanup.

There Are Benefits To Rotating A Scoutmaster
Ask any child about how they view their parent in a leadership setting and they will tell you they want to see their mom or dad as in charge. It is literally a source of pride. There are extended benefits as well:

1. It will elevate the father or mother for the son. Each child gets to see their parent as a competent and skilled leader, not just someone who constantly answers to the same man (Scoutmaster). It will give each son pride in their parent as the chief for the campout.

2. It will demonstrate different styles of leadership over the years - how various leaders deal with situations, and personalities.

3. It will show varying communications styles, which is an important lesson for the future when young scouts work in the world of business.

4. It will give all the parents the chance to become comfortable with being the final authority figure in the scouting environment and motivate them to learn more about scouting skills and methods.

5. It will create a troop that is flexible, so that if any one leader cannot be on a trip at last minute, we know the others have already served in various capacities and can step in interchangeably with formal experience.

6. It will meet the goal of having many trained leaders and alleviate the absolute need of having the formal scoutmaster on every trip.

When Joining A Boy Scout Troop, Ask The Right Questions
When researching troops to join, it is recommended parents check to see if the style of the scoutmaster matches their own. If you are comfortable always answering to the same person and waiting to get questions answered, get sign-offs or approvals, because only a central figure has final authority, then many troops will function in that manner.

If you want a more flexible troop that understands how business is conducted today, with parents who know how to delegate, substitute themselves in various roles and enable this type of rotating concept, then come learn more about Troop 333. Be sure to ask any troop up front if you will have any authority or if you will always have to subordinate yourself.

Troop 333 recognizes that all adults have talents, skills and abilities which can benefit our troop. We want them to all feel comfortable in utilizing these skills without having to worry about the reaction from our scoutmaster. Ours is a can-do attitude, so the scouts learn how to follow different leaders in different situations. We value all contributions.

About Us: Online efficiency at our troop!
Troop 333 encourages interactive online meetings through our unique private scout server. Meal, menu, duty roster and camping planning can all take place in live chat, forums, with complete forms upload and editing capabilities. This way scouts can concentrate on more fun physical activity during meetings and hold administrative meetings online in off hours.

To learn more about the flexible homeschool troop visit http://www.thefamilytroop.org.

Serving the counties of North Mecklenburg, South Iredell and West Cabarrus, all families in Charlotte, Huntersville, Cornelius, Davidson, Mooresville, Kannapolis and surrounding areas are invited to make inquiries at friends@thefamilytroop.org.

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Boy Scout Troop 333 is in the Hornet's Nest District, Mecklenburg Council based in the Charlotte, NC metropolitan region serving Huntersville, Davidson, Cornelius, Mooresville, Kannapolis, South Iredell County, West Cabarrus and North Mecklenburg county.