Program Methods
Ideals
The ideals of Scouting are spelled out in the Scout Oath, the law, motto, and slogan. The scout measures himself against these ideals and continually tries to improve. The goals are high, and as he reaches for them he has some control over what he becomes.
Patrols
The patrol method gives Scouts an experience in group living and participating in citizenship. It places a certain amount of responsibility on your shoulders and teaches them how to accept it. The patrol method allows Scouts to act in small groups where they can easily relate to each other. These small groups determine Troop activities through their elected representatives.
Outdoors
The Scout program is designed support and prepare for the outdoor events. It is here that the scouts share responsibilities, learn to live with each other, and skills or activities they have practiced at troop meetings come alive with purpose. Being close to nature, helps scouts gain an appreciation for God’s handiwork and mankind’s place in it. The outdoors is also the place for scouts to learn ecology and practice conservation of nature’s resources. We practice a leave no trace policy.
Advancement
Scouting provides a series of surmountable obstacles and steps to overcome through the advance method. The scout plans his advancement and progresses at his own pace as he overcomes each challenge. The scout is rewarded for each achievement, which helps him gain self confidence. The steps in the advancement system help a boy grow in self-reliance and the ability to help others. The ranks are described further in this document.
Adult Association
Boys learn from the example set by their adult leaders. Troop leadership may be male or female, and association with adults of high character is encouraged at this staged of a young man’s development. These adults all have back ground checks and receive annual training from the B.S.A.
Personal Growth
As Scouts plan their activities, and progress towards their goals, they experience personal growth. The Good Turn Concept is a major part of the personal growth concept. Boys become better humanitarians as they participate in community service projects and do Good Turns for others. There probably is no device so successful, in developing a basis for personal growth, as the daily Good Turn. The religious emblems program is also a large part of personal growth methods. Frequent personal conferences with a Scoutmaster help each Scout to determine his growth towards Scouting’s aims.
Program Aims
The Boy Scout program works towards three aims:
¨ Growth in moral strength and character – We define this as what the boy is within himself- his personal qualities, his values, his outlook.
¨ Participating citizenship – used broadly, citizenship means the boy’s relations with others. He comes to learn his obligations to other people, to the society he lives in, to the government that presides over that society.
¨ Development of physical, mental and emotional fitness – Fitness includes the body (well-tuned and healthy), the mind (able to think and solves problems), and the emotions (self-control, courage, and self-respect.)
The methods of Scouting are design to accomplish these aims. Thus, it is important that we all know and use the methods of the Boy Scouting program. Other methods are good, but they bring different results- quite different from what we are seeking.
*The “Methods and Aims” were reproduced from a BSA National pamphlet.
Uniform
The uniform makes a Scout visible as a force for good and creates a positive youth image in the community. The Boy Scout program is an action program and wearing the uniform is an action that shows each Scout’s commitment to the aims and purposes of Scouting. The uniform gives the Scout identity in a world of brotherhood of youth who believe in the same ideals. The uniform is practical attire for Scout activities, and provides a way for Scouts to wear the badges that show what they have accomplished. The Scout Handbook is considered part of the Boys’ uniform.
Leadership Development
The Scout program encourages boys to learn and develop leadership skills. Every Scout has an opportunity to participate in both shared and total leadership situations. Understanding the concepts of leadership helps a boy to accept the leadership of others and guides him toward the citizenship aim of Scouting.
Communication Skills
The Scout program relies heavily on the youths to step up and pass information that is vital to every plan to troop makes. Though we have email, the bulletin board, and the website for back up the boys will be held accountable for maintaining their respectful communication tree by phone and at the round up announcements held at the end of every regular meeting.