Working with Adult Leaders

Two anonymous emails: (1) a membership chair worried about an overloaded, non-delegating Scoutmaster and a fraying program; (2) a new merit badge counselor asking about group instruction and how much guidance to provide — leading into an extended discussion on the merit badge industrial complex versus Baden Powell's original intent.

Mike Ford (Troop 209, Silver Spring, MD) asks whether he needs personal liability insurance; Dwayne Reindel (Hilton Head, SC) asks whether a Scout serving as SPL can continue once he turns 18.

Four anonymous or named listener emails answered: (1) anonymous — supporting a troop after the sudden death of an adult volunteer; (2) anonymous — older scout sharing profane limericks with younger scouts and whether to delay rank advancement; (3) Christopher Taylor — BSA policy on private Facebook groups for troops and Clarke's advice on troop communications; (4) anonymous — how to handle a newer parent who is critically undermining the scoutmaster's work.

Brittany Henson (Pack 691, Longwood FL) asks how to run a Webelos den like a Boy Scout patrol; William Castler and Pierre Courdiere ask permission to reuse Clarke's materials (blanket approval granted with attribution); Joel Irway (Troop 637, Onsted MI) asks what assistant Scoutmasters should actually do — Clarke discusses ideal adult leadership structure, scout master succession, and coordinating input through the Scoutmaster.

Joe Briggs (Group Leader) and Alan McConnell (Venture Section Leader), 91st Dublin scout group, Scouting Ireland — discussing the ONE advancement program, single-sex patrols within a coed group, 50-year group anniversary trip to the US, Woodbadge training, and comparisons between Irish and American scouting.

The Scoutmaster's responsibility to coordinate and direct assistant Scoutmasters, ensuring all adult communication with youth leaders is channeled through the Scoutmaster to avoid conflicting advice.

Multiple listener questions answered: how to change an adult-led troop; Scoutmaster's proper role in Eagle paperwork and the statement of ambitions (Jeff Crump, Troop 701); forming patrols fairly for less popular Scouts and how often patrols rearrange (Brad Schroer, Troop 414); whether a Scoutmaster should step down when his son is SPL (anonymous); parent factions causing troop committee havoc (anonymous); and proper handling of a chronically disruptive Scout including discipline and retroactive denial of tenure (anonymous).

Jay Manoscalo asks about aquatic award patch placement now that there are no official swim trunks; anonymous writer asks how to lead adults and handle interfering scout parents, and how many assistant scoutmasters a troop of 40 needs; Raleigh Buckner asks about conflicting guidance on individual scout accounts vs. BSA financial policy.

What to do when you have basic disagreements with unit leadership: only two options exist — stay and work within the existing structure, or find a unit that matches your vision.

Brian in Centerville, GA asks how two-deep leadership applies to patrol activities like a video game night at a scout's home; Barb Higgins asks how to run the patrol method with only seven scouts; Dave Schmidt asks about troop newsletters; anonymous writer asks what to do when youth leaders configure patrols without consulting the scouts.

Fred Glover asks about Scouts carrying cell phones on outings; Clarke recommends working with youth leadership to set courteous usage standards rather than fighting it.

John (new acting Scoutmaster) asks about handling resistant adult volunteers, guiding scouts toward scout-appropriate activities, and running a Patrol Leaders Council; Brian Parton of Troop 271 asks about Leave No Trace wording in First Class requirement 3; Greg Stabaki asks which BSA uniform a returning commissioner should wear.

Carl Smith from Troop 603 in Cave Creek, Arizona asks about reorganizing age-divided patrols into mixed-age patrols, handling sporadic older Scout attendance, and providing adult guidance across 10+ patrols. Clarke advises letting the Patrol Leaders Council decide, keeping adults away from patrols, and focusing on applying the patrol method with adult leadership buy-in.

Larry Geiger, Tom Gillard, and Walter Underwood discuss two listener questions: misuse of patrol leadership positions and how to select a new Scoutmaster after a 12-year tenure.

Anonymous new Scoutmaster asks how to handle an adult volunteer who yells at and belittles Scouts. Clarke explains that removing volunteers is the authority of the committee chair and chartered organization representative — not the Scoutmaster — and calls the behavior bullying that must stop immediately. A follow-up email reports the volunteer apologized and the committee chair addressed the issue.

Stephen Jensen asks about managing a scout with severe asthma on a high-altitude backpacking trip; Tom Brewer (Canada) asks how to handle new leaders who lack basic camping skills.

Frank Maynard (committee chair, Troop 407, Novi MI; Bob White Blather blog) joins Tom Gillard, Walter Underwood, and Larry Geiger to discuss the Scoutmaster-committee relationship, defining roles, running effective meetings, consensus vs. voting, and recruiting committee members.

Listener responses to three questions from podcast 65: handling a retiring Scoutmaster who won't step aside, addressing a Scout in trouble outside of Scouting, and stopping email flame wars in the troop.

Clarke turns the tables and poses four questions to listeners: handling a retiring Scoutmaster who won't step back; responding to a Scout who gets in trouble outside Scouting; finding high-adventure treks in the central US; and managing email conflicts within a unit.