Role of the ASM: Beyond the Basics - Mt.Diablo · PDF fileRole of the ASM: Beyond the Basics Troop 815 Danville, ... Serve as the Lead ASM who works with the SPL ... ♦ The Scout

Troop 815 Danville, California

RoleoftheASM:BeyondtheBasics


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Introduc8on•  IamRobWenstrand,ScoutmasterforTroop815,ASMforseveralyears

•  Thispresenta8onwasbuiltmostlybythisguy:

Paul Ellisiry, ASM Troop 815

•  FormalizedtrainingtoensurethatallofourASM’sareonthesamepage.

• Whoareyou?

• Whatissomethingthatyourtroopdoesnowthatyouarecurioushowothertroopshandle?


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QuotesfromBaden-Powell,thefounderofBoyScouts

“Scou8ngisagameforboys,undertheleadershipofboys,inwhichelderbrotherscangivetheiryoungerbrothersahealthyenvironmentandencouragethemtohealthyac8vi8es.”

“Thereisnodoubtwhatsoeverthatintheboys’eyesitiswhata[leader]doesthatcountsandnotsomuchwhathesays…”

Baden-Powell


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WhatdoASMsdoinourTroop?▪  Adviseandguidescoutsu8lizingthePatrolMethod▪  Providethenecessaryadultleadershipfortroopmee8ngs,events,

andou8ngs▪  ServeastheLeadASMwhoworkswiththeSPL

▪  Serveasadultadvisorsforpatrols

▪  Fillmosttroopposi8ons,suchasMBcounselors,hikingcoordinator,etc.

▪  ConductScoutmasterConferences(Tenderfootthrough1stClass)

▪  MonitorandreactasneededonHealth&Safetyissues▪  MembersoftheHighFivePatrol

▪  AWendHighFiveMee8ngs

▪  Andofcourse,wetransportscoutsandequipment!


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WhatASMsdonotdo•  Wedonotleadevents.

•  Wedonotrunevents.

•  Ifascoutcandoit,anASMshouldnot.

•  Wedonotgivepreferen8altreatmenttoourownsons.

•  Wedonotunderminescoutleadership.

(unlesshealth,safety,orimportanttrooppolicyisanissue)


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HallmarksofaveteranASM➢ Theyaremostlyseenandnotheard!➢ Theyarecalmwhenthingsdonotgoasplanned

➢ Theyrarelyanswerques8onsfromscouts,andiftheydo,it’swithques8ons

➢ Theyguidefromtheside➢ Theyactlikeanadult,buttheycanseethingsfromateenager’sperspec8ve

Youcanbebecomeonetoo!(Aveteranthatis)


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BadenPowellexplainsthePatrolMethod“It[thePatrolMethod]teachestheboystowork

togetherinteams,itsecuresco-opera8veeffortforacommonend…”

“TotheScoutsit[thePatrolMethod]gives

subordina8onoftheselftotheinterestofthewhole…”BP


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WhatisthePatrolMethod?•  Apermanentgroupof5to8scoutswhoworktogetherasateam

•  Eachpatrolisself-reliantandself-governing•  Thepatrolisledbyapatrolleader•  Thepatrolisthebasicunitofscou8ng•  ASMadvisorsworkwiththePatrolLeader•  Benefits:Self-reliance,confidence,leadership,andcharacter

Patrolsaretheheartofthetroop.


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HowanASMadvisesinaScout-ledtroop

•  Adviseandguide,thenletscoutslead•  Useques8onstohelpscoutsplanandlead•  Remember“TheWhy”–explainwhat’sthereasonbehindsomething

•  Workwithinthechainofcommand:SPL,PL•  Run“interference”tokeepotheradultsfromtakingawayresponsibilityfromscouts

•  Setanexample:TheHighFivePatrol•  Discipline–CoachingMoment


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TheCri8calRoleofASM’sforFirstYearScouts•  FirstYear-ThisistheCri8calYear(InclusionvsExclusion)

•  RolemodelbeingaTeam-BuilderNOTawall-builder

•  EDGE-Coaching&Mentoringyourscouts(role-modeling)

•  Toolboxes-11yroldtoolboxvsa45yroldtoolbox

•  Thepre-mee8ng(s)arekeytosuccess

•  UsingEDGE(pre-game)effec8vely,leadsto………….....BOY-LEDconfidence(game8me)

•  RemindertoCCanotheradultleader(andparent)forYP


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TheE.D.G.E.Method•  Explain

Explainwhatyouwillbedoinginclearlanguage.•  Demonstrate

Showthemhowtoaccomplishwhatwasjustexplained.

•  GuideAstheyprac8cetheskill,guide,coachandencourage.

•  EnableLetthemtrytheskillontheirown.


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Scenariosfromthefield•  Ques8ons,ques8ons,ques8ons?•  Apatrolismissingatentpole.•  ThePhilmonttrekgets“lost”attheendofalongday.

•  Scenariosfordiscussion


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“Bymakingmistakes,aboygainsexperienceandmakeshischaracter.”

BP


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Troop815’sexpecta8onsfromASM’s•  Serveinatroopposi8onasneeded.•  AWendseveraleventsperyear.•  BetheleadASMforatleastoneeventperyear.

•  TrytoaWendonetroopmee8ngspermonth.

•  AWendaPLCoccasionally.•  Training:Keepyouronlinetrainingcurrent(YP,Haz.

Weather),LEAD(January),WildernessFirstAid(highlyadvised)

•  Guideyourownscouttobeinvolvedandhelphispatrolandthetroop


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“Wearenotaclub–noraSundayschool–butaschoolofthewoods.”

BP


PatrolAdvisors


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PatrolAdvisorsBeingaPatrolAdvisoristhemostimportantposi8oninourtroop.

Byguidingandmentoringyouwillhaveanimpactinthedevelopmentofthescoutsin

yourpatrol.


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WhatdoesaPatrolAdvisordo?•  Advisesandsupportsscoutswithinapatrolforadvancement,

par8cipa8onintroopac8vi8es,andensuresac8vepatrolmee8ngs/ac8vi8esareheldonaregularbasis(toensureahealthypatrol,typicallyamonthlymee8ng/event)

•  Helpsadviseandtrainpatrolleaders,assistantpatrolleaders,andquartermasters

•  Par8cipatesinallPatrolMee8ngsandPatrolOu8ngs

•  Twoadultsforeachpatrolisop8mal,typicallyaparentofoneofthescoutsinthenewpatrol

• WorkswiththePatrolQuartermastertoinventorythepatrolboxatleastateachleadershipchange

•  Istheprimarycontactforparentswithintheirpatrol


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•  Con8nuestoadvisethepatrolthroughtheirscou8ngcareer•  Holdscoutswithinthepatrolaccountabletoperformtheir

electedroles,usingthepatrolmee8ngstoprovideadviseinpatrolandtroopopera8ons

•  MakesScoutmasterandAdvancementChairawareoftheneedsofscoutsintheirpatrol

•  Inves8gatesscoutswithintheirpatrolnotac8velyinvolvedordisengagingandbringsfeedbacktotheother

•  AdultLeaders(HighFivePatrol)forac8onasneeded


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MethodstoUse➢  HoldPre-MeeMngswithyourPatrolLeader,APL&Quartermaster➢  ThePre-mee8ngmayincludecommunica8onsbyemailortexttopreparethe

PatrolLeaderorSPLforthegoalsofthatmee8ngorevent.➢  Advisenewlyelectedpatrolleaders-providetoolstoaddtotheirtoolbox➢  Wedonotgivepreferen8altreatmenttoourownsons-Importantasapatrol

advisor➢  LookforwaystokeepitfunandposiMve


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Before&aOerelecMons-whattodo•  Beforetheelec8on,talkwithyourcurrentPL.Advisehimon

preparingthepatrolforelec8ons.

•  Amertheelec8on,meetwithyournewPL

– Whatishisvisionandgoalsforhisterm?

–  SetdatesforthenextfewPatrolmee8ngs.

–  PassonPLmaterial:binder,PLHandbook.–  Follow-up–talkwithyourPLweekly–aboutthepatrolandtroop

–  EncouragepatrolaWendanceontroopac8vi8es


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APL’svisionandgoals•  AnewPLshouldconsiderthe“bigpicture”ofthepatrol?

–  Athisfirstmee8ng,heshouldfindoutwhereeachscoutstandsonadvancement.Pullreportsfromwhateversomwareyourtroopusesforadvancementtohelphim.

–  Advancementgoals–Howcanmembersadvance?WhenarethenextBORs?COH?

–  Patrolmee8ngagendasshouldbebasedonadvancementbutalsobefun.

– Whataboutfun?HowcanthePLfindoutwhatthepatrolwantstodoforfun?

–  Howcanthepatrolhelpthetroop?


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KeyLeadershipConceptsAdultAdvisorCriMcalRoleforFirstYearScouts

•  FirstYear-ThisistheCri8calYear(InclusionvsExclusion)•  Rolemodel:BeaTeam-BuilderNOTawall-builder•  E.D.G.E.-Coaching&MentoringtobuildourscoutsSelf-Esteem

&givethemthebasicskillstosucceed/grow•  Toolboxes-11yroldtoolboxvsa45yroldtoolbox•  Pre-meeMng(s)&de-briefing(s)arekeytobuildingLeaders•  UsingE.D.G.E.(pre-game)effec8vely,leadsto………….....

BOY-LEDconfidence(game8me)•  YP-RemindertoCCanotheradultleader(andparent)


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ThePre-MeeMng➢  ThisiscriMcaltotheconfidencebuildingandsuccessofourscouts!➢  Thepre-mee8ngshouldbeinaloca8onwheretherearefewdistrac8ons…

inthescoutshomeoratyourhomeisideal.(FollowingYPguidelines)(Thepre-mee8ngistypically25minutesbeforethePatrolmee8ng)

➢  Two-Deepleadershipisalwaysadheredto➢  Remember,mostpeoplelearnbyseeing(visual)anddoing(handson)➢  Remindyourscoutsthatoneofthekeystobeingasuccessfulleaderare

twoareas:

♦ Inclusion(makesureeveryone’sopinionisincluded)

♦RoundRobin–People(scouts)willinterruptlessiftheyknowtheywillgetachancetovoicetheiropinion

Note:CellphonescanbeanendlessdistracMon–Youmaywanttocollecttheminabasketwhenthemee8ngstarts!


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Nuts&Bolts:ThePre-MeeMng➢  ThePatrolAgenda:REVIEWthePatrolAgendaasaGuidetoconductmee8ngs..Theyshould

haveacopytorefertowhenleadingthemee8ngwiththeotherscoutsRemindyourscoutsthatoneofthekeystobeingasuccessfulleaderaretwoareas:♦ Inclusion(makesureeveryone‘sopinionisincluded)♦RoundRobin–People(scouts)willinterruptlessiftheyknowtheywillgetachance

tovoicetheiropinion➢  PatrolLeader:Giveleadershipresponsibili8estotheAsstPatrolLeaderperthePatrolAgenda➢  TheAdultAdvisorMinute:Thisiskeytohavingyouropportunitytobrieflydiscuss:♦ Upcomingou8ngs♦ Advancementopportuni8es♦ OtherimportantreminderswhichmaysupportthescoutPatrolLeader ➢  PracMcethebasicsofscouMng:MentorthePatrolLeadertoaskforavolunteertolead(or

assignscouts):♦ TheBoyScoutMoWo♦ TheScoutOath♦ TheScoutLaw♦ ThePledgeofAllegiance(Thisisagood8metochecktheircorrectsalute)


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Nuts&Bolts:TheDe-Brief

➢ WhatWorked,WhatDidn’t:♦ What should we keep doing, what should we stop doing or change ➢ Start–Stop-ConMnue:(Sameconceptasabove)

♦ Givespecificexamplesofwhatweshouldcon8nue,start&stop➢ Roses&Thorns:(Bringsscoutstogether–providesclosure&unity) ♦ This is a Troop 815 scouting tradition. After outings, everyone

gathers in a circle and briefly says what their Rose was (best part of the outing) and what their thorn was (worst part of the outing)

➢ AdultAdvisorLeadershipTools:♦ Use Question Based Leadership (What do they think? How might it be done

differently? Could we have done something another way?) ♦ Summarize what went well, and what we could do better next time. ♦ The SPL (Senior Patrol Leader) of the outing completes a “Close-Out” report

that summarizes these concepts which also makes a debrief valuable.


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RankAdvancement-Year1AdvancingFromScouttoTenderfoottoSecondClasstoFirstClass(thisiso<enachievedbyscoutsin18to24months)

➢ TroopMeeMngs:TrytoaWendasmanyaspossible-butatleast2outofthe3Troopmee8ngseachmonth.

➢ PatrolMeeMngs:Inthefirstyear,trytoplanaPatrolMeeMng2xpermonth♦ Reasoning – The Patrol is forming – learning to become a team ♦ Concepts of Forming / Storming & Norming (personality differences)♦ This First Year experience almost always determines whether a scout stays

in scouting and goes on to be an Eagle or not.

➢ FirstCampingTrip/Camporee/SummerCamp♦ First Trip: This is their first Troop outing – it is fun and just one overnight ♦ Camporee: This is 2 nights… lots of fun and a chance to get sign-offs for

rank advancement ♦ Summer Camp: This one is CRITICAL to building relationships,

becoming self-reliant and earning merit badges for rank advancement.


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RankAdvancement–Year2and3

AdvancingFromFirstClasstoStar➢ Star:Thisisoneofthemostdifficulttorankadvanceto♦ Reasoning – Our Scouts will be tested and must demonstrate skills and

proficiency in multiple areas that include: First Aid, Knots, Lashings, Fire Starting, Flag Folding, Compass and Map Orientation. Individual achievements.

➢ TroopMeeMngs:Con8nueaWendingasmanyaspossible-butatleast2outofthe3eachmonthisencouraged.AWendanceisafactorinrankadvancing.

➢ PatrolMeeMngs:ConMnuetryingtoplanaPatrolMeeMng2xpermonth♦ Reasoning – The Patrol continues to form and bond ♦ More eager achievers can encourage the other scouts in their patrol♦ Some attention should be paid to obtaining the age-appropriate Eagle Merit

Badges for Rank Advancement at Summer Camps ♦ Try to plan a fun patrol outing for bonding at least twice per year

➢ TroopPosiMons:♦ Encourage Scouts to consider taking Troop Positions that will challenge them


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RankAdvancement–Year4and5AdvancingFromStartoLifeScout

Note:ManyscoutswilltypicallyRankAdvancetoLifeScoutintheirFreshmanYearofHighSchool.SomescoutsmayearnLifeinthe8thgrade,othersasaJunior.

➢ LifeScout:ThisisabigdealasourscoutsarenowjustonerankfromachievingtheirEAGLE(EagleistheHighestRankinScou8ng).

➢ TroopMeeMngs:Con8nueaWendingasmanyaspossible-butatleast2outofthe3eachmonthisencouraged.AWendanceisafactorinrankadvancing.

➢ PatrolMeeMngs:♦ Usually once every 6 weeks. Reasoning – Scouts are usually involved in other

sports & school activities. Homework is usually a heavy load as well. ♦ Consider changing the meetings to a different day that works for everyone

where you can FOCUS on the more difficult EAGLE MERIT BADGES… 3 hour meetings can be huge in knocking out these tougher Eagle merit badges.

➢ TroopPosiMons:♦ Scouts should be running for Troop Positions as a way to give back to the Troop


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RankAdvancement:TakingthemysteryoutofEagleMeritBadges

ThesearetheRequiredEagleMeritBadges1.Camping(Requires20days&20nightsofcamping+addi8onalskillrequirements)2.CiMzenshipIntheCommunity(Requires8hoursofcommunityservice&aPresenta8on)3.Ci8zenshipintheNa8on(Involvesresearchandmul8pleshortpresenta8ons)4.Ci8zenshipintheWorld(Involvesresearchandmul8pleshortpresenta8ons)5.CommunicaMon(Includesa5minspeech,interviewingskills,leadingaTroopac8vity)6.Cooking(Involvesresearch,cookingforparentsathome&scoutsonahike/campout)7.EmergencyPreparednessorLifeSaving(EPrequiresaTroopwidemobilizaMon)8.EnvironmentalScience(Involveswri8ngareportonanoutdoorstudydonebyscout)9.FamilyLife(Requires3monthsofloggingchoresascoutdoesathishome)10.FirstAid(mostscoutsdothisatSummerCampandneedtoreviewskillsforStarrank)11.PersonalFitness(notdifficult,butrequires3monthsbetweentes8ng)12.PersonalManagement(Bestage14+&requires3monthsloggingexpenses)13.Swimming,HikingorCycling(MostscoutsdothecyclingprogramwithourTroop)


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RankAdvancement–Year6and7AdvancingFromLifeScouttoEAGLE

Note:IfascoutcanplantohavealltherequirementsmetpriortostarKnghisJunioryearinHighSchool,thistargetisidealgiventhemanydistrac?onsscouts generally

haveatage16andolder.Asareminder,therankofEagleMUSTbeobtainedpriortoourscoutsreachingtheir18thbirthday.NOEXCEPTIONS.➢  EAGLE:Lessthan4%ofallscoutsachievethisrank.Itisgivenweigh8ngand

preferenceatmost4yearcollegesandatallthemilitaryacademies.ManyemployersgivepreferencetocandidateswithanEagleintheirresume!

Paulcomment–in20136%ofscoutsearnedEagle.Iamnotsurehowthisextrapolatestoalloverallscouts--seehVp://www.scou?ng.org/About/FactSheets/Scou?ngFacts.aspx➢  TroopMeeMngs:AnEagleScoutisthetopscoutthatalltheyoungerscoutslookup

to.AWendanceisnotmandatorybutappreciatedasaninspira8ontotheotherscouts!

➢  PatrolMeeMngs:♦ This is often more of an outing that gets the patrol together to have fun, as typically most of the patrol is focused on their challenging Eagle Project.


IdeasfromTroop815


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Problem-InappropriateandNon-Scout-likeBehavior

•  Behaviorcanbeverysubjec8ve•  Thishappensineverytroop•  Consistencyiskey

Twothingstothinkabout•  Boysthatareconsistentlyinappropriateorexhibitnon-scout-likebehavioromenneedscouts

•  ExcessivelyInappropriatebehaviorcandetractfromtheoveralltroop


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BCM:BehaviorCoachingMoments•  Talkprivatelywiththescout(YPT!)

– Carefullypointouttheinappropriateness– ExplaintheWhy

– Developalterna8vebehaviors– Offerencouragement

– UseEmpathy-AWempttoascertainunderlyingissues– StayCalm-Raiseitupthechainifyouareunabletodoso

•  Follow-up– Pointoutno8cedimprovements– Con8nuetoencourage


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Problem-StarScoutSignOffs•  Manyyearsagothetroophadaproblem:Seniorscoutsnotknowingbasicscoutskills.

•  Seniorscoutsweresigningoffonskillsthattheydidnotknow.

TheStarTest●  Adultdriven●  Highlevelof

difficulty●  Senseof

AchievementandPride

●  HighlevelofSkillproficiency

Problems●  Notboyled●  Addingrequirements

toranks●  Tes8ngonbook

knowledge●  UnhappyParents


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SLT-OurAnswertotheSkillsProblem

• Wewereabletotalkaboutheaviertopicssuchasconflictresolu8onandempathy.

•  Theyworkedwitheachothertoensurethateveryonewasuptospeedonalloftheskillsthattheyshouldknowtobestarscouts.

•  Skillsares8llatahighlevelbutweareseeingmorematurityinhowtheolderscoutsinteractwiththeyoungerones.


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Problem:TooManyCooksintheKitchen• Withalargetroop,wefortunatelyhavemanyadultleaders.Oneissuethatmayariseisthatduringanou8ng,anSPLcangetinundatedwithfeedbackandadvicefromASM’s.

•  Some8mesconflic8ngandrepeatedinforma8onispassedtotheyouthwhichcancausefrustra8onandcanfeellikenagging.

Solu8on:LeadASM•  LiaisonbetweenSPLand

ASM’s

•  Helpsorganizetheou8ngfromtheadultssideandactsasthePLfortheAdultPatrol


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TheLeadASM-TheChainofCommand•  AdviseandguidetheSPL–startearlyandfollowourguides.

–  AdultAdvisorPlanningGuide–  SPL’sOu8ngPlanningGuide–  SPL/ASMChecklist

•  TheOutdoorProgramChairwillsendyouandtheSPLa“kick-off”email.–  AlldocumentsneededwillbeinasharedGoogleDrivefolderforonlinecollaboraMonwiththeSPL

–  YouneedaGoogleaccount•  OrganizeandleadtheHighFivePatrol•  RememberotherASMsareyourresource


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Problem:Informa8onD&D• WhenanASMoryouthleavesthetroop,weomenfindthattheytakesomeliWlepor8onofproprietaryknowledgewiththem.

•  Somepointsofknowledgearestoredwithasingleindividual

•  Noteveryoneknowstheprocedures•  E-Mailcanbeinforma8onoverload


ToolsfortheTrooptoCombatInforma8onD&D


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GoogleDriveExample:FilesforYosemite2015


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TheChecklistfortheLeadASM


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TheChecklistfortheScoutSPL


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TroopCalendars•  AnOutdoorplanningCalendar(availableonthetroop

website)liststheeventsandtheSPL/leadASMforeachone.

•  Alltroopmee8ngsandeventsareontheGoogleCalendar.Thiscanbesynchedtoyourphonecalendar.

•  EventsarechosenbyscoutsatPLCsandplanningmee8ngs


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TheBestScoutmastersareStageDirectors

Baden-Powelltaughtusthatthebestscoutleadersaretheoneswhocanre8retoacornerofthemee8ngroomorcampsiteandwatchtheac8vi8esmoveforwardundertheleadershipoftheScoutsthemselves.ThisdoesnotmeanthattheScoutmaster’sroleisunimportantorminimized.Farfromit!Tothecontrary,puingtheScoutsoutinfronttomakedecisionsandleadisthehighestcredittoanyScoutmaster.WorkingthePatrolMethod,p16


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Role of the ASM: Beyond the Basics - Mt.Diablo · PDF fileRole of the ASM: Beyond the Basics Troop 815 Danville, ... Serve as the Lead ASM who works with the SPL ... ♦ The Scout