For their weekly troop meetings, troops are encouraged to prepare an agenda that reflects the layout of the troop meeting planning form. A focus of the following four, sample, initial meetings presents a path of skills instruction culminating in the ability of the Scouts to erect a basic patrol dining fly. These four meetings serve as an example of sequential programming, leading to the accomplishment of a basic Scouting task requiring working together while using newly-acquired skills.
MEETING MATERIALS AND RESOURCES
Preopening: Moon Ball: – Materials: inflated beach ball for the whole troop or one beach ball for each patrol
Opening: American Flag
Skills Instruction: 3-foot, unfused, braided nylon cord for each Scout, candle in holder for each patrol. (Scouts BSA Handbook, section on “Fusing.”)
Activity: Steal the Bacon: – Materials: large playing area, neckerchief, whistle
Leader’s Minute: An Empty Pot
MEETING MATERIALS AND RESOURCES
—> Scout staves (“Hiking Staff”) can be purchased from the Supply Division HERE.
Preopening: Hit the Bucket: Sturdy, 5 gallon bucket, 1 Scout stave, 1 large rubber playground ball
Opening: American Flag
Group Instruction: video projection device,
Skills Instruction: 3-foot, fused, braided nylon cord and Scout stave for each Scout
Challenge: Taut-line Hitch Race III – Materials: for each patrol member, a 15-foot 3/16-1/4-inch nylon guyline
Game: Standing Staves – Materials: Scout stave for each Scout
Leader’s Minute: Bull’s-Eye Leader’s Minute
MEETING MATERIALS AND RESOURCES
Preopening: Hunker Down: Materials: 20-foot length of 1/2-inch soft, synthetic rope, two platforms 6 to 8-inches tall (two halves of a cinder block or two cuts from a downed tree, 8-inches in diameter)
Opening: American Flag
Group Instruction: video projection device,
Skills Instruction: 6-foot manila lashing rope for each Scout (whipped on each end with a Half Knot Whipping), Scout stave for each Scout
Activity: Catch the Snapper – Materials: four Scout staves, six 6-foot lashing ropes, one 3-foot cord, one fishing sinker and a mouse or rattrap for each patrol
—> Scout staves (“Hiking Staff”) can be purchased from the Supply Division HERE.
Leader’s Minute: Confidence
MEETING MATERIALS AND RESOURCES
Preopening: Hitching Challenge – Materials: 15-foot braided nylon or polyester cords attached at the bottom of one or more 4-foot upright poles
Opening: American Flag
Group Instruction: video projection device,
Skills Instruction:
Activity: Dining Fly Race – Materials: for each patrol, one tarp with grommets and with 50-foot ridge line attached, four 15-foot guylines, four Scout staves, four 6-foot lashing ropes, six stakes, one mallet (if indoors: 6 chairs to serve as anchors in lieu of stakes)
Leader’s Minute: Achieving a Goal