Troop Meeting Planning By: webmaster

There are many ways to break down and organize a Troop Meeting.

Pre-Opening – a game or activity that as Scouts arrive can jump into instantly without waiting for another round to start. Usually this is scheduled to start like 10-15 mins before the meeting, but really should start when the first Scout arrives. http://insanescouter.org/c/42/pre_openings.html

Opening – opening flags, prayer, etc that you do at the start of your meeting. http://insanescouter.org/c/157/Flag_Opening.html

Skill Development – the meat of the meeting, what is being taught and done. Normally this goes around 20 mins. http://insanescouter.org/c/63/the_outdoors.html

Game – just something for fun to wear off some extra energy. Figure the game should be like 8-10 mins. http://insanescouter.org/c/43/games.html

Patrol Corners – a time for each patrol to do what they need to as a patrol. Could be making a menu, creating their patrol flag, working together to learn something, signing off books, etc. Basically a short patrol meeting. Normally this would be around 10 mins.

Inter Patrol Contest – the time for the Patrols to do some kind of contest or relay against each other. A good example would be a knot relay, or maybe creating some kind of gadget or even a team building activity … use this time to build unit morale, unity, spirit, etc... This should be about same length as the game 10 mins or so.

Closing – this includes announcements, Scoutmaster Moment (or minute if your SM can keep to a minute), prayer, closing flags, etc. The main thing is the Flags should be first thing after pre-opening and last thing before the Scouts leave. If your unit does immediate recognition for advancement it would also be part of the closing, as well. http://insanescouter.org/c/158/Flag_Closing.html

After The Meeting – the time for your Service Patrol to clean up the room, puts everything away, etc. It is also a time the SM or a ASM to sit down with the SPL, ASPL. And Pls to review that meeting quickly for example if something went wrong or could have been done better. Also to look at the next meeting and make sure the youth leaders are ready for it and remember what they agreed to at the PLC meeting. I personally refer to this as a “Mini PLC”.

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Troop Meeting Planning
@Paula Hrbacek on 04/01/2011

I find that using a flag ceremony really helps settle the scouts down. The leaders I know who think a flag ceremony is lame are also the ones who complain about how rowdy their scouts are. this is true for both boys and girls. I have gathering activities on my web page, projectsbypaula.com.