11 yr old Scouting Program in the LDS

11 yr old Scouting Program in the LDS Church

Objective Each participant will better understand Scouting for the 11 yr-old boy. Using this program in a separate patrol helps strengthen and prepare the boy for the Aaronic Priesthood, Duty to God, and the 12 & 13 year-old scout program. The focus is on implementing the BSA Scouting program for the 11 yr-old-scouts in the Church.

Aims of Scouting 1. Growth in moral strength and character. 2. Participating citizenship. 3. Development of physical, mental, and emotional fitness.

Methods of Scouting Ideals: Scout Oath, Law, Motto, Slogan. Patrols: Peer groups, elected representation, activities. Outdoors: All outdoor programs. Advancement: Self reliance, ability to help others, challenge. Adult Association: Image, role model, example. Personal Growth: Good Turn, service projects, religious emblems. • Leadership Development: Leadership skills and practices, citizenship. • Uniform: Commitment to aims, identity. • • •

Ideals of Scouting The ideals of Scouting are spelled out in the Scout Oath, 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.

Patrol Method The patrol method gives Scouts an experience in group living and participating citizenship. It places a certain amount of responsibility on young shoulders and teaches boys how to accept it. The patrol method allows Scouts to act in small groups where they easily can relate to each other. These small groups determine troop activities through their elected representatives.

Outdoors • Boy Scouting is designed to take place outdoors. It is in the outdoors that Scouts share responsibilities and learn to live with each other. It is here that the skills and activities practiced at patrol/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 the laboratory for Scouts to learn ecology and practice conservation of nature's resources.

Advancement • Scouting provides a series of surmountable obstacles and steps to overcome through the advancement 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.

Adult Association • Boys learn from the example set by their adult leaders. • 11 yr old Scout Leaders are Assistant Scoutmasters and should be men of high character and strong testimonies. • And have a willingness to follow the full program to maximize the benefits to the young men.

Personal Growth • As Scouts plan their activity, and progress toward their goals, they experience personal growth. • Service and the Good Turn concept is a major part of the personal growth method of Scouting. • Boys grow 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.

Leadership Development • Boy Scouting encourages boys to learn and practice leadership skills. • Every Scout has the opportunity to participate in both shared and total leadership situations. • Understanding the concepts of leadership helps a boy accept the leadership roles of others and guides him toward the citizenship aim of Scouting.

Uniform • The uniform makes the Scout patrol/troop visible as a force for good and creates a positive youth image in the community. • Boy Scouting 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 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.

Ten Year Program

1 Intense Year • • • Weekly Patrol Meetings 3 Overnight Campouts 9 Monthly Day Camps / Day Activities Tenderfoot Scout Award 2 nd Class Scout Award 1 st Class Scout Award Star Scout Award First Aid MB (Opt. ) Citizenship in Community MB (Opt. ) 4 Courts of Honor (with Scouts) Annual Parents Meeting (with Scouts)

What you must BE to fulfill the 11 -year old Scout Leaders’ role

Be Trained The BSA training for the 11 Year Old Scout Leader (Assistant Scoutmaster) is the same as required for the Scoutmaster. The church has delegated to the BSA the responsibility to train Church Scouting leaders in the BSA programs. The required training includes: * Youth Protection * Fast Start / This is Scouting * Leader Specific Training for Scoutmasters * North. Star Training (Introduction to Outdoor Leader Skills) Add’l: Safe Swim Defense, Safety Afloat, Weather Hazards, Round. Tables, Wood Badge.

Be Converted Be converted to and develop a testimony of the value of the scouting program in preparing our Young Men to be future missionaries, fathers, and leaders in the church.

Be Committed Be committed to do the 11 -year-old scout leaders job.

Be an Example Be an EXAMPLE for the 11 -Year-Old Scouts and their parents. * Live the Scout Oath and Law everyday * Uphold and live the Church standards

Be a Friend • Be a friend to each Scout.

What you need to KNOW to successfully implement the program.

Who is Responsible? Stake –Responsibilities include: Counselor in Stake Presidency - Makes sure scouting is organized and functioning in the Stake Primary Presidency - Oversees Scouting for 11 -year-old boys. - Ensure the purposes of both Primary and Scouting are accomplished. - Help Wards know and understand Church Scouting policies. - Encourage ward primary presidencies to attend scout training. - Evaluate the scouting program frequently

Ward – Some of the responsibilities are: Bishop - Gives general direction for Scouting and ensures it is properly organized and funded. Bishops Counselor (over Primary) - Oversees the 11 -yr-old Scouting program. - Ensures it is organized correctly and has leaders who are trained. Scout Committee - Supports and assists Scouting activities. - Ensures Scout units operate within Church policy and within BSA standards and guidelines. Ward Primary Presidency - Serves on appropriate scouting committees. - Coordinate scouting activities with other unit and Primary activities - Ensure Church policy and procedures are followed. Primary President - Orient and supervise the 11 -Year Old Scout Leader. - Visit Scout meetings and evaluate the program. - Regularly review each boys progress and participation.

The 11 -Year-Old Scout Leader- The Leader’s role is that of Assistant Scoutmaster, his control and influence is over a single patrol. The leader is the key to good scouting. The Patrol is molded in his image. Whatever abilities the assistant 11 -Year-Old Leader or the scout committee have, they are not substitutes for the 11 -Year-Old leader. - Works under the direction of Primary President, while correlating with the Troop. - Meets regularly with President to discuss the Scouting program and each boy’s progress. - Encourages and helps each boy advance in scouting. - Keeps accurate records. - Organizes and implements an annual Scouting program for 11 year-old scouts. - Trains the Patrol Leader. - Sets the direction of the program.

The characteristics of 11–Year–Old Boys * Active and somewhat accident prone * Look sloppy * Have a belief in fair play * Talks quietly, often mumbles * Learning how to deal with adults – not his parents * Transitioning from Cub Scouts to Boy Scouts * Learning to do things by himself (without help) * Is still a little boy

The 11 -Year-Old Scout Program Know, understand implement the - 3 Aims of Scouting - 8 Methods of Scouting

Books to have and read * Boy Scout Handbook * Scoutmasters Handbook * Troop Program Resources * Safe Scouting Handbook * Scouting Handbook (Church’s Green Book) * The Patrol Leaders Handbook * Faith in God for Boys (Primary version of Duty to God) * The standard works of the Church

The Church Policies – The Church scouting policies are clearly spelled out in the Churches’ green “Scouting” handbook. Some of those policies specific to 11 -Year-Old Scouting are as follows: 1. BSA uniforms are encouraged for all registered Scouts. 2. All Scout meetings and activities will open and close with prayer 3. Boys 11 -years-old and younger will not accompany the older scouts on overnight activities, including the sons of the leaders. 4. Scouts should not go hiking, camping, or travel to or from camps on Sundays 5. Eleven-Year-Old Scouts meet separately from the Aaronic Priesthood-age scouts 6. Eleven-Year-Old Scouts may participate in a one-night campout three times each year. No other overnights should be planned. 7. Each boy participating in an overnight camp-out should have learned and practiced the required skills before the camping experience. 8. Women leaders do not participate in overnight camping with the boys.

Where to get help: * Ward Primary President * Ward Scoutmaster * Ward Scout Committee * Unit Commissioner (Stake Leader) * BSA District Executive * Monthly Roundtables * Bishopric * Internet – LDS. org, District, Council and National BSA sites.

How the Program is funded The 11 Year-Old Scout program is a Primary program, so the funding comes from the Ward Primary Budget. The 11 Year-Old Scout Leader should develop a budget plan to reflect the cost of implementing the Annual Program developed for the 11 Year-Old Scouts. This plan should be submitted along with the Annual Program Plan (Calendar) to the Primary President for funding.

What you must DO to carry out your responsibilities as an 11 yr old Scout Leader Scouting is Doing… Have FUN with the calling and make the program FUN for the scouts. If it’s not Fun, it’s not scouting.

B. Develop and initiate an annual program C. Prepare and conduct weekly Patrol meetings D. Conduct three over-night camp-outs, and nine other monthly activities. These are other than patrol meetings, such as hikes, service projects, and day activities such as compass courses, tree and plant identification hikes, etc. And attend the Stake Day Camp for 11 -year-olds. E. Train and work with the Patrol Leader F. Ensure the safety of all scouts all the time G. Integrate the “Faith in God” program into activities and gatherings, whenever possible. H. Attend monthly ward scout Committee meetings, troop courts of honor, monthly district roundtable training, the Quarterly Stake PH Leadership training when invited, and ward Primary leadership meetings. I. Wear a complete BSA uniform to all Patrol meetings, and other scouting events and activities. J. Share personal testimony often during meetings, campfires, at scouting events, and any other time when it is appropriate to let the scouts know you have a testimony of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. K. Develop a rapport with the Scouts L. Keep good records

The “ 11 yr old Scout Factor — 85% of 11 yr. old boys that obtain 1 st Class Rank, become Eagles. — 92% of Eagles serve Missions. Of Returned Missionaries: — 95% were sealed in the Temple. — 83% regularly attend Sacrament Meetings. [Philmont Scout Ranch LDS Training Conference, July 2005 ]

“The Aaronic Priesthood prepares boys for manhood and the weightier duties of the Melchizedek Priesthood. Scouting helps our boys to walk uprightly the priesthood path to exaltation. ” President Thomas S. Monson