Meeting Ideas

[hungryman287]

I don't want to seem like im spamming and asking useless questions here but, my troop is always complaining about not having things to do at meetings. Does anyone have any out of the ordinary ideas for troop meetings? Things that would be productive and fun at the same time.

Thanks!

[OldGreyBear]

Hungryman, a few questions first, how many scouts in your troop, in your patrol and who plans the scout meetings and who conducts/runs them and who plans and conducts campouts and other non meeting troop avtivities?

[hungryman287]

There are anywhere from 10-25 that show up to the meetings, though 40 are listed on the roster. The SPL is supposed to plan and run the meetings, i was ASPL its a hard task and im looking for ideas to help now or if I get elected when I run. My troop really doesn't do too much in the patrol format but there are about 8 kids in each patrol. The campouts are planned by whoever wants to do it, which is normally no one or a leader normally its the leader. We do have that every month a patrol is supposed ot plan an outing but that never seems to happen

[wagionvigil]

Scoutmasters are given program ideas with their Scouting Magazine each year. ALso Roundtables are a great place to get program ideas. Remember the Boys should be deciding the program with adult assistance. Have any boys attended JLTC from your troop? Or taken any youth training?

[scoutmasterbob]

Scouting has always been fun with a purpose.

I know that my Troop has started emphasising the fun and the purpose is slowly disappearing.

In your planning meeting, start looking at scouts who are behind in advancement and plan some activities that would help them advance.

Take a look at this link:
http://www.gslc-bsa.org/bs/meeting/index.cfm

It has some info you might find useful.

[t305spl]

Make the meetings fun but not to much fun that you go off topic. Be able to do a little break games and get back to working on advancement or whatever other skills your doing. The best is when the topic you are doing is fun. Play old games you know they like and experiment with new ones.

[hungryman287]

thanks for the tips everyone!

[KB1KOI]

If adults leaders or scouts have hobbies and stuff that relates to scouting (camping skills, merit badges etc.) have them do an presentation. For example, I'm a ham radio operator. I could easily cover the radio merit badge, and turn a few scouts on to a lifelong hobby.