The Scoutmaster Conference

Counseling in Action

Each of the six ranks in Scouting contains the requirement "Participate in a Scoutmaster conference." The purpose of the conference is to develop over a period of time an increasing level of understanding and trust between the Scoutmaster and each Scout. Once this relationship is established and begins to grow, the Scoutmaster can be increasingly effective in helping a boy get the most from Scouting.

Even the joining requirements include a Scoutmaster conference, and it's an especially critical one, for it is here - with the new Scout - that the understanding and the trust begin to form.

The Scoutmaster conference is an example of that useful human tool we call counseling - informally a process of guiding someone to solve his own problems and set his goals, rather than simply to act on the advice of someone else. Let's look at counseling - the tool. And the counselor - You.

Through counseling, a leader can often reach the boy who is hard to reach, or help the boy who is not sure he wants to be helped.

How do you counsel? Follow these three rules:

Rule 1 - Listen. Rule 2 - Listen. Rule 3 - Listen.

Your first need as counselor is to establish rapport. The closer you come to rapport, the more productively the Scout will respond to your role as counselor.

Start with easy, friendly questions that will relax the Scout and get him responding - favorite sports and hobbies, brothers and sisters at home, Scouting experiences, school activities.

Avoid questions that can be answered with a simple yes or no. These are called "restrictive" questions, and don't encourage the deeper involvement we're after. Stick to questions that do encourage such involvement, such as:

Open end: "Tell me about your patrol getting lost on your hike last week."

Choice plus explanation "What did you like best (or least) in camp, the rifle range or swimming? Why?"

Problem: "Suppose one of your Scouts couldn't afford to go to camp because his father lost his job. What do you think the troop should do about it?"

As you work toward a sensitive area use approaches like: "What do you think the real problem is? ... Why do you feel that way? ... How can we keep it from happening again?"

Sometimes it's not what a boy says, but how he says it that can trigger a breakthrough to understanding and possibly the resolution of a difficulty. Watch for such clues.

Summarize his comments from time to time so he will know you're understanding him correctly: "Okay, you're saying that after you spoke to Mr. Jones you changed your mind about what happened, is that right?"

Show understanding and sympathy for a problem he had: "Boy, that must have been frustrating! What did you do then?"

Suggest alternative approaches to a problem he may be concerned about, and encourage him to come up with alternates of his own. Discuss the pros and cons with him, but make it clear that you expect him to make the ultimate decision.

When you feel the session is winding down, ask him if he has any further questions or comments. If so, listen. If not, shake his hand and thank him for sharing the time with you, and being frank about things that are important to you both.

When should counseling be used? When a Scout asks for it. Or when a third party suggests it - and makes a good case for it. Or when the situation clearly calls for it. And of course during the Scoutmaster conferences necessary to a Scout's rank advancement.

What things can be discussed at the Scoutmaster's conference? Many things: Not only advancement progress, but likes and dislikes, relationships with leaders and other Scouts, a personal problem, even an "outside" situation, such as a family or school matter on which Scouting in some way might have a constructive impact.

Are there rules for the Scoutmaster conference? A few: Start with some friendly, non-threatening questions or comments to set a casual, relaxed tone. Ask the Scout's opinion on something, and when it comes, listen. Gain his respect by respecting him. Lectures, preaching, and outright criticism are no-no's. So is showing pained surprise at something he says.

But wait - does this mean that if a Scout has, say, a discipline problem - you can't talk with him about it? Not at all. Talk with him about it, but gently, carefully, helpfully. If you come on too strong, he can turn you off - or even walk out. But if the two of you have developed the right level of understanding and trust, the chances are he won't.

What about length? Since an 11-year-old's attention span is limited, keep the conference relatively brief - not more than 10 or 15 minutes. If you feel you need more time, schedule a second meeting. Better to break a conference into two sessions of 15 minutes each than to insist on a full half hour.

Where to hold it? You could hold it in the Scout's home if possible, with his parents present but not in the same room. (What boy could be totally candid if Mom and Dad could hear every word he said?) You could also hold it during a troop meeting or even on an overnight campout - but off to one side, so that you could be seen but not heard.

While the Scoutmaster conference happens as a result of the advancement requirement, you may schedule a conference for any good reason - lack of advancement, a behavior problem, a home situation, a possible promotion, whatever. It's a tool with many uses.

SOME CONFERENCE GUIDELINES

The New Scout Conference

Here's where you and a new Scout really start getting acquainted. Begin by creating the friendly, relaxed atmosphere we spoke of earlier. Get the new Scout talking about himself by asking what his favorite hobbies and sports are. What did he enjoy most about his Cub Scout and Webelos experiences? Any brothers or sisters? Why did he want to join the troop, and what does he hope to get from his Scouting experience here?

Chat a bit about the joining requirements he has completed. Any problems? Did he and his parents review the booklet on child and drug abuse? Any ideas or comments about it?

Now walk through the Tenderfoot requirements with him, and help him begin to set some goals. What requirements will he do first, and how long will it take him to finish the rest of them?

Briefly review how the troop operates - the weekly troop and patrol meetings, the outdoor program, continuing advancement opportunities. Remind him gently that the Scout Oath and Law are not just something to be memorized, but to be lived up to.

Direct his attention to the statement related to the duty to God concept found on page 561 of the Boy Scout Handbook. Ask him how he understands it. Talk about the importance of learning about his faith and in Scouting, his response should become more articulate. Duty to God should be discussed at many Scoutmaster conferences and boards of review, not just at the Eagle board of review.

Encourage him to start on his religious emblem program.

Ask him if has any remaining questions, comments, or concerns. Tell him you'll be looking forward to the next conference, when he will have completed his Tenderfoot requirements. But invite him to come to you any time he has a question, a problem, or needs some advice.

And mean it.

The Tenderfoot Conference

Begin by congratulating him on completing his Tenderfoot requirements. Explain that he will shortly appear before the troop board of review and be certified as a Tenderfoot, and will be awarded his badge soon afterward. Assure him that the board of review is not a retest, but a chance to talk with the troop committee on how he's doing.

Ask him which Tenderfoot requirements he enjoyed the most. Which one was the hardest? Did he improve his scores after practicing the exercises for 30 days? Does "physically strong" mean just big muscles, or something more?

Give him a copy of Youth's Frontier, Making Ethical Decisions, and look through it with him. Discuss briefly the meaning of "ethical." Ask him to take the booklet home and share it with his parents.

Review the Second Class requirements with him, and help him to understand any that are not clear to him. Guide him toward a reasonable goal for earning Second Class rank, and point out that after that there's only one more rank to go to be a First Class Scout. Urge him to go for it.

The Second Class Conference

Start by expressing your satisfaction at seeing him closing in on First Class. Ask him how he's doing with his patrol, and suggest that now that he's been in the troop several months he should be thinking about taking some patrol job responsibility, such as scribe, quartermaster, or assistant patrol leader. Talk about what he thinks it means to take responsibility.

Remind him you asked him to share the booklet, Youth's Frontier, Making Ethical Decisions with his parents. Discuss how it worked out. Can he give you an example of an ethical decision he made recently?

What did he learn from his participation in the program on drug, alcohol, and tobacco abuse called for in requirement 8?

When he took the Scout Oath he promised to be "mentally awake." What are some ways in his daily life that he can be mentally awake?

Mention that requirement 9 in Second Class is "Show Scout spirit." What does he think it means, and how can a Scout show it?

Check through the First Class requirements with him, and urge him to finish them by the end of his first year in Scouting - or even sooner.

The First Class Conference

Tell him how glad you are to see him coming up for First Class, and how you have enjoyed getting to know him during the time he has been in the troop. Ask him to tell how he feels about his Scouting experience so far. What did he like most? Which least? Would he do anything different?

Discuss his patrol job, if he had one. What did he learn from it? Would he like further chances for leadership? Why?

Remind him that you discussed two phrases from the Scout Oath in previous conferences - "physically strong" and "mentally awake" - and that now it's time for the third: "morally straight." What does he think the phrase really means? Could it affect actual problems, such as cheating, or doing drugs, or telling a friend "No" when he suggests something you feel is wrong. Can he recall a person experience with "morally straight?"

Look ahead with him to the world of merit badges, and the three higher ranks he will soon be working on -- Star, Life, and Eagle. Review the requirements for Star, noting that they include a service project and Scout spirit as well as merit badges. Point out that some merit badges are required for Eagle rank, and that it might be wise to start work on them first.

A CONFERENCE WITH PARENTS

What about the parents of a new Scout? Shouldn't they have a chance to chat with an adult troop leader and learn how they can help their son have a good experience with the troop? Yes they should, and this conference is usually conducted, logically enough, by the assistant Scoutmaster responsible for new Scouts.

If Johnny is to get the homeside understanding and backup he needs, an early conference between parents and this leader is a must. Here are some guidelines for an effective session.

Hold the conference in the parents' home, if possible, or other quiet, private location. Confer with the parents only -- their son should not be present. Keep the tone informal and friendly throughout. Make clear that the aim of this meeting is to help their son get a good start with the troop, and the Scouting adventure he is beginning.

Explain, if appropriate, that he will join a special patrol for Scouts not yet 12 or in the seventh grade, a patrol designed to introduce new boys to the Scouting program and help them grow comfortable with it. Mention the troop guide, the older Scout who works with the new Scout patrol.

Spend a few moments with the advancement program, and the challenge for their son to achieve First Class rank within his first year with the troop. Urge them to stay aware of his progress, help him with skills training if they can, and encourage him to keep going.

Say a few words about troop and patrol meetings, the adult leaders, outdoor activities, and summer camp, and tell them they will be welcome at all troop functions and events.

Ask them to complete the Troop Resource Survey, and say they will be called on to help out in areas in which they are qualified.

Stress that behind all the action and fun are some very serious aims, values, and ideals, such as the Oath and the Law, and growth in character, citizenship, and personal fitness. As an example, briefly discuss the booklet, "How to Protect Your Children from Child Abuse and Drug Abuse."

Bring the session to a smooth close by inviting them to share any remaining questions or concerns. Assure them that you'll be looking forward to working with them -- and their son -- in the good times ahead.