2016 Journey to Excellence Planning Guide - Troop

Transcription

1 Troop Planning Reminders 2016 Journey to Excellence Planning Guide - Troop The purpose of this Packet is to help provide you with a framework for planning the year. The Journey to Excellence (JTE) program standards are based on what successful units do to continually improve. The JTE standards provide tangible measurements based on things you are likely already tracking, such as advancement, and uses simple ways to calculate your performance. As you track your performance against the JTE standards, you can easily identify areas where your unit is already performing well. JTE can also provide guidance in areas where you might do better. One of the most important functions of JTE is it provides early warning of potential problem areas. While tracking your progress, you can identify areas where your unit is not performing as you might like and allows you plenty of time to make corrections. The notes below provide items to focus on monthly, so you can better plan your Troop s program. January JTE Req #11: Trained Leadership - Start talking to your leaders about the following school year. Start recruiting replacement leaders, if necessary. Encourage new leaders to take required online training as soon as possible, and plan to attend the next Scoutmaster and Assistant Scoutmaster Specific Training, as well as Intro to Outdoor Leadership Skills. JTE Req #4: Webelos-to-Scout Transition - Work with nearby Packs to coordinate activities for the graduating Webelos Scouts. Invite graduating Webelos to visit the Troop while attending the Winter Camporee. February JTE Req #5: Advancement - Encourage boys to earn their Scout Badge as soon as possible after joining the Troop. Encourage new Scouts to achieve First Class rank within a year, or at least by their second summer camp. Check on other levels of advancement as well. JTE Req #2: Building Boy Scouting - Make plans to participate in Webelos Graduation ceremonies at nearby Packs Blue & Banquets. JTE Req #9: Patrol Method - Troop elections should be held every 6 months, and be held early enough so new SPL will have experience leading the Troop prior to Summer Camp. March JTE Req #7: Long-term Camping - Scouts should have already paid their Summer Camp fee, and start the Summer Camp Merit Badge selection process. JTE Req #8: Service Projects - Make sure plans are in place for KAB Day Service Project. April JTE Req #7: Long-term Camping - Scouts should be completing the Summer Camp Merit Badge selection process. May JTE Req #11: Trained Leadership - Encourage new leaders and parents attending Summer Camp to complete online Youth Protection training. JTE Req #7: Long-term Camping - Get registrations in early for Summer Camp to allow better opportunity for Scouts to get into their preferred Merit Badge sessions.

2 June July JTE Req #7: Long-term Camping - Attend Summer Camp and High Adventure. JTE Req #8: Service Projects - Look for Service Project opportunities possibly a joint flag retirement ceremony with a local American Legion. JTE Req #7: Long-term Camping - Attend Summer Camp and High Adventure. August JTE Req #11: Trained Leadership - Start talking to your leaders about the following year. Start recruiting replacement leaders, if necessary. Encourage new leaders to take required online training as soon as possible, and plan to attend the next Scoutmaster and Assistant Scoutmaster Specific Training, as well as Intro to Outdoor Leadership Skills. JTE Req #6: Short-term Camping - Monthly Troop campouts should be planned during the Annual Troop Program Planning Conference. The specific dates should be planned as far in advance as possible, to allow leaders and parents to schedule vacation, if necessary. JTE Req #9: Patrol Method - Troop elections should be every 6 months. Patrol Leaders Council (PLC) should lead the development of the Troop calendar as part of the Annual Troop Program Planning conference. JTE Req #1: Planning and Budget - Have a unit budget created and approved by August 31. Get youth input for major activities. September JTE Req #3: Retention Start membership inventory in preparation for October Roundtable. JTE Req #5: Advancement - Encourage boys to earn their Scout Badge as soon as possible after joining the Troop. Encourage new Scouts to achieve First Class rank within a year, or at least by their second summer camp. Check on other levels of advancement as well. JTE Req #8: Service Projects - Make sure plan is in place for Scouting for Food bag distribution and collection. JTE Req #2: Building Boy Scouting - Hold a recruiting drive for 6 th grade boys that are new to Scouting. October JTE Req #3: Retention - Be sure to contact inactive boys to encourage them to recharter with the Troop. Complete Membership Inventory at October Roundtable. Complete Merit Badge Counselor re-registration. Collect Order of the Arrow dues and submit as part of the recharter process. November JTE Req #4: Webelos-to-Scout Transition - Work with nearby Packs to coordinate activities for the graduating Webelos Scouts. December Re-register On Time - If the steps in this document are followed, recharter paperwork should be ready to turn in at December Roundtable.

3 Journey to Excellence Requirement #1 Planning and Budget: Have a program plan and budget that is regularly reviewed by the committee, and it follows BSA policies related to fundraising. Level Level Level Have an annual program plan and budget adopted by the Troop Committee. Achieve, plus Troop Committee meets at least six times during the year to review program plans and finances. Achieve, plus Troop conducts a planning meeting involving youth leaders for the following program year. How to calculate: The Troop has a program plan and budget that is reviewed at all Troop Committee meetings, and the Troop follows BSA policies relating to fundraising and fiscal management as found on the Unit Money-Earning Application form and any other publication that the Council has developed for fundraising and fiscal management. A meeting is held with youth leaders where they are involved in developing the plan for the next program year. Review the unit's purchases from the Scout Shop for all advancement and recognition items, as well as event attendance fees. Use that information to calculate how much the Troop spends per boy. This info can be used to project a Troop budget for the following year. Plan fund-raisers as necessary to pay for Troop equipment and possibly defray costs for higher cost activities. Also consider fund-raising profits, so you can anticipate the product sales needed to cover the costs in the Troop budget. Journey to Excellence Requirement #2 Building Boy Scouting: Have an increase in Boy Scout membership or maintain a larger than average Troop size. Level Level Level Have a membership growth plan that includes a recruitment activity and register new members in the Troop. Achieve, and either increase youth members by 5% or have at least 25 members. Achieve, and either increase youth members by 10% or have at least 35 members. How to calculate: The Troop has a growth plan, and conducts a formal recruiting event. On December 31, 2016, the Troop has an increase in the number of youth members as compared to the number registered on December 31, A membership growth plan template can be found at Recruiting is a year-round process, with special emphasis during certain months. Take prompt action on any referrals from Be A Scout website. Boy Scout Summer Camp is a great recruiting tool that can be used for all age Boy Scouts. All ages should be recruited at Back-to-School recruiting activities. Encourage Scouts to recruit their friends to participate at fun events and join Scouting. Encourage all Scouts in the Troop to recharter.

4 Journey to Excellence Requirement #3 Retention: Retain a significant percentage of youth members. Level Level Level Reregister 75% of eligible members. Reregister 80% of eligible members. Reregister 85% of eligible members. How to calculate: Number of youth members on the most recent charter renewal (A) divided by the number of youth registered at the end of the prior charter year (B) minus any age-outs (C). Total = (A) / (B-C). Age-outs are youth who are too old to reregister as Boy Scouts. Recruiting is a year-round process, with special emphasis during certain months. Boy Scout Summer Camp is a great recruiting tool that can be used for all age Boy Scouts. Encourage incoming Webelos to join the Troop in February or March, immediately after their Blue & Banquet. This allows the Scouts to participate in weekend Troop campouts, so the Scout will have camping experience before his first week-long summer camp. All ages should be recruited at Back-to-School recruiting activities. Encourage all boys in the Troop to recharter. Journey to Excellence Requirement #4 Webelos-to-Scout Transition: Have an effective plan to recruit Webelos Scouts into the Troop. Level Level Level With a Pack or Webelos Den, hold two joint activities Achieve, plus recruit two Webelos Scouts. Achieve, plus provide at least one Den Chief to a Pack and recruit five Webelos Scouts How to calculate: Hold at least two activities with a Pack or Webelos Den, and recruit new Webelos Scouts into the Troop. Den Chiefs are provided to one or more Cub Scout Dens. The Troop should make contact with the nearby Packs, their Cubmasters, and their Webelos Leader(s) to help plan parent orientation and camp promotion meetings. Encourage Scouts in the Troop to serve as Den Chiefs in nearby Packs. Webelos will usually join the same Troop as their Den Chief. Webelos are encouraged to visit as many Troops as necessary to make an informed decision as to the best Troop to join. Encourage the Webelos parents to get involved in the Troop. Boys with active parents tend to stay involved in the program longer.

5 Journey to Excellence Requirement #5 Advancement: Achieve a high percentage of Boy Scouts earning rank advancements. Level Level Level 40% of Boy Scouts advance one rank during the year. 50% of Boy Scouts advance one rank during the year. 60% of Boy Scouts advance one rank during the year. How to calculate: Total number of Boy Scouts advancing at least one rank (Scout, Tenderfoot, Second Class, First Class, Star, Life, Eagle) during the calendar year (A), divided by the number of boys registered at the end of the year (B). Advancement = (A) / (B). Encourage all boys in the Troop to advance. Make sure that you encourage all new Boy Scouts to complete their Scout badge joining requirements as soon as possible after joining the Troop. Make sure that you encourage all new Boy Scouts to complete their Tenderfoot badge as soon as possible after joining the Troop. Focus on advancement in the month prior to each scheduled Court of Honor. Provide opportunities for Scoutmaster Conferences as soon as the Scout has completed the requirements for his next rank. Journey to Excellence Requirement #6 Short-term Camping: Conduct short-term or weekend campouts throughout the year. Level Level Level Conduct four short-term overnight campouts. Conduct seven short-term overnight campouts. Conduct nine short-term overnight campouts. How to calculate: Conduct short-term (at least one overnight) campouts throughout the year. Some activities are set up at the District and Council level Boy Scout Summer Camp, Fall Camporee, Winter Camporee, OA Conclaves, etc. Special focus should be given to this item during the Annual Troop Program Planning Conference. Cabin camping should be included in these numbers, if done at the Troop or Patrol level. All of the District and Council event dates are available at Program Kickoff. Make sure the Troop calendar is published to all members of the Troop.

6 Journey to Excellence Requirement #7 Long-term camping: Participate in a long-term camp with a majority of the Troop in attendance. Level Level Level The Troop participates in a long-term camp. 60% of Scouts attend a long-term camp. 70% of Scouts attend a long-term camp. How to calculate: Number of Boy Scouts who attend any in-council or out-of-council long-term summer camp (of at least five nights), High-Adventure experience, or Jamboree, or serve on camp staff within the past year, divided by the Boy Scout membership on June 30, Youth attending long-term specialty camps such as NYLT or STEM are also counted. Encourage participation at Summer Camp and High Adventure. Special focus on this item should occur during the Annual Troop Program Planning Conference. Summer Camp can be scheduled. Participation in National Jamboree, Philmont Trek, OA Trail Crew, or other OA High Adventure programs should be counted. High Adventure trips take a lot of future planning, as the events are way in the future from the Annual Troop Program Planning Conference. Journey to Excellence Requirement #8 Service Projects: Participate in service projects, with at least one benefiting the chartered organization. Level Level Level Participate in three service projects and enter the hours on the JTE website. Participate in four service projects and enter the hours on the JTE website. Participate in five service projects and enter the hours on the JTE website How to calculate: The Troop participates in service projects during the year and enters them on the Journey to Excellence website. The projects may be completed as joint projects with other organizations. At least one project must benefit the Chartered Organization. Two service projects are already on the Council calendar Scouting for Food and Keep America Beautiful Day. If the KAB Day service project benefits the Charter Organization, the Level is already achieved. Encourage Life Scouts to complete their Eagle Scout Leadership Service Projects, which also count toward this requirement. There are lots of other service opportunities, and they should be planned as part of the Annual Troop Program Planning Conference.

7 Journey to Excellence Requirement #9 Patrol Method: Use the Patrol Method to develop youth leaders. Level Level Level The Troop has Patrols, and each has a Patrol leader. There is an SPL, if more than one Patrol. The PLC meets at least four times a year. Achieve, plus PLC meets at least six times. The Troop conducts Patrol leader training. Achieve, plus PLC meets at least ten times. At least one Scout has attended an advanced training course, such as NYLT or Order of the Arrow Conference. How to calculate: The Troop is separated into Patrols and each Patrol has an elected Patrol Leader. If the Troop has more than one Patrol, there is an elected Senior Patrol Leader. If the Troop has more than one Patrol, the PLC meets at least four times each year. The Troop holds Patrol Leader training each year, and youth have the opportunity to participate in advanced training. Most Troops hold elections twice per year. This provides maximum opportunities for Scouts to fulfill the leadership requirements for the ranks of Star, Life, and Eagle. Hold your elections so that your SPL has experience leading the Troop before summer camp. The only way to develop leadership in a boy is to give him a chance to practice it. The Patrol Method provides this practice by placing upon the boys themselves the responsibility of running their Patrol. Journey to Excellence Requirement #10 Leadership and Family Engagement: The Troop is proactive in recruiting sufficient leaders and communicates regularly with parents. Level Level Level Have a Scoutmaster, an Assistant Scoutmaster, and a Committee with at least three members. Achieve, plus the Troop holds two courts of honor, where Troop plans are reviewed with parents. Achieve, plus the Troop holds three courts of honor, where Troop plans are reviewed with parents. How to calculate: The Troop has a Scoutmaster, an Assistant Scoutmaster, and a Committee of at least three members. Ideally, the Chartered Organization Representative should not be dual registered as one of the Committee Members. The Troop conducts courts of honor where youth are recognized and program plans are shared with parents. Schedule a Court of Honor early in the year to recognize achievements that occurred over the winter. Schedule a Court of Honor in late spring to recognize achievements that oc curred thru Merit Badge University on the University of Iowa campus. Schedule a Court of Honor shortly after Back-to-School to recognize achievements that occurred over the summer, including summer camp and high adventure. Schedule a Court of Honor late in the year to recognize achievements that occurred over the fall, including the Merit Badge Workshop held on the Linn-Mar campus.

8 Journey to Excellence Requirement #11 Trained Leadership: Have trained and engaged leaders at all levels. Level Level Level Scoutmaster or an Assistant Scoutmaster has completed position-specific training. Achieve, plus the Scoutmaster and 60% of assistants have completed positionspecific training or, if new, will complete within three months of joining. Achieve, plus twothirds of active committee members must have completed Troop Committee Challenge and at least one person has attended an advanced training course. How to calculate: All leaders have completed Youth Protection Training. Scoutmaster and 60% of the Assistant Scoutmasters (paid or multiple registration) have completed position-specific training or, if new, will complete within three months of joining. Two-thirds of active Committee Members have completed Troop Committee Challenge. For, one leader must have attended an advanced training course, such as Wood Badge, at some point in their Scouting tenure. Fast Start: Boy Scout and Troop Committee Challenge trainings are available online. Encourage the new leaders to complete Fast Start: Boy Scout Leader (Scoutmasters and Asst Scoutmasters) or Troop Committee Challenge (Troop Committee Members) modules at the same time they complete their Youth Protection. Check with the District/Council training committees for the dates of upcoming Scoutmaster Specific Training sessions and encourage new SM s and ASM s to attend. All youth deserve a trained leader, and the online trainings will give the new leaders a jumpstart in serving in their position. Special focus on this item is needed whenever new leaders are being recruited. Scoring the Troop's performance To determine the Troop's performance level, you will use the above information to determine the points earned for each of the 11 individual criteria and then add those individual point scores to determine a composite score. Count only the highest point total achieved in any one requirement. level: level: level: Earn at least 525 points by earning points in at least 7 objectives. Earn at least 750 points by earning points in at least 8 objectives. Earn at least 1,000 points by earning points in at least 8 objectives.