Scout Leadership Course Session Activity Notes

Session activity

The Troop Council: Video

Time to allocate for this activity

45 minutes

Resources required

Video projection equipment, DVD or Video player, TV and Video Cassette.

Activity Notes

If not already used in the Patrol System session, this video is an excellent resource for the Troop Council session. It showcases how to re-work a Patrol System.

Prelude (3 minutes)

Ask the course if they would like to sit inside or out for this session (or to make some other fairly meaningless decision). Allow them a very brief time to discuss and decide. Once a decision has been made and the course is settled for the session, annouce that they have just held a very successful Troop Council! By simply making a decision on how the whole Group should proceed is exactly what a Troop Council is for.

Introduction (2 mins)

What is The Troop Council? Ask for some ideas from the course. Encourage ideas that talk about Patrol Leaders sharing ideas, making decisions, programming, approving award scheme progress, etc.

Why is The Troop Council important for a Troop? Again, briefly encourage comments from the group which include making it relevant for the youth members, developing leadership skills, more efficient, etc.

The task (10 mins)

Watch the video "The Patrol System" available on the DVD resource. It is a little old but has an excellent message and presentation.

The meeting

Using the mock agenda and participant cue cards provided, the presenter will guide the meeting, allowing the Chair to run the proceedings, but occasionally stopping to address the course where clarification or comment is needed.

Discussion (10 minutes)

At the conclusion of the meeting, hold an open forum discussion with the course, the presenter leading the discussion with the following thought points:

• Does a Troop Council always have to be the same format?
• Who has been to a Troop Council, or heard of their Troop having one?
• Why is the Troop Council important?
• Is it always the PLs, or can it vary?
• How long should a Troop Council last?
• What can you do if your Troop does not have a Troop Council?

Conclusion (5 minutes)

Finish by confirming the outcomes of the session.