Leadership Projects

[Sugar Hill Scouter]

In the Star and Life rank requirements, as an alternative to serving in a leadership position, a scout can "carry out a Scoutmaster assigned leadership project."
I have some scouts in our troop that have not served as leaders and was just wondering, what are some examples of "scoutmaster assigned leadership projects" that you other scoutmasters have allowed in your own troop?

[1st Mate]

That is difficult to do since every troop has different nees and characteristics. What might be a meaningful project for one unit would likely have no relationship to another.

I rarely had need for this portion of the requirement. By keeping an eye on where scouts were in their advancement needs and working with the SPL scouts needing leadership roles for advancement usually were selected by the SPL for leadership positions that qualified for the requirement.

The important thing to remember when you do use the scoutmaster assigned project is to make sure that it has elements that will allow the scout to learn and practice leadership skills. Too often scoutmasters assign things like "clean out the trailer" or "wash the tents" and count those as 'scoutmaster assigned projects', but the goal here is not to give busy work or make the scout do a chore. This is a leadership development requirement and so it should include activities that allow the scout to grow as a leader. It should include working withand leading others, planning, communicating, evaluating, and other elements of leadership to help prepare the scout for future leadership roles.

[WB Bear]

I too have rarely seen a situation that portion of the requirement is needed. There can be a problem is very large Troops however having a boy serve as a Den Chief can solve that problem.

[Sugar Hill Scouter]

Let's face it though, some boys are just not leadership material.
Putting them in places of leadership is setting them up to fail oftentimes, and the job they are supposed to be doing winds up not getting done.

I would like to hear from scoutmasters who HAVE had scouts fulfill this requirement by assigning a leadership project.

[1st Mate]

Let's face it though, some boys are just not leadership material.

I can't agree with that. All scouts may not develop at the same rate or to the same degree, but they all have the ability ot learn something. As the trained adult leaders it is our responsibility to teach, coach and mentor each scout. The goal is to help them improve not to get them to meet our expectations.

Putting them in places of leadership is setting them up to fail oftentimes, and the job they are supposed to be doing winds up not getting done.

As Leaders we don't "put" any scout into a place of leadership. If you follow the program then other scouts either elect them or select them to leadership positions. OUR job as adult leaders is to develop the ones that the youth elect or select.

I would like to hear from scoutmasters who HAVE had scouts fulfill this requirement by assigning a leadership project.
Ok. Here are three I did. I had a scout chair a planning committee for a 10 day trip to Canada. Another Scout lead a committee to select new tents for the troop. Another planned a weekend junior leader training campout.

I hope this helps,

[ScoutmasterJerry]

First- Setting the Scout up to fail.... Nah, can't buy that.
You set the Scout up to succeed. Give him an on going project in which he will have to work with others and lead.
THEN- Coach him on how to lead... don't do the task for him, but monitor the project and teach him how to get results from his team.

Second- This is the BSA is which we train boys to lead. That does not mean that they all will become leaders, but they should in the end have skills that when called on can have the confiedence to lead. They may never be a leader in the business world, but the skills and values sets they learn through Scouting may make them a better Dad, or co worker one day.

Finally- I have never had a Scout do this portion of the requirement. There has always been a job open to fulfill the requirement of leadership. And if there wasn't, I made one. At one point I had two Quartermasters. It took both of them to do the job. They divided up the gear and took responsibility for it. We coached them and the process grows.
Also of note. Finding a position of Responsibility is the Scouts responsibility.... Not the Scoutmasters. If they wait around and nothing is available I am inclined to have them wait till the next election.
Lets not forget.. Advancement is but 1 of the 8 methods.