Preparing for a Scoutmaster Conference

Posted by Mark Abell on September 23, 2009

 

Beginning October 1, 2009, every scout requesting a Scoutmaster Conference will be asked to complete the scoutmaster-conference-worksheet and bring it with him to the conference. He will also be asked to demonstrate the basic scout skills for the rank he is seeking. His demonstration of skills and the completed worksheet will provide the basis for evaluating the scout’s readiness to advance, and, more importantly, will serve to identify the strengths and deficiencies in our Troop’s program. 

 

To prepare for his Scoutmaster Conference, each scout should review the appropriate skills and/or discussion topics:

 

Tenderfoot: ·         Knots: o   Square o   Two Half Hitches o   Taut-Line Hitch ·         Oath ·         Law ·         Slogan ·        Motto ·        Discuss his scouting experience	Second Class: ·         Tenderfoot Requirements, plus: ·         How to Orient a Map ·         Discuss First Aid Skills ·         Discuss Cooking and Fire Building Skills
First Class: ·         Second Class Requirements, plus: ·         Knots: o   Timber Hitch o   Clove Hitch o   Bowline ·         Outdoor Code ·         Discuss their goals for Leadership	Star: ·         First Class requirements, plus: ·         Discuss leadership completed ·         Discuss service projects completed ·         Discuss merit badges completed ·         Discuss any high adventure camps
Life: ·         Star requirements, plus: ·         In-depth leadership discussion	Eagle: ·         Life requirements, plus: ·         Preparing for the Eagle BoR ·         Eagle Project Review ·         Post-Eagle goals

 

The SMC is the Scoutmaster’s opportunity to get to know the boy and how the program is working for him. The SMC is not designed to create a roadblock to advancement, but rather to get to know the scout, help encourage him, and celebrate his achievements. 

 

The Scoutmaster may withhold a SMC for a period of time because a scout has not demonstrated Scout Spirit (either due to a recent and significant discipline issue or failure to be active in scouting), but no scout “fails” his SMC. Rather, his troop may have failed to properly train him. In these cases, the Scout will complete the conference, but may be asked to work with a Troop Guide or an Assistant Scoutmaster to learn or review missing skills, and to demonstrate those skills before his next SMC.  In the case of Eagle Scouts, these items will be reviewed during the pre-project and goal setting conference with the expectation that any deficiencies are corrected by the time of his Eagle SMC.