Youth leadership is real

Troop 26 is a youth-led Scout Troop. In other words, Scouts are elected to positions of leadership and responsibility. The scout leadership is responsible for planning and executing their own Scouting programs.

Adult leaders help out by providing support and limited participation. Many different levels of youth authority exist in the troop, from the Senior Patrol Leader, to Assistant Patrol Leaders. Several voluntary positions also exist for those who prefer to provide support services, like Quartermaster, Historian, Chaplain Aide and Scribe.

When a youth joins the troop, they are slowly introduced to the leadership structure and given time to acclimate to the new environment. They are given small jobs to accomplish, under the guidance of more experienced Scouts. As their ability and knowledge grows, they soon begins to tackle more complex responsibilities. Most Scouts who choose to be leaders are members of the troop for about a year before they are prepared to accept a leadership position.

Learning good leadership skills is one of the most important benefits of being a Scout. Troop 26 strives to teach leadership skills through example, both by other Scouts and by the adult uniformed leaders. More experienced Scouts are expected to help younger Scouts learn basic leadership and teamwork skills.

Once elected to a leadership position, Scouts become part of the Patrol Leader's Council (PLC) -- the group that governs the troop. It consists of the Senior Patrol Leader, the Assistant Senior Patrol Leader(s), Patrol Leaders, and other Scoutmaster approved positions.

The PLC meets at least monthly with the Scoutmaster and Assistant Scoutmasters to plan, review and assess troop programs and activities. The PLC is responsible for developing the annual troop calendar, using inputs and recommendations from scouts and the patrols of the troop. Once accepted by the Scouts of the troop, the Senior Patrol Leader, then must present the annual plan to both the Scoutmaster and the Troop Committee for approval and support.

Scouts, serving as a member of the PLC and Scoutmaster approved leadership positions, must attend Troop 26’s one-day Introduction to Leadership Skills for Troops (ILST) program. ILST is usually held twice a year so every Scout has an opportunity to receive this training.