Junior Leader Training Weekend

Community Rod & Gun Club

Bechtelsville, PA

13-15 January 2006

        In order to have an effective and smooth running boy-led troop, it is essential that current and upcoming boy leaders be trained in the problem-solving and leadership skills that they will need to perform their duties as patrol leaders, senior patrol leaders, assistant senior patrol leaders, scribes, quartermasters, troop guides and the like.  Troop 461 holds its annual junior leader training weekend during a weekend in January.  For nearly a decade, the Community Rod and Gun Club of Bechtelsville, Berks County, has been kind enough to allow the troop to use its cabin for this purpose.  This year, four adult leaders and 11 of the troop's boy leaders took part in the training weekend.

        Arriving Friday night following a fog-shrouded journey from Telford to Bechtelsville, the group quickly settled down into its Friday night routine.  Friday nights are reserved for recreation and relaxation.  Usually, the Scouts get some sort of card game organized--over the past several years, it has involved "Magic" cards.  There is also a chance to watch a video if one is not interested in playing "Magic."  Of course, a Friday night snack is always included.

        The training began shortly after breakfast on Saturday.  Junior leader training involves both video and classroom instruction as well as games and exercises designed to improve and sharpen the Scouts' problem-solving and observation skills.  The weather forecast for Saturday was not encouraging for the outdoor portion of the training program--rain and wind, but fortunately, the weather cooperated enough so that those portions of the training program could be accomplished.

        The photos above show the Scouts preparing for and engaging in one of the outdoor problem-solving exercises.  In the photo above right, the Scouts are blind-folded and all hold the edge of a rope.  Then, they are asked to form either a circle, square or triangle without seeing what they are doing.  This exercise allows the Scouts to problem-solve and engage in shared leadership.

        In the photo above left, ASM Andy Cowles passes out the items necessary for the observation exercise called "my friend, the potato."  In that exercise, each Scout is given a raw potato and allowed several minutes to examine their potato, after which time they are to give a one minute talk to the others in which they provide the group with a "biography" of their potato.  After all of the bios are given, the potatoes are collected and redistributed, at which time the Scouts are asked to find their original potatoes.  In the photo above right, Scoutmaster Harold Frederick runs the nine-magazine game that is designed to increase the participants' problem-solving and observation skills.  Quite a few went home without figuring out the "trick" of the game.  Well, better luck next year!

        Following supper on Saturday night, the group embarked on the traditional shopping excursion to Zern's Farmer's Market in Gilbertsville.  The earlier warm weather turned cold and the rain showers we experienced earlier in the day turned into snow for the trip to and from Zern's.  Whether one is a novice shopper or a confirmed "Zernaholic," there is bound to be something there that one can spend one's money on.  The Scouts all look forward to the trip to Zern's and very few came back empty-handed.  While at Zern's, we noticed that one of the stalls appeared to be owned by the family of one of our Assistant Scoutmasters.  No wonder he couldn't make the trip. . .

        Upon the return from Zern's, the group was treated to root beer floats.  They then split into two groups, one busied themselves with a "Magic" game while the other group watched movies.  It was well after midnight when the group finally settled into bed.

        Sunday morning was occupied by packing up for home and a breakfast of scrambled eggs, pancakes and hot and cold cereal.  There was some ice cream left over from the root beer floats that some of the campers enjoyed with their pancakes.  After breakfast was cleaned up and the troop and personal gear packed up and loaded, the Troop held chapel in the building before a final cleaning of the building and the trip home.

This page last updated on Monday, 16. January 2006