How are the different levels (age and rank) of scouts integrated to make the new scouts comfortable and accepted within the troop?
• What steps are taken to keep the new scouts engaged? We keep them separated into a “first-year” program for the first year of their scouting adventure. They learn all the basics of scouting and are on common ground with others having the same interest. They are not responsible for planning or conducting meetings. It also helps that they are competing with one another for rank advancements. Conversely, there are also activities we do not let them participate in. This builds their anticipation and gives them things to look forward to in future scout years. • Do most troops operate in essentially the same manner? No. All troops are different. In BSA theory all troops should be run by the scouts with the adults there to facilitate. In reality, each troop is cared for by adult volunteers and they are free to interpret just how “boy run” they want to be. Troops are dynamic and change when adult volunteers change, when older scouts leave, when there is a big influx of new scouts, and when t
