Youth Leadership

YOUTH LED; Two words that are quite scary for some.  Sometimes you might look at a Troop meeting and think "Oh my goodness, this is chaos."  Yes, it might be at times.  Amidst this chaos though, are Scouts that are learning how to work together, to lead, and to mentor others.  The skills our youth learn, throughout their challenges and triumphs as part of the leadership team, will take them throughout the rest of their lives.  Our job as parents and leaders is to give the Scouts a road map and let them run with it.  All of our meetings, campouts, and events are planned by the youth.  They choose the location and activities, all the way down to the food they will be eating.  As adults, our job is to make the reservations and travel arrangements and oversee these activities.  We help the Scouts by giving them the tools to create their own route on the map.

Leadership Positions:

There are many leadership roles Scouts can hold within a troop and we encourage them to hold these positions not only for those that count towards rank advancement but to help their leadership skills grow.  Our troop is led by a group of Scouts that are both elected and appointed by the Scoutmaster.  Our troop holds nominations for new leadership positions twice a year in the Fall and Spring.  This allows the Scouts time to learn the skills required for each position and grow them.  Are they perfect right out of the gate?  Not at all.  That's the beauty of the program.  Scouts learn these invaluable skills as they go throughout their term.

There are many leadership roles a youth can hold, though not all leadership positions count towards rank advancement.

• SPL (senior patrol leader) -- elected by the troop and must be at least 7th grade and 1st class

• ASPL (assistant senior patrol leader) -- elected by troop, must be at least 7th grade and 1st class 

• TG (troop guide) -- scoutmaster appointed and must be at least star rank and 8th grade

• PL (patrol leader) -- elected by the members of their patrol

• ASL (assistant patrol leader) --  elected by the members of their patrol, does not count for rank

• Troop Scribe -- elected by the Troop

• Patrol Scribe -- elected by the patrol

• Den Chief -- scoutmaster appointed and must be at least first class and 7th grade

• QM (quartermaster) -- elected by the troop.

• PQM (patrol quatermaster) -- elected by the patrol

• AQM (assistant quartermaster) -- elected by the troop, does not count for rank

• Librarian -- elected by the troop

• Historian -- elected by the troop

• Bugler -- elected by the troop, does not count for rank

• Chaplain’s Aide -- elected by the troop

• Webmaster -- scoutmaster appointed

• Instructor -- scoutmaster appointed

• JASM (junior assistant scoutmaster) -- scoutmaster appointed, must be at least 16 and life rank

• OA representative -- scoutmaster appointed

scouts bsa; girl scout troop; girl scouts; southwest ft worth