This document outlines the steps for holding an annual planning conference for a Boy Scout troop. It discusses the importance of preparation and input from patrol leaders and members. The key steps are: 1) Doing homework in advance, including the Scoutmaster and Senior Patrol Leader meeting early to prepare; 2) Getting input from patrols; 3) Holding the planning conference run by the Senior Patrol Leader; 4) Presenting the plan to the Troop Committee for approval; and 5) Announcing the finalized plan to the full troop. The conference involves setting goals, scheduling events, and finalizing a calendar and activities for the upcoming year.

1. Holding the Annual Planning
Conference
Steve Myers
Scoutmaster, Troop One Akron
myers@uakron.edu
The University of Scouting
trooponeakron.org
March 1, 2014

2. The University of Scouting
February 6, 2010

3. TroopOneAkron.org
This presentation is at
http://trooponeakron.org/univofscouting.html
myers@uakron.edu
@campnmug
@scoutingcouple
The University of Scouting

4. Learning Objectives
• What are the types of planning used
in Boy Scouts?
• What are the steps in annual planning?
• Who are the most important people in
making the plan?
• How to run the day-long conference.
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5. How Do You Plan?
• How many of you conduct an annual
plan?
• Do you use the PLC to conduct this
annual plan?
• How many adults are involved?
• How do you announce the results of
the plan?
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6. http://www.scouting.org/Home/BoyScouts.aspx
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March 1, 2014

7. Resources
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8. The University of Scouting

9. Planning Questions
Q. Name the four types of planning
A.
1.
2.
3.
4.
Annual long-range plan
Quarterly Checkup
Monthly Short-term plan
Ad-hoc or Standup planning
Q. Who is the agent of the plan?
A. The Senior Patrol Leader and his Patrol
Leaders’ Council
Q. Which officers serve on the PLC?
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10. Patrol Leaders Council
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11. It’s the Scoutmaster and the
Senior Patrol Leader
• Meet early to discuss when to hold the annual
planning conference
• Share the planning outline from Troop Program
Features
• Tell your SPL that you expect him to be the
driving force in the annual plan
• Ask him to start gathering information for the
next year’s program
• Suggest you meet often, briefly, to share ideas
• Start at Summer Camp
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12. 5 Steps: Annual Program Planning
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Homework
Patrols
Conference
Troop Committee
Announcement
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13. Step 1 - Do Your Homework
•
•
•
•
What does this mean?
How do you “do your homework?”
SPL and SM meet early and often
Check in with CC
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14. Step 2 – Get Patrol Input
• Make sure that all patrol members have an
opportunity to influence the annual plan
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15. Step 3 – Hold a Troop Program
Planning Conference
• SM should have already done a lot of preplanning.
SM meets with SPL early to get ideas.
Talk to your other adult leaders.
Talk it up and publicize through PLC.
Hold a meeting with SPL to train him to run the planning
conference.
– SM and SPL meet to complete as much of a calendar,
camps, program features, and goals as possible.
–
–
–
–
• Better to have something to propose than start with a blank
page.
• Invite PLC, primary ASM, other youth leaders (?),
CR(?), other ASMs (?), CC (?), UC (?)
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16. Step 3 – Hold a Troop Program
Planning Conference
Agenda
• Opening activity
• Review conference
and ground rules
• Develop troop goals
• Consider Major
Events
• Game Break
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• Patrol Suggestions
for Monthly Program
Features
• Lunch
• Schedule special
troop activities
• Finalize the planning
worksheet
• Scoutmaster Minute

17. Step 3 – Hold a Troop Program
Planning Conference
Ground Rules
Objectives
1. The SPL
presides.
2.Each event and
program will be
voted on.
3.Majority rules.
1. To decide on
troop goals for
the coming year.
2. To develop a
program that
represents ideas
from the entire
troop.
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18. Troop Variations
• By the book – one day or weekend for PLC to
plan
• Alternatively the Troop One twist:
• SM/SPL do many days of preplanning
• PLC meets to plan the year, then
• PLC presents plan to the entire troop for
a month by month vote.
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19. Step 4 –Troop Committee and
Chartered Organization
Formal Presentation by
SPL/SM
Ideas and Support
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20. Step 5 – Announce The Plan
• Use a calendar program and print
for the entire troop youth and
adults.
• Put on your website.
• Post to your troop yahoogroups
email list.
• Talk it up.
• Publish a summary of the years
highlights especially for new
scouts and parents / recruiting.
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21. •http://trooponeakron.org/whatshappening.html
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22. Thank you.
Hold your SPL to a
high standard and
enjoy the results!
myers@uakron.edu
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23. The University of Scouting