Troop 63, Sudbury Massachusetts

There are a number of ways an adult can contribute as an Assistant Scout Master (ASM) within Troop 63. Most of us have multiple commitments on our time already, but the ASM position can be flexible to adapt to existing schedules. For example, not all of the ASM positions require attending all campouts, or all of the meetings, or even all of the possible trainings. Below is an explanation of the different trainings for ASMs, followed by the positions we would like to fill. Interested adults should contact Mr. Vogel. If you are uncertain of whether you are interested, please join the troop for some meetings, service projects, or camp outs to see where you might best help out! Many of the positions that will be listed below are currently filled, however additional help can be used in some roles, or existing ASMs may be changing roles. We want to plan ahead!

The commitment we typically ask for is at least 2 years, as this gives the ASM time to become comfortable in the role, as well as overlap with the next person taking over the role. In addition, it is possible to hold more than one of the roles below if desired…no one is excluded from helping out more! But seriously, the more we spread out the work, the lighter the load.

Trainings

Training expenses are reimbursed by the troop, with the exceptions of Wilderness First Aid and Wood Badge. These must be approved in advance by the committee.

• Fast Start and Youth Protection (FS and YP) – These two trainings are required for ALL ASMs. They can be taken on-line and require perhaps 20 minutes each, probably less. This is really an introduction to scouting and rules for protecting the youth.
• All Leader Basic Training (ALBT) – This is a class taught about 3 times a year, taking a total of about 6 hours (1 Saturday or 2 evenings). The ALBT explains how the troop works, what the ASM role is, what the committee role is, how advancement works etc. All ASMs should take this within the first year or two.

Introductions to Outdoor Leadership Skills

• Introduction to Outdoor Leadership Skills (IOLS) – This class is typical taught once per year, usually in May. It consists of camping with a group of adults from Friday night through to Sunday morning. The class reviews all skills required to achieve the rank of First Class Scout. Having taken the class, you will be able to teach the scouts skills through first class, and should be comfortable on campouts. This training is required to Pathfinder Instructor, Quartermaster, and Outings positions for ASMs below. Combined with FS, YP, and ALBT, this allows the ASM to wear the TRAINED patch. While not critical as a class for some ASMs, it is a good class that is a lot of fun. ALL ASMs are encouraged to take the class.
• Wood Badge - This is a two weekend (3 full days each) course in management and leadership. It may also be taught in a 6 contiguous day block. This course is NOT required for any ASM, although it is an exceptional class in management skills. The attendees are camping with other adults and working as patrols the entire time.
• Wilderness First Aid - This class is typically a weekend class taught by SOLO or AMCC. It is NOT a requirement for any ASM, but may be required for adults attending a high adventure campout. 

More information is available at scouting.org

Postions

ASM Quartermaster

The Quartermaster is responsible for all troop gear. While there are scouts responsible for the gear check in/check out and cleaning, the ASM is responsible for overseeing this work as well as determining new gear needs. The ASM Quartermaster MUST attend all gear check in nights and all gear check out nights. He or she may wish to schedule additional times for gear repair or inventory, but otherwise is NOT required to be at all meetings and campouts. The Quartermaster should take IOLS training in order to understand the gear usage, wear and tear, etc.

ASM Pathfinder Instructor

The Pathfinder Instructor helps with coordinating the training needs by new scouts to get them up to the First Class rank. Scouts may perform some of this training (hopefully a lot of it!), as may ASMs or parents. Instruction takes place at most meetings (~14) during the year as well as at many of the campouts. Areas of instruction include first aid, cooking, fire building, knife & axe usage, plants, animals, scout oath & law, etc. While this may sound overwhelming, no one has to dive in the deep end! There is lots of help, AND again, the role is to coordinate the training, not provide ALL of it. ? The Pathfinder Instructor should plan to attend all training meetings (~14 per year) as well as a significant number of campouts (at least 4?). Access to a computer that can be loaded with TroopMaster software is extremely useful.

ASM Merit Badge Coordinator

The Merit Badge Coordinator is responsible for finding adult volunteers to teach or counsel various merit badges for the scouts in the troop. He or she must also plan classes for all scouts taking badge classes during the year, work with the counselors to staff these classes at about 14 meetings per year. The Merit Badge Coordinator is responsible for collecting ALL merit badge completion information from the counselors or scouts, reviewing them, and forwarding approvals to the committee advancement chair. The Merit Badge Coordinator is also responsible for signing up scouts for merit badges at summer camp, and should attend at least parts of the summer camp, such as Friday afternoon when badge completions are reviewed. The Merit Badge Coordinator does NOT have to teach classes, and in fact should not, in order to have time to manage issues in the classes being taught. He or she MUST attend the regular troop meetings when classes are being taught at a minimum. Attendance at outings is not a requirement.

ASM Outings

At every outing there is a scoutmaster or assistant signed up as the SMiC, or ScoutMaster in Charge. The SMiC must review meal plans, duty rosters, equipment needs are met, confirm camp site reservations, confirm all paperwork is received (medical, emergency numbers, etc.), confirm with the Parent Coordinator that transportation is set up and insurance forms are filled out, schedules for the trip are roughed out, campfires planned, and advancement opportunities are found. This requires a fair amount of planning before the outing, as well as attendance at the outing. The SMiC does NOT have to do “all the work” but is responsible for making sure all preparations are made for the outing. An Outings ASM does NOT have to attend all regular troop meetings, but should at a minimum attend several meetings before the outing. IOLS training is HIGHLY important to this role. We like to have several ASMs work in the Outings role, so no one ASM should have to run more than 2 outings a year, as a goal.

ASM High Adventure Coordinator

The High Adventure Coordinator is somewhat of a paperwork management role. Each summer the troop plans a two week outing that is beyond the normal camp out. This is typically for the scouts 13 and older, and typically involves going to either Philmont or Seabase, although we are NOT restricted to only these two locations. Planning for each trip typically starts 20 months in advance, since Philmont and Seabase require reservations through a lottery system 18 months in advance. The High Adventure Coordinator must review ALL paperwork requirements for the outing, confirm all permissions/insurance forms/medical forms are correctly filled out. The High Adventure Coordinator must all manage all sign ups within the troop (with approval of the Scoutmaster for forming crews), manage all funding for the trip, make all reservations, and insure that the leaders going on the trip have been properly trained. The High Adventure Coordinator is NOT required to attend meetings or campouts, but should attend several (not all) of the Scoutmaster meetings held about once a month. IOLS training is NOT an absolute requirement for this position, although ALBT is useful. The High Adventure Coordinator role is not a substantial role in terms of constant time commitment, but it does have some critical moments when paperwork MUST be right, and MUST be on time.

ASM Advancement Support

The Advancement Support role is a ‘new’ role being looked at for this troop. While the lower ranks, Scout through First Class, have an ASM for Pathfinder in charge or reviewing their advancement, we have not had this role for the Star, Life and Eagle ranks within the ASMs. The Advancement Support ASM must have access to TroopMaster software in order to help with tracking scouts progress. The Advancement Support ASM is an overseer role, monitoring progress towards the upper ranks and ‘reminding’ scouts of where they are at for rank advancement. He or She works as an advocate for the older scouts to the other scoutmasters with respect to advancement. Particular attention is to be given to Life scouts working on Eagle, and scouts approaching their 18th birthday. The goal is to remind and enable these scouts to advance, but NOT to force advancement. The Advancement Support ASM is NOT responsible for Eagle proposals, Eagle applications, or other such paperwork as this is supported through the committee. He or She should regularly attend meetings (maybe 50%), is not responsible for being at outings, but should attend all Scoutmaster meetings (one per month) to report on any issues for older scouts. The Advancement Support ASM may also engage with Outings, Merit Badge, or Pathfinder ASMs to help create advancement opportunities for the boys needing it to advance in these higher ranks.

ASM Pack Relations

The Pack Relations ASM is responsible for recruitment from the cub scout packs in town, as well as general relations. This includes: helping coordinate scout skills nights, Christmas tree sales announcements, cross over ceremonies, advertising the troop via newsletter delivery, signing up Webelos for Webelos Weekend camp outs and for Webelos Troop Meeting. The Pack Relations ASM also manages the den chief program, recruiting scouts to act as den chiefs, arranging for den chief training, and working with the packs to place den chiefs in them. This is a position that has two very busy times of year, typically in November and in March. The Pack Relations ASM should also have a son still in the cub scouts or recently out of cub scouts in order to help with the contacts needed at the pack level. ALBT and IOLS training are not a requirement.

ASM Training

The Training ASM is responsible for making sure all ASMs and the Scoutmaster are properly trained. This includes tracking all trainings by the ASMs and Scoutmaster, and tracking trainings needed, including the trainings listed above, BUT also including specific trainings that may be required for some outings, such as “Safe Swim”, “Trek Safety”, and “Climb On” for rock climbing. Some trainings have time limits (2 years) that the Training ASM must also be aware of and kept up to date as needed. The Training ASM also requests badges for the ASMs as they are earned, including the TRAINED patch. The Training ASM should also keep up to date on training opportunities and advocate attendance at them. Attendance at troop meetings and outings is useful, but not required. Training ASM should plan to attend all Scoutmaster meetings, and a significant number of District Roundtable meetings (held once per month). The Training ASM should him or herself be fully trained, including YO, FS, ALBT, and IOLS.

Please contact Dan Vogel today if you’d like to contribute in these roles.

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