youth leadership and meeting events

Boy Scout Troop 77 in Venice is a Scout-led troop. All Scouts at First Class rank or higher are expected to hold a position of responsibility within the troop. As of September, 2020, the youth leadership is organized as follows.

Senior Patrol Leader – Carlos

Patrol Leaders (And Assistants)

  • Bat Patrol Leader – Jaime (asst. Gabriel)
  • Cobra Patrol Leader – Adam M. (asst. Garrett)
  • Eagle Patrol Leader – Billy (asst. John Michael B.)
  • Lightning Patrol Leader – Travis (asst. Lucas O.)
  • Troop Guide – apply to Scoutmaster for approval

Assistant Senior Patrol Leader – Peter

  • Historian – Ryan
  • Scribe – Jake
  • Quartermasters – Adam C. & Bradley
  • Librarians – Michael & Hunter
  • Chaplain Aide – Gabriel F.
  • Order of the Arrow Representative – Jack G.
  • Den Chiefs – Hunter
  • Instructor(s) – apply to Scoutmaster for approval

Job Descriptions

Responsibilities of each youth leadership position, as documented with input from the Scouts.

All Positions of Responsibility

  • Attend at least 2/3 of troop meetings, campouts, and service projects.
  • Arrive on time in proper clothing with the required equipment or supplies.
  • Perform the specific responsibilities of your position.
  • Help the troop stay organized and work effectively by giving and accepting directions according to the troop organization chart, and supporting other Scouts in carrying out the responsibilities of their positions.
  • (Approved by the troop, 2014-08-27)

Senior Patrol Leader

  • Direct the youth leadership at all times to have a safe, fun, and effective Scouting program.
  • Direct and advise the Patrol Leaders and Assistant Senior Patrol Leader in carrying out their responsibilities, and assign substitutes when necessary
  • On campouts, assign camping and cooking areas and duties to patrols
  • Organize the inter-patrol competition
  • Keep activities on agreed-upon schedules
  • Open and close regular meetings
  • Chair the Patrol Leaders Council meetings
  • (Last updated August 11, 2014 by Nick)

Assistant Senior Patrol Leader

  • Direct and advise the Quartermasters, Librarians, and other named position holders in carrying out their responsibilities, and assign substitutes when necessary.
  • Be prepared to fill in for the Senior Patrol Leader at any time.
  • Attend 2/3 of PLC meetings
  • (Updated 3/2015)

Patrol Leader

  • Stand at the head of the patrol during assembly
  • Lead the patrol during competitions
  • Lead the discussion to decide the patrol menu for each campout
  • Assign patrol member duties during campouts
  • Lead the patrol in following directions given by the SPL
  • Help the patrol’s newer Scouts
  • Represent the patrol in PLC meetings, attending at least 2/3 of them.
  • Have fun!
  • (Last updated July 9, 2014 by Jacob)

Assistant Patrol Leader

  • Perform all duties of the Patrol Leader when he is absent.

Quartermaster

  • Take charge of all Troop equipment and advise Scouts on proper use
  • Help inventory the trailer prior to campouts.
  • Supervise loading and unloading of the troop equipment trailer before, during, and after campouts
  • Get dry boxes from the trailer and give them to grubmasters during campout preparation meetings
  • Receive cleaned dry boxes from grubmasters and return them to the trailer at the first meeting after each campout.
  • Once per term, lead tidying of the troop trailer or bus barn.
  • (Updated by Bradley 2019-08-27; the troop, 2014-08-29)

Librarian

  • Prior to the start of each regular meeting, unlock the troop closet, bring the advancement box to the advancement coordinator.
  • Take charge of the troop’s library of merit badge books and other printed material, including maintaining records of what the troop has and what has been borrowed.
  • Once per term, lead tidying of the troop closet.
  • (Updated 2018-08-27 by Jack; 2014-08-27 by Greg)

Historian

  • Announce Eagle Scout anniversaries at regular weekly meetings.
  • Take photographs of troop activities and make available for web sites, slide shows, albums, etc.
  • Add to the Troop’s records of past Eagle Scouts and service projects.
  • (Last updated by the troop, 2014-08-27)

Scribe

  • Record attendance and conduct uniform checks at regular troop and PLC meetings
  • Assist the SPL in vote counting and recording decisions
  • Work with the adult leaders to prepare “thank you” notes and other correspondence
  • (Updated 2019-08-27 by Chris)

Chaplain Aide

  • Lead the closing circle at all meetings, using the words “May the great Scoutmaster of all Scouts be with us ’til we meet again.”
  • Deliver invocations and benedictions at Courts of Honor and other Troop events when needed.
  • Lead the giving of thanks before meals at campouts. (Prompt SPL to have the troop fall in)
  • Organize and lead a Scout’s Own service on campouts when needed.
  • (Updated 2019-08-27 by Peter; 2014-08-27 by Shawn and Nick)

Order of the Arrow Representative

  • Attend Yaha Hajo Chapter meetings on the Thursday nights of the District Roundtable.
  • Announce Order of the Arrow events and news at regular troop meetings
  • Help organize participation in OA events by members in Troop 77.
  • Coordinate the Order of the Arrow election for Troop 77. (added 2014-10-07)
  • (Last updated 2014-08-27 by Ralph)

Den Chief

  • Assist the Den Leader at meetings of your assigned Cub Scout Den.

Instructor

Instructors are Scouts who have demonstrated expertise and enthusiasm in a particular skill area. Instructors must agree to teach other Scouts skills in their area using the Scouting EDGE(Explain – Demonstrate – Guide – Enable.) A Scout qualifies to be an instructor by demonstrating all of the early rank requirements in the skill area, and earning one or more related merit badges. Some possible instructor skill areas and related merit badges are listed here:

  • First Aid. (Requires First Aid MB)
  • Knots & Lashings. (Requires Pioneering MB)
  • Map, Compass, & Direction finding (Requires Orienteering & Astronomy MB’s)
  • Wood tools, Firebuilding, and Cooking (Requires Cooking and Camping MB’s)
  • Swim Safety, Swimming, and Water Rescues (Requires Swimming & Lifesaving MB’s)
  • Plant & Animal Identification (requires Environmental Science and at least one other nature-related MB)
  • (Approved by the troop 2014-08-27)
  • Use the EDGE method to train early rank Scouts on the requirements within your Instructor skill area, so that they can demonstrate the skill and pass the requirement.

Troop Guide

  • Act as Patrol Leader of the “New Scouts” patrol, preparing them to join regular patrols after summer camp.
  • Work with the First-Year advisor to coordinate advancement of new Scouts up to First Class rank
  • Represent firsty concerns including advancement needs at PLC meetings
  • To be free from other patrol responsibilities, the Troop Guide is normally a member of the Leadership Corps.

Inter-Patrol Competition

Honor Patrols: Inter-Patrol Competition Winners

The winner of each 6-month long patrol competition series is designated the Honor Patrol with valuable privileges such as a pizza party during kickback night and being first in line for food at the family dinner court of honor, and of course bragging rights, especially for the patrol leader. Results from recent competition series:

  • 9/2002-2/2003: Eagle Patrol (Nicholas Gissal)
  • 3/2003-8/2003: Eagle Patrol (Nicholas Gissal)
  • 9/2003-2/2004: Bat Patrol (Will Bradly)
  • 3/2004-8/2004: Lightning Patro (Danny Reichert)
  • 9/2004-2/2005: Cobra Patrol (Sean Elkins)
  • 3/2005-8/2005: Bat Patrol (Alex Smith)
  • 9/2005-2/2006: Cobra Patrol (Patrick Doctor)
  • 3/2006-8/2006: Lightning Patrol (Paul Marrone)
  • 9/2008-2/2009: Eagle Patrol
  • 3/2009-8/2009: Eagle Patrol (Tab Brewer)
  • 9/2009-2/2010: Bat Patrol (Jon Sams)
  • 3/2010-8/2010: Eagle Patrol
  • 9/2010-2/2011: Cobra Patrol (Teddy Tombaugh)
  • 3/2011-9/2011: Cobra Patrol (Joe Gallagher)
  • 9/2011-2/2012: Cobra Patrol (Matthew Reeves)
  • 3/2012-8/2012: Lightning Patrol (Mitchell Lattimer)
  • 9/2012-2/2013: Lightning Patrol (Max Chambers)
  • 3/2013-8/2013: Lightning Patrol (Nicholas Etz)
  • 9/2013-2/2014: Eagle Patrol
  • 3/2014-8/2014: Eagle Patrol (Vincent Johnson)
  • 9/2014-2/2015: Eagle Patrol (Greg Ellis)
  • 2/2015-9/2015: Eagle Patrol (Vincent Johnson)
  • 9/2015-2/2016: Eagle Patrol (Chris Patrick)
  • 3/2016-9/2016: Cobra Patrol (Logan Clapp)
  • 9/2016-3/2017: Lightning Patrol (Jake)
  • 3/2017-9/2017: Eagle Patrol (Carlos)
  • 9/2017-2/2018: Lightning Patrol (Travis)
  • 3/2018-8/2018: Lightning Patrol (Jake)
  • 9/2018-2/2019: Cobra Patrol (Dante)
  • 3/2019-8/2019: Bat Patrol (Ethan)
  • 9/2019-2/2020: Bat Patrol (Ethan)

Historians continue to scour the dusty troop archives to fill in the blanks in this competition history.

Inter-Patrol Competition Events

Each Patrol Competition event pits the four patrols against each other in a test of physical strength, mental alertness, preparedness, skill, leadership, or ideally all of the above. Some recent events:

  • Florida Biathlon (Running + Nerf dart)
  • Circumpolar Constellations
  • Compass Twister
  • Handbook Hunt
  • Map and Compass
  • First Aid Carries
  • Scouting Basics Relay
  • Merit Badge Identification
  • Build A Compass
  • Obstacle Course Relay (Outdoor)
  • What Knot
  • Scout Badge & Scout Law
  • Memory
  • Step On It
  • Pancake Competition
  • String Burning
  • Scouting Jeopardy
  • Wood Tools
  • Ft. DeSoto History Quiz
  • Water Boiling
  • Tent Assembly (sometimes blindfolded!)
  • Joshua’s Message
  • Archery Trail
  • Slow Bike Race
  • Obstacle Course Relay (Indoor)
  • Patrol Cooking
  • Rescue Rope Throw (indoors, with bowline tying)
  • Lashing
  • Packing List Scavenger Hunt
  • Leadership Positions
  • Leaf Identification
  • Escape Room
  • 100 foot Pace-Off
  • Trail Map Orienteering
  • Scouting (Merit-Badge) Pictionary
  • Native Symbols Memory-match
  • Basketball free-throw knockout
  • Which cup?
  • Star Wars Mini Rope Rescue