Communications

How do I get information from the troop?

Scouts BSA can be a bit intimidating for new Scouts and their families. So many things are unfamiliar, and it’s easy for those who have been in the unit for several years to forget that some things aren’t exactly intuitive. We assume people know what we already know, which an unrealistic expectation. This is why communication within the troop is so important.

The best way to get answers is to simply ask the questions, and the best place to do that is at our troop meetings. This allows for in-person communications, which almost ALWAYS works better than email, text messages, or other similar communication methods.

Parents are strongly encouraged to let their Scouts seek out the answers to their questions, rather than asking for them. The adult leaders are always there to help the Scouts. However, in most cases, the adult leaders will encourage the Scouts to seek answers from their fellow Scouts. It’s all part of the youth-led approach.

As you’ll recall from the troop meetings page, the Scouts run the meetings, not the adults. As a result, the workload for the adult leaders at the meetings is pretty light. This makes it a great opportunity for the parents to talk to the adult leaders to learn more and get answers to their questions. We do not require the parents to stay for our troop meetings. However, you are more than welcome, especially if you have questions for our adult leaders.

Of course, there are limits to in-person communications, so we also have other means for communicating with our Scouting families. We send out a newsletter once a week. This newsletter includes important information that is sent directly to the Scouts and their parents. We also have a private Facebook Group and a GroupMe messaging group.

When a Scout joins the troop, we will either get the Scouts and family members signed-up with these communication options, or we will provide information that you can use to sign up yourself. You can choose the approach that works best for you. Regardless of what you choose, it’s important to monitor at least one of these so that you will remain up-to-date with what the troop has planned.

How do the Scouts play a role in the troop’s communication?

As mentioned on the youth-led page and on other pages of this site, one goal of Scouts BSA is to teach leadership skills to our youth. Good leaders are good communicators, so teaching the Scouts how to communicate and keep each other up-to-date is all part of the process.

As a result, we encourage our Scouts to conduct many of the troop’s communications themselves.

Of course, the Scouts are still learning. So, to ensure that all of our families are up-to-date, the adult leaders will fill in the gaps as necessary.