Scouts should be encouraged to arrive well in advance of the meeting, so that all will be present for the formal opening. One Patrol, the "Service Patrol," comes early to arrange the room and have ready needed equipment. The job as "Service Patrol" rotates among the Patrols, the schedule decided upon by the Troop Leaders' Council.

As the Patrols arrive they will gather in their corners for instruction by their leaders and for check-up on attendance. Dues will be paid at this time and placed in envelopes to be turned over to the Troop Scribe at or before the opening exercises.

This is a good time also for the Scoutmaster or his Assistants to review Scout Requirements and to talk over with individual Scouts particular questions or problems which will not otherwise be presented during the meeting. It is advisable that these personal conferences be held before rather than after the meeting so that boys may return home promptly at the closing hour.

If the Troop has a library, this is a busy time for the librarian. He exchanges books until the meeting is called.

Games? Possibly. There are two schools on this subject. One insists that simple games should be started to occupy the time before the meeting. They would have a good leader — Junior Assistant Scoutmaster or Senior Patrol Leader—on hand to occupy the Scouts as they arrive, with games or stunts which may be started with two or three boys and will assimilate others as they arrive, games such as Skunk Tag, Spud, Jump the Shot, Dodge Ball, Poison. Another school insists that no activity on a Troop basis should be undertaken previous to the exact minute for which the meeting is called—and least of all a vigorous game, that might detract from the effect of a later regular game period. This, naturally, is a matter which must be solved according to taste and local conditions.

Let it be said, though, that the time and interest of Scouts arriving before the formal meeting should be used in a constructive way, and that under all circumstances a junior leader should be present to provide general supervision.

Other Pre-Opening Activities

1. A Scout who is clever at some form of entertainment, such as sleight of hand, arrives before the doors are opened and, without a word, starts right in doing his stunts and keeps at it until the opening hour.

2. Arrange to have a song leader and a group of Scouts present ahead of time. Start Scout songs as soon as the boys begin to arrive and continue until time for regular meeting. Close with some popular song sung with body movements ("Down by the Old Mill Stream," "Under the Spreading Chestnut Tree," "John Brown's Baby").

3. Arrange in advance without announcement to the Troop to have a friend who is an expert in some interesting subject present on time to demonstrate that subject. Best of all, have Patrol Leaders present by prearrangement. The expert should be willing to do this for the sake of the effect, which is to stimulate prompt arrival at the meeting. Announce that this sort of opening will be repeated at different times.

4. Arrange chairs in a large circle, space between chairs. Complete darkness in room. Meet the boys outside the door, explain to them that they are to be conducted by their Patrol Leader to a seat in the dark, where they are to contemplate the Scout Oath and Law for a few minutes, thinking over their own lives, and that they are to maintain quiet. When Scouts are assembled, enter with a candle lantern, covered so that it can be made to give only the smallest shaft.

Standing in the center, talk of brotherhood and of the helpfulness clause in the Oath, and finally call upon the Scouts to stand and repeat in unison the Scout Law, meanwhile unwrapping the lantern to give increasing light.

Opening Exercises

At exactly the appointed hour the "curtain" goes up and the Troop meeting starts. If it is meant to begin at 7:30, see that it is begun at 7:30, even if some boys are not present. If a Scout comes in late one week he will hurry a little more next week to be on time.

The order of procedure for this period varies in different Troops. Some prefer Patrol reports and inspection before a formal ceremony, others start with the ceremony. The following method has gained favor in many Troops.

Patrol Check

At the start of the meeting the Patrol Leaders line up their boys in the respective Patrol Corners. The Assistant Patrol Leaders (or Patrol Scribes if such positions have been created in the Patrols) make a final check of boys present and dues paid and report to their Patrol Leaders, who then bring the Patrols to attention.

Troop Formation

On a signal by hand for Troop assembly, given by the Senior Patrol Leader, the Junior Assistant Scoutmaster or an Assistant Scoutmaster, the Patrol Leaders lead their boys on the run into their proper position. They stand their Patrols "at ease" and on the call of the leader in charge make a short—one minute— verbal report on the number present and absent and on the activities of the Patrol during the preceding week. This is a rather important point. Troop meetings should always have a plan for a report of Patrol activities, because calling for reports encourages doing something to report.

The opening ceremony should be dignified and impressive. Every boy should feel his part in it.

Upon the completion of the Patrol reports, the Troop comes to attention, the leader who has been in charge turns to the Scoutmaster, salutes and reports: "The Troop is formed." The Scoutmaster acknowledges the salute and orders the leaders to proceed.

Opening Ceremony

The moment of the formal opening has arrived. Make it dignified and impressive and make every boy realize that he has a part in it. The opening may consist of the color guard marching The Flag of our Country to position in front of the Troop, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. Or the feature may be the recitation of a point of the Scout Law by the youngest Scout, the singing of one verse of the National Anthem or "America," a "Scout Silence"—for silent prayer—of half a minute's duration, or the recitation aloud by some church-sponsored Troops of a prayer or prayers approved by the church. Other appropriate ceremonies may be developed by the Troop.

Inspection

The formal opening may be followed occasionally— monthly or oftener—by a general inspection by Patrols. The Troop standing at ease, the Scoutmaster with the other Troop leaders starts his rounds. As they approach each Patrol the Patrol Leader brings his Patrol to attention and accompanies the Scoutmaster on his inspection.

"General Inspection" will take cognizance of the generally tidy appearance of the boys, cleanliness of face, hands, shoes, and correct Uniform, including the correct wearing of the Badges and Insignia to which each Scout is entitled. In the case of a new Troop the details which constitute a "correct uniform" will be determined by the Troop Leaders' Council. During the first few weeks of the Troop's actual organization, for instance, correct uniform may consist of the Troop neckerchief only. From time to time details may be added, until by correct uniform is meant the complete Scout Uniform. In all cases the financial circumstances of individual boys should be taken into consideration.

In the course of inspection, praise should be given where it is due, and any criticism should be made cheerfully and with care. Better no criticism than any that might embarrass a boy before his friends.

From time to time a "Surprise Inspection" may be staged which will add fun to the inspection. Such combinations of details to be inspected as "left ear—right shoe" or "neckerchief knot—hair combed" and others may be developed to provide the "game" feature. This surprise inspection, naturally, should not be made known until immediately before it is undertaken.

Announcements

After the inspection short announcements concerning the meeting are made, often including the announcement by the Troop Scribe of important plans and decisions of the Troop Leaders' Council. Then the regular activities start.

Other Opening Suggestions

1. Roll Call—by Patrols. Each Patrol Leader reads short report. Inspection—by invited member of Troop Committee. Flag ceremony with Bugle Call: "To the Colors." Scoutmaster's minute—pick out one thought and drive it home. Scribe's report—minutes of last meeting. Orders of the day—written out in advance and turned over to Scribe with a little ceremony to read. Reception and presentation of new candidates.

2. Troop assembled in the Single Rank Formation. When the Scouts are at attention, turn out the lights in the room and turn a flashlight (or a spot) on The Flag of the United States, which has previously been run up a flag pole. The Patrol Leader in charge of the ceremony asks one of his Scouts to come to the front and recite—not sing—the first verse of "The Star-Spangled Banner." The Troop is then led in singing the same verse, lights are turned on and the meeting continues.

3. The Troop is assembled in Horseshoe Formation.

As the meeting night is close to Lincoln's Birthday, the Patrol in charge of the opening ceremony has decided to use "Lincoln" as the idea behind its presentation. (For other occasions, use appropriate characters.) The Patrol Leader asks his Scouts to come to the front and face the rest of the Troop. He gives the Scout Salute and names the different parts of the Law. After each part, one of the Scouts in the Patrol gives in a sentence an illustration from Lincoln's life which would fulfill the Scout obligation. Then attention is called to The Flag which is before them and the Pledge of Allegiance is given by the Troop.

4. Variations of Flag ceremony, (a) Troop formed by Patrols in two lines facing each other. Colors are marched between the lines with Scouts saluting, halted at the head of line and turned about face, whereupon the Troop is led in the Pledge of Allegiance, (b) Troop in Horseshoe Formation, Flag in center. Each Scout in turn steps forward one step, salutes and steps back, (c) Cheers for The Flag, followed by Troop's yell for Troop Flag.

5. Variations of Scout Law ceremony, (a) Law recited by Tenderfoot Scouts only, (b) The newest Tenderfoot and the oldest Eagle Scout lead the Troop in reciting the Scout Law. (c) One point only of the Scout Law recited in full.

Drills

Various simple Troop formations are necessary for gatherings of various character, and on the occasions of special parades and reviews it is reasonable that the Troop should be expected to be able to move forward in a body which as far as possible resembles orderliness, smartness and efficiency. Furthermore, a moderate amount of simple drill will help to improve a Scout's carriage, develop muscular control and coordination, keep him attentive and snappy, and give him a sense of being a part of a group.

Just enough drills at Troop Meetings to help Patrol organization to function well as the working unit in Scouting's year-round program.

The point then is to drill enough to take care of possible needs, and never so much that it may interfere with other activities. As Baden-Powell says, "When I see a Troop drill well but fail to follow a trail or cook its own food, I know the Scoutmaster is no good as such. The indifferent or unimaginative officer always falls on drill as his one resource."

Scout Drill

Drill imposed upon the mass without in any way taking into account the individual is directly opposed to the aim of our Movement. Scouting drill, on the other hand, treats drill as a game, calling for mental alertness and permitting the individual to express himself through the medium of the team spirit.

It differs from military drill in its lack of formal commands and of extensive maneuvering into formation. Drill for Scouts is never conducted for the sake of drill as such, but is used rather as a means of preparing the Scout through mental alertness for his camping and service experiences as a Scout.

The main features of Scout Drill are discussed fully in Chat 20 together with the various formations and movements and the signals used by the leader to indicate what formation is to be taken. The use of correct Scout Drill signals will help the Troop meeting run smoothly.

Teaching The Formations

When first teaching the formations, a five-minute practice period may be included in each week's program for three or four weeks. Thereafter the use of the signals for practical purposes in the course of the meeting routine and games will suffice.

Scoutcraft Presentation

A presentation on some phase of Scouting should be a feature of every Troop meeting. All too often this "Instruction Period," as it has been called, has been a bugbear to the Scoutmaster. His notion has been: "We have to have some instruction in the Scout Requirements during the meeting"—and in an effort to provide it the Troop meeting has been turned into an old-fashioned school class session, with an "instructor" attempting to teach the boys the more or less related subjects.

Such a procedure, naturally, is contrary to all Scout principles.