[philmont] Team Building Skills

I would like to second what John has stated; team building is one if not
THE most important aspect of a crew training regimen. Not learning how
to cook, or hike or put up tents. Not getting in shape or breaking in
boots or checking the fit of a backpack. All of these are important,
but secondary to learning to work together as a team.
 
This past summer, our Troop sent two crews to Philmont. One crew (plus
three brothers) had been together since before Webelos, were in the same
patrol, grade in school, their families went on vacations together, they
hung out together in and out of Scouts. This group was "a team". The
other crew was a hodge-podge from the remaining participants, and had
none of the history that the first crew had.
 
As a Troop, we worked on team-building and crew dynamics and encouraged
"outside of class" activities. We had individual crew meetings and crew
activities. It wasn't too many days after we hit the trail at the
ranch that it became clear that the second group was still in the
"storming and norming" phase while the first group was well into the
"performing" phase of team building. Unfortunately, the level of
performance by the first group (the group I was an adult advisor with)
overshadowed that of the second group and so as contingent advisor too,
I was kind of blinded to their weaknesses and didn't devote enough
additional attention to their plight.
 
Some of the situation with the second crew could have been mitigated by
a defined statement of expectations and more team building activities,
C.O.P.E., service projects, outings etc. But I don't think an ad hoc
crew like the second, could ever reach the level of performance of the
first crew. As a side note, the Scout elected Crew Leader of the first
crew is an Eagle Scout, starting quarterback and captain of the high
school football team and either valedictorian or salutatorian of his
senior class of 300. The Scout elected as Crew Leader for the second
crew is an Eagle Scout, a good student, and a good leader, but seemed to
lack some of the "assertiveness" skills it sometimes takes to lead.
 
Copying a phase from another member of the list - train for day eleven,
not day one.
 
Happy Trails,
 
Roy Fisher

If you want your crew to succeed, invest in team building skills before
they hit the trail. It doesn't happen overnight or by accident or by
following an instruction manual.

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As you gather around this virtual campfire with fellow
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Received on Wed Nov 1 17:50:39 2006