Running the Pack as previously and briefly outlined will result in a successful Unit. Running the Troop need not be any more work if done correctly and according to BSA outlines.

The Troop program is more integrated in its approach than the Pack. There is a reason for this. At the Pack level, most of the work is done in Dens. The Pack Meeting is the celebration of achievements. As the Troop meets each week, similar to how a Den functions, the advancement work is done at the Troop Meetings. The campouts and outings are the celebrations of achievement much like a Pack Meeting. Courts of Honor take on a more formal setting than a Pack Meeting and are nurturing, symbolic and gentle in nature. Higher level comedy can be combined with the intimate, but by no means is a Court of Honor a Pack Meeting.

The "Q-System" recommends a nice dinner setting with candlelight and piano. We also utilize a guest speaker at each Court.

A campout is more in line with a Pack Meeting. A campout however is much longer in duration than a Pack meeting so an opportunity to do some instruction exists. An integrated program where outings work towards advancement supplements the "Q-Endeavor". We will talk more about this in the "Q-Integration" Chapter. Integration is the key to success. Have in the back of your mind the notion that integrated programming enhances the program at all levels, but the Boy Scout portion is more intensely integrated than the Cub Scout program.

The "Q-System" views the time spent in Boy Scouting as the time to get the Eagle rank complete. All Scouts can achieve Eagle if they want to. It is our job as parents and Leaders to provide a program that allows multiple paths to the Eagle Rank.

We feel that an Eagle rank should be completed by the age 14 or 15 if possible. Some will take longer. The reason the "Q-System" sets the programming up like this is that at age 14 or 15 boys are starting to notice girls, sports becomes more intense and many are getting their eyes on a car.

The downside to an accelerated program is that you can get criticism from other Units as becoming an Eagle factory. The "Q-System" is not for everyone. It does take time. But here is what can happen.

If the Pack is structured correctly and is recruiting 2 to 3 new good committed Leaders each year (along with some helpers) then the Troop is fed 2 to 3 new good Leaders each year also. To run a good Pack does take a lot of parental (Leader) commitment. In the path to Venturing and adulthood the Troop is where we change these boys into men.

The tendencies of new Pack Leaders in a Troop is to want to run the Troop much like the Pack. The Leaders do everything for the Scouts and the Scouts don't advance in their independent skills. By intensifying the program and providing continual advancement opportunities you can focus the energy of the new incoming Leaders to advancement and thus accomplish more as a Unit and for the Scouts.

The Leaders coming into Boy Scouting are generally pretty sold on the BSA program and should be involved with their District in some way. They are good Leaders, love Scouting and want to see their son and his friends succeed. It is an easy transition for them to make and it makes the Troop a highly efficient structure just with this one Principle. It also helps the Pack as the Pack Leaders see the fun of Boy Scouting and the achievements the Scouts are making and can't wait to find their replacements to get to the Troop.

If you do not capture these people's energies, life will fill them with other things to do.

It is therefore essential for the Troop to help the Pack and insure it's success. The success of the Troop depends on the success of the Pack. As discussed on the last page, integrate the Troop and Pack into one seamless whole, both with their own advancement strategies. Help one another.

The "Q-Program" at the Troop level utilizes a 2 year rotating Merit Badge system. As many differing options can be offered depending on your parental involvement. Set up everyone as Merit Badge Councilors. Develop a rotation sequence of Merit Badges. As more people come to the Troop offer multiple sequences with differing start dates. Note some care needs to be thought through on this for some specific Merit Badges. For instance if you get First Aid early on it applies to many other Merit Badges. See "Q-Integration" again for more details.

"Q-Principle" Twelve: Follow the Troop Integrated "Q-Scouting" Program in addition to the regular BSA program.

Troop Integrated "Q-Program":

Run a fun and energetic program at the Boy Scout level integrated slightly with the Pack and Crew. Demonstrate the adventure of the Troop to the Pack through joint events. Assist and race in the Pinewood Derby and Blue and Gold Banquet with the Pack.

Utilize the Den Chief program to help fulfill Leadership requirements.

Invite the Pack to some campouts, perform skits and song for the Cubs. Help in the Join Scouting Night program.

Cook like there is no tomorrow. Develop Dutch Oven and cooking skills and cook exotic meals outdoors. Don't settle for hotdogs, chicken and hamburgers when steak, lobster and quiche' will do.

Work towards completing the Eagle Rank by age 14 by maintaining a Merit Badge rotating system and integrating events with advancement and service projects.

Integrate advancement opportunities with every event. Become an advancement oriented Unit. Supplement the maturity side with religious integration. See also "Spiritual" section.

If you are a Leader, always think about your replacement when you move onto the Crew. Prepare for the future of the organization.

Teach Emergency Preparedness to the Scouts, do not teach it to Tiger Cubs.

Develop a Scout Led Troop. Delegate authority to the Scouts as they can handle. Use Lord Baden Powell's concept "Never do what a boy could do".

Know your Audience, make the Troop Program as enjoyable for the Parents as it is for the Scouts.

Encourage the Scouting way to the parents through the delivery of several paths to Eagle for the Scouts.

Run an integrated Brownsea Program.

Begin and end each meeting with a Flag Ceremony and prayer.

Cultivate in the Scouts a good comedy team and singing groups for entertainment at campouts and to help the Pack with Pack Meetings.

Think holistically about the entire Structure of the "Total Program" in decision making processes.

Recruit members of the Pack and Crew Committees for the Troop Committee. Hold joint Committee meetings occasionally with all Groups.

Involve yourself in your local Roundtable and Council Training.

Participate in joint fundraising efforts that support the "Total Program" .

Leader Positions in a Troop should be a longer term commitment. Have your Leaders work towards getting their knots - this insures you are sticking to the BSA Program.

Do really cool ceremonies and make a huge deal about it. Boys (and parents) love this stuff and remember it.

Put the Scouts first (after God and Family).

Integrate the child with their World.

Remember to never forget Training, see the Training Page of this dissertation.

The Troop is where a lot of the Aims of Scouting are imbedded into the Scout. A fast and challenging pace will help keep people interested. Everyone wants to better themselves and a good running Unit can with little more effort than one that is not, produce a lot more. Remember to always stay cognizant of the first 10 "Principles of Q" and especially the ones pertaining to parental interactions. Scouts forgive and forget, sometimes parents do not. Strive to always get along and to work things out.

At the Troop level we recommend a good set of thought through guidelines as previously discussed. See "Troop Guidelines" for a good example (this is a Word document).

The "Q-System" focuses the Troop as a place of high excitement and learning. It is a place for leadership opportunities for the Scouts. It is the most intense time of the Scouting education process. While the Pack builds the social skills necessary for life, the Troop develops the scientific, environmental, mathematical, artistic and physical skills started at the Pack level. The Troop also has a large part in forming the values of the Scouts. A "Total Program" thus must all work together with the same goals and procedures in order to have the most effect upon the Scout. The "Q-System" further binds these ties into one mission by the "buy-in" of the parents to the concept. Call it anything you want, we use "Q" again for Quality, kind of our Quest of Quality.

The Crew offers a chance for the pace to slow again, the Leaders are tired and older than when they first started as a Tiger parent, the Scouts are also older and can do a lot of the work. In the "Q-System" it is the purpose of the Troop to get the Scouts through their Eagle Rank and transfer the responsibilities of the Unit to the Scouts. In Venturing the organization is run and led by youth. Boy Scouting is the training period for the fun that comes next.

"Q-Principle" Thirteen: There will be those that need us,help them.

Every, Troop, Pack, Crew, Ship or Post has it's bad apples. Those who are always in trouble, those that act out, those that people want to kick out, the ones that embarrass you when you are trying to be dignified. Scouting says about 10 to 20% of the Scouts in Scouting really need Scouting. It is our greater purpose.

Parents will typically want to get rid of these kids so they don't influence their's badly. Well, it could happen I suppose, but most kids in Scouting are smart enough to tell right from wrong most of the time. It is the duty of a Scouting Organization to assist those that need us and to work with them as best they can. In the rare event that things just are not working out, expulsion may be the only solution. In the "Troop Guidelines" mentioned above there is language to deal with these situations.

Integrate all into the Program.

We run a pretty intense schedule with a lot of events. This way, when sports and other activities conflict with Scouts, the user has several options to pick from. We are in the process of setting up a ColdFusion Event Registration Server which will allow Scouts to sign up for all or partial events on line using a Scout Code Number. This can be tracked back to our Rank and File Program for advancement tracking.

Everything we do counts towards something, or practically everything. An active Parent Group diverting their energies correctly, when couple with a Boy Led Troop, will produce a Unit with more than the average amount of outings. By integrating these outings, advancement naturally occurs. It takes some experience in Boy Scouting to figure out the BSA system. The "Q-System" of programming will jump start you on this trail as it forces you to think early on about structure when you are doing your programming.

We recommend studying the required Merit Badges before setting up a Merit Badge System and reviewing requirements for elective Merit Badges. Many things are done at the Middle and High School level and can count towards the Scouts rank advancement. Proper coordination with your School curriculum can save you oodles of time. It isn't rocket science but it does take a little bit of thought. Once you start thinking "Integration" the process becomes quite easy.

We run a program with three regular meetings a month, one Roundtable per month for Leaders, a monthly swimming session and a monthly camping outing. There is also the opportunity for Boy Scouts to help the Pack once per month. We do a summer camp and a Boundary Waters trip, a cave camp experience and two to three canoe trips each year. We have our own camp see the next section on "Q-Enhancements"

It is a healthy amount of events for a program, but all possible because of the time saving techniques and web based computer programming that we have in place and utilize. It has taken us about two years to set this up. See "In two short years" for a list of accomplishments a two year old "Q-Troop" can produce.

Last but not least a "Q-Troop" needs a band......

"Q-Principle" Fourteen: Seek out buglers, drummers and other musicians.

There is nothing more spectacular than a dueling bugle with drums flag ceremony. It is very impressive at Camporees and Courts of Honor as well as for any old meeting. If you are lucky enough to have some musicians in your group, encourage their activities. A violin, a piano, saxophone, bagpipes, anything will do. Music is a gift to us all.

Integrate Music in your Program.

We have touched on some of the basics of a "Quality" Pack and Troop. Future releases of the "Q-System" manual will include new sections on specific examples most of which can be found through attendance in Scout training and at Roundtables. The key to the "Q-System" is to integrate any of these ideas into a cohesive, youth oriented and collective whole, one that incorporates all levels of child development. By forcing your thinking patterns to span a greater length of time a better program can be achieved. By using the "Q-Principles" people normally would not be able to get along well, can come together for a common good. In this "Me" world we need often times to teach the parents as much as the child. The "Q-System" and it's integrated approach forces one to think in a different manner. The simple tie to religious beliefs also reinforces the longevity and success of the Units and ultimately the children.

By placing these moral concepts up front and in the beginning of the program a more balanced sense of holism occurs. This translates to results in your program. Strive to get along, strive to put the Scouts first.

Scouting is a backwards organization, the Scout comes first, then the Parent, then the Unit, then the District, Council and National. Use this philosophy in all your decision making processes.

Cub and Boy Scouts in a net at Phillippo Scout Ranch in Cannon Falls, Minnesota

On the next page we will discuss the Crew and it's role in the "Total Program Concept" and how it relates to the "System of Q".

Now might be a good time to visit the Pack and Troop 344 web sites. You can get to them at the "344 Units" link. Please note that all web sites at Northfield Scouting run within a frame set as we talked about in the "Q-Registry" section. These sites are also stand alone sites and can be run independently of each other. Again "Q-Thinking" dictates that not only is a program integrated,it can also stand alone if need be. Remember this planning principle along with your replacement principle (always be looking for your position's replacement). An integrated approach however produces better results, so only use the stand alone method if needed. Many methods of Scouting will produce differing levels of results. The "Q-System" is by no means the only method of Scouting but if followed will more than substantiate the effort.