William "Green Bar Bill" Hillcourt
For those of you new to Scouting, I'm sure you've heard of Lord Robert Baden-Powell, the British military officer who founded the Scouting Movement in 1910. To those of us who have been around for a little while, there is another individual whom we consider to be just as important.
William "Green Bar Bill" Hillcourt is considered by many Scouters to be the Baden-Powell of American Scouting. He has had significant influence on the program of the BSA, wrote several editions of the Boy Scout Handbook, and developed the training Scouters receive through Wood Badge in this country.
This Scoutmaster's Creed was adapted from an article written by Mr. Hillcourt for Scoutmasters. As a Scoutmaster, I've always tried to follow the example of "Green Bar Bill" (whom I had the extreme privilege of meeting at the 1964 National Jamboree at Valley Forge) in my interaction with my Scouts. I hope that this creed can be an inspiration to those who follow ... Bob Crevier
A Scoutmaster's Creed
I will think of my Patrols in terms of the leaders
I will train my Patrol Leaders to do their job, trust them to do that job to the best of their ability, and let them do the job. I will support their efforts by showing them the confidence I have in their abilities, and expecting them to do their best.
I will adopt the answer "Ask your Patrol Leader; he knows!"
I will develop the belief in my Scouts that the Patrol Leader is the only one who knows what's going on. I want them to look to those leaders for vital facts and guidance because that's a sign of true youth leadership.
I will take my own advice and "Ask the Patrol Leader; he knows!"
I will instill in my Patrol Leaders a need to get to know the Scouts in their Patrols. I will count on them to know whatever information I need about a Scout. I know that a Patrol Leader can only lead effectively if he has a handle on the wants, needs, and concerns of each Scout in his Patrol, and I want each of my Patrol Leaders to be effective.
I will stick the youth leaders out in front at every opportunity
I know that leadership is much more than wearing a patch and that every youth leader needs to develop confidence in his abilities. I know the only way a Scout can develop leadership confidence is to lead, and I will give them every opportunity to do so.
I will commend my Patrol Leaders publicly whenever they show signs of taking responsibility
I know that public recognition of the "little things" a Patrol Leader does will build the leader's confidence in his abilities, and his Patrol's trust in his leadership.
I will refrain from criticizing them before their group
I know that mistakes will be made, and it is my job to turn failure into an opportunity for success. Criticizing a Patrol Leader in front of his Patrol can easily reverse any progress that has been made, so I will criticize privately and constructively, helping the Patrol Leader learn from the experience.
I will count on my Patrol Leaders to lead
I will refrain from jumping in to solve every problem or hand out discipline. I will give my Patrol Leaders real responsibility for their Patrols, and trust them to take on that responsibility. In short, I will train them, trust them, and let them lead!
I will always be ready to give a helping hand, a word of advice, or a boost in confidence to my Patrol Leaders
I will remember that my job is to train the Patrol Leaders to lead, and give them the opportunity to lead. I will also remember that training is an ongoing effort since every possible scenario can never be covered in formal training. I will be a guide the Patrol Leader can count on for advice or just to talk about things without getting in his way or taking charge at every turn.
William "Green Bar Bill" Hillcourt is considered by many Scouters to be the Baden-Powell of American Scouting. He has had significant influence on the program of the BSA, wrote several editions of the Boy Scout Handbook, and developed the training Scouters receive through Wood Badge in this country.
This Scoutmaster's Creed was adapted from an article written by Mr. Hillcourt for Scoutmasters. As a Scoutmaster, I've always tried to follow the example of "Green Bar Bill" (whom I had the extreme privilege of meeting at the 1964 National Jamboree at Valley Forge) in my interaction with my Scouts. I hope that this creed can be an inspiration to those who follow ... Bob Crevier
A Scoutmaster's Creed
I will think of my Patrols in terms of the leaders
I will train my Patrol Leaders to do their job, trust them to do that job to the best of their ability, and let them do the job. I will support their efforts by showing them the confidence I have in their abilities, and expecting them to do their best.
I will adopt the answer "Ask your Patrol Leader; he knows!"
I will develop the belief in my Scouts that the Patrol Leader is the only one who knows what's going on. I want them to look to those leaders for vital facts and guidance because that's a sign of true youth leadership.
I will take my own advice and "Ask the Patrol Leader; he knows!"
I will instill in my Patrol Leaders a need to get to know the Scouts in their Patrols. I will count on them to know whatever information I need about a Scout. I know that a Patrol Leader can only lead effectively if he has a handle on the wants, needs, and concerns of each Scout in his Patrol, and I want each of my Patrol Leaders to be effective.
I will stick the youth leaders out in front at every opportunity
I know that leadership is much more than wearing a patch and that every youth leader needs to develop confidence in his abilities. I know the only way a Scout can develop leadership confidence is to lead, and I will give them every opportunity to do so.
I will commend my Patrol Leaders publicly whenever they show signs of taking responsibility
I know that public recognition of the "little things" a Patrol Leader does will build the leader's confidence in his abilities, and his Patrol's trust in his leadership.
I will refrain from criticizing them before their group
I know that mistakes will be made, and it is my job to turn failure into an opportunity for success. Criticizing a Patrol Leader in front of his Patrol can easily reverse any progress that has been made, so I will criticize privately and constructively, helping the Patrol Leader learn from the experience.
I will count on my Patrol Leaders to lead
I will refrain from jumping in to solve every problem or hand out discipline. I will give my Patrol Leaders real responsibility for their Patrols, and trust them to take on that responsibility. In short, I will train them, trust them, and let them lead!
I will always be ready to give a helping hand, a word of advice, or a boost in confidence to my Patrol Leaders
I will remember that my job is to train the Patrol Leaders to lead, and give them the opportunity to lead. I will also remember that training is an ongoing effort since every possible scenario can never be covered in formal training. I will be a guide the Patrol Leader can count on for advice or just to talk about things without getting in his way or taking charge at every turn.