Assistant Scoutmasters, it seemed, were to look elsewhere for Scouting wisdom.<\/p>\n That’s about to change.\u00a0Later this year, the two-volume\u00a0Troop Leader Guidebook<\/em>\u00a0will debut, replacing the\u00a0Scoutmaster Handbook\u00a0<\/em>and offering helpful checklists, quick tips and fresh ideas for both new troop leaders and veteran Scouters.<\/p>\n Scouting<\/em> magazine contributor Mark Ray<\/a> wrote Volume 1, while\u00a0Bob Birkby<\/a>, author of the latest\u00a0Boy Scout Handbook<\/em>, penned Volume 2.<\/p>\n You can see the covers of the new Troop Leader Guidebooks\u00a0<\/em>after the jump. I’ve also got a sneak peek at what’s inside the books and what makes them better tools for Scoutmasters and assistant Scoutmasters.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Click to enlarge<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Mark Ray’s Vol. 1\u00a0focuses primarily on the needs of the new or relatively inexperienced Boy Scout leader.<\/p>\n These Scouters will have been volunteers for up to three years, are likely\u00a0assistant Scoutmasters and probably recently crossed over from serving as a\u00a0Webelos leader or parent.<\/p>\n As such, Volume 1 assumes little or no prior knowledge of the Boy Scout program on the part of the reader. It presents a somewhat simplified picture of Boy Scouting that focuses on the short term \u2014 getting through this week’s troop meeting, this month’s outing and this year’s planning conference \u2014 rather than the long term, such as planning for growth, establishing a troop vision, and measuring personal and troop success.<\/p>\n In other words, it leaves advanced topics to Volume 2.<\/p>\n Given that its readers are mostly newcomers, this volume’s tone is similar to that used in a book for new parents. It reassures readers that everything is really going to be okay. Really.<\/p>\n
If you judge the\u00a0Scoutmaster Handbook <\/em>by its cover, you might assume it’s solely meant for, well, Scoutmasters.<\/p>\nVol. 1: For new troop leaders<\/h3>\n
<\/a><\/p>\nVol. 2: Advanced guidance for veteran Scouters<\/h3>\n