One of the things I’ve enjoyed most about this blog is the feedback from the readers. To know that it’s more than just me babbling into the interwebs and that there’s people around the country and even world that are contributing to mine and my Scouts experience is both appreciated and humbling.
I’ve decided to start a new section of the blog and for now I’m calling it Campfire Questions. These are questions that I’d like put out there to you, my fellow Scouters. I’d like you to share your experiences, your methods, what works for you and what doesn’t.
The Campfire Question for this week is on Courts of Honor. For all intents and purposes we’re a new Troop of all young Scouts. About half the Scouts have earned about half a dozen merit badges so far. I’m not sure what we should do as far as a Court of Honor. Does your unit do a COH for all award presentations? How often do you do them? If quarterly, etc., how do you balance between immediate recognition and having a ceremony every couple of weeks?
As always your feedback is appreciated. Got a question of your own you’d like featured in Campfire Questions? Email me at dwmetz at gmail dot com.
scouteradam
June 4, 2011 at 4:34 pm
Well, I am in Cubscouts, so my answer will be skewed. However, I have seen Troops do a COH either 2,3,4 times a year. I personally would do it 4 times a year. I suspect that the after summer COH would be huge due to summer camp. However, having a COH will celebrate what the Scouts have done, recognize them officially and then highlight what the Troop has done together. I suspect the big COH would be the Red & Green. (See you thought I was going Blue & Gold…) It keeps them motivated and reaching for new MB and other awards along with Rank.
jlash
June 4, 2011 at 7:09 pm
We give awards at regular Troop meetings as soon as possible after they are earned. We recognize the Scouts again with a simple ceremony at the next COH.
Clarke Green
June 4, 2011 at 7:15 pm
Hey Doug
Present any awards as soon as you have them (the next troop meeting) hold on to the certificates (the cards) for a COH.
We conduct about two a year. Always the same program – about 45 minutes or an hour for 30-40 Scouts.
Short, meaningful, predictable, easy to comprehend, and short. People appreciate knowing what to expect and that we value their time.
Sometimes we have a lot to present, sometimes not so much but it’s a good thing to stay with a schedule of COH’s.
johngormly
June 4, 2011 at 9:20 pm
I will echo Clarke’s comments. We give the boys their awards at the first weekly troop meeting after it’s earned, and save the certificates for our twice a year COH. We have a Spring COH that also recognizes all of the new Scouts, and a Fall COH. It’s worked extremely well. Our COH last about 45 minutes, including a guest of honor/guest speaker, followed by food/cake. The boys and parents seem to like the format.
Frank Maynard
June 7, 2011 at 9:02 am
Doug,
Good question, and some spot-on answers. Most troops follow this sort of formula because it works. Those used to Cub Scouts and Blue & Gold Banquets, with all the decorations, entertainment, big meals, and ceremonies with props – remember, that’s adult-run. Boy Scouts is boy-run, so a Court of Honor needs to be done on the boy level, planned and conducted by the boys with minimal adult involvement.
Our troop holds a court of honor three times a year and we use it as a family social event as well. Fall is a cookout at a local park, winter is a dinner in the church hall, and spring is an ice-cream social. (I think the food became a tradition many years ago when one of our adults was a culinary arts instructor and he taught the boys how to do some fabulous cooking.)
Back to your question, though – yes, give the scout his badge as soon as you can. If you have a supply of rank patches, it should be presented at the troop meeting as soon as his board of review is complete (and presented by the boys, not the adults). Then, present the certificate card at the court of honor. In some councils you have to file an advancement report before you can buy the insignia. In that case, the scout is still recognized immediately, and then given the badge as soon as possible thereafter. He’s also called up at the next court of honor.
The court of honor can be in place of a troop meeting, at a campout, or on another day. We tend to have ours on Sunday afternoons but we have had them on our meeting night, as does the other troop in town. Try to put them on the annual calendar and encourage all families to come.