How to SIC

Every Troop outing or event should have a designated Scout-in-Charge (SIC). 

The Patrol Leaders Council (PLC) designates the SICs for all events. Typically the SPL or ASPL might serve as SIC, but there may also be other youth leaders who step up and are appointed as an outing SIC.

As an SIC, you are in charge of the following:

3 months before the event

• Promote Scoutbook signups by published deadline at troop meetings and via email to troop

• Be creative! Ideas for how to get scouts excited include: 

• Sharing photos from past events (you can connect a laptop to the TV, during troop meetings) 

• Give precise information about where, when, what it is

• Tell scouts why your event is going to be great! 

1 month before the event

• Discuss your event plan at PLC meetings to make sure everyone is informed about:

  • Where (locations)

  • When (dates)

  • What (logistics - equipment, foods)

  • How (transportation)

• Promote Scoutbook signups by published deadline at troop meetings and via email to troop

• Develop an event schedule and share it with the Adult-in-Charge (AIC)

1 week before the event

• For outings that include tenting and/or cooking, review patrol participation and combine scouts from under-represented patrols with other patrols; if PLs/APLs are not in attendance, appoint PLs as needed for outing patrols.

• Schedule a pack check for backpacking and high adventure trips

• Check with PLs to ensure that 

• Tenting and cooking plans are in place

• Patrol box is ready (clean, all items are there, we know where it is and who is bringing it) 

• Grubmasters are purchasing food as needed.

• Create seating arrangements for car travel to/from event in coordination with the AIC

• Share the event schedule and with the PLs

Event Check-in

• Check that the scouts who RSVP'd yes are present (if not, try to contact them)

• Check with the AIC about what information and forms to collect. All scouts must bring the following forms to outings: 

  • Medical forms A, B1, B2 are required for all outings

  • Medical form C, which must be signed by a doctor, is required for all outings of 72+ hours

• To participate in Aquatics activities, including swimming and boating, scouts must be swimmers 

• Check that PLs have all their gear, including their patrol box

• Check that each PL has  enough fuel, if stoves will be used on the outing

During the Event

• Monitor scouts headcounts during events

• Help enforce the buddy system

• Are scouts living up to troop motto? Nobody Walks Alone

• Direct pack lines, fall ins, campsite selection, loading and unloading 

• Organize activities as called for by event plan

• Safety checks as needed

• Encourage scouts to take pictures

• Monitor cell phone usage to ensure it conforms with troop cell phone policy

• Leave no trace - Clean up & sweep campsites

• MC campfire as appropriate

• Close the outing with Roses, Buds, and Thorns

After the Event

• Ensure PLs have assigned patrol QMs or participating scouts to take home all used equipment for cleaning to be ready by next troop meeting

• Encourage scouts to upload photos to the troop shared drive

• Check with Social Media Chair and Historian to share how the outing went and to share photos, for social media posts, website updates, etc. 

• Written feedback presented to PLC; lead discussion of any learning

• At next troop meeting: describe outing highlights and then have participants say what they liked most about the outing