Sogus
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Sogus is the most advanced of the Boy Scouts of America's Junior Leader Training Conferences in the Northwest's Cascade Pacific Council. For more than 25 years, the course has taught valuable leadership skills to boys between the ages of 14 and 17.
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[edit] Overview
Sogus is a 7-day course in which boy scouts are arranged as they would be in a home troop. Patrols bond through high-adventure activities that they participate in frequently in the course, as well as through campcraft skills, such as cooking and setting up tents. The course uses each of these activities as a backdrop for education in leadership that the scouts going through the course (referred to as learners) can take back to their home troops, families, schools, and religious institutions. According to the Sogus page on the Cascade Pacific Council Website, Sogus's purpose is fourfold:
The course has four aims:
- First is to relate to his Patrol, Troop, or Team the job skills of leadership that have proven effective in a variety of Scouting and personal leadership situations.
- Second is to give each participant a varied experience in Scoutcraft skills that can be shared with the members of his Patrol, Troop, or Team.
- Third is to give participants a chance to relate to leaders from other Troops, or Teams for an exchange of ideas and experiences.
- Fourth is to have FUN![1]
[edit] Troop Structure
Sogus is unique in that both youth and adult staff have roles integrated into the troop structure. The troop is comprised of 96 scouts divided into 12 patrols of 8 scouts each. Each patrol has a troop guide-- a youth staffer who serves as a friend and resource to the patrol, and as link between the patrol and the youth staff. Similarly, each patrol is assigned an adult staffer, known as a patrol adviser, who works as a team with the troop guide in educating the patrol, and serves as a counselor to the patrol members.
Leadership within the Sogus troop is meant to simulate the traditional Boy Scout troop leadership structure. Some positions, however, are filled by learners, others by staffers.
[edit] Learner-Filled Leadership Positions
PATROL LEADER Represents patrol at Patrol Leaders' Council, and, likewise, the Patrol Leaders' Council at patrol meetings. Rallies patrol to complete assigned tasks, and supervises patrol members in other positions.
ASSISTANT PATROL LEADER Fills in for Patrol Leader when he is absent; assists in making sure Patrol Leader is fully effective when he is present.
COOK In charge of getting meals cooked on time.
ASSISTANT COOK Helps cook in getting meals cooked on time.
FIRE/WATER Makes fires for patrol campsite, and makes sure water patrol has an abundance of water for cooking, cleaning, and safety (fire extinguishing).
CLEANUP In charge of getting all reusable meal-related items clean after meals.
ASSISTANT CLEANUP Helps cleanup clean meal-related items.
QUARTERMASTER Makes sure patrol has necessary equipment when needed.
[edit] Youth Staff-Filled Leadership Positions
SENIOR PATROL LEADER Rallies youth staff to accomplish assignments. Represents youth staff to adult staff, and adult staff to youth staff. Runs staff developments, troop meetings, and Patrol Leaders' Councils. Supervises Assistant Senior Patrol Leaders and Crew Chief directly.
ASSISTANT SENIOR PATROL LEADER: ADMINISTRATION In charge of office work, such as check-in, medical forms, and entering data about patrols into computer system.
ASSISTANT SENIOR PATROL LEADER: FACILITIES Responsible for keeping Sogus facilities functioning, clean, and safe.
ASSISTANT SENIOR PATROL LEADER: COMMISSARY In charge of getting food to patrols and staff. Supervises and assists cooking in the staff lodge kitchen.
ASSISTANT SENIOR PATROL LEADER: PROGRAM Supervises Junior Assistant Scoutmasters.
CREW CHIEF Supervises Troop Guides; in essence, the Patrol Leader of the Troop Guides.
TROOP GUIDE Provides constant guidance, encouragement, and counsel to his assigned patrol.
ASSISTANT COMMISSARY Assists ASPL Commissary in food preparation and distribution, and in cooking.
JUNIOR ASSISTANT SCOUTMASTER Does most of the outdoors labor required to keep the course running smoothly.
[edit] Location
Although Sogus has been held at a handful of camps in Oregon, for almost 20 years the course was held at Camp Morrison. In 2006-JLTC 24-the course was moved to Camp Cooper in Willamina, where the council plans to keep it for the foreseeable future. The course has also been held at Camp Pioneer, near Mt. Jefferson.
[edit] History
In June 2007, Sogus celebrated its 25th training conference.
[edit] Curriculum
The course aims to develop effective leadership skills through a variety of challenges. Traditionally, these skills and the activities used to emphasize them are kept secret except to learners during the course for multiple reasons. First, information is disclosed to the Patrol Leader at the Patrol Leaders' Council, and it is his task to relay the information to his patrol. Second, some of the information is copyrighted by leaders in the course. Third, there are multiple traditions within the course that are meant to only be experienced firsthand by learners.
[edit] Eligibility
The Council website states that scouts between 14 and 17 years of age or have completed at least eight grade are eligible. Additionally, scouts must have achieved the rank of First Class, must be or have potential to be a Senior Patrol Leader or other high-ranking junior leader within their home troop, and have the consent of the scoutmaster. A maximum of two scouts may attend the course from each unit.[1]
