Scout Skills and Leadership Skills are very important building blocks of the scouting experience. With these skills, scouts will progress through the ranks and enjoy the trips and scouting events, and be much more comfortable and productive as a member and leader of the Troop. Skills are sometimes hard to learn, and can be even harder to remember that to learn in the first place. Constant use of these skills will keep them fresh and clear in your mind, and they will become second nature over time.

As a Troop Instructor, your job is to know these skills, to use them often and to teach them to other scouts. You should have a good general knowledge of all the skills, and you should also pick some of your skills and develop those well beyond general knowledge. You are expected to be an expert in your chosen skills, and to know how to teach those skills so that they become fun for those you teach them to. That means that you should think about how to teach them, what kinds of props you need to get the message across, and how to make those skills fun. 

You should also make sure that the troop members have opportunities to practice those skills, by running games that use and test them, by planning skills practice activities during troop events and so on. Finally, you should know which scouts in the Troop are good at those skills and which scouts need practice, so we can keep up the skill level for the whole troop. 

If you have ideas for any props or any assistance that would make it easier for the scouts to learn, you should bring it up at the Greenbar meeting, so it can be discussed and decided, or recommended to the Scoutmaster staff and the Troop Committee (for buying things).

The newly elected Patrol Leaders and Assistant Patrol Leaders also have a lot to learn. Your skill and experience will be a good resource for them, so they can ask for advice or ideas without involving an adult. You may also be asked to help with the Troop JLT.

If you have a problem with anything related to the Troop Instructor job, you can turn to the Troop staff and the adult leaders for help and advice any time. Everyone wants you to succeed. You have an important job, and Devon 50 will be a better troop when you do a good job.

As a Devon 50 Junior Leader, you are expected to do a short report at the Greenbar meeting on what you did as the Troop Instructor during the past month. What did the Troop achieve, what did you achieve, and what problems are you aware of that should be discussed. This report will demonstrate that you have performed your leadership duties and that the time should count towards advancement.

As a leader, you are also an example and role model for younger scouts. What you do will make a much bigger impression on them than anything you say. Live by the Scout Oath and Law. Wear you uniform correctly. Participate with enthusiasm in Devon 50 activities.

Be someone you would look up to.