Re: Another problem for Exploring in the BSA
William H. Sills (whs@idcnet.com)
Wed Feb 11 14:51:32 1998
Cliff's posting was quite interesting. Most of my boys and nearly all
of my girls are only marginally interested in uniforms. The exception is at sea
during Long Cruises where the uniforms are appropriate to our activities. Still,
they wear them since they are an integral part of our program. However, ours so
similar to those of the US Navy and we are so close to Great Lakes Naval Training
Center that the kids feel accepted. I'm not sure what they'd feel about wearing
green.
Almost all of my ships' company are interested in both of our advancement
tracks: Apprentice/Ordinary/AbleQuartermaster and Small Boat Handler/Qualified
Seaman. Perhaps that's because of the skill levels required to advance and their
instant applicability to our activities. We have succeeded in getting kids on to
Eagle but most of the former Boy Scouts stop at 1st Class. We had five Life
Scouts just quit the Eagle path and just work on Sea Scout advancement. Sadly, we
had four Able Sea Scouts stop trying for Quartermaster too. We were fortunate to
have four Eagles and two Quartermasters in 1997. I think that we may have two
more of each of them in 1998.
I do not want to be flammed so please be gentle. <VBG> When I was a boy,
my friends and I quit our troop after 1st Class because the Air Scout Ace and the
Sea Scout Quartermaster advancement tracks were so much more fun, required such
greatly advanced skill levels and were relevant to us in our lives and dreams.
The fellows I know that reached Explorer Silver felt the same way. My personal
situation regarding attaining Eagle would have been changed if my Squadron Leader
and my skipper had been supportive. Now, I'm sorry about not finishing Eagle.
That's why I try so hard to support my Sea Scouts work toward Eagle.
One thing is the same. The boys like the "hoopla" over Eagle but feel
that attaining Quartermaster is the most personally meaningful achievement. They
are universally puzzled by its lack of recognition within the Scouting community.
I hope that if Explorer Silver and "High Adventure" Ranger Award advancement
tracks are reauthorized this summer that we can work together to get proper
recognition for our Senior Scouting achievments.
YISS; Bill Sills
Skipper
SSS Hathor (1)
Scoutmaster
Troop 1
Sinnissippi Council (626)
CEgel2@aol.com wrote:
> In a message dated 98-01-28 01:14:31 EST, Steve Featherkile writes:
>
> << James,
> What i've done is to require the boys to participate in their troop
> activities at a 25% rate. That way they stay active with the troop and
> the troop gets the benefit of their experience and leadership.
> "Sometimes the magic works and sometimes it doesn't." Most of the
> explorers are pretty good about doing that, knowing that it is a "price"
> they pay to belong to explorers. >>
>
> I have tried something similar to this, and have had no success with it. The
> boys just don't "buy in" to it, citing that all the other non-Scout Explorers
> have no such requirement. I try to encourage dual registration in the Post
> and Troop, as well as participation in both sets of activities. Some will do
> this and some will not. Depends on why they joined the Post. A few want the
> added scope, challenge, and social (read co-ed) nature of the Post, and are
> still interested in Troop leadership and mentoring. This group wants to
> continue with advancement. Most seem to want to move up to the Post because
> they are not interested in advancement, dislike troop meetings, detest
> uniforming, and have no patience with younger Scouts, but like the camping,
> etc.
> In either instance, the boys benefit, and in the case of the latter group,
> they are at least retained in one of the BSA's programs. And quite often,
> individuals from the latter group have much to offer the Post.
>
> YIS
>
> Cliff Egel
> Scoutmaster, Troop 39
> Advisor, Post 39
> La Grange, IL
|
