Re: how to make a good troop?

cameron mulder wrote:
>
> Well i would like to thank everyone for all your suggestions on how to
> solve discipline problems in a troop.
>
> We basically asked the PLC what they thought we should do for discipline
> and they wanted the idea of warning the youth first, second time have a
> time out and third time talk with the parents. This was a little
> tougher then i think me and the scoutmaster wanted, but it worked. The
> kids are a lot better, and we are having much better meeting. Best thing
> is after explaining this the kids we haven't yet had to talk to a
> parent!!!
>
> Here is my next problem. This troop has been going for about 5 years
> now or so, our problem is we haven't grown. He have stayed around 12
> for 5 years. So what can the Adults do to help make the troop grow?
> What can we do to make the troop better?
>
> Yours In Scouting
>
> Cameron Mulder

I think we have a pretty good Troop since we seem to average about
fifteen new Scouts each year, and maintain a boy membership of about
fifty-five, so I feel confident in sharing our methods with you.

When I ask these new boys why they joined us, they usually answer, "We
heard that Troop 6 does a lot of really cool stuff, and we want to do
it, too." So, what do we do that's so "cool"?

Well, we camp year-round, regardless of the weather (except hurricanes
coming ashore near Hampton Roads, and white-out blizzards). We also
have an annual 6-day 60-mile hike along the C&O Canal (which has a patch
with trail-segment rockers), completing all 180 miles of the Canal in
three years. We also are known for our older-boy outings, loosely known
as Venture Trips. We usually take the older boys snow skiing,
rappeling, white water canoeing, mountain-trail backpacking, and on
wilderness survival camping trips.

As the SA in charge of the Troop's New Scout Patrol program, I also
"recruit" the nearby Cub Scout Packs, visiting the Dens once or twice a
year and helping the Den Leader teach a Scouting skill. Troop 6 also
makes a point of sending selected Scouts to serve as Den Chiefs for both
the first-year and second-year Webelo Dens. Our District hosts an
extremely popular Klondike Derby, and we always invite the local Webelos
Dens (and a parent for each Webelos, of course) to camp with us and run
as integral parts of our sled teams. This year we have five Packs
(eight Dens!) coming to this month's Klondike Derby.

We have a large adult membership as well, and these folks talk to their
friends about all the things we're doing, and they talk to their
friends, and the word spreads around our part of the city. The Scouts
also talk to their friends at school, but that has little impact on
recruitment after the age of thirteen. It's the Webelos that keep our
Troop alive.

I hope these work for you as well.

The blacksmithing Scouter,
Drew

--
Andrew Hagemann, Eagle '69 <hagemann@visi.net>
SA, New Scout Patrol, Troop 6 (Colonial Virginia Council)
A "Charging" Buffalo, SR-158 / Jamboree '97 Metal Work MB Booth
Coordinator

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