Can we really expect a Lad to be in both?

Pleased to report that membership in the Ship continues to climb.

We now have eighteen Sea Scouts. Six are female and are not in any other youth program.

The twelve Boys are or were involved in Boy Scout Troops. One is 18 and hasn't made up his mind if he wants to sign up as an ASM with his old Troop. One decided that he would quit his old Troop and just do Sea Scouting. The other ten are still Boy Scouts. Some are more active than others.

We had one Lad quit the Ship because he didn't feel that he could do both.

We are not in any way connected to a Troop.

When I was starting the Ship, I did the program for the first three months. But we are now following a six month plan that the youth leaders put together.

When I did my plan, I had us meeting twice a month. The Quarterdeck members changed this to weekly meetings. They have a very full calender. Which if I was asked I would say is great but might be a little too full -I however wasn't asked.

When they made the plan the were careful to avoid OA functions. All the boys are in the OA.

The Boys come from five different Troops. I don't think when they made the plan any Troop activities were taken into account.

As you can imagine we have found a few times when there are clashes.

My opinion is that it is up to the Lad to choose. However some parents are a little unhappy.

The main reason why the Lads joined the Ship was that the Troops they hail from are not providing a program for older Scouts. The main reason why they are staying in the Troops is because that is where their parents want them to complete their Eagle. I have of course explained that this could be done with the Ship and that is what the Lad who quit Boy Scouts wants to do.

We have in the District one outstanding Crew, which isn't connected with a Boy Scout Troop and two other Crews that never seem to do anything that share the same unit number as the Troop.

I'm really starting to think that allowing Scouts and Venturers to be multiples is just a bad idea.

While I will of course work with any Sea Scout who wants to work on his Eagle, I think Venturing would be better off without offering Boy Scout Programs.

I also think that adults who try and serve in both programs are asking for problems.

If a Troop is offering a program that meets the needs of the older Scouts, I am really happy for him to stay there.

So far the Scoutmasters I have talked with have been very supportive of the Ship and I don't think that they think I'm in any way trying to "Poach" or recruit Boy Scouts away from their home Troops.

While I feel sure that not allowing Scouts to be in both programs would hurt the number of Crews that are out there, I do feel in the long term it would result in a better Venturing Program for the youth who want to be in real Ships and Crews.

Eamonn.

Wow, Skipper, you are obviously doing a great job! That's a really impressive number of kids. My guess is that you'll find more of the boys will drop out of their troops, at least as far as activity goes, over time. The ship is a new thing and new to them. Once it's an established ship more boys will probably see they can get Eagle there and stay in OA and not have to hang out with the little guys.

Bravo Zulu!

Eamonn,

In my crew of 35 or so, I have about 17 male youth under 18 that are still active with their troops. Being a boy scout and venturer can work. Just had one of my youth go through his Eagle BOR on Thursday. Two more are going to meet the Eagle BOR next month. Last year I had 5 make Eagle. They all went through their troop.

Next month we are moving our monthly meeting to another location so the crew can be at one of the lads Eagle COR.

What I think that makes this work in our situation is my crew's CO does not charter a troop just the crew. Plus we only have one meeting a month and one event a month.

As with your ship, our crew is not run like a Boy Scout Troop. The youth run it like a crew. A male under 18 can have the best of both worlds, but it is ultimatly up to him to make it work.

Happy trails.

Cary P

Crew 805 Advisor

Kahuna

Thanks for the kind words. I wish that I could say that I deserve them. But I don't. The Ship belongs to the Sea Scouts, I'm just a resource. Who at times gets in the way.

purcelce

Not that long ago you posted a link to the Crew web site. I have to admit to being impressed and do think that you all have got your act together.

I still however feel that the Venturing program would be better off it it wasn't tied in any way to Boy Scouts. Just as we don't have Webelos Scouts completing their AOL once they leave the pack.Why have people from another program area work on that programs awards?

Most of the "Do Nothing" Crews that I know are Crews that have close ties to a Troop.

Many of the adults involved in Boy Scouts just don't understand that there is a big difference between the two programs.

I'm all for older Scouts who are receiving a program that they like and enjoy staying in or with the Troop, in fact I don't see any reason for them to join a Crew.

Eamonn.