Advancement Resources
Scouting ranks, merit bades, and the advancement programs
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LATEST POSTS
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Of course you should be always flexible, but recruiting will go smoother if you have an SPL in place. That said, I hardly see the point of an SPL in a one patrol troop. It doesn’t sound likely but ask around if another troop might want to loan an SPL. That’s how the troop of my youth got on an even footing when it started. -
By Eagle94-A1 · Posted
YES! If you can find an old 3rd edition SMHB 2 volumes, there is a very good plan to starting a troop with new Scouts. Funny thing is, the best SPL i ever worked with was 12 years old. He was voted in, and beat older Scouts. -
If a troop is starting with 11 and 12 year olds, does it even make sense to have an SPL to start? -
I'm doing my best to exert influence to get us to being patrol based. Tuesday night was supposed to be planning menus for the campout and a troop-level first aid class. Neither went as they should. They got the menus planned, but it took longer than needed. I was unable to identify any sort of first aid training that was taking place. The troop had the opportunity to elect a 16 y/o SPL but instead decided to simply swap around the last SPL and ASPL. So, another 6 months of no progress is almost assured. It's going to take the PLs standing up at the PLC and demanding that the meetings focus on patrol-level activities. A troop-level game, sure, but the rest of the meeting should belong to the patrols. The problem is, our PLCs are held at a local Zaxby's where discussion is impossible. Half the PLs aren't paying attention. -
By Eagle94-A1 · Posted
One reason why Scouting America doesn't cut off Scouting at 13 or 14, and makes Venturing the next stage, (emphasis) if you look at older, pre 1989 BSA literature. The middle schoolers look up to, and learn from the highschoolers. They will usually be the ones elected into leadership roles. Traditional, aka Mixed Age Patrols, were the standard. Unless you were LDS which used aged based patrols. Patrols could actually do things on their own without adults, including camping. Older members mentored and worked with younger members. Nowadays the lack of Scouter manpower, forces troops to focus on the Troop Method, and not the Patrol Method. IMHO, Scouting America has lost its way. Instead of focusing on adventure and fun to promote individual growth, the focus is now on MBs and getting Eagle. Instead of hiring and listening to folks with outdoor experience, Scouting America is hiring "Educational Leadership" experts with no idea how Scouting is suppose to work, but a ton of theories on how to develop youth. The one I met had no outdoors experience whatsoever, no jobs outside of academia, and was appalled when I said they needed to spend time at a summer camp. Even then summer camp is turning into outdoor school. And do not get me started on aged based patrols. I was one of the guinea pigs when it was beta tested, and shocked when it became the recommendation.
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