Leaderboard

One of our new scouts thought KP and the 3 pot method was hazing. The SPL looked at him and said work is not hazing, if they did decide to haze him it would involve a good bit of orientation and training his part, you can't expect to fully appreciate hazing unless you have been properly trained. The SPL has a future in corporate America

Specific actions may or may not be hazing depending on context, intent and other factors. Is having a scout do push-ups hazing? If it is in context of encouraging physical fitness, probably not. Making a first year scout do push-ups to get his breakfast, yes. I may not be able to define it; but I know it when I see it.

One of my older sons left something on the table. It was part of what he was bringing home as a carry item. But the SPL got it first and would not give it back. Only later as they were assembled to go home did the SPL bring the item up and say that my son left it on the table. He asked my son to sing for it. Watching the physical reaction of my son was very sad. Worse though was I saw him try something like that on someone else at the next camp out so he could do it to them. Perhaps the lesson was intended to be to take responsibility for your stuff, but he already knew that lesson. It

The short answer of course is the same thing that would happen any time you don't have enough adults to conduct an activity --- you either find them or you don't conduct the activity. 1) This seems the least likely and the easiest to avoid or correct. You don't really need a female scouter, you need an adult female who has taken YPT. I don't think I've ever been at a meeting where there wasn't at least one adult female; troops will probably need to get more women to take YPT, but that's a 45 minute online class --- hardly a difficult ask. 2) This one will be harder, but we've had

... so, maybe the PL's corner should be cut because one of his boys failed to continue to show mastery? As far as requirements, ( from https://www.scouting.org/programs/boy-scouts/advancement-and-awards/merit-badges/totin/ emphasis mine) So, clipping of corners is a way of adhering to the intent of the card. It symbolizes Totin' Rights being whittled away. It should be done quietly, with assurances that you (SPL/PL/SM) believe he is capable of behaving according to the what he claimed he understood to be how he should behave ... that this is a way of helping him prepare behave saf

I say, Sir, I say-you bully me Sir. You bully me with pico-aggressions. Obviously you are lookingfor more YPT training.

Not quite. It reads: "some early adopter councils are continuing that enthusiasm into spring recruiting, with registration options for girls available to all councils starting June 11, 2018." There is an option, if they choose, for June but not all early adopter councils are beginning June 11. Some, like mine, are waiting until next Aug.

That’s not right. The SPL must’ve been greedy, “power hungry”, or the one scout that was left out and wanted attention. I don’t know if this is considered hazing or “over the top”, but if I find something I simply ask (even if I know it’s theirs) if it is there’s and when they say yes, I just hand it back and let it be done. Simple as that.

Wonder how the happy girls running in the photo earned 3 ranks in the last 3 months...that is some motivated cubbies. Neat that they all matched also

@Eagledad I don’t see the BSA ever negatively commenting directly about any other program. In fact, I’ve seen them in interviews stating positive things about 4H, GSUSA, etc. I agree they are adding girls to deal with declining membership but I don’t see them attacking other programs (at least publicly). I’m not arguing against your other points, and there are definite concerns that membership will still decline.

imo, treating the taking of a corner of a totin chip card, or asking a group "who's item is this" (where there is no name on it) and the person's who's item it is comes up and gets their lost item (no idea who put words in my mouth about singing or dancing, but I was clearly stating the simple act of asking the group who's item something was so that they could come up and get their gear back is now considered hazing) diminishes the seriousness of actual dehumanizing hazing to the point wolf has been cried so often, no one will care. We are seeing this very thing played out with other social i

The boys asked me recently to perform the little teapot song for old times sake. Bullies. My son had a corner clip to his Fireman's Chit, was very effective. The story of that incident has grown in the troop lore. I am not so upset about the "damage to a scouts property" argument because a lot of boys had 2 or 3 cards because they kept losing them (and we made them re-do the whole training--my bad) It is NOT a hazing thing it is a SAFETY thing...papercuts.

We would have shown him the door and invited him to find another unit. The SM is in charge. Nobody disrespects the SM.

I usually apply the Show me where that is written rule.

Looks like we have an answer, someone is making it up.

...and maybe they should think about adult leader availability before going co-ed.

This story was posted in '06, but it's too good to languish in the archives. Brian only made two posts, both gems!

If you have the clout, go for the District Commissioner. I personally believe the DC is most power person in the district and has the most leverage with council. Besides other advantages, the DC can control the training and training materials. I believe (I know) training is the fastest avenue for making broad changes through the units. The DC was my goal for taking over the world, bru ha ha ha. By the time I was asked, I was so burned out that I declined. I know, but just the possibility that the person at the other end of my ringing phone was someone wanting to talk scout business naus

Update: A leader ended up finding a somewhat inflated soccer ball in the lake and we ended up playing catch, whoever can get the ball first, and more. Everyone had a fun time, and the new scouts learned how to canoe. FYI: we ended up throwing out of the soccer ball after using it for the weekend

That will be the next battleground surely. A young lady wants to join a troop but there is no "linked" troop at the CO she wants to join...so what to do. There may be one nearby, but she wants to to join this organization because it meets her meeting needs, better outdoor, etc etc. Cue the news trucks to be sitting in front of a meeting, cue the hand wringing as females are not being given the same opportunities, cue the faux outrage at the intolerant leaders who do not want to start a linked troop thereby denying the young lady equal access It will literally be a 3 ring circus rig

The curriculum is standardized (available here: https://www.scouting.org/health-and-safety/training/wilderness-fa/). I have taken it through both ARC and ECSI and their courses both (mostly) follow that document. The delivery can vary significantly due to instructors though. One time we mostly sat at the table and talked through everything - very minimal hands-on practice. Another time it was put on by a Crew who specializes in wilderness medicine. Most everything was a hands-on scenario.

So funny. As the kids left, we took on housing 1st year fellows from our church's college outreach (think missionaries in training and you get the idea), what with their ministry and social contacts the house is rarely empty and often quite full. Empty nest? Well, if nests have revolving doors, maybe? And then there's the occasional spur-of-the-moment Kazakh's invite to random events, like the symphony backstage or ballet dancer's birthday party. (Don't ask. I couldn't explain if I tried. I just take it as a chance to try and fit "moose and squirrel" into the conversation.) It's not

Sounds like stepping back was YOUR choice...do what your heart tells you. I have seen many parents (myself included), stay active after their sons left or aged out. My own sons were in their 30s before I "retired"...I was having too much fun and treasured my adult friends and "time in the woods".

My replacement requested I take a 3 month hiatus because he felt my respect with the scouts might overshadow his effort in developing a relationship with them. I thought that odd since I trained him to be "Just like me". Barry

Other ideas: 4) Do not keep changing requirements on various things. They completely changed the CS adavancement less that 18 months they new requirements went into effect. They changed requirements for Second and First Class months after the revision. For cooking MB, the requirements changed something like 5 times in 7 year; one changed occured months after a previous change! 5) make the Webelos Program less Cub Scout and more Boy Scout. I am seeing so many ill prepared Webelos crossing over, then leaving. I do not know why this is happening, whether the current training is poor, or

NSPs officially came about August , 1989. Same time they did away with Skill Awards, time requirements for T-2-1 ranks,, no more Scouts on BORs, etc. But some troops apparently did it like your troop prior to that, and it influenced National. Although I bet how the LDS troops do it, i.e. 11 year old Scout Patrol, caused national to create NSPs. I know my troop tried it in 1986 at the request of the council, and it was a complete failure. Every time I've seen NSPs in action, it is either a failure, or turns into Webelos 3. But that has been my experience. Some ideas.

I can only assume the risk management lawyers have been hard at work

Aaaaand, We planned a work session/ on site practice for Saturday. The forecast calls for 3-5 inches of wet snow mixed with sleet. Did i ever mention the Ordeal site is on the top of mountain ? ( although you westerners would call it a steep little hill. ) With narrow twisty roads. The next weekend is Conclave,, the next is the district Camporee. I think I should ask them to double my pay!

But there are other things named Spirit of Adventure. I also don't think my council could simply drop "Council." If you google "Patriots Path" the majority of hits on the first page are about the hiking trail (which existed before the council did.) "Patriots Path Scouting"? I don't know. I don't see any benefit to it. Maybe they should just focus on the program and making this transition a smooth one, rather than the branding, but I guess that's just me.

"Here, then, is Scouting in a nutshell: A game for boys under the leadership of boys with the wise guidance and counsel of a grown-up who has still the enthusiasm of youth in him. A purposeful game, but a game just the same, a game that develops character by practice, that trains for citizenship--through experience in the out-of-doors [emphasis in the original]." William Hillcourt, Handbook for Scoutmasters, 3rd Ed (1936)[two volumes] This was Bill's evocation of B-P's statement in Aids to Scoutmastership (1945 ed): "SCOUTING IS A GAME for boys,

It can fairly be said that Bill's success in selling West on the Patrol Method is marked by the publication in 1929 of the first Handbook for Patrol Leaders, written primarily by Bill. One assumes that Bill saw that the primary issue in the success of the new format was adult acceptance. In 1930 we wrote, although not officially credited with authorship, a Service Library pamphlet The Patrol Method, Patrol Helps for Scoutmasters, clearly a pitch to adults on the Patrol Method.