Leaderboard

Sure. Our local camps have had co-ed staff for years, female venturers as participants, and foreign visiting Scout troops that were also co-ed. It's been that way almost the entire time I've been in Boy Scouting (2005). So I'm not in on the sky is falling. Maybe I just don't know what I missed previously. Maybe I'm too shortsighted because my Troop has been on a steady upward swing since 2011. I'm less concerned about the attendance of girls at camp. I'm more concerned about shortsighted program changes National might make that will continue to kill the patrol method. I don't think

Teaching? Allow them to make mistakes, encourage them to give it a try, remind them that Scouting is a safe place to make these mistakes and help them understand what they could do different to succeed.

Camp-o-ree event that I have seen in person, a few months ago. Rocket Launching Contest: (Lawn Mower Scouter Style) Goal, scouts launch a solid fuel model rocket and try to land it closest to a marked target area. The patrol that lands their rocket closest to the target wins the contest. No farther instructions are given to the scouts, other than "stand in line over there." An adult (event staff and wood badge trained) loads a rocket engine into the rocket. An adult (event staff and wood badge trained) packs the wadding and rocket recovery device. An adult (event

Not to be too contrarian, but...I know today's helicopter parenting and society's concerns with youth safety have cause some changes in the program, i.e. patrols not heading off for weekends alone without leaders, no squirt guns, paintball, etc. That said, if you look at the things that were core to the Scouting program in the 60's and 70's that really made the experience, (long backpacking trips, canoe trips, wilderness survival, etc.) they are all still there for the most part. It seems that the actual adventure opportunity has increased. The activities that are done today, whitewater, c

You have to go back further in the guide- they cannot be earned by anyone who is not "qualified" (dual registered, or had previously reached First Class): 7.0.0.1 The Benefits of Merit Badges There is more to merit badges than simply providing opportunities to learn skills. There is more to them than an introduction to lifetime hobbies, or the inspiration to pursue a career—though these invaluable results occur regularly. It all begins with a Scout’s initial interest and effort in a merit badge subject, followed by a discussion with the unit leader or designated assistant, cont

Great question. From the guide to advancement. 7.0.0.3 The Scout, the Blue Card, and the Unit Leader"A few merit badges have certain restrictions, but otherwise any registered Boy Scout, Varsity Scout, or qualified Venturer or Sea Scout may work on any of them at any time." So while they can earn them (or any venturer not in a troop) they just can’t wear them or currently use them for advancement.

I've been a scoutmaster for four years now, I love the scouting part, the planning part and the teaching part. Troop is 13 scouts and we have a super time. Arron

Many topics on 72 hour rule, recent additions of Scouting magazine, etc etc. Real question is what are units doing this fall that is first and foremost FUN and selected and planned by the Scouts in the unit? Most important thing is keeping the OUTING in Scouting For our unit this fall: Outing at the lake with boats, tubing, canoes, swimming Kayaking trek, working with local outfitter Biking on a rails to trails converted train path (25 - 50 miles depending on your stamina) Canyoneering through a State Park gorge, maybe take in a drive-in movie on the Saturday nig

I didn't grow up in scouts, but I was outside all the time. I went to a cub scout meeting and I remember thinking... why are we indoors for scouting? I didn't join, just kept on doing my thing outside, making forts using techniques like lashing (I didn't know it had a name), and knots (not good knots). I'm also a hunter, so staying out till way after dark and hiking into the woods in the dark were fun. I learned map skills in Emergency Search and Rescue, as well as survival skills. Scouting can offer a lot more than what I saw in that school gym when I was 8. The scouts in my Troop l

@Saltface and @Chris1, I sent you a PM.

A bit more info. July finished with 10,000 girls. Cub Scouts now has 19,000 registered girls at the end of August.

Update on fall recruiting...note that this is from Nationals and is consistent with what I have seen so far in my unit and District. I think it will be interesting to see the September numbers. BSA has seen a 16% increase in new Cub Scouts in August over August of 2018. They also indicate that many councils report the vast majority of Packs are family Packs welcoming girls.

Same to you! At the end of the day, we care about our Scouts and want to give them the best program possible. I know you do, because you won't spend spare time on a scouting forum. Regardless of whether you stay or go in the next few years, your service to youth stands out when fewer and fewer are willing to step up. Hopefully you'll find another worthy cause or ministry to give your talent to.

That doesn't sound defensive to my ears. Frankly, it sounds enviable. I wish Surbaugh could describe BSA in the same way: "We believe strongly in the importance of the safe, all-boy, boy-led and boy-friendly environment that Boy Scouts provides". To me, that is a focused and tailored mission.

Ya, I remember reading that previously and was glad for it. That being stated, in the absence of direct evidence, a CEO of a scouting organization should probably apply Hanlon's Razor: "Never attribute to malice that which is adequately explained by stupidity." GSUSA gains nothing by accusing BSA of "intentionally misleading" even if there are some valid reports of some silly leaders getting the story wrong. You impugned all scouters with such a blanket accusation. I just wish the leaders would tone down the rhetoric. There are more than enough girls to go around for both organ

To be fair there have been some reports of BSA leaders claiming BSA is replacing GSUSA. I’m not sure if that’s true but it did lead to our CSE to put out a response that must be careful not to cause confusion. CSE Letter on Infringements.pdf

We have an annual district camporee. The OA reps from each troop plan it and the boys have fun. Typically the most fun thing is the big cross troop activity like a huge relay race or tug of war competition. And of course the skits at campfire. It is fun and relaxed. Very much boy led. Zero MB's or advancement done on that campout. 🙂

From the parents or girls?

David CO has the first reply.

Well, on the plus side, girls get to push the button now. The WB beading is symbolic of the problem with today's adults. I have never understood adults wanting to do this. Barry

Original poster had trouble with council interpretation. Councils and national are very different organizations. Completely different. Different agendas too.

I see what you are saying, but at least around here, a very common family model is dad and boys are active in the BSA, while mom and the girls are active in the GSUSA. So, I'm not sure you can separate BSA folks from the GSUSA parents and leaders. And, at least around here, dads aren't near as welcome to assist the GSUSA activities as the moms are in the BSA. Barry

Well...they tend to weigh down my speedo...but I'll give it a try

She reads my posts! I called tech-enabled sashes and shirts a decade ago. However, what's interesting is that she is envisions what the shirt displays will depend on who is looking. Not sure how that makes it a great time to be a GS, but it's interesting.

I'm deeply involved in advancement locally and I advocate for my scouts to advance. BUT, my real focus is to get the scouts out doing interesting stuff. It's by doing interesting stuff that friendships are grown and the program thrives.

Baseball card sheets work great, I also take pictures of the cards.

@HashTagScouts nailed it. The GTA was written to disavow girls of any notion that they can earn Eagle, but at the same time to encourage boys to contribute time to both their troop and their crew. Meanwhile it attempted to give Venturing awards an equal footing. Maybe it worked for other crews, but it didn't do much for mine. Boys in other troops openly asserted to female venturers that a girl's Silver would be no match for a boy's Eagle. I suspect this was true nation-wide, so there remained a group of girls who strongly preferred to earn MBs - even if they weren't awarded patches for it.

Duct Tape, sounds like we had very similar experiences.... Parents used to view scouts as a place for their kids to grow up. Parents were rarely seen and certainly never part of your activities. Sure, if you misbehaved and the leaders felt it necessary to tell your parents, you could be assured of a good whipping when you got home. Parents attended courts of honor. Afterwards, in the station wagon on the way home, mom might say a few words of praise. She wouldn't over do it. Dad wouldn't say a word. He'd be silent, driving, lighting another Winston, but you could tell he was proud

Has cubs changed that much since I was a kid? Our den meetings had just the two den leaders, no other parents. The same for all other den activities. It was rare for another parent to be around. We did not have that many whole pack meetings that I recall. Pinewood derby, blue&gold, i recall one holiday themed party. Everything else was den based with just the leaders. Perhaps that is why we transitioned to the patrol method so easily.

Is that like the Pantomime horse from Monty Python? Literally everything I know about the British I learned from Monty Python episodes.

I frequently use "do not add requirements" and "do not subtract requirements." I also frequently use "read the requirements/what do the requirements say." As a trainer I receive a great many questions about requirements. As a UC/DC I have involved in many disputes about requirements. Off hand, and unscientifically measured, I would say that requirements issues, in one form or another, are a top 3 item I deal with. It is surprising when asked to go back and look at a requirement find that they have inadvertently added or subtracted from a requirement simply because they did not read i

Our troop: Webelos Woods District Campout Camping in New Hampshire and going ziplining camping at Acadia National Park Day trip to indoor rock climbing

This is not an uncommon occurrence. Units are "owned" by their Charter Organization, so unit volunteers are also volunteers with that CO. For example, my troop is chartered to a Catholic parish. All leaders have to do BSA YPT, as well as our Diocesean youth protection training.

I did a talk on this at our latest University of Scouting. The best way I have found to deal with this in a positive manner was to sign them up for leadership positions but tactfully assigning them duties where they ran stations or merit badges for groups of kids and were not following their son around. At camp, assign them a location to be at like the first year program or aquatics. Have them take pictures and report back to the leadership about what happened. At meetings they should be in back observing only.

In my 25+ years as a Scouter, this has happened to me multiple times in multiple councils.I have encountered the attitude that because I don't have beads, I know nothing. It doesn't matter that I am a product of the program, or the training I've taken, or the training I've staffed. Heck it doesn't matter that folks are now receiving their 3rd or 4th beads for staffing the course I took and staffed back in the day.It doesn't matter what district and council programs I've worked on, staffed, or organized. Because I don't wear two beads, I don't know squat. I gotta laugh at some things so I

That's the thing, Wisconsin...scouters at all levels should be willing to help one another, whether they wear beads, or are a candidate for beads, or none of the above. Willingness to serve others should not be dependent on critter affiliation. And there are WBers out there that look at life exactly in that manner--beads or no beads.

Unfortunately, I have found a couple axioms in my 10+ years as an adult scouter. I have served as a DL, a CM, a CC, a MBC and an ASM since my now 17 year old eagle scout joined as a Tiger at age 6... 1) The WB aloofness abounds in BSA. Either you've done it or you haven't. If you haven't - there are some who will write you off as a leader with any knowledge worth sharing. 2) There are HUGE fiefdoms within most training groups within districts and councils. I have volunteered in the past to help train at the district level for BALOO and IOLS. Mostly first aid and fire building...

I can't speak for @cocomax, and I appreciate your teaching baloo, but I can generally say solid unit leaders should focus their time and talents on their units. It isn't the unit leader's job to fix the district. It's the district's job to serve the unit. That is especially true for direct contact leaders.

The September-October issue of Scouting Magazine makes it clear that BSA is betting the farm on girls. Cover photo: Family Scouting Letter from CSE: Justifying girls in Scouting with claims that it was all in response to popular demand (his lies just never stop) Commissioner's Corner: How to welcome girls into Scouting Recruiting Article: How to get more girls in Scouting with Scout Me In Order of the Arrow Article: Welcoming girls into OA staring February 2019 Roundtable Article: Welcoming girls into a pack Scouting FAQ: Uniform Q&A with feature photo of