Leaderboard

After 10 yrs of GS, I have just started a Venturing Crew and couldn't be happier. Have an amazing CO! Just had our first recruitment event, which was more about being visible to the CO parish and making connects then actual recruitment. Trying to learn as much as I can about the rules and our program, but I'd love to hear from Crews and their tips for newbies! What was the first trip you went on? How did you deal with funding when popcorn sales aren't going so great? Thank you

Sounds like servant leadership: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Servant_leadership The servant-leader shares power, puts the needs of others first and helps people develop and perform as highly as possible. Servant leadership turns the power pyramid upside down which puts the customer service associates at top of pyramid; instead of the people working to serve the leader, the leader exists to serve the people. When leaders shift their mindset and serve first, they unlock purpose and ingenuity in those around them, resulting in higher performance and engaged, fulfilled employees. I

We have sessions like that at roundtables and universities of Scouting here. Of course I am the one who decides what classes are taught.

Every group of boys is different. Especially at that age. I think you should give it a try. Even if they don't get the words, I think they will understand the feeling of reverence. Pay attention to the wind. I find younger scouts are often not prepared to deal with smoke from a campfire. Make sure adults know they may need to help scouts who think they just "have" to circle up.

Once upon a time, I took my Scoutmaster IOLS training (but did not become a Scoutmaster. The home Troop already had a good one. I became a ASM) with a wonderful set of trainers. I came to believe (and still do), that if anyone were to ask me to define "Scoutmaster", I would point to one of these men. With the experience and skill I already had, I asked if I could help with the IOLS training, and so for the last 10 years I have averaged at least two IOLS courses a year. . The course leader (except for some surgical leave !) has been a gentleman I will name "J". At the end of each

I think I can somewhat answer this. Folks who aren't fans of NYLT/Wood Badge feel free to chime in. Full disclosure: I've been to Wood Badge and NYLT. I've staffed NYLT, and I've just signed my life away for another course this summer. I'm sure at some point I'll staff Wood Badge, but right now at my age, I feel like I have much more to offer to NYLT and the youth staff there, vs Wood Badge staff and participants. I love these two programs, and they've helped me help my troop quite a bit, since I went to NYLT in 2009 and Wood Badge in 2015. NYLT and Wood Badge both have great potential t

Every troop believes they empower youth to lead. Where National has failed in the past courses (1990 thru 2008) is identifying the differences between units. Or even worse, expections of the program. Im not sure they know or care of the differences. So long as units work with in the G2SS and YP, they are satisfied. But, there isn’t much guidance or definition for those of us in the weeds working to get the most of boy run or Patrol Method. That’s why we see extreme programs at each end of the boy run patrol Method spectrum. Barry

So, my parents are Wolf den leaders - they are also professional music teachers and performers. You wouldn't believe the music they have gotten out of those Wolves - I've already heard them singing Scout Vespers, along with every other song in my dad's personal vintage Cub Scout Songbook, old folk songs, church hymns, silly melodies - the most important thing to remember with kids is that they inherently LOVE to sing, and learn a LOT by doing it. So you go and you sing Scout Vespers with them - I bet you'll be amazed at how quickly they learn it!

Well, if the BSA hasn't wanted to emulate our "common sense" approach to safety by now, I doubt they'll suddenly want to do so by the end of next year. I agree with @T2Eagle though: The patrol method is not based on the idea of adult-less activity, but rather boy-led adventure. Nothing about an adult's presence has to interfere with that guiding principle -- if they are wise, sensible adults who understand this, they will simply be on-hand at activities to guide and support the Scouts, without any kind of disruption of the boys' learning process. But regardless of their wisdom (or lac

I’m not sure who you are speaking about, but expressing an opinion is not dismissing or talking down. The WB course started by Badon Powell has no resemblance to the present day WB course in its design intent or syllabus. It’s has a whole different purpose that includes the Cub program. It so different that I’m surprised they kept WB as the course name. And National hasn’t given the support for Bill Hillcourts patrol method for at least 30 years. The SM Handbook implies patrol method should be used and provides a basic structure, but National hasn’t shown support with documentation

No I am not kidding. As for training, I am a training chair and have and still staff many BSA courses. I always emphasize (some would say to the point of annoyance) youth-led, youth -run and patrol method. Never do for a Scout what a Scout can do for himself does not absolve adults from their leadership responsibilities, which includes training, mentoring, guiding, safety, YP and policy. I am not sure how that equates to Weeb3 or AOL2, but both Baden-Powell and Hillcourt referenced adult leadership, so I am comfortable that I am what they had in mind. As for my former troop, whe

Good that there are troops getting ready to provide a quality experience. Over 7,000 girl Webelos are now registered and it’s still very early in the recruiting season. Looks like there will definitely be a critical mass.

Because leading isn't synonymous to commanding. But even in command structures there are leaders besides those in command. When I was in the infantry, the Captain was the company commander, he sets the direction (based on higher orders). But the 1st Sgt was also a leader, as was the platoon Sgt and Section/Squad Sgt. At each level NCO's were autonomous and were the leaders of the troops. The President as C-in-C is not the only leader in the military, there are literally thousands of leaders. In Scouting adults lead by training, mentoring, and guiding, not commanding. Although, ultima

If the premier training of the BSA, the mountain top experience for adults, uses the term "ADULT LED, YOUTH RUN" in it A) whoever came up with the WB21C course was never a Scout as a youth and has no idea about the program DESPITE their credentials and B) It explains a lot of the problems I am seeing with units, even ones with WBers. Why can't people today understand the simple concept of "Train 'em. Trust 'em. LET THEM LEAD!" ? Why does our society want to treat teenagers and young adults under 26 like children?

I think @MattR is on to something. We're a pretty active troop. If you asked us, we'd say the same things quoted here - it's about the journey, advancement is a method - it's not a goal, etc. It you looked at us you think - "these guys are really focused on advancement." My sense is that advancement is obvious, it's easy to grasp. The other stuff is much harder to grasp. I also think it's much easier for a parent to understand and measure advancement. You can ask a teenager - did you have fun on the trip. Often I'm sure the response is "Sure'. It's tough to know what to make

The only big issue for me is the focus on advancement as the goal instead of a method. This is my beef with any of these events whether it in mB college, etc... Instead, imagine an event with scouting activities whereby participating in the adventure has the secondary result of fulfilling requirements for mBs and/or ranks. No classes, but adventure. Imagine a camporee where a telescope is available and after campfire, scouts have the opportunity to use it. An older scout shows a few how to locate and identify planets, nebulae or the moons of jupiter. Among a few other things. At the end, can

What's a camporee? Oh, you mean a district gathering with some funky theme for demonstrating unusual skills like starting fires without matches (Oh, and model rocket ignition button pushing competitions). AND, they are typically planned by the troop with an adult completing A WB TICKET ITEM. OK, hold me back. Barry

Surely a parent that doesn't do everything for their child is just a Conditional Parent. Ian

What I am saying, apparently not clear enough, is that when you force adult requirements on children - don't be surprised when they turn to adults to get it done.

Assuming your son is also ADHD, this explains a lot. Not that it's good but now it all makes sense to me. If I'm wrong then please excuse my assumption. Either way, ask your son what he wants. The troop will not put their heart into it no matter what and that's what your son wants. Assuming he is ADHD then he likely poured his heart into getting eagle. Maybe he'd like to go up to the mountains with his friends, have a 10 minute ceremony, and then have a slide show of good memories and a picnic. After all this fuss it will be the best memory and in 10 years from now it will be that much better.

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