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I was a 20 year old ASM when that program began, and a 26 year old SM when it was abandoned. While the IPS did not require camping, cooking, swimming, etc., we did not change the way we conducted our outdoor program. We continued to camp, hike, backpack, just as we had always done. I cannot remember any of my scouts saying that they were no longer going to participate in those activities just because the book no longer required them. I am sure that there were a lot of troops that were adversely affected, or we would never have seen things brought back, but I am also sure that there wer

Mike, if I could "green arrow" your post multiple times, I would. I was a brand new Tenderfoot in 74, finished in 81 as an Eagle/JASM, and you described my scouting experience perfectly. Despite the profound flaws of the ISP, my various SMs provided an outdoor-driven program, just as you outlined. Thank you for staying the course and ensuring we scouts got through

I don't mind that she has expressed interest, but I would like to think that if someone put her interest in a proper context, she would see that it's inappropriate to the entire ethos of attaining the rank of Eagle. And I agree, a bit of ambition is not a bad thing. Ambition big enough to prioritize yourself far above the needs of others, to the point of engaging in legal action to attempt to accomplish this, is the antithesis of servant leadership.

Unfortunately, while this is true for the Boys, it is not true for the Girls. This is why National has decided that there will be no "first female Eagle", and instead has decided to have a uniform BOR date for the initial "class" of female Eagles. To make an exception for one scout who happens to have an exceptionally powerful PR apparatus, is an insult to all the other young women who have been excellent scouts in everything but registration status over the past 100 years. The fact that being "first" matters to Miss Ireland, is, unfortunately, probably one of the most sound reasons to

When I was Scoutmaster I signed off on rank requirements and SM conferences for all three of my sons. Whenever somebody questioned whether I should do that or not, I said "find me somebody in our troop who knows more about Scouting, the patrol method and Scout skills than I do and I will be happy to have my sons meet with them." There wasn't anybody. My older son told me one of his friends once said that he is lucky to have his dad be the SM because its easy. My son replied "Yeah, well you don't have a SM conference in the car after every meeting or campout asking how things went, what went we

BALOO training is required in order for a pack or Webelos den to be able to conduct an overnight campout. It seems like most of the Washington area councils are all holding BALOO training this weekend: May 17-18, 2019 - Chief Seattle Council (Burien) May 18-19, 2019 - Pacific Harbors Council (Camp Thunderbird near Olympia, WA) May 18-19, 2019 - Inland Northwest Council (Camp Baird, Colville, WA) September 13-14, 2019 - Pacific Harbors Council (Camp Thunderbird near Olympia, WA) Mount Baker Council held BALOO training in March.

Welcome to adult leadership. Unfortunately, there are those in Scouting that want to do Scouting THEIR way or just cannot manage to play well with others. Some options: Lead them. Easier said than done, but by setting expectations and leading by example, advising and guiding you may be able to get through. Continue to have discussions with them and let them know why you have certain expectations and how they can help you and the Cubs by following them. Hard, but really the Scouting way. It's your sandbox, your rules. Now that you are CM you have push back on certain be

Baloo training varies from council to council and from district to district. Our council is weak on training, mistakenly assuming that districts "got it covered". Some do. Most don't. Looking around for options in neighboring districts or councils is a great idea. I've had to do much of my training at summer camps, or in other councils because our local council just plain fumbles the ball when it comes to providing adequate adult training options. I don't think you need Baloo in order to do a swimming event. "Safe Swim Defense" is your basic intro training for that, and if you want

I think you would be surprised how the youth would do. I expected that they could pick leaders without it being a popularity contest, but I was very surprised how well and how seriously they take doing so. Over the years I have seen unit elections, Chapter and Lodge elections, VOA, Jambo, Vigil and more. Each time I walk away impressed at how well these young people do in the process. But, even if it is a popularity contest, it is their choice. They may very well make mistakes, but that is how they learn.

Not to be that guy, but actually, there is no such thing as an "Arrow of Light Scout," nor even an Arrow of Light den according to official Cub Scout structuring. All boys above the rank of Bear are called Webelos Scouts, and belong to the Webelos den. Some packs choose to split these older kids into two groups by age (and use unofficial terms like AofL Scouts or Webelos II), but that is a customization not officially recognized by the Cub Scout program of the BSA. So make sure you call ALL of your older Cubs Webelos Scouts - that's their title, and they only get to use it for a year or two!

If I were in your position here is what I would do. I will add this caveat, guide the scouts all along the way, but if they decide to do things differently, then let them, as long as it doesn't break BSA policy or risk safety. Even if you know it will fail, let them do it. That is how they will learn. Sounds like the SPL is elected by the youth. If so start with him. Explain to him that your job is to help THEM create a program that works for them. That you will make sure that the troops operates according to BSA policy and standards. That you are his mentor and are there to advise NOT ru

If you were around for the "Improved Scouting Program" from 73 - 79 there was NO camping required. (it was an option, but not required) You could get Eagle and NO camping, outdoor cooking, or swimming. The only time you may have had to go outside was for Environmental Science. Dark days I tell you....dark days

I think people are conflating different portions of the G2A. I will quote the individual sentences in order. 5.0.4.0 Youth From Other Countries This section clearly allows for non-citizens to join BSA. This section clearly states that prior progress made in another scouting organization may be considered and recognized by the council (note, this is not a call made by Nationals - the authority to recognize resides with the council). The G2A never envisioned the idea that a US citizen would have foreign scouting experience that they would want to apply to BSA so the la

Organizations', plural: decades of GS/USA leaders who thought they knew what was best for all girls (and it wasn't Golden Eaglet or First Class) and BSA leaders who thought their girl-facing counterparts were right. That all leadership training (detached from the outdoors and patriotism) was leadership training and the youth would never know the difference. Bill Hillcourt pulled BSA away from that brink, but their was nobody to do the same for GS/USA. Thus was generated the vacuum that parents and empathetic scouters (and girls themselves) asked us to fill. But what I find quite