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Others can probably address this better, but there's really two different sets of ranks in a troop. The Scout through First class represent gaining of basic competency in the outdoors and the scouting program. Those can go quickly for someone who already has lots of outdoors experience, or slowly from someone who isn't as competent. Star, Life and Eagle represent gaining leadership experience from positions of responsibility and well roundedness from earning merit badges. That can go quickly if the scout is determined, or more slowly if developing those skills just needs more time.

Welcome, @EagleDad79, to scouter. If you are the IH or COR, it’s easy. Find a new CM, train him, then have a big retirement party for the old guy, thanking him for dedicated and passionate service to the Pack. If you’re the Committee Chair, it’s time to have a business cup of coffee with the COR. Anyone else, and you bring your concerns to the Committee Chair.

I'm inclined toward Lao Tzu's quote in the Troop Leader Guidebook: A leader is most effective when people barely know he exists. When his work is done, his aim fulfilled, they will say: "we did it ourselves"

That's a problem. Minimum 3 unrelated individuals should have admin rights to any unit social media accounts or unit website.

They are not shutting it down! Yes there has been talk about it for a few years, but there has been a great upswell of support and it will now remain open. They are investing quite a bit of money... new buildings & upgrades. Here is a FB post about it.

This question is tough, because it's multifaceted. As far as the Scoutmasters conduct, I've seen a variety of these situations, so I'll refrain from commenting without more direct knowledge. Scoutmaster transitions are always hard, especially on older Scouts. I've been through 3 changeovers within my own unit in the last 15 years. Some of my NYLT staff have approached me for advice on new Scoutmasters they are having trouble with back in their home units. Managing these transitions is typically sloppy and the Scouts suffer for it. The culture is going to change, sometimes subtlety and so

I've seen about 5 SM transitions in one troop. Boys really get attached to their SMs, so any change is rough on older scouts. Adults grow and learn as well. And that can be tough. I personally favor a disciplined coach who takes the game they're coaching seriously.

Scoutmaster "type" sounds like it may play second fiddle to a smooth "transition" ... I've seen many scoutmasters and different styles now. IMHO, the best scoutmaster I've ever seen was the first. He was very laid back and very natural with the kids. The scouts liked him and did not hide things from him. He was open and they were too. He would do very little direction. Almost everything was a relaxed question and it was so relaxed the scouts didn't know he was coaching them. They thought it was just a relaxed conversation. "So what's the plan?" ... or "who's going?" ... or "how di

Steps on soapbox Journey to excellence is unit serving volunteers doing metric management for the sake of the professionals. Steps off soapbox

Welcome @Natgeo2019! As I think you sensed, no - it's not necessary. There are just some people who like reply-all. Perhaps a direct word to the Cubmaster to let him know you find it uncomfortable to get these kind of emails.

@Natgeo2019 welcome to scouter.com

If the boys want to build gateways etc, they can usually get all the materials they need from the camp Quartermaster. They don't need to wait for adults to give them stuff.

Let me also repeat (to the yawns of senior forum members) that the best scout I ever knew aged out at 2nd class. What made him the best? He invited me to join his troop!

Units can also use the new Internet Advancement. It uses the same database as Scoutbook. After logging in, click on Run Report, Advancement History, then select the dates. The report will show you the names of the Scouts and the ranks that they have earned during the selected dates.

@astrila welcome to scouter.com

Troop Advancement Coordinator should be able to run reports to show that. Scoutbook and Troopmaster I know have canned reports to show that well.

Maybe. I went hiking in northern MI a couple years back and ran into multiple youth groups on the trails. Is there value in being able to tell the scouts from the local church youth group or YMCA program? Same story in BWCAW a few years before that. I'm not a fan of the current field uniform in the field but some sort of uniform in the field is nice.

Glad they are ok. Florida freeways have always scared me. Too fast and too much traffic. And, that's from someone who never worried about driving in NY, CA or Boston.

Our PLC approached me with the proposal to turn jeans into the official uniform. My response was, "What does your handbook say". Their response was, "WE KNOW WHAT IT SAYS, WE WANT TO CHANGE THE IT". Long story short, 6 months later after doing some research, the PLC proposed of the Olive Drab Military Field pants, or BDUs our official uniform. In those days, the BSA pants didn't have usable side pockets and the fabric was uncomfortable in hot climates. The BDUs were exactly the same color, they were adjustable through 4 sizes, several fabrics to choose from, durable, lots of pockets and a 3rd

There's been lots of good advice on this thread. My recommendations would be two fold: 1) Think about what you want to do and worry less about the labels. What specifically do you want to do the first 3 months? How specifically do you want the Scouts to run troop meetings as you get going? How are Scouts going to decide their camping trips? etc... 2) At every turn, if you feel like "an adult should do this", think instead of how can the Scouts do this? What kind of subtle inspiration or guidance can I give them? How can I give them a challenge or describe a task so that they c

Ok here are some links I have found. And I want to give a shout out to @Kudu and his Inquiry.net website. It has a wealth of information there. And I want to apologize about the wrong year for the 3rd edition of the SMHB, it was published in 1936, not 1929. Ok here to the links that can help. http://scoutmastertroop56.weebly.com/uploads/1/6/8/6/16867144/the_patrol_method_helps_for_scoutmasters.pdf links to a 1938 pamphlet to help SMs. While Bill is not credited, he probably wrote it. http://inquiry.net/patrol/index.htm Is a ton of resources on the Patrol Method.

I notice that whenever the issue of uniforms is brought up, there is an immediate influx of opinions to the effect of putting down those who support proper uniforming. Sometimes those who support the uniform are belittled as being obsessive-compulsive about something these naysayers claim "doesn't really matter," or, there arises a rather condescending tone implying that these others have "more important things to worry about than patches or pants." I find such patronizing unfortunate, and disappointing. The implication is that if you take time to care about the uniform, you are ign

I am dorry, but the scout in question has engaged in a very public media campaign to pursue her agenda, including government involvement. She had also quite vocally made this about BSA owing _her_ the first Eagle. Were she campaigning for everyone who had ever completed the requirements for Eagle outside the program, to be awarded Eagle “now”, the discussion would be different. To ignore the name of the individual who has made this blatantly public and blatantly about HERSELF, and to ignore the plain words that express these actions, is silliness.

I wouldn't be a leader for your Troop, sorry to say. That said, it's not as bad as the situation in the OP. At least it's a standard policy and the scouts are aware of it.

First, her dad is making this about him. I haven't read a recent statement from Mrs. Ireland. I agree with @willray in that it doesn't matter how badly the wheel (or it's parent) squeaks if the tire is flat. @Hawkwin, we have discussed this before. You have created a false dichotomy. Prior to Feb 1, 2019 BSA permitted young men from foreign WOSM organizations to start rank advancement at a level commensurate with their skills. However, if that scout had joined his WOSM troop just a month before coming to the US, he could only at most be accorded Tenderfoot. After Feb 1, BSA would al

My wife was surprised to see "Fire Ring" ads on her Facebook after requesting I build a fire ring in the back yard for the grand kids. Apparently the digital gods don't trust my fire ring building skills. Try never to forget that The Man is always lurking. 🙄 Barry

That's the problem, many adults don't separate the difference in the group. Have you ever observed a patrol of adults standing in formation next to an unfocused Patrol? The adults can't helped themselves in showing their irritation. More often than not they will act on that irritation instead of waiting for the youth leaders to act. The adults belong to the troop, the scouts belong to the patrol. Youth behave differently with the judgmental adults in their space. We want scouts to behave from their character, not from adult intimidation. I am amazed at the number adults who sign up

I'm really don't care either way. There are bigger fish to fry and of all the uniforming issues, this is a fairly small one. But it does reflect an issue one of my sons recently said. My son said was asked by the EBOR what could be done to improve scouting. He said later to me privately that he though the thing that damaged scouts the most was the adults obsessing about it compulsively. My interpretation is that he thought the adults should gear down their energy so that the scouts can enjoy / drive their own program.

Cub Rank Activities Descriptions: Lion: Have fun, make friends. Tiger: Have Fun, make things, take short hikes, make more friends. Wolf: Have fun, make useful things, go places with friends, take longer hikes, learn about nature and life. Bear: Have fun, make useful and decorative things, go further with friends,, think about life, find out what mom and dad do, maybe camp out in a tent?. Webelos : Have fun, make bigger useful attractive things, go further and higher with friends, learn camp skills, get ready to say "thanks, mom and dad, but I can do this m

Mike Rowe, perhaps. My impression is that Mr. Rowe is not the sort of guy who would take on an honorary position that has no real authority to make changes. He seems to be more interested in getting the job done than in collecting personal honors and bling.

Late to the party here, but who wouldn't love Mike Rowe as an American Scouting Ambassador?