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This is actually something that usually gets reported on grant applications and donation solicitations so it's pretty common in charitable institutions.

Remember your history! GSUSA did not borrow their motto from BSA. Both groups, indepedently, borrowed from Baden-Powell's English Boy Scouts.

I don't think that would happen in our situation though. We have our problems, and our patrol method got off track, but the Scoutmaster and ASMs are terrific people and I think they would welcome a recurring review. It's a great idea. The quality of our people at the local level here is top notch.

Not sure what time machine you've used, but unless you're talking "fun size" that price is way off. Hey, it's near Halloween. Forage that way. LOL

Well, of course the modern kid needs instruction in Schmartphone operation. Right. What is needed is the simple adventure of the old Greenbar Bill stuff. When the nascent First Class can't tie a good bowline, but still wants to go camping (with no signal?) , one can grow melancholy about the old Boys' Life mags that showed how to make a tent stake or even sew a home made tent. Last time I camped with my old Troop, it was cold at 6am, and nobody but me was out priming the stove for boiling some water. Us adults had a warm oatmeal and egg breakfast while the Scouts tried to remem

Re: adult volunteers. start with a specific ask instead of title. For example, ask mom#1 if she can bring snacks to the next committee meeting (remind her she will be reimbursed, but give her a $limit). Ask dad#2 if he can drive scouts to the day hike location next month. etc... Folks rarely say yes to "titles" but are willing to help in some capacity. Build up from that. Be sure to thank them 3 times. First privately as soon as possible, second, publically at the "event", and lastly another private thank you when you say goodbye and have another "ask".

I always try to remember, "never let an adult do what a scout can do." In our troop, the SCOUTS are the welcoming committee....and they are much more effective than anybody the committee might throw at the non-problem.

Hmmm. I see your point. Having such specialists is a GREAT idea! In fact, it is just the BEGINNING of what is possible... I just sent an email to National suggesting that the following positions be created to further "specialize" skills. We need... * New Member Welcoming Smile Chairman - studies and recommends the best strategies for smiling so that it is welcoming and not perceived as a smirk or worse, a gratuitous mask * New Member Welcoming Hearty Handshake Executive Chairman - evangelizes the hearty handshake --- not so tight as to squeeze, but not so weak as to appe

One half jar peanut butter, raided from home: Free Foraged ground apples from local farmer's orchard: Free One snicker's bar, melted but edible: 35 cents Wild blackberries: Free, although may have created a calorie deficit caused by running from bear.

Many kids avoid reading . Many, not all by any means, assume things. I watched a young lady who was working in our Meeting kitchen during a PotLuck. She wanted to plug in an appliance and could not get it to work. There was a sign , very clearly stuck over the outlet reading "Broken, Not Working". An adult pointed this out to her, she looked at it for maybe five seconds and said "oh", pulled the plug and used a different outlet. Another time, when I was a sub teacher, I think 7th grade English, I printed the instructions on the White Board in 6 inch letters, and told the class, "Here is

How about encouraging the scouts to use the Court of Honor as a way to recognize more than just advancement? Recognitions could be for individuals and for patrols. Imagine a scout being recognized by the PLC for his exemplary character on a campout, or a patrol recognized for the "most service hours" logged for the year, etc...

I would take it one step further in why the ethical decision making will be tossed onto the scrap heap, and @Eagledad nailed it with the note of "challenging a scout". If we as leaders (adults, youth troop, youth patrol) challenge a youth on his decisions; not only ethical but practical ones on an outing; are we not potentially bullying the Scout into our way of thinking. The concept of bullying has evolved into one being made uncomfortable by someone else. I would also say that this statement while optimistic, is rose colored glasses. As BSA morphs from what is was to what

When you were a new scout, you had to explain to your Scoutmaster or ASM why patrols eat together. Do you remember that conversation? Have you ever thought about it since then? When we eat together as a patrol, we unite as a team and a family. We learn to rely on each other and trust each other not to always burn all of the pancakes. When we eat together, we talk, we laugh, we share stories and we know that we belong. All of us like junk food, but we all know it's not good for us and we can't live on junk food alone. When we get together as a patrol to plan our meals, we talk abo