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Showing content with the highest reputation on 01/15/22 in all areas

  1. So true. Think about how cheaply scouting could run if a council only had a few staff and a camp. No large staffs dedicated solely to fundraising(to pay large staff salaries) I truly believe in the elimination of the council office. Limited staff can work out of the camp or remotely. Much less overhead and cheaper to operate. Money could be spent to maintain the camp in good condition.
    6 points
  2. Your comment has just enabled my connecting some comments I've heard from professionals and knowledgeable volunteers over the last few years.. The volunteers and some professionals recognize that enhanced program draws more youth to Scouting. They bring their parents, and grandparents to Courts of Honor and Friends Of Scouting presentations. More FOS contributions are realized and with more youth on the membership roles, the stronger the claim for United Way more monies. On the other hand the professionals are targeting large contributions from few major donors. To those donors, t
    5 points
  3. Is it time for the BSA to change its top leadership model? For decades, the vast majority of council Scout executives have been selected from a system that works by promotion from within the BSA ranks. You work your way from district executive, perhaps to a field executive or specialty position such as development. You attend a variety of Scouting specific training courses over the years Eventually you can be placed on a list for consideration as a Scout Executive at a council or national position if you meet the approval of your supervisor. “Putting your time in” has been considered to
    3 points
  4. I am not sure looking at other large not for profits is the answer either. The problem with BSA top leadership AND with other not for profits is all of them have a singular focus which is fundraising. All of the organizations regardless of good ol boy clubs, or seekers of new blood suffer from this same affliction. Listening in they willfully acknowledge this is priority #1, they even justify it with statements such as, "we cannot serve the members, or advocate for cause 'xyx' without $". I think this is what happens when an org gets too large, it believes that its structure is necessary
    3 points
  5. I think a lot of us have been saying this for a very long time. This system is not producing leaders capable of dealing with what the times require
    3 points
  6. Yes on a new model but IMHO, it will not come from existing leadership. All scouting is local, except your SE.
    3 points
  7. Here lies the problem. Summer camp is supposed to be the highlight of a scouts year and if the camp facilities are broken down not so much. Many of the items you mentioned being broken are not high dollar items and there is no reason for disrepair. It is about the details. Why does someone not go through all equipment over the winter and order supplies/parts? I agree 100% that good program will make scouting strong and get donations. One last thing, my LC does a camp donation drive for small project funding. They raise about $ 50k for each camp yearly. They put on the web
    2 points
  8. Patrol leaders ought to be doing gear checks before setting out. There is a rank requirement to present oneself to your PL properly dressed and packed... this should be standard operating procedure NOT a 1-and-done requirement. Prior to the 1st campout of the year(or even more often), the PL (or another scout) should be bringing in their pack to a patrol/troop meeting and demonstrate what and how to pack it. (This would fulfill a req for Communications mB). Scouting done right can fulfill requirements by just doing scouting right. Rank and mB requirements are not the program, but kn
    2 points
  9. One of rarest eagles in world, a Steller's sea eagle, has been spotted in Maine this week. Maybe scouts can help track locations of this vagrant. Doug Hitchox, a naturalist with Maine Audubon, says because of the bird's unique feather patterns, it's believed to be the same vagrant. But the reasons for its lonely odyssey remain a mystery. Hitchcox and other experts say it could be prospecting for new territory. Or, it could have been blown off course or had an internal GPS hiccup. Mary Jenkins fears it's lost. https://www.npr.org/2022/01/14/1072706921/one-of-the-ra
    2 points
  10. Well, when salary has to be made every 2 weeks and camp can sit for 9 months, it's easy to see why this happens. I'm sure it's easy to get addicted to donations. From '45 to the late 60's I'm sure they got all they asked for. But that gravy train is long gone. And yet the culture of rewards is still based on donations. In the meantime, there are fewer volunteers with less outdoor knowledge that need more help in order to deliver a better program. That's a lot of change needed. As implied above, the real challenge is getting leadership to see that the leadership isn't working. Who wan
    1 point
  11. My crossover campout.... it was cold to start with. Then during the night the army tent I was sharing with 2 other Scouts let the thunderstorm in and we got wet. Then frost the next morning. I think adults went to sleep in cars that night and we got a different tent.
    1 point
  12. If only scouts were required to learn to track such beasts. Stats for MBs earned 2016-2020: Bird Study 5,199 4,965 5,101 5,629 3,950
    1 point
  13. So, like what my troop was camping in last November. Truth be told, it was a little rough on the boys.
    1 point
  14. For my sons' first year of camping, I would check but not pack. Once I found a GREEN ham and cheese sandwich from the previous campout. That I did unpack . IMHO for inexperienced scouts, the SPL/PL's should check packs before outing and at the next troop meeting after where packs should be clean, dry, empty or pre-packed with essential outdoor items. My $0.02,
    1 point
  15. So,,.. that campout was cancelled. It supposed to be in the upper 30 to low 40s all day Saturday with 30 mph winds and maybe getting down in the teens at night. The Troop has decided to make a trip to a local indoor city pool instead, I have also made the decision to skip UoS and go with my kid.
    1 point
  16. We’re getting a lot of that here, too. I think partly because it’s risky business demolishing a church. Renovation can be, in the long run, cost effective. It’s interesting to see churches spring up in warehouses while beer gardens move into some old church buildings.
    1 point
  17. And please, for the love of all that is Scouting, make him pack his own gear! You can go through the Scout Handbook checklist with him to guide him, but please make him pack it. And starting today, after school & homework, have him gather at least about a third of his stuff ... if he waits until the last minute (Friday after school) , there will be problems for both of you. Windy and chilly in your area this weekend. Lows in the high 20's. Hats, gloves, and layers are a must. Don't know if you two are used to those temps. Is his sleeping bag good for that? And a final tric
    1 point
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