Leaderboard

I'll tell you why we "isolate" ourselves... We have the strongest Troop in our District, and I daresay our Council. First and foremost, this is because of a small dedicated cadre of adults (about eight) who understand the Patrol Method, and mentor our Scouts to keep that as a focal point in our activities. We have 35 total adults registered, with 44 youth currently on the books. Of the 35 adults, again, eight pull most of the weight, about 17 dabble here and there to help out, and 10 contribute nothing, if not less Of the 44 Scouts, about 10 are extremely active in the program, about 26 dabble, and eight contribute nothing and will probably drop out. Side note: notice how those numbers follow the 20-60-20 rule? I learned that some time ago in a military leadership course... in any group, 20% of your people are Sierra Hotel (focus your time on them), 60% are average performers (encourage them and some will respond, but not all), and 20% are low performers (Help them when they ask.. Do not expend effort chasing them or trying to bring them into the 60%. If they do, great... if they don't, let them go.) Here are a few tenets of our Troop adult culture: 1. Adults will be fully trained in their positions. No exceptions. We make adults aware of the training burden and commitment expected before they sign on. 2. Don't get your training done, and you are dropped from the roster. 3. It is not about your kid. You are here for all. The best compliment you can get is, at the end of a camping trip, when your Scout hops in your car, another Scout looks at him and says "I didn't know that was your Dad (or Mom). During our events, try to act in such a way as to receive that compliment. 4. Our Troop pays for adults' food and camping fees for trips. (or at least a portion thereof, when attendance is over the adult leadership requirements) Adults pay for their own activity fees (like whitewater rafting, ziplining, etc.), and their fair share of gas and tolls for the trip. We let our adults know we appreciate their time and sacrifice. 5. We pay for all required training. For example, when you sign up to be an ASM, you must attend IOLS. You pay out of pocket at first, and when you are done, the Troop reimburses you the cost. 6. We pay half for advanced courses. For example, we have our own unit climbing program, so we sent a leader to National Camp School, Climbing section, to get certified, so we can run our own unit program. (Our program is cheaper than local council or commercial costs!!) We sent a leader to NCS for Outdoor Skills (formerly know as Scoutcraft). We sent a leader to do Shooting Sports (now known as Range and Target Activities?) Next year, we hope to send one to Aquatics. 7. A good number of our adults are trained in CPR/AED, Wilderness First Aid, Swimming and Water Rescue, Paddlecraft Safety, and YES!! Chainsaw Safety. We push leaders to get these kinds of courses as a "Force Multiplier". With these skills, we greatly enhance our capability to provide youth the program they want, when they want it. 8. We police each other. Youth Protection is fiercely enforced. Other breaches of GTSS and Scouter Code of Conduct are handled discretely, but firmly. Most infractions are due to ignorance. Ignorance can be cured... 9. Overall, adults need to know that, as @Eagle94-A1 pointed out above, unit leaders "...are the heart and soul of the program. Without volunteers, you cannot have the program..." When you treat them that way, they respond with dedication. There are more facets here, but I'll stop. We "isolate" ourselves because the District and Council live a different set of tenets. And the program they run is, well, below our skill set, to put it politely. In 2020, during the pandemic, when all Scouting shut down, our youth still wanted to do a Summer Camp. So, we made our own, and they had a blast. (And EVERYTHING was within the parameters of our State Governor's and CDC orders/guidelines.) The Scouts absolutely loved it! The only thing we did not have then was shooting sports. Since 2020, our PLC has elected to go to various council camps for Summer Camp. The ones who went in 2020 (who are now the senior Scouts) have been disappointed over the years in what they have experienced in the council-run camps. So, they asked to have another Troop-only Summer Camp this year, and it was a huge success. (By the way, in 2020, we ran the camp with 30 youth, 11 adults, at a cost of $244.01 per head; in 2025, 22 youth and 11 adults, at a cost of $303.40 per head.) [exactly in line with inflation...] We have found that we can run a better quality program, at a cheaper cost, and with much less hassle, than going to district or council events. This includes day, weekend, and weeklong programs...

We should just start selling Eagle scout ranks. Two birds, one stone. We raise a lot of money and take the kids who only care about a patch (especially their parents) out of the program. Heck, for enough money, we can throw a kid in a river, setup your kid in a harness system, have him "save" the other kid and he could earn the heroism award. Hopefully the family can be redirected, otherwise, these are the worst parent(s) to have in the program.

My feelings are hurt but it has nothing to do with this thread ...

Aug, 2025 Maine Outdoor School for All, administered by the University of Maine Cooperative Extension (UMCE), is launching this fall thanks to $450,000 secured from private foundations. The Maine Outdoor School for All is a coalition of the UMaine Extension’s 4-H Learning Centers, the Chewonki Foundation, the Ecology School and Schoodic Institute. I found no Scouting groups mentioned. UMCE will give grants to certified outdoor learning centers to provide students in grades four through eight an immersive, three-day, two-night outdoor educational experiences." While at the certified outdoor learning centers, students and their teachers will participate in hands-on discovery aligned with state learning results. The core curriculum will help students develop in-demand STEM, leadership, communication and collaboration skills, while fostering confidence, connection to the state’s outdoor heritage and a commitment to environmental stewardship. About one-fifth of Maine public school students already participate in overnight programming through the organizations that make up the Maine Outdoor School for All coalition. At current funding levels, UMaine Extension expects the program will serve 1,000 additional students in 2025-26, at no cost to their school districts. Thousands of Maine students will participate in overnight outdoor educational experiences in the coming school year, at no cost to their districts, according to the University of Maine. “Current funding formulas for public education simply do not allow schools that would most benefit from this type of experience to pay for it out of their normal operating budgets, especially schools in rural, low-income or remote parts of the state. And yet, these very students are often the ones we are depending on to lead our fishing, farming and forest industries in the future, and hope they develop an interest in the sustainable resource management so crucial to Maine's economy,” said the Chewonki Foundation’s Nancy Kennedy. With the establishment of the program in state statute, initial private funding and a campaign to raise an additional $1 million this year, Maine has become one of just four states committed to providing outdoor learning opportunities for all public school students, regardless of the socioeconomic status of their family or their district. Oregon, Washington and Minnesota have Outdoor School for All programs funded by lottery proceeds and appropriations. When fully funded at $6 million annually, the program will be accessible to all students in grades four through eight in the state. Extension will certify outdoor education programs across the state and issue grant funding for these programs to partner with school administrative units and provide immersive outdoor education. “There is no better classroom than the Maine outdoors,” said Executive Director of UMaine Extension 4-H Centers Ryder Scott, in an Aug. 26 news release. “Research has reinforced that outdoor learning benefits students’ academic performance and their physical and social-emotional wellbeing. These aren’t just field trips — they are transformational experiences that engage Maine students in exciting STEM learning and prepare them for future success in their studies and careers.” This is consistent with the goals and strategies of the recently released 10-Year Maine Outdoor Recreation Economy Roadmap, which proposes expanding pipelines to rewarding careers in the outdoor industry through “increasing access to outdoor experiences” and "integrating outdoor education and career pathways in K-12 curricula.” “Our outdoor school experiences make a meaningful difference in the academic and social-emotional learning for our students," said Woodstock Elementary Principal Beth Clarke about her students’ immersive learning at the UMaine 4-H Learning Center in western Maine. “Whether observing the life cycle of plants, understanding ecosystems or learning leadership skills, Outdoor School at Bryant Pond deepens our students' understanding of the world and helps them grow into successful young adults." “Extension is thrilled to play a key leadership role in the Outdoor School program,” said UMaine Extension Dean Hannah Carter. “This program will create pathways for students to attend Maine's public universities and help build a labor force skilled in resource management, conservation, outdoor recreation, agriculture and forestry.” “Outdoor immersive education allows all its participants the opportunity to grow academically and socially. It allows students to practice healthy risk taking, and it shows them a world beyond cell phones and social media,” said 2025 Maine Teacher of the Year Becky Hallowell, who incorporates outdoor teaching and learning into her fourth grade at Wiscasset Elementary School. “All our Maine students deserve to have this opportunity.” “Research shows the critical years around middle school are a key window for physical, social and mental health development and the data shows that Maine youth are facing more mental health challenges than ever before. These middle school years are when kids start thinking about possible career pathways and their beliefs about the place they call home,” said Maine Environmental Education Association Executive Director Olivia Griset. “When our youth get to have positive community-based learning experiences they gain a greater sense of place and connection to this state, making it more likely they will want to stay here to pursue careers, contribute to the Maine economy, raise their families, and participate in their local communities.” “This new Outdoor School program creates a framework for improved access to robust outdoor learning programs for students in our poorer and more rural areas,” said Cobscook Institute Co-Executive Director Shaun Haskins. “Making this a statewide initiative, rather than something that individual schools or school districts must manage to implement on their own, reduces barriers and builds opportunity for all of our youth to reap the benefits of these amazing programs.” “This is a win for Maine students,” said Ecology School President Drew Dumsch. “We know from decades of experience that outdoor education is a powerful spark that keeps kids engaged in hands-on learning, STEM-related studies and, most importantly, gives them a window into Maine’s distinct landscape and natural heritage — from working forests and tidal estuaries to agriculture, conservation and fisheries. Now we must secure full and ongoing funding so all of our kids can benefit.” More at Sources: https://www.penbaypilot.com/article/maine-pilot-outdoor-school-all-year-students-across-state/261863 https://umaine.edu/news/blog/2025/08/25/maine-to-pilot-outdoor-school-for-all/

“Scouts will now have the chance to see firsthand how flexography touches their daily lives……from chips and snack bags to labels on their condiment and vitamin bottles. What better way to learn valuable skills that can lead to rewarding careers,” said Bettylyn Krafft, Executive Director of the Phoenix Challenge Foundation. Source: https://whattheythink.com/news/127424-phoenix-challenge-foundation-celebrates-scouts-americaflexo-printing-added-graphic-arts-merit-badge/

I always wondered why we wouldn't look to either 20-30 year old ex scouts or 55+ year old aging scouters to fill District roles (basically avoiding parents of scout aged kids). In my area, most District roles are filled by unit volunteers, burning them out or having them choose between helping their unit or helping the District.

Let me start with I think there is unfortunately a lot of leeway going on because so many councils are in life support mode and don't want to risk a whole troop or pack dropping from the rolls. It is the wild west out there because membership numbers are so important right now and the paid scouters seem to want to keep their job more than running a quality program. We have a unit in my district right now that we all know is a paper only unit that the CO is trying to keep alive for some reason. A member of the key 3 was removed from scouting for committing and being convicted of a felony. No one is trained. No program is being provided. We're not even sure if the scouts are real; all we know is that the CO pays for 5 adult, 5 youth memberships and a recharter every year. The unit "meets" out of district. The unit never attends any district or council function. This is a prime unit for charter revocation, completely not running the program or even trying, yet nothing is done.