Eagledad

I think it is important to visit a typical troop meeting, not a meeting planned or intended for guest. I like to call the SM the night before. I like the Webelos to hang with the scouts and the adults to tour the program with the SM. I think three basic questions will give you plenty of information to ask the follow on questions. What is your goal for my son in this Troop? Why is that the goal? How does your program get him there? I think that choosing a troop is a team decision with the parents and son.When I was a Cub Master, I would interview Webelos leaving the pack asking t

>>"In fact as I think about it I more than lightly would let him know during the first interview that he wasn't doing a very good job and wasn't doing much to help himself. Maybe going as far as to ask him to leave the room for a moment and restarting everything again! "

>>Since we have no idea who you are or who the scout is it would seem that there should be no concern for confidentiality as far as published BSA requirements.

>>but I believe that an out-of-shape scout may also fail to complete a trek.

>>I agree! If they have just begun their training program, I'll lay odds that some of them won't be in good enough shape to finish the trek.

I have found that when the adults dreams of adventure is bigger then the scouts, the scouts usually get the short end of the stick. Now of course we dont know all sides of the story, but something doesnt feel right about all this. I have developed and trained several Philmont and High Adventure Crews and a lot of adults tend to take a lot of the fun out of the experience. Adult/scout relations on the trails are a major problem. Philmont attempted to relieve some of the stress by using a Crew Chaplin to give the scouts an avenue to vent out their frustrations (Thorns and Roses). By t

Im an off trailer. Not just in hiking or hunting, but I think of life in general. Im disappointed the political correctness bled all over the thread, but not surprised. Off trailing is action of individuality. Our society today defines individuality as becoming part of the group. I dont think there are that many people who feel an impulse to go off trail. Or maybe they are just too afraid. Going off trailing is searching out a moment of personal fulfillment without being selfish. Not going against the flow, but instead finding a place of no resistance in the flow. It is a place that for

Hi All Dont assume anything becaue you are likely wrong, just mention the behavior and let the parents ask questions. I never had a parent resent hearing such information. Wouldnt you as a parent want to know? I talked to all the parents when we got back from and outings. Usually a few words to brag about their son, but occasionally there was mention of about not so good behavior. I wanted my parents to know everything about their sons scouting experience. Barry

>>If your older scouts are fed pablem year after year most will drop out. They need more challenge and more variety to keep growing...so a multi tiered, multi-purpose program makes for longer retention and a more energetic program.

>>As for your bike riding example, I don't think anyone has posted anything against using your resources have they? The exceptions should not create the rules.>If you have twelve scouts who want more adventure than the other scouts it would seem like a time to start Venture Patrols wouldn't it?

>>In fact be structuring the Patrols by age and skill level you can better follow the Patrol Method than by using mixed patrols, and you can keep scouts more active and interested, and in the program longer.

>>That simply isn't true. The older scouts who want to work with the younger ones can ofer their services to the SPL as Troop Guides and Instructors, as well as in other offices that serve all the members of the troop.

>>So here's an example of everyone going on the same outing, but having somewhat different activities: more advanced Scouts have a chance to do their own thing, middle group of Scouts are teaching and helping new Scouts.

Packing a pack does take practice. I think attaching a sleeping bag is one of the hardest parts of packing an external pack. But that was one reason I wanted younger scouts to get and external before an internal pack. Internal packs require a more systematic approach to packing, so the external gives them that practice. I personally remember that just rolling up my sleeping bag into a nice tight roll so that it didnt come apart from just picking it up was a challenge. Its all a learning experience, and for most, a fun learning experience. Barry

>>How exactly do you attach the sleeping bag?

>>I am surprised that you are unfamiliar with this as it is in the Scout leader training and the Scoutmasters Handbook. As well as other Boy Scout leader training and resources.

>>It's ok to have a campout that is easy enough for a NEW Scout to go on as soon as he joins (and you should). Just don't make the other scouts go on it too.

The February/March thing came in when the BSA changed to New Scout Patrols. It was kind of forced because the big idea was to get the Webelos to crossover in herds instead of by birthday. The intent was that a shy scout would come with his buddies when he wouldnt come by himself. Not a bad idea really. Im not sure National saw the changes it would force through the whole program. February/March are standard crossover months for several small reasons. If the Webs waited until the end of the school year, they would likely not be ready for summer camp and troops might loose them. If they wai

Hi Lisa Ah the memories. We learned to talk a lot to the parents. I talked about the process within the chaos. Even just an outsider watching a patrol walking from the opening to the patrols corners looks chaotic to an outsider because the scouts are joking, laughing and even poking at each other. You know boy stuff. But once you get that parent to look at how they are walking together to the next activity and that the patrol leader truly is respected as the leader, you can start to melt away some of the chaotic fog. Show them what they arent looking at. It is very important that you

>>I'm not going to debate the circumstances of is this/is this not an appropriate trip. Regardless of what the National Council says, if the local SE says do one, then you do one. Period.

Great Friday All >>But if something happens on the trip (some serious injury) you could have serious liability problems if you didn't have one filled out.

Welcome to the forum. I will lead off by saying that there is a big difference between developing boys to lead the troop and letting boys run the troop. In one style, the adults take a very active role in making sure the scouts are learning and growing. In the other, the adults dont. The other important point that also needs to brought in is scouts leading the troop is not the primary purpose of the program. The primary purpose is to develop men who make ethical decision based from the values of the Scout Law and Oath. The BSA encourages scouts running the troop because when do

I guess I'm not quite sure what the big deal is over 10 minutes. Most boy run PLCs struggle just to finish the meeting on time. But that being said, if the scouts are given the responsibility to start and finish the meeting on time, whatever that time is, then it will be a good experience for everyone. This kind of makes me wonder if I was over the line. I usually met with the SPL and the PLC seperatly after the meeting. We rarely went ten minutes total, but the SPL in our troop is the last to leave the building and he locks the doors. Never had any complaints. Barry

>>I now presume I mistook that, too.

The Jansport Scout is a great pack and one of my favorites for younger scouts. Depending on your sons size the bar should sit just above his head. The pack fits best on boys under 56. If your son is 52 or taller, then his hip belt needs to be moved down on the pack. If your son is shorter then the 56, then the bar shouldnt be a problem. It sit pretty far back. To adjust this pack, loosen the thumb screws on the bar the shoulder straps are attached. There is a thumb screw on each end of the bar. But be careful and make sure the screws are very loose before moving the bar because th