Eagledad

Interesting how the discussion is driving. Some of us predicted the decline and our conclusion had nothing to do with training or demographics. It was based on "leader burnout" we were seeing in the Cub Program. Through the 90's we saw a big problem as the Tiger program was changing. The more involved the Tiger program was getting, the more we saw the problem of leader burnout by the end of the Bear year. Then National made a big change to the Tiger program in 2000 that really force the packs to bring in more Tiger leaders and increase the number of Tiger meetings. The Pack needs almost

>>What you seem to miss is that SOMEBODY selected and approved the Scoutmaster, and if they picked someone who did not have the tools..

>>I have often heard some scouters say that they use the dining hall because it is faster and gives the scouts more program time. That usually turns out to be more perception than fact.

Hi Tagguy Robert is right that there isn't a BSA issued district JLT. Many do provide them, some are good and some are just opportunities for adults to be busy. You are at that place where you want to see change in your youth leadership. Robert is also right that the responsibilities of the leadership development is the Scoutmaster's. I'm not trying to Mr. Know-it-all or condescending, it has always been the scoutmaster's job. The problem is their was a trend a few years back to push some of the responsibility from the Scoutmaster to District and councils. Nothing wrong with that ex

Great Scouting All >> Lowering the scouting age from 18 to 15/14? That really puts the challenge on any youth to pull off an Eagle in only 3-4 years time. Talk about a fast-track program!

HI All War! Don't confuse boy games with adult diplomacy. Fscout is right in that these kinds of games are in a boys instinct or nature. Fscout (Female Scout?) is wrong that the instinct is training to kill other humans. It is simply natures way for developing skills to survive, which means providing food and protection. Nature doesn't not understand war. Nothing beats a game that encourages a boy to think strategically , to understand the goal and to a plan for achieving the goal. And they wear themselves out in the process. Do you realize how hard it is to practice all those same

You are a Star Trek weinie. Barry

To new for Council yet, but here is a quote from someone on a different forum who called National. ""I asked National RM for a definitive reading on this. Got the following: ... (we have modified the online) Guide to Safe Scouting and removed the word "lasers" from the"" Honestly I'm not to surprised. From what I heard, this is way up there on National's complaint list. Barry

Hi All What you will get from WB that you have not experienced yet from your list is how to set visions and goals and how to build a team that works toward those visions and goals. In my opinion, 50% of inter-unit adult problems will disappear with that training. I love this scouting stuff. Barry

>>I could never totally understand the fascination with games of simulated killing of other people. It must be some sort of inborn instinct. Kinda like kittens that stalk and pounce on imaginary prey. They grow up and use those skills to find food and survive. Human nature is to kill other humans, and we let our young "play kill" to prepare them for life as an adult?

>>SO because laser tag isnt metioned then its ok?, the pointing of the weapon thing doesnt count?

Oh my gosh, I hope it's true because I just looked out the window and there is dancing in the street. I wish I knew how to dance. Barry

I was told National Changed the Online G2SS I think this is the right reference. ""Pointing any type of firearm (including paintball or dye) at any individual is unauthorized. However, law enforcement departments and agencies using firearms in standard officer/agent training may use their training agenda when accompanied with appropriate safety equipment in the Law Enforcement Exploring program.""

I JUST READ THAT LASER TAG IS BACK. (Happy face) (Happy face)

>>only for members of the New Scout Patrol

>>For those of us who do NSP's/age based, do yeh put the new 14-year-old boy into the NSP along with da 10 year olds?

Great Friday All That is good news in my opinion, but there was once a rumor that National would also lower the max age in the Troop to 15. Is that rumor still around? If that happens, in my opinion the quality of leadership developement will go down because 15 is the age when a boy (man really) is mature enough to lead, and wants to lead. Barry

Happy Oklahoma Winter Day All (35 F) I like the Saturday visit idea. I don't know if all your older scouts are camping, but ending the new scouts saturday with a lock in, pizza and a movie is a possible idea. Barry

Well! Been there done that. (LOL) Give it a breather for a couple months at least. I have found that time will melt the fog of emotion. Once that fog drifts away, folks can see your heart and they find that they want what they see there. Just like anything new, this is a learning experience for everyone. I like to teach adults that you have to push the boundaries to find them so that you don't limit yourself or hold back the scouts. You know the boundaries now. Thanks for everything. Barry

Beautiful Day All >>We ASM's check that scouts are properly dressed and check for exposure. We watch that fire, stoves and axes are safely handled, prevent rough-housing, counsel scouts feeling homesick, make sure meds are taken. And more... We intervene to correct problems as needed, usually by just talking with SPL or,if urgent, directly. We are also there to further instruct and sign off requirements.

>>Eagledad disagrees saying that you will ALWAYS have someone who moves. Really? ALWAYS? I can agree that it is possible that in a sampling someone might move but is it a requirement that in every sampling someone will move? I don't think it is. Evidently in Philts sampling no one did.

>>We were very surprised at the number of Scouts with no rank advancement, or Tend and 2nd, who re-registered.

I really dont think this is a trustworthy kind of thing. National created the criteria to control the program at a national level. While these are pretty ridged guidelines, they are only ridged so the Councils perform their business uniformly. There are always acceptations and they know that. This is not a moral problem to contemplate Just a logistic problem that needs special attention. Barry

>>The conclusion we naturally reached was that FYFC has a direct relationship to retention.

>>I do not know yet if the older boys will be going to summer camp with us.