Eagledad

>>Even though it is not over! I asked him this week if he thought about working at Philmont or Double H next summer, he said yes he had, but it sounds like he may try to work at Northern Tier instead, he loves Minnesota and the BWCA.

>>Now tell me ! Boy run units ...is that the way to go ? ...jambo

Gwd-scouter is right. It saves the adults from being the bad guys and know it alls. The first time I gave it to our PLC was when they planned a weekend using Jet-skis. That was about the time I started showing scouts the Scoutmaster and Committee Handbooks so that they could see why we did anything the way we did. I gave every new PLC a copy of the Aims and Methods so that they saw why a troop functions the way it does and where the scouts could add their own dreams, visions and ideas to make it more fun. In fact, I challenged each PLC that if I couldn't justify any troop activity did t

>> EagleDad, it had never occurred to me to hand over the G2SS to our PLC and let THEM look up what they can and cannot do within the BSA guidelines.

My vision was idealistic. My experiences "in the trenches" are real. I usually make it a habit to not pass along idealistic rantings. I am and engineer by trade and we tend toward proven logic. Developing a true boy run program held within the limits of the Aims and Methods but with the goals of helping boys develop the skills to change themselves into men of character is not easy for adults. The idea that a scout can think for himself takes practice for both the scouts and the adults. Think about it, most adults simply don't trust kids. That takes practice. I am the first to say t

>>Boys who join , don't want or don't have the patience, to see how popular elected SPL is fumbling with the agenda. A boy does not join for CITIZENSHIP, or CHARACTER building....but to have fun , excitement ,adventure, games, fellowship, challenging activities, learn scout skills , and etc.

>>there is no reason one needs to destroy any organic detritus (however small and insignificant that amount may seem to us); finally, while lightweight, it looks unwieldy compared to a collapsing stove.

>>Eagle dad,thinks that running a Troop with 14 year boy, is what scouting is all about...I think he is mistaken. Then all of us experienced adults should sit back in our rocking chairs, and watch scouting program fall apart, or at best develop into a mediocre organization competing in numbers, so to get more finances.

>>So Beavah, do you tell the PLC that Troops don't have the authority to set their own uniform policy, other than for hats and neckerchiefs? Or do you expect them to figure that out on their own? Or do you just not care about that BSA policy? If the last, then what other BSA policies do you let your Troop ignore?

>>There were three brothers in my Troop who always said "(Fill in ) sucks". No big deal. Sounds like this lady was a little too stiff to be working with young men.

If our scouts had the skill, they usually did the teaching even when adults where the students. But I think the best place I saw where adults were a little taken back by youth instructors was our Woods Tools and Totn Chit class. Every March campout, our troop gives the class to both the new scouts and adults. Even if the adults are parents but not leaders, they are asked to attend the class. That is where I heard the most talk from the adults about being instructed by boys. Always a very positive experience for everyone and a great initiation into the boy run program, which is why I ask parent

Bob White was by far the most controversial contributor Ive ever seen in a Scouting forum. His method of persuasion was hammering his doubters into submission. He was a company man to say the least, but he loved Scouting. While he and I didnt agree on many aspects of the scouting program, he knew how to build a successful program. Personally I think we need to first come up with a general description of success. Bob White says some good things, but his list is way to long and it leaves out many troops I consider successful. I like Beavahs list because it pretty much includes most traits

>>I heard this once ... The job of the Scoutmaster is to set back in his rocking chair and observe what is going on. If he has to get up then the youth leaders are not doing their job.

I enjoy knots also. My only job during the chariot race at camporee was to inspect and approve everyones elses knots. But holy cow, 152 knots? That is amazing. Barry

Hi All For me this is about setting the example of serving others. A SM serves his scouts by attending to their request at the soonest convenient time. A scout serves the SM by waiting for the SMs most convenient time. Also, this discussion is pointed toward an advancement requirement, but scouts should be in the habit of requesting a conference when they struggle and need the wisdom of SM. How many discussions have we about a scout who makes it all the way to the BOR but clearly has not demonstrated scout spirit? The main advice given is the scout should be counseled through his sco

>>So what I'd love to hear from those who have "been there, done that" is, how can the district help you?>Also, I'm curious about whether new units typically have, or take, the chance to build a better/more active relationship with their new COs,>And finally, I'm REALLY curious about the time commitment. How much time should a reasonable person expect to put into getting a brand new unit up and running, in a typical week/month?

>>*Have a vision about the troop- share it with the other adults on the committee and with the ASM(s). Make sure everyone is on board.

It's been a while, but Council will accept the Scouts records. The blue card is a little harder. Without any proof, Council will likely ask him to do the MBs again. However, the scout only has to show he completed the items and a simpathetic couselor only needs to talk with him to find that he has indeed completed the badge before. Check the dates and signatures in the scouts books, cards and records to make sure they jive with leadership time requirements. Many times the card dates are when the adult recieved the cards, not the BOR date which is the offical date. Now, I'm assuming

I think your troop did well Ken. I cant see the house boat as high adventure because where is the adventure, and I can see how the adults would struggle on the line of boy run there. What we did was kind of define High Adventure differently then Fun weekends or other activities. I had a group of scouts who wanted to spend a weekend riding roller coasters. Not much high adventure, but defiantly an opportunity for development from my thinking. I suggested a scout take on lead, build crew including adults, plan the trip with the crew and lead it. It worked great because younger scouts who c

I'm Lisabob here, maybe it is a Bob White thing. When we were young and learning the Boy Run game, we adults didn't give our scouts as much choice as we should have mostly do to ignorance and inexperience. And the scouts let us do it mostly out of habit of adults telling them what to do. The adults are making choices based from adult concerns like economics. The boys will make the choice based from the appearnce of fun. The two can and should work together, but first they both have to learn that they can work together. It's a growing thing for everyone. I like Lisabobs idea of the SPL ap

>> BSA has chosen to align themselves with a segment of society that is viewed by a growing majority of Americans as fundamentalist, intolerant and judgemental.

>>Another trend I've noticed is that some of the more "adventurous" boys are not making it through Cub Scouts because it's all boring and about crafts. They don't see the adventure ahead in Boy Scouts.

>>There IS a generational gap there, and it is reflected (among other things) in the skill sets we have.

We dont talk about it much, but scouting is basically building confidence to be brave. Just talk to any boy who has just set up a tent in the dark or rain for the first time and compare them to a boy who has not. There is a clear difference in confidence and maturity between the two boys. Well knot tying is the same. First of all, how do you teach lashings without first teaching the knots? You have to start somewhere. Second, watch the smile grow on the face of a boy who just learned a knot. His confidence and desire to learn another is 10 fold. I remember very well teaching one of dysle

Personally I think we are doomed. Society has come to believe that only politicians can fix this problem. Yet, what expertise if any do most politicians have in education? To make that worse, politicians motivation is not for the youth, but for themselves. Why in the world we let them do it is beyound me. There is really no accountability because the politicians are gone when their failures are realized. The only way to fix the problem is get the parents back into the picture, but we have let the politicians do it for so long that most parents don't want the responsibility anymore. Just