EagleInKY

What's your role in the troop? This will help us give an answer specific to what you can do. I'll give you some "real world" advice. All of these decisions can be put in the hands of the boys. This is the way it's done in many (hopefully most) troops around the world. What you are struggling with is adults not willing to trust boys to make decisions. First, let's make sure we understand the roles: - PLC - Responsible for planning and carrying out the troop and patrol's annual program. - SM and ASMs - Responsible for overseeing the program and guiding the scouts through

Raising the money (through donations of materials or cash) is part of the Eagle Project. From what I've seen, most of the money is solicited from the people who will benefit the most from it. In this case, I'd suggest trying to get donations from the church members. Also, a lot of scouts will ask for money from the families in their troop. Another common method is to go to local businesses and ask for their financial support.

It sounds like your patrols haven't bonded too well. Perhaps it's because scouts were assigned to patrols. Or, perhaps your troop does everything as a troop and they don't see the importance of them. Either way, you need to fix it at its root. If patrols were organized by adults, shake it up. Let the boys pick who they want to be in patrols with. Make it fun and exciting. Make them want to get in the patrol with their friends. We adults tend to try to balance patrols out (by numbers, ability, etc.). That makes it efficient for us, but not fun for the boys. How to make an effe

I was going to follow-up my post with the idea of venturing as well. This certainly is an option if there is a crew in your area. Or, if there's not, maybe your troop can start one. But don't try to beat the system either. Registering him as a venturer (where 18 is still a youth) doesn't get around the adult rules in the Boy Scout Troop. Yeah, it's awkward, and these rules sometimes gets confusing, but that's why we get paid the big bucks.

The only position he can hold in the troop is ASM. He is no longer a scout. He is not old enough to be a SM or Committee Member (the age requirement for them is 21). This is very important to understand - HE IS NO LONGER A SCOUT! He cannot advance as a scout, participate as a scout and most importantly - tent as a scout. He is now an adult. If he wishes to stay with the troop, he should fill out an adult application as an ASM. And, yes, I would strongly encourage YPT, since he probably never realized all the limits that we must live by as adult leaders. It's great that he wan

You could probably edit this passage to make it more palatable. -Adult run Troops are more structured and predictable but offer less opportunity for Scouts to learn by leading. This is not the model promoted by Baden-Powell or the Boy Scouts of America. It should be noted that some younger troops have a higher percentage of adult leadership. However, these troops should have a plan to migrate away from adult leadership as soon as it is reasonable."

Our camporees are break-even events (hopefully).

This sounds very much like our DAC. He's been doing it this way for 20 years. In general, I'm supportive of the process. While things can occasionally be taken too far (like Semper's 180 page workbook), requiring neat, accurate work for something this important is not unreasonable. We've watered down the standards on so much, I think it's reasonable to demand the best for this highest honor. I'm not saying College level (or even advanced high school English-level), but a reasonableness factor should be employed. I abhor adding to the requirements, but if work is illegible, what good

The only requirements are First Class rank and SM Approval. I have had some young First Class scouts that I did not put on the list their first time around. It was purely a maturity issue. Perhaps the rules have changed. Or, your SM may have set an arbitrary age limit. I personally don't agree with that, I'd base it on the maturity level of the scout.

Welcome from the Sunny side of the river. Glad to have you on board.

Great post Barry!

Ditto ScoutingAgain's post. Exactly what I was going to say. C'mon people, it's your Driver's License number. It's not (supposed to be) used for anything else.

Our CO is a Baptist Church. Our COR is a member that is former military, very outdoor-oriented guy and works with the youth from their church. I think it's a good fit. He doesn't participate as much as he'd like, mainly because his job requires him to work a lot of evenings. As for the original question, since the COR is the Charter Organization Representative (i.e. a representative of the CO), I believe he has to be part of that organization. It doesn't make sense for the COR to come from the unit's parents (unless they are also a member, then that's a great fit).

For an easy, inexpensive, light entry-bag, I love my Slumberjack Denali Quest (40 degree). It's a little over 2 lbs and packs very small (thermalite insulation). Several of our scouts have bought it at my recommendation and love it as well. Sadly, this model isn't made anymore. I haven't found anything that I liked any more for the price (you could get it for about $40). While rated to 40 degrees, it could easily handle lower levels with a fleece liner. My son camped in a survival shelter this weekend with it and a fleece blanket (temps down in the 30s) and didn't get cold. Slumberj

I'm glad this ruling went this way. When I heard about it a while back I was very concerned that some judge would try to legislate from the bench (something they're good at in California). We have a number of special needs kids in our program. We work with the parents for the appropriate level of assistance and involvement required. We've never had a problem with it until last year. We had a family show up to join our pack in which the every member of the family was deaf. They wanted us to provide an interpreter for them at all activities. Someone from the school district told the

Let him finish his term. I've never heard of such. During your next election/appointment cycle, appoint him to be JASM (if he wants it). What if he's not 16 yet? Isn't that a requirement for JASM? What if he prefers to run again for SPL, would you let him?

Garth Brooks, or so I'm told. Especially since I grew a goatee last year.

I've found that lack of advancement causes fall into one of two camps. Either the scout isn't very active or he just isn't very aware. Here's some examples. Scout #1 has been in since last summer. He'll attend a troop meeting or two in a row, and then we won't see him for 6-8 weeks. Someone (an adult or maybe the Troop Guide) will pick up the phone and call them to see what's up. Suddenly he'll be back for a meeting or two. He attends summer camp and maybe one or two other campouts. In sixteen months, he still hasn't made Tenderfoot. Yep, that's right. Tenderfoot. A few months a

Welcome from just down the road. Glad to have you at our campfire.

sst3rd - I understand where you are coming from and don't disagree entirely with your thought. BUT (there's always a but, isn't there). Whether you went to the old traditional outdoor skills-oriented Woodbadge, or the new-fangled leadership-skills oriented Woodbadge of the 21st Century, you have gone out of your way to grow as a Scout Leader. You gave up either a week or multiple weekends of your time for the training itself. You then set five goals for yourself that would be for the betterment of your unit, district, council, etc. This effort should not be downplayed or igno

Our school doesn't charge us if (1) we have a school employee or PTA officer present, which is never a problem, (2) it's during the janitor's normal working hours, and (3) we clean up after ourselves. None of these are ever an issue, so we've been able to use the school from time-to-time. We keep this to a minimum, as to not risk losing the option. They've been pretty good to us over the years.

Ditto Scoutldr's thoughts. I'm having a tough time with our current SPL. If something doesn't get done, he shrugs and moves on. The boys in the troop have gotten frustrated with it, but no one else wants to step up to take responsibility. Therefore, even with the frustration, they re-elected him this time.

Bruce - I know that the Lincoln Heritage Council has a District Executive assigned to "Scouting Unlimited". She has responsibility for special units and related services. You can contact them. Here's the website which has contact info. http://www.lhcbsa.org

Leave it to Weird Al to bring out some humor on the topic. From his new CD: http://www.dontdownloadthissong.com/

To quote Col. Hannibal Smith of The A-Team, "I love it when a plans come together". Congrats on where you've come. Enjoy this time. Your role is now one of observing and guiding instead of demonstrating and doing. It takes adjustment. Also, be cognizant to the fact that your scouts can (and likely will) revert to their old ways at times. You'll have to adjust your style to where they are. When they revert, be prepared to step in and coach them along. I've found that recognizing this to be as much of a challenge as getting them there in the first place. Good luck to you and yo