gwd-scouter

SSScout sent me a PM and asked for me to reply on this post. So... Our Troop has been around for 8 years. We have had 5 Scoutmasters over that time. I've been SM Since December 2004, so I am still learning. Have been to all the training. Before becoming SM, I was advancement Chair for about 2 years. Troop currently has 11 registered Scouts. Two Scouts has been completely inactive for over a year, but keep saying "I want to get my Eagle." The other Scouts have varying degrees of activity with the Troop. Some weeks everyone is there, others only half and once in a while as my first p

Hikeaholic. Welcome to the Forum and congratulations on your Eagle! It is wonderful that you are coming back to your Troop to help. We are a very small troop with difficulty in recruiting. We helped a equally small struggling Pack with their Webelos crossover last year and got one Scout. We expect two more next month. Some other methods we've used: Last year, one of our Eagle Scouts made a video tape which was shown during Sunday service at our Chartered Org talking about our Troop and inviting boys to come to our open house. This resulted in 2 new Scouts. We recently recr

He made it! Very proud of his new sash and green pocket patch.

I always looked forward to PowWow in our Council and went three times while a Cub Leader and worked twice on staff. I always learned something new as a trainee and as an instructor. The best part was talking with all the other leaders and finding out about their Packs and how they do things. On staff I was part of the ceremonies sessions. We did flaming neckerchief demonstrations and decorated arrows to be given as Arrow of Light awards. Maybe next year you can sign up to be a trainer? Keep up the good work learning to be the best leader you can be for your boys. And, most important

OGE, wouldn't that be great!

Hi dlearyous and welcome to the Forum. I am on our District's Training Committee and I can at least share with you how Cub Scout Leader Training is done in our area. New Leader Essentials is conducted on Saturday mornings and lasts about 3 hours. This is attended by ALL new leaders, Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts and Venturers. Then, the Cub Scout Leaders remain after that for about two more hours and have a group presentation on how a Pack is organized, their place within that organization, and some other general Cub Scout stuff. After that we have breakout sessions for Cubmasters

So many posts back and forth on the uniform. Required? Not required? Our Troop had always had a very relaxed uniform approach. Over the years, the Scouts and leaders were in various components of the uniform for BORs, Courts of Honor, and other formal occasions. Maybe because of the example they were given by the adults in the Troop? Who knows. Of the five SMs we had over the past 8 years, only two ever wore the full uniform. The most recent being me. I wear it as an example. I wear it as the leader of my troop. I wear it because I feel it is every bit as important as the othe

Last year was my first time as new SM taking the troop to summer camp. We did discuss ahead of time that they were all expected to shower during the week. To my amazement, I never had to tell anyone to go shower. Each night, before lights out, they tromped off together in groups of two or three down the hill with their towels and supplies. Then, back up the hill they came, clean and fresh. Even my son, who I ALWAYS have to remind to shower at home each night. I asked the SPL how he got the guys to go shower every night. He said it wasn't him. He said one of the first year scouts want

My earlier post about youngest son going for Brotherhood prompted this post. Are your chapters very active? Ours, sadly, never really has been. Oh, a few guys show up at monthly meetings, a few more if it's close to Fall or Spring Fellowship. But, they do nothing in between. We sure do send a bunch of Scouts and adults through ordeal each summer, since most of our troops attend the same week of summer camp. This weekend is our OA Spring Fellowship and none of the adult chapter advisers went. Oldest son is the Lodge Ceremonies Chairman and youngest is going for Brotherhood

Dropped my youngest off at OA Spring Fellowship last night. His older brother arrived from college a bit later. Not many others from our chapter are attending, which is a shame. Youngest is very excited about trying for Brotherhood this weekend. He's been online a few times over the past weeks chatting with older brother about what he needs to know. These are the days I envisioned a long time ago. Older Scout helping Younger Scout. They are both such great sons. I am very proud.

Husband came in a while ago from working night shift. Brought home 3 well-used but good condition backpacks. Seems he's been talking with some guys he works with about our Troop's upcoming backpack trip and they thought we could use the packs. Don't you just love a wonderful surprise like that?

At our District Roundtable meeting earlier this month, we were given a presentation by a Master Gardener from the Clemson Extension Service. After his wonderfully informative presentation on how to properly grow a vegetable garden, he told us about a service project called "Grow a Row for the Hungry." Groups get together and grow a vegetable garden, large or small, many different varieties or only a few, and donate the harvest to their local soup kitchen, church, etc. Sounds like a wonderful idea for a Scout Troop. Anyone ever done it or something similar?

I hope all of you that sent me a PM got the pattern and instructions. When you have your races, post a message here. Love to hear how they turn out.

Anne, all those scouts have a parent or guardian. Your leaders should come from that pool. Ask them directly rather than a general "we need leaders" approach. Who shows up regularly and stays through meetings? They would be your first target. It is usually necessary to have the leaders in place before you form a den. I know it's kind of an ambush approach, but at school nights we always mentioned that without adult leaders, there would be no den. At least, that's the way it was done in my cub days. As to your Tiger Den needing a leader, at least for now each Tiger must have an

MaScout. Congrats on a working patrol method! We have only recently formed into two patrols, 5 scouts each. This week, they met as patrols and figured out "buddy" menus for upcoming backpack trip. Very disorganized and SPL had to help PL of younger scout patrol to get back on track. But, in the end, the guys made their menus and worked out who would buy and bring whatever. Next week's plan? Scouts going on backpack trip are to bring their fully packed packs as if we were leaving that night (including food and water) and critique each other's packing methods. Bring too much? Forget to brin

Hope some of those others than have done this before chime in with advice. Question about power tools - do lawn mowers count? That is the specific question of safety asked by our Troop Committee and I can't find anything anywhere that say boys can't use lawn mowers. Buddy system is an excellent reminder. And, we plan to target only one neighborhood at a time, scheduling maybe a couple of weekends, so the adults can sort of wander around and check on things.

Briant: our troop has the same idea. Have looked through the guide to safe scouting and can't find anything prohibiting the idea. Of course, the unit fundraising form must be sent in the Council and they may have some problem with it. Have left a message with our Council to ask about it, but haven't heard back yet.

What happened to the "Rent a Scout" thread?

Hello Anne from South Carolina. I was Cubmaster for many years and it was one of my favorite leader positions. I can tell you that I just can't imagine how you are going to be CM and a Den Leader at the same time. Each position requires a great deal of work and organization. Anyway, welcome to the forums and good luck with your Cubs!

I am assistant to the director of the Greenwood Genetic Center, a nonprofit diagnostic and research institute that looks for the genetic causes of birth defects and mental retardation. I am a computer science major, but use very little of that in my job. I write and layout PR publications and brochures, press releases on GGC events, maintain the website for GGC and two others for annual international conference that we host (and that I help plan and coordinate). All the other little things I do from day-to-day are just to numerous to mention. My other full time job is Scoutmast

EagleDad made yet another wonderful post, brought a tear to my eye, set my heart soaring! Two steps forward and one step back? It seems more like one step forward and two steps back at times. I am holding to the vision. I am looking to the future. I am taking those baby steps. I am so excited when I see a Scout do something without an adult telling him to. The best thing I've found in this forum is that as a SM I am not alone. I thought often that I must be doing something wrong to be having so many struggles with our Troop. Then I think, if I wasn't such an ardent suppo

Hello Ladyleader from South Carolina! Welcome.

I totally agree that a troop doesn't have to lose scouts when they turn 18. Oldest son, an Eagle now in first year of college, is an ASM and comes home to camp with us a few times a year. Another Eagle that turned 18 last fall has also rejoined as ASM and has helped on a few campouts. Another fella, turning 18 end of this month has always been a great friend to the younger scouts and enjoys working with them very much. While he was never interested in advancement himself (only reached 1st class), he wants to help the troop any way he can and is signing an adult leader application.

Hello beaver96 and welcome to the forum. Can't wait for you to begin to share all the years and varied experience you've had in Scouting with us. And, good for you for hanging in there and seeing your grandson enjoy his years in Cub Scouts!

Did you account for the fact that the non-Eagles might have been girls? Just having a bit of fun at the end of the day!