Holaka

1. Is your troop boy led?

kinda-sorta. We are working really hard at it.

2. Do you use the patrol method?

see answer to 1.

3. How many boys are in your troop?

We now have 12 boys! Two patrols, with 5 and 6 boys in each, plus a JASM.

4. Troop meeting program?

Working on that.

We are trying something different. We have 2 patrols, each led by an ASPL. The ASPL's and our Junior Assistant Scoutmaster form the PLC. They are responsible for planning the meetings. We are going to see how this works, and maybe, this will encourage the boy-led patrol method to work better for us.

Great for your guys! I have high hopes for the troop I am with. We just split into 2 patrols, with each patrol having 5 or 6 boys. It is my dream that one day, they will get it.

Since the times are wacky, I am not sure when this was originally posted. It is now 8:53pm EST and I just completed the survey. It was short and to the point. I would be interested in the results.

Cheryl O

This year, we are not using a NSP, because we only received 2 new Scouts. We are a small troop (9 boys), and are just splitting into 2 patrols. We will see how this works for us, and go from there.

I am in the process of registering for Wood Badge in a neighboring council. The dates of the course fit into my schedule, and it somehow costs less than the one being offered by my council. Since I am on a strict budget, it makes sense to me.

Cheryl O

Thanks for your replies.

We schedule BoR's for whenever they are requested. This young man is just in a hurry to "make Eagle". At his last BoR, a comment was made about seeing him next summer for his next BoR. The Scout said, no 6 months. We could not get him to understand, that 6 months is the minimun time limit between the 2 ranks. Since he is still on the young side, he has time.

Thanks again.

Cheryl

Greetings to those who know more than me. I have a question for this great group.

I have a 13 year old Star Scout in my troop who is trying to rush to make rank. He wants to have his Scoutmaster Conference, and BoR as soon as possible. Does he have to wait until his 6 month time is up before either of these? I (as troop advancement chair) said yes. That the SM conference and BoR are meant to be the checking points, and not done until all other requirements are met for that rank.

What do you think? Does he have to wait until his 6month time frame is up before either of these?

Thanks

Cheryl

This is interesting. Our troop has decided to an "electric campout". We are renting a cabin in January or February, and the boys can bring anything electronic they want. X-box, PS2, GameCube, DVD players, what ever they want. They just need to be responsible for their stuff, and share.

The boys can stay up as late as they like, they just need to be out of bed for breakfast, which is being cooked by the adults for them.

They can work on scout skills if they so desire, or they can just play games all weekend. I do know that they won't be playing video games all weekend, as they have challenged the adults to a game of capture the flag.

A couple of adults plan on playing euchre all night.

Will this work? We will see. As for now, the boys are really looking forward to this, and they are taking responsibility to plan it.

And I thought it was just my computer giving me fits! At least I don't feel so alone anymore.

The boys (and adults too!) really enjoy playing whirlyball. The troop tries to go at least twice a year.

Cheryl

There is another ordeal in the spring. Can he go to that one without having elections again, or will he need to be re-elected within the troop? On another note, when does the troop have elections again?

After 2 years of trying to have elections in our troop, we finally had them at summer camp. Now, here is my question...one of our scouts that is scheduled to go thru his ordeal this weekend is on crutches. He sprained his foot last night. Can he still go thru the ordeal or should he wait?

My son's patrol from troop 1112 is the Llama patrol.

Our troop has always counted time served helping younger Scouts as service time. I am the Camp Director for our Cub Scout Resident Camp, and I always invite my own troop and several other troops out to help. The Boy Scouts like helping the Cubs, and the Cubs look up to the older boys.

Cheryl

Our pack camps every spring, for our crossover/campout. Here is our tentative schedule (always subject to change)

Friday

5:30 or after arrive and set up campsite

9:00 pm Crackerbarrel and adult/parent meeting

10:30 or before lights out

Saturday

8:00am breakfast followed by clean up

9:00am service project for camp

We camp at our council camp and always do some

sort of work project for the camp.

12 noon Lunch/Quiet time

2:00pm Some kind of activity (crafts, games, belt

loops) is provided for those who are interested.

Otherwise, free time for den/familiy activities.

5:30 Dinner/Clean up

6:30 Prepare for Pack meeting/crossover ceremonies

7:00pm Pack Meeting

8:45ish Crackerbarrell for all who are there, not just

those who camped for the weekend.

10:30 or before...lights out

Sunday

8:00am breakfast/clean up

9:00 ish Scouts Own Service

10:00am Clean up pack up and go home

We invite a couple of local Boy Scout troops to camp with us, and help with meals and such. Adults in the pack take turns with cooking and cleaning, so the Scouts can have as much fun as they like.

Last year, we had wicked weather to contend with, but we still had fun.

Cheryl O

My son's step-dad is the CC of the troop. I am the Advancement Chair/Treasurer and might be moving into an ASM position. My son is the SPL, and he gets no special treatment from either one of us. Our troop is relatively small (10 boys) and every boy but one has at least one if not both parents involved in some way. Our unofficial policiy is to not discipline or get after our own sons, but to have someone else do it. So far, this has worked for us.

Cheryl

I could get into so much trouble from that site!! Thanks a bunch, this is going to be so much fun.

I went to NCS in 2002 for Program Director, and now I have to go again for Camp Director. I really enjoyed my time there. Six of us from my council went for various trainings, only it was for a long weekend, not a week. This time, I have to go for a week. The only issues we had, was a lot of the training was geared to a paid staff, and we are all volunteers. We went to the Geneva Center in Rochester, Indiana. I think that is where I will be going again.

Cheryl

As of yet, I haven't seen a MB University or anything like that in our area. The problem we are having, is that MBC's are not returning phone calls that the boys in our troop are making. We have 3 Scouts that are calling to set up appointments to work on Merit Badges, and since before December, not one has had a phone call returned. This is very discouraging to our Scouts. Has anyone else encountered this problem? Any ideas?

Yes, we count time served at a packs Pinewood Derby as service hours. We don't have a "feeder pack" as such, and work with any pack in our area who asks.

Cheryl O

Hi! I am involved with a small troop in Michigan, and we are looking to go to Hawaii in 2006. Is anyone here associated with a troop from there that could give us some info? I would greatly appreciate any help.

Thanks in advance.

Just a quick question...how much money should I plan on sending with my son? Our council is sending 2 troops 1112 & 1113 (I think). They are touring the DC area on the way down, but I am just curious on how much money he may like to have or need for spending and such?

Thanks for any info.

Our troop charges $10.00 per month from Sept - May. This covers registration, and a campout every other month, and a day event on the other month. Adults need to pay their registration fee, and a small amount on the campout or day event. Of course, summer camp is extra. We are a small troop (7 active boys), and just started this this fall. So far, it is working fairly well. Boys must pay the monthly fee regardless of wether they participate in the campout/day event or not.

Just a short note to say HI! I am currently registered as CM of a pack, and also am a Webelos 1 leader. I am a committee member/advancement chair of my sons troop. I am also the Resident Camp Director . I have a 14 y/o Star Scout, and a 2 & 1/2 y/o girl who wants to be a Scout.

I already have learned a lot of things from this forum. Keep up the good work!

Cheryl O

My Webelos den meets at the elementary school that the boys attend. We use the gym. There are 17 boys in the den (Webelos 1 & 2 combined) and about 5 of the parents stay. When they stay, I put them to work! Our boys are split into 3 patrols within the den. Each parent that stays is assigned to help a patrol, but not the one with their son in it. This works well for us.

Cheryl O