jambo

GWD-SCOUTER, I am sorry that you have only 14 or so Scouts in your unit. You should have 40 boys by now. And I hope you are not a glorified (Baby Sitting Association ) I started the same as you did, holding the boys hand, and showing them how to lead. ( boy lead principal ), which was not succceeing. I was maximizing my time and afford, and I was losing boys. It should be more of adult guidance, and a lot of times an adult run. Boys usually don't know what they want, and you ....the experienced adult leader ,must create an incentive for them to remain in Scouting. Talking about character building and citizenship is not what keeps the boy in Scouting. Parents and Scouts want to see leadership and an active exciting program that will keep their son 'LONGER' in Scouting. Why do boys join baseball, because it is 'boy led' ? No ! , ....because you have adult coaches leading them to success. jambo

Greetings Jones, Welcome to our chit chat ,Scouter forum. I hear you were in Scouting,that is great. But, what I heard here on other threads, that Cup Packs get big as much as 40 - 60 boys, and once they cross over, they lose 60 % of the boys to Scouting. Because many boys don't like the in experienced ' boy run concept ', and leave to join sport leagues, where they have experienced adult coaches. Have fun with kids, and install some of the virtues of Scouting to them . jambo

One has to realize, that our Scouts went to the World Jamboree, and not to our local Camporee. Our kids are spoiled, and they think our meals is the one's we should all eat, even at the World Jamboree ? I traveled around the world, and I mostly always tried to eat local food, even if the Mac Donald's store was around the corner. I am glad that the Jamboree was not run on the ' boy run' concept, otherwise we would have had a disaster. jambo

You were the guiding force, which you showed your leadership, and not your immature, 14yr old youth ,one year in Scouting lead the group I used to have these overnight troop sessions, too.The one that did attend , where the ones that wanted Scouting ,the other ones stayed home to watch TV, or belonged to a sport team . I had a Troop of very dedicated JASM's and of leadership corp members, who would stimulate and generate discussion topics. We had ' theme topics' for our yearly calender, that would be the envy of 'Scouters Magazine ". Would you say , that I had a ' boy run unit' or adult leadership guided unit ? jambo

Sfisher...moxieman ...It is a nice controversial topic.! We have lot of the old time Scouters who have left Scouting, mainly because they don't agree with the modern 'Boy run units ', where the program is not that successful. The new generations of Scouters are having a difficulty in pushing their agenda, because it does not work that well. I think, we should bring in the active SPL to the round table , so he can see and learn, and then go back to his unit and show them what he has learned ????.(this hardly ever happens !)

In my naive days in Scouting, I though that a round table was, where all the unit adult leaders would get together, and voice their opinions, then take a vote to implement or approve or disapprove councils decision on scout matters pertaining to them. But, to my dismay...I found that was not the case..it was a demonstration meeting, and a social club.

"Guten tag"....I wonder 'slouchhat' if you are not to far from Idar Oberstein ? I know there a gentleman by ,Herr Schleich, who was the Scout Leader of the Bund Deutcher Phadfinder, which was recognized by Geneva, The International Scout Bureau. Is your " Stamm " recognized by the the Bureau ? I remember that the Scout unit was recognized by the city, as a youth program, and therefore received 50 % of money from the city , for their outing program. Our units here in the States don't get any money from the city/government to run their program . BSA Inc. basically supports it self, and pays for some of the camp operations. Most of the money is being raised by paterents, to support their boy in Scouting.

I like the " Kohte tents "...they break up into six separate pieces, carried by each scout and then assembled into one. Do you know where you can buy one ? jambo

Hi, 'hilo', You are correct in stating that the name 'Jambo' is realy taken from the name of Jamboree, I have been around the world many times, and I enjoyed the fellowship. jambo

To Germany's Scout brothers: You have very good ideas for your 'Phadfinder', working in the 'Schwartz Wald '. Pen pal idea is a good one, since now we have Internet. I am not sure of the dates, but I believe October 15th, is the Jamboree on the Air, and the JOTI, which gives a boy a chance to exchange ideas and photos with other scouts around the world. When I was running a Troop ( now I am retired ), we had a 24 hour session with the Scouts, with 3 ham operators stringing their antenas all over the place. We reached 23 countries...scouts earned their Radio, electronics merit badges, and some got interested in HAM RADIO.

In reference to the 'umlaut'...you can write it as 'ue', if your typewriter does not produce it. " Habt eine gemuetliches tag " ...jambo

Geherte Phadfinder Bruder, Volker. Ich begre Sie zu unserem Forum von Scouters. Ich bin froh, dass Sie versuchen, eine " troop ' in Ihrem Kirchspiel in Gang zu bringen. Sie werden viele Meinungen hier hren. Einige, sind und einige sehr klug verrckt. Sie mssen diejenigen whlen, die arbeiten, und sie dann zu weiter Ihrer 'Troop ' verwenden werden. Eine groe und effetive 'Troop ' zu fhren, ist schwierig. Es wird viele Hrden geben, und ich spreche von der Erfahrung. Ich wnsche Sie Erfolg. jambo

PS>>>That was in German, for the sake for those who did not understand.

Hilo, I read your comments about Australia and Scouting down under. My fellow scouters did a good job in explaining a lot of the bureaucracy of our advancements for the boys.here in USA . Administratively it drives some Units crazy ( figuratively speaking ). Since I have been around the world, I made a point to see ,how Scouting is run. It would be an eye opener for some our inculcated training cadre, and professional staff, to see that our methods of the running of units could be improved, then to try to beat the ' dead horse ' to its demise. Read some of my other threads..." Cheerio for International Scouting...jambo

Who needs a unit commissioner ? that was my question for many years. My committee and my ASM's, whenever he came, have decided that he was there to spy on us ,for the district. But, since our troop had 40+ members, calender of activities, most scouts advancing in scout rank....he stopped nagging me that I don't run a 100 % , " boy run unit ". The only benefit that I see of UC is that the registration money brings income to the BSA, inc

I have been reading all of your comments...I agree with some of theories how to run the Boy Scout Troops. With out further 'ado', let me tell you of an interview I had with a 16 year old boy ( who I am going to call John "

Have you been in Scouting ? yes !.... I have been a weblow, Patrol Leader, First Class.....Are you going for your Eagle rank ? No ,... I quite the Troop at 14 ....oh, why ? I did not like it. The cubing was more active and run by the adults who knew what heck they were doing. Once I got into the troop, the adults sat around and told us continuously, that it is a boy run unit. We had a lot of debates at the PLC, but very few decisions made. When we went on the hikes, the boys never listened to a kid who himself did not know anything of scouting. The adult leader would say " do what you want ", and he would leave and have a great meal with the other adults cooked over propane stoves, while most the kids burned there food over open fires.

John continued : I now belong to my churches youth group...( 14 -17 boys and girls )..we have a lots of fun...no more uniforms, no more stupid kids bossing us around,,no more ranks....we have parties and socials. We are being led by youth counselors. He then showed me some photos of the activities he went on one picture was where he was cannoening on a lake,horseback riding, cooking with a girl friend over a fire, at church services, hiking with a pack on a trail , and etc.

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

info@scouter.com wrote:

My dear fellow scouters. and AvidSM....I speak from many,many years of experience trying to run the " boy run program " and the adult leader guidance program, and I came to a conclusion that books, and training courses don't run an energetic unit. Some of you run a " do nothing " and a mediocre Troops "...that is OK ! BSA or is it ( baby sitting association )...likes that. They want 1000 small mediocre units, rather then 500 excellent run units. Remember , who wrote the training curriculum, have written for the purpose to benefit the national, and not the struggling " boy run units " around the country.Sorry, my wife is calling me, and she says that I am waisting my time..." no one is listening to you "...jambo

Barry ! You are to idealistic in your approach. I don't think, that is not the way it is in the trenches, from my many years experience in running a Troop. And, you have the right to your opinion...and that is why this forum is great. " Keep it simple,make it fun "...jambo

Dear Lisa,or is it bob ? Some of us old timers must have touched your nerve ? I apologize ? Please read my statement carefully. I did not imply that women can not serve as leaders in the Scouting organization. I have seen them in cubing, district level, on committees, regional,, National and International level, and they are doing a fine job. In today's world, where we have many fatherless youth, we need that MALE role figure, where our boys can look up to, and emulate to. A woman is great, to be the mother figure, but not in authority of 14-17 old boys. I am a male, and I stand up for manhood ! Three cheers for Scouting ! ...jambo

I am confused...this is at BSA summer camp ? Where is the second adult leader required for this activity ? What is a WOMAN , being an ASM over 15 to 17 year old boys doing here ? Was this a venture unit , or a rehab unit from a juvenile institution ? I think a male leader ( hopefully experience in today's use of our English language ) would handle it as prescribed by some of others on this site. Or, this is an example of our so called " boy run units ", with inexperienced adults just sitting around, baby sitting the juveniles. Read some my other threads...jambo

Avid SM..It was a pleasure reading your dissertation of how to run a Troop. I found that this type of writing is found in the National curriculum of training manuals, written by child psychologist. But, in reality ,... " is to try, to keep that boy in Scouting as long as possible." 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. Now, when you can present this to this boy on regular basis, now you will be able to mold his character and citizenship values. How much Scouting values are you going to implement to a boy, if he leaves scouting in four month ?,.... because so called boy run troop is boring, and the experienced adult leaders sit in the corner having coffee ? Read some of my other threads...jambo

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. We certainly will become "BSA", ( Baby Sitting Association ) Who ever thought out this so called " Boy run " troop?. In my opinion,he should have his head examined.( or was this idea developed by the brains at our National Council ? They , really never ran one of the best units in the USA, It hurts to see Scouting, going down...it will be soon called the " local boys organization ", and not Scouting, the way the old timers used to know.....jambo

I noticed that we have a variety of people on this forum, not just Scouters...and it is a debating society, per say. PLC does not have the right to change the National policy on uniforming. Where in the by laws is it written that Scoutmaster, or PLC can change uniforming.? I agree with ' kenk', 'aquela' and I see that 'beavah' is very much spewing the agenda of the training cadre. I liked the analogy of the 'fertilizing scouts ',but I think we should concentrate on leadership, and how we can generated enough interest, excitement,adventure, to have every 'red blooded' American boy wanting to join. Let me stop babbling..or I will become like " insane".(ha,ha,) ..Long live Scouting.! jambo

Aquila...you definetly expressed my opinion,better then I could have. I feel this methodology is not working that well....it must be for a reason...so that scouting units won't grow strong, but stay on a mediocre path. The national is not concerened to have a few great units, but to have large amount of small, mediocre Troops who strugle to exist. You see the National get's money if they can prove that they have an increase in units, and not a decrease. Then answer this : Why earlier in our Scouting life, when it was harder to be Boy Scout , we had more boys in Scouting, but less unit. And now we have more units but less boys in Scouting ?. I am babbling away again...jambo

The scouter who is insane ! (ha,ha) Like anywhere else we have here , people who know what they are saying, some just repeat the same dialog that the national is teaching,,,this is a reason we are in disrepair with this 'boy run' program, and the best we can become is a mediocre unit, with'bsa' standing for ' baby sitters association ', and not a rough and tough Scout unit. Every boy wanted to come to our meetings, because it was challenging,active,informative and a learning process. Here is just one example:

Pre-meeting with the leaders ( ASM. SPL. SM. and JASM )....while we had this briefing meeting to outline the schedule and to maximize leadership. where needed ,..... a JASM would conduct a game with the entire Troop ( volley ball, murder ball etc )

Opening ceremony, conducted by one of the Patrols who was assigned by SPL. ( the more imaginative the better )

Then we had a uniform inspection by SPL. Who would inspect the PL's first then the PL's do the reverse inspection of the other patrol. We held inspections only once a month. Rewards and awards were given to the best looking uniform .

CPR demonstration by qualified Red Cross official, were every one participated.( The theme for this month was First Aid )

Patrol corners, where scouts would get together to plan out there next overnight activity, and give their PL ideas to present on the next PLC meeting. And Scouts of lower rank would have advancement by their PL or APL.

Competition in one of the Scout skills between Patrols conducted by an ASM, or JASM or leadership corp member.

Scoutmaster Minute and Information session...( where we would darken the room, put up an artificial council fire ) Where the SM or ASM would give an inspirational talk, and praise scouts for doing well. Then the Troop was dismissed by the SPL.

A de-briefing meeting held again with the Troop leaders, outline next weeks activity, or discuss with committee the assistance we would need from them.

Yes, here I go, babbling along. I have to go...jambo

Mr. Insane: I enjoyed your babble very much, jambo

You guys, are trying to draw me into arguing with you over politics of religion...as I said before .. " Scout leaders should stay out of politics and religiion.jambo

Insane Scouter, I wonder if I am not insane myself (ha,ha,) You are 99 % correct. A good Program in Scouting is very important...I am not going to re mill what has been said before on this site. But, there are questions that bother me,why our national planners, are not in tune with the volunteers ? Or, is it they lost the concept that it is a program for the " Boy". and not how much financial gain or profit we have can out of the program.You must of had a great Scoutmaster, at your military base, who guided , inspired and led your unit. They are the the dying breed, who received their training in leadership in the military, and not necessarily at our training courses. My days in Scouting is numbered, I pass on the baton to you ,younger guys. Three cheers for Scouting, jambo

Welcome to our site here in USA ! This is about the only Scout related site, where we don't censor each other on their views. , You will find many of us here, who speak our minds. We have the professionals and the volunteers who are dedicated to the Scouting program, sometimes we agree, and sometimes we don't. I have been in Australia, many moons ago, and I tried to go skiing, but there was no snow over the mountain(ha,ha),so I went back to the States. Welcome to put in your views, jambo