Jay K

Not just ASMs, but every adult should have specific expectations given to them in written form. The form mentions training. Make 'em sign it and keep a copy. Every adult with a Scout in the Troop should have some role, even if it is "Drive 5 scouts to Summer Camp." Then, they should never be expected to do anything that isn't on the expectation sheet. That gives them the power to control their destiny. I bait them by saying "This way you can be involved without the 16 weekends and two weeks/year." A gentle application of mild manipulation works wonders. The big pile of adults is divided

I was a Cub and Boy Scout in suburban Chicago. I was an Air Explorer, Based at O'hare. I'm in Minnesota now. I was a Bear den leader with my first son, became a Troop Chaplain (ASM,) was a WEBELOS den leader with my second son, became Scoutmaster, and was a Tiger den Leader with my third son. I've been to National Camping School twice, Aquatics Director and Aquatics Director recert. I'm a Wood Badge Bobwhite, and Brotherhood OA. I recently became a Unit Commissioner. I don't understand the unwillingness to use the Profile, but then, I don't hate my DE, despise Wood Badge, or insist t

One reason that Scouts are more involved in Flag retirement is that so many veterans are reching the end of their lives. We do need to try to instill reverence for the flag. I'll say the I think Boy Scouts are the ideal recipients of this burdensome honor. I've been to Camp School twice, and Campfire Program was a sidebar subject that was taught at both of them. We are taught, a campfire should start out silly, and have some songs and skits leading up to the silliest of all. Then, there should be some calmer songs, and perhaps a skit with a message, and then, a solemn closing. I

What you should do, in my opinion, is ask/pester your District for a Unit Commissioner.(UC) The UC can interface with the Chartered Organization Representative(COR) and the UC is the person that should provide the support that you seem to be looking for. Stay put with your CO. My personal experience is: The less the Chartered Organization (CO) interferes, the better. There is a commitment that a CO makes to become a CO. That's basically to provide a place to meet. They are supposed to select and provide adult leadership, but in most cases, that doesn't happen, it just takes place within t

I keep the "conselor's record" Panel from the Merit Badge card when a Scout completes a Merit Badge with me >Brag alert< I have over 200 of them! I tell the parents when I clip them off and hand the other two panels back to the Scout: This is my paycheck! It's usually good for a laugh.

I once had a Tiger Cub ask me, in detail, about every knot on my shirt. I told him that some were ones for stuff I did as a Cub Scout. (I was a Cub Scout 50 years ago.) That Tiger has grown and has gone on to earn the youth religious and the Arrow of Light. I saw him at a court of honor, and he ran over to me and happily showed me his Youth religious knot and told me that when He became a uniformed Adult, he wanted knots just like mine. My heart was filled with joy. I brought our DE over, and I pointed out one that I don't have: Eagle. I told the Scout to get Eagle. At every training e

...Or my friend Steve can't fly an ultralight becuase he flies a 747 back and forth between Minneapolis and Hong Kong. Or My Mom can't take people canoeing becuse she has a CG captain's ("6-pack")rating. Or my son can't drive a car because he has a CDL with a Hazmat certificate. OR my Doctor can't list MD in place of WFA. Not logical. But, I'll take the Baloo course.

Go,Eagle92. It's like saying CPR for the professional Rescuer (>$100, all day ) won't count for the CPR requirement because it isn't "basic CPR" OR I can't serve as a Lifeguard (I can,) becuse I'm an Aquatics Director. I'll take Baloo, no Huhu. It just isn't logical to me. Oh, and they probably won't teach the water bottle knot at "my" course.

Advancement records. Troop Committee Challenge, Advancement chair module. I've seen the notebooks, wall charts, and such at the Scout Shop.

Of course, that's the sales angle. We shall see. I am truly skeptical about that.

I'm going to take BALOO. I got Grandkids coming up. I've always heard that it is great fun. :~) I'm just thinking about the Adults that cross over to Boy Scouts and say "What? I have to take MORE Outdoor training?" Or the ones like me that retread with younger boys in Cubs again and say "What? I'm an IOLS instructor! I have to take Baloo? REALLY?" I deal with dragging people through training. "Why would I waste a Saturday doing that? " It just doesn't make sense. Gosh, It's hard enough getting them to take Youth Protection online! With OLS, Wood Badge, Camp School (twice) and Wilderness

Basementdweller, that's a real horror! I detect that your course was a bit, shall we say, dysfunctional? I do hope that you do press through and get your beads. You were talking about "Bling" in another thread. I'm a little torn, too, but I err on the "Bling" side. When I was presented my Scoutmaster's Key at a Roundtable, the Commisioner said that It was good for our Scouts to see that us Adults were working through requirements and earning badges, just like they are. It's the old be an example thing. That made sense to me. My Scouts are proud of me, and I'm proud of them.

Eagle92: Thanks!

Basementdweller: His whole ticket, or one of the goals? It seems it isn't unusual for a TG to suggest 1 goal. If I remember correctly, 17 of our Troop 1 had some invovlvement in the University of Scouting that was soon after our 2nd weekend.. I was one of them. I got that first goal done about 3 weeks after the course. It was the other ones that took 17 months... :~)

Did you see my post in "Wood Badge Horror Stories?" THAT was an outing training, the way it should be, in my (Can't claim humble) opinion.

My Wood Badge horror story: Background: At the close of my OLS Course, as most were leaving, I was invited to a dicussion of "How do we get Adults to take OLS?" with the staff and other participants. My suggestion was "Take a class to the Boundary Waters and teach it to them there." I was told "Try it, and let us know how it went. " I'm a BSA Aquatics Director, I have a Wilderness First Aid certification, and I'm a Boundary Waters Veteran. I've guided many canoe camping trips there and on rivers. Wood Badge scene: I write up a goal, "Take a group to the Boundary Waters and teach them

They SAY that Camp School certs are good for 5 camping seasons, BUT mine expire on December 31st, roughly 4 years and 6 months after getting them. I run Aquatics January- June, so I'm going back every 4 years.

Why should they update the tour plan? Same reason they nationalized the Health form. Look at the confusion in this thread, for some of which I myself am responsible. All I'm talking about: "Baloo...* * Note: IOLS may not be substituted for BALOO. Which is illogical to me, but it could be done very simply that way. Simpler than whipping up a whole health form.

Scoutnut: Yes, I ask them. Expecting a cogent answer by 2052, when I turn 100. At least this one can be fixed by updating the Tour Plan form.

Basement Dweller: Peace and blessings to you, brother. I'm a guy that spent some time trying to find out about the BSA Lifeguard Counselor certification. I got some confusing information, so I called National. They were very helpful, and they encoraged me to call them when I get stumped at the lower levels, like regional or Council. Just not every time I break a toenail! In the meantime, my Council said, "bypass Lifeguard Couselor. Go to Camp School and take Aquatics Director." So, I did. All I had to do was pay for it myself. When I was there, I made contacts all over the country, an

I heard from National: No substituting IOLS for BALOO. (or BALOO for IOLS.)They do like their training programs! So, I have been operating in error for 7 years, and our Council is propagating that error. I repeated that error on this web site. Horrors! I APOLOGIZE. I've got work to do. I appealed to National to change this, and I guess I've got to take BALOO. I suggeted they (Hational) asterix a note on a revised Tour Plan form. Stay tuned!

We meet on Thursday. It's not perfect. I have a Scoutmaster friend in a neighboring town, who alternates between Monday and Wednesday. 1st and 3rd meetings per month are Monday, 2nd and 4th are Wednesday. Pretty wild, eh? In our Troop, we suggested changing the day, and the troop said "NO!" Another Troop I know of meets after church on Sunday. Most of the Scouts go to that church and are already there. They wear their uniforms to church on a regular basis, and that helps with recruitment.

Focus on Living Well. If you deliver a quality program, and you certainly seem to have the motivation, and you develop a strong unit, you will recover the joy of Scouting (which Wood Badge SHOULD have done.) That's "living well," and people will notice, not that you care. But you should achieve a better quality of Scouting life. Perhaps the next DE will be more simpatico.

Hey there, Eagle92! I guess my credibility goes right out the window! :~) I've only done one tour plan so far. I've done dozens of the old tour permit applications. I crossed off Baloo and wrote in "OLS" I've served as an OLS instructor, too. I can't bring myself to use the "I" I've taken Webelos camping, and sucessfully floated my OLS in place of Baloo/Owls in our Council. I'm going to contact my people at National and reccomend standardizing the permissabily of substituting OLS. They did tell me that First Responder may be substituted for Wilderness First Aid, and I belei

Eagle92 and all; That is why it is said, and I have found it to be true: Living well is the best revenge.