2eagles

I used to be an Eagle, a good ol' Eagle too,

But now I've finished Eagling, I don't know what to do,

I'm growing old and feeble and I can Eagle no more,

So I'm going to work my ticket if I can

Back to GILWELL, happy land!

I'm going to work my ticket if I can"

SR-536

Eagles rule all others are just food

Knots, first aid, camping are like anything else you use it or loose it. I had to laugh at cooking the pigeon "showing your age" til I realized it was in my age too.lol The most fun I have seen boys have is being shown basic skills then letting them go and practice them. I think leaders need to let go. Will they make mistakes -- sure. The leaders job is to make sure the mistakes are not lifethreatening, emotionally damaging or costly (like a whole new tent). I agree with the get it done thing becoming too important. Most of the boys I have worked with did not realize they were completing anything til book signing time. They were just camping and having fun. I mean gee what boy doesn't want to work in an ax yard (especially if this is the wood for their fire or cook if they would rather not be hungry.

Barry -- our spl used to do all these things -- with the changing of the adult leadership -- the boy leadership has been essentially cut off at the knees. The current Scoutmaster (who also has a jamboree troop, is very active in woodbadge (teaching ect..) is a control freak who is stretched too thin. All of my (these were the first 5 boys that started the troop) are at loose ends because "gasp" they work, are maintaining good grade points and making sure they are eligible for sports scholarships, yet they receive little respect from the current leadership. I am very proud of each of these boys - young men. They are poster children for Eagle Scouts. Each one lives the scout oath and law. Their outdoor skills are excellent. Yet they are being continually put through the wringer over having jobs, playing sports or needing to spend time on studies to maintain scholarship status.

We (husband and I) have tried suggestions to new leadership but have had little success. Our young men have tried with no success -- now we are being asked to start a crew so they can have a chance to plan and be part of scouting. No problem starting a crew but the reasons why are just plain sad.

Unfortunately, when one of our scouts used a similar (and polite) tactic with the current adults over being late due to work, no light when on or even glimmered. We have always worked hard to listen to any boy and treated him respectfully and as a young man. It is sad that this seems to have been a disservice with the changing of the guard.

I find it interesting that all your suggestions are how we trained these 5. BY doing.

I taught (not scout) wilderness survival (years ago) and would step in the wilderness anywhere with these 5 young men. It is frustrating to see adults not acknowlege their skills -- even more so when the adults' skills are not even close to their level.

We have watched our troop go from (yes chaotic at times) boy lead to adult driven.

Now, I am really at the point (the one I have always been at) what is best for the boys who have come to me.

Just in the last 6 years, I have seen a significant difference in quite a few of the boys who join scouting. 1. They usually have little experience in -- almost anything other than computer games. 2. Quite a few have parents who are beyond over protective -- extreme "my son doesn't play in the snow - he will get wet and dirty" to "my mom alway pours my milk for me" Personally, I think these boys need the outdoor program more than most. It is challanging convincing parents -- they won't starve to death and are capable of planning a menu and cooking but that seems to be the norm. I know my husband and I were completely floored a few times by the lack of basic self care knowledge but we also understand that lots of scouts are city kids.

It is finding the balance -- we have scouts burnt out from teaching the same thing (cooking, dining fly, packing for campout, menu planning over and over to the same scouts. The older scouts don't mind it is the repetion of same skills -- it doesn't help that they did not need the same amount of guidence. They have no problem with knots, first aid etc...

Guess I am asking - any advice? for the older guys to not feel like glorified babysitters.

I would like to see BSA USA look at the active programs in other countries -- they seem to keep youth involved all the way to age 24. Both of my sons are very interested in world scouting because of all the excellent programs and connection with the world of scouting.