kenk

"our next campout is the weekend of 15 Sept at XXX Camp" It would seem that the PLC should have been heavily involved in the decision to go to "XXX Camp" and hopefully even the decision as to when that trip would be held. Somewhere on this forum - in the last day or two (my brain is getting old and lately I've reading this forum in short spurts rather than a long sitting) someone mentioned that it is important that the Scouters don't just leave the PLC and other Scouts to "do their best" and fail, without providing training, mentoring, guidance, and setting them up to truly succeed.

Sometimes I think that Boy Scouts puts too much emphasis on leadership and not enough on self-reliance. As the father of a Scout, self-reliance is the skill that I most want developed in my own son. I agree that the patrol method, an active boy-run PLC, and REAL active positions of responsibility are all key to developing and encouraging self-reliance. Oh, and letting them fail, counseling them to learn from mistakes, and celebrating and sharing success when it happens.

Be careful!! The Suunto M-2 has an "adjustable declination correction scale". It does NOT have adjustable declination. That means that the user has to remember to use the scale correctly with every reading, rather than use the set-and-forget adjustable declination feature in the M-3.

In the NE Illinois area the magnetic declination is so small that leaders in the council have become comfortable ignoring it - and no teaching Scouts about it, nor teaching them how to adjust for it. I think that is a mistake, especially when they go someplace in the northern corners of the U.S. where the declination can be over 15 degrees off. I hear there is a new GPS-related merit badge coming. I would also like to see Scouts learn the RIGHT way to use a GPS with a map & compass.

In the U.S. compasses with the "Silva" trademark are NOT made by the Silva of Sweden that invented the plastic baseplate compass. Its a long story. If you want a Silva of Sweden compass, look for the clear baseplate compasses sold in the U.S. by Brunton (which is now owned by Silva of Sweden, which in turn is owned by Fiskars/Gerber - the scissors/knife folks). Besides highly recommending a plastic baseplate style of compass - as opposed to a lensatic compass - my #1 recommendations are to get one with adjustable declination (not to be confused with a declination adjustment scale) an

Its a council camp. There are some other adults there - certainly in Shooting Sports (a wonderful gray-haired gentleman), but climbing is staffed by youth, though there may be an adult in charge behind the scene that I haven't seen after several years attending. One of them could be college age. I've not seen an adult at the waterfront, though again, I suppose the waterfront director could be college age. The director might be in college (??), but no older than that. I might be off on their ages, but I'm so impressed with what even college-aged kids can do.

Why would a patrol leader need to be First Class? I see the rank as a skills-based achievement rather than a matter of age or maturity. My advice would be to allow the patrols to decide who is their patrol leaders, to allow the PLC and/or Scoutmaster to review/veto the list of Scouts up for SPL, and then put the SPL up for a general vote. I would agree that it would be preferred to have an SPL who is at least First Class, but not sure the requirement is really necessary. Technically, per the program, the ASPL is appointed by the SPL, but my son's troop does the same thing mention h

Kind of adding on to what Beavah said ... The Troop Committee doesn't really vote on anything. Each person on the committee has a role in supporting the Scoutmaster's program and the PLC's decisions. If money is needed for something - whether equipment or an activity - it is someone on the committee's job to work toward getting that money - usually through fundraising or donations or dues. They work things out and come to an agreement. No need to vote. The other main task of the Troop Committee is ensuring that the Scoutmaster is ensuring that the troop is getting an appropriate

As a parent and adult leader the patches don't mean the same thing to me as they might my son. The one patch that probably means the most to me is my son's Patrol Leader patch - which now sits proudly in the top drawer of his chest of drawers. You see, my son has Asperger's Syndrome, and it tends to make it very hard for him to make friends and to fit in with other kids. He fears looking stupid, or bossy, or nerdy, ... you name it. Its very hard for him, though most of the other Scouts respect him and are patient - most of the time. Since he joined the troop he asked for PORs that d

Oh, and I'm playing no games here. I don't disagree with the old way or the new way ... so long as the requirements are not being added or subtracted. I'm just asking what other troops are doing.

"...patrol leader, Scoutmaster, assistant Scoutmaster, a troop committee member, or a member of his troop" Doesn't that pretty much say ANY registered member of the troop may sign off on the completion of the rank requirements ... so long as they are on the Scoutmaster's list of QUALIFIED individuals? Thus my question: Who is on the Scoutmaster's list in your troop? How does your Scoutmaster determine who is qualifed and thus able to sign off on rank requirements?

You can always change the schedule and tell them what they should have done later. Hah ... just kidding!!! Its nice to know the boys have sufficient youth leadership to do this on their own. Its tough to start - my son's troop - including the Scoutmaster - is trying to turn the troop to be youth lead. After many years of the boys having NO say on the the troop does, the boys are having trouble understanding that what they choose can indeed happen. They're struggling to think outside the box a bit.

I'm my son's troop advancement coordinator, so I've read all the policies (old Boy Scout Handbook, new Boy Scout Handbook, Scoutmaster Handbook, and the Advancement Committee Guide) trying to determine who is supposed to sign off on rank requirements through First Class, but none provide much guidance on this. The sign-off areas themselves use the word "Leader", but this could be a youth leader or an adult leader. When my son first joined his troop their rule was that only Scouts with Star rank or higher could sign off on rank requirements. Recently the Scoutmaster has limited the sign-of

From what I've read, after January 1, 2009 Scouts must use the Eagle Scout Leadership Service Project Workbook, BSA publication No. 512-927. This is the one with the Scout smiling on the cover page - he wasn't smiling on the previous version. The differences between the newest version and the previous version are quite subtle, so be careful. I have yet to find the current version in any other form than the pdf version from Scouting.org and nesa.org. I can tell they are the same version because text entered into the grand total of project hours field displays with a teeny tiny f

My son's troop tried using a New Scout Patrol for one year. It didn't work well at all. As someone else said, they knew NOTHING and really struggled in the first too many campouts. Yes, the troop assigned an older Scout to help them, but the older Scout didn't really want to do that at EVERY meal, and so the younger Scouts struggled. The next year we mixed the patrols and had much MUCH better results. Once a Scout earns Star and is at least 13 years old, he can move up to a Venture patrol. Our troop is smallish, so we have two regular patrols, one Venture patrol, and the SPL & ASPL e

I hope that new Eagle application also has way to ELECTRONICALLY enter the names, addresses, E-MAIL addresses, and telephone numbers for the recommendations. My council is requiring Scouts to use the ScoutNet application. That means boys are asked hand-enter and/or type information into the PDF file. NOBODY has a typewriter anymore, and some of their handwriting is not good. ScoutNet needs to provide an application with electronic form fields. BTW, the current Eagle Leadership Project Workbook from NESA.org has an error in one of the editable PDF fields. The field in which the Scout

Does the uniform drive them away ... no. I honestly don't think so. Heck, if they want to they can join a Venture crew and choose to do away with the uniform entirely ... but they often don't. The Scouts like the uniform when it makes them fit in ... like at summer camp, but ask them to where it while walking through the halls of their high school and you'll get a VERY different reaction. What if we took the synthetic centennial switchback pants and toned down the color a bit, but not olive drab. Those would be cool. Still way too expensive, but cool and well designed for the outdoor

I don't really care what Scouters are wearin' so long as the critical regions are covered and they're doing what they're doing is MOSTLY for the boys (and girls, where applicable). Scouters come in all shapes, sizes, backgrounds, and foregrounds. God bless every one of them.

You are dead nuts on target! The uniform is a key method of Scouting. Adults need to set an example - preferably wearing a full uniform. My own personal beef is that my son's troop uses really small neckerchiefs. They look silly on this 6'5" leader. I like when adults have Arrow of Light, religious award, and especially Eagle knots on their uniforms ... I try to point out what they mean ... pointing out that its important to work hard to achieve those tough goals. Most adults I talk to wish they would/could have earned their Eagle (myself included). A kind of carrot if you will.

So, how is he demonstrating leadership in this project? Isn't it all about him planning and directing others who are doing the work - and not so much about him doing the work by himself? There was no mention of others helping with the project - other than the IT Director and the father - but I suppose that doesn't mean it didn't happen.

Next time you might use fewer caps in the title. My son's summer camp only keeps records for MB partials for two years, though BSA says MB req's completed have no expiration date except for 18 years of age timeout. I think they want to encourage Scouts to complete partials by the next summer. That is why the troop generates blue cards with the completed requirements listed. Those won't expire (except for the 18 years of age thing). I don't think its a troop's responsibility to encourage Scouts to complete MB reqs. It might be different if you're the Scout's parents though.

Ever since my son joined his troop they've had parents who are not Troop Committee members participate in Boards of Review. Their only rule has been that at least one person on the Board of Review must be a committee member. I'm the troop's Advancement Chair, and I've read the Scoutmaster Handbook and Advancement Committee Guide, and I KNOW that doesn't match BSA policy. I've asked the troop Scoutmaster and the Committee members to follow policy, but that pretty much falls on deaf ears - partially because our troop committee is small enough (just the primary roles filled) that its hard to

I'd recommend either the Taurus 4 w/ aluminum poles, or the Vertex 4. I have the Taurus (5 - for tall adult leader) and love it. Not sure if Vertex poles are too complex. The Meramac 4 would be better suited to real hot weather where air circulation is vital. I have the Meramac 6 and like it a lot - but it gets kind of breezy in northern midwest fall and spring.

I suppose the very same question should be asked in the SM conference too.

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