Knot Head

There are many movie ideas at this link http://www.scouter.com/forums/viewThread.asp?threadID=112410 I once watched 5 8th grade scouts discuss Remember the Titans for 3 hours. I was impressed with the depth of their insight.

We don't use permission slips and instead require each scout to turn in Part A and C of the BSA form (The A,B,C form) each year at re-charter time. If they go to summer or winter camp we collect part B also with the physician signature. For campouts the check or cash payment is the signup. We call it the show me the money system. Drivers are arranged and confirmed via email by the SPL or ASPL based on the adults that turn in checks to go camping. The SPL assignes scouts to a particluar car and patrols ride together as much as possible. EDIT - when outfitters require a waiver we have

We are far from a perfect troop but wow this sounds like a bad road to travel if the Adults are committed to it. Maybe a little training or watching another troop would help. I wonder if this is because you have a group of "take charge" guys. It took about a year to "train" the adults in our troop to "think boy led" not "adult led". We need to get better but we have made some good progress. When we started adults would just jump in and set up the stove, unpack the trailer, set up the dining fly, etc. They were just used to running things and pitching in to get things done because they ar

West Coast those are great recruiting ideas. Your ideas are great and I plan to mention them to the PLC. We have had success using Den Chiefs, inviting webelos to a campout with us and also having a couple of eagle scouts visit a webelo meeting meetings to teach them something they think is fun and cool like how to make a stretcher out of a tarp and two poles. The eagles then give them a ride on the stretcher and ask the webelos to see if they can carry the eagle. Webelos also love to get a leg splint put on using sticks and bandanas. We've also shown them a backpack fitted for Philmont,

In our troop you get a patch if you get a guy to join our troop who was not a cross over that resulted from our troops annual recruiting process (campout + pack visits to our meetings). Since new guys that cross over don't count this is typically a guy who joins late. The recent patches were for a guy that wasn't a cub but played baseball with the recruiter. The other was a guy who was a cub but had moved to our area and joined 6 months after crossover. The recruiter had made friends with the new guy at school and invited him to a troop meeting and he joined. The recruiter gets the patch when

I think it depends on the troop. Our troop is Church sponsored by a Christian Church but includes some scouts that are Hindu, Jewish, Unitarian and one Eagle Scout who would tell you he is an atheist if you asked him point blank. We dont have a Sunday service on campouts and basically have an opening prayer at meetings and when we leave to go on a campout. The typical prayer is for safe travel, good weather, no injuries, etc. If you and your son choose to stand quietly but not bow your head or close your eyes during this prayer time it would not be a big deal. Thats what a couple of the Jewish

Baby steps. At least you got it to 6 on 4! I'm surprised you have that many adults attending. We NEVER outnumber the scouts. It's 4:1 or 5:1 for a campout depending on how many scouts + gear the cars can carry. With the trailer we can go 7:1 if all the drivers own an 8 person SUV. At summer camp this year we were 4 adults for 35 scouts and things went great.

We award the polar bear each time a scout is on a campout where the reuirement is met (temp below 32 degrees). So in troopmaster we record how many times you "earn polar bear" but a guy only gets one patch from the troop. (This message has been edited by knot head)

If this had happened in our troop I suspect he would have immediately been bounced from the campout for strangling and punching another scout. There would be an individual BOR for each scout involved. The guys who took the stick need to explain why they did what they did and if in their opinion it is in line with the scout oath. It does not sound very friendly, courteous or kind. Teachab;e moment. The big guy who threw a punch and strangled a kid is in an entirely different class. He would have at least one BOR and maybe more until he understood the gravity of the situation and why what

It's too bad some troops make boys wait to advance. It seems like we should applaud a scout's achievement and enthusiasm in the earning a new rank, not discourage it by saying you can only earn one rank per year or some other arbitrary timeline.

I'm with John... it depends. But as an example I would not let a guy use the same 6 hours of service toward both rank advancement and citizenship in the community (CIC). Now one scout did 30 hours at his church and split it between star advancement (6 hours), CIC (8 hours) with the rest toward school hours (Key Club I think). That was okay by me, to allocate the hours. But, I would not allow him to work 8 hours and count it for 3 different things. Doing multiple activities while on a campout as mentioned in posts above is just good use of the weekend. You get a couple of nights ca

I've come over to the dark side on this one. My iphone is my BSA handbook, camera, flashlight (in the tent), watch and alarm clock on a campout. So if scouts want to bring theirs I allow it with the understanding if it becomes a problem I may take it and keep it in timeout for a while. Most don't bring it but it sure is nice to have them when you are spread out on a campout.

For our annual pot luck the troop buys the main dish and each patrol is assigned something. Ice, desert, side, cups, etc. are assigned to each patrol. We charge for the main dish like $5 a head or something. It's a family night with games and funny awards. The PLC gives awards & so does the committe. Awards vary year to year but it is stuff like loudest snore, best meal, worst meal, hardest to wake up. Then the annual "state of the troop" speeches from PLC and SM. For COH reception we assign each patrol one item like chips, cookies, 2 liter drink, ice, cups. It's never been a p

I kinda like it all. By the time summer is over I'm ready for the cold weather camping and vice versa. Lucky for us on a winter campout it is unlikely to get below 20 at night and that's not too bad with the right gear. In the summer when we camp there is always water involved. Either canoeing, white water or a campsite with a good swim area.

QUOTE: >>>>In my study of troops in our area, I've found the larger troops almost always have a higher attrition rate and lose half of their new guys in the first 2 years.

Unless the troop that the boys liked better is just a total disaster I'd go with the troop the boys liked better. If they like the boys they'll have a better chance to hang in there. Just my $.02 GKlose posted a good list.

I like Lisabob's post. For me it's a balancing act. Deciding when to step in and offer discipline, a gentle nudge or a strong suggesstion so things don't totally fall apart and ruin the event. Knowing when to hang back because the mess you see about to happen will be a good learning experience. Teachable moment! This is not easy to do but sure leads to grow when the adults can get it right. Setting those lines far enough apart that gut guys can learn to drive and correct their course yet enforcing the lines so you don't go headfirst off a cliff. Like teaching a new driver you start i

We go full uniform for scouts and adults (except in summer). But even in summer you need to wear full uniform and bring your book for a BOR or you'll have to reschedule. I can't remember anyone ever having to reschedule. It's just a given. While most guys have real bsa pants it's just not that hard to borrow a pair of pants for a BOR. If a guy can't buy a scout shirt the CO will buy it for him or he can get one from the used clothes bin. So for us it's not a big stretch to get into full uniform since they are pretty much in it every week anyway. Some guys might wear jeans one week but th

The instructors usually teach it on the first campout (March) for the new scouts each year and it is also offered as an option at night at summer camp by summer camp staff. For guys that join during the year we've also had the instructors teach it on a Saturday morning in an ASM's giant backyard. So for us at least it does not have to be done on a campout. FWIW we don't require the scouts in our troop to carry the card with them to use a knife/axe/saw. I know some troops treat it like a driver's license where you have to have it on you and that's fine if it works for them. But we dont req

>>>I also find the Dan Beard programs at some of these camps to be outright scary, the Scouts come back having learned absolutely nothing.

>>>>I would define a mill as a troop (or pack), as one that after a Scout earns a particular badge/patch, they forget it and move on. They do not practice it, they do not live it or use the skills involved with "earning" it. It was just a chek mark on a bigger list of fish to fry. Earned today, forgotten tomorrow.

I've heard our troop referred to as an "eagle factory" before. This year when a cub pack visited the boys were outside demonstrating fire starting, Dutch oven and compass skills to the cubs. The adults were in a Q&A session about annual costs, where do we camp, gear needed, etc. when one Dad asked point blank how do you respond to being called an eagle factory?. I was glad he voiced the question. Its always good to see how others perceive you. As a group we told him that we run an active calendar camping 10 months a year for 2 nights and also going to summer camp & winter camp.

Okay I thought of one more. At summer camp a scout came to me and complained the MB counselor (18 year old) was using bad language and not teaching. I told him if he wanted to complain to write down what happened and we would go together and file a written complaint talk to the camp director. He didnt back off and went and did write a complaint. Then he, I and the SPL walked to the camp director office. The guy read the complaint and asked the scout a couple of questions. Then he admitted they had gotten complaints the week before. On the way back the scout looked at me as said Mr. J. I

Two things: 1. Introducing guys to outdoor adventure who probably never would have had the opportunity to do these things without scouting. Pioneering, canoeing, white water rafting, backpacking. Many of these guys would not get to do this on their own but the look in heir eyes after the first set of white water rapids or at the end of a 10 mile hike is pretty awesome. 2. Watching the guys that were noob campers not too long ago do everything from decide where to camp, plan menu, buy food, cook food, clean up, help younger guys. Now they are not perfect and need a nudge now and then but

We repeat the Leave No Trace Principle at each meeting and each morning at the flag ceremony on a campout. The adults try to look for ways in the field to encourage the use of the principle in the field. The older guys are starting to do this now too. Each day we line up and "walk the campsite" and pick up trash. When we hike/backpack/camp we award "points" to the scout IF they collect more litter off the trail/campsite than the adults. The boys & adults carry a big 2 gallon ziplock bag and collect trash on the trail. At the end of the day we hold this up and show them all the t