KSscoutmom

Requirement 4: "While a Life scout, serve actively for a period of six months" in one or more of the listed positions of responsibility. It doesn't have to be the six months just before he gets Eagle. Did he fulfill this requirement at anytime while he was a Life scout? If so there should be no impediment to his getting Eagle

Thanks Im afraid several of our boys have given up for awhile because the scoutmaster has everyone believing if they arent participating at that very moment they arent qualified. We had almost resigned ourselves to the recourse he would have to wait until he got a different job so he could make all the campouts.

He is a great boy and i am proud of him, but i think we will practice answering politely questions designed to push his buttons as i am sure this will occur. Being his mom i just wish once the scoutmaster would acknowledge how far he has come and how great he is doing. Unfortunately his son was one of those kids that never seemed to have issues, you know good in school, polite all the time, very mature for his age. Scoutmaster doesnt quite know how to deal with scouts with issues nor have the patience for them. I am just glad although he wants nothing to do with his troop when done he still wants to be active in scouting by continuing with a venture crew.

My son is going to have a very tough Scout Master Conference for Eagle, as his scout master doesnt like him, and the feeling is mutual. Could use with some advise as to how to deal with a potential negative Scout Master Conference. I will get right down to the facts of the matter.

Sorry if this takes a while but I want you to get a full picture.

-Son Started shortly before 13th birthday,very gung ho, extremely active in everything scouts. Great scoutmaster dealt well with him.

-Had Some documented memory problems and ADHD that caused him to be pretty wild and forgetful, enough so that i went on almost all campouts just to help keep him on track and not wondering off.

-He went on every single campout, activity, scout meeting, every chance to do a merit badge he did them.

-I admit he was a handful.In fact there was a time period i wasnt sure if he was going to graduate high school or end up in Juvenile hall.

-Move forward a couple years, several scoutmasters later

-He is now a sophomore in high school and so significantly different than he was, people cant believe it. He joined a venture crew for a year although the crew folded. He went to Philmont and had a great time, He completed NYLT. He became a camp counsolor last year. He even has taken extra First aid training classes through the red cross. He likes the concept of scouting, and has expressed a desire to continue with another venture crew but at the age of 16 cant stand his troop activies and more so just doesnt like most of the adult leaders.

-i have watched from the sidelines this past year and if he hadnt been so close to his Eagle would have begged him to switch troops. It seems like anytime he is not with his troop but with other scouts he excels in leadership and the adults have nothing but great things to say about him. But put him back in his old troop its like the adults especially the scoutmaster havent forgotten how he was and dont see how he is.

-Present day...he has completed everything required for Eagle except the scoutmaster conference. However he now has a job on the weekends (so misses the majority of the campouts in the last 5 months but does try to attend them) and its wrestling season and so is now missing the troop meetings. He has never missed one activity just because he didnt want to go, it has always been due to his work schedule or his high school wrestling schedule.

Scout master has hinted that since he isnt 'participating' he wont pass him at the conference. Its taking everything in his power just to stay in the troop, he just wants to finish up and get on with a venturing crew. He is pretty blunt and is honest so when asked what he will do once an Eagle he tells them - the truth, ok not very PC but basically not staying with the troop.

If ever i have seen a person desrving of becoming a Eagle scout it is my son. The obstacles he has faced and overcame to become the young man he is have been extrordinary.

So when he goes to a conference with a scoutmaster that only remembers all the negative in him no matter all the good he has been doing how should he respond...or is the scoutmaster right since in the past 4 months he hasnt been very active tough luck all his hard work is for nothing. Please help with advise.

Thank You

Is their a certain number of temporary patches that can be worn on the back of the sash or just keep it within reason.

Also I notice some of the boys wear their sash draped over their belt instead of on the shoulder. Is that ok? I understand why they do it, the darn things dont always want to stay on the shoulder

I just want to give some encouragement to those parents where their son is in a frustrating troop situation. Just a quick background. My son was barely 13 when he joined his troop. Never had experience in scouting before but was very enthusiastic. He wasn't an angel thats for sure but he is a total outdoor nut and was excited to be able to do all the great activities he had been told about. Reality sets in - A very clickish troop with what I found to be very unscoutlike older boys. He was treated as a new 10 or 11 year old crossover by the boys who were only a few months older than him because he was new to scouts. Now when your a teenager you do not like to be constantly lumped in doing things with 11 year olds...its very demoralizing. The majority of boys in the troop's idea of camping is to drive somewhere, set up a campfire and poke sticks at the fire until told to go to bed. Most of the adults do not acknowledge anything my son accomplishes probably because he got off to a rocky start with many of them. He had some authority issues (hey i said he wasnt an angel). I am sure many parents have been in this situation. We continue to talk of what his goals are. They are to get his Eagle Rank, and have as much fun as possible. So here is the encouraging part- Don't let them be discouraged. Work with them. Since my son always wanted to actually do things on campouts I became his patrols only Patrol advisor (trust me I knew nothing about camping, or scouting) I went on every campout. When the troop did their usual bit of not having anything planned. I'd find out what my son's patrol wanted to do like a short hike or build something and I'd grab another equally clueless mom and off we would go. They had a great time even if it didnt always work out as planned.. Every Meritbadge college, or camporee that our troop as usual didn't attend I would take him and we would hook up with another troop. He joined a venture crew so he could get the adventure he craved while still sticking it out with the troop. He has been in for a little over 2 1/2 years is a life scout; has over 20 merit badges; has been to Philmont, is a camp counselor at summer camp, all while being active in school and sports, Is making a ton of friends from other troops because we hook up alot with other troops that actually do things. Now, our troop is finally beginning to turn around, the older boys that were trouble makers have all quit; Some of the boys that like to do things are now in leadership positions and the troop is finally looking like a troop. Meantime my son has learned to work through tough times and its ok to march to your own drummer but still be a part of the group. In fact boys are starting to listen to all the fun he has and his stories of what other troops do and are beginning to finally consider the fact they might have just as much fun if they start showing some enthusiasm again. Parents don't give up just get creative with your solutions. Sometimes no matter how much you participate or get trained the roadblock is still there so learn to go over it, around it, or under it just don't let it stop you...or your son.

Our troop gives patches for 50; 150; 250 hours of community service. Can we add these to the bottom of the merit badge sash?

Thanks SueM,

Question #1 its suppose to be boy run, most of the older scouts all graduated last year and so we have very young leaders.

#2 the adults are trained and I really believe they do a good job except for not disciplining the boys, which they say they can't do.

#3 - I am in the process of getting the training, luckily the troop has no problem with women on campouts (thats another reason I like the troop) I go on quite a few of the campouts, in fact thats probably why I recognize just how rude the boys are is because I am around them so much. Unlike some parents whom you never see at anything.

Thanks

Ok folks, my son has been in scouting for less than a year and we have no experience before that. So I need advise. The troop he is in has approximately 25 boys. Half of the boys are 14-16 year olds they have been in scouting together since Tigers. A few of the boys are really good kids; most are ok kids but I would say 80% of these older boys are totally embarrased to be seen in a scout uniform, they take every opportunity to take off the uniform they can, even during meetings we have to stop and tell them 3-4 times to button their shirt, or tuck it in or put it back on. They show up to functions without their uniform all the time. These kids are rude to the leaders as well as parents. They goof off are never prepared, consider campouts a time to run wild. I honestly think if given a choice almost everyone of them would quit but mom and dad want eagle scouts. I could go on and on about what they are like; they are not very nice to the younger scouts and it kills them to have to show someone how to do something. The leaders make excuses for them by saying they can't punish them because that is against scout rules. That kids now adays are teased for being in scouts and so they understand their behavior and why they don't wear the uniform properly or refuse to do anything where heaven forbid someone from their school actually sees them. and my favorite one...if they were too strict the boys would not want to be in scouts anymore. Their are some bright spots in the group, Their are some good boys trying and most of the parents are likeable and make an effort. So my question to you is> Is this normal troop behavior? What should I do?

I would love to go to summer camp but I dont have that much vacation that i would be able to go. Besides I didn't know I could really go? What would I be doing while there.

We just got back from our first Court of Honor. A few of the scouts were telling about their experience at the National Jamboree.Said they really had a great time, and then laughed about the announcement on their 2nd day at camp of a severe weather advisory for 35 mile an hour winds...heck in Kansas thats just a normal windy day. Our first campout with the troop is this weekend. We will see how that goes.

I sure hope this scouting thing is a good idea. My son just recently in the past 3 months joined scouts, from all accounts I really think our troop is a good one, everyone is friendly, helpful,courteous, kind... oh wait a minute thats the law isnt it. :-) He is very excited about it all so much so he has dedicated 1 hour a day into working on his advancements and badges etc., and secretly I guess I am too. As a single parent I have made it my goal that he would never miss out on any of that guy stuff, we fish, camp, etc, etc but he is one of those high adventure kids that wants to experience life... at 40 I am just as happy to be a cheering bystander. My high adventure days are over, but I still really enjoy doing everything with him...however, i think I will pass when they go mountain climbing. After reading the boy scout handbook from cover to cover I kick myself for not having him join earlier. But then that little voice in the back of my head keeps asking is this really a good idea? Please tell me that the number of injuries and deaths that occured over this summer in the BSA was a fluk and that this never happens....please someone anyone? It also doesn't help that we live 9 miles from Wichita and for the last several months it seems every chance it can the local media gets to remind us that BTK was a scout leader. Gee that gives me a warm fuzzy feeeling. In fact he and his old troop go to the same things our troop probably goes to. Since i am very active in whatever my son does and we have a troop that has no problem with moms being a part of the group i guess where he goes I go...that is until summer camp time. AAAGHHH!