LeCastor

Of course I don't know the whole story of Basement's Troop and I don't claim to. However, I find that not allowing the young "free loader" to bowl and eat pizza with the other Scouts is a shame. On the other hand, I don't know if that Scout was malicious and said, "hey, I'm not going to pay for this and totally make out like a bandit." I think it's great that Basement didn't let the boy go without dinner completely. Going back to the original post, I don't think it's even remotely fair that anyone would suggest the Scoutmaster pay for the entire outing. That's just ludicrous. One of the things I helped create as part of my Wood Badge ticket was an "Earn Your Way to Camp" program. My personal belief is that lack of money should never be a reason why a Scout can't participate in an outing. Any Scout can apply for financial assistance provided that he is active, participates in service projects, and, in the case of summer camp, he must apply for a council campership. Our Troop is fortunate in that people approach me from the chartering org and the community asking if any Scouts need help to go to camp. I never turn that money down and I always find a good use for it. I think it's time to set expectations with the parents and the Scouts. But at the same time, I don't think that removing a Scout from the Troop is going to do that boy any good. As someone mentioned before, Scouting is probably one of the only good things going on it this young man's life. For example, I had a Scout who didn't have money or much of a family and for those years he was a Scout he always had somewhere to go on Monday evenings for an hour and a half. He also had camping trips to look forward to. Sometimes he was a real jerk and made my life hell. But I wouldn't go back and change that for the world. In the other thread on stranding kids I mentioned our Troop's policy of home drop-offs. It avoids this very situation and parents are aware that their kids will be dropped off at home. Maybe that doesn't work for Basement's Troop. I don't know. Personally, had I been at that bowling alley I would have rented the shoes and given the boy a slice of pizza. There's no reason a lesson couldn't be taught to the boy at the same time. It's a teachable moment but not a time to humiliate him and make him feel different.

compassion...

I decided to sit on this for a few days rather than respond straightaway. Basement, I know where you are coming from here and there are definitely folks who come across as jerkwads. However, the person you describe above--minus the "Betterhanyou"--is likely someone with a boatload of experience. Rather than poo-poo these Scouters, I think we should embrace them and use them for the betterment of our units. I see people crap on the "third world generals", or whatever other insulting name folks decide to use to describe Scouters with experience, and it always makes me sad. Are these Scouters really jerkwads or do we just make them out to be so? *********************************** Roundtable should be a place for fellowship and sharing of knowledge. If you are the Roundtable Commissioner it's your job to keep it that way. If the be-knotted jerkwads are hogging the time and pushing people away, nip it in the bud sooner than later before you've lost all your JoeBobs. But please don't harass people with emails or surveys. A good old-fashioned sit-down with the Scoutmaster goes a long way to restoring relationships. Email stinks. Have a beer or a coffee or a Coke with your district's unit leaders and convince them that they should give Roundtable another shot.

My Troop, too, has Scouts whose parents work double shifts or don't have cars. So the way we have avoided experiences like the one described above is to provide home drop-offs. I can't speak for Basement's situation, obviously, but I know that making it known that we want the Scouts to come camping and that we will return the kids to their homes has made a huge difference in attendance. Our drivers agree to taking a few extra minutes to drop the Scouts off at home, many of them being "latch-key kids".

Welcome to the forums, SMMatthew! I suggest this book: http://www.scoutstuff.org/bsa/literature-media/religion/in-our-own-way.html#.VJAzgiujNcY You're likely to find some good stuff in there.

Scouting is a journey much like a backpacking trip. However, we need not be concerned with shaving ounces or grams from the weight of our packs. Instead, we fill them with the collected experiences and relationships we make along the trail. While some are just beginning the trek others have been on the trail a little longer and have more experiences rounding out the shape of their backpacks. It is up to you who are more experienced to, in turn, help those newer hikers fill their packs with memories of service to the community, fun, fellowship and adventure. In Scouting, the destination is important but not nearly as important as how you and your fellow hikers get there. ********************************** Backstory: I have some high achieving merit badge go-getters and I'm afraid that some of the younger guys are starting to feel left out advancement-wise. So I decided to remind the Troop that Scouting is a continuum where we learn new things and have new experiences along the way. I brought my backpack and pulled different things out to symbolize different activities or service projects that they Scouts had done throughout the year. Even if you aren't earning a ton of merit badges, you are still learning a great deal just by showing up.

Thank you, Base, for being a Scoutmaster even when some folks treat you poorly. (I'm guessing you don't have a unit commissioner to help you.)

Maybe we should move this over to "Issues and Politics"?

I have a habit of collecting patches, literally and figuratively. Is that good or bad? Maybe a little of both. There have definitely been times when I thought about stepping down as Scoutmaster (currently starting my fourth year) due to any number of things. But I always come back to the realization that I'm not there for me. I have a patrol of then young men who need me. Should I do it forever? No, I'll find someone else to step up by the end of next year. Personally, I don't think being Scoutmaster should be a life-long job. I've already accepted other district-level jobs and I know my experience as Scoutmaster has/will help in those roles. But to answer your question, it's only natural to question things from time to time. If you aren't ranting a little you need to start! Letting off the steam helps. I'm thinking four years is enough for me as Scoutmaster and now it's my job to find a replacement. That's my opinion.

Twocubdad, I think Eagle94 is right You need a break.

I agree. I am of the opinion that these two young men are the ones who need Scouting the most. When I was a youth and SPL of my Troop, there was a younger Scout who was a real horse's behind. But he stayed in Scouting and with the patient counseling of our Scoutmaster we learned how to work with him. He eventually became and Eagle Scout. From what it sounds like, you have been assigned by the Scoutmaster to work with a particular patrol. You should be setting a good example and guiding the Patrol Leader to deal with the two young men. You aren't there to enjoy a smoothly run Troop where everything works like a Swiss clock. You are there to help mold young boys in to men of character. Does it suck from time to time? Yeah, it does. It's a real P.I.T.A. sometimes. But I have to remind myself that the "fat & lazy" boy needs me. So does the boy whose mother and sisters do the work for him. Kicking the Scouts out of the Troop would be bad for them. Helping their patrol mates work together to lead by example is where it's at, ya dig? They might complain and grumble but that's life.

Welcome, J.edi! I lived for a spell in Charlotte and my daddy bought me my first uniform at Eastland Mall. My Scouting roots are in NC.

I'm certainly not suggesting that Schiff should not be entitled to be disappointed. My point is that I don't agree with the suggestion that transgender issues are our business. A Scout is Courteous and Kind. Period.

PbW, this is Bruce Jenner, the Olympic gold medalist. I don't think it's head shake worthy unless you are opposed to transgendered men and women. Schiff, Packsaddle got it right. Jenner is able to be honest and I personally don't find this situation as losing the way in life. Jenner's transgender issues are not your own. I know you don't mean to single Jenner out here, as you said, but by posting this photo and suggesting that the way has been lost you have done just that.

In my Troop in Norcross, GA we had an annual tradition of going somewhere (it's been almost 25 years) and having an epic game of capture the flag. Each Patrol had a flag that they hid in the cavernous red GA clay maze that was this property. Then each Patrol had to defend their flag while trying to capture the other Patrols' flags. We each had socks filled with white flour as "weapons". Yeah, that was very inexpensive "low adventure". Imagine boys running around in the woods having fun....

Yeah, I think the reason many long-term Scoutmasters never step down is because they are afraid the Troop will be drawn down a different path from their own vision, however mis-guided that vision may be. I'm a little puzzled, though, why the former Scoutmaster would be against the Patrol System/Method. Sentinel, try to recall some of the things this former SM said and run them past me/us. I'm really curious. Even if they are "general things", what is so wrong with having the Scouts lead the Troop?

Yes! This is vital to remember, as it is the purpose of Wood Badge.

Hey, Click! Well, I just started my fifth month as a Boy Scout Roundtable Commissioner. I've seen the attendance pick up gradually since August, where we had hardly anyone due to the family vacation conflicts. My district is urban/rural and I happen to know it's slightly larger than Rhode Island land-wise. (No disrespect to Narragansett Council and Camp Yawgoog!) The December attendance was up significantly and that's a trend I've noticed over the past three years as a volunteer. The deeper we get into the fall/winter the more volunteers we have showing up. This is mainly new Cub Scouts volunteers, though. As with your situation, we typically get the same handful of Scoutmasters, Assistant Scoutmasters and the occasional committee member. We have begun offering basic training for Den Leaders and Troop Committee Challenge. That boosted attendance dramatically! Also, we've had the OA chapter meeting at the same time and location for several years. The attendance there shifts up and down depending on the charisma of the Chapter Chief of the moment. I know there's potential to bring more adults into RT if their Arrowmen sons are there.... We have a model Blue and Gold Banquet every January and it's a pot-luck dinner. Fun stuff to do, food to eat, fellowship to be had. It's in the state capital city and I find that the ones who come the most often are the ones who drive in from the surrounding suburbs and villages...Go figure. The rural communities are the ones who support Scouting the most, in my opinion. The big city tends to drive Scouting away (not Atlanta, I know...I was a Scout there for many years and they're dialed.) I started a Google group for the Boy Scout volunteers so they could continue the dialogue/discussion virtually after the BS-specific breakout sessions. It's sort of working but I think email is dying in favor of FB or whatever the next thing will be... We have a June pic-nic is a local Fireman's Park and that usually draws some folks out...weather depending. Bring your own meat to grill, some chips and dip, cookies, Cokes, etc. There's a list of all registered SMs in the district and I've tried calling the ones who never show...Disconnected. No such number. I've resorted to word-of-mouth recruiting. Plus I ask the Unit Commissioners to invite their unit volunteers... It's getting better each month. Stick to it! LeCastor

Well, done, Ken. I bet your Scouts had fun, too. Way to keep the teaching in the hands of the youth.

The Patrol Method practiced in the Outdoors. Technology can become part of the outdoors and thereby keeping things from becoming too "sedentary". But I hardly think it needs to become a Method unto itself.

Thanks, TAHAWK. I think it looks nice.

LOL I actually just found an older thread on this very topic: http://www.scouter.com/forum/uniforms/12514-neckties/page3

So...when did Scoutmasters and other adult volunteers were green neckties instead of neckerchiefs?

I tend to look at Wood Badge--and other training sessions--as networking events in addition to learning/practicing skills. When you spend six days with a group of people you're going to develop bonds that last a long, long time. This isn't strictly with your assigned Patrol; I'm actually closer with Scouters from other Patrols within my particular course than I am with some of my Patrol mates, mainly due to several of them moving out of state. Don't go into it with any expectations other than the fact that you're bound to learn at least one new thing.