Lexington76

Thanks all! You've go me thinking and ready to go.... adult leaders are to meet soon and the kids are indoor rock climbing this week... off we go and I'll keep you posted!

I am the advisor for a 6 year old crew that has been very successful in the past,

but with the loss of key older youth and the lack of effort and attendance from

this year's officers, our crew is struggling, down to 4-5 active members. I

also have not been the most effective advisor lately, but we have new adult

assistant advisors who have energized the adult leadership and are really

excited to assist!

Any suggestions on how to "jump start" a crew in mid year? Needs would be to add

membership, replace officers who are not attending just give our unit a shot in

the arm Suggestions?

I'm the COR for our troop. Our troop committee just met, with a number of Scouters & parents taking on various new offices, including a new Scoutmaster. The meeting was very productive and the troops first meeting of the new school year is in two weeks.

I mentioned while we have ceremonies for the troop, an investiture ceremony for our new Scouters (and those in new positions ) would be appropriate. The leaders agreed & I am to set one up. I've looked at some on the web, but still need a ceremony.... any suggestions?

Steve in SC

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I am interested in presenting to my officers the idea of working on the Bronze Outdoor as a lead up to our 2010 Philmont Trek- we are trying to set our typical monthly schedule as 1)officers meeting 2)instructional meeting 3)fun meeting 4)monthly high adventure event

Any suggestions or comments?

I am interested in presenting to my officers the idea of working on the Bronze Outdoor as a lead up to our 2010 Philmont Trek- we are trying to set our typical monthly schedule as 1)officers meeting 2)instructional meeting 3)fun meeting 4)monthly high adventure event

Any suggestions or comments?

Thanks for all the good info!

My Venturing Crew will be traveling to Philmont by plane from SC for a trek in June of 2010. This will be Philmont trek #2 for my son (I'm a newbie) who went last year - that crew drove, I cannot take that much time off. I would like to take a day or two after we get off the plane to acclimate and to not be so rushed from the plane to check in at Philmont....

Any suggestions on a travel service to help with flights and bus service, etc... especially from airport to Philmont?

Also any suggestions for any activities we might participate during that time? we have not set where we are flying into (Denver etc...)

Thanks!

Our Scout leaders and sponsoring church have decided to have an EOY Scout Day/ campfire to celebrate the past year...this is open to the public and to give back to our CO. We are thinking of our Crew running field games for the pack, maybe a catapult competition for the troop... with supper cooked by the Scout leaders for all later in the day followed by a campfire / ceremony at the bottom of the hill back of our Family life center. Ideas we have for ceremony are songs, skits, advancement, thanks yous and a flag retirement ceremony...this would be the final pack meeting before summer FYI...

Any good ideas for the day or the campfire?

Bob- Thanks for the response.

I am aware of the prefered leadership tree, but even with lots of effort, help from other leaders, lunch one-on-ones with parents, I am unable to get adult leadership commitment as you rightly suggest.

The reasons are classic-

" I'll help as long as my son is in the program..."

" Times are tough- I need to scale back on my time with Scouts..."

"Don't you think I'm more valuble as a den leader/ lower level leader than as a higher level leader?"

"I'm burned out and need a break.."

We have a bout 60 youth with about 20 leaders- our church greatly supports scouting, but older adults have not been interested in assisting even on committtee levels.

So many jobs are still covered by a few.... I would like to get rid of the COR designation if only someone would take it. My real joy is with the crew.

Thanks for letting me blabber on...

I am the advisor for a 4 year old and very active crew. I also serve as the Charter rep for our pack and troop & serve on the troop committee, helping with Courts of Honor.

My problem is that I have about 5-6 Boy Scouts (ages 13-14), some who have earned their Eagle who would like to join the crew as they feel that they have out grown the troop parents, some who are leaders, would like to move to the crew as well

This in itself is no problem (my own son completed his Eagle as a part of the crew) but I want to see the troop continue to have senior scout leadership - I also do not want to discourage membership in the crew. Being a part of one unit is better than not one at all! Venturing has served as a great way for many boys who left scouting to rejoin a unit - over half of my male members have been such...

Attending one meeting a week for these active boys is hard enough, much less asking them to attend two How do I continue to grow the crew but not hurt the troop by them losing older boys. We do not have a policy as our troop and crew are fairly new- how do you handle such a problem?

Thanks for all the comments- some good ideas I can use! As far as the word "graduate"-no particular intended meaning- we had only the 2nd Eagle COH in our building -the two scouts earned the rank properly...

As far as leaders?

EO & COR

Pack- CM, ACM, 8-9 DL & ADL, CC & 3 MC

Troop- SM, 2 ASM, 4 MC

Crew- A, CC/AA & 4 MC

With overlap in leadership around 25 or so- I apologize in advance for getting the abbreviations wrong.

Hello-

I am the Charter Rep and Crew Advisor at our church which has over 60-70 youth in our program. As a former Cubmaster which restarted the Pack 8 years ago, we have seen the pack grow to a consistent membership of over 35 boys, the troop re-charter, graduating two Eagle Scouts this week, and I have one of the more active crews in the district.

The units are healthy and active. We just finished a work day to spruce up around our nice scout lodge (which was completed donated by a church member) a day which had outstanding participation by parents of all the units.

We have over 25 registered leaders, and while we have been blessed with strong leadership, I still know that units are fragile when it comes to relying on top leadership to carry a program. We have not fully embraced the committee concept, instead letting the CM and the SM carry the load when it comes to strategic planning.

Its almost like a family company that has grown too big to operate like it always has but needs to prepare for future business. I try to recruit and encourage other parents to join leadership. How can best assist with the future of our Scouting program?

Thanks to all for the replies and good info!!

Steve Hendrix

My Venture crew will travel to MHA this coming summer- does anyone have any suggestions or past experiances? I am looking for a way to travel from Bangor airport to the base & back after the trek- also a place to stay the night before we set off from MHA- anyone have suggestions?

Thanks!

Hey all- I am the crew advisor for a high adventure based crew with many new members. Ne w & present membership includes hiking & camping experiance of all levels- never had a back pack to eagle scouts.

To help the teens who have little experiance, the officers and I are planning a Camping 101 night at our next meeting (a local equipment outfitter opened their doors for us after hours last week and did a great job updating us on packs, bags and clothing)

Besides going over other basics (BTW -our first overnighter will be a drive in event helping with a council Cub Scout weekend- we will back pack the next event) I would like to have some fun with some competitions, like a fire building event, tent pitching, etc....

Any ideas or suggestions? Resourses?

Thanks!

Steve in SC

Hey all- I am the crew advisor for a high adventure based crew with many new members. Ne w & present membership includes hiking & camping experiance of all levels- never had a back pack to eagle scouts.

To help the teens who have little experiance, the officers and I are planning a Camping 101 night at our next meeting (a local equipment outfitter opened their doors for us after hours last week and did a great job updating us on packs, bags and clothing)

Besides going over other basics (BTW -our first overnighter will be a drive in event helping with a council Cub Scout weekend- we will back pack the next event) I would like to have some fun with some competitions, like a fire building event, tent pitching, etc....

Any ideas or suggestions? Resourses?

Thanks!

Steve in SC

Hey all- I am the crew advisor for a high adventure based crew with many new members. Ne w & present membership includes hiking & camping experiance of all levels- never had a back pack to eagle scouts.

To help the teens who have little experiance, the officers and I are planning a Camping 101 night at our next meeting (a local equipment outfitter opened their doors for us after hours last week and did a great job updating us on packs, bags and clothing)

Besides going over other basics (BTW -our first overnighter will be a drive in event helping with a council Cub Scout weekend- we will back pack the next event) I would like to have some fun with some competitions, like a fire building event, tent pitching, etc....

Any ideas or suggestions? Resourses?

Thanks!

Steve in SC

Thanks for the clarification on the Bronze/ Ranger Award - you are correct- and I totally agree that the crew and its officers should sign off on the crews advancement desires - I am sure we will have some crew members who are not interested any advancement at all, but will still participate in activities when their busy school schedule allows, and will bring enthusiasm and talents to the crew in their own way.

Im the Charter Rep for the Scouting program at our church- we have a 7 year old pack, 3 year old troop and a 2 year old crew (I am also the crew advisor). I recharted the pack as its Cubmaster back then, and have continued to enjoy the program with my son and other long time leaders/ Scouters.

We coordinate a yearly program planning event at which all leaders attend and plan the upcoming years agenda & activities we then end the day with a cookout at my house for all leaders and their spouses. This has been well attended for three years and the planning & fellowship have been great.

The units are continuing to grow, and with that, the business of each unit grows.

Each unit has a unit committee meeting once a month- I try to coordinate somewhat of a Scouter executive committee meeting 3 other times a year than the program planning to layout communication and common program needs.

But by growing from a program with 6-8 leaders who knew each other like the back side of their hand, (10-15 cubs) to a large program with many new leaders (20-22 leaders with over 60 kids), I am need of advice and suggestions .

How can all three units keep from making conflicting unit decisions? Support one another & work together, share common goals,yet stay out of each others way allow each to be their own individual unit etc

Whats worked or not worked for your groups?

Some members of my 2 year old crew (I am the past committee chair and now the advisor) are interested in working on the Ranger Award- then possibly the Bronze Outdoor. I have one crew member who is a Star Scout and is not active in a troop. He would like to continue his work toward Eagle as a crew member, but work in a manner that keeps him involved with his friends in the crew, some with Scouting experience (Boy & Girl Scouts), some friends with no scouting background at all.

I need suggestions on creating advancement opportunities that would serve both tracks could common requirements suffice for both awards/ count towards both? Any tips on creating activities that would help with both lines of advancements?

Our Lutheran church keeps the American flag & the Christian flag in the narthex or entrance to our church. For Scout Sunday, we have a processional and carry in those flags along with unit flags for the Pledge.I have 5 flags (American, Christain, Pack, Troop & Crew flag)

We have steps up the center to the altar -last year I placed the Christian flag on the left of the steps with the American flag on the inside - I placed the units flags on the right of the steps.

Was that correct? Suggestions?

John-

Is the church the CO?- yes

Are all the boys (and girls with the crew) Lutheran - no

The program is actually made up of more non- members (unchurched and members of other congregations) than CO church members - this due to church's youth demographics and the program is well regarded.

Thanks for the links- I will check them out!

I am trying to find something to use in place of a sermon for Scout Sunday. Our pack, troop & crew participates & leads the traditional Lutheran service- read lessons, prayers, usher, color guard etc.... I am looking for any ideas- something like a formal reading - maybe something that could involve multiple readers - adult leaders, teenage crew members & cubs....or something that I as the COR could use - like a longer SM Minute.... other ?

Anybody have any ideas or places to check?

BTW- This years Scout Sunday includes a Scout Hut ground breaking, dedication of a new flagpole in honor of a former SM & Pastor, BBQ plate fundraiser and the above service! Whew! Does anyone have other good suggestions for Scout Sunday?

Thanks!

Does anyone have an officer induction ceremony that would be suitable for Crew officers?

Thanks for the ideas and info-

Our officer election was last night and training is a priority before the start of the school year.