mpaull

moot point re YPT

Effective June 1, 2010

Youth Protection training is required for all BSA registered volunteers, regardless of their position.

New leaders are required to take Youth Protection training before submitting an application for registration. The certificate of completion for this training must be submitted at the time the application is made and before volunteer service with youth begins.

Youth Protection training must be taken every two years. If a volunteers Youth Protection training record is not current at the time of recharter, the volunteer will not be reregistered.

source: BSA - http://www.scouting.org/Training/YouthProtection.aspx

Pertaining training - While it may or may not be a National thing, Council thing or whatever, our Pack Committee decided to be pro-active and require all leaders (including Assistants) to be fully 'Trained' (in the BSA sense). We figured that this requirement was on the horizon anyway, so why not get a head start and implement it now. In your case, if your Committee were to decide the same thing, then it would not seem as if you were singling out your assistant in any way - everyone, him included, would be required to take all trainings. If that becomes the case, then your Pack Trainer would be taking the lead in 'getting on his case' about the training. This would accomplish what you want, yet still preserve a positive working relationship between the two of you that your 'nagging' might harm. After that, Scoutfish said it best, "if the young man doesn't want to take the classes, tell him that it shows that he really isn't serious about the position, nor does he place the welfare of the kids and pack at the front of his duties to the pack...therefore, you'll have to pass him over in favor of another person who does care."

As to the mom - no comment since others have given great advice.

In addition to the practical reasons of sharing the work load, there is a further good safety reason for campers not sleeping alone - it gives an abuser the perfect opportunity to get a boy alone. This came up in discussion at a recent training, but is not a BSA policy.

Thanks all,

I also just stumbled across another forum discussion on the Pack Trainer as well, and this one is more recent. I'll definitely have a chat with District Trainer as my first step. Thanks again.

Mike

Greetings Forum,

I did a search on the Pack Trainer position and how to become "Trained" at it (in the BSA sense). The thread I came up with was dated 2006 so I figured I would resurrect it by asking the same question again.

How do I become trained to do the Pack Trainer position?

I have seen a list of things I should do as PT - new parent orientation, new leader orientation, encourage attendance at Council Trainings, etc. - but is that it? I would assume that the method of accomplishing all these is not left up to me but is the topic of a BSA Training Module. I have done some work on the above list in a seat-of-the-pants sort of way, and with some tremendous input from various people on this forum, but I want to move on to the next step. I just don't know what it is.

With thanks for any help offered,

Mike

Where could I find a listing of what the CO does? What are their responsibilites / required duties? Many have mentioned the delight of an interested and involved CO and COR - what did they do extra for the Pack?

With thanks,

Mike

When I was originally shopping for the Webelos book, the lady at the Scout Store said that they were coming out with a new one but had no other information. I said that since the one remaining on her shelves was soon to be out of date, I'd take it off her hands for a nice discount, which she agreed to. Nice to know that my highly discounted manual has all the right content with a different cover.

I was my own assistant until I was insubordiante to myself and fired myself. Now it's just me until I apologize and ask to come back.

We have a couple of multiples and I'll ask the Forum's thoughts on them. One person is both Camping Coordinator and Webelos DL, Treasurer is also Tigers DL, Assistant Treasurer is a Bears ADL, and Second Assistant Cubmaster is also Pack Trainer. We continuously strive to "single up" our volunteers, and some years are better than others, but that is how things are looking right now. Ignoring the obvious issues of over-work, does any one see any BSA volunteer policy infractions?

With thanks,

Mike

I posted this question in another forum as well, but will repeat it here if I may. Is it only at the Webelos level that the kids choose a name for themselves and use that instead of their Den numbers? I'm getting the impression that it is only at Webelos that they wear a patch reflecting their choice (is that true?), but can other levels pick, and use, a name without wearing the patch?

With thanks,

Mike

Is it only at the Webelos level that the kids choose a name to refer to themselves instead of a number? Ie., Can Tigers or Bears vote on a name for themselves that will follow them up the ranks (with the appropriate patch), or is this solely a Webelos thing?

With thanks,

Mike

A few last questions - are there any issues of shrinkage in the laundry? do they fit as they say, ie., is an XL really an XL? I've noticed sometimes, especially with clothes made in Asia, that their concept of XL doesn't really match the North American one.

With thanks to all for the feedback,

Mike

Thanks again for all the replies - I'll definately make a trip to the Salvation Army store in the near future. Quick question to Eagle92 - you mentioned specific colors for numbers and the "Trained" patch. Does that mean any of our Leaders, myself included, that become 'trained' in the Centennial year can't wear the Centennial "Trained" patch on the older shirts?

Thanks again for all the replies - I'll definately make a trip to the Salvation Army store in the near future. Quick question to Eagle92 - you mentioned specific colors for numbers and the "Trained" patch. Does that mean any of our Leaders, myself included, that become 'trained' in the Centennial year can't wear the Centennial "Trained" patch on the older shirts?

@ Basementdweller - thanks for the reply. Having the old color isn't a big deal to me (the savings is). Would the color be a big deal to others? Don't want to create a stir. If the old ones are being phased out, will I end up having to buy a pair of the new color in a year or two anyway?

Thanks again,

Mike

Many years ago, as the story has it, a rift between parents caused one Cub Pack to split into two. All people concerned have since long gone, and the general feeling is that our smaller community cannot support two separate Cub Packs. It would also make sense from a leadership point of view to consolidate the two packs back into one. Is there a particular protocol we need to follow to blend the two packs together? Do we need permission from anywhere, ie., do we ask District Council beforehand or inform them afterwards? How about the Chartering Organizations? Both packs tried the intensive recruiting drive thing last year, but the numbers just don't seem to be there for two packs. Has anyone else gone through this?

HI All, I have recently moved into a 'uniformed position' with my son's local Cub Pack and I was pondering the multitude of options on Scoutstuff. I would be very interested to hear opinions on the uniforms, especially on the variety of pants that are offered. Is the $49.99 pair (Centennial Switchbacks Uniform Pants) really that much better than the $19.98 pair (Switchbacks Official Uniform Pants)? Is this (Centennial Boy Scout/Male Leader Supplex Nylon Uniform Shirt) the standard shirt for all levels? I hope to continue my connection with Scouting as my son moves up through the levels and don't want to keep buying new uniforms. Thanks for any advice.

p.s. I'm 6'3", 235#

Was there anything further to the earlier posts from AIFansome and AnaMarie about what color shirts the den emblems were allowed on (or not)? Our boys are not in green, but I'm sure they would love to wear their emblem. Can they?

My son's den is thinking of a summer canoeing event of a slightly different sort, and I wanted to get people's feedback. We have a 34' inground pool at our house and a 17' canoe. The plan was to tie the canoe (bow and stern) in the middle of the pool so the kids could paddle like crazy but not go anywhere - a controlled way to learn the strokes, get used to the movements while wearing a pfd, etc. The kids would never be further than 6' from one of the sides of the pool.

Does this type of event contravene BSA policy on canoeing? My son's group just graduated up to Webelos, by the way, and I am aware that canoeing is not yet on their level on the chart. However, does doing the activity in a pool make a difference?

Sorry Greaves - the Family Travel Loop is indeed what I meant, and I'm sorry abbreviating it led to some confusion. In a broader sense though, what do you think of the idea to encourage a Cub focus at non-Cub events - like an AYSO (American Youth Soccer Organisation) practice and game or our own LOYAL (Lake Ontario Youth Athletic League) baseball events?

I am the Advancement Coordinator for our Pack and I must say I have learned a great deal from reading the replies in this thread - thanks to all. I will throw in my 2 cents worth with this - at our Graduation night last week, we made an announcement to all the parents regarding doing things over the summer that could qualify for Belt-Loops and Pins (notably Baseball, Cycling, and Soccer, as well as Traveller and a few others). We wanted to make sure the Cub knew he was doing an activity for the BL at the time he did it, rather than have a parent merely fill out a form in September saying "Willie rode his bike this past summer - he gets a BL for that" and so on. Therefore, when the kids go to their AYSO Soccer practice, they pick one as their 'Cub BL practice', and the following week when they play a game, they are playing not only for their team, but for their Cub BL as well. Not only does this give a specific date for the parent to use as the Completion Date in Scout-Track, but will hopefully have the added benefit that, as things slow down a bit for our Dens over the summer months, the kids will still be thinking about Cubs and Cub activities periodically and are then more likely to return in the fall.

I'm sorry that this doesn't seem to help with the problem at hand, but I submit it more as a bit of preventative medicine for the future. Needless to say, this doesn't begin to address my apprehension for the fact that any parent can just go in to a Scout Store and pick up whatever Belt Loops and Pins they want their son to have.