baschram645

Some great advice, thanks a bunch.

As for the SM having a chat that will definitely happen. As the SM, I just never had this occur more than once to any scout. My SM conferences are always informal in approach. I usually cover what they are doing at school, work or church. What other interests they might have such as hunting or sports. How school is going and their grades (big thing with me). I also ask what leadership positions they would like to do. If the boy has an area of interest I ask about it as well.

Our boards are usually 3 or 4 committee members and sometimes one of the other parents so they see first hand what their son goes through. The board and scout all sit around a small square table. The questions are never a retest but open ended. What does it mean to you ... or What campout was the best you have been on and why... or Which MB was the easiest or hardest... How are things in the Patrol or Troop for the scout etc... What are your plans for next your rank or after High school?

The boys know going in that it is not a grilling or retest and the board does too. This particular board consisted of his former Den leader from Tigers through Webelos II, our CC who he has known since he was a cub and our Advancement Chair who has tended a few of his cuts on outings. This scout is outgoing, self confident around his peers and adults. I think it is an anxiety issue with the fear of failure, or public speaking to adults.

shortridge, I like the idea of asking about his feelings at a BOR. Thanks

ed, I am going to put together a mock BOR for this scout of ASMs and see how he does when he knows it is practice.

Thanks to all who have responded. This site makes being a leader so much easier.

Didn't have this problem as a CPO in Uncle Sams canoe club.

YIS

Bryan

Need some help. We have a scout who cannot handle the stress of sitting on a Board of Review. At his Tenderfoot BOR he stumbled on the Oath and any confidence he had went out the window. After drying some eyes and a pep talk he was fine for a while but started to lose it again. The board got him through it but it was a struggle. Second class was more of the same, stumble on some questions and the stress factor set in again, a bit of a pep talk with one committee member and he was fine. Last night the same results as far as the stress coming through. The board make up is the same as the first two, adult leaders he has known through Cubs. Advancement chair suspended the board for time (it was time for the meeting to close) and then I and the board met and discussed the scout. We all realize a BOR is not pass/fail but an interview to gain feedback from our scouts on the program we have. Also for the scout to express his views and interact with adults. We see the BOR as an opportunity to teach our scouts about interviewing for a job when they get older as well. (Great life skill) At SM conferences this scout is fine, and normally a good kid with high self esteem and very confident in all he does.

My question is this "How have you folks gotten through something like this?" This a first for me and I need your help and input.

Thanks

Bryan

gtscouter,

A good way to poll the troop's scouts with the eight methods would be to do it at BOR's. Ask open ended questions. Then as you gain insight into the troop, give the SM and other leaders the feedback.

If a scout only shows up in a uniform for a BOR or Court of Honor ask him why. Do the youth and adult leaders wear them all the time or not.

Ask the scouts about their experiences at summer camp and troop overnighters. Good, bad and maybe best time, favorite skit or best meal. More insight. Then approach the SM and ask him for info to fill out the National Camping award. This would show support for him and give you more insight into troop activities.

Get a troop calendar from the SPL and ASPL. Ask them questions about what is planned and what they needs to help carry it out. This will give you some insight into the leadership development program of the troop.

Then meet with the SM, have a friendly cup of coffee and ask him what help he needs. Take back your findings and address them with the committee.

Waiting for each scout to do a BOR could take some time and might not be feasible if they are older or you have a large troop. In this case you might ask the SM if it was okay to give the scouts a survey, one that was put together by the PLC. You and the SM could guide them through the process by giving them the guidelines of the eight methods.

Sometimes getting them to read the Scout Handbook is like pulling teeth.

On a campout seeing the Northern Lights for the first time. What an awesome spectacle that was for bunch of suburban scouts.

As an adult leader, my son earning Eagle.

Welcome Aboard from one chief to another. Put in over 21 years myself, in P3's. I've been out over 11 years and still miss the people.

This is the place for great info.

OGO,

Did you use any specific wounds? Where we will be camping is mostly wooded, so we have been thinking of doing a lost camper w/injuries.

I hope I can find a place that sells fake blood this time of year.

Thanks

Bryan

We've been covering first aid at our meetings lately and the boys are getting the hang of things pretty well. All of our cross overs from last year have completed all the first requirements thru 1st class. This years group is starting and the older scouts are showing them the ropes.

My ASM's and I have been thinking about running some drills on our up coming camp out. The SPL and other older scouts are currently working on the Emer Prep MB so we will use these drills to help them as well. We want the drills to be as real as a possible but don't want to scare them to death. I am looking for some scenarios that you all have used to train your scouts.

Bryan

And many, many more!

Recruited ourselves a Troop Chaplain a few years ago. Always ready with a parabel that ties the values of scouting in with todays living. Really good with comparing the scout oath and law to the 10 commandments.

Figure in cooking method as well ie; if patrol uses a homemade soda can stove give extra points.

Maybe add Patrol Spirit, judged by teamwork.

Thanks for posting the link. Great photos!

If the leaders of a unit feel that the boys are being given MB's (not earning) or that they are attending a MB Mill then they should get out of the camp chair and walk around the program areas. Ask to help the counselors. Some are overwhelmed just by the number of scouts they are teaching. Some staffers are new to teaching and some do not have the experience or knowledge that an adult of 35 or 40 years of age has. I have also seen college kids (with more knowledge than needed) teach scouts and hold their attention better than most adult scouters. The quality is there, the senoir staff just have to demand and expect their best. The new or junior staffers also should be given everything they need to succeed. Time to prepare as well tools, books, MB pamphlets, and any other resources to make the MB experience the best. The leaders in our troop have helped with cooking, at the waterfront and the archery range. Ask the program director were you can help, they won't turn you down.

I have also seen leaders of some units question the counselors as to why Little Johnnie wasn't passed for a MB. When confronted by an adult leader most 16 to 18 yr olds cave (Staffers are also trained not to argue and shouldn't). I have never seen the tactic tried on an adult counselor because they will stand up to the unit leader and most unit leaders are more apt to accept an adults version than Little Johnnie's story.

I can't speak for all camps but our council sends out all the info an SM needs to pass to the PLC. Program areas, MB's offered, daily happenings, open program hrs, etc ... If a unit has questions they have the Camp phone #, email address as well as the council office info. No reason to say "We didn't know".

As SM, I ensure that the scouts in our unit also sign up for MB's that they are suited to. If Tommy doesn't know the taut line hitch he will not be doing pioneering, if he is a whiz with a compass maybe he might like orienteering. We should not discourage scouts from trying new things but don't set them up to fail from day 1. If prerequisites are not done prior to camp it is the unit leaders responsibility to not issue a bluecard to the scout.

Our camps are actually increasing the number of MB's offered. The council VP for Activities and Camp director came up with an idea to improve program by getting scouters to teach a MB that they counsel the other 51 weeks a year at camp the week they attend. The counselors provided a list of requirements that have to be done as prerequisites. The camp director snail mailed and emailed the SM's that are attending that particular week the info and then the rest is up to the scouts. A good way to broaden and vary the program. They also have a week of camp called Trail to Eagle were a 1st class or above can work on Eagle required MB's such as Family Life or the Citizenships.

Our council camps use a scout and leader feedback form to provide the camp staff with both positive and negative input on the program that was provided. Every area of the week is covered from check-in to check-out. As SM, I have the SPL sit with the troop and the boys voice their opinions and they write up their feedback. I instruct the SPL to ensure that all are heard from. I monitor but do not interfere as it is their voice. The leaders in attendance do the same as well.

Welcome to the virtual campfire!

Where is the SPL during all of this? Or do the Adult leaders run the meetings? Does the PLC meet on a weekly or monthly basis? Does the troop have a Annual calendar? Are you new to scouting? If you are, are you a leader and have you been to training? Have the other troop leaders been to training? Have the members of the PLC been trained?

Teaching, learning and practicing scout skills to work their way up the Eagle trail are acceptable meeting agenda items. Uniform Inspections, collecting dues and announcements are essential too. Are there any patrol competitions covering the material learned that evening? DO the scout mtgs have a game time? Do the meetings have a theme that will be emphasized on the monthly outing such as first aid?

If you are unsure of these questions ask the SM, he or she should be able to tell you. Ask the Scoutmaster if the troop has a copy of the Troop Program Resources guide and a copy of Troop Program Features. If they do, read through them. If not they can be ordered online or from your council office. These manuals have a wealth of information including monthly themes that have weekly mtg plans and the monthly outing planned as well. These plans can encourage the scouts to try new things or create their own plans. They cover all areas of what can be done for advancement using that theme from the new scout patrol to the older scouts and or a Venture patrol. Then encourage the PLC to try them out.

If you haven't already, volunteer to become a Merit Badge Counselor. This is a great way to participate in the troop. Offer to teach a skill at a mtg or on a campout. One of our mom's teaches blind youth life skills. I asked her to teach the Disabilities Awareness MB and the scouts ate it up. If hiking or backpacking are your forte offer to teach these MB's.

Lastly get involved, join the committee, help plan and run a fund raiser, sit in on a board of review. Scout Troops ar esupposed to be boy lead but each troop needs enthusiastic leaders who willingly help and set an example.

I just hope that if Obama has to appoint a justice to the supreme court the person has a paid up tax bill.

We use the OA chapter's ceremonies team and they perform an AOL and Crossover ceremony. We don't do this at the B & G because it is to long an evening already and we feel it detracts from the ceremony. We do these at the March Pack mtg. This gives center stage to the WEBELOS II for the entire evening.

The entire troop is present at this mtg so each new scout is greeted by all the troop. By this time the Webelos have camped with the troop twice and visited a troop mtg. The boys who choose not to join usually have left scouting prior to the ceremony. We have had a few who didn't show later but we never have denied a boy to Crossover.

We do have the adult leaders who join the troop crossover after the boys and they get their loops then too. We present our troop neckerchief when a scout makes tenderfoot. By then he has made an effort on his part and earned it. Seems they wear them with a bit of pride then too.

Gklose,

we gave them a taste of freedom. Scheduled a campout, had each patrol make up a menu and then after we reviewed them we told the PL's that each patrol will pool their money from the members, buy their own groceries and be responsible for making sure that they had their own food. When we arrived at camp each patrol got to pick their own camp site, and were told that they were on their own. They had to do for themselves and they took to it like ducks to water. Now we have the older boys trained and they know what is expected of them. Each year when the New scouts come up from Cubs we start over but we now have a group of trainers (Troop Guides).

As SM, I relate to the parents that go camping with us that they are not to interfere with the PL's and they are a member of the Adult patrol. There is no hovering allowed. The adults camp together and the boy's do not stay with their parents.

This took alot of doing and we made some mistakes along the way, but the scouts learned that if they forgot something they made an effort next time or they didn't need it anyway. The adults learned that we must ensure the training of the scouts, and to let go. The result is the scouts are more self reliant and we dont have to do so much.

We do Scouting for Food every April as a joint project with the Pack in town. Since the local Girl Scout chair is in our troop (Adv Chr) she lets leaders know about times and places to pass along to GS troops.

We do several projects each year. Patrol the Black River during sturgeon spawn to help keep out poachers. The boys have also acted as waiters/busboys/dish washers at benefit dinners in our town. The pack does a Hike/Clean up in town every May. Besides Eagle Projects we average about 6 to 8 projects each year. We just never report them to GTFA. An article in our town paper is all we do or need.

One of the very basic tenets of scouting is "To help other people at all times". So regardless of what our District, Council, Region or National boards promote, we have made this part of our program. We have even had a few families in our units who have needed a hand up so we know the program is helping our own.

Bryan

Lisabob,

The only time we throw patrols together is when only 1 member goes from his patrol. One thing you can do is have what we taught our scouts, when they only have two or three members go on an outing one option isthat each scout brings food from home. They each bring something for each meal. Oatmeal packets and apples, (six packets and six apples) = 2 breakfasts. Loaf of bread and jars of PB and Jam, 3 more apples, or cans of soup , cheese slices and loaf of bread (grilled cheese)= lunch. Dinner can be done the same way. This beats mom or dad running to the store. Teaches the boys to use their imagination when menu planning. A venison roast disappeared from my freezer for one campout. After that we make sure that they have asked mom first.

Our B & G banquet is this saturday and we have decided that the theme for this is Magic. The dens have been learning magic tricks for their skits. We also have a local Magician coming to perform for 20 minutes or so. What are the themes being used out there this year by other packs? Last year ours was Beach Party.

Sewing Kit

w/extra safety pins ,needles, thread, etc...

2 or 3 flashlights

w/extra bulbs and batteries

Camera

w/extra memory cards and batteries

Extra bug spray (non aerosol)

Mosquito netting (if you dont use bug spray) Get a good nights sleep

Sun Block is a must at the waterfront.

Poncho or rainsuit

Fishing gear if you like for free time

Good Luck and have fun

I see this all the time and occasionally I am guilty of not letting my scouts lead. As for the situation your son finds himself in maybe a reflection with All the parties involved could be a way to clear the air. With a disinterested third party as mediator. Leaders usually hold older scouts to a higher level; more freedoms, more mature judgement, etc... And teenage boys usually have a different idea of what is and what isn't important. If their patrol advisor sat with them before their next outing and explained what is expected, while letting the scouts voice their concerns about leading then maybe common ground can be found. Kind of a Code of Conduct for the trail and camp.

As for the hovering parents the advisor should make it clear in no uncertain terms that the boys are his to correct and teach, not Mom or Dad. As for tact on the part of a the Patrol leader that is something that is learned through experience and even some adults do not exercise it. The ASM/Advisor should have had a little discussion with the patrol to clear things up prior to them getting out of hand and getting to the point that they did.

Our council holds a Winter Carnival each year. It is a 1 day event, where families can come to the camp and partake in several different outdoor winter events. These include Cross-country skiing, Snow shoeing, Black powder shooting, Archery, GPS course, Ice fishing. There are also demonstrations such as Mountain Man skills, Dog sledding and a how to build shelters.

Are there any other councils who put on these kind of family oriented activities in the winter?

If an overhaul is done to the system I believe that every member of the House and Senate as well as every government worker including congressional staffers should be required by Law to partake. Even when they leave government service.

Troop Program Features Vols I,II & III, plus Troop Program Resources are excellent starting and building blocks. A Scout Handbook using the Tenderfoot through 1st class requirements are also great challenges. All of these should be available at your council offices. The Program Features also are published in the Scouter magazine.

Get these publications to the SPL and let him introduce these to the PLC and let them choose from the topics listed or come up with their own.

Through the whole process, guide and coach the PLC to utilize these tools and then let them try, they will come up with a better list if they know what is expected of them. If they fail, dust them off, lead a reflection and then coach and guide some more.