Basementdweller

That Pack is an exception So what about the average size pack which is about 25 boys or so......

Just curious, So what are your thoughts on a Pack paying for a Den Leader to attend woodbadge???? Personally I think it is way out of line. If the Pack is that flush with money they need to reduce what they are charging their families or increase the spending on the boys. I don't have an issue with spending the $10 and sending them to the position specific training, it does include lunch. But $300 of the boys money is too much.

increase your patrol size to 10. With a typical 65% participation you will have functioning patrols.

I have never rejected a program idea, Well I did reject the paintball guns in the fellowship hall, but not because I wasn't physically able to do it. My knees ache and creak, after a long day of hiking or canoeing I am sore and stiff. I have posted this before, I will continue to take the boys out as long as I am physically able.

This is how I became SM. At a mere 50. The 70 year old lifetime troop members are too old for the outdoor program. I have asked this before so where are the 30 and 40 year old Moms and Dads?????? I did a survey of adult troop leadership at summer camp.....It was frightening.....While there were some 40 year old leaders....Most were in their late fifties and sixties.

I'll give you that the Scoutmaster is in charge of the advancement program within the troop but since the requirements for earning the Eagle rank/award should be the same for all troops - the Scoutmaster should not be setting the bar. I was a Scoutmaster to around 15-20 boys who earned the Eagle rank and I can honestly say that some stuck around to earn silver palms and remained active in troop (youth) leadership and some never returned after they earned the rank except for their ECOH. One of the best Scouts I've ever had the privilege to work with never got past 2nd Class and was a great PL and SPL. The Eagle rank doesn't make the Scout but it is a nice recognition for the Scouts who have completed the requirements. Many parents and Scoutmasters need a tangible measure. Krampus's troop is a fine example of this. A boy shows up to the meeting, attends the outings, his patrol leader signed off the rank advancement requirements. How do you measure scout spirit for the scout lawyer parent....Tell me why my son doesn't show scout spirit.he attends all the meetings, but doesn't participates, he attends the campouts, doesn't do anything beyond the bare minimum.

PaulSafety: Welcome to the forum from your anti-matter counterpart in Scouting. The centerpiece of the "Personal Growth" Method when it was introduced, was the "Personal Growth Agreement Conference" with its own paperwork: the official "Personal Growth Agreement" contract. The Scout was required to list specific goals and then meet them before his next advancement. To accommodate the anticipated flood of "urban youth" who hate Scoutcraft, the goals need not have anything to do with Scouting. And yes, when "Personal Growth" and "Leadership Development" were introduced in 1972, the Scoutmaster's Handbook asserted that these new "Methods" of Scouting were equally important (bold and italic emphasis in the original) to the Traditional Methods. Camping was removed from the supposedly "equally important" Outdoor Method as a requirement (yes, in the ideal "leadership skills" program you could go from recruit to Eagle Scout without a single night away from home), "Real" Patrols (and Patrol Leader Training itself) were removed from the supposedly "equally important" Patrol Method and replaced with "leadership skills," and Scoutcraft (required by our Congressional Charter) was removed from Wood Badge and replaced with, um, "leadership skills." So Personal Growth was introduced by those in Scouting with contempt for Scoutcraft and the Patrol Method, and lives on in the "Character and Leadership" battle cry of the BSA: http://inquiry.net/leadership/sitting_side_by_side_with_adults.htm Boys am I glad I missed that as a boy

So Blake, do you think a 11 year old is going to cowboy camp on a piece of plastic and a wool blanket. Again not knowing what the lad is like......I doubt he would enjoy eating trailmix for two or three days. Only dad knows him Not knowing where their going It is really bad advise to say, awe take a poncho and a wool blanket, you will be ok..... Too many variables to offer or take advise like that.

KDD I wouldn't take him....at 65 pounds he cannot even carry all of his own personal gear. Have you purchased his pack? it will probably weigh at least 5 pounds, change of socks and undies 2 pound, sleeping bag 9 pounds standard coleman 30 degree bag....water 2 liters 4 pounds.... His gear is already over what he should be carryingt and doesn't have food, tent flashlight rain gear..... There is plenty of time for backpacking... Ultimately it is your decision....... So some options. His patrol shares his load, but it needs to be their decision to do so. Dad could help with some of the load??? You could spend some dollars on down sleeping bags and lighter packs. Or you could wait a year or so till he puts on some weight. How about a father son backpacking trip? you can evaluate his performance without pressure from the rest of his troop. Not knowing your boys or the terrain you will be covering I cannot make a judgement on distances.....But unless they are all athletes 10 miles in a single day is a bit much for a first backpacking trip

Well it was ugly, I didn't enjoy it one bit. Mom just sat their eyes firmly on the scout.....he Blamed the troop leadership for not keeping him busy enough.... Put it on the line with him. read him the letters from the scout parents, he disagreed and his account was much different..... His smart mouth and cocky attitude were gone.....I think sitting in a room of 7 adult eagle scouts telling you that your going down the wrong path, gave him a moment of pause. Maybe this made it real. Only time will tell.

Tonight is the BOR

So you deal with my little angel is special and my little angel would never do that......Your right I probably could not understand your issues. Money and two parents would make most of the issues I deal with disappear, but I am sure it will create different ones. We do not have extra adults to baby sit bullys. My young man put his hands on mom, well lets just say he would regret it.

Well I suppose next time he gives a kid a bloody nose I could have him do the first aid The next time he gives a kid a contusion have him administer first aid. Naw, I will not sacrifice the troop to save one lad. how many more fights before we start losing boys. I have a pretty good idea on why he is a bully, Mom and Dad beat him as a kid, he raised himself, mom and dad divorced and dad disappeared. His mom bullys him, he has very low self esteem. He is physically larger than most the boys in the troop and uses his size to intimidate......after training the troop, including him, on resisting bullying he has now resorted to violence. He blooded his best scout buddies nose, interested to see what happens tonight.... Bando, it is easy in your world of suburbs, two parent house holds, and units with as many adult leaders as boys......That is not my reality. Absentee parents, neglect and three active adults run the program for 30 boys. You have read my post dealing with bed bugs, lice and boys being sent camping with us sick with the flu and strep throat, parents disappear unable to be reached for pick up during the outing, imagine that........ My world is far from neat and tidy like yours.......I do not have the time or resources to deal with a boy who I cannot trust and is a threat to the others of the unit. I have spoke with him several times prior to this about hitting other boys, he drew blood last week, now written warning and next trip he is out of the troop.....CC is talking about getting his membership revoked at a council level.....Yes it was that bad.... That was the only thing that came from the committee meeting was I need to follow the troop policy which means I can not immediately suspend him...... I have to council with parent and a written warning first and then suspension.

earned or received?

To answer this questions Looks like star life and eagle per national http://www.scouting.org/scoutsource/BoyScouts/AdvancementandAwards/eagle.aspx

I will say again that rare is the scout who is the den chief who does this job to the level brew has described.... I post this not to argue with brew.....I have not met the scout like this...... So SM..get your boys trained and then solicit feedback from the den leader for feedback on The lads performance. If he is not doing the job don't sign off the POR as being complete

The camporee was a 20 mile round trip. A number of scoutmasters showed poor judgement taking 11 year olds who weigh 80 pounds with a 30 pound pack. I get your point Blake....but how much gear did you take??? Was it your lunch a canteen and and box of matches. Big difference not hauling tents sleeping bags and 4 meals in fuel

I know and understand where it comes from... But the modern definition...Is not coal miners protesting about safety and pay. Let me see we have a few self proclaimed rednecks in the neighborhood.....White, use tobacco, drink cheap beer, listen to really loud country music, one has a diesel pickup with a rebel flag in the rear window. Most I have met are very racist.

Three times a year... April July November But it is not under Food for Scouting, But our CO's food pantry name.

Ok, Bando, don your white hat and try to rescue every kid with issues. Scouting is not social services, we are not family councilors, we are not mental health thearpy..... This young man in my troop is much lik scoutmom's boy......Not drugs but violence, Maybe a trip to juvy would help him out.....But first and foremost is the safety of the boys in my troop....There is a zero tolerance for violence. So how many boys are you going to lose trying to turn a bad kid around. I have taken two written complaints in the form of emails from his latest victims parents. I will present them tonight to the troop committee at this evenings meeting. I know the family history, He is a bully because of mom and dad, looking at the causes fo bullying he has experienced most of them... So Bando, are you a qualified mental health professional, I am not. So Bando, are you prepared to explain to troop parents why their scout is bruised or injured at the hands of a lad who has known violent tendencies. So Bando, are you prepared to be sued by the Parents if you diagnose their boy with an issue. There was a story posted here of an SM asking parents to get help for their lad, they did and then sued the SM for part of the cost of treatment.

guessing health and beauty

Around here it is called Learning for Life. It is completely separate from the BSA. All though the SE for the council is also SE for Learning for Life. It is completely inclusive. Boys, girls, gays, lesbian and atheist. Locally this is where our United Way dollar goes.

Continuous Positive Airway Pressure it is for sleep apnea Yes I have....Buy a warbonnet blackbird, It has a shelf and when it is too cold for ambinent air you sleep with it inside your sleeping bag..... if you breath cold air thru your machine you will get pneumonia, Didn't learn the first time so I had to do it twice. for me when the air temp is in the low sixties it is too cold to leave it outside your sleeping bag.

Well just gotta share this. Locally we had one unit switching to faith based boys.......well guess who shows up to roundtable last night. Well since they are letting gays in as well no point in changing.....welcomed him back....bought him a coffee and cookie at break......there free.

I think you were out of line with the OA announcement. All of our announcements go through the SPL and I have never heard an announcement for another units activities. Adults are not permitted to address the our troop. He obviously is threatened by you.