qwazse

It's all about, the community, the vision that the older boys have, and what they would like to support. Here's how one might see this working. Troop 7 is lucky to have 12 boys on average cross over each year and 7 boys (one from each class) quit and 3 age-out every year. So, among 11 to 15 year-olds, they have 50 boys organized into 4 patrols, and among the 16 and 17 year olds they have 13 boys for senior leadership including guides and instructors. Each patrol takes on about 3 crossovers. One to four troop guides take on the responsibility of keeping tabs on the crossovers for their first four months. They introduce the scouts to their PL and APL, ask them simple stuff like "Do you like your patrol?", "Are the leaders helping you?", and "Did you get that Scout rank yet?" "Would you like to be patrol leader some day?" "Do you need help with a uniform?" They follow-up with the PL to see if he's been able to teach the newbies some basics. They line up instructors, and maybe figure out some down time when the new boys are off patrol duty so they can troddle over to the parade field for some instruction. Or they line up a patrol with an instructor to get one patrol up to speed with a particular skill. They touch base with the SPL about how things are going. By four months, everyone is in summer camp, and the guides can turn in their patches. Maybe one of them could keep the PoR just to make sure things are running smoothly and to be ready to welcome any new scouts who come along in the off-peak season. In this framework, guides are not central to the well-being of the new scouts, the PLs are. But they are there to smooth out rough patches.

Well, at least he wasn't like one of our 1st class scouts who gave it all up for video games!

My observation: if you (adults, boys, whoever) want all patrols to perform skills at roughly the same level, you will not like NSPs. Better to encourage new scouts to be adopted into seasoned patrols as soon as possible. If you want patrols to be diversified .... Some more high adventure some working on first class in the fore country ... then you will like NSPs. It also depends on who you have as troop guides. Some are fine with starting from scratch with a half dozen crossovers. Others can only handle a couple or three with the help of their PL and APL. It's these boots-on-the ground decisions that dictate how you configure the membership. You can go for years with everything working one way, and then personalities dictate doing it differently.

Yeah, we had all the "bells and whistles" when I was a kid. Called them MB pow-wows. Whatever. I think there is something to knowing you have folks in you corner as you try to earn an award. That could be parents, scouters, or Eagles whose projects you helped with and are willing to give you advise. Maybe there is a little something to that monstrous project workbook. A little more structure. My main concern: are we discouraging scouts who would never make Eagle from enjoying the program? Sure, it's great to have a whole den of boys get the same bling. But I'm kinda glad that -- for the moment -- were back to a mix of boys with varying levels of drive toward that goal.

FYI, @@Ranman328, this is what we scouters call "the paycheck!" I hope you keep cashing in even though your taking that CM patch off of your sleeve.

So you're on par with the rest of the nation, seeing a percentage increase in boys obtaining Eagle?

@@Krampus to gauge what that means percentage-wise, what is your average of new boys per year? Has it increased or stayed the same. I'd agree with the involved-parent observation (got two generations of personal data). Although sometimes it's the reversed causality. I did not bother with the activities my kids were marginally involved in. E.g., I loved music, they were "meh", so I didn't invest my time in those clubs, they loved soccer so to keep up with them I volunteered first as a coach at the Y, then as an announcer. Scouting was a true synergy so it wasn't too hard to get sucked in.

Sometimes it feels like ours lean heavily toward 17.999 I've stopped obsessing over stats for which I won't collect a consultant's fee, but just guestimating: About 1/3 of the boys who registered since Son #1 was in the troop earned Eagle. The age distribution seems to be in two heaps: One around 15 One at 17.5 I was told by a previous scoutmaster that it was nowhere near as frequent an occurrence earlier, and it seems that we're starting to drift back to a more typical percentage. For example, son #2 was the only scout from his den to earn Eagle. We have more boys aging out at Star and Life. Our current SPL has no chance of making Eagle, but he is setting a fine example of a scout (much to the shock of those who knew him when he was younger). But then again, we merged with a troop who was getting our cubs, and most of those are sticking around and setting a goal of roughly one rank per year, so who knows what'll be next?

Welcome! And thanks in advance for your service to the boys!

So, you really are just worried about if something bad will happen if scouters see your W-1's working axes (presumably safely). Well, you can expect comments and back-and- forth between conscientious scouters who want to save your boys from folly. If you all are willing to grin and bear it, share the pics. If you think folks are going to be thin skinned in the face of criticism, don't post 'em.

I like Hedge's procedure as well. Sometimes you need to cast a vision with parents: "How would you like, when your son goes to college, or maybe becomes your business partner, for him to give you a reckoning of income and expenses before he asks for the next infusion of cash? Well, that kinda discipline starts here!" Sure it's real $, but it's not as many real $ as they'll be managing 7 years from now,

I'm just quoting from a published source, as is JiK. But it sounds like you would rather our sources give as reason the bitter truth: So that when the occasional advancement report fails to be filed with council, a boy will hold sufficient evidence that he earned the merit badge and reported doing so. I have not had experience with one-signature white cards. But it sounds like they add a layer of trust to offset redundancy.

Well, in a small troop, we SM/ASMs don't get all bent out of shape if we have to meet the boy more than once for any rank.

Well, from http://www.scouting.org/Home/GuideToAdvancement/TheMeritBadgeProgram.aspx Once a registered counselor signs that all requirements have been met, the Scout should meet with his unit leader to discuss his experience. The unit leader then signs the Applicant’s Record portion and returns it to the young man, who should retain it in his personal permanent records. So, that 2nd signature is to prod the SM to have a little more conversation with the boy?

All of that back-and-forth are interesting steps in the project that a BoR might like to hear about. I would encourage the scout to give his full report to the SM when he asks for his signature. A lot of our boys do have their Eagle project workbook signed along with their application at the scoutmaster conference.

Although I'm not clear under which SM he actually finished the badge, let's assume he did so shortly after camp ... That was sloppy work by your previous SM. Your son should have had the MB in hand the CoH after he came from camp. But, the SM's 2nd signature, is in the applicant's portion of the card. (I.e., the one that should have been given back to the boy as soon as the SM signed it.) The purpose of that is so that the boy has proof from the SM that he turned in the unit copy of the blue card and that a merit badge is forthcoming - just in case the unit and the counselor lost their portions of the application. The only part the advancement chair should need to file the application is the unit copy, which has the SM's 1st signature, and the counselor's signature. Therefore, if the unit has the unit portion of the card, it is incumbent on the SM to sign the applicant portion. And GIVE THAT PORTION BACK TO THE APPLICANT!!!!!!!!! Normally, this happens when the boy gets the badge. But, given that some time has elapsed and an Eagle application will soon be filled out, the boy should ask for an exception.

'skip, my one denial of release was an adopted boy with a bio parent who had a restraining order. So, the more local and specific the website, the more risky sharing would be. It just meant we were a little more attentive about what got shared that year.

I understand the concern. Axes aren't part Weblos' age-appropriate activities. So, a den shouldn't bother setting up an axe yard. But does that mean that a troop can't set up the yard when Webelos are around? That a Webelos can't train under the guidance of the troop during a troop activity to use an axe? And even if the behavior is suspect. Should we encourage scouters to sweep it under the rug? Better to let folks see what happen. Somebody who cares to make a comment, and unit leaders think "Oh, add that to the things to improve upon next time." It's happened to me (with venturers who've given me permission to share pics), and I'm better and wiser for it.

Honestly, boys chopping and burning wood is the least of your concern. (Unless you're in an area with a burn ban!) Do you have releases from all the parents that it's okay to use pictures of their boys to promote the pack? I did have a pack parent who once denied such a release -- for good reason. So, no pictures that year. But, assuming parents have granted you permission. Pictures of boys chopping wood at an early age while visiting a troop are no problem.

This is how you become a happy ASM ... by letting the patrols work through their storming and norming stages. At this point in the life of the patrol (maybe a little later) I begin introducing how to make the perfect espresso.

The scout-shop had some official canvas shorts. Best wearing piece of gear I've ever had from them. If they're still issued, I'd encourage any boy-scouter to get them. With the variety of uniform socks that are available, I'm comfortable most seasons/events. These few weeks being the exception ... but I'm only venturing nowadays, so I've stopped worrying about it. My only problem: I'm now wishing they had standard issue grey canvas shorts! Of course, if you're shy about those gambs, there are the convertible canvas pants. I'm just not a fan of breakaway clothing.

@@John-in-KC Yes, I can almost remember the day we announced it to our scouts and the glint that appeared in some of their geeky little eyes! But, more seriously ... at the BoR, why don't you just ask the scout what he did in that position? I mean, if as patrol scribe he tracked $40,000 in funds for the patrols H/A budget, filed tour plans that only needed the SM's signature, pushed the guys' paperwork for multiple service projects, training expeditions, etc ... hasn't he fulfilled the spirit of the requirement?

FWIW, I really like the most recent GTA on scouting.org. It has the plain text in web pages and you can click back and forth reasonably well. Print-on-demand via a central facility includes binding, covers, etc ... sometimes as end-user-specified options. I have friends (writers, trainers and such) who swear by it. If the facility gets 100 orders, it prints that many in the same hour (minute?) ... with the mailing label on the book ... far cheaper than your own ink and paper. Probably worth waiting a day or two for delivery. I could see this as a great model for scouting. Basic html frame on the web with rudimentary sidebar navigation. At the bottom, a "Click to Order" button for anyone who needs hard-copy with formatted lay-outs, graphics, etc ...

Troop Webmaster? Even so, back in my day, there were several guys who knew how to get garden spiders to crank out the silk!

Makes no difference. It's the attitude of the advisors and what they expect from their venturers. I expect my crew to help their youngn's (GS. or BS. or other). If they're not, I don't have time for them. The undesired behavior can appear in venture patrols. (Going off to H/As, never camping with the troop, etc ...) But, at least if they get all elitist on you, you won't have wasted much in terms of paperwork, specific training, etc ... I've reiterated this again and again ... unless there's a compelling need in a community for youth beyond the boys in your troop to be engaged in this level of scouting and leaders (youth and adult) with the vision to bring it to pass ... don't bother forming the crew.