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Just tried it. SSScout. Let us know if it was received on your end.

I take "basically telling" to mean that the SM gave his opinion in a way that shut the boy out. The SM may actually have a path that this boy could take to advance, but didn't give any of that to the boy. That's a prime example of a one-sided conversation and we all need to learn to save those for when life and limb is truly on the line.

The two scouts I knew who were just like that and didn't get elected on first (sometimes 2nd, 3rd) round: One had a penchant for practical jokes. The other was foul-mouthed. Parents were clueless. We just told them that we identified with the boys things they could work on, and we'll see if that changes things next year.

Mentor and coach is the biggest. For that last part, you want to be able to direct the boy to outfitters/clubs in the area that would help him (and maybe his patrol and troop) accomplish some of the "action" items in the requirements.

If it's true, yes the SM should let the boy know. It's always healthier to know that someone doesn't approve of the way you're going about things. How he lets the boy know is another thing. And good ASMs are always helping the SM improve on that front. How to parent when this happens to your boy? Well I would let the CC know that you were discouraged by what happened. CC can't change what he doesn't know about. I have encouraged my kids to tell the adult (usually coaches) that they did not like the previous conversation, and ask what needs to be done to improve things. In this case, if the boy feels that he is better than his SM's description of him, I would encourage him to throw down a challenge "Respectfully sir, your estimation of me falls short of my true measure. To prove it, I challenge you or a champion of your choosing to a knot tying contest." Or "I will arrange the next hike." Or, whatever scout skill the boy is strongest at. Should the scoutmaster be removed? I've often seen that do more harm than good.

Fred, ask your self this: Is a troop better if boys come back from Jambo with stories and ideas and a ton of patches? If not, why promote it to your boys. Is your troop able to take more backpacking trips if boys are involved with Philmont? If not, why promote it to your boys? We send some boys on HA's because they come back and inspire the rest of our boys. We send them so that they learn more about this big country of theirs. We send them so that when they are in the crucible on Paris Island they are the least of their DI's worries, so that when it's time to sandbag or swift water rescue or whatever, they are prepared and their community is better for it. If this is not happening with your boys who've come back from "big ticket" events, don't send them! Don't like "warm fuzzies"? If a boy fundraises $2000 to his account through popcorn, that means 'bout $2000 went to the vendor, $1000 went to the council $1000 went to the troop. Boy has 33% in his scout account. Now you can mandate that it all go into some pot like the Marxists do. Or, you could explain to the boy that he is now a direct steward of $2K of troop funds for as long as he is scouting with you all. Then, let the boy decide if some of it should go to help his buddy (or some anonymous scout) make it to camp, or if he is in a unique position to represent the troop/council at some big-ticket event. Just because it's his decision does not mean it's his individual benefit. His choices should be limited to those which make for better scouting. P.S. - I'm actually of the ilk when our crew fund-raises, we toss it all in one pot and use it to reduce fees. I would be happy if it were that way with the troop. (Son #2 might actually fundraise more if it were so.) So, in committee meetings, I am promoting change on that front. But, there is no reason to put what people have been doing for years in the worst possible light.

This was source material for our topic at roundtable last night. Some conclusions: Paying for camp, uniforms, equipment, etc ... Was not a private benefit. Compare that with how we provide our communities with trained citizens prepared to serve, and you get the idea. If a boy fundraises enough to go to Jambo, Is that a benefit to the troop? It is a benefit to his Jambo contingent. Finally, if a boy leaves scouting the $ raised do not go with him.

A master of cubs' bling is the smile on the boys of a half dozen dens. Get the knot, don't get the knot. Nobody cares. Have a frank discussion with the DL, if he can't step it up, ask him if he'd like some other parent to give it a try. But, also ask yourself if you were doing more work than you needed to ... Some folks lead differently than others. Thanks for your services, and you'll be busy enough as a Cubmaster. That may mean stepping in for den-leaders from time to time. But fighting "multiple hat syndrome" is the best policy.

This is simple. Tell the CC "No." I don't have the details to know if I would agree with the CC or not. It kinda sounds like you need to get training and go to district round tables. As far as policies go, scratch any that dictate how to proceed with advancement, The BSA guide to advancement is more than sufficient for those purposes. You are the SM. You dictate how the ASMs assist you. They are not ACCs! If you say an adult may teach a skill, that adult may teach that skill. If you say a boy can sign off on advancement, then it is so. Tell your CC to do her job. Get trained. Get the books in order. Get on the line with these drop-off parents and see if she can arrange tea with them. Tell her to call the parents she has run off and apologize and let them know the troop wishes their boys well. Meanwhile you will serve the boys according to the scout oath and law as you see fit.

I discourage SM's from asking the boy to do anything specific except read the requirements and call MBC x to see if he/she's available, then if so ask him/her if he should get the pamphlet or do anything else prior to the first meeting. If the requirements were more static, I would suggest a boy grab a copy of a book and read the first couple of pages. But, anymore I have a boy check online to see if he's still okay trying for that MB because there are so many changes that nobody can keep track. (E.g. who knew the change in altitude option for Camping was reduced from 2000 to 1000 feet? ),

I use Google Groups for our crew, the concil VOA list, and the council venturing list. I am generally satisfied with it. I set up most folks as members, recieving e-mails as they are posted to the list, and a few responsible parties as managers/moderators. What I like is someone can send a message directly to the list and (pending moderator approval) it can go out just as if they logged in and replied to a post via a web browser. What I don't like is that there's no way to set up the complex heirarchies that you're describing in one group. You need separate lists for each. No good way to cross-reference between lists to see who's in what group.

I'm sorry fellas, but when a couple of boys are up at 3am, it's time for them to leave the building. I got spare tents (and if not, plenty of tarp and rope) in the van. That last cabin weekend, *I* left the building at 3am because the boys quietly kept the stove stoked, and if I was going to wake up to 85 degree temps, it had better be on a boat in the Bahamas! The boys were not disciplined, plain and simple. That said, it doesn't hurt to talk to the SM and figure out what he's up against. And, be a little forgiving. Like 2C said, your lil' Johnny may have been one of the contributors!

Oh, by the way, welcome to the forums! Let us know how this pans out for you.

Congratulations. Now good luck with the "real" ticket. I got my beads at a crew court of honor where another venturer earned her bronze award. Equal time was devoted to each of us. It was a small crowd, but was with the folks who I was proudest to share it with.

I think kids who can tell you they don't believe in anything in particular are some of the most sincere and engaging about challenges to grow in their faith. In practical terms, ask what the CO expects of you. For example, mine -- being PCUSA -- expects us to say grace before meals, and a little devotional if we're out on a Sunday. But, they would not want us to make a boy say a prayer that he couldn't adhere to. I try to talk to the "no particular faith" boys and find out what they are comfortable with. I haven't met any who have a problem rising at the table while a buddy says grace, and some actually look forward to the opportunity to lead it for themselves. And most Christian boys would rather their mate say a poem or something respectful in his own words than recite a prayer or say something he doesn't believe in. So, I would let parents know that understanding one's religion is part of the program, and ask if there's something important about the boy's faith that I should recognize and encourage.

Boys can be unpredictable. Our troop is mostly older boys, and I wasn't looking forward to our last cabin weekend. But, they were in bunks and lights out before I knew it! Do talk to the SM. Some boys pose more challenges than others. And tents often work better than cabins. If your son is unhappy and it doesn't look like things will be different, changing troops is a possibility. But problems like these come in cycles, the SM may have been as blind-sided by this one too.

I'd like to know, which Native American tribe used black powder to spice up their ceremonies?

Don't discount the girls enjoying the game. Son #1's friends who gather for a game of touch during breaks from college are a mixed crowd.

Welcome to the dark side! The real challenge about football -- especially for rugby and soccer fans -- is all the "starts and stops." Most of the game is spent between plays deciding what to do to that will best move your offense downfield (or stop the opponent's offense) on the next play. Most communities support pee-wee leagues that get gung-ho boys in pads as early as 5 years old! But kids (boys and girls) learn to play "two-hand-touch" or "flag" football in grade school. Instead of tackling, play stops when an opponent tags the guy with the ball by touching him with both hands or an pulls the flag (either loosely tucked or velcro on webbing) from his belt. Pick-up games usually play everyone who comes as long as the sides are even. (We'll even let one side have the extra player, if they get stuck with the Brit ) Many families and friends have a tradition around Thanksgiving of gathering that weekend to play a "Turkey Bowl". Fields are often quite cold and wet and players return a sodden mess. (I remember one year my buddy and I going out and having a riotous time playing with the town drunks!) Boys who play touch or flag regularly can usually walk on their high school and start varsity or junior varsity within season or two. Son #1 did this for his last year in school, and being an avid soccer player, he was coveted for his kick - which did decide a couple of close games. There are proper ways to tackle (in fact right now it's a huge controversy in the US pro football because the players are so fast and large, the concussions and other injuries are quite high) so youth are discouraged from playing tackle ball unless properly supervised. We get the occasional girl on a high school team -- usually the best kicker in the school. There are women's leagues. My wife's best friend played in one for a couple of years and thoroughly enjoyed it. Scouts do play it. I've seen them use their neckers for flags, tucked loosley in their belts. But typically they just play touch and will form a ball with a sweatshirt rope and duct tape! Basically, it's what we do when we are to lazy to find a stick for baseball!

To restate JP's advice: if at first you don't succeed, bail. I'm sorry, 4 years in a troop entitles you to NOTHING. One half year being an honorable camper. Making sure everyone's pack is in order, making sure all other tents are up before pitching your own, polishing those grills, being obsessive about litter pick-up, whipping the ends of every frayed rope, coiling every loose rope, being THE GUY scouts can go to when they can't figure out a skill, cleaning windows and mirrors during the fuel stop, being first gathering kindling to start the fire. And doing all of it with a cheerful and friendly disposition ... THAT entitles you to other boy's votes. That, and sharing an imported chocolate bar that you pull out at the end of a long day hiking.

Nice little book.

I know nightmares. This is not one. Ditto S99. Invite them to come camping with your boys. If they come you'll inspire them. If they don't they're in a prison of their own making, and you don't hold the key. The people who really care about the boys won't be mad at you. Everyone else ... Is irrelevant.

I see things a little differently. The advantage of having the PLC think about it is to get that sense of intimidation out in the open. Unlike sports, where an active coach can see which boys are being intimidated, an SM might only grasp the tip of the iceberg. Addressing a kid like Bad Eagle on your own might correct behavior X, but only because the lad thinks he can still keep behavior Y and attitude Z up his sleeve. In fact, this may be precisely why Bad Eagle became so full of guile. He figured that there was a way he could comport himself that nobody would call him on -- if they knew what's good for him. (Have I mentioned that I really hate the Jr. High years?) Now that the boys know they can call him, or anyone else, on X, Y, and Z, the odds are in favor of reform. The best scorpion is not the one left un-swept in the corner, it's is the one crawling across the kitchen floor. It'll meet the end of the broomstick before doing any harm. All we're doing is helping our boys sweep a little better ...