SSScout

When B-P started "Scouting", it was (correct me here if I am wrong in my interpretation and memory) because the young soldiers he met in his army were rather weak and ignorant in things that related to their survival in the ranks. His first attempts were aimed at educating the young men in skills and ideas. The young men in the general society found these ideas attractive, and so began "Boy Scouting". B-P's good wife took the ideas and found traction in the female part of society and so Girl Guides began. Were there societal limitations, yes. Certain "types" of young men and women were n

We have forgotten that Eagle is an AWARD, not a goal. SCOUTING is the goal. The Scout Law and Scout Promise is the goal. Scout camp misses the point when it becomes an extension of the school year. MB schedules, worksheets, I left school and went camping for a reason... Scout camp? Get dirty, get clean again. Get out in the woods. Go fishing. I can remember my first MB was from camp. It was BASKETRY. I brought home a woven seat stool, which our family used for many years. I do not remember what happened to it, but it led to other MBs. ""Between every two p

Oh, MBs ! Our DiY camp included them, too. I remember Nature, Astronomy and Camping and Pioneering. As an adult Scouter now, I can now come to realize and appreciate the effort that went into such an event. Scout Led, for sure, but the adults set up the OPPORTUNITY for that leading....

This memory certainly won't apply to most , but here goes. I had a unique Scout time, unique families, unique dads and moms, I guess.... As a new Tendefoot, I didn't know any better, but looking back.... Somebody's uncle/grandfather (who knows now) had some wooded property. We camped there regularly. It had a spring for good water that we capped with a big concrete pipe. Idea ! Let's have our own summer camp ! With the cooperation of a dad who worked for the phone company, we got several creosoted telephone poles, drug 'em in with a Jeep and tractor, cut them up, built a thr

Sloooowly I turned.... step by step....

1) The BSA model requires a corporate sponsor of some kind: Church/mosque/synagogue, fire department, hardware store, PTA, private school, private tree company, I have seen many different COs. 2) BIG corporate sponsors (Bechtel, what was Philmont named from? ) give money, and do it to gain some "good points" (Karma? Is that a thing in the biz world?), publicity is always a good thing. John H. Smith Flag Pole.... naming can be done as appropriate. Smithsonian Institution comes to mind. 3) Sometimes it is "anonymous" that gives the money to build a camp dining hall, or a ne

""Check boxes like in school"... But life isn't about "check boxes". We teach history, math, geography, not just to check off boxes, but to TRY and make sure that our progeny don't have to learn the same stuff our GGgrandparents did , perhaps at risk/cost of their lives. Scouting is fairly simple by comparison. We have automobiles and airplanes, but still walk. Blisters can be avoided by .... Shelter is nice, so we set up fabric roofs, held by sticks and rope. Food is better if slightly burnt, so we make fires and cook.... If these things are not TAUGHT and LEARNT and USED,

Your SM is missing an important idea here if he/she is only concerned with "knowing knots". The Scout's attitude toward the ideals, the lore of Scouting, her/his expectations of Scouting is what should be the goal of the SMConference. I have known Leaders , not just in Scouting, who might "twiddle" with a piece of rope while they talk, gives one something to think about . Way before I was "just a twinkle in his wife's eye", My dad was a steel rigger. He had never been a Scout. When I became a Scout, I found ropes and knots to be alot of fun and very useful. My grandfather on

I would like to point out that anyone who NEEDS, could possibly benefit from, having CPR performed on their person, is PROBABLY NOT going to ask to see the possible performer's CPR Training Certitficate.....

IF ( I say "if") you can find a place/organization that will sponsor CPR/AED training by the above named organizations, do so. Arrange to collect and pay their fee, it will be worth it for the possibilities involved. Since I was a Scout, many moon ago, I have been taught and learned no fewer than 5 , maybe six, different techniques. From Back Pressure Arm Lift to mouth to mouth to CPR (do you know what that stands for?).... I have only been called upon to attempt it once. Another time..... Not a few years ago, my son (Eagle, now off on his adult own) raised rabbits in 4H. The 4H

The Patrols stand around the flag pole area and, in turn , give the cheer and (gesture) or whatever they have created. Woodbadge is the ultimate adult Scout training, and if done right, the participants "get into it" and have fun , along with having many "aha ! "" moments. Owl Patrol: Who, Who, Who wants to know??? Buffalo: KATANKAH ! (with horns).... etc.... The Patrols are , thru the training, given projects to accomplish and should (SHOULD ) present the project with the cheer, introducing their (THEIR) Patrol.

Patrol Yells.... Ask them what the Team Coach wants from the Team... Cohesiveness? Esprit de Corps? Sense of "BELONGING" ? Same for the Scout Patrol... Attend Woodbadge... Each Patrol has a name, and,,, guess what? At Opening, a Yell/Cheer is expected. The leadership roles may rotate, but hey, it is Scouting. The kids grow up and move on... That 12 year old will learn by watching the 14 year old who learns by watching what the now 18 year old did. Your own kid will learn by watching YOUR example. This is nothing new..... Harry Chapin recorded the result. Go Google

Sort of like this ?

Sic Gloria Mundi... Scouts in chairs, "assume LOUNGE position", no neckers, shorts of every color, Scout Uni shirt buttoned crooked, untucked, might remember the Scout Promise, Conservation Pledge, Scout Law.... Flag ceremony? How many stars on the flag? True story from at least now sixteen years ago::: My son chose to join the Troop of my yooth. They still were very active, outdoorsy Troop, he did well, served in all the Leadership positions.... Made Eagle.... One night, early in his career, I stood in the back of the hall with the other parents and watched the opening

Hat... Hat....... The grand mother and grandson are walking along the beach, enjoying the sun and surf. The child is running thru the sandy water. Suddenly , a bigger than average wave comes in, sweeps the boy off his feet and out to sea! The grandmother is also knocked off her feet. When she regains her feet, she realizes what has happened. She is terrified ! She looks up at the sky, raises her hands in supplication! She calls out "Please God ! He is so young ! Bring him back to me ! I beg you, return my grandson to me ! " Just as she covers her eyes in sadness, another wave

I was fortunate to have a dad who had been a timber cruiser in his younger days, and a mom who was all in favor of having me "assist" in the kitchen when I was old enough. Sunday mornings were my dad's time. He made the pancakes, bacon, scrambled the eggs. Mom was a roast beef, chicken, baked potatoe and salad person. I went off to summer camp (non Scout) once with my number one cousin, and was astounded at his lack of eating variety. He darn near starved to death those weeks,,,, My Troop was an outdoor Troop first and last. We were fortunate to have some families with wooded proper

I finally looked at this thread. The symptoms mentioned are visible in other organizations. Lions clubs, Red Cross, Rotary, etc. I have had conversations with friends about such organizations. Many are reporting lack of interest, lack of membership. Older members age out (die !) and for some reason, younger folk do not find the social milieu , or something, attractive to them. Oh, there are other groups forming, picking up, but the older, traditional groups seem to be faltering in some areas.

What they said..... youtube button factory skit

Bugling.... A good Bugle can be a hundred, or so. And then, if the Scout is already a brass musician, a good trumpet or trombone can run a thousand or more.... Farm Mechanics? John Deere combine? An antique Ford 8N ? Naw,,, Farm Mechanics can be applied to the family riding mower.... Both can lead to lucrative careers....

Hey ! What about this couple hundred hectares over here... It doesn't get used very often by ANYBODY, only during 3 or 4 months each year... I bet we could find a condo builder, give us a good price....

"Nobody expects the Spanish INQUISITION."

Well, what are you trying to do? If the originators of Scouting saw it as a Christian thing, and B-P (and others) sought to keep a spiritual component, but not a specific religion/faith, and you seem to want to allow (?) atheists and agnostics to still "do my best", without acknowledging that spiritual component (or am I misreading your purpose here), as I said: "I am not sure what he (B-P) would make of the new movement to make Scouting un-religious. The Scout should not be "required" to acknowledge that component? Should she/he have to? If others do not want to acknowledge any su

Golly gee, AES, I am not at all sure what's been decided here. Way back when, B-P had to make clear to the Church of England that the new Scout Movement was NOT going to be a prosyletizing part of the Church, altho in his writings he made clear he thought there had to be a Spiritual component in Scouting. He was open to any faith, just not only the CoE. I am not sure what he would make of the new movement to make Scouting un-religious. Yes, there are some who would like that BSA be, as you say, a "Christian/theist organization", but that train has already left the station, as the

I need all the help I can get. If someone wishes to invoke the blessing or help from their version of God (or lack thereof) , no problem. A gift is a gift. I accept it in the spirit presented. I have been present when God, Christ, Jehovah, Buddha, Vishnu, the Great Spaghetti Monster and "none of the above " (really!) have been asked to positively affect the outcome of an event, and found myself only slightly shagrinned when I had to think about who or what was being mentioned. I know where from I have been helped. I can only witness to my own experience. I can only re

Okay, let's get specific then. I will start with Lutherans, only because one of my favorite people is Garrison Keillor and he ALWAYS starts with Lutherans.... https://garrisonkeillor.substack.com/p/thanks-to-lutherans-i-skipped-ballet?