Twocubdad

You won't find this written anywhere so don't bother asking me to provide a reference, but I personally feel a big part of my responsibility as Scoutmaster is to help boys get the most out of the program and their time in Scouting. Of course the biggest part of that is providing them wiht a quality program. But another aspect is to help guide them through the program so that they get the most the from it. That include guiding them to good MB counselors. If Mr. Burnedpot is an idiot and is known to pencil-whip merit badges, the better answer is, "No, I know it's not as convenient to you, but Ms. Rawpork across town is an amazing counselor. You'll really enjoy working with her and learn a great deal. You really should work with her." In our council MBC are approved by the district, but generally are recruited by and work with individual troops. Counselors have the option to counsel boys district-wide or for their troop only. All SMs have access to the entire list and I have occasionally called counselors specific to other troops to ask if they will work with my guys on highly specialized MBs. They always agree. Personally, I like this system. It allows the unit to manage the MB process by the folks who know the counselors best. Over the years we've had a few turkey counselors. A year later they simply realize its been a long time since any Boy Scouts have called.... In terms of the number of MBs counseled by any one person, this system allows the troops to control that by the number of MBs each counselor is registered for. We simply don't register counselor for dozens of badges. That doesn't involve the boys at all, so there's no issue of "added requirements" if that is of concern.

I've never been able to use the "Spin a New Thread" function here, so consider this a spin from the thread on the iPad merit badge requirement app. In the parent thread Moosetracker mentions she doesn't like Scouts working on merit badges without using the pamphlets, rather working off a list of requirements only. I see quite a few of our guys who immediately print the worksheets off Meritbadge.com for every MB they work on. On the one hand, these are a rather convenient way of tracking and organizing their efforts, but I also see a down side that these worksheets tend to maximize the paperwork aspects of any MB. Even for the "discuss with your counselor" requirements boys tend to write the answers on the worksheets instead of actually having a conversation. A good MB counselor can solve the problem. For the few MBs I counsel, I let the boys treat this info as notes, but still try to engage them in a conversation. But too often I hear conselors take the approach that if you wrote out the answer, that's more that adequate. Of course the downside is that the Scout isn't really benefitting from the counselor's expertise in the subject. It just becomes another school report. Worse yet is the idea that the boys can mail in the paperwork and never really engage the counselor at all. I've occasionally overheard/watched counselors just sit and review a worksheet with a scout and call it good. Yuck! So what's your experience? What do you think of the worksheets? How do our scouts and counselors use them?

My sons understand there are basically three merit badge requirements: 1. Do stuff 2. Explain how you can get hurt or killed doing the stuff and what to do about it. 3. Read stuff in the MB book and spit it back. Number three is much easier if you have the book. Sounds like another wiz-bang with the primary purpose of making BSA seem cool. I don't see a crushing need this meets. "Managing their merit badges" isn't a big deal electronically or on paper. My guys don't typically have more than a handful of badges open at any one time. And then the issue is more of keeping up with with the materials they've completed. A check list of requirements -- paper or e -- isn't a big deal. To that end, many of my older Scouts have a Scout notebook which they keep all their material in. They keep all their MB blue cards and advancement cards in baseball card sleeves keep up with the materials for their open MBs in tabbed sections. But it's not something they haul around, unless they're meeting a MB counselor or working on a badge.

I thought we're not supposed to name threads after people anymore. Ohhhhhhhh, I get it.

MEANWHILE.... Don't cut off your nose to spite you face. Or more directly, don't cut off your Scouts' noses to spite their face. I'm in a similar situation with my council and district, but for different reasons. A couple years back I got tired of the politics and favoritism in the district and council and completely withdrew my personal involvement and support at that level. However that does not mean that I've forced that upon the troop. If there are council or district events in which the troop wants/needs to participate, we do. If there is an activity of which I want to take advantage, I do. We/I pay our dues and file our charter. The unit participates in both FOS and popcorn sales (although I personally don't support either). We are entitled to take advantage of those programs offered by the district and council. So take your scouts to the district PWD and day camp, and any other dang thing you want. Sure, do what you think is necessary to protect your boys from these people, but don't let these clowns short change your boys from the programs they're entitled to.

You're not over reacting. Showing up at a committee meeting demanding your boys being included would be over reacting. Searching the web, asking a question on an anonymous web site is not over reacting. Yes there are much more program similarities between Wolf and Bear than there is with Webelos, but I think this is just tacky. Common courtesy would suggest the folks putting this together at least invite the other dens which are perfectly free to decline the invitation. I would also see it as a courtesy (and in some cases a requirement) for DLs to let the pack leadership know what they're up to. My sense of both this and Allears' pack in the other thread is they have weak pack leadership. Just a hunch. Why is the demand for pack activities being unmet? Or maybe the question is why the den leaders feel the need to piggyback activities. Are they overwhelmed? Unsupported? The WhiteHair is correct, more communications is needed. Unlike troop committees, which are comprised of committee members, pack committees are comprised of "leaders". It's a subtle difference but significant. Are all these folks coming together for a leaders' meeting once a month? If the pack leaders are working together to support the whole pack none of this is a problems. If the DLs are off doing their own thing by themselves, people can feel left out and/or develop a them vs. us attitude.

In defense of the CC (not that he has much of a defense, but...) We've had folks posting here where DLs and parents get dens together to skirt policies or because they don't want to deal with those people in the other dens. Not very Scoutlike. Perhaps the CC has had some bad history with rogue dens causing trouble for the pack. Wolf and Bear dens meeting together isn't a problem, but I, too, would raise a eyebrow if the Tigers and Webelos IIs were getting together. To me that would smack of a convenience for the adults rather than a benefit to the boys. Bottom line, if there are only four dens in the pack why not invite the other guys? Instead of giving the CC reason to worry, (albeit small reason) why not make his job easier by showing up for a committee meeting and offering your cool two-den outing as a pack activity?

We were surprised to wake up to 2" of snow outside the tent Sunday. First time that's ever happened to me. The boys who have wanted to go snow camping for several years got their wish. They learned a few things -- a whole new layer on the Be Prepared thing, and to be careful what you wish for. This far south camping in the snow isn't like it is up in Beavahland. The ground never freezes so your always dealing with just slush. And there's never enough snow to get any sort of insulating effect. Snow storms almost alway either start or end with freezing rain, so it's just wet and cold. But we lucked out. The adults were at base camp in shelters. All the patrols were scattered around about mile or more out into adirondacks. So everyone was dry and didn't have to pack out wet tents. We really had the best of both. The only down side was with the holidays, exams next week and bitter cold leading up to the weekend, we had a very small turnout. That's just going to make bragging that much better.

All the Eagle Scouts under the tenure of our old SM did the same for him several years ago. We collected enough money for the $1000 for the West Fellow and had enough to kick in to the local campership fund. Our SM always had a healthy distrust for the Council guys, so in homage to him we specified that the camperships were to be distributed at the descretion of the district Scoutmasters. Another really cool thing was we had a plaque made up for him inset one US Silver Eagle Dollar for each Eagle Scout. I forget how many Eagles there were, but silver was no where near where it is now, so that may not be as doable as it once was. We made the presentations during a service at the church where the troop is still chartered and the SM has been a very long-time member. I think having the presentation before the congregation was importanting to him. He knew nothing about it in advance, the minister said the troop had a special presentation and all these old guys just appeared out of the congregation. That was pretty cool, too.

I thought all BSA merchandise carried a 100% satisfaction guarantee. Unfortunately, if they're out of them, they're out of them. But, I'd call the 800 number and ask. My experience is that the folks there are pretty good Scouts and will do their best to solve the problem for you. If they can scrounge a set out of someone's bottom desk drawer for you, they'll try.

Our main fundraiser is Christmas wreaths. Unlike popcorn, it's a big enough ticket item ($15-$20) so that most people write checks, Boy, it has been a while since you sold popcorn!

It's important to remember what we really mean by "mixed patrol." It doesn't necessarily mean that the fifth graders are hanging out with the high school seniors. Generally speaking, a "mixed patrol" troop should still have new Scout patrols for the first year, 10- and 11-year-old boys, venture or leadership patrols for the older guys and regular patrols for everyone else. Consequently, the patrol will be of 10 and 11 year olds, 12 to 14 year olds and 15 to 17 year olds. Of course the margins between those age groups are a bit fuzzy and depend on other factors too. Interesting observations about the jamboree patrols, Stosh. My experience was remarkable similar. Our patrols were organized before I joined the troop, but our four patrols would up like this: Patrol A was rather homogeneous with both the oldest and youngest boys in the troop. It was a disaster, and ran about as you described, with the older guys sitting on their butts treating the little guys like servants. The adults spent as much time dealing with that patrol as the others combined. Patrol B was a lot of younger boys and a couple 14-15 year olds. At shakedown they were a disaster but really came together at jamboree. The required a litte extra training on procedure, but ultimately did a great job. Patrol C was all the older guys and ran like a well oiled machine. They got to the point where they would take turns one guy getting up and having breakfast ready so the rest of the patrol could sleep late. Patrol D had all 12- and 13-year-olds and one poor 14-year-old patrol leader. The young guys were in full cub scout mode and wouldn't listen to a thing. The poor PL spent his days either screaming at the kids to do stuff or would give up in frustration and do everything himself. I took this guy on as a personal project and spent a lot of time working with him on how to organize and motivate his patrol. (I also had a few conversations with the patrol members about fulfilling their responsibilities.) After a rough week, the PL really came into his own and did a good job. I don't think anyone grew more at jamboree than he did and I really enjoyed working with him. Sorry for a bit of a ramble, but I thought the interaction of different aged patrols was an interesting observation.

Only way to avoid da problem is to run "classes" where all the boys in da patrol sit around while one or two boys try the activity, supervised one-on-one. That's what often happens for cooking, eh? Naah, but it does take a little more planning and organization. There are a couple strategies for dealing with inexperience NSPs, first is to split the troop for campouts. Honestly, our troop doesn't do a lot of backpacking (we're more into aquatics), but for the big backpacking weekend last year we sent the older patrols off 15 mile weekend trip and took the NSPs to our council camp for a more basic campout, but including a 7 mile day hike. We had plenty of older Scouts who either couldn't or preferred not to go on the backpacking trip to lead the younger guys. The biggest problems was that it doubled the work for the adults. The other thing we do is to schedule the more challenging trips September to April, after the new guys have had 5=6 campouts and summer camp under their belt. The PLC knows that beginning in April we do light-stuff to accommodate the new guys, but by fall the new guys should be up to speed. Of course this excludes hard-core high adventure stuff. We're not going to put an 11 year old on Mt. Hood with four months experience. But for example, this fall the whole troop did a pretty strenuous canoe trek. Any of the new Scouts who hadn't earned canoeing MB was require to attend one or two extra instruction days and get signed-off on their canoe skills before they were allowed to go. Back to the NSP patrol leader topic, the key to a good NSP program is really good Troop Guides. Let me say that again -- the key to a good NSP program is realy good Troop Guides. In our troop, TG is an 18 month commitment at minimum. New TGs start in the fall working with the existing TGs. They take point with the Webelos on our Web campout in November and again on the Web open house in Jan. Of course, they take on the new NSPs in March when the new boys crossover and eat, sleep and breathe with them through summer camp. Starting in the fall, they still work with the NSP patrols, but they are in more of a mentoring role, not so much hands on. By the end of they year, they should be back in their regular patrols, helping the NSP as needed. In practice, for the first six months the Troop Guide IS the NSP patrol leader. I think some troops give them that title, which really doesn't matter. We don't. We do as has been suggested and have the new Scouts rotate through PL. They attend PCL and hold the flag when the patrol lines up. They're sorta Corporal to the Troop Guide as Lieutenant. We used to do the monthly election thing, but frankly it was a pain in the butt and more times than not was forgotten. So now we just make a schedule with everyone being assigned a month alphabetically. After 7 or 8 months, after everyone has had a turn at PL, the NSPs will elect a PL for the remaining couple months with the TG supervising. This is the system we've been using since I've been SM (6 years) and all I can say is it works for us. Troop Guide has become a rather sought-after position, probably more so that SPL. The word among the Scouts is that SPL is too much work and the Troop guides have all the fun anyway. From my point of view, I think the kids who want to be TG generally had really good TGs themselves and try to re-create that relationship and legacy with the new Scouts under their care. Kinda like a lot of good Scoutmasters, no?

Seems like about a year ago there was a thread here where everyone got into all the specifications and model numbers of the gear they use. My CC use one of these things at summer camp and has a battery unit. He hauls it up the hill to the dining hall every morning for a recharge. There were a ton of guys at jamboree for two weeks on the machines. Jamboree advertised it as no recharging available, you're on your own for two weeks, but the reality on the ground was that there was plenty our power outlets and everyone worked something out. I can't see how anyone can do backcountry on one, but otherwise it's doable.

We had a fellow in the troop about like that. He had been a Scout in another troop and earned Tenderfoot before dropping out. Joined our troop because several of his friends were there and wanted the extra hang time. I don't remember the numbers exactly, but Second Class to Eagle he had about three week wiggle room. I know when it got down to the wire he was a couple nights short of the camping requirements, so his friends -- all Eagle Scouts by then -- circled up and all went on a couple "patrol" campouts for the remaining nights. He was one of the finest young men we have had in my tenure with the troop. He served a term as SPL and did a great job.

I agree with Scoutnut, that given the history and relationships, you probably shouldn't count on many crossover from your brother pack. You've got a lot of work to do to get the troop's house in order then an equal amount of work to do rebuilding the relationship with the pack. It could take several years. Once you get the issues with the problems individuals settled, recruitment needs to be your priority. Without re-reading everything, I don't recall what kind of CO you have. If it is a church, perhaps you can focus families in the pack who are also members of the church. Maybe their loyalty to the church will cause them to overlook the heard mentality of the pack and the leanings of the Cubmaster. You only need a couple boys a year to keep above water. Here's an idea: with your DE's help try to come up with a list of boys who have dropped out of either the pack or the other troop over the past few years. A phone call or letter may turn up some boys who maybe thought Cub Scout wasn't challenging enough or didn't care for the other troop, bu may still have an interest in Scouting. Without any help from your pack, you're going to need to recruit creatively. But unfortunately, you need to consider that the situation may be beyond repair. You have a lot working against you. You should think about planning for that contingency. Maybe an agreement with the COR to mothball the troop for a year or two until all the bad blood clears. By then, maybe with a new Cubmaster, some of the younger Cub parents will be interested in restarting a quality unit.

Yeah, um, you need to get a written copy of that job description. Is this a district committee job? Camp promotions (top to bottom, not just Cubs) is usually the primary focus of the District Camping Chairman. If this is just promoting day camp, this is a rather odd set up, too. Day camp promotions is usually a function of the camp staff -- usually program director -- and is a topic taught at CSDC camping school. Your best resource there is Eagle92, who is in your area and is CSDC camp school trained. You really need some clarification, though.

And there you have it.

Because PopTarts' value to the program is about the same as it's nutritional value. A hot camp breakfast on a cold morning is to a box of PopTarts what a bright October day on the trail is to sleeping on the floor in your bonus room. When you get down to it, the whole outdoor is a contrivance toward a greater end. All my Scout have homes with heat, plumbing and a comfortable bed. Why sleep in tents when we can stay in an RV? Or a hotel? Or home? I've listed the benefits of a patrol working together on a good meal a couple times already, and I don't suspect anyone disagrees with that. Of course a big breakfast isn't always appropriate. Given the situation, canned or packaged tuna is fine and our guys know if there were a compelling reason for including PopTarts on the trail, an exception to the rule would be made. (Although I don't care where you are I can come up with a better trail menu that PopTarts.) And please tell me you were making a joke when you included sheath knives among alcohol, tobacco and porn....

Our troop and pack always provides each member with the QU patch for the year. We also have custom unit numerals with integral veteran unit bars give everyone. A lot of the guys just add the patches to their collection, but most wear them. When I was Cubmaster we gave the boys service stars every year when they would move up a level. With Cubs the pins rarely made it more than a few months, so we just dropped it.

Yeah, Stosh, that's the Rational Actor Model which is great in theory but doesn't always work with adolesent boys. Unfortunately, when you're 13 the consequence of not eating as well as you could doesn't necessarily outweigh the effort a decent meal may require. Boys don't factor-in those side benefits we see, like teamwork, fellowship and learning something, but they frequently consider things like mom will have a big lunch when I get home, the "cool factor" of having gotten by with something or the notoriety of playing the jackass. I think part of my job is to provide a level playing field to make sure the positive outcomes have a fair chance.

PopTarts, because if all you're doing for breakfast is opening an envelope and eating cold crap, you have missed all the benefits of preparing and eating a meal as a patrol -- teamwork, cooperation, fellowship, problem solving, learning basic life skills, leadership -- all those things we claim to teach and hold in high regard. Same for Rama noodles, although we make an exception for backpacking or if the nooles are used as a base for a better dish.

Nuts. Shorter answer is wear them if you like. The part of the Insignia Guide Scoutnut posts are general guidelines. You have to look at more specifice parts of the book. For example, under the section on Boy Scout advancement insignia, it plainly says that the Eagle medal is for adult wear on formal occasions. Also, under the section on embroidered knots, it shows an Eagle medal and religious emblem being worn with the square knots. The only time I wear my medals (Eagle and God and Country) is for Eagle Courts of Honor. For a Cub Scout leader, Blue and Gold would be an appropriate occasion. By button patch, I assume you mean a temporary patch which hangs from the button of your right shirt pocket. You can wear just about anything you want in that location, including the Philmont Arrowhead or a camporee patch from the Nixon administration. It does, as Scoutnut's post shows, need to be an official BSA patch. Technically, your religious emblem was issued by your church and the historic trails medal issued by that organization, but as the policy says, both of those have been authorized by BSA for uniform wear. But your DAR History medal or your high school varisty letter are out. Personally, I think some of the old stuff is pretty cool and is a great way to start conversations with kid, especially Cub Scouts. Wearing your Philmont Arrowhead or religious emblem medal is a terrific way to promote those programs to the boys. "You can earn one of these too...." You'll get all sorts of varying opinions as to whether or not you should wear this stuff. Currently there's an 8-page thread on whether or not and how many knots you should wear. But that is a personal choice. If you're proud of the stuff, or thinks it adds to the program, wear them. If you think it's vain or detracts from the program, don't.(This message has been edited by Twocubdad)

What restrictions has BSA placed on bards? Taken away their pens? Require that all poems rhyme? No free verse?

Great way to teach our youth.. Huh?? For sure. Perhaps that's the question you should pose to the SM, COR and CC.