SM bob

I would inform the parent that the den is not a democracy and since you are the leader this is the path you are leading everyone down. Tell him very nicely that there other packs in the area (have a list of the other pack phone numbers ready) and he might like them better if this one does not suit him. You will have to deal with this adult for the rest of cubs and maybe scouts. Tell the parent straight up how things will be run. You are the leader it's that simple. If they calm down then give them a task. If they do that well then a job. Nip this one in the bud.

Your the den leader, it's your rodeo. I would show all the parents the yearly schedule and then say we will work on the items as they come up. The homework items can be done at any time, but the den activities will be done as a group. If they have a problem point to the door. I had a parent tell me that rank items were boring and we should work on belt loops. I thanked her for her input then continued on rank items. I agree with your assessment that the Webelos need to began working as a group, not as individuals.

I could not imagine forgoing a tent to sleep in the car at a scout event. Leader must lead by example.

I agree with a lot of what Stosh and Eagledad have to say. The problem we all have is that schools do not teach or allow individuality. Scouts show up at meetings and expect to be spoon fed. They are also afraid to make a decision and would rather leave it up to others. Most PL's do their job well because they deal with the now. The SPL must plan and be ready to execute the next activity, and they struggle. That is where my troop and others that I have seen with have problems. The younger SPL's are either out to lunch or micro manage the PL's, but have problems looking forward to future troop activities. This could be a function of age and hormones. Most of use do not have older experienced scouts in the role of SPL.

Bobinbako. - same thing happens to my old troop. That's why I set up a corporation and self chartered.

So you want to self charter. 1) find a meeting location that is stable. 2) create bylaws and other corp docs 3) form a corporation within the state you live in. Nonprofit or profit. 3) apply for an EIN # with the IRS. 4) create your troop structure. 5) create troop bylaws and docs. You will need 3 corp directors if you are going for IRS 501c3 status. The president of the corp will be the Instituonal Head which owns the troop # and charter. The rest of the positions will depend on how you structure the troop.

Daily life for kids is over scheduled. Sports programs are now year round. So we are not getting the tier 1 athletes in scouts anymore. But we are getting the kids who want to be active. IMHO we need to modify the Webelo program to be more scout and less cub. Cub scouts is still big, but their crossover rate is low. Why? Cubs and their parents do not see the benefit. We should have joint Webelo/troop campouts. This would help keep our numbers high. Also we need to market that scouts is about personal responsibility and independence. Is the gay issue driving down membership. Not really, it's just a reason people give. My retention rate is high because we are active, go on adventures, and have fun. Troops should be a place for scouts to hang out which friends. That is what councils should be pushing. That is what will keep scouts in the program.

I would take the scout in. I would talk with the parents and make sure everyone's expectations are on the table. I would also have them sign any form or waivers that you require for your scouts. I would have the scout dual registrar with your troop. On another note congratulations for running a good program. Scout transfer requests are testament that your troop is on the right path.

I'm not a breakfast person, but for dinners I like to go all out. We give our leftovers and a portion of desert to the patrol that displays the best scout spirit. The scouts are mystified at how good the food can be. The adults also cook the dinner for the troop at the big district campout each year. It allows them to enjoy the event and experience adult campout cooking. Sometimes walking scouts through the process of good cooking is more effective than lectures.

Look into dehydrated vegetables. Let them soak in the water then apply heat. Use ramen noodles as a base, then add veg. During backpacking trips I bring tuna in the foil pouch. It gives me the protien without extra weight or trash.

15 is a good age for getting eagle or a young 16. That being said our troop focuses on scout to 1st skills, during campouts and activities. After 1st class it's up to the scout. Not everyone wants to be in a POR. Some scouts want to get away from their hectic over scheduled life for a weekend a month. Eagle is not a participation award.

I use a smartphone and a kindle. All of my scout books are on them, plus my gps mapping program. I allow cellphones on trips. The scouts have learned that we camp in remote areas with spotty service. They usually power them down at camp and stow them. I tell all parents that they not allowed to come to campouts to pick up scouts. There are exceptions, but that's case by case. I have had a mom call me due to a homesick phone call. I reassured her that everything was fine and we will talk about at the reg meeting. Cell phone have helped with emergency situations and lost hikers in my region.

If the scout has been having difficulties with the SM before, maybe he should transfer to a different troop. Not every troop is for every scout. Removing a SM is not easy and you will not make any friends in the troop. What if the other parents and/or CO like the SM's direction of the program. Similar to a job, if you have a supervisor you don't get along with its time to find another employer.

Sometimes we leaders forget that we are dealing with young men. We like to treat them as adults but we have to be careful when talking with them. That be said, maybe this leader has been talking to the scout and trying to get him to correct some issue. Maybe the scout asked for a scoutmaster conference even thou the sm told him he wasn't ready. I have been accused of saying things I have never said. Sometimes scouts hear want they want and not what was actually said. Whenever giving bad news, correcting scout behavior, or giving announcements I have one of my asm's with me. It has saved me a lot of drama.

Well this might seem harsh, but I would recommend talking to the scout and his dad about his behavior. I would say forget about rank, the scout is not living up to the scout law or oath and if it continues the scout will be asked to leave the troop. A bad scout is like a cancer, you have to cut it out. I have seen it and unfortunately did not get it address until it caused a problems with other scouts. As for parents complaining about ranks, I tell them our troop is about scouting and not ranks. It's up to the scout to rank up. I push the boy leaders to make sure campouts and meetings are setup to work on requirements and skills, but after 1st class it's up to the scouts.

I was in a situation like yours. I stayed 6 months. Every month was harder than the last. Sometimes walking away is the best option, but it will seem like your quiting. I created my own 501c3 and secured a meeting place. Gear and money and be replaced. Your sanity cannot be. If the old guard hands every thing to you and the other parents, great, if not get out of there. Staying will only make you miserable. Also listen to the podcasts at ScoutmasterCG.

Eagledad, I might have misunderstood your above post. You would pass a scout along in SMC's and allow him to gain ranks as an atheist, but stop him at eagle? That does not seem right.

Our pack meets at the last weekend of the month. The Webelos crossover at the end of march. All other dens rank up at the last pack meeting. Due to our pack meeting in a school out last pack meeting is usually in may. As for the getting all rank requirements done, some go see my not be possible. As long at the parents/leaders do their best and try to get the events scheduled that is what counts. This is cub scouts, let's not loose sight of the goal. Tigers are 6 yr olds and for the parents this is their first taste in scouts. My advise is don't leave them with a biter taste. The Cubmaster and CC should have been helping them along. Waiting to the last second and then telling them "sorry but not close enough" is not being friendly. Also this situation is not up to the other den leaders. It's up to the CM, CC, and Tiger DL.

My troop just got away from individual accounts. We told all the parents that fundraising was mandatory for all scouts and families. Our CO uses a portion of the fundraising profits to pay a portion of summer camp for any scout attending. All other dues and fundraising go to the program and equipment. During PLC's the scouts are encouraged to budget and plan out their campouts. 3 primative campouts = 1 canoeing campout, sort of thing.

Welcome to group.

The problem with most packs is that they are usually not a part of a larger organizational structure. Most are concerned parents or PTA groups. Which means they do not have a strong continuity. All packs in this category will go through cycles of desolution and grandure. A few people see the chaos and then step up. For 4-6 years the pack will get strong. Then the core group moves on and the pack faulters again. Don't feel bad. My pack is in this pattern as well. When my oldest was in cubs the pack was 50 strong and we had great leadership. Now I came back and am the tiger leader. The pack is struggling. I have been recruiting the parents in my den and the wolf den to make changes. The Webelos II den is finished. The Webelos I group is disfunctional, and the bears don't know any better. So restart your pack with the tigers, soon to be wolfs. Plan a family camping trip this spring and summer. Help the tigers plan some hikes or outdoor activity. The parents who show up at these events will be your leaders.

I don't like the saying boy-led. The program is adult-led boy-run. As an adult leaders we have the right to veto or change plans based on weather or the needs of the troop. My scouts decided they wanted a camping trip at a cabin. One of the scouts was working on wilderness survival. Friday at departure, as the SM, I told the scouts "why don't you all work on tarp skills and camp survival style to help out xx". Groaning ensued. Friday night (10pm) when we hit the dirt road to the cabin the cars stopped. The scouts were kicked out of the cars with their packs. I put my pack on, handed the SPL a photocopied aerial map with a north arrow and an x marking the cabin, and then waited for them to start off towards the cabin. We hiked for 2.5 hours in pitch blackness. Only myself and two other scouts had working flashlights. Sunday morning they were shocked to learn that the cars would be waiting for them at the hwy. So their easy cabin weekend turned into a backpacking/survival weekend.

Cubscouts is adult run and led.

Scouting is boy run and adult led. Venturing is youth run and led. If the scouts can run a good program then it's hands off. When they refuse to plan or decide to spend a weekend in a cabin watching tv, they need direction. My troop believes in going on adventures. If scouts do not want to participate in scouting activities, they are asked if they want to transfer to another troop thier speed. We are not a rank mill, nor will I allow the scouts to run the program into the ground.

I don't like the saying boy-led. The program is adult-led boy-run. As an adult leaders we have the right to veto or change plans based on weather or the needs of the troop. My scouts decided they wanted a camping trip at a cabin. One of the scouts was working on wilderness survival. Friday at departure, as the SM, I told the scouts "why don't you all work on tarp skills and camp survival style to help out xx". Groaning ensued. Friday night (10pm) when we hit the dirt road to the cabin the cars stopped. The scouts were kicked out of the cars with their packs. I put my pack on, handed the SPL a photocopied aerial map with a north arrow and an x marking the cabin, and then waited for them to start off towards the cabin. We hiked for 2.5 hours in pitch blackness. Only myself and two other scouts had working flashlights. Sunday morning they were shocked to learn that the cars would be waiting for them at the hwy. So their easy cabin weekend turned into a backpacking/survival weekend.

Disclaimer - I'm not passive aggressive, I'm aggressive aggressive. My advice is to talk to the leader directly in person. See if that fixes it. ignore the cyber stuff for now. At the next committee meeting bring up the situation. Tell everyone you do not like what is going. If that does not fix the problem you need to find a troop that you fit better in. I have been there. Your situation sucks.

I would contact your council scout executive. Explain your problem. Request that the Eagle Scout candidate be able to go to another district eagle board. I would start the project ASAP.