DuctTape

When the methods are employed effectively, they result in the achievement of the Aims of scouting. These are the metrics by which we measure our success in implementing the methods. 

As far as changing "troop culture", unless it is the SM with agreeable ASM, it is near impossible. 

It is much easier to change Patrol Culture as the Patrol makes their decisions. This is best accomplished by having the Patrol choose events separate from the other patrols.

IMO the workbook is awful in so many ways. Filling it out almost becomes the project itself. Adding another layer to it makes it even worse.

1 hour ago, BetterWithCheddar said:

In my youth, most camporees had a theme and scouts could earn 1 MB by participating. You're telling me some districts try to cram multiple MBs into a single weekend campout?

There are some who do not even do these on a campout. They are done in indoor classrooms with 30 scouts and a mB "counselor" doing a 2-3 hour presentation including a few hands-on activities. These mB universities cheapen the mB and deny scouts real opportunities. It is both saddening and maddening.

My district merit badge "college" director called me to see if I would do Camping merit badge as I was a registered mB counselor, she wanted to know if I needed a full day for it, or whether a half-day session was enough. 😲 

I have said this before but it bears repeating, one of the most important parts of the mB process is the built Adult Association method. Far too often this is lost on the adults. Imagine if the adults in charge of coordinating the mBs at camp, or in a troop had this method at the forefront equal to the advancement method. 🤩 Now imagine the lost opportunities for scouts when this is not done. 😢

1 hour ago, InquisitiveScouter said:

One of the primary reasons the organization is failing, IMO.

Yep. National should be funding the Councils. The "franchise model" does not work except for National.

The only other consideration would be wind. If it was going to be windy, like 20mph wind, that would make 17degrees feel like 0. 

Also if the camping area is exposed, strong winds could make visibility poor with blowing snow.

So besides temperature, there may have been other weather conditions to consider. 

Btw, I am in NY so 17 degrees is a warm winter day. I recently returned from a trip where the temp was minus 12.

I remember earning the world crest patch by going to an international event in Canada too and IIRC there were a few other requirements?. Our troop participated in the event for years. It was great. Does that mean I earned the current rendition of the award? LOL

I think mine was $50, and it was food (pizza & soda) for the volunteers. I still visit the site of my project now and again. Since then, others (scouts?) have taken it upon themselves to continue and expand my project. Almost 50 years and the unmarked path in an area of the park the county did not even know was their property is now a marked trail with a parking area and kiosk. 

IIRC, at one time Star, Life and Eagle were awards and 1st Class was the highest rank. 

Nice they clarified.

However I would like to see the requirement have some  (10?) of the nights not be in shelters provided to the Scout. IMO part of the experience, perhaps a significant part, is the choosing of the tent spot, preparing the site, and setting up one's shelter. Same with using summer camp as nights when all the food is prepared for them in the dining hall. Camping is not just sleeping away from home. This is a mB after all. 

 Conflict is natural AND a growth opportunity. Help the scouts figure out solutions to the conflict. The SM is not the referee. Your background has prepared you better than most to help guide the scouts to resolution. I have found using the Socratic Method to be an invaluable tool to help scouts find solutions. Having a few "tricks to try" is also useful when they are stumped. But presentjng them as a question allows them the opportunity to decide.

Expect chaos and embrace it. You are in the storming phase for the troop under your guidance. You will be great.

We all turn the page to new chapters of life. Enjoy the time with your grandkids. I do hope you stop by on occassion.

Pick up a copy of the PL Handbook from the 1950s for ideas of Patrol Activities, games, etc... Also a 1940s Fieldbook, it is organized to be basically a manual of patrol activities. These will be a good resource for you if the SPL asks for ideas of "how to..."

1 hour ago, swilliams said:

I truly understand that they need to make the decisions.  (The very first thing I've done is to arrange a day of training for the scouts who will have leadership roles so that they understand what their responsibilities are and will have the information needed to be independent of the adults.)  But the incoming SPL has indicated that he needs help. 

This is helpful.  How do they figure it out, I guess is my question at this point.  I can, and will, let the SPL know the scouts need to self-select (for lack of a better term), but how does he begin?  The mechanics of it?  Ask them to form up during the next Troop meeting? Email them?  A lot do group-chat, but not all have phones.  Do they figure it out over the course of a few weeks as they naturally form groups?

Am I being too impatient in wanting to sort out the Patrols soon, so that we start off with these new expectations in place?  One of my biggest fears (outside of the sheer terror of being a SM in the first place) is that things stay the same because that's how the last SM did it.  For example, I'd to see the scouts cooking in patrols on our next campout, which is January 31st, instead of cooking as a Troop.

I do not think you are too impatient. The forming of patrols is the first step. I would say give the SPL the goal of having the patrols by the end of the first meeting. Anyone not there can join a patrol when they do show up.

Suggest some games the scouts could play which will help them get to know each other differently. Like 4-corners games*. Or other type of grouping style games. 

After the games, SPL hands over the "create your patrol" challenge. Have SPL provide the purpose and minimal boundaries 1. Patrols of 6-8. 2. Patrols will be the teams for games. 3. Patrols will be the group you camp, cook and hike with. Etc...

The SPL can use the corners as a way to "gather your patrol".

If the the SPL (or the scouts) are having difficulty, start with pairs. Choose a buddy to be with in a patrol. Then the buddys find another pair to join up with. Before they "commit" encourage them to talk about why they want to be together. Common interests? Common goals? Etc... (this goes back to the games played earlier).  After a 4-some is created, they can join up with another 4-some, or a pair which did not join another pair yet. No real rules, the idea is to break down the "create a group of 6-8" into a simpler first step.

The SPL and scouts will probably surprise you with how quickly they can self-group. 

*4-corners. Scouts gather in center of room. SPL says the category and points to the different corners with "answers". Then scouts run to the corner of their choice. Ex. SPL says "Category is breakfast" points to each corner and says "bacon, sausage, ham, no-meat" ... "and go".  SPL continues with another category...

The metriics in the performance evaluation of the DE are what the DE will focus on. Until and unless the items we discuss as important are the primary measure of a DEs performance, they will never get done.

Yeah, either way. Although blue cards are typically preferred with outside mB counselors as we then keep the mB portion for our records.

Regardless of which tracking method is used, some of the hidden growth outcomes for scouts in the process are:

1. Scout initiative. Choosing which badge, setting and achieving personal goals.

2. Communication skills. Scout contacting mB counselor and setting up times to meet.

3. Record keeping. Scout responsible for their handbook/blue cards.

I only mention these b/c too often well meaning adults take over much of the process which denies scouts' these growth and learning opportunities.

3 hours ago, SSScout said:

MiF KiS,,,,   arts and crafts,,,,   Make gifts for mom and dad (and brother/sister?  wadda concept).  The Scoutcraft stuff can be included, should be included as the Cubs grow into it, but the Make it Fun Keep it Simple has to be the watch word. Give the Cubs , no matter their  age, things they can accomplish and take pride in.  

Long time ago, I remember taking scraps of plywood, sanding them smooth, gluing pretty National Geographic photos to them and then CAREFULLY shellacking them . After they dried , we glued picture hanging hooks on the back, and PRESTO , Mom Day presents.  Along the way, we went hiking, learned about birds, visited the zoo and local firehouses.  I kept many of those kids as friends all thru high school and into  adulthood..  Were my parents involved? Absolutely. Were the other parents involved?  Absolutely.  Are things that changed, maybe three generations later?  Perhaps, but that's what we are here for, for the Societal History.  Today's parents must be made aware of the need to make their kids feel worthy and loved, so that THEY will want THEIR kids to feel worthy and loved.  

"The purpose of life is the planting of trees under whose shade one does not expect to sit". 

I remember that exact project as a kid. I recall my NatGeo picture was of a bird. Either a cardinal or blue jay. 99.9% of my cub memories were doing stuff like that with my den. The pack rarely met as a group except for the B&G dinner.

I agree KIS, the "S" is for "simple", and also "small". Dens meet and do stuff, get rid of pack meetings except for once/twice a year at most. Don't even start as a pack meeting, then split off. This rarely works well. 

I sometimes find them at estate sales.

1 hour ago, Tron said:

I've gotten into the weeds of what publicly is disclosed on council revenue sources and there is nothing going from national to councils. Councils are just as much a franchisee as units are.

And this is where the problem begins. National has zero interest or motivation for scouting to be a quality program. By design councils (and units) exist for the benefit of HQ. By extension units exist to benefit councils.

The system needs to be flipped. National HQ primary responsibility should be to support councils, and Councils primary responsibility should be to support units. National should be using big$ donations to fund the basics of the councils. Councils should not be begging scouters and parents via FOS. Camporees should not be used as a means to generate revenue b/c HQ refuses to fund their own system. At present, IMO, National HQ serves no purpose to scouts, units or councils.

1 hour ago, mrjohns2 said:

I don't think they get ANY funds from HQ. BSA doesn't fund the councils at all. Have they ever?

I don't think so. I am suggesting they do, 100%.

Perhaps BSA should fully fund their councils, instead of requiring councils to fundraise (FOS)  to pay for the lack of $ from HQ and let CO/units do local fundraising. BSA can do national fundraising. just a thought.

2 hours ago, SNEScouter said:

As InquisitiveScouter already correctly pointed out, a "friends of" organization that is a CO needs to comply with its charter agreement, which directs the CO to "[r]efrain from soliciting financial support except as authorized for the benefit of the Unit or the Local Council."  Even if the CO is a tax exempt org, it can only solicit funds in the name of Scouting with the local council's approval.

 

 

 

Right. My point was it is no different than any other CO. 

"The friends of" is the chartering org, it is not the unit itself. As a separate legal entity it may do its own fundraising just like any other CO.