scoutergipper

I don't know of any policy, but I have never had a problem with siblings - even siblings of a different gender - being along on campouts. Heck, I've had moms bring babies along. With the unfortunate turn we've had in society regarding the prevalence of divorce, I think we have to adopt some flexibility.

I consider this another teachable moment, so don't let it just slide by me with grammatical or spelling errors. We have a pretty good system of vetting projects in the Troop before they ever get to me, so they are not likely to be in any kind of gray area/at risk for approval at the District level. I spend some additional time talking over the project with the Scout, especially if I see something in there that might trip him up going forward. I'd never refuse to sign even a project I thought might be deficient because that is also a learning opportunity. I don't have a checklist or anythin

Nice work. One thing I work in is a description of each badge and generally what a Scout has to do to earn it and why. I don't do this at every COH because everyone would eventually get tired of hearing about it. But lots of Adults don't know the "Trail to Eagle" and how the Ranks build on each other. Same on MB's - what's an "Eagle required" MB?? etc

Two works best - no "low point of the triangle" and in the Buddy System, all three don't have to get up when one has to go to the bathroom.

I didn't grow up in Maryland, but I walked to and from school, or rode my bike, sometimes all alone, mostly with only one other kid from across the street. During Summer, I would rarely see my mother between breakfast and dinner. "Be home by dark" was the rule. If I was needed during the day, my dad would whistle loudly, which could be heard all over the neighborhood. The world has not changed, but people's perception of it has. Today's parents are not only terrified someone will grab their kid, but they are much more amenable to bowing to the Nanny State's demands. Scouting is one

I agree I wouldn't emphasize Merit Badge work on campouts (or at Troop Meetings for that matter) for the reasons listed. I like to see my Scouts engaged with each other, and spending time on work the Patrol has to get done rather than individuals all doing their own thing.

In my area, Cub Scout Packs are based primarily (but not exclusively) at public elementary schools. This does not mean we don't face hostile individuals who do not like Scouting due to the leadership standards, but the schools are kind of stuck: if they are going to discriminate against Scouting, they will have to charge extra to or kick out all extra-curricular groups. I've been involved in the District with regard to recruitment events at schools that host Packs - and those that don't - to try and start them or funnel kids to other schools for Cub Scouts. Boy Scouts, as noted above,

Definitely a "love-hate" relationship between the Council/District and the volunteers. We recently went to re-charter our Crew, which we created new during 2014. Everyone in it is a "transfer" from a Troop and we were told we were not going to be rechartered unless we added two "paying" Members (to Stosh's point about the business side). I have yet to talk with anyone on the volunteer side who really understands why the professional side exists and how it's existence might help them deliver Scouting. The professional side doesn't seem to understand why it's important to communicate wha

My wife sits on EBOR's all the time. I agree with the above regarding leading a campout anyway. All you need is two Adults with the right qualifications and you're good to go. Scouts should not have their experience harmed because someone married the wrong person.

Ok here you go: https://www.ncsbsa.org/calendar/?showevent=442

I think this is your session - https://www.ncsbsa.org/calendar/?showevent=416 Feb 19-22 Looks like it's held at Camp Le-No-Che just North of Orlando.

You do have to wonder, though, about anybody who has experience stirring turds.

I would have imposed a year long suspension following the Council suspension. You don't say for sure, but have they all completed their 6 months of being active in the Troop (whatever your Troop's interpretation of "active" might be?). I will say that none of these Scouts would receive a signature from me. The Scoutmaster Conference would be damn uncomfortable (assuming I was even willing to hold one, which is questionable) and afterward they would be free to try to get an Eagle Board of Review at which I would be happy to appear to give the Board a piece of my mind.

Your concerns are certainly valid. We have a number of families who are simply not in a position to lay out hundreds of dollars a year for Scouting. A few clearly have an entitlement mentality, where the other families are somehow expected to pony up so their kid can be in Scouts. Their Scout doesn't work hard at fundraising, which I think we are starting to recognize needs to be a prerequisite for receiving Troop aid. We encourage families to pay what they can - I'm not anxious to put additional financial stress on a single mom who is on the edge. The kids in these circumstances are the

One of the most important things about Scouting is this idea of "reflection" on our actions and how we might improve. Nobody is going to handle every situation as they would if they had known beforehand what was going to happen. That you care about, and are thinking about, whether and how you could have handled this better tells me your heart's in the right place and you're the kind of Adult Leader Scouts will benefit from having around. This would make a spectacular Scoutmaster Minute.

BSA should be running "image" ads - right now the only thing the public ever sees about Scouting are stories about child abuse and homophobia. There are thousands of inspirational, personal stories from Scouts and Scouters that would make tremendous TV, radio or on-line ads. If you never give people something positive to hang their hat on, they'll just go with the negatives. I've found recruitment success to be directly correlated with elbow grease. "Success" is definitely defined differently in different kinds of communities, but whatever the definition, BSA needs to be striving to me

My hopes: that the light goes on at the Council and they realize their future is dependent on going all-out on Cub Scout recruiting. That BSA, whether local or national, begins an aggressive marketing program.

Generally speaking, the older a boy gets, the more broad-based his learning will be from any one experience, and the more deeply he will learn whatever the lesson happens to be. I encourage my Scouts to advance at whatever rate is comfortable for them, to work on their own timetable - not mine and not their parents. This means I have 13-year-old Star Scouts and 13-year-old Tenderfoot Scouts. All of the Eagles in the Troop the past 10 years have been 16 or 17 when they finished, mostly 17. One of them is an Adult Leader for our Philmont trip next Summer. I'll bet LeCastor's Scout is go

Our fundraising Chair experimented with these in 2013. Only a handful of boys were interested and only a couple really worked at it. The two that worked at it killed it. The only criticism we got was that people didn't like the vendors.. We've discussed creating our own "camp card" with vendors we recruit that people will like.

Anything that does not fit "A Scout is Thrifty - he pays his own way" is a violation of the Scout Law. If you have a Troop where each Scout is not pulling his own weight, you do not have a Boy Scout Troop. It is up to the Committee to ensure that each Scout who needs it has opportunities to fundraise or otherwise "pay his own way."

You obviously can't credit the Scout for sales if he doesn't turn in the money. I'd ask the mom for a copy of the police report - she's obviously reported it if someone stole $400 in cash (plus other items, no doubt) from her home. In any case, if the Troop/Pack paid for the popcorn, the mom's going to owe you for that cost.

Very interesting discussion. The handling of the bowling/pizza event was right on the money. It would be one thing if a parent came to me beforehand to ask for assistance, but just doing the "drop and scoot" is completely unacceptable (as I'm sure everyone would recognize). I do admit to having spent a lot of money on various Scouts over the years. I don't regret any of it. Dropping the Scout based on the actions of the parent(s) is a tougher call in my book. I wouldn't do it based on the information provided, but that doesn't make it the wrong decision. There's more to the stor