scoutergipper

Yeah, unfortunately putting out fires like this can become the focus. I faced a somewhat similar situation, but in that case an experienced MB counselor signed off on a Camping Merit Badge when the Scout did not have 20 nights. And the counselor had been TOLD he didn't have 20 nights. It was a bad scene, and I struggled with who to hold accountable. In the end, I figured the Scout was going to get to 20 nights eventually, and so let it go. However, I think your solution is right in your case. Your Scout clearly did not do the work and the fact that he's just bald-faced lying about it'

I've counseled both my own kids and the Scouts in the Troop that the old "everyone else is doing it" is not a valid reason for them to do it too. Boys and girls are welcome to mingle in the Venturing program.

We've had this happen to two different Scouts in the past few years. One Scout had photo-copies of his rank advancement pages so the re-creation was easy. The other did not, but "A Scout is Trustworthy" so no one had any problem taking the Scout's word for it.

Great Advice lets give people reasons not to join Boy Scouts and give another option where Families can spend what few chances they have to spend time together. Since Boy Scouts is about Youth unless it is Female youth then they don't matter Regardless of the activity, all experiences with one's family are the same in their potential to impact personality. Boys and girls need separate, unique experiences to fully develop as young persons and then as adults. Learning to function even while away from one's family is one of the most important elements of maturity.

I think your Sarcasm Detector might on on the fritz there, skeptic.

I wouldn't have any problem with this as described. I wouldn't expect the drinking to be a big part of the "on-course" activity, where the Scouts are present. Too bad you're not getting a piece of the on-course liquor sales, as that would increase your "take" considerably. I recommend really spicy Bloody Marys during rounds of golf.

People are very interesting creatures. There was a grandfather in our area who recently pulled his two grandsons out of a local Pack BEFORE the recent membership policy changes because he wanted the policies to be changed and go even farther than what was ultimately done. He was an Eagle Scout. As I noted at the time, he had no problem using Boy Scouting and his Eagle Award for his own benefit over the years, even while membership policies with which he disagreed were in place, but he now wants to deny those same benefits to his own grandsons, despite the fact that they are too young to have a

It depends on the kind of Pack you want to have. If you set an expectation that uniforms will be worn when traveling and on "official" Scout outings, then that's what your Scouts and Adult Leaders will do. Since this doesn't sound like an official Pack event, I wouldn't expect any requirement, but certainly an option for yourself and your son and others would be appropriate. One of the areas BSA falls down is in marketing and visibility. As I noted on another thread, having Scouts wear the uniform to school on the day of a Pack or Den meeting was a great way to generate visibility when

I can't stand families who will take advantage of the good heartedness of others like that. We also have families who are truly destitute, but who believe they should just be "given" Dues & Summer Camp fees without their Scout having to sell anything or make any fundraising effort at all. Different side of the same coin.

The single biggest problem facing the Cub Scouting program in my area is the lack of Adults who will do anything. I know several Cubmasters who are essentially running the program by themselves (they are typically also a Den Leader). We just had the entire leadership of a local Pack quit all at the same time - just abandoning not only their own sons, but everyone else's as well.

Five (or more) overnight campouts for Cub Scouts is way, way too many, particularly for the younger grades. One Family Camp and Summer Camp (day or resident, depending on age/maturity level) is plenty. I'm with BD on this - if no one will help, forget the Pack-wide campouts. Focus on your Den.

As I note in our "Advancement after First Class" document - "A Scout cannot show leadership on a campout he does not attend." He may show leadership before or after.

Totally reasonable. The boys understand who is and is not doing the job they're supposed to be doing. They are more than willing to move other Scouts out of Leadership positions when they are not performing.

The most important First Class requirement is missing: The First Class Journey. Therefore the BSA's outdoor requirements are designed to get Cub Scout survivors to Eagle without ever walking into the woods with packs on their backs. For a while, Hillcourt's Patrol Leader Training got Patrols out into the woods without adult helicopters, but in 1972 Wood Badge replaced it with Troop Method training called "Leadership Development." Therefore the BSA's leadership skills requirements are designed to get Cub Scout survivors to Eagle without ever walking into the woods with a Patrol

The most important First Class requirement is missing: The First Class Journey. Therefore the BSA's outdoor requirements are designed to get Cub Scout survivors to Eagle without ever walking into the woods with packs on their backs. For a while, Hillcourt's Patrol Leader Training got Patrols out into the woods without adult helicopters, but in 1972 Wood Badge replaced it with Troop Method training called "Leadership Development." Therefore the BSA's leadership skills requirements are designed to get Cub Scout survivors to Eagle without ever walking into the woods with a Patrol

When I was in Cub Scouts, we always wore our uniform to school the day of a Den or Pack meeting. A couple of years, I had my school picture taken in uniform. This is something that should be encouraged for visibility/recruitment purposes.

My only concern would be if this tells you something you don't like about the kind of parents they're going to be if their sons choose your Troop. It would be interesting to know what their thinking is about why they chose to reserve the cabins and not bother to tell you about it (or maybe they did tell you - that part's not clear to me). We normally take Webelos under Troop rules, not Cub Scout rules. A parent is welcome to come along, but not required. Webelos are expected to participate as though they were Scouts as far as boy-led - having a Troop Guide and so forth.

We give all boys the opportunity to fundraise to pay any part of the Scouting program their family feels they cannot pay for themselves. We expect the boys to "do their best" at that effort - a Scout is Thrifty. If they don't make it, the Troop scholarships them. The Council provides partial scholarships for Summer Camp and we pick up the rest if necessary. Our policy is that no boy is going to miss out on the program for financial need. Now, fortunately, we have only a handful of families who need help, and some of those have good "salesmen" as sons, which further reduces the scholarship

I typically don't attend because there are no subjects of interest from a sharing/mentoring/learning perspective. I always respond to requests for subjects that would be of interest, but I suspect there just aren't enough people at my experience level who want the same things. I am sure the Roundtable is trying to provide the greatest good to the greatest number.

It's important for Troops to continue to provide opportunities for First Class Scouts to practice their Scout skills. Very few kids can learn something at age 11, not use it very often, and then remember that skill perfectly at age 15. First Class Scouts should be working on their Scout Skills on every campout, including teaching those skills to younger or less experienced Scouts in their Patrol. It's a mistake, in my judgment, to rush boys from Scout through First Class. Our Troop has picked up "drop outs" from Troops who tried this method and simply burned those boys out. "It wasn't

You should probably consider a different organization for your volunteer work. You're not providing much of a role model for youth with this attitude.

Just resubmit the missing expense report.

I'd encourage you - or your Roundtable Commissioner once you have one - to contact Scoutmasters and ask them what THEY are interested in, or feel they need help with. I generally don't attend Roundtable in our District. My ASM's or Committee Chair usually go to pick up paperwork. When I do go, it's either because the Troop has some responsibility for a District-wide event (like Camporee) or there's a topic on recruiting that I'm interested in.

Yeah, the distinction's pretty simple - if I'm forced to "donate" money by government fiat, it's bad. If I choose to voluntarily donate my own money, it's good.

Yeah, you have to choose fundraising activities that make sense for your neighborhood, or be able to travel somewhere closeby where they will make sense. We've also done a pancake breakfast (only $5 a person) but we also had good connections to various folks and had most of the supplies donated.