WisconsinMomma

My middle son did archery at summer camp but his MB was incomplete. The camp returned his blue card with an incomplete note stapled to it. At last night's troop COH, he was given an Archery MB, doh! And he got back the blue card with the incomplete note stapled to it and it's not a signed blue card. So, it seems that we need to hold this merit badge and either have my son practice his archery to get his targets hit to whatever standard for the MB (that was the only thing he didn't complete) or he just skips finishing this MB. Has this ever happened to anyone else? Now how hard is it to get good enough in archery to make these points, etc? This is not my area at all! He will need to connect with a local archery counselor.

I've got a Bear den that is struggling for leadership. A mom was the den leader but something happened with her family, new baby, move, etc. They are not participating. Then a dad was den leader, but he is struggling and wants to step back to assistant den leader this fall. We have like nine scouts and no adult to step up at the moment. Our secretary has a son in bears and complains about the guy saying he wasn't doing enough. But to be fair, he'd try to organize an event and no one would get back to him with replies, and that's not easy. So, how would you invigorate this bear den? I need to defuse the secretary who really has a strong dislike for the assistant den leader, like, I think she hates his guts right now. We want to keep him as an assistant den leader because we'll take what we can get, also, his wife is our new advancement chair, so they're committed, and I think good people, it's just a little wobbly. Another dad is a candidate that we may be able to recruit as den leader but he travels a LOT so maybe we can get the two guys teamed up and working together. The other parents, in the secretary's estimation, are not people who will step up. Any other suggestions or experience to add? Thanks!

Regarding fiefdoms, well.... isn't this called networking? I'll just say that I'm a total nobody (not really), but Wood Badge helped me meet great Scouters and it has made opening some doors easy. I have two instant allies in my WB course director and my WB ticket advisor, and they are automatically interested in me doing work for them via the WB ticket! I have to go do stuff and contribute, and everyone will help me because I say the magic words "wood badge ticket". If you want to try it, it could work for you, too! Think of Wood Badge as your premium Scouting Networking channel, if you don't need the leadership training, then it's your team leadership onboarding program and networking event where you get to meet about 50 - 75 other people who love Scouting like you do. The thing is, in Boy Scouts you can't really go it all alone, you need a team. You need to be part of a team and WB seems to be how you get on a team and get people on your team. I've felt rejected in Scouting a lot, not at Wood Badge, but from some folks locally, and it sucks, and I'm sorry for anyone who has had that kind of experience. But the thing is you have to reach out and find your people in Scouting and make your team. I'm sure there have to be some good people in your area that you can team up with. But yes, you need Council approvals on some things. Offering help at District might be easier if your Council is difficult. You always have to find the nicest people and go where they are -- they're out there somewhere! I have a big problem with organizations that whine that they have no volunteers, but then are mean to the people who volunteer for them! Why does this happen??!! If it weren't so sad it would be funny.

They want it done by October 1! I am watching it and need to take a break, this is a good training but it is not easy to go through.

Most of the time I really don't care what our District is doing. I care about what the Unit is doing, and... the only reason I offered to help with BALOO is because it's a wood badge ticket, I had taken BALOO in years past, and I knew they were short on trainers because they asked all the new BALOO trained people a few months later if they wanted to come help teach the course. It was very easy to walk on to teach BALOO, and it was also very easy to volunteer to run a Council wide Traffic safety merit badge -- all I had to do was connect with the right person and say hey -- this my ticket, and they are very welcoming and supportive. Now, it's not easy in my Council to get picked as a Wood Badge staffer. I'm not eligible yet but it's a more choosy thing and you need to be networked with the course director and generally known for being good at stuff. ETA: Note, I am going to more district meetings now that I'm a CM, but as a DL, the district stuff was of no concern, it's all about the den.

Not at all! But if you had a bad training and it's a subject and organization you care about, and you clearly have the skills to teach it -- go for it! I don't know what to say about the politics in your Council, but surely, someone somewhere is probably desperate for help and you could be just the person to fill in or take a tiny piece here and there so you are not such a big star. Sometimes in my courses, a person has come out to teach just an hour or two and then they leave! That's actually really nice for the trainer and the program. ETA: Whatever you are doing for Scouting, thank you! If you want to help make better leaders, then getting into training is a great way to do it.

@MattR are you going to talk to your DE about your feelings and let him know you're feeling micromanaged? You should! Get him off your back. Everybody is conditional. Now I can understand that if people spend more time complaining than Scouting, that's a problem. But if people want to do Scouting, then get Scouting! Do the parts you like to do and don't stress over the rest of it!

But if everyone is working on their units, then how does the district run? Everybody working on district is giving a little extra time to Scouting beyond the unit level. If everyone did a little bit, it would make it easier for everybody. Furthermore, if the Scouts are running the program and Patrol method, don't the adults have more time on their hands???

So, have you since volunteered to be an IOLS trainer for your Council? I taught portions of BALOO in the Spring, my first time teaching it, and I am sure there are people who had more experience than I did taking the course. Of course, I invited comments in some areas, like Geocaching and I asked if people had experience with it, but when I did a segment on basic First aid and CPR, I taught it exactly to the BSA guideline. If a person knew all the material coming in, at least they were able to hear me reinforce that YPT is non--negotiable, don't make up your own loopholes. That's not really the point. The point is that I am a person willing to volunteer for a 12-hour day of training and prep for that class. Are you?

I'll just throw in that scoutmaster conferences and boards of review at camp are not always the best environment for the scout to succeed in. Our Troop has a new scout weekend and they have tried to do all this advancement stuff at the end of the outing, and it's a big fail -- you've got 11 and 12 year old who are exhausted and it's 10 o'clock at night and there's no point. We discussed this at committee and I think this year they will do the advancement stuff after they get back home when the kids are fresher. The same kind of thing happened with my son as he worked towards First Class. He was going to have a BOR at camp and he basically refused to do it -- it was not the right setting or time for him. Three weeks later, he did wonderfully with a board of review around the dining room table when he was not worn out from a full week of summer camp.

I think the best thing you get out of Wood Badge is meeting other great Scouters from your area. It's the networking, and meeting great people inspires you to live the Oath and Law.

I went to Wood badge right after my second son crossed over to Boy Scouts, I had graduated as his Den Leader, and I was continuing with Cubs as Assistant Cub Master. My husband is going to WB this year, his third year as an ASM. (I'm a Fox married to a Bear.) I sell Wood Badge to cub level Scouters by saying that I was never a Boy Scout, and Wood Badge lets me experience Scouting the way my boys will in their troops, so it's a great chance for non youth members to get more of a taste of what it's like for the boys.

I am so happy to hear that you got a very clear response and support. That's excellent.

I have mixed feelings about bringing in girls early and going coed. I think that following the rules of separate troops and dens is good. I think giving girls experiences is also good. When you decide to skip the rules it gets a little confusing to go on your own. I think it's interesting that this CO said, "push the boundaries". I wonder what kind of CO would do that? I guessed this was in California, but it's in Minnesota, which is too close to home for me! If I had daughters, I think I would want my daughters in a troop that follows the program. Because if a CO is winging it, do they lack discipline across the entire program? Do they follow YPT and the guide to safe scouting? How do you know what program you are getting if the organization is making stuff up as they go?

I was talking with some friends last night and one recounted a story of a near drowning on a Girl Scout outing. I am sharing this only to emphasize why the BSA's (is that still the right abbreviation?) Safe Swim Defense guidelines are important and useful. Girl Scout overnighter at a campground, note, not a scout camp Most parents not on trip Pool with no lifeguards No one really supervising No swim test Do you see where this is going? My friend who is a lifeguard and swim instructor decided to rent a cabin at the campground and take the rest of her family. Her daughter in GSUSA tent camped with her troop. My friend was hanging out and drinking / relaxing. My friend was not in charge of this trip, not the leader, not the planner, just a parent who decided to come along for the ride. She was a little inebriated and talking to another adult when she noticed "grabby hands" in the pool and went over to tell the girls it's not safe, when she saw the terror in the girls' eyes. About 4 kids in the fray. One not a strong swimmer, pulling on the other kids. My friend tried a reach but could not reach, entered the pool, holding one side of the pool, grabbed two kids and got them out of the pool, the other adult helped pull the two girls out of the pool. I was kind of shocked hearing how this event was (not) planned, knowing at least some of the conditions for a BSA safe swim area. I am thankful for BSA's safety rules. Note -- Parents should ask questions about swimming safety, lifeguards and conditions on outings. Leaders, don't roll your eyes at that one.

Barry, really. This thread is about a male ASM losing it on kids in the Troop. There are high-strung men and women who are a problem for the program. Don't bash the moms.

Oh Gawd, a SuperScout. I feel bad for you. But, hey, a guy doesn't get a pass on crap behavior towards kids just because he got an Eagle. He doesn't have special privileges, he's supposed to be giving service, doh! Have you had a talk with him directly and let him know you don't appreciate his behavior? Maybe a little momma bear will help him wake up. I don't mean an angry momma bear, but you can look him in the eye and tell him that his behavior is a problem and you need him to calm down. The best way he can serve your son and the Troop is to give the kids some space to learn on their own. It depends, some Scouters hate women and won't respect a mom. I hope he's not that kind.

Yes, but, this adult is not teaching the Scout Oath and Law. He does not belong in uniform, and Bearess should bring out the nukes, i.e. inform the Scout Executive and ask for help to resolve the situation so no other kids are harmed. Tell me, why should this adult stay in a leadership position? Give me a few good reasons. The kid appears resilient, but that does not excuse the adult's behavior.

Ugh, I am so sorry Bearess. Your son does not need to leave. This adult needs to step down. Screaming at a boy until they cry is not appropriate. I think you should call the Scout Executive and have a conversation, so this is documented very specifically. Get it on the record. Then the Council can decide whether their volunteer deserves another chance to humiliate and bully children or not. The kids need to see consequences for bad behavior.

I took Wood Badge when my two older boys were just starting Boy Scouts. I am still involved with my youngest in the Cub pack, but if we all stick with Scouting, I'm going to be in the program for the next 10 years. Might as well get trained. BALOO is important for Cub Scouting. I recommend Wood Badge to people who expect to be active in Scouting for many years, and for people who did not grow up in Scouting and would like to experience the patrol method firsthand. My involvement in Scouting is increasing a lot through the Wood Badge ticket work... which is likely a lifelong commitment to Scouting.

If any of my sons earn Eagle, it will be interesting to see what they want for Court of Honor. I can see my oldest wanting something short, short, short and sweet. The other two might like the pomp and circumstance. As I progress towards Wood Badge completion and hopefully, beading, I have to decide if I want something short and small, or invite a lot of people from WB class. It's nearly the same thing as COH and I can see pros and cons of going bigger or smaller.

Just 2 cents - you can handle another post, right? Our troop once had a committee chair who was difficult to work with and antagonistic towards my son with ADHD. I know there are some Scouters out there who do not do well with kids with differences, and who put know-it-all-ness, power trips and ego into their volunteer jobs. It's disgusting. You are not alone in that kind of experience and I'm sorry that your family had to struggle through it. I hope you and the Elks throw your son a fantastic court of honor! Congrats to your son!