Eagle94-A1

YES! If you can find an old 3rd edition SMHB 2 volumes, there is a very good plan to starting a troop with new Scouts. Funny thing is, the best SPL i ever worked with was 12 years old. He was voted in, and beat older Scouts.

One reason why Scouting America doesn't cut off Scouting at 13 or 14, and makes Venturing the next stage, (emphasis) if you look at older, pre 1989 BSA literature. The middle schoolers look up to, and learn from the highschoolers. They will usually be the ones elected into leadership roles. Traditional, aka Mixed Age Patrols, were the standard. Unless you were LDS which used aged based patrols. Patrols could actually do things on their own without adults, including camping. Older members mentored and worked with younger members. Nowadays the lack of Scouter manpower, forces troops to focus on the Troop Method, and not the Patrol Method. IMHO, Scouting America has lost its way. Instead of focusing on adventure and fun to promote individual growth, the focus is now on MBs and getting Eagle. Instead of hiring and listening to folks with outdoor experience, Scouting America is hiring "Educational Leadership" experts with no idea how Scouting is suppose to work, but a ton of theories on how to develop youth. The one I met had no outdoors experience whatsoever, no jobs outside of academia, and was appalled when I said they needed to spend time at a summer camp. Even then summer camp is turning into outdoor school. And do not get me started on aged based patrols. I was one of the guinea pigs when it was beta tested, and shocked when it became the recommendation.

While I would "Be Prepared" to create a new, all-girls troop, February will be when the announcement on coed troops comes out. If I was a betting man, I would put my money on coed troops.

I noticed the second page has a photo of Green Bar Bill on it. I wonder if he is spinning in the grave with what is going on at national?

Well the Scouters, save 1 who is out of town and really just keeps reregistering for OA purposes, families, and Scouts now know. One family is extremely angry, they are legacy and wanted the Scout's name on the church's wall with dad. They were only focused on that, not the best interest of their Scout or the others. The other two families, saw it coming, and appreciate we lasted as long as we did. One even commented on they were surprised we didn't fold last year. The Scouts were completely different. The two Scouts were upset and holding it in by the looks of their faces. One broke down. The troop was his "safe space" where he wasn't bullied or insulted. The question that really struck me was "where will you be going Mr. Eagle94-A1?" I told them wherever the majority goes. I did not want to influence their decision, I want them to explore and decide on their own. But my gut tells me one troop will be a better fit for all four of the Scouts.

Just prepped my notes for the parents meeting, and for the Scouts afterwards. This hurts.

Well I told College ASM 1 yesterday. He took it stoically, and knew it was coming via dad. College ASM 2, although listed as "Scout," was informed today. He took it really hard. He thanked me for calling him and talking to him about it.

Very apt. As mentioned a lot of COs do not know what their actual duties are. And councils take advantage. A lot of CORs do not know they are voting members of the council, and if massed together can prevent somethings from happening. And councils depend on that fact to get things they want done that may not be in the best interest of the Scouts.

Once upon a time, everything belonged to the CO: money, equipment, memorabilia, etc. Sometime in the past 20 years that changed. Challenge is that our troop is so old, that some of the stuff we have predates the council. Also the council has been of NO help whatsoever, for over a decade now. Worse, they have been more of a hindrance than a help. The CC still remembers when he was district CC and was politely call a liar at a council meeting regarding a project he asked to work on. And I have relayed my stories of their interference in other threads. They have lied to us about events being cancelled last minute and why they sold property. So no Scouter active in the unit wants the council to get anything.

Well, the meeting with the CC went better than expected. He concurs with the exit strategy. But one interesting thing happened today. Ran into someone whose troop recently folded. Found out the council went after both the troop's money and equipment.

So I am in the process of dissolving the troop, and it is getting me depressed. I have been doing paperwork, making sure records are up to date so wherever they go, they won't have any advancement issues. I do not want my Scout to face the issues I had back in the day, or issues I have seen over the years. Also wanted to see what we can do to finish up advancement. Also created a calendar with remaining commitments: court of honor, Christmas party, and service project. I meet with the CC later today, and get to tell him we are dissolving the troop. That is going to be a challenging conversation. He has a long history with the troop, and sometimes I think his loyalty is to the troop, not the Scouts. But the CC has not been active since May, and has not been seeing what has been happening. The de facto CC and I realized that even if we did get 1 more Scout, because of the troop's make up, Some Scouts would be unable to do camp outs due to school activities, and it is hard to have a good camp out with fewer than 5 Scouts. And that is a disservice to the Scouts. This week we meet with the parents, and hopefully they will come. But last time I asked for parents to attend, regarding summer camp, no one showed up. I feel this is an issue we tell folks in person, and not in an email. Bad enough I got to tell the two college Scouters via text or phone. And I am also telling the Scouts. Keep me in your prayers.

At this stage of the game, I could care less if the council blackballs me. I already removed myself from district/council activities to focus on my unit. They cannot punish me via my sons, as I have heard some pros have done.

I wonder what the "Trust Issues" are? I know in one council, a camp that was originally in a trust was outright donated to the scout council. The council then sold it.

Forgot about the soda. Can anyone tell me why?

For Sea Scouts Sleeping in a cabin would not count for Camping MB because a cabin does not meet the requirement. Sleeping on the deck under the stars, or on shore in a tent, under the stars, etc would count.