Eagle94-A1

We have one ASM  with a weather app on his phone. I have a weather radio. that's what we use on trips.

From way back when, I start checking  weahter.com at the latest 2 days before a trip, Then the day before and day of.

Been dealing with this issue for some time since CSDC does a lot of advancement.  I have no problems, and use those who have done it to help the others.  Also some Cubs want to do the projects again because A) it's fun and B) they know whatthey are doing and ant to do a better job.

@@Eagle94-A1

 

Soon after the NSP gets oriented to the scouting routine and has maybe Scout and TF under their belts, the SPL and TG do the GBB patrol training with the boys.  The quicker they get into that, the quicker their PL/APL combo can take the reins and the TG can step back in a more supportive role like GBB suggests the SM does.  The training is rather simple and the SPL/TG combo usually do a pretty nice job of holding the course. 

That's the goal, although, why didn't i think of using GBB's  syllabus for new troop!

I told the TG his job was to work his way out of a job.

We now have an issue though; we no longer have a TG. The TG and the NSP are having so much fun together, the NSP elected him PL.

Now I gotta get another copy of the 3d. Edition SMHB!

Bad Wolf,

Like I said, in an ideal world.

The DE question I can answer from first hand expereince. Some of the things i would do, depending upon the time of year are the following.

1) Recruiting.  Not only youth but adults.

             For youth recruitment, I had to coordinate with the local school systems and arrange both the daytime visit and the Round Ups. Then I had to conduct both. Grant you I focused mostly on elementary schools and Cub Scouts, but I also did middle schools and other

More later

Bad Wolf,

In an ideal world, the district helps units out a lot.

They provide a commissioner corps that helps units out that are having issues and need help. 

Districts provide training opportunities for the leaders so they can provide a better program. Yes some training can be done online, esp. CS specific, but a lot does need to be done in a classroom.

Districts provide activities for the units to participate in. Whether it's a Cub Scout Day Camp, or a district camporee, districts do provide the youth, as well as adults, opportunities for fun.

Districts provide Round Tables where the latest information can be presented to leaders about events, changes in program, etc.

Districts assist in recruitment.

Districts have DEs. OK sometimes the DE is an idiot. But a good DE is worth their weight in platinum.

There is a lolt that in an ideal world that districts do.

One of the things I've learned over the years is that being a SM is not, in the traditional sense of the words,  a "science", but an "art." Things that are done in one area, may not work in another. As a SM, you got to know your Scouts and adapt to them.

Best example is the New Scout Patrol. I told you about my 2 negative expereinces with it back in the day with my troop growing up. Specifically when I was the PL for them (today it would be called TG since I was appointed by the SPL; this was before NSPs and TG were in the literature), and when I brand new troop of 8 Scouts wanted to work with us until they could get their feet on the ground ( they ended up merging with us and splitting the "troop" amongst my troop's existing patrols). It didn't work.

Today however, my son's troop uses the NSP. It's effective. Is it perfect, No. Do we have issues at times, Yes. But overall it has worked for the troop.

One of the things I encourage is to read EVERYTHING (emphasis) on the Patrol System/Method. Talk to other leaders, especially the old fogeys, about things that have worked and not worked AS WELL AS THE REASONS WHY (emphasis again). Get as much info as possible form all sources.

THEN discount any that are adult oriented, except for Green Bar Bill's 6 month training regime in the 3rd ed. SMHB ( he starts off adult oriented, and progresses to fully Scout run by month 6). Work with your Scouts and use what is needed to get them running the troop.

1) WELCOME TO DA FORUMS!

2) I need to second Stosh. I didn't do BWCA, I did LaDomaine, Quebec, Canada. From the pics I've seen of BWCA,  LaDomaine was just as wild back in the daywhen I did it. We were told prior to the trip that USGI jungle boots would be needed as we would be doing portages.  I AM SO GLAD I BOUGHT MY ALTAMA JUNGLE BOOTS! (emphasis, ok maybe a little shouting with joy )  They provided enough support, and wouldn't come off.

I've done 3 week-long fifty-milers and multiple weekend and day trips wearing jungle boots. I've had no problems. In fact this past weekend doing canoe training with the troop, we had one Scout with tennis shoes on that came off in the mud. I had no fears.

3) WHATEVER YOU DO, DO NOT BUY THE CHEAP ROTHCO IMITATION JUNGLE BOOTS!!!!!!!!!! (DANGER WILL ROBINSON DANGER!)  I was footing the bill myself for the trip, and was pinching pennies. I SCREWED UP AND GOT THE ROTHCO IMITATION JUNGLE BOOTS! Within a  week of buying them, I was doing a canoe training for the trip, and the sole of one of the boots ripped partially off the boot due to mud. Thankfully the place let me exchange them for the ALTAMA JUNGLE BOOTS.

4)  I do not remember how long the first pair or  second pair of ALTAMA JUNGLE BOOTS lasted. Old age is getting to me . At one point I had both pairs at the same time. But my current, only pair I've had for about 7 or 8 years now. If I didn't have 3 Scouts to support, I'd get a second pair today

5)  I have the condura cloth and not the cotton duck cloth boots. There is apparently two types of the boot: a Military Spec (condura) and Commercial Spec ( cotton).  I'd stick with mil spec.

http://www.amazon.com/Altama-Footwear-6853-Leather-Cordura/dp/B00471622S/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1432297550&sr=8-1&keywords=altama+jungle+boots

http://www.amazon.com/Altama-4155-Black-Jungle-U-S/dp/B005343NTI/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1432297550&sr=8-2&keywords=altama+jungle+boots

BSA is discombobulated by all these semi-autonomous teams which won't play together. 

Don't remind me. I use to work for National Supply once upon a time, and I scratched my head a lot with someof the stuff they were marketing. Anyone remember the Arrow of Light belt buckle for a leather belt?

Evidently Green Bar Bill was a victim of "office politics," which is sad for someone who gave so much of his life to help Scouting.  But unfortunately not too much of a surprise.

Right now, I'm willing to bet 75%+ of the folks at national became DEs in the Improved Scouting Program period. Maybe, just maybe, with the new generation of national leaders who became DEs in the 9th edition BSHB period, things will change.

"There's always hope...a fool's hope." Gandalf the White.

As to the aside about the current BSHB not being interesting, I second that. When I got my BSHB, Green Bar Bill's writing got me hook, line, and sinker. I've tried to read the current one and it's blah.  My son, got it, read a few pages, and now only looks at it when he has to.

Going back to retention, and spinning advancement into the mix as well,  When all the hoopla of NSPs and Operation First Class came out in August 1989, Read somewhere how this was based on those Scouts getting First Class within a year tend to saty longer and it's best to keep all the new scouts together workign on First Class.  My initial thoughts were, "How many of the Scouts dropping are in "Hiking and Camping troops" that are doing outdoor activities every month?" That is what kept me active.

As for the concept of NSPs,  I am wondering if the concept came about from LDS units and their separation of 11 year old Boy Scouts from the rest of the troop? Again you never heard of a New Scout Patrol in any of the literature until 1989, and when my troop was being a guinea pig for it in 1987, we dropped it after a year as it did not work as well as what we had been doing, i.e. mixed age patrols.

I would really like someone, anyone at all, to answer one question - How does a CO and Unit accepting gay and athiest scouts and leaders (local option) affect their own unit without going in to some kind of side rant about "tradition" and "family values" and "moral values", or some irrelevant discussion about whether membership numbers as a whole drops or rises.  I want to know precisely how one thinks a unit in the next campsite over, or in the next town over, that allows gay and athiests in negatively affects their own unit.

 

One word: fear.  Before the Dale decision in 1999, I had a CO tell me that when the charter expires, they will no longer charter the pack. Reason being they were afraid teh Dale decision would go aganist the BSA and their religious beliefs. No matter what I said, i.e. you (the CO) have the ultimate decision in who the leaders are within the pack, their concearn was that whil they could chose and trust their own leaders, they couldn't trust the leaders of other units when the units were involved in distirct and council level events. They were afraid that leaders in other untis would try to harm their Scouts. 

 

I fear they are entrenched beyond the ability of C4.

What about Nitro-9?

Sorry, I couldn't resist.

Are you in that video?

Yes I am. I liked the video at the time, but now I have a feeling I am going to get some ribbing. And I'm not in a red beret, which I don't have, or my gray British Air Scout beret either. But I do attract attention with the "piratical costume" I'm in.

An aside, that was the Centennial Parade in DC back in 2010. And I get another 3 seconds of fame

As someone mentioned the concept of a New Scout Patrol where all the new scouts are in one patrol, is concept that came out in 1989. When Scouts joined a patrol, they joined with folks they knew or met in Scouts.

None of the guys in my patrol were in my neighborhood or school. One patrol welcomed me and I was with them until my troop attempted a NSP which didn't work for us. This was in 1987. When the NSP cxoncept cam out in '89, we were rather surprised.

Yes we split up Webelos dens. We had them buddy up with one of the scouts for a meeting and a camp out. they were part of that patrol for the night and campout. And when the time came, they would go with their new buddy into the patrol.

Speaking of NYLT youth recognition, an Eagle candidate in my troop attended NYLT fairly recently here in Michigan's Southern Shores FSC and was given 3 pieces of cord. 2 are red, one is blue. I gather that one red and the blue indicate the NYLT colors, the third, I was told indicates the "patrol" he was in. Each patrol was given a different color. He was told they had to braid them into a shoulder loop, similar to the den chief cords (but braided) and were to be worn in the same fashion. Is this done elsewhere? If so, how does he go about braiding them (is there a specific way?) and is it truly required for "Class A" uniform? He was told he is to be in full uniform for his EBOR(and rightly so), and I think he and his mom are being made to believe this is part of the uniform. What say you?

I've seen the pogey cords on NYLT folks in my council too. Different colors though on one guy: orange and blue. It was suppose to designate NYLT course and their patrol.

I know when I did BA22, we had a pin with yarn attached to it in lieu of patrol medallions. When I staffed JLT, we ribbon and pins. Except for the youth staff. We wore a blueon white poka dotted ribbon around our Smokeys.  Old fogeys on staff didn't need no stinking ribbons

I was placed in the middle of s situation like this as a DE way back when. To this day I do not know the entire story as it happened before I got the position. I just had to deal with it, and unfortunately get the blame by some for the matter.

One story I heard is that one long term volunteer didn't like the SE and confronted him about some policies regarding the local camp, and got his membership revoked by national.

Another story was an accident happened at camp, and when the long term scouter went to find out what's going on in regards to accident insurance and claim, for whatever reason it would not be paid ( One version was the council didn't pay accident insurance for the event, another twas the leader was violating G2SS and insurance would not pay, AGAIN I DO NOT KNOW (emphasis), and the scouter confronted him and got his membership revoked.

Like I said, I was kept out of the loop. Heck I didn't find out the Scouter had a restraining order allowing him to continue as a leader until the court case was resolved until he showed up at RT. When I made the call to the SE, that is when he told me about him being a member temporarily.

Anyway becasue the BSA is a private organization, it can accept and reject members and leaders was how the court decided.

Not so long ago, one of the recruiting posters for Cub Scouts was...

... A "Personal Water Soaking Device"  fight.

And I know NRA officials who have no problems with water guns. 

Good luck!

I never saw the needs until I looked at JTE. 4 camp outs and summer camp get Bronze?!?!?!?!?!?!

We too do not have waterguns at our day camp. We have "Personal Water Soaking Devices."

I have to say it's the most idiotic policy. Even more stupid than the 6 foot rule on pioneering projects, which gets violated at every camporee.

Great, they are using Ethan to promote this MB as well. At least he's in a vintage cap.

We have SMs doing stuff like this (special projects that benefit scouting) all the time...for the heck of it. Scouters should do that more...just because

That's one of my concerns: ticket items. They are suppose to be something related to goals and something you've never done before. I'm super involved on the district level, and not as involved on the council level do to A) lots of family issues of late, B) work C) I'm involved with 2 units, and D) all the district stuff I do. I know I'm already stretched thin, and see the tickets stretching it even further.

When my boys come to meetings without uniform, the PL's introduce the "visitor" to the group.    Yes, we do bully, tease, hassle, harass the boys at various times.  When the scout explains why he doesn't have his uniform, the excuse has to be a great one, like a bear ate it, I gave it to the little old lady crossing the street, my sister needed it for prom (my personal favorite), etc.  The "truth" doesn't count.  

We had a patrol of the year recognition, and the weekly uniform inspection was part of it. We had guys showing up from games and practices in their sports uniform, and their scout uniform on a hanger to change into.

And you already heard my stories about the Winter Formal/COH night and Ring Ceremony/ECOH/Ring Dance night.

One or two didn't' but most did and harassed me.