SpEdScouter

Why would girls and boys have to be together at the unit level?   Why not have girls troops and boys troops, and they can intermix at Jamborees, etc.

 

I have a vivid memory of a TR (Training Ranger) I knew at Philmont when I was on staff in 1975.   I remember her complaining about not having been able to be an Eagle scout....

 

Girls should have access to the grittier program that BSA offers.

I'm starting to agree along these lines where maybe the girls could have their own sub-units or patrols within a troop but still do all the merit badges, rank advancements, and still come to the camps. A sort of "sister" program for girls age 11-14. The big issue is what to call it since "Girl Scouts" is already used.

I look at it from the perspective of sports teams. We have soccer, baseball, and hockey teams that have girls playing on them. They are about 1 in 10. In hockey though up until about age 14 they are often the best players on the team and then the boys really catch up and often quickly outdo the girls. The boys learn to deal with them. They all change clothes in the same locker room and deal with it. If they need to they duck into a bathroom stall.

Now there are still separate girls teams also like girls softball.

Also while the team is coed and they laugh and play together, between games usually the girls all go into their own group. I'd guess the same would be at a coed scout camp.

wonder why there's what appears to be a 1st year WEBELOS scout advertising merit badge classes?

Maybe he looks more attractive? A rugged older Boy Scout may not?

Ok, let's just say for discussion sakes that they decided to make the Boy Scouts of America just "Scouting" and opened up the whole program from Cubs to Webelos to Boy Scouts open to girls too.

What do you think would be the biggest changes? How do you think just such a program would work out?

Remember Scouting has been coed in other countries for 30 years and they work it out. Also we have coed Venture crews plus many girls already participate "under the table" in cub scouts.

Would we say a creation of a strictly boy only program?

Would Girl Scouts survive?

What do you all think?

Our troop has a native American leader. Problem is he is from Arizona and only knows those tribes which are different than the tribes here in Kansas.

One of the problems with doing winter campouts is that it gets dark by around 6 pm. The Scouts usually dont fall asleep until 9-10 so their really isnt much for them to do and they can get bored. Then it might be cold and windy. They can sit around a campfire but that takes alot of wood. This is when they want to haul out the electronics.

Any suggestions?

Talk about some of your greatest scouting adventures?

Most snow?

Coldest or hottest temps?

Ever been in danger?

Ever woke up with a wild animal in your tent?

I went as IST to the WSJ, having organised an activity to run at the event. Just got back. Yes, theyre not cheap, but have to say it was one of the best experiences I've had. It's not a traditional scout activity camp but, well a jamboree, chance to meet other Scouts and scout leaders from all over the world. I had well over 47 different countries come through the activity I was running.

What event did you run?

Yes but that's kind of the point.

 

World Jamborees are not about traditional scout skills or back country camping. It's about interntaional friendship and meeting scouts from other cultures.

 

I've never been to a world one but did a European one in 2005. We had poles one side of us, Israel the other side of them, Italians the other side of us and Ireland the other side of them. Across the track were Swiss and Portugese units. It's a wonderful melting point of different cultures, languages and nationalities and that is nothing short of life changing.

 

No it's not your average camp out but it's something unforgettable.

What was your favorite uniform or uniform that was most interesting?

Does it come in an Kindle or online edition? My issue is pages falling out or needing to print off pages.

yep, and I know of one troop that does over the top trips too, involving air fare and exotic locales....

big money

I've heard of one that does big ticket items like African safaris.

We had ours done that way too. BRIGHT blaze hunting orange with our unit numbers. Can't hide that thing if you wanted to.

Well lets face it. Part of the reason for the trailer with logo is advertising the troop.

I just find all the different uniforms to be amazing. Imagine the opportunities for path trading.

I wonder, did all the Scouts from that particular country fly out to Japan together as a group? I think HOA council sent 5.

Well one train of thought is that thieves target a Scout trailer because the items in it are easily sold. Another is if you leave it white thieves think it contains tools.

I like Stosh's idea. Going to look into it.

Every now and then you read about Scout vans being stolen.

So here are some questions:

1. If your was stolen, what was in it, did you get it back, and/or did your insurance cover the loss?

2. We have had times where we have come to the van and their has been evidence that somebody had tried to steal it (ex. broken locks or chains). So I was wondering;

a. Does having your troop number and logo discourage or encourage theft?

b. Have you tried putting some sort of recovery or tracking device in your trailer?

Interesting topic and timely. I've been interacting with my grandchildren, the first just coming into the Cub Scout age. They have looked around their area and considered the CS program. The father is an Eagle Scout. But the programs seem to be something they are just not interested in and the local community has a strong youth program itself, not affiliated with any organization, church,...anything. They have decided to go what what they know and like.

I asked about the kinds of things scouting is advertised as promoting: character, good citizenship, etc. Their response was something on the order of: "That's what we are already. This family doesn't need some external program to do that."

 

I can't find a flaw in their logic. So, this probably means I'll be helping with that program and withdrawing from the unit I'm with. Interesting...how these things turn out. The ultimate in local option. Guess this is goodbye.

Might I ask what other youth program are you referring? Church? YMCA? Schools? 4H?  (I've seen all these be highly successful.)

As for the expenses:

Camping gear - can be used on the side or later on.

Summer camp - Scout camp is usually cheaper than other overnight camps.

Outings - Just another way for kids or families to get out and do things. How many people would otherwise take their kids camping, fishing, or hiking?

The Kansas Cosmosphere in Hutchinson Kansas offers several merit badge progams such as rocketry and astronomy and such and they can sleep inside the museum. There is also a salt mine museum where they can get their geology MB plus sleep underground. 

Do they "have" to be in Scouting? No. But I feel scouting offers a unique program to learn many skills and make friends. I dont know of any others that emphasizes outdoor activities and camping.

When one looks at a particular program whether it be Scouts, sports, various youth clubs and such, there are many out there and each have their good and bad points. And each one is a crapshoot on the quality of the people running them. Boy Scouts are run by volunteers and they are what they are. One town could have an awesome Scout program and a crappy 4H and the other vice versa. I know one town in Missouri where the best program for youth is run thru Parents as Teachers. In other towns I've seen excellent YMCA's. In the next it's the Scouts.

You mentioned 4H. Yes 4H can be good for what it is and 4H has many activities that crossover with the scouts like woodworking, health, and animal science.

Pleasemdo not let a couple of poor experiences with Scout troops be your guage for the whole program.

I do know of a troop that formed in a small town without a troop and the council gave them the old trailer and other equipment of a troop that had shut down.

We've taken a hybrid approach for some outings.  Older guys set out on a backpackng trip on Friday.  Do 4 miles, camp.  Wake up on Saturday, do 4 miles and meet up with younger scouts.  They do 6 miles together and camp.  On Sunday, they do another 4 miles together.  We've done COPE weekends where they guys are together in the morning and the older guys do some more challenging stuff in the afternoon while the younger guys climb on the rock wall.  We did one campout where one group (mostly 7th graders and up) biked 25 miles to and from camp and another group just took cars.

 

That being said, we've found that you really shouldn't underestimate the younger guys.  They have enthusiasm and want to do adventurous activities.  We don't limit the boys based on age or rank.  We have more adventurous activities and if the boy thinks they can do it, they are welcome to try.  The only time I've had to dissuade a boy is when a recent Webelos crossover was interested in doing a 50 mile backpacking trip (the parents completely understood that this wasn't a good first backpacking trip when I talked to them, but you've got to love the boy's enthusiasm!).  The more you do with the younger guys, the more they can do.

 

We've got sea kayacking, backpacking, 

Well that might be the best option. Have just one campout but have both advanced and basic portions. 

One troop we were in only had basic campouts but the advanced boys went camping on their own aside from the troop. But they were getting ready for Philmont. 

I think as the Scout grows it would be good to give them more opportunities to do more rustic or adventure camping and backpacking.

BUT, troops also have alot of younger Scouts who still are just getting used to sleeping in a tent.

So, would it work out to have 2 types of campouts? One of basic campouts for the newer scouts? The second, for say 1rst class and above, which would be more advanced and rustic?

Would that work out?

That was my big complaint/feedback.  Going for a multi-mile hike is a nice thing to do, but to have to do that twice a day before you get to do the thing you're actually there to do is really inefficient.

Are the pathways out in the open or more in the trees? Hiking under a hot sun can be pretty hard.

Best one ever-  We were canoeing on the Flambeau River in WIsconsin,  Pull into a campsite and there is a BRAND NEW outhouse, couldn't have been a week old.  You could still smell the lumber smell.  One of the kids said "I didn't think they came that way!"  We sure took our time using the faciities. 

Did it have a half-moon cut into the door?

Just heard three units in council are disbanding. Their CO (church of Christ) has dropped them. Leaders have no time to find a new CO so they are sending those interested in continuing to other units. Their reported % going to the other units? 30%.

 

DEs running around trying to put their finger in the dyke.

Off topic. What happens to that units equipment? Can they donate it to another unit? Does the church keep it? Does it go to national?