MattHiggins

Maybe instead of trying to influence the entire troop at once from the top down, focus on a patrol. I doubt anyone could go into a troop--especially one that sounds to be otherwise a healthy unit--and change things overnight. If your son happens to be in a new Scout patrol, start there by teaching them how to structure the patrol to be able to work independently of any adults. If they don't have well defined patrols, ask to take on a new Scout patrol, which is often a role for an ASM. My second observation is a little bit of devil's advocate. How much or how little adults have to get their

Personally, I would suggest disclosing your son's autism. As a unit leader, I find it difficult to set appropriate expectations without knowing such information.

Anyone know the history on the seven virtues (wisdom, courage, self-control, justice, faith and love) used by many for an Arrow of Light ceremony? I have read that the seven rays on the Arrow of Light symbol represent the seven days of the week and serve as a daily reminder to do your best. I've also read that it's to remind to do a good turn daily, but that's a Boy Scout slogan. Anyway, the seven virtues make for a nice enough ceremony, but it seems odd, in my humble opinion, to use this language for the first time at the ceremony.

If the church actually wants the charter, I'd consider it. Often chartered organizations are more like absentee landlords than active partners. So, if the church was proactively looking to hold the charter, I'd hear them out. Are they offering meeting space? Storage? Will someone from the church attend committee meetings (can be a mixed blessing--pun intended)?

I wouldn't mix the two. I would make it clear it wasn't a Scout activity.

I would meet with your chartered organization representative. The chartered organization decides who holds leadership positions. Sometimes (sometimes often), they aren't that involved, but I'd start with a conversation there. If not--or maybe also--I'd contact your district executive and your pack's unit commissioner. Is the Cubmaster trained? These things can get ugly--at least ugly enough to not be worth the drama. So, another option is to start a new pack. I'd see that as a last resort.

The blanket the Scout Store sells is nice. We have it and love it.

I bit my tongue for page after page of this, but this thread--and it's not the only one on this forum--are horrible examples of Scouting values. There is a ton of great information on this forum, but threads like this are a total disappointment. I know forums bring this out in people, but if I wanted to show Scouts how people should treat each other online this isn't where I'd take them. Like I said, lots of great info here on this forum, but also lots of egos and attitudes.

You're twisting things. As I'm sure you're well aware, the Catholic Church traditionally teaches against contraception (there have been exceptions) and has consistently opposed abortion. Amnesty International has not. Thus, the position of the Archbishop. That doesn't mean he or any part of the Catholic Church supports beheading anyone.

90% of the work being done by 10% is very much true. I'm sure we all experience it. It certainly is the leading cause of burnout.

A kindergarten program is long overdue. We've seen a huge increase in all-day kindergarten since the early 2000s, and now that the majority of the country offers it, BSA has gotten a little behind its "competition." Traditionally, most youth programs start or target student-age kids. Sure, you can enroll your 3-year-old in dance or tumbling, but once school starts that's when the flyers start coming home. Kindergarden is the right time to introduce Scouting. Plus, the BSA was smart about it and kept it pretty low key. Lions will meet only twice a month--one den meeting and one outing type meet

I too had made this mistake. I had it pointed out at EDGE training by a well meaning--I think--instructor. As has been mentioned, it is indeed a youth-only patch. Interesting, in a training slide show made by national, there were adults shown with the patch on their uniform.

Which ones did you go with?

I was thrilled (and surprised) when our committee agreed to have B&G, AOL, and Crossing Over as three separate events. There are more than a few pack members who don't embrace change.

When the Arrow of Light Scouts cross over, the troop they are going to is there to greet them and present them with their neckerchief. We give the Scout a Boy Scout handbook before he crosses the bridge. So, our ceremony is both a goodbye and a hello. We have three packs in town and six troops, so kids go everywhere. We often have two or three troops at crossing over.

I know most packs use a bridge in their crossing over ceremony. In the past our pack has had all ranks cross over the bridge, but we've also had the bridge pushed out of the way and only used the bridge for the Arrow of Light den crossing over to Boy Scouts. I highly favor the later. What does your pack do? My plan is to have the Tigers through Bears step forward to receive their advancement and only use our bridge for the Arrow of Light den.

While we never had all of those rolled into one (your pack should have thrown recruiting night and Pinewood Derby in there too), we did combine a few. This will be the first year that all are separate events.

Don't want to hijack the thread, but that video is more of a reflection of TV than it is of Bear Grylls. He's a popular target because, well, because he's popular.

I honestly do not understand the constant need to force certain organizations to comply to your ideals. It's clear--in my opinion--that the activist Mark Lawrence, in the interview, is only motivated by his agenda and not a desire to serve youth. Instead of suing the BSA, start your own organization. If it's truly what the majority wants, it will flourish. But, it's not about helping kids, it's about the agenda.

This wouldn't replace instilling other elements. Like a lot of the program, it's but one link in the chain. In my opinion, there are multiple reasons to consider doing it: > I like to see the program change as kids get older simply so they don't bored. This is probably my primary motivation. It makes Webelos different. Cub Scouts is boring by year four or five if only the requirements change. The risk, in my opinion, is that the subtle increases in complexity are lost on the boys and every year kind of seems the same. > It prepares them, in a small way, for the Boy Scout patrol con

Do most leaders have their Webelos dens come up with a name and pick a patch? My pack has not been doing this, but as Cubmaster I have encouraged the Webelos and Arrow of Light dens to do so (they have not and it's not a put my foot down issue). I see it being valuable because it keeps Cub Scouts from getting stale for the older boys and gives a taste of taking leadership on a task. Of course, picking a den name isn't the only element for keeping Cub Scouts interesting and not monotonous for the older boys and it isn't the only time they get to take point. Anyway, do most packs have th

Do you have a relationship with anyone at your council? I imagine you must. I wasn't suggesting your role is to help the DE.Doesn't sound like he needs any help if he has had the job for years and doesn't have interact with any units--not even send an email. If I was you, I'd be more interested in seeing how he can help your unit. Maybe your unit is an island and you don't need your council for anything. Still surprised a DE is never required to got to Roundtable or even contact a unit.

Your council doesn't require the DEs to attend Roundtables? I'd contact your council's Scout executive and ask for that to change.

Like most people here, I have been involved in Scouting from a few different angles. I was a Scout, I got involved again as a parent, quickly became a Scouter (assistant den leader to den leader, assistant Cubmaster to Cubmaster). Not the most original story. Like a few, I have worked on the professional side as a DE--thankfully only briefly. While I love Scouting, I hated that job. I didn't care for the council management (leadership style or goal achieving methods), but I was blown away by or most disappointed with the animosity from fellow Scouters. Of course, many frustrations with cou

That's a pretty legit concern. I saw a pack use a flat plastic tray style box with the flip open lid and adjustable dividers. They are used for fishing tackle and hardware all of the time. They work great for belt loops. It organized and had a inventory sheet