curious_scouter

Good time to practice using the most important gear a leader has: Your chair. And, a close second, working on your coffee (or perhaps tea) skills.

Another suggestion is ask the SM if it's okay if you plan and host ILST. They might just be overwhelmed, maybe they are even unaware it needs to be done annually and is a pre-req for scouts wanting to do NYLT. Or that it's their job to do it. I know my first year as a SM was super overwhelming and I had been an adult scouter and ASM for many years before taking on the job. The first year I was SM we didn't have OA elections - I didn't know I was supposed to request them and no one told me lol. Oops! Never attribute to malice that which is adequately explained by ignorance! Make the

It's tough to turn a ship, it takes a lot of work. It can also be risky to turn it too quickly: Bad habits take time to correct and Scouting moves at Scouting speed - which can be frustratingly slow when you see that a lot of change is needed and your energy level for it exceeds those around you. SPLs serve for 6 months. Start working with prospective future SPLs now. Get them to NYLT. Then THEY will ask for ILST, THEY will come to PLCs with agenda. It's going to be tough to change things today. But you have to start planting seeds. If you like the unit otherwise, keep going

If you like, you can probably still send feedback to: commissionerserviceteam@scouting.org

https://forms.gle/L5pHray2RdD4Xt2R9 for those interested n/m - no longer accepting input.

Those are all great ideas. I'd add: Form an adult patrol. Act like a patrol. Make a yell. A flag. Camp apart. Have your own kitchen, just like theirs. Do your menu, just like they do. Have your own grubmaster. Plan your own patrol activities when it's patrol time. Set the example.

We have revitalized our committee this year. I would like to provide a meaningful Scoutmaster report for them at committee meetings. Soliciting any ideas. I want to use this as an opportunity to inform, motivate and seek help where needed. Here is what I have so far Key dates for next quarter for program (campouts, COH, etc) Roster overview (registered vs. active, rank breakdown) Summary of report from IA on ranks, badges, awards earned this year Summary of campouts since last meeting Overview of summer activities Key news (we have an Eagle getting a spe

they are/were available on scoutshop.org. I did break down and buy one to see it in person and have plans to work it up into a new uniform using old interesting patches off ebay.

Adults are the worst enemy to patrol method. We apply our sensibilities and biases to a process that the youth see no issue with. Last campout we had 5 patrols. 1 patrol was two scouts. 1 patrol was four scouts. They had a great time, they cooked and enjoyed their meals and were happy to have only their own dishes to contend with. I subscribe completely the B-P's POV: "The patrol system is not one method in which Scouting can be carried on. It is the only method." There is another tenant of B-P I fully subscribe to: "My ideal camp is where everyone is cheery and busy, whe

not to mention the registration fee is just the tip of a very large expense iceberg in scouting. Fundraising can help, but it's still very expensive to scout. Uniform is easily $100+, book $25, unit dues $100-150, campouts @$20 ea is $200+ a year, summer camp is $350+ a lot of places. And that's before any other clothes or gear they need. So like $700-1000 in ongoing annual fees easily. A Scouting career can cost a family as much as a year of in state college tuition. It's a big choice, but I also think it has major benefits to the youth that justify the expense. There truly is no b

Get involved or get informed is my mantra. Serious concerns for safety or logistics are always welcome, but nit picking the plan the scouts create isn't something I tolerate if you weren't willing to make the time to participate

I live nearby. Toyed with the idea of going, until I saw the registration fee. Is the content really worth that much? I could send 3 adults to Wood Badge for that.

100%. I had the performance uniform and loved it. Lost a buncha weight (yay) so needed a new shirt. No more of those, bought the cotton one. Miserable. Just awful. I mean it looks good. You can really crisp it up with the iron, but wearing it in FL is rough. So hot. Just soaks up the sweat around the neck and pits and stays super moist. Strong excitement about the re-introduction of performance options except I suspect it'll take our council shop years to cycle through current stock to where it is available locally and I like... JUST bought this cotton one so will have to stick w

We follow a similar process to @InquisitiveScouter's. SM and CC conference ahead of annual planning, align on any fundamental shifts in year-to-year policies (similar to IS's notes: We have standing expectation of 1 outing per month, 1 in-state / 1 out-of-state summer camp, and certain other activities we pre-commit to each year like helping with pack crossover weekend, etc.) This seed the "parameters" for annual planning. SM and PLC conduct annual planning. CC is invited to participate. We review school, council, district, and OA calendars so we can participate and avoid

I found self-organizing was key. Not right away but just ahead of the next elections we had "patrol re-org night". SPL announced "You are all released from your patrols!" They were given 30 minutes to "congeal" into new patrols. It was interesting. We started with 5 Patrols, we ended with 5 Patrols. Noone specified max/min Patrol size nor number of patrols - we just let it happen. I was worried about this as we have 5 patrol kits... so as much as I love the Patrol Method - sometimes practical considerations do play a part. As it turned out, the politics and awkwardness involved wi