HashTagScouts

I wanted to say it is awesome that your son joined up, without any of the prods (no parent kicking him into it as a "legacy"). For Cubs, you hit it exactly right as to what the solution is to helping Cubs thrive- make it fun! Going back to my days as a Cub, to what I see now in that program, there are awards and pins, belt loops, arrowheads, beads, yada yada. Way, way too much focus on awards than just keeping it simple and getting the activities fun. And when it isn't fun, the kids are not sticking it with it because they want to, they are in effect being forced to stay. What challe

I m not in that council, but I would agree with you- it could be a generic council anywhere in the US, says nothing about the area or its history.

It wouldn't be totally unique to move in that direction of local branding... In the greater Boston area, Boston Minuteman Council and Yankee Clipper Council merged, and the new name selected is Spirit of Adventure. You really won't see much of the use of "Council" next to that name. Even reflected in their website: www.scoutspirit.org In response to @Jameson76, they turned two camps into "New England Base Camp" (seems pretty similar to how Northern Star refers to their program as well), and they run weekend activities where you don't need to be a registered Scout to take part- archery,

Yes, understood- the OA could have put some type of "equivalency" of a minimal Venturing (ie: must be Pathfinder).

Well, I hate to think it's just us, but our troop dues are over a $100 a year now - between the National membership dues, insurance, and required council activity fee, that is about 2/3 of the annual dues. The rest is what pays for the advancement materials and class B. We fundraise, and far more than many other troops, but it's a financial reality that we can't lower the annual dues. The pack is pretty much approaching that same level now as well, and considering that Cubs have way more advancement swag than Boy Scouts, I can't think it is not reality they are going to have to surpass

Exploring isn't an outdoor focused program, so not sure why they would be included? Venturing would make sense- technically they are not allowed today, because the OA membership requirement on camping nights specifically states "troop or team", no mention of crew. The adult requirement also states that adults are eligible if they follow the same camping requirement, but I have seen plenty of 18+ females that are in Venturing (and not dual registered as ASM in troops) in lodges.

From what I have heard from various sources, it was shared amongst the Lodges this fall that a decision was being prepared to cease the use of regalia in answer to "many requests" for the BSA to be more culturally sensitive to Native Americans. I was told that this would impact AOL crossover ceremonies callout ceremonies, as well as Eagle COH ceremonies (basically, any activity that has non-OA members present). My understanding is that the desire was to start immediately, but an official announcement would come at NOAC.

Remember, "making Eagles" is not the aim or goal of the program. If the scout is having fun and enjoying the other aspects of the program he is involved with, then let him be. If he understands that to go to the next step of rank advancement, or eventually be eligible for things like Order of the Arrow, that he needs to complete the requirement he will need to overcome the fear once (emphasis on that point- he only really needs to jump in one time and then never again as he can complete hiking or cycling and emergency preparedness MBs to get to Eagle) then your job is done. Hounding him or

Don't cave- the requirements are the requirements, and that is the way it should be administered. I do agree with others that there is a hangover effect of what some Scouts may experience at summer camp. I personally observe many staff members who truly want to do things the correct way and hold a standard, but not all do- I just remind myself they are still kids too. As to blue cards, yeah, it's especially frustrating to me when I am working with 3rd or 4th year scouts who struggle to even remember hat district they belong to, let alone fill in every area that asks for their name. I

Not every council ever wants to see them or require the Scout to present them at the BOR. With Scoutbook becoming the future, many camps are now requiring MB signups be done online BEFORE camp, and the results are given back as spreadsheet for partials and completes entered into SB.

You got it.

Many councils in the Northeast have them now. In our council, every scout has a charge (some councils I have heard it applies to adults as well). Part of the "benefit" is that have tent camping for free at council camps on fall/spring weekends.

Absolutely agree. If anyone who wishes to be in a position that potentially alters a young persons life or gives them the inspiration to be the best version of themselves squawks over paying a ~$30 a year, they need to check themselves in the mirror and ask what they are doing in that position. A Scout is thrifty, and that starts with the troops own funds. Who is required outside of the required positions? No one! What is the difference between a registered and a non registered leader? Those who are not registered are not actually troop leaders, and shouldn't consider themsel

It never really had to be that way. It's only my opinion, but the BSA frankly never did enough to really make the awareness of the Venturing Silver Award was (and even less so since changing ti the Summit Award). The Silver Award was, again, my own opinion, even more of an accomplishment than Eagle for what was involved, and the Summit Award is still a pretty darn big accomplishment.

It doesn't officially pout that stamp on it, but it also does nothing to make it not become the reality. If the whole conversation is about accessibility, and not having to have parents "be in two places at once" (my summary of everything Mr. Surbaugh presented), then yes, you will have units making meetings and outings joint between male and female troops, and then you will have all the pressure of "why not allow my younger children to come" or "if my younger children cannot come, then how can both parents really participate?". As I posted on other threads on this topic, the unit my son belo

I agree 100% with your earlier assessment. "Advancement Mill" mentality generally makes a troop look great from a distance, but my experience says that after 13/14 when the kid has hit Star (or at least on paper has done the requirements) and realizes that he now has to do the work all by himself, it is gut check time. And when you factor in that he needs to do that work AND have to be a babysitter/instructor, there is little time left for fun and Scouting begins to be a drag. They may still come to some meetings/events, if the theme is of true interest to them, but by and large their 'love

I don't really see it as a male/female thing. For the OA membership guidelines, male Venturers today cannot be elected to the OA unless they are also dual registered in a troop or Varsity team at the time of their election.

This is pretty much my experience as well, they are two very different programs. Crews have options on advancement, if that is the crew culture they want to develop.

it certainly is one way to change the culture. I also tend to lean more on the OA members in the troop should be deciding on who is eligible (using the current criteria) for the election.

Sadly, I find that a great many "Crews" are nothing more than older boy Scouts who have split from a troop(s), or in fact are just the older Scout Patrol of a troop. I've also found a number that do not do any of the Venturing advancement program, but just do the same track as a troop. So, take it with a grain of salt when we hear Venturing is all for integration on whos voice is actually being heard. I would have to agree that a great many in the OA today do not belong, and do nothing to contribute to their Lodge let alone to the sections/national. We also have to remember

If there are enough adults who want their daughters involved, then nothing stops them from having the COR charter a female troop and keep it separate on paper, but coed in practice by having both units share meetings and outings. Whether the BSA is declaring the program is not coed, it will be irrelevant as units will force it to be so.

Not entirely true- you need to have a valid Advancement Report to purchase merit Badges and Rank patches. It's often subverted, but there is supposed to be that valid check and balance from the local Council.

Stosh, appreciate your feelings. I am struggling with the same thing with my sons troop now, even before the BSA gives a bona fide blessing on this. The troop has always done summer trips that are 99% adult run and open to families, a Thanksgiving campout that is the same, and now making two other campouts in the coming year "family campouts". It takes the boys out of leadership learning and makes the concept of registered adult leaders irrelevant.

Agreed- why not do this? I hear many of the arguments about not wanting Eagle to become something that both boys and girls can earn, to which my reply is that the BSA has dropped the ball in a major way of promoting that the Venturing Summit Award (and even more so when it was the Silver Award) is every bit as significant of an achievement as Eagle. This is what the BSA needs to be focused on is putting far more energy into building up the reputation of Venturing. Stop the nonsense of putting resources to Varsity and Explorer. Within the council i am in, Crews are by and large just 'ol

My sons troop goes to a camp outside of our council for summer camp (he also works staff for that camp), so I am on their newsletter feed. I received the same type of invitation from that council SE, though it was more overt and mentions ongoing discussion and studies about the addition of girls to the non-Venturing programs. I am not in favor of making the whole program coed, simply as I believe that both boys and girls need to have time to be with other boys or other girls. It has nothing to do with limiting the activities that girls can be involved in. Honestly, it is a crying shame