Jameson76

Agree that the key is local program and local fun and adventure. Out troop is from what would be considered an upper income community, but we still keep it simple. $100 per year for dues and registration. We do no fundraisers. We charge a nominal fee for outings ($10 -15) and camp 12 times per year. Couple of summer camps, Scouts pay for those, and attempt to make it straightforward. The troop does service projects and we do attend high adventure. Key is to let the Scouts spend time with friends, have fun, hand out in hammocks. With summer camp issues we are running our own

Saw this summary - National Executive Committee commissioned a set of teams to address six key areas to secure the future and our ability to deliver our mission by serving our customers, girls and boys, and their parents, young men, and women. How do we keep young people safe? Are the BSA programs aligned with today's young people? Is the National Council effectively identifying and communicating with their stakeholders? Do we have the most effective organizational structure? Are there changes that will make the National Council more effective? How do

Ask them, How does this fulfill the requirements - While a Life Scout, plan, develop, and give leadership to others in a service project helpful to any religious institution, any school, or your community. (The project must benefit an organization other than the Boy Scouts of America.) A project proposal must be approved by the organization benefiting from the effort, your Scoutmaster and unit committee, and the council or district before you start.

Saw the same thing Last week, the Boy Scouts of America announced that the annual membership fee for youth and young adult participants will increase from $60 to $66 effective August 1, 2020. There will also be a onetime BSA joining fee for new members of $25. If a Scout has been registered in the last five years, BSA will not charge the new member fee. In addition, BSA plans to increase the membership fee to $72 on August 1, 2021, and to $75 on August 1, 2022. No fee increases are planned past 2022. Sooo.. I thought the effort was to bring in NEW members, I guess they figure that i

Our Troop did not even discuss the idea of a virtual campout. The concept does not fit our program, and none the Greenbar (we are old school) or Troop leaders would be supportive. We are doing our own summer camp in July, because Scouting involved Outings - actual outings for the Scouts.

The neat thing about the Outdoor program is that (if run correctly) Scouts learn invaluable skills and do not realize they are even in a learning situation. In their mind they are out having fun, spending time with their friends, enjoying the day away from their parents 😀. THAT is the real secret that many do not get. If one tries to turn Scouts / BSA / Whatever the new name may be into just more classes, more instruction and NOT something unique, it will continue to fade. The strength, the differentiation in the crowded youth activity market IS the outdoor program and the activities r

Skymont (Cherokee Area Council) has cancelled for the summer. Atlanta has cancelled Bert Adams for the Summer while Woodruff is delayed until Week 5 (June 28). Also a slew of program adjustments (see below) What kind of changes are you looking at for Summer Camp? We know this is a fluid situation and it will continue to change, Summer Camp will look different. At this time, we are evaluating the following likely scenarios at camp: Screening Robust screening of all participants and staff upon arrival including temperature check and specific screening questions

I saw that in the Scouting Wire e-mail Are they implying that if two Scout troops want to camp together and do something together, they can't? That seems a bit far reaching in the control area and possibly stepping into unit program decisions.

So Atlanta Area has advised (and this is a summary) for the Scouts camps - Don't know what's coming Focused on safe program Changing food (cook or delivery to site) Cope and Climbing may not offer No whitewater rafting Aquatics is difficult Shooting sport are difficult Seems like not much to be offered

Pretty much that is it. End of story, focus on the outdoor and youth development. HAVE FUN. (Also sell the millstone that is Summit but that's another story) The Boy Scouts of America was never intended to be All Things to All People. It was founded (as noted) to be focused on having fun in the outdoors as a means to develop responsibility and good character. Simple and straightforward. Sometimes the BSA reminds me of the lifeboat station story, a group that seems to have forgotten why they were founded in the first place.. ‘On a dangerous sea coast where shipwrecks often oc

Agree that has been part of the issue. I would also argue the big step off the cliff for the BSA was in 1973 - 74 as we implemented The Improved Scouting Program. Literally one was able to attain Eagle Scout at that point without ever going outside. This moved the program so far away from it's purpose it was ridiculous. The 1974 Scoutbook actually advised that if you are on a hike and get lost the Scouts should ask a policeman for directions....oh how far we slid.

Agree - The reason for the BSA CANNOT be YPT, that is NOT our purpose. It is part of the mechanics of program (like Guide to Advancement) and not the reason for the program. We run the program to HAVE FUN, and engage the youth to be better leaders and citizens. Anytime I hear that our NUMBER ONE PRIORITY is to protect youth (basically holding this up as a sacred talisman and selling point), I shudder and realize someone may not fully understand the real reason for the BSA

We are doing (or planning) or own summer camp for later in July. Not sure of all the details and not 100% sure of the protocols, but we are stepping off the porch and working the plan. Thinking we will have +/- 20 - 25 Scouts, plus leaders Some of our initial thoughts No group transportation, parents drop off and pickup Every Scout brings their own tent You can hammock but no stacking hammocks Still figuring out meals, cook some, disposable items, bring in other meals (Pizza night) Instruction will be in smaller groups We are tapping into former leaders

Indications are they will refund all fees. Send a note to the council and they should process quickly

These are all great intent, but they will be executed by young staff, so it may or may not happen The biggest challenge will be dining halls, for the larger camps it's a non-starter. If you have 800 in camp (staff / leaders / Scouts) that is 2400 meals a day. Assuming you cut your dining hall capacity by 1/2, which is optimistic, the camp will need to be serving cleaning in a minimum of 6 cycles daily which will be 8 to 9 hours of time needed and varying dinner times. Maybe go all meal pickup and eat in sire While needed, the elimination of campfires and and assemblies will really

Atlanta Area Council has cancelled first two weeks of summer camp (Week 1 - 5/30 and Week 2 - 6/7). This is for both Woodruff and Bert Adams. They will update 30 days out, so I guess 5/14 for week 3 which is scheduled to start 6/14.

We are in the planning stages for a Troop summer camp at a State Park about 40 minutes from us. We may get +/- 20 - 25 Scouts. There is a large committee to support and the park has lake, swimming beach, trail, mt bike routes, etc. Should be fun and will likely be about 1/3 the cost Our council needs to to move beyond "planning" to have camp and give a firm YES or NO. Though honestly a firm YES is unlikely, so we may go on our own.

They (Atlanta area council) seem to be looking to modify the program, which is why one would go to camp, so agree not a good sign. The ones the Scouts want are aquatics, COPE, shooting and field sports, and rafting trips. Take away or limit those, it's a challenge First question was very revealing, what would you do if camp is cancelled or delayed.....

Saw that Arizona Closed, GA / Carolina council closed. Flint River Camp Thunder will announce at 3 today. Cherokee Council - Skymont Scout Reservation they are meeting today and should update next week. Atlanta Area is "planning" to go ahead but is also floating the late start possibility. Due to earlier school calendars the first week would start in 30 days. Philmont will update today, but no information yet.

I have voiced some concern over the way this has apparently become our mission. The BSA is around to protect youth. In many conversations that seems to be (in some Scouters opinion) the REASON we have Scouting and not part of what we do as Scouters. We are here to protect youth, that is the goal. Certainly important but not the end all be all. We are an organization whose mission is to prepare young people to make ethical and moral choices over their lifetimes by instilling in them the values of the Scout Oath and Law. Part of working towards that mission is YPT, as are many other pa

There was a line from the original Jurassic Park that was similar. Ian Malcolm: Your scientists were so preoccupied with whether they could, they didn't stop to think if they should

Looks like the Brady Bunch...Wood Badge Edition 😀

Not discounting legitimate concerns, but I wonder if there may be more to this than just the COVID19 concerns? Possibly the camps have been a money loser and this is the opportunity to limit losses and further move away from the outdoor program. Then they could possibly move to the sell of one or more of the 4 properties.

I see that all the time and wonder...why?? You did 90% of the work...FINISH THE JOB!!

So many camps fall into the trap of trying to maximize profit while ignoring program It is really simple math There are X instructors and the camp has Y canoes that can each hold 2 Scouts, that means my class size is Y*2, and it takes Z hours in total to get the needed instruction. You cannot change Z, the only variables that can change are X and Y. Same for rifles / archery / etc. For handicraft you have tables that are X feet of seating, only so many butts can be in a class Do the math On another note ----- our troop has an outline for our own summer camp roughed