Jameson76

Remember that drinking the kool-aid is a choice

As an interest point, what (if any other than an interested parent) is your role with the troop? Though it does not always tend to work this way, The Scoutmaster is selected and recruited by the troop committee and approved by the chartered organization representative. If there is an issue (perceived or real) that is the place to begin. Challenge is many times the committee and COR are not directly involved in the troop operations. But that is a place to start with your concerns. I would not recommend the talking to other parents, generating some groundswell of support for your positions, sort of going the back door route. If you have concerns, speak with the committee and be open about them.

As will we, and post photos of us doing so. We clearly state that Scouts are not to target the other scouts, they are to aim for the area beside the scout and if said scout elects to move into that area, then so be it. There's always British Bulldogs.....

Well...I guess that's one way to raise a million dollars This is comedy gold from the FAQ section: Ways you and your unit can raise the funds to cover the $12 Insurance Fee -Participate in the annual popcorn sale and have each Scout sell an additional three (3) containers of popcorn. Not sure what the question is...but the answer always seems to be SELL POPCORN

Sort of agree. IIMHO it is correct that JUST being an Eagle Scout will not get you into college, a job, or will "pay off" down the road. However, if you actually ARE an Eagle Scout, the soft skills and lessons learned on the journey will put you ahead of the crowd, and will benefit you down the road. It is amazing how many people do not really understand how to actually get something done. Being in a storm and determining best path forward, salvaging a meal when somebody has forgotten something, having to make decisions quickly while your patrol looks on, trying to organize a group and complete a hike, watching the looks in the Scout you are working with finally gets up on the water skis; all of that imparts upon an Eagle scout the ability to get stuff done.

You know, if they really really were interested, possibly "they" (whomever they may be) that are in fact making decisions, policy, and program decisions could actually go out and see Scouts in the wild. I have asked this question to Council Board Members, Scout Executive of the Council, Council Camping and Program chairpersons; when was the most recent time you were on an outing? Typically their answer falls into two areas 1) I was at Jamboree, the Council Event, came to Summer camp for the day OR 2) I was a leader XX years ago. My follow-up is when was the last time you been in the parking lot as a troop assembles, driven to the outing, wandered about the outing as the youth setup and started camp, sat with the adults, cooked a meal, mentored a youth on properly cooking bacon (Protip - you have to peel the strips off the big hunk-o-bacon for it to fry up), participated in the weekend program, maybe administered some first aid, counseled two youth who may have had a disagreement, maybe sit on a BOR one evening, pack up camp, loaded the trailer up, waited at the church for the parents. That is where Scouting happens. If the powers that be were truly interested, there are lots of troops out there, camping every weekend. GO AND SEE, talk with Scouts and Leaders. Surveys tend to tell you want you want to hear. Real change or understanding involves actual involvement with the program.

We went very simple All are 3 x 5 flags, these are on 8' standard 1" dowels (available at Home Depot). We stained these US flag was made in USA and sourced locally at the hardware store Troop flag is the new one from wherever they come from State flag is a synthetic, not sure country of origin

Wow - that is some Educational Ivory Tower wide ranging ramblings. Interesting the writer makes a number of broad statements, but little or no actual foundation. Some interesting revisionist history, they fall into the trap of viewing historical events in the lens of current thinking.

We are about 90% Scouts in hammocks and 50% leaders

When we go on hikes, even short ones, we stress the rule of 3's for being out and dictating what your priorities may be. Note these are generalities, this makes it simple to remember: You can survive 3 weeks without food You can survive 3 days without water Your may survive 3 hours without shelter in the rain Key being shelter is vital. Our SPL on a Webelos visitation campout was explaining the importance of a jacket and the emergency blanket as the troop went on a hike. The Scouts repeated (in unison) " You can survive 3 weeks without food, 3 days without water, 3 hours without shelter in the rain...take proper shelter or die". Some of the Cub parents thought it was a bit over the top, my response was that we want all of the Scouts to clearly understand what needs to be the priority when out in the woods. I asked them what they hoped their son would do if in 10 years he was on a hike with friends on a fall afternoon and a sudden rainshower hits the group, soaking them, the temperature was dropping, and they were several miles from the trailhead; what would you hope they did? One of the Scouts overheard and said seek shelter, build a fire as much as possible and calmly assess the next step. I said nothing else.

As others noted, bear tacos is one reason (though pretty unlikely). Main reasons are tree damage, spreading sites out to the trees, also there are wandering deer etc that could get hung up on the hammocks. Potentially a better shelter in a tent. Last thing may be it would be a might chilly. You would still need pads, potentially heavier sleep gear, rainfly, etc. Not sure you would save a great amount of weight

That too is my concern. The inevitable slide. So you are camped out in a back country site. Your crew of 16 - 17 year olds, say day 7 or 8. There is a crew of Mustangs in the next camp. Maybe it's their only night out, so they are more boisterous. Also it can lessen the feeling of being out and away. At the surface, seems benign, it would not take much to have a less than favorable impact. Maybe there are ways to promote outdoors and not be out in the crown jewel of Boy Scouts backcountry. Hey...there's always Summit and they desperately need folks to go there. Make it Family Scouting paradise and leave the rest of us alone. Not sure how many families you need attending to pay down an over $125 million balloon bond payment....

Not 100% sure about that. There were many pics posted by PTC with the kids and families out and about in the back county. (see one example below). Not much a stretch to see this could impact the remoteness and "adventure" experienced by the 12 days crews when they come across a group of kids or families on the trail. Sort of like when families come up mid-week to summer camp, can changes the dynamics of the experience. I wonder what the long-term impact of more families, family scouting, the family glamping, will be to the Philmont experience for the 20,000 Scouts and Leaders that come to New Mexico looking for the (literally) mountain top backpacking and crew experience as part of their Scouting journey. A group of Mustangs from the Philmont Training Center hike toward Crater Lake's main cabin after spending the night in the backcountry.

Once you write stuff down, you have to start abiding by it. Use the documents from BSA on structure, etc. Everything else should be situational. Don't reinvent the wheel. We have a 100 +/- Scout troop. No troop rules, by laws, etc. We do give out information on how we do stuff. Maybe 1 page?? Only written rule not covered by BSA is no cell phones on the outings, summer camp.

Not sure if this would work in all councils / districts / towns / CO's; but I know we could raise more money than we knew what to do with selling something like this...

That pretty much sums up a great issue...SIX YEARS OF CUB SCOUTS. The Cubs used to be sort of the waiting room for Scouts, as that was the really good stuff. Now it can be a 6 year slog to Scouts, parents may determine to do something new. Also after SIX YEARS OF CUB SCOUTS many parents (can you say family scouting) expect Troops to be the same, or in many cases worry that it will be more of the same

Good reading https://www.nuvo.net/voices/guestvoices/your-kid-and-my-kid-are-not-playing-in-the/article_768c0500-0f5b-5b63-961d-b2be73b3d7f3.html

Cautious reminder that many of the advertisements on the benefits (and not discounting there are positive aspects) of youth sports are driven in many cases by groups that will benefit financially from youth sports Sporting goods stores and manufacturers that sell equipment Coaches who are paid and need customers Associations that run the "exclusive" tournaments and need the revenue Private coaching and instructional academies that need customers Groups running sports camps that need attendees Parks and rec groups that have fields that see leagues as rental clients For the "elite" youth athlete I have questioned the wisdom to pay $4k - $6 annually to participate in a sport for 6 - 8 years with hopes/plans of getting a scholarship. That same money spent could be invested and you could pay for most of college. If they like a sport, maybe there is a rec program. Interestingly the participation in Sports has come to define many youth, and I guess their parents. Not sports bashing in any way. But I have seen a evolution in the last 40 years from kids playing 3 to 4 sports, having fun, off season, doing random sports things to the drive for 1 sport at 8 or 9, year round, and that's it. Kids get burned out, injured etc. Youth need family sports (organized and just exercise) social things (church group, Scouts, youth groups) academic (school) free time All of that should part of a balance kid

We provide the insurance detail for our out of council summer camp. It's on the council website I did have to provide a certificate of insurance from the council when we camped at a county park (not sure why), the service center assisted.

A lot to unwrap here, but this pretty much sums it up As Dirty Harry said in Magnum Force "a man's got to know his limitations" Your limitations may be turning this Titanic around Not sure of the timing but 4 Scoutmasters in a few short years is a sign of trouble The one who slapped a Scout (Was his name Patton??) The one there when you joined You The next Scoutmaster victim As a comparison my home troop had 4 Scoutmasters in 16 years 70's and 80's. Current troop has had 2 in last 19 years, retired one and current. Overall in 35 years current troop has had 9 SM's and one had a short tenure due to heart attack.

Our crew found it interesting that they sort of encourage the crews to build fires not (in approved rings etc etc). Seems line a good idea to have the 20,000 Scouts going through each night to scour the ground for loose burnable debris. When I first went in the 70's we had to cook on fires, so as you came to a camp you started picking up wood about 1/2 mile out. Went in the 80's and backpacking stoves were a thing so we built no fires, same for other treks. On the Baldy climb, I have told all the crews I've been that the climb up the tailings / loose rocks seems close, but will be arduous. The saddle and going out the the lower peak there is a nice stroll. Also the hike around the back heading North East over to Copper Park along that ridge is stunning. The Mt Phillips hike is great and underrated

Not an untrue observation Many Scouters take on District or Council positions at the request of a friend and then enjoy the camaraderie that may bring. As friendships change or people move on, you may turn around and then you may not really have a lot in common with the team you are working with. Lack of friendships and common experience can impact the "fun" you may have had in the past doing whatever for the District or Council. Becomes more of job. With the troop you go in knowing the main focus of your efforts (the Scouts) will in fact grow-up and age out, that is sort of the overall hope and plan. As the older ones move on you can build relationships with the new ones, work with them, help develop them. Sort of Rinse Lather Repeat. A good bit of personal satisfaction to sit on an EBOR with a Scout who you remember being a somewhat homesick 11 year old.

Interesting that a lot of comments seem to center on Scouters who are burned out on district or possibly council positions. Personally I have been involved with unit work for many years. No district or council (well except 7 years of camp staff and 2 years as DE). No Woodbadge or anything like that. Worked with my home troop out of college #2, worked with others as I moved, worked with a local one here that my son joined. He has aged out, but I Scout on with 11 years with this one. Multiple trips to Philmont, long local High Adventure, coaching Life to Eagles now and logging 35 nights camping annually with the troop. Keep involvement at the unit level. Watch and get to know the new Scouts as they crossover. That keeps it fresh. Don't be afraid to be the old guy, who knows what is what, yet has a lot of fun doing it. Those conversations with the 7th and 8th graders on the way to outings are pure comedy gold.

Not downplaying the severity of the charges or impact on the BSA and Eagle Scouts; wonder if he earned Entrepreneurship, American Business, or Truck Transportation Merit Badges? Also assume he got to see the essential elements of Fingerprinting Merit Badge up close and personal.

Not a good read, very sad. Mainly issues that occurred years ago. The quantity of claimants will be the main story. No recent issues, but this will no doubt accelerate possible bankruptcy.