Jameson76

So...uniforms are optional now??

No room at all for expanding or massaging the membership numbers with that plan (what!! I'm registered with who??) ... just move along Citizen Scout, nothing to see here

You do in fact learn something new each and every day Does seem to be in Charlotte, NC and Arizona at least

Well...apparently not, though to some degree. Oath and Law are not mentioned in the Mission. They are mentioned in the BSA Connection detail. We are just one big tent welcoming all now. Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, Explorers, Ventures, STEM scouts, Learning for Life, STBNAALD (Scouts to be named at a later date) https://stemscouts.org/about-stem-scouts/ MISSION Using experiential activities and interaction with STEM professionals, the goal of the STEM Scouts program is to help young people grow in character and skills as they explore their curiosity about STEM fields. It is hoped that their growing knowledge will translate into the STEM-related careers that are so crucial to our country’s future economy. While the program focuses on future careers in STEM, it is ultimately designed to be challenging, thought-provoking and, most importantly, fun. BSA CONNECTION A coed program of the Boy Scouts of America (BSA), STEM Scouts offers a scouting experience with less emphasis on the outdoors. STEM Scouts follows the Scout Oath and Law with the goal of producing young men and women who are leaders, display confidence, realize their skills and limitations, are respectful of others’ opinions, are problem solvers in all aspects of life, look for opportunities to serve others, are good citizens and demonstrate integrity in all phases of life.

Assuming this meets the mission The mission of the Boy Scouts of America 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. Wonder if the nice lady doing science experiments in her kitchen is aware of the mission, or the Scout oath and law? I suspect we will be doing sports leagues next, though probably, somewhere, that is happening

We do it to be consistent. No open toed shoes at scout functions; meetings, outings, service projects, etc. Just easier to implement and our meetings are very active.

$600 does seem a might steep. We had a long term SM retire. We did not even entertain a gift card. We gave him a troop flag folded into one of the display boxes with the troop numbers showing, also we dedicated a portion of the scout area at the CO in his name. We did invite many of the scouts from his tenure to come to the meeting, then we passed the microphone around and they shared brief memories and thank you's. That was the best part.

Explained to a staff member at summer camp one time that the many pastel colored knots were Cub leader knots and the Red White and Blue knot was the Eagle Scout knot. He had that look of sudden knowledge and advised that many things made so much more sense now.

Hey now...we're not all that bad. Many of us like to poke fun at the Woodbadge cult, so that's a plus

I get my best feedback on outings and especially to and from outings. At the outings just walking around and engaging in conversation, also observing. In the cars listening to what is said as you motor along is good. The feedback collection can vary, and if scouts think you are actually taking a poll they may not answer. Have to be conversational. My main input would be the scouts have to trust you, yes you are an adult leader, but can they talk with you? Do you speak to them as Scouts and you are the leader, or do you have a conversation with them as equal partners participating in the Scouting program. Sometimes adults do have to be the leaders, but more times we need to be partners with the scouts, talk about school, their sports, how they lost social media privileges for whatever reason.

Those concepts are clearly in the eye of the beholder. Some feel that Scouts need to do everything and by some magic they will know what to do even if it fails. Other feel they can do it but adults need to sort of keep them between the ditches on the road traveled, others feel the kids do not know anything and they will just do it No clear definition. Key is to make sure the program functions in some way. Scouts not reserving a camping site so an outing is cancelled while yes that may be a learning experience, could have been avoided and has a negative program impact on everyone. Scout not bringing all the needed supplies for an outing, sure that is a learning experience.and is a positive in the end

You need to evolve and understand what drives interest or what does not drive interest, Candidly that varies with your troop and particular group of scouts. On the Klondike, maybe it has become stale, perhaps it is what some long term adult leaders feel a Klondike should be. Get feedback on why they do not want to go and do a reboot of the event. With our troop (a large one) we have doubled our Scouts as outings in the last 5 years. Basically we looked at the data we had (what drew scouts what did not) then working with the TLC asked the WHY behind the data. Then we challenged them to plan and initiate what do you want to see. Basically we came up with some key elements No advancement / school type outings, too much of that M - F In the fall only SAT and SUN due to Friday night football Have a key activity, but also they do not want to over schedule, leave time for cards with friends Have levels of challenge (we do a biking on a rails to trail, some ride 25 miles / some 50 miles) Not too late on Sunday afternoons, school work beckons They challenged the troop leaders with some ideas, we worked with them on how to implement and they had ownership Beach / gorge exploration / ropes courses No district camporees (They were lame apparently) We had low attendance at the end of the school year outings in May due to exams, sports finals, etc. The TLC wanted to do a Lock-in. So we worked with the CO, now we do one from Fri to Sat morning. Huge participation. Some leave early, some come late. Video games literally all night, dodge ball and nerf engagements. Successful because that is what they wanted and we as leaders worked with them to bring it about We get really good feedback at BOR's and try to use that to improve the program. Still some work to be done on the meetings and scout instructors

Hogan's Heroes was on one night and my son (maybe 9th grade at the time) watched the episode. First we had to get beyond officers and enlisted men in the same POW camp, but then he said..so the Nazis were just fun loving guys?? I explained it was the 60's and that you had to sort of roll with it. Then we found Rat Patrol....

We like to have all the Eagles in the room join in a rousing rendition of the Big Joe Turner favorite "Flip, Flop and Fly"...tough to get the horns and saxophones coordinated due to practice time constraints, also the sunglasses and dark suits can be a sourcing issue.

This is the Scouting program for urban youth, at schools, etc. Learning for Life (LFL) is a United States school and work-site based youth program that is a subsidiary of the Boy Scouts of America. It utilizes programs designed for schools and community-based organizations that are designed to prepare youth for the complexities of contemporary society and to enhance their self-confidence, motivation, and self-esteem, and for careers. Learning for Life is not considered a traditional Scouting program; it does not use the Scout Promise, Scout Law, uniforms or insignia of traditional Scouting. All Learning for Life programs are open to youth and adults without restriction based on gender, residence, religion, sexual orientation, or other considerations, other than minimum age requirements. Some Explorer posts may require background checks and satisfactory school transcripts as conditions of membership. There were many issues with "Scouts" being registered. As you can see the membership dropped 36% from 2010 - 2014 as these issues were revealed. Youth membership Year 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 Exploring 113,180 112,783 116,584 114,894 110,853 Learning for Life 664,063 511,359 475,280 418,484 422,139

Can I interest you in a prime piece of property in lovely West Virginia?? Got some neat zip lines. There is a this rather annoying balloon bond payment coming up, but maybe we can work through that.

I do recall BoyPower ManPower, was a scout and we had pressure to recruit. For those too young to remember...... Started about 1968, Boypower was intended to get one boy out every three in the U.S. into Scouting by the Bicentennial in 1976. In the end, it led to major scandals concerning paper units, mystery Scouts and diversion of government funds. Chicago led the way at the time, more paper scouts than anyone. Combined with the 1973 program changes designed to appeal to minorities, It also caused a major drop in membership by 1980. There have been other cheating scandals (Learning for Life is the latest) and other program efforts that didn't succeed, but this one was the granddaddy of them all

The "We don't know what to call this, and what the heck troops are gonna do what they want anyway...so Enjoy program"

Well Hal was in 2001 and 2010...so possibly. But it is great dialogue

Then it leads to this DAVE: Open the pod bay doors, Hal. HAL: I’m sorry, Dave. I’m afraid I can’t do that. DAVE: What’s the problem? HAL: l think you know what the problem is just as well as l do. DAVE: What are you talking about, Hal? HAL: This mission is too important for me to allow you to jeopardize it. DAVE: I don’t know what you're talking about, Hal. HAL: l know that you and Frank were planning to disconnect me, and I’m afraid that's something I can’t allow to happen. DAVE: Where the hell’d you get that idea, Hal? HAL: Although you took very thorough precautions in the pod against my hearing you, I could see your lips move. DAVE: All right, Hal. I’ll go in through the emergency air lock. HAL: Without your space helmet, Dave, you’re going to find that rather difficult. DAVE: Hal, I won’t argue with you anymore. Open the doors! HAL: Dave...This conversation can serve no purpose anymore. Goodbye.

Some ones that are fairly easy Match relay - set up a relay with X number of points, first person is given the match, they run into the water, hand it to someone on the dock, they have to get in the water, swim, give it to some else, repeat a few times, strike the match. Team with lowest time that can get the match to strike wins Canoe relay - 4 or 5 in a canoe, no paddles, out and back, change teams Greased watermelon - be sure to match but weights, it can get brutal

We have similar makeup. Actually add 8th and 9th graders as new scouts each year recruited by friends. Our District Commissioner kept pushing the Venture, that will keep the older scouts engaged. Our pushback was they are in fact engaged, they come to meetings, go on outings, etc. Most units that are successful do so because of outdoor program and a youth led program with leaders involved to train and let them run it. Nobody joined Scouts to track chores for 12 weeks, have family meetings, keep up with a budget, or track their pushups. They want to camp in the woods without parents or siblings, tell racy jokes in the privacy of their tents or hammocks, burn stuff, and goof off on a nice weekend afternoon without anyone giving them grief.

Brave new world....just roll with it Well, it's a feel good piece, let's all just get on board to the coed single gender dens and coed single gender troops concepts

Unless they want or need to run the money through the troop, you would not. Most of our Eagles handle their own, keep it under the threshold, turn over any excess funds to whomever was designated in the original fundraising request. I would say well over half of ours, and we have 8 - 10 per year, get their funding from families and close friends. No mass appeal.