Jameson76

We appear to be having a meeting / Q&A session next month with the Council, Scouters, Clergy to ask about the "evolving" relationship between the BSA and UMC. As noted the "Parents of XXX" would be fraught with liability and not a good path forward. Unless the BSA agrees to insure and indemnify the CO, not going to work. Of course with the track record of bankruptcy and tossing CO's under the bus, no CO will really take the BSA at their word. Sad that an organization can have a great local reputation and a parent org that seems to not really follow their own Oath and Law. Se

Some of our Scouts asked the same thing, they really liked our week long Troop summer camp last summer. The leaders all tried to downplay that option, running a troop camp is a lot of work. Not enough time for afternoon naps, etc.

It does take an involved cadre of leaders and involved parent leaders In 2019 out troop sent 3 crews to Seabase (6 leaders), 1 crew to Philmont (3 leaders), Summer camp in June (7 leaders) and Summer camp in July (5 leaders). And as others have noted, 10 monthly campouts / events. Good number of support leaders with reservations, medical form rechecks, finances, transportation, etc. This does take independent planning by the crew and summer camp leaders. With the Greenbard our outdoor chair initiates the items, but then a key leader runs with the actual event. Traditionally w

Not to downplay the outbreak, but if they had 750 - 1,000 Scouts (Youth / Leaders / Staff) in camp the % of the outbreak is 0.3% to 0.4%. If the goal is 0% risk of Covid then no activity will ever take place. Possibly a more directed action could have taken place. Just suggesting that maybe apply the scalpel rather than the sledgehammer when situations like this inevitably arise.

Start with "Let me talk with you about a great Multi Level Marketing opportunity with Amway..." and see what transpires 😀

Agree I had some 17.5 year olds come to camp with us. Just enjoying their last time at camp as a youth

So true. I was our outdoor chair for many years and would work with the Greenbar on where we would camp and what we could do on outings. When the SPL would develop the plan for the weekend I always mentored them that have some things to do, but never to much. Leave time (especially in the afternoon) for downtime, wandering, etc. With summer camp I have to talk some parents down and explain that their Scout does not have to come back with forty leven merit badges to have a successful summer camp. Yes we schedule them in the morning classes (mainly so the leaders can have a nap and quie

Our troop goes and does stuff. That is the goal. On many occasions we get a parent (or leader) that feels we should have "advancement outings", work on this or that specifically. The SM and key leaders always push back on that and continue to just push going and doing stuff. Go have fun. Now just because we do not have specific advancement thrusts on outings, does not mean that advancement does not (or cannot) happen on an outing. I always like working with Scouts on Camping merit badge, first we camp (not including summer camps) over 20 nights a year so most Scouts get that pa

Couple of observations 1) Actually that is pretty good summation that BSA has sort of lost the focus on it's core constituency, the boys or now the youth. If you look over a councils program offerings it's all about families (not that families aren't important) and adult training, etc. etc. For those of us that have been around for a long while we can remember that the focus used to be how do we get more Scouts out and about and camping in the outdoors. Not really sure what the focus is now. 2) Not really sure that TL is a viable alternative at this time. Yes BSA has lost members

I don't disagree on "teaching" leadership. My definition would the experiential leadership learning that occurs when a troop functions. As a patrol leaders how do you get things done, what works and what doesn't work. When do you have to involve the SPL, when do have to go through the woods and involve the adult leaders? That is the leadership I was referring to. When Scouting is done correctly in the wild, Scouts (the youth ones), learn how to manage and get things done in their group of peers. They learn if they do not adhere to some type of timetable stuff does not in fact get don

Let's hope that we don't have a group that wants to "re-imagine" the BSA and it's programs. The Cub movement toward heavily family oriented over the last 10 - 15 years was not getting in the droves of new members, adding females (not debating that) also did not result in massive new numbers. BSA needs to play to the strengths. Leadership, skills development, outdoor adventure. Get some ACTUAL marketing going on a LOCAL and NATIONAL level. Sell the program to the Youth with some selling to the parents. Show Youth doing things, going out and having FUN. Troops (can't speak for Cub

We have said the same thing

Typically at summer camps 30% - 40% and I would assume the same for Philmont. Our council camp was the same as most staff typically work +/- 3 summers. This year about 2/3 new as opposed to 1/3

On the salaries - From the 2019 - form 990 (CEO/Secretary) Base, Bonus, other compensation $459,042 - Total compensation (retirement / nontaxable) - $622,731 (Deputy Scout Executive) Base, Bonus, other compensation $189,411 - Total compensation (retirement / nontaxable) - $261,6901 (Director of Development/) Base, Bonus, other compensation $155,602 - Total compensation (retirement / nontaxable) - $177,294 (Director of Field Service) Base, Bonus, other compensation $151,268 - Total compensation (retirement / nontaxable) - $194,938 (Director of Support Service) Base, Bonus, oth

On the experience of staff, feedback is that at Philmont, which has about 1,500 - 1,800 seasonal staff, they were indicating that 2/3 of the staff are first year. Lots of staff did not return and the "institutional knowledge" has not been passed on due to the pandemic gap.

We had discussion with the camp director in the later winter at the council camp concerning Block Schedule or Cohorts, that was NOT in their plan. They wanted to have a NORMAL camp or maybe not at all. They are in week 4 of 8 now. We went week 2. Maybe 1,000 scouts a week. Basically ran like normal. Maybe more emphasis on hand washing before meals, but no real changes. Scouts had a great time. Very very few masks, but we are in the Southeast. If they had programmed with block schedules or required cohorts we would have run our own summer camp like we did in 2020

Interesting questions and one we have asked many times in our council. It is a rather LARGE list of characters. Honestly do not know what they all do. With the advances in technology most of the mundane items should be automatic. For our Council 56 professional / hired staff Several Development and Marketing. Only about 25% are actual unit facing staff (Sr DE, DE or the apparent title District Director). I keep hearing recruitment but honestly, the local DE does not even know who the unit leaders are as we try to coordinate with the packs. Guy has two districts, maybe 30 units

I agree about "don't know exactly what I expected from council but it would have been nice to see them make an effort". It seems the council felt virtual was the best thing ever and the less they had to do. Could still raise money, still pay salaries, close the camps so money saved there but no real PROGRAM input. Candidly we don't really need them, so over the years we don't look to district or council for anything but filing paperwork. And they wonder why we don't sell popcorn or really care about FOS

Troop was at summer camp last week. We had 20 + Scouts and 5 leaders. Total of about 1,000 Scouts, 150 leaders, 125 staff (+/-) in camp. Nice to be back after running our own camp last year Program ran like normal, which was good No cohorts or group requirements Some changes to food service, but not onerous The camp was somewhat short staffed Main challenge was college aged Scouts as colleges had reduced tuitions for the summer Also pay challenges with other businesses paying more and jobs plentiful Talked with leaders and most (li

I was at our council camp last week. Wandered around picking out my potential new home site. Mountain and lake view preferred. Just kidding but sad that the properties are clearly in the discussion.

Good questions. If your whole troop is attending maybe let the patrols be the patrols. We typically build on the existing patrols and get an even number in each patrol. Then there is a duty roster for the day / week and each patrol has assigned responsibilities that vary by day. Flags, waiter duty at the dining hall, site trash haul out, latrine cleanup, filling the water and gatorade. PL's lead that. On the tent mates we let the Scouts select who they will tent with. Honestly about 95% or our Scouts sleep in hammocks, so the tent is more of a warehouse. Look over the forms fro

The challenge we had with cell phones was that it limited actual social interaction. A few years back it was did not want to see them out, use them for music in the tent, etc. As leaders we did not want to be the cell phone police. It was a decision that worked for us. With no phones there were more group games, short hikes, cornhole games, and group interaction than a bunch of Scouts hunched around phones. Basically we do not allow them at meetings or actually at the outing. To and from yes. If we are someplace that may be of photo value absolutely. Scouts leave them in glove com

Never really seen commissioners, concept is great, just never really seen on in many many (oh so many) years as a leader Who really cares. Do what is BEST for YOUR unit. The most poorly attended events for our unit were the camporees and council events. They did not resonate with our guys, so, the Greenbar leadership dropped them. They did ask if they could and we advised they decided on the program, so that's what we did. Who actually cares what the district or council thinks about how YOUR Scouts run THEIR program. If you get grief at roundtables, don't attend those even

$72 for youth. Yeah yeah, great value etc, but it is getting pricey Over the last year, we have seen the Scouting community come together, even while being physically apart, to bring solutions, relief and comfort to those in need. Scouting continues to be a vital partner for communities across the country. The value of Scouting is undeniable for those within the program and the greater public, and the Boy Scouts of America is committed to continuing to offer this unmatched opportunity to young people and families nationwide. It is important that we all reach out to Scouting f