TMSM

From Insane Scouter:

• Tool Wheel: - The tool wheel is a method of storing all the tools in one place safely. You do this by laying tools down one after the other to form a circle, some tools are safer if standing up, place these in the center of the circle.

2 hours ago, 69RoadRunner said:

Summit by Disney is probably not one we'd do.

My scouts think the same about Summit. 

We have rolled our own to Isle Royale, Porcupine Mt and SHT but we are looking forward to Sea Base 2019 and Philmont 2020. The scouts pick from a list of options based on what activity they want to do. If we roll our own they pick the route and plan the food.

The Awareness Award is the learning award and the first part of earning the Action Award which is putting what you learned into action. When ordering the Action award remember to order the device for it too (Boy Scouts, Venture).

In my experience first year parents should ask a lot of questions before coming to conclusions. The SM should have a vision of how the program should function and should be able to share it with any parent and the committee. You should ask questions like:

What is the strategy for patrols - same age or mixed. what is the benefit

How are leaders trained?

What meeting framework is provided to the scouts to make their planning more focused?

How/when does the troop use EDGE to teach?

Do you think the troop is on the right track or do we have some work to do to get the there?

And last but not least - for those things the SM agrees need to change or has no answers - ask how can I or we help? Can I order PL and SPL books for you? Can I do some research ILST and help you set it up? What can I do to save you time so you can focus on the scouts?

46 minutes ago, Tired_Eagle_Feathers said:

 

So I don't see it as the end of the world or the end of the Patrol Method to have 2 trained adults at Scouting functions.  Having 2 trained adults "supervising" doesn't have to mean micromanaging.  It should just mean observing and keeping things safe.  The biggest problem to me is simply getting more YPT trained adults. 

Sometimes in patrol method camping we forget that we have older boys that do know how to do things. If a patrol does not know how to do something they ask the SPL, the SPL solves the problem by finding a good instructor. If the SPL does not know how or how to solve it then he asks the SM for advice. Failing, asking for help, and solving issues without the help of the sdults if the goal, not building fires or having outdoor skills.

47 minutes ago, perdidochas said:

I agree, but I also don't think we should be held to the same standards as paid professional teachers.  Yes, we should be kind and helpful as much as possible, but we also shouldn't be bludgeoned by pseudo-legalistic parents. 

I agree Perdi - all the scouters I know do their best to help every scout but at some point it is just too much for us to fill our role and deal challenges from certain scouts.

I always recomend to Webelos parents that they do a few things before joining a scout troop:

Go to 3 or 4 regular troop meetings before you join. The meeting you go to where there are many Webelos invited (Open House) does not really count. It should be fun and exciting at every meeting. Show up uninvited and see how they treat you.

If your scout does not like camping don't assume he will get used to it. Tent camping is hard to do for some boys due to fear of dark, storms or even wind. If he doesn't like camping don't join a troop that camps 13 times a year, does backpacking trips etc. 

If your scout is not physically fit or mature enough for a physucal outing don't join a troop that mostly rides 50 milers, mountain climbs, does mountain biking. Don't expect the troop to fit your needs.

If your scouts has learning disabilities or other issues be honest with the Scout Master, he will tell you if the troop can support your scout. Troops are not obligated to change to fit your scouts needs, most will try.

Read and understand everything you can about Boy Scouts, being scout led and the role of the Scout Master. I have had too many parents who get upset with me when I detail how Boy Scouts works. I have had some argue and get in my face and attempt to undermine my role as Scout Master. As Scout Master I am not the leader, my role is not the same as a den leader, I am only in charge of guiding the SPL and teaching about leadership.

Ask the troops you visit how you can help the troop if your son does join. If he does join then be as active as you can, join the committee, drive to campouts, help with back office details.

We have 8 troops in our area and each one is different hopefully every scout finds th one that fits him most. Sometimes the troop thats is picked is not the right one so feel free to look around,

In the SM role I am giving about 80 hours per month. I also am in charge of recruiting and help the Outdoor Chair but most of these hours are co-mingled with my SM duties.

My wife calls it my second job and only gets upset when she hears other parents complain they have to spend an hour here or there to help the troop. Last week a mom told me I need to spend more time with the troop and give her son more one on one attention - they moved on to a new troop when I asked her to spend time on the committee.

Our older scout who is the Instructor for wood tools uses the term circle of death. 

2 hours ago, ianwilkins said:

In the UK: You have girl scouts now?

[tries hard not to roll eyes] Yes, only for the last 20 years or so (or 40 years for Ventures)

 

I didnt realize Scouts in UK is just 10 - 14 yrs then they move on to Exploreres

3 hours ago, fred johnson said:

I think BSA wrote the Guide To Advancement "Active" section exactly to avoid these "priority" decisions.  If the scout is registered, in good standing and he's learning character or fitness or other positive values through soccer, he should still advance.   

I think without the specific troop rules for what "Active" is you can't provide good advice. Each troop can define what Active is thats the point. Here where I live soccer is mainly travel soccer with games Saturday -thru Sunday and practice is every day so its impossible to go on campouts and hard to attend meetings. This is where sacrifice (priority) comes in to play.

My advice is to first have him ask for troop guidelines for being active. For example some troops may say "50% meetings and 50% campouts during the SPL term of six months "

Second set priorities - you can play soccer and advance but you will have to make sacrifices to do both. Maybe only play spring soccer or miss a few games early in the season to go on some campouts.

I have a few scouts just checking boxes and I really don't think they are getting much out of the program. I also have a few scouts who focus six months of the year on scouting and they seem to do well in growth and leadership experience.

I have 1, I have worn it  for 8 years. It has some great scars and blemishes and each tell a story. The sleeves have begun to fray and so its time to get a new one. My ASM and I count the amount of scouting we do each week by the number of times we had to wear the shirt - as in this was a 4 shirt week.

59 minutes ago, Hawkwin said:

I don't want the scouters involved to be "punished" but that opinion will change if I have to go to the district level.

The District guys are there to help you and may not require you to provide a troop number and doubtful they would punish another scouter if you did. If you come across as someone trying to help all the scouts in your troop and not just your own son it may help your case. 

In my opinion the max wait should be 2 weeks and if more time is needed a good reason should be offered. As SM I serve the scouts.

9 minutes ago, Hawkwin said:

I am calling the CC by phone tonight. Give them one more chance. I am unfortunately done with the SM on this issue.

If no resolution tonight, I will be forwarding all my previous communication to TPTB at the district with a request to speak to them by phone (I only have their email addresses). Regardless, I will encourage my scout to sign up for his BOR at the next meeting without the SM conference (as is his right) and I plan to sit in on the BOR (as is my right) just to make sure that this scouter conduct has not spread to individuals that would comprise his board.

This has been a good opportunity for me to talk to my scout about how adults can handle situations poorly when we are wrong and become unwilling to change course.

Just a suggestion - Have your son send a note to the SM thanking him for the date of the SM conference but remind him that that wont work and he (the scout) is avaiable to meet tonight at x:00 pm at the town library. 

At the same time I would just go to the Council Advance Chair and District Commissioner and tell your story and ask for advice, forget the CC.

42 minutes ago, Eagle94-A1 said:

I agree 110% on this. But many folks on various Facebook Groups will argue that it is  not preparing us for coed Scouting. It is to get BSA more in line with other youth organizations. But isn't it coincidence that the policy was announced 10 months and that the effective date is 10-1-18,  4 months before Scouts BSA and girls forming "linked troops."  

The high schoolers here have Captains practice days all the time with just the students. I don't ignore many GSS rules but having no patrol meetings without adults is one that I may just have to make a judgement call on.

55 minutes ago, DeanRx said:

Yes, I really do not understand this change... if a patrol wants to have a patrol meeting at a public park, why the need for ANY adult supervision?  Out of uniform, a group of six or so boys meeting up at the park to hang out is normal boy behavior.  But wear a scout tee shirt and discuss scout stuff... all of a sudden it requires TWO registered adults to supervise it?

In my opinion this is prep for Coed scouting. They don't want a group of say 5 boys and 1 girl to meet up in the church basement without supervision.

Looking at the definition the word popular - can mean liked by many. This means its not a majority and many os one those marketing words that can mean more than 1. Lets be honest that a majority of scouters and scouts (boys) hate this idea of letting the girls in this part of scouting. All of us who have been around for a while see what has already started which is a change in the program and can't wait to get out and know that for the 10,000 girls we add we will have 100,000 unhappy boys.

1 hour ago, ParkMan said:

In a few months, the majority of the articles will be back to typical content.

I hope you are right, but I doubt it. I am sure we will see first girls bridging over, first girl eagle, first girl eagle project, first girl SPL, first girl troop, first girl OA leader etc..,

I think all the articles should get back to typical content. This is feedback I am getting from my boy Scouts.

OK, I am convinced that its not the SMs role to keep secrets from the parents. Scouts should know that upfront, that sexual orientation or gender discussions are not part of scouting and should be shared with someone educated to help.

Scouts that are confused with gender have issues that parents or professionals should deal with so we can move on with our program. 

No doubt talking to the parents should be first step. A scout claiming to not have a gender has issues beyond SM help but no reason to keep him from participating in scouting for the short term. 

Another pic

I teach the Leatherworking Merit Badge and I allow the scouts to make anything they want as long as it is a tripod stool. This makes it much easier to know my costs upfront. They can make whatever design on the stool, use rivets, sew, transfer patterns and learn edge detail. Best part is that they all bring these on campouts, save room in the trailer and because most put their names on the stool they know which is theirs.

Tribolts sold at Tandy, legs made from dowels from Home Depot, I buy a discount 3/4 leather Veg tan side for around $70. I make straps to go around the legs with scraps.

We charge $25 but real costs are $30 - 35.

4 minutes ago, T2Eagle said:

I find it interesting that he speaks about a desire to have his grandsons become Eagle Scouts, but seems to preclude the possibility of his granddaughters following that trail.

 

He doesn't have any granddaughters