TMSM

Did your SM allow your son to attend this workshop without a some warning about what he was gettin to? I would think that when he went to get a blue card the SM would help him prepare.

From the merit Badge instructions guide - Smaller Groups Are Preferred. Class sizes should be set appropriately to ensure each Scout receives high-quality,personal instruction and benefits from the counselor’s unique knowledge. This suggests that most classes should be small—perhaps no larger than a patrol in size. For larger groups, qualified instructors assigned to smallergroups should assist the merit badge counselor in order to ensure Scouts receive individual attention. Instructors should be knowledgeable about the merit badge subject, but they do not necessarily

There is no evidence that latex paint is an issue for birds if it is used to paint the outside. You can reduce any chance by just painting the roof or by using milk paint. Marlin houses have been painted white for many years, bat houses are painted a dark color in some regions - again no eveidence of harming these animals, just dont paint the inside.

No, you have to bring your own. If you are friendly with other troops you could ask to borrow one or 2.

I think latex lasts longer and gives you more color choices. Using cedar 1X6 is the best option

Sounds like you have 2 probles the boy and grandpa. I take it that you are not the SM, are you an ASM? One option is to discuss this in the committee - hey SM how well is the patrol method working? What are the issues you face? How can we help?

I should also add that I don't normally sit in on Patrol Meetings but when we an issues with a scout not being obedient I will let the Patrol know that I have full confidence in their PL and I expect them to follow his orders. Then I sit right behind the PL when he asks for objections to the duty roster, if Snowflake does not object I'll call him out - "you sure you are ok with this Snowflake?". Works most of the time.

Chief - one way we solved this was by having the PL write the duty roster a week before the campout, SM or SPL signs off on it then PL runs the duty roster back through his patrol and asks for objections, Everyone inthe patrol must agree the roster is fair before they go on the trip. Once you are on the trip there is no more debate or argument - Snowflake had thier chance to dispute before they left.

I was asked to teach a few classes again at our district trainging acadamy but this time the wanted me to add a class that was totally differen to anything they had in the past and would inspire more scouters to take the training. I decided that I would teach my usual Scout Led Troop and Hammocking classes but add a class that details our way of doing our annual planning. After teaching this class I was asked to spread the word on this as it may help other troops that in a camping rut. Some history: The first step was admitting that we camped at the same places, had low turn out and adult

It used to take months for my CC to sign off and 3-4 months to get the knot. Now I just fill out the form get the signatures, drive it to the scout shop to hand it in. When I get home I buy the knot from ebay and sew it on when it arrives 3 days later. In my opinion scouters should be awarded as soon as possible to show appreciation for the work they did. I would also like to see the knots awarded at the COH by the SPL to show aprreciation from the scouts and to let the parents know we are being trained and doing what the progam asks us to do + more.

I am also having issues with scouts not wanting to be in OA. Last year we voted 3 in and all backed out of the ordeal a week before due to something better. What is the upside to OA? How do I sell it? I am not sure its worth our time anymore. I bring my son to the OA meeting every month and I see only 3 out the 12 troops participating.

WIth all due respect I think it would be better if you 2 started another thread. Better yet PM each other, exchange phone numbers and have a personal chat, you'll find you have some things in common.

Committees are supposed to support the wants and needs determined by the PLC. Did the PLC ask for the boat to be fixed? As SM I always approach the committee with the idea that it is the scouts money and the committee does not vote on anything. They come to consensus with the decision provided back to the scouts.

There many ways to do this, I would suggest a landing page with the CO name /Scouts then in the menu have choices Troop 100 click here Troop 100G click here. These pages would have their own menu choices. Use google calendars for each troop and link both troops to a calendar that you display on the website. Mostly likely the girl troop wont have someone ready to be webmaster yet so the adults could support that part of the websits and if the boys do have a webmaster he can work on the boys part of the website (or visa versa). We use Scoutbook and use their calendar but we have a goog

We have a swear jar. Its a virtual one but we do use it to remind adults to watch their language. Ex: Joe says the f-bomb someone will pipe up and say $5 bucks to the sear jar and we move on.

Sure it depends on the site size and available sites, we camp so the scouts can camp and do what scouts do. I expect adults in my troop to be flexible with tent size and be available to suppport what the scouts want to do. With only 3 scouts it sounds like a new troop trying to form so best to start off by creating a scout led troop. Good luck!

I would set expectations for all adults at the next comittee meeting. Make sure everyone knows the plan and agrees on the way forward. Be transparentand share all plans the scouts have provided, work the plan. We had an issue with Scout parents demanding to go on campouts and demand they get to bring their 10 man tents. - They are not with our troop anymore

https://www.philmontscoutranch.org/philmonttreks/expeditions/

12 = 10 days on trail

Parents should always talk to the SM first not the SPL. Sure there are exceptions, but the SM may be working with the SPL on something specific (keeping camp clean) and may be waiting for a teaching moment. Adults should work through the SM on campouts and agree on what is the right questions to ask the SPL.

No doubt I stand my ground but some people dont want to be sold to and some just cant help themselves, I have turned the troop around fromadult to boy led and sold this to 60 parents already so I think I have the sales pitch down too. We have come a long way with the program and tripled the size of the troop and increased camp out participation from 25 to 75%. I do think the CC needs to do a better job selling to the parents in an active way. We all came out of a situation with too much drama in the troop 4 years ago so I have no problem asking people to move on if they cant/won't unders

Yes, it was amusing that both these women basically told me they new how boy scouts worked and that I was wrong. DE also liked the trip plan that I had the scouts do which clearly refuted some of her other staements about me not knowing where I was going. Duh of course I knew but I let the scout think they were lost so they could figure it out themselves. We did get grief from DE for not sharing phone #s with the ladies althought they didnt show up at the troop meeting before the campout so I didnt know this. Both had YPT and both were helicopters. We live in area where parents are

- Moved discussion to new thread As SM I feel for your SM. I am in a similiar situation. We have 2 meetings with parents the first is a gentle discussion regarding boy lead, "don't do what a scout can do", "let the scouts teach each other" etc. Then I send some emails with great stoies of how scouting works and why its important to be hands off. During the first camp out we get new parents that feel that they have to be there which according to BSA they can observe but we end up taking way too many cars and too many empty seats (like Cub Scouts). At the first dinner (adults are in a

Thanks - sorry didnt mean to steal th thread. There is no shame in changing troops and when I have a really hard time with parents I have no problems telling them that.

Is it helpful to have an ASM that is different than their DL? We tried this with a former DL of the same scouts and it became Webelos 3, the ASM also became a MBC for each feature we had for each month and began to teach them in classes outside of the troop meetings.