InquisitiveScouter

Only they got the script wrong... "I was an Eagle Scout." For shame... I AM an Eagle Scout 😜

No. We group patrols by age. If younger ones want to join a backpacking trip, we have to factor in the two-years in age difference rule for tenting. Otherwise, elders help the juniors. If a small group, we do not allow for "strung out" backpacking. Put the slower paced up front. If you have eight or more, split into two crews. Recommend not backpacking with more than 12. Gaggle, noise, space, courtesy, impact, etc... If you are lucky enough to have more than twelve (and four adults), split into groups that go opposite directions on a loop. High fives when you pass each other out on the trail... Also, with larger groups, we will divide into crews of three, four or so (two buddy pairs, or a triple). Set out about five to ten minutes apart, after map study and rally point are understood. Slower paced first, then a little faster, then a little faster. If multiple adults, two adults go after first or second group, but do not pass. Two adults go after last group as sweep. Learn trail etiquette... step aside and let faster groups pass. If only two adults, then one adult goes behind first group, one goes with last group (fastest). At the rally, last group arriving gets a full rest period. Then start off again in same order (or revised, based on slower paced first.) This spacing is a health and safety issue for me. We all need to provide mutual support in an emergency. Stringing out makes accounting for everyone, and taking advantage of first aid resources and rescue options extremely difficult. One of the most mind boggling things to me is the tendency of older, faster Scouts to hike with their face in the backpack of the person in front of them. So, a few times during the trip, we practice lightning safety spacing... 100 feet apart while making our way to "cover". You should try this. It is an eye opener for group dynamics, communication, planning, and keeping track of the party.

Instructors should not also serve the role of evaluators. I agree with @DuctTape's train of thought. It's not about "doing it twice." In fact, a Scout should "do" as many times as necessary to acquire the skill, THEN be tested. He only has to pass the test once.

No, brother... Chief Scout of the USA! With you as National Commissioner, we stand a good chance to turn this ship to a better course!

- What best practices can you share? Planning! Planning! Planning! And let the PLC decide what they want to do. Adults should zip it. You are there for health and safety 😜 - What defines a backpacking troop, anyway? Up to you! A Troop "ought" to be camping every month (12 times a year.) JTE Gold level asks you to have 9 short term and 1 long term camp (so 10 times). I would define a "backpacking troop" as one that does at least half its outings as backpacking... so 5 or 6 times a year. - How does your troop prepare recent crossovers and other young/small/inexperienced Scouts for backpacking? We split up and have about 4 patrol outings per year in the troop program, Older Scouts are more likely to choose backpacking. We do 15-20 milers. We also shoot for one long term backpacking trip per year... 5 days, 4 nights, 50-miler. We do not encourage young/small/inexperienced to do backpacking. But neither do we discourage. It's simply a question of weight ratios! (nod to Monty Python) Scouts need to bring between 25-35 pounds of gear/food/water, depending on length of trip and weather conditions. Beginners should stay about 25% of their weight. So, a Scout ought to be around 100 pounds before they start backpacking. Even then, other Scouts usually wind up carrying some of their gear, or at least much of their share of patrol gear. So, we do some training outings, day only. Show up in the morning for a gear shakedown, then carry a full pack for a day hike. If a Scout has issues, maybe he needs to wait before going backpacking. Don't set them up to be miserable. Scouts will try to take on much more than they can handle, so let them learn before throwing them in the back woods. How many backpacking trips does your troop typically do each year (and what do you do the rest of the year)? 3, with one long term trip, IF that is what the PLC (or Patrol) has decided to do. Rest of the year, we do whatever the PLC has picked for program in their Annual Planning Conference. THIS IS THE WAY! If you converted your troop to backpacking, what challenges did you have to overcome? Our PLC did not "convert", but they did add a great deal more backpacking over the last four years. Gear (for Patrols) has been the issue. In your experience, how does backpacking support the patrol method? Every person for himself is not Scouting. You may have a great backpacking trip, but if you are not using the Patrol Method, you are not Scouting. Doing it by Patrols is more difficult... Patrol plans their budget and menu, shops for the food. Meets ahead of time to divide and pre-package, where needed. Two white gas stoves per patrol. One tent per two Scouts,. Bear bags or bear canisters, depending on destination requirements. Patrol first aid kit. One water filter and tablets as a back up... we boil all water. Simply put, it is the only way to be sure you kill everything. (this one will draw fire....) https://www.cdc.gov/healthywater/pdf/drinking/Backcountry_Water_Treatment-508.pdf Lots more to add... but I gotta do some chores!

My first troop was a backpacking troop. We had about 25 Scouts. At meetings, we would run one mile for conditioning. Most weekend trips were 15 or 20-milers done as loops. We would drive to a campsite, or trailhead on Friday night and camp nearby, usually within a mile or two. Ten+ miles on Saturday, then finish off the rest on Sunday to where the vehicles were. We were organized as patrols at the Troop meetings, but it was every man for himself on the trail. Bring all your own gear and food. It made things really easy for the group, but there was no patrol method. Had a great time and lots of adventures. I moved away for about two years. New troop was all patrol method. Very different. No backpacking. I always felt k8nd of out of place. When we moved back, the first Troop was down to about 7 Scouts. No new Scouts had come to the Troop. I think it was because the backpacking-only thing was not a big draw. Still had lots of fun and adventures. When we got a new SM, he brought in Patrol method. Another local troop folded, and all their Scouts came to us. Completely changed the flavor, but it was more Scouting. One trick ponies don't work out well, IMO. I have seen several troops like that wither away across the years.

You are correct. Might be a bit passive/aggressive, but if you want, you can go into Scoutbook, open their profile, select Memberships, and end the ASM role the same day as it began (not sure you can delete that entirely...). As to the Committee stuff... that is under his purview, so out of your lane. Also, it is up to the Scoutmaster as to whom can sign off requirements. Since you have not appointed him as an ASM, you should tell him to cease signing off requirements, if that is your desire. Now, unfortunately, a Unit Advancement Chair and the CC still retain that capability in Scoutbook, but that is a flaw in the application design.

Ok, CC is the only registered position there. The others are functionals assigned through the Organizational Manager in my.scouting.

Ok, curious... what are they registered for?

Anyone can take an application to Council. You just need the COR signature on it. The current person need have no role in that...

Oh, and what position are they registered for in my.scouting.org? (NOT Scoutbook... Scoutbook is scoutbook.scouting.org) Your Registrar would not have assigned them to a Committee Position and an ASM position. Your my.scouting login should be the same as your Scoutbook login credentials, unless you have used your Google to sign in.

Acknowledged. Sounds like you have also had a personal discussion with them and it was not fruitful. That train may have left the station, but... Do you think another personal discussion would help? If yes, focus on the person's behavior and how it is affecting the unit. Explain that one of the repercussions of taking on too many roles is that of creating a single point of failure. That is, if something were to happen to them (which no one can control), and because replacing them would require getting many people to step up and fill the roles, then having them do so much is exposing the unit to suffer MORE. Another way of putting it is that this person, with all the wonderful things they do, is creating a strategic vulnerability for your Troop. They should understand why this is an unacceptable situation, and agree to let others take on those roles... others whoa re already willing to step up. You said if they take on CC only, that would be great, but, given the scope of what you have described so far, I personally do not believe this person would confine themselves to that role. Your reality may be different... If you and others in the Troop believe you have reached a point of no return, then the only call is removal. Do not do this until you identify someone (and get their agreement) to take on the new CC role. Identify the CC replacement. Get the COR to approve (it's their call). The COR should be the one telling the person about the change of positions. Sort of an "Thank you for your service to the Troop! We have decided to give others a chance to lead. Effective immediately, you are no longer the Committee Chair." kind of thing. Fill out an application for the new CC. and run it through the system. This will cause some hurt feelings initially. Be Prepared to deal with disgruntlement. Follow @Jameson76's advice above, and have cake. It might help if you identify a Committee Position or ASM role (not both!) for the person to focus on to help the Troop. If they refuse, cut them loose. Expect them to leave the Troop. This might be the best for you unit in the long run. You are experiencing the most painful thing about Scouting... Adults ruin it! [If all goes amicably, fine. But, if there is any kind of scene in front of Scouts (recommend you do this when Scouts are not present) , or any inappropriate behavior, have COR ask them to leave the premises or be reported for trespassing. Make sure the COR is willing to follow through with that by calling police to remove them, should it come to that. Notify your Scout Executive if you have to do this. Obviously, if anything worse happens... threats, property damage, violence... then you call authorities in ASAP.]

Understood. Most likely, pointing out rules isn't going to curb their behavior. Sounds like you'll need an intervention, of sorts. How engaged is your Chartered Organization Representative, and do you know who your Unit Commissioner and District Executive are? How many other like-minded volunteers/parents have you discussed this with? Are you considering leaving the unit if things aren't resolved?

So, if this person were to limit themselves to one function, which do you think would be most value-added to the unit? For any position you pick, I could point out a list of responsibilities, most of which are likely NOT being taken care of, or done well, at the moment in your unit. Most volunteers I work with simply do not have the time required to dive deep into a position and do it to a level of excellence. Many do a passable job, and that has to be good enough... A good handful don't do much at all, nor care to learn what it takes to make a Scouting unit function well. These are the ones who need training and motivation, or need to be moved out of the position...

No, you should check who is listed in the Functional Roles under Organization Manager in my.scouting. You, may be able to tweak those...

So, as an Assistant Scoutmaster, this person works for you (Scoutmaster), and as Scoutmaster, you answer to the Committee Chair. You see the conundrum there?

Short answer: NO! Now, your Scoutbook roster isn't the official document. Before we go too far down the rabbit hole, may I ask what roles you have under your profile in my.scouting.org ?? Longer answer: You cannot be a CC and Assistant SM in the same unit. Having the "Key 3 Delegate" title in Scoutbook makes no sense, because, as CC, they are already Key 3. Regarding the other Committee positions, it begs this question: how many Scouts are in the Troop? You can see @DuctTape has quoted you chapter and verse above, per your request. Finally, reality often does not care what our regulations have to say 😜

I often say, the Scouting program is a mile wide, and, if you choose a specific area, you can go a mile deep as well. Ranks and requirements are the breadth... merit badges, awards, and further training (Kodiak, NYLT, NAYLE, etc) are the depth... For adults, you can go even deeper in the training opportunities offered in Aquatics, Shooting Sports, High Adventure, Outdoor Ethics, STEM, etc, etc, etc... I wholeheartedly concur with @OaklandAndy, in that most adult volunteers are simply ignorant of the opportunities Scouting offers for all ages.

Meh

Bring back a Bird Study as Eagle required! Or make it one of a group... Bird/Mammal/Insect/Reptile and Amphibian/Fish and Wildlife Mgmt/Forestry/etc etc etc Drop Cit in Society ASAP...

And we are missing a great opportunity to be THE organization that puts outdoor stewardship as a core value while we are in the outdoors. We dabble in it... to get requirements signed off...

Hey, wait... are we in the same council? Just looked at the training stats for our council/district. Only 68% of unit leaders have finished their position required training. Or, from the other angle, 32%, council-wide, have not completed their basic position training. There's a good place to start... We are the only unit with 100% trained adults in our district. Council-wide, we are the largest of 8 units with 100% trained. Gold JTE for the past 7 years... (so >= 85% retention year over year, >= 9 short term outings per annum, >=70% of Troop at summer camp, etc. etc. etc.) The only interest we have ever gotten from council, in my time here, is to ask why we weren't having FOS presentations in our unit, and to ask why we did not attend our local Summer Camp. (the answer is because the PLC decided to go to other camps, and the committee voted each year not to have FOS presentations) Council did not like those answers from me the Scoutmaster... not my decision in either arena... shows a complete lack of unit organization/unit program understanding to hold those against any SM. smh

We make earning the awards fun 😜 Fun with a purpose. The purpose is to experience the personal growth (and other Scouting methods) reached while pursuing the award. The award is simply a "tangible" milestone marking the intangibles we experience along the way...

Do they have the "attachment" rates for Scouts BSA awards?

Great idea, but it is all about the money... Girl Scouts of the USA (part of WAGGS) is simply not going to give up an $800 million dollar revenue stream to either 1) merge with the Boy Scouts of America (part of WOSM) and become one WOSM NSO, or 2) accept "Scouts of America, or Scouts USA" as a trademark infringement which confuses their business model and target audience (although they lost that lawsuit...) https://www.wsj.com/video/series/the-economics-of/from-thin-mints-to-tagalongs-how-cookies-fuel-girl-scouts-success/B4839193-1AB9-4CCE-B106-C2BAEE40E912 https://www.reuters.com/world/us/boy-scouts-defeat-girl-scouts-trademark-lawsuit-over-co-ed-scouting-2022-04-07/ https://scoutingwire.org/girl-scouts-of-the-united-states-of-america-gsusa-and-boy-scouts-of-america-bsa-have-entered-into-an-agreement-to-end-trademark-infringement-litigation/#:~:text=July 25%2C 2022-,Girl Scouts of the United States of America (GSUSA) and,respective missions to serve youth. Finally, although in reality, a "Congressional Charter" doesn't mean squat, BSA clings to this designation as a basis to be the only legitimate Scouting organization for boys in the USA. (Including the dog and pony show of an annual report to Congress required by the charter.) Changing their name might mean giving up their Congressional Charter, and therefore, some perceived legitimacy to monopolize/dominate the market.