Jump to content

campcrafter

Members
 View Profile  See their activity

  • Content Count

    163

  • Joined

  • Last visited

 Content Type 

Posts posted by campcrafter

    Dealing with gung ho new parents

    in Open Discussion - Program

    Posted

    Is the troop running a good program according to the guidelines of BSA? Are the leaders you have trained? Is the committee doing their job? Is the troop being run by the boys using the patrol method?

     

    If the answer is YES - then OK you do need a session for new parents telling them how it is and where and how you need them to help. They need leadership too. Unfourtunately there are some personality types who will always be a thorn.

     

    However if the answer is NO then the probelm isn't the new parents.

     

     

    cc

    Death of a Troop

    in Open Discussion - Program

    Posted

    Right you are Mark.

     

    I can attest to that - actually had 3 parents go to training this past weekend while the boys were doing their camp. I was hoping they would come back to camp Sat evening all gung ho or at least a little more enthused about helping the troop but alas it was not to be.

     

    The arrowman assigned to our troop was great and helped one patrol with their cooking. I had helped the other patrol with breakfast and lunch. I mentioned to the group of three newly trained if one of them would help the second patrolat dinner. And I am not talking doing it for them, just giving a little guidance and encouragement. But all three decided they would rather play trivia and did so.

     

    I removed my self form that circle and went and sat by where the patrol was cooking just to keep an eye on them. (Remember these guys aren't even tenderfoot yet)

     

    It seems that many of these adults don't get it ( or is it me)

    I don't think you do the work for the boys but at this stage they still need some guidance and I enjoy just working with the boys, talking with them and listening to them talk amongst themselves.(I've had most of these boys since tiger cubs and seeing their growth is making my getting older worthwhile)

     

    I guess the other parents in our troop don't and that's the diffrence.

     

    Have you decided anything 59?

     

    YIS

     

    cc(This message has been edited by campcrafter)

    Death of a Troop

    in Open Discussion - Program

    Posted

    59,

    I feel your pain. As I described in a previous thread the troop our boys croseed over to is lacking leadership. I cannot be SM but am ASM and willing to help were need if there was leadership.

     

    This weekend myself and 2 other parents took boys to a campout the OA was doing for boys on trail to first class. Only the boys who crossed over this year went. Our SM did not attend. He did however meet us a the church to pull the gear we would need. Which was just some tents and cooking gear since the OA was doing the program.

     

    Well again since I was ASM I was "in charge" the SM had given me copies of the Tour Permit and permission slips.

     

    Well silly me didn't check through everything he gave us so when we arrived I was short one permission slip for a boy. No prob only 30 mins from town, met parent 1/2 way.

     

    After the leader's meeting the campout with the event staff I decided to check the equipment boxes to be sure we had enough pots /pans/ etc to cook as two patrols ( we could cook as one since we only had 10 boys if need be)

     

    Here is what we had : a box with a few assorted cooking utensils

    2 large pots from Trail Chef kit, one small pot from kit, a few disposable aluminum baking pans and pie tins. One stove had all the parts but was filthy and the other was missing the grate.

     

    So off to WalMart to buy frying pans, spatulas, detergent, scrub pads and 2 stoves. ( wasn't going to take a chance that either worked)

     

    And since this getting too long I won't go into my rant about other parents.

     

    Suffice it to say my advice to you and myself is this: all is futile - bail out and find a new troop both for you son's sake and yours. I just came from Scout office with contact names for 3 other area troops whoe were also at the campout this weekend and seem to have good leadership, so we'll be going for visits.

     

    YIS,

    cc

    Shifting troop dynamics

    in Open Discussion - Program

    Posted

    Again GB I see simialrities between our troops.

     

    THe older boys have not been showing up and everything is directed at the new boys, so the older boys are diinterested when they do show up and so next time don't show up. Vicious cycle.

     

    I think at that age there are so many competing interests.

    They really like Scouts - but if there is soemthing newer or more exciting - then that's where they'll go. But if nothing else is going on and the troop is doing something then they'll show up.

     

    Boys that age treat their family the same way :)

     

     

    And as this quote from the Venturing web site shows it has always been this way:

     

    *********************************************************

    If you really want to trace the roots of Venturing, you have to go way back. The need for a senior Boy Scout program probably surfaced the second day after Scouting started in the United States in 1910.

     

    Actually, in the very first National Executive Board meeting report, there is a discussion about losing older boys. It was no surprise to our founders that older boys needed an age-specific program with challenges appropriate for them. Older boy programs cropped up across the country during those early years, causing the need for national action.

     

    In 1935, the BSA created Senior Scouting, publishing the Guide to Senior Scouting. There were several options, including Explorers, Sea Scouts, and Air Scouts. In 1949, the BSA consolidated the senior programs, with the exception of Sea Scouts, into Explorer Scouts. At that time, a boy could be an Explorer in the troop or in a stand-alone unit called the Explorer post.

     

    The Explorer advancement program included the Bronze Award, the Gold Award, and the Silver Award. Sound familiar? The last Silver Awards were earned in 1966 as Exploring began to turn more toward career emphasis. That is until the new Venturing Silver Award was reintroduced in August 1998. The new Venturing advancement award medals are very similar in design to their predecessors of the 1940s and 1950s.

     

    What was true in 1920 is true today: Older teens need a program specific to their needs and abilities.

    **************************************************************

     

    I was going to comment that maybe you need to look at your program for these boys - but if they are the ones who came up with the ideas and planned it - then you may just have to accept that they are moving on.

     

    Just omuo

     

    cc

     

     

    Shifting troop dynamics

    in Open Discussion - Program

    Posted

    Interesting

     

    I was just having this conversation this morning. We are dealing with very similar situation. Frankly I am coming to believe that maybe the upper age limit for boy scouts should be 14 or 15 and then move them on to a separate Venture Crew.

     

    (Actually that is what I did as a youth at 15 moved on to an Explorer Post)

     

    Yes the older boys should be helping the younger boys but they are 14-15 year olds, not a very altruistic age and not very interested in doing the same thing over again. They are bored. I know the program is set up for them to teach the younger ones and lead - but do you ever see that truly happening? I would say rarely.

     

    Now the Venture crew could be brought in on occasion to help teach the younger scouts and the 16-17 y.o.s are the ones I see most likely to do that. But that time around 15 that's tough. I would say if you took a poll of the 15 year olds who are active leaders in their troop I would bet they are active Arrowmen. (Nothing to back it up just my observation) It is the boy who lives for Scouting and for whom it is not just another activity.

     

    SO - My not so learned opinion is that it is futile, move them on to Venture and work to have a good troop with the 11-14 y.o.

     

    cc

     

     

    Parents File Lawsuit Against Boy Scout Troop

    in Issues & Politics

    Posted

    Obviously there is something more here than an autistic boy being required to have an adult with him on camp outs.

     

    If the troop did not want this boy the parents could find another troop.

     

    If the leaders felt they did not have what is needed for this boys "minor accommodations" then they are right. Had they allowed the boy to go and something happend to the boy, the mother would have sued saying why did you let my boy go if you knew you were unable to meet his needs.

     

    Did the parents try to work with the troop and have the father go on a few outings until the leaders felt comfortable that it was OK and that the boy could handle it?

     

    Lots of questions here - guess that's why we have courts.

     

    cc

     

    New First Class requirement: "invite" a friend

    in Advancement Resources

    Posted

    Actually Ed, the answer to your eligible when? question is presently.

    The requirement says IS eligible not WILL BE eligible.

     

    is v.

    Third person singular present indicative of be.

     

    We agree that it is a stupid worthless requirement. (except to those professionals who might get a number added to their membership figure and get them closer to "the winner's circle". Makes me want to puke!

     

    cc

    Fines for Untrained Leaders

    in Wood Badge and adult leader training

    Posted

    Beav

     

    Yes our summer camp does Baden-Powell for first year boys. This weekend will help with some of the things our boys didn't complete there or for some like my son who did not atten summer camp this year.

     

    I do not believe but do not know for sure, that our camp offered adult leader training this summer.

     

    Also Beav I tried PMing you last week but don''t think the PM feature is working (someone I talked to on phone today said they try PMing throught the forum and haven't gotten it) if you would I have a few questions for you could you eamil me at campcrafter@yahoo.com

     

    thanks

    cc

    Hammocks

    in Equipment Reviews & Discussions

    Posted

    fling

     

    thanks for the info I really liked the hammock city!

     

    Looks like you have a very active unit.

     

    Well back to the Hennesy site.

     

    cc

     

    PS Does anyone remember a site that sold a hammock that had a flat bottom - actualy more of a hanging tent? Or did I dream this?(This message has been edited by campcrafter)

    Fines for Untrained Leaders

    in Wood Badge and adult leader training

    Posted

    Here is one of the best ideas for Adult Boys Scout Leader training I have seen.

     

    In 2 weeks our district and OA chapter are presenting and A.S.K. (arrowmen sharing knowledge)Camp. This camp is ONLY for scouts not yet first class. There will be many sessions offered to help those scouts fulfill needed requirement for T-2-and 1st class.

     

    WHile that is going on the district is offering ADULT LEADER TRAINING!

     

    What an excellent idea! Give the audlts something to do other than tag along with the boys and intimimdate the Arrowmen teaching. The adults will be there anyway - get them trained. May even work to offer this at Camporees or even Summer Camp

    New First Class requirement: "invite" a friend

    in Advancement Resources

    Posted

    I think it is a pitful requirement, and is one more indicator the mentality of the corp honchos. Didn't another thread there is something like the Million Dollar Round Table for Execs who do good job of marketing?

     

    Makes us look like some kind of MLM scheme like A L Williams or Amway.

     

    But it is a requirement now so we'll tell the boys to tell a friend and then tell us when they have so we can sign off.

     

    Of course if a boy is having a great time in Scouts he'll tell his friend without beign told to and if interested the friiend will come check it out.

     

    cc

×
×
  • Create New...