Chippewa29

Before anyone posts a reply saying this is in the wrong forum and I should be posting this in the Uniforms forum, please read carefully. Currently, I am the only adult leader that wears the uniform on a regular basis. Although we have a troop committee that is quite active (I think we have great committee support for a small troop), I have no active ASM or other "uniforms" to help me with the week to week running of the programs. I've mentioned to a couple of the dads in the troop that are there on a regular basis (we have several) that I felt they would do a good job as an ASM, but the

One thing I forgot to post is that we would require the Scouts going to pass the BSA swimmer test. We are planning on this being a day trip, although an expedition would be very cool for the future. I like the point of checking with the rafting company. If the our Scouts don't meet their minimum age or weight requirements, then we'll have to see about "scaling down" again to a canoeing trip. The big question is this. What happens if the minimum age is eleven and the minimum weight is 80 pounds (something that sounds pretty normal)? Our Scout in question is only 70 pounds at this point, b

I like all the posts I've read so far. They've sparked some ideas. For a few years, when Webelos would come to visit, our Scouts would take them as part of the troop meeting (a semi-regular meeting that had some adjustments to it, but they got the basic idea) while the SM would speak with the parents and tell them stories about the different high adventure trips the troop had been on. Some of the parents liked it, but most of it went right over their heads (besides the fact that it went on for an hour). They left with polite thanks and appreciation, but it seemed like they were bored at ti

My troop had our annual planning weekend last weekend. A great time was had by all. We ate well, got some training and planning, and had a good time playing in the snow (we wimped out and stayed in cabins). One of the activities the Scouts said they wanted to do this year was go Whitewater rafting. They said the same thing last year. Since we were dealing with mainly 11 and 12 year olds, we felt it was best we didn't do whitewater, but instead went to a river in Northern Michigan that had some rapids. The kids had a great time, but they said they wanted to up the adventure this year and

In our troop, the pace setter is someone usually right in the middle of the pack as far as pace goes. Our slowest Scouts would be perfectly content to literally shuffle for a couple of hours once they got tired. With a mid-range pacer up front, the "sprinters" don't get too far ahead, but we aren't taking forever to finish a hike, either (going too slow on a hike can create frustration just like slow traffic on the road does). The slower ones are prodded along (their slowness is usually due to laziness and not physical aptitude, as they usually jump right up if the Scouts want to play a gam

I know that our lodge had to switch from a tap out to a call out back in the early 90's due to the concern of hazing. When I was tapped out in 1984, we heard this loud sound when they tapped the shoulders of the people before us. Therefore, we braced ourselves when they came by us, just in case it happened to us. Then, when they actually tapped us out, we realized that the tap was actually more bark than bite and felt like the pat on the shoulder a coach gives you when you make a good play in a game. After getting tapped, two of the characters "dragged" (led) you up to the front where they

slontwovvy- I would love to have the problem in your area. Although we have fifteen packs in our area (within fifteen minutes of our troop meeting place), most of them are currently tied to other troops (there are five other troops in our area). Seven of the packs feed into one troop (this troop established the links with those packs several years ago when the other troops in our area were on the down swing) and although this troop gets 25+ new Scouts every year, they only have 35-40 Scouts in their troop at the end of each year. Even with the high turnover, we can't get any of those p

What I usually tell my Scouts is that the events must be separately planned from both troop meetings and other events in their lives. For example, if they go on a field trip with school where more than half the troop goes (this can happen in our troop), then I wouldn't count it. Also, I tell them that is must include at least half of the troop and be approved of ahead of time by the adult leadership in the troop and the invitation is open to everyone in the troop/patrol. For example, four Scouts in our troop are really good friends, so if they camp out together in their back yard one night

After reading the other posts and thinking more on the subject (reflecting back on seeing transitions over the years), I believe that the transition needs to be more gradual. For example, a Scout usually doesn't become mature just because he turns 18 (although some, realizing that they are approaching that age, will start acting more adultlike). I've seen 15 year olds who are more mature than 22 year olds (I'm sure we all have). If the troop has a good system where the Scouts are given responsibility at a fairly young age (basically, a boy run troop), then by the time they are 18, they shou

Scouter659- I like what you've done so far. Your philosophies are very similar to mine I'll be looking forward to seeing the site again as you add more of the "meat" to it. Good Luck without the continual development of your course. I'm working on developing a training system for my troop and it helps quite a bit to see the successful systems already in place. That way, I'm not creating from scratch, but can take the best parts and put them together to see what fits for my troop.

Great idea, Shemgren. Another way to keep patches in place while sewing is to anchor them down with a couple of service stars (or similar pins). Anchor the patch in place, then you are ready to get the patch sewn on without having to wait.

OGE- That is a question that will be debated for years and years. I guess that it ends when everyone is seen as a unique individual that is treated with respect and not seen as being a part of any race, religion, etc. My troop is in a pretty homogeneous area. Last year, for the first time, we got a Scout who was of Asian decent. We didn't even think about it until it came time for rechartering and they asked us the demographics of the troop. We just thought of him as one of the Scouts and different only because of his unique personality rather than his ethnic background. The same happene

How do different troops handle young (18-22 year old) ASM's? We have a Scout turning 18 in March and he has done a good job working with the younger Scouts the past two years. He has expressed a little interest (he mentioned it once) in becoming an ASM when he turns 18. What are the expectations that other troops have for their younger adult leaders to keep them from just having an honorary position?

Scamp- Fortunately, one thing I realized many years ago (not that many considering the experience of some of the other posters) is that the best leaders and organizations change to adapt with the times and make themselves better. I did a lot of OA elections while I was a Scout, so I got the chance to see a lot of different troops in action. A lot the ones that seemed to be sliding had adult leaders that were still doing things just because that is how they always did them. The best troops that had the most excitement were the ones that seemed to be changing and adapting to meet the needs o

Those of you who are Cub or Webelos leaders: What do you look for when trying to find a Scout troop for your Webelos to cross over? Is is the adult leaders, program, current Scouts, big splashy presentation, etc.? Also, what are some of the big red flags that would turn you off from joining a troop (adults smoking, Scouts not in uniform, etc?)

I agree with you that the games are a "bonus" once the real work is done. Usually, after we open, the Scouts will work on rank advancement or some other skill, followed by a "business" session (menu or event planning, etc.) Once they are done with the business at hand (determined by the PL in consultation with me), then they can go and play a game (usually there is 10-15 minutes for this before we have to close).

The Scouts in my troop have 5-6 games they like to play at troop meetings (it is the last thing before closing). I believe it would be good for them to not repeat a game at a troop meeting for a year. For instance, we have about 40-42 meetings a year (take out 4-5 for holidays, 4 for Courts of Honor, etc.) and I think it would help the Scouts to try a different game each week. Some would work, some wouldn't. We've been a little limited on games as we only have one patrol and 6-8 scouts per meeting. Once we grow this year, I think we'll have more options. One thing I'd like to do is have

Thanks for the feedback everyone. I was 95% sure that I would take the training, if for nothing else then to try and get some new parents in my troop to take it. If nothing else, I can dig out some of the old practical jokes from my JLTC staff days and have some fun with the newer Scouters (they're adults, so they should be able to take it). The only way I won't take it now is if something really major comes up. I did like the idea of possibly teaching a session while there and then participating in the rest of the sessions to learn what I can. I think it will also be a great time to exch

Please don't laugh, but although I've been an adult leader since 1990, I've never been through Adult Leader Training, SM Fundamentals, etc. It looks like my schedule will finally allow me to attend the training when it is offered in late March, early April. To be honest, I'm only taking it to set an example for other adults in my troop (our previous leaders had all attended training in the early 90's, but we haven't had anyone attend in 5-6 years). I was on the JLTC staff for our council for three years, have eleven years of Scout leader experience, was mentored as a youth by some incredibl

Whenever I hear parents complain about sewing patches on the uniform, I tell them to teach their sons how to sew. My mom sewed my patches on in Cubs and when I started Scouts. While getting ready to go to summer camp, I needed a couple of patches sewn on my uniform. When I complained that she hadn't done it yet, she handed me a needle and thread and told me to have fun. She hasn't sewn a patch on for me since I was 13. The same thing happened when I came home from my first campout and told my mom she needed to do my laundry right away because I needed my uniform for our troop meeting the

I think patrol activities are a great idea for patrols to bond. When I was a Scout in the mid-80's, I was actually nieve enough to believe that the PL Handbook (much better than the current one) of the time was the way people actually did things. Therefore, when I became a PL, we had patrol meetings once a month and did patrol hikes on a couple of occasions. I was very disappointed when I couldn't get a patrol campout together. My patrol didn't grow at all during my six months, but we were the only patrol in the troop to not have anyone quit. If you have Scouts that want to do patrol acti

As far as being corporal punishment, I don't think the BSA would view push ups in that category. Isn't part of the requirement for tenderfoot and the Personal Fitness and Atheltics Merit Badges? As for myself (I work out on a regular basis), the concept of physical fitness as punishment blows my mind. Six or seven years ago, while on a campout, three Scouts were making noise well past the lights out time. I've always told the Scouts that I won't make them sleep and if they want to stay up all night and talk, they can do it as long as they are in their tent and not keeping other peopl

I've heard of different troops that use honor patrol systems as a means of friendly competition between patrols and to build up patrol spirit. In a few months, I hope to have enough Scouts in my troop to where we can create a second patrol and start an Honor Patrol system. What kind of point systems do other troops use and how do they reward the Honor Patrol once they've earned the honor?

I'd like to know what other troops do in regards to uniform inspections. We haven't done them in my troop for almost a decade because a former SM (well before even my predecessors) conducted a uniform inspection to fill a lull in the middle of a Court of Honor without telling anyone. Obviously, some of the Scouts were embarrassed by it and some of the parents were horrified. I sat in the back with my mouth almost hitting the floor (I was a 19 year old ASM and didn't know how to react). That was one of many things that caused that SM to be booted less than a year later. About 4-5 years

I love a good practical joke as much as anyone, providing it is in good taste and it doesn't hurt anyone. While on staff at our council JLTC in the early 90's, we used to bring a bag of gear for the conference that week and another bag of stuff we used for practical jokes on each other. We had a few simple rules we followed: 1. The jokes couldn't interfere with the program or involve the participants; 2. The person you played the joke on better be able to take it (we had a few staff members, one older one, that we didn't get because they weren't mature enough to handle it); playing a j