CrewMomma

Hi All! Even IF your spouse is involved in scouting with you, it still can drag on your family! Both my husband and I are leaders and WB trained. We both spent several years on staff at WB. He is a Scoutmaster, I am (was) an associate leader in a Venture Crew. Our son just made Eagle and we are both sensing that it is Time to take a step down. What we struggled with as a scout family is that the only family time we had was with whatever activity was going on with the Troop! We didn't have plan family events because there was so much going on with the troop, as this is a very active

It's hard to remove a kid because as leaders, our goal is to create an environment where the kid can learn and grow. However when the kids is so disruptive to the rest of the group that it takes all the leaders to manage him, it might be time for him to move on. I don't know if its a "giving up" on the kid or really not knowing how to handle the mental/behavioral issues. As leaders, we aren't psych majors, we are volunteers doing the best we can. We had a kid that was removed earlier this summer, after being with the troop for about 4 years and having a long history of behavioral issues

Basement Dweller - Did these boys have prior issues or was is just "Out of the blue" and a shock that these were the boys involved? I guess what I am getting at is, if you have boys with discipline issues, what's the final straw for you to say "ok, enough is enough" as a volunteer?

SO what would prompt you to remove a boy from the Troop? What actions would the boy have taken where you felt you had to remove him?

With working with as many boys as we do, you are bound to come up with some that are going to have behavioral issues. Does your troop have a process for dealing with behavioral issues? You know, like warnings or probation? Have you ever had to ask a scout to leave the troop due to behavioral issues?

It is in the grace in which we choose to handle our mistakes that attests to our character. We all make mistakes. Not all of us step up to the plate to correct or own up to them - heck some even go on to have a successful political career (but I wouldn't want to drive anywhere with him!). They could have hidden her away somewhere or they could be honest with it, come out and say "Here we are, it is what it is". I am glad they were open and honest. Who knows what lessons will come out of this. Do we teach our youth to shun people that make mistakes, or do we go forward and see what they h

This article was sent to me today. A pretty good read... ~~~~~~~~ A different way to view the BSA We still deliver the character traits found in the Scout Oath and Law. With those values in mind, today we are very much a part of workforce development! Employers tell me that they always need kids with a good education. But, what they would really like is people who come to work on time, dont lie, and dont steal from the company and who will give a full days work for a full days pay. Those are character issues, not educational issues. People are s

SPL Owl checking in!!!!! 3 more weeks until course starts!! "Working late, feeling fine, making sure the troops on time!"

Congratulations WarrenW! Don't forget to work your tickets or you will probably have some craaazy Woodbadge Staffer after you!! GMitch, your diversity ticket can be something that's real personal to you or something that you see lacking in your unit. When I went through course I had as my diversity ticket a report on women leaders in scouting that I have to give as a presentation. It was basically a history lesson on how women have contributed to scouting and some of the difficulties that they had to face. When I was a Troop Guide, one of the guys in my patrol wanted to see more co

Isn't the Venturing Activity Interest Survey used to see what the Venturers are interested in doing after they have joined the Crew? The Venturing Crew focal interest usually depends on what the members are interested in? If you go into an established crew, they will let you know what their focus is but most crews are great at changing focus - or reassessing - what the youth's interest are every once in a while. Whenever we get a nice influx of youth, we go through a survey just so that we can see what has changed with the youths interest.

My only problem is loss of legs..... My son went to a camporee last year where he zipped the legs off and thought he stuffed them in his pack while he was on the trail. When he came home, they were gone and loss. I would love to find a pair of switchbacks that had a compartment to stuff the zipped off pant legs in! Or at least a bungee to hang them on to!

I'll echo this sentiment, WISE words from RememberSchiff: "Thanks for your service to scouting but remember your family comes first, meaning preserve and cherish your separate family life. At your stage, I fell into the trap of only seeing and working with my sons at a scout activity where I was already busy with other scouts. Learn from my mistake. An Old WBer told me that and I didn't learn. "

Hi Mike, I think thats where the "new" (Wood badge for the 21st Century) Wood badge departs from the "Old" Wood badge. I would really recommend that anyone planning on sticking around in a leadership position in scouting take this course sooner then later! IMHO the training is invaluable not only for scouting but for everyday life. Yes, there are some people that think WB is more of a leadership course then a scout skills course. Well, honestly it is! You will be using your scout skills during the course but you will also learn new skills on how to work with and lead your unit. The

Yeah, I hate when I see a Troop that isn't boy led or boy run. We are suppose to be training these youth to be adult leaders, not to do the work for them. I am involved in two different troops and I am an associate adviser for a Crew. One Troop is totally boy run with the Scout Master keeping an eye on things, stepping in when the SPL asks him too, and giving him "guiding" advise. The other troop, the SM is in control. Period. He speaks for the boys, he makes the decisions for the boys. This SM came into the Crew meeting the other week with the SPL to discuss some cross training, to my d

Thanks nldscout, I kinda know the specifics of a Venturing Crew, I am an adviser for one. You forget that they just can't be 14yo, they also have to have completed 8th grade. Is there a way that, when the parent speaks up you can politely turn and remind her that the kids have things handled? Or give her a brief lesson in the EDGE model, letting her know that as their trained adviser, you are helping the youth learn how to be leaders? Simply, you can't ban parents from meetings. Just for your own protection as well.