AdvanceOn

These questions were asked of a boy at his First Class board of review tonight. His board of review took 1 hour. Please give me your feeback.

--five signs of a heart attack

--10 things he went on since he has been in the troop

--2 or 3 ways to find distance across a stream

--tell three ways to tell how tall a tree is

--how can you find your way day and night

--demonstrate 3 or 4 knots

--how to do cpr

This is a concern that has been brought to me by a parent.

I would really appreciate your feedback.

Thanks.

The responses thus far have focused more on how to reduce the advancement part of pack meetings but I think you should be focusing on the announcements.

Announcements should be put in writing as much as possible. Then just touch on the highlights. Also, a pack meeting shouldn't be the first and only means of communicating important dates and events. All that information should be disseminated at den meetings.

Parents want to see their kids rewarded for their hard work. It needs to be an element of the pack meeting.

As others have said -- use the scouting resources to plan your meetings. Advancement is an important piece.

You talked about getting the mailing lists from the chambers. You might take it a step further. I have worked with chambers that allowed us as to include our materials in their mailings. They generally charge the member businesses a much reduced fee to do this. You may be able to latch onto a member business that would be willing to eat the cost as a donation to scouting.

I have also been able to get free mailings by working with banks, untilities, etc. This isn't as easy as it used to be since so many businesses are no longer local but it's still something to check into.

Good luck.

Ed,

You might want to read the tour permit again. It specifically requires a signature of a committee member. ASM doesn't count.

You're right. I mis-remembered the attendance requirement.

Anyway, as far as Webelos Camp -- is it on the Pack calendar? Then yes. The important thing is that the boys participate in a pack supported activity each month

Twocubdad --

But did at least 50% of your pack participate in the day camp and/or camp? It doesn't matter that they weren't constantly together.

As I think you imply with your first statement -- the goal is not to shut kids out but to build opportunities for these kids to participate in summertime activities and not lose touch with scouting.

Your information has never been presented to me as an option. Is there a reference for it? Not that I'm quesitoning your reliability but so that I have the information to take back to my fellow district commissioners.

I'd like to use it as a tool for my unit commissioners. that would be a really position approach with units that didn't get quality unit at rechartering but because of their efforts got it later in the year.

Thanks.

Are you saying you don't know what the actual requirements are? This site has a .pdf version of the Pack form. There are .pdfs of the troop and crew forms as well. http://www.scouting.org/forms/14-220.pdf

If you're asking for an interpretation of the individual items then I'll need to look at it more closely.

It is really fairly easy for a unit to get quality unit. This form is generally turned in at rechartering. Past year is the year that you just completed. You should be able to get the numbers and percentages from you unit records. the coming year is your "agreement" that your unit will complete the requirements.

Your unit commissioner or District Commissioner should be able to help you with this.

Hope this helps. If I missed the mark, let me know. I've got most of this information in my commissioner materials so I can look up specific information.

From what I'm reading in the CUb Scout Leader Book the Pack must offer one event each month and for a scout to be eligible he must participate in all three of the pack events.

Day camp counts as one activity for one of the months. Den meetings don't count because there isn't an expectation that 50% of the pack is participating.(This message has been edited by AdvanceOn)

Your council should have a person identified as the Special Needs "expert." Some districts have a special needs committee. TALK TO THEM.

Barry is right about this being a parent issue but the more you learn about mixing scouting and special needs the better prepared you'll be. BSA has a number of publications that may be helpful. There are also tons of websites that have resources.

This website has some pretty good information but they haven't updated their site in awhile. Still worth looking at. http://www.boyscouts-marin.org/wwswd/index.htm

This is also an excellent resource. http://www.nichcy.org/pubs/factshe/fs1.pdf

Hope this information helps.

I'm the advancement coordinator for our troop. I really started checking out the forums when I was trying to get our advancements stuff back in order, thus the username. Since then I have really changed my scouting role (district commissioner, more involvement at the district and council levels) but still do the advancement for our troop.

Actually, I do get pretty regular updates. But more importantly, I can track the attendance of the scouts at camping, service projects, troop activities, etc. This scout, in particular had scheduled a scoutmaster conference and knew we would be holding a BOR so he called to set up his BOR. As it turns out he didn't have ANY service hours. Would the scoutmaster have caught this? Hopefully (but unfortunately, he may just as likely have signed it off assuming the kid had done the hours). I also print out the information occassionally for the SM, assistants, and the scouts.

Now back to Laurie's original topic -- tracking, whether it be on paper, computer, whatever, needs to be set up in such a way to ensure that the scouts get the advancements and recognitions that they deserve and have earned.

As far as the enrollment forms -- since you don't have them I would suggest you have every Scout and leader complete a Class I medical form (they're available online) every year so that you get updated medical and contact information.

Again, PackMaster or some kind of database would help you maintain this information. When I was a den leader I also developed my own forms to help me track. I would then submit the information to the Advancement Coordinator so the boys got regular recognition at Pack meetings. I wasn't involved from that point on. I know I always got the stuff I requested but whether it was systematically maintained, I don't know. Now it's something I look for when meeting with my units as District Commissioner.

Good luck.

Thanks.

Ed - when was the last time Conestoga updated the Eagle application? It doesn't have the current cover on it. My understanding is that we have to use the 2002 version now. Is this the 2002 version?

Fat Old Guy -- which version of TroopMaster did you look at? We're now using TroopMaster ME and I wouldn't give it up for anything at this point. It's improved our recordkeeping. Just had a scout call asking for a Board of Review. I pulled up his report and was able to go over what he's still missing. Couldn't have done that without TM.

For someone who knows computers and can set up their own database then go for it but for most of us TroopMaster or PackMaster (or a similar software) is the way to go - IMHO

I'm looking for a file of the most current Eagle Leadership Workbook Packet.

I have an older version that is a .doc file making it easy for the Scout to enter his information on his computer, edit, make it look nice, etc. I haven't seen a file like this for the newest one.

I prefer a .doc or .rtf that actually looks like the paper version. Anyone got it?

Thanks.

Our medical forms are reviewed thoroughly before camp starts by our nurse. They are also available to be reviewed throughout the week.

I do believe that there is some level of responsibility on the part of the scout (yes, even a 6 year old) to know what he can and cannot eat. I know that our cooking station director this year actually asked about allergies for every food item they prepared.

And as Twocubdad mentions, the parents have an obligation to make sure we are aware of the allergies and requirements associated with these allergies, especially if they are serious.

I know that my staff takes all this seriously. Safety is our primary concern, then fun. Unfortunately we can't wait for all the medical forms to come in before we prepare our program schedules so we do the best we can to meet everyone's needs and expectations.

Regarding the soap -- this had been an ongoing program for us. We don't actually have a washroom, just a pump. Now we tie soap in a knee hi stocking at both pumps so that soap is always available. We also try to make sure we have soap and water at key stations (cooking, nature station where they dissected the contents of an owl's stomach, etc.).

Also, if you are registered as a Venturer then you are registered with BSA.

You can only hold a position in the Pack if you are over 21 (I don't think there are any positions in cubs for the 18-21 year old). I don't think there is a formal position equivalent to Den Chief for Venturing but helping out as fboisseau states is definitely an option.

If there is a Venturing equivalent to den chief someone please let me know.

"D'Apice said the abuse allegations, detailed in a handwritten letter from the boy, were investigated thoroughly by a three-member committee, consisting of experts in juvenile law and juvenile issues. After collecting evidence and interviewing "every person who could possibly provide information," the committee concluded there was no incident of sexual abuse."

Okay, I don't usually respond in this area but this one raises red flags for me. I realize that newspaper articles can be slanted and leave out details but where is the Child Protective Services (social services, whatever it's called in that community) on this?

BSA is not the one to make the decision as to whether abuse occured or not. That's up to CPS.

On a side note, this camp sounds like it's got LOTS of problems. Allegations of abuse, under age drinking, where's the supervision and training?

And if you follow the First Class First Year program then a 12 yo First Class is not at all unusual.

Also, I've seen boys rush through the beginning ranks then come to a screeching halt with the later ranks. It is a very personal thing based on the Scout's level of interest, goals, what he's doing outside of scouts, etc.

"Cub Scouting members join a Cub Scout pack and are assigned to a den, usually a neighborhood group of six to eight boys. Tiger Cubs (first-graders), Wolf Cub Scouts (second graders), Bear Cub Scouts (third graders), and Webelos Scouts (fourth and fifth graders) meet weekly."

This statement is copied directly from the BSA website. http://www.scouting.org/nav/enter.jsp?s=cy

The one held at Heritage Reservation is generally the last weekend in April so it looks like it will be the 23rd through the 25th.

I believe you are referring to the William T. Hornaday Awards. http://www.scouting.org/nav/enter.jsp?c=xds&terms=world+conservation+award

They do require conservation projects. The requirements for the World Conservation Award is only the specific merit badges (1. environmental science, 2. soil or water conservation or fish and wildlife, 3. citizenship in the world.

This link is directly to BSA. Maybe it will help you get started.

http://www.scouting.org

Once at this site go to Boy Scouts then Activites, then Activities for older boys.

We have our boys choose their merit badges and plan their schedules BEFORE going to camp. Why have the boys making these decisions once they get to camp? They already have to do their swim test, set up camp, etc. Since our camp sends us the merit badge list and schedule well in advance of camp it seems like they want us to do this in advance.

We encourage the boys to bring notebooks, merit badge books, etc. but we don't set that up for them.

I always prepare a binder for our leaders. This includes a copy of each boy's schedule, a master schedule so they can do a quick glance to see who is where and when, the Leader Guide from camp, writing paper, sign in/out sheet, etc.

BSA has a publication that may help you. It's called Scoutmaster's Junior Leader Training Kit #34306. There is also a companion video AV-02V013.

Hope this helps.