AGarbers

We are not running a Varsity Team. It is a Venture Patrol. The Varsity Team Program Features can also be used for Venture Patrols.

If you're referring to my original posting, I am talking about a Venture Patrol, made up of the older boys within our troop. The literature I am referring to is the Varsity Team Program Features, for Varsity Scout Teams and Venture Patrols. (This is directly off the cover.)

Alan

Hello,

We have a crew member that want to go to Philmont next year but he has to take refrigerated insulin once a day. Do they have the ability to handle this? Do you know of a way to handle this?

Thanks,

Alan

Thanks for your help.

"I don't understand your question about lecturing? Forget lecturing and start listening, once they come up with an idea of what they want to do, you can lead them to the resources and support them as they prepare to do what it is they want to do."

What I meant is this: I want to provide them with the opportunity to achieve the Venturing V and activity pins to place on their sash, by doing the activities as outlined in the VP Program Features. I feel having a set of requirements to fulfill before receiving each pin would be best and give them a very clear idea of what they need to do to get it. I also feel we need to become more knowledgeable on the material of each program, like fishing. As a child I didnt know what the different lures did or how to work them. I didnt know what the different types of reels and rods did. The list goes on. They picked fishing as one of the higher adventures they wanted to go on. I feel as older scouts they should be taught advanced techniques, beyond just the worm, hook, and bobber. These are what I was going to lecture about. The same goes for other activities. I feel the needs to learn advanced information.

The troop went to BWCA last year but we really dont have the funds or time to travel the country. My idea is to find comparable activities here in central Indiana. As far as fishing goes, I was thinking of three fishing sessions during this summer. One on the local river for 30 pound-plus catfish, one at the district scout camp for bass and bluegill, and one at the local state forest coal pit lakes for a little of both. I figured that after these outings and a few other service projects in each area, they should have fulfilled the requirements.

When I talk to the boys about what they want to do, I get blank stares. So, I suggested the fishing idea. I also suggested caving, as there are hundreds of caves within fifty miles. I suggested attending a Civil War enactment, and perhaps actually being in it. I suggested canoe camping on the local river. I suggested bicycling to the local state forest (10 15 miles away) and camping there.

They loved all of these ideas and none of them take a great deal of money to achieve. I am hoping they will come up with other ideas as they see what can be done locally.

This Bad Scout thing is a pain. Why is he a bad Scout? Is the program that boring that it isn't holding his interest? Does he not like being lectured? Is he hearing that he is a bad Scout and just living up to expectations?

If he is that bad why does he attend meetings?

Try and put yourself in his shoes. How do you see the meetings? How do you see what is being done for him?

The majority of the problems stem from one scout. He is an Eagle Scout that in many respects should never have been made an Eagle. (After he got his rank I overheard him telling the younger scouts that they didnt really need to fulfill the requirements for merit badges, just say they did! He then told them thats what he did!) This is one of the reasons that I want defined requirements to achieve the pins. (At one meeting I stated we would actually do each requirement, and not just say we did, and there was some very nervous laughter)

This same scout is from a long line of brothers (4) that all achieved the Eagle rank, so I feel there was a lot of pressure placed upon him to perform.

This same scout has brought chewing tobacco on campouts, led other scouts in racial chants, started fires in dangerous situations, and other infractions. ( I have seen some of it and heard about the rest from my son, and other scouts.) His family used to be heavily involved in scouts but now is rarely seen. I have been told by other adult leaders that when approached with the problem, it pretty much, Oh well. Boys will be boys.

He disrupts each and every meeting he attends, and this leads many of the marginal scouts a stray. He disdains the uniform and openly mocks those that wear it. I know for a fact we have lost younger scouts that were turned off by his actions and those he leads a stray.

I feel he attends because of his brother who is now the VP PL. His brother can also be disruptive, but he is a good leader at times and tries to help the younger boys. Like I said he is always late, and often not there.

Many of the other boys I feel would not cross over to the dark side if they werent trying to look cool by mocking the ones that try to act scoutly. Here again, I feel this goes back to just one or two of the older scouts.

Again, thanks for your help.

Hello All,

I recently volunteered to become one of two ASMs over the newly created Venture Patrol. When I agreed to this new position I was thinking it would be made of hand-picked boys that exemplified Boy Scouts. Instead, it was opened to all Scouts that met the age and rank requirements. While this sounds OK, many of the boys that want to be in the Venture Patrol are very un-Scout like at times and are very disruptive during the troop meetings. Now, I know in most cases this is because they are older and are bored with the programs we have. I also realize this is a chance to bring the older scouts back into the troop. So, I purchased the Varsity/Venture Program Features Vol. I-I-III hoping we could put together a high-adventure program and then reward them for their efforts with the Venture V and activity pins.

But, I have a personal issue. My son, now an Eagle Scout, is the current SPL and has been for over nine months now. (Thats a whole other story) He and I have racked our brains every week trying to come up with fun and exciting programs for the meetings. (No, we dont have a good PLC, and no one told us about the Troop Program Features until a month ago!!!) During this time, many of the disruptive scouts have done nothing but dog him and belittle his efforts. (One of them even wrote an impeachment letter and got many of the other disruptive scouts to sign it.) Now, just as his tenure as SPL is ending, these same boys will be his patrol members. I have to admit, I will have a hard time wanting to have them around. But, on the other hand, I also feel I should give them another chance and perhaps turn them around.

Too this end, I made and printed Venture patrol guidelines, that were approved by the Scoutmaster, and the other ASM. They were handed out about a month ago.

I have also planned a high-adventure outing this weekend at a local 3-D archery shoot that is free, if the scouts wear their complete uniform. I figure this will show them what scouting could be like, if they play ball.

I have several questions and concerns that I need help on.

1. I was hoping there was a set of requirements for each of the programs in the Varsity Program Features. There is not. They just look like suggestions to me. If you have a varsity program, what requirements do you achieve before saying the program is complete and handing out pins. An example is fishing. (Many of the scouts say they want to go fishing, and I am an avid fisherman.)

2. In the guidelines, wearing the complete uniform is a must. Few of the scouts are wearing them. (I and my son wear complete uniforms right down to the socks.) I feel, if they dont wear their complete uniform 75% of the time, they cant be in the VP. I want them to wear the uniform to set an example for the other scouts and to give them something to aspire to. My vision of the VP was to be like the knights of old, doing great deeds, acting honorably, being scoutly.

3. The elected VPL is an Eagle Scout, is very disruptive, and quite often late to each meeting. How can I work with a PL if hes not there, or is late?

4. Now that youve said, elect a new PL, what do you do when no one else wants it? (This is mainly because none of the good scouts want to deal with the bad scouts.)

5. How much of the patrol time should I use to lecture on the current program. Or should the scouts lecture themselves?

6. At what point do you give up on a bad scout. I plan on going to Wood Badge this fall, but the boys cant wait until then, and nobody else want to deal with them. The SM wants several of them to leave the troop and to be honest; it would make my life easier if they did. Im sure some of you might say I might not be the person for the job, and you may be right, but I do want to try.

7. We have about 14 boys that are in the VP. I could divide them up. I think most of the bad scouts would band together in one, and the good scouts in another. Then they each could elect a PL. Advice?

I am sure I will think of other things as you give advice. Thanks for your help.

Alan

OK. I think I might be making headway. If I understand correctly, the Venture pamphlets have been replaced with the Varsity Team Program Features Volumes 1-3. And the Venture Patrol members would wear the Varsity V and pins as they complete the programs.

Can anyone tell me if this is incorrect, let me know.

Thanks,

Alan

Hello,

We have started a Venture Patrol in our troop.

It is my understanding that each VP member can earn the V letter by doing one of the 14 Venture Patrol programs as defined in the Venture pamphlets. (see bottom of this site -- http://users.tznet.com/~troop379/litlib~1.htm )

After "lettering" in one of the programs the scout also gets an associated pin to place on the V.

For each additional program the scout completes they get another pin to place on the V. (see http://www.usscouts.org/advance/boyscout/Venture.html )

The problem I am having is finding the pamplets to get the scouts moving so they can earn their letters and pins. I have contacted the local trading post and they said the pamphlets are no longer being printed.

Can anyone tell me where to get them, or can they make copies to send to me?

Thanks,

Alan Garbers

Martinsville, IN