Eagledad

>>We are really having a hard time transitioning into a real "boy lead" Troop. Are there additional resources available to us to help make this transition?

HI Eamonn I guess the question is will the reputation of JLTC be better or worse after this course? As the person who is responsible for all JLT in our Council, I know the SM or course director is everything. I'm lucky that our Council gives me anything and everything I need to run a good course. But I credit our successes from the quality adults and scouts we recruit. A few years ago, our Council killed JLTC (Brownsea at the time) for a couple of years because of bad adult leadership. I was task with developing a quality course and it took about three years to get back a reputation of integrity. I do not believe a bad course is better than no course at all. My thoughts are with you. Barry

Hi All I was a troop guide for our course two months ago. Four of my six Beavers were cub scouters. They didn't have much problem with the format. In fact I found that the Cub Scouter Staff had more problems with the format then participants. The objectives being taught are not dependent on the type of program. The program types used are just a vehicle to present the material in a manner that all can understand the point. I believe that the better the staff understands the material, the less you would have a problem here because the staff can explain the objectives in all situations. I also believe the Troop Guides need to really understand the material being presented and it wouldn't hurt that they have some experience in at least two of the three scouting programs. Have a great week. Barry

Hi All >>What do the following ones refer to? You automatically look for floaters>> Floaters are those little things that end up floating in your drink or meal. Floaters are usually safe because they are sterilized before consuming, but can be an unusual addition to the texture. >>You keep a spider stick in the bathroom.>"Get piece of the rock" takes on a new meaning

Good Scouting Days All I Scoutmaster friend of mine sent me this. Enjoy! This is the work of a 2003 Philmont crew. 1. Squeeze cheese is a delicacy, especially Jalapeo! 2. You're leaving to run errands with your kids and one of them pipes up "Is anyone not ready?" 3. You make sure your kids are wearing closed toe shoes before going out to play. 4. You stock up on water whenever it's available. 5. You automatically look for floaters. 6. You think water without Polar Pure is bland. 7. A two hour hike is 'nothing.' 8. You keep a spider stick in the bathroom. 9. 2 showers is 10 days is "good enough". 10. "Swap" automatically means better food. 11. You're getting dressed in the morning and "This was clean yesterday" is OK. 12. Teenage boys look forward to going to bed early and taking hot showers. 13. You get excited about Chips Ahoy for dinner. 14. You scope your back yard for the dandy bear bag tree. 15. "Get piece of the rock" takes on a new meaning. 16. You go to a friend's house for a sleepover and you automatically look for the sump. 17. You pack for a two week vacation with three sets of clothes. 18. Chuckwagon seems like fine dining. 19. Hiking for 6 hours 'isn't so bad'. 20. Getting up early is worth it. 21. A 500 foot climb is worth it for the view. 22. You can eat an entire meal of finger foods and not touch any of it with your fingers.

>>Am I cool enough for scouts? HMMMMM, I can honestly say that I couldn't care less. >NEVER! Train them to teach others to base their decisions on "cool". NEVER! Allow a scout to risk his safety or the safety of others to be "cool"? NEVER!> but please share what the "appearance of experience" means, and how it (whatever it is) can effect wisdom in any way.

>>Tools should be chosen based on need and ability to do the job safely.>If Scouts decided that carrying a percolator for coffee was cool even though none dank coffee would you prohibit it?>I have know some scouts whom I wondered could use nail clippers without hurting themselves.>Moral of the story? I dunno.

Good Morning All >>Those knives are the bait, along with the axes, the matches and fire, the ropes and knots, the tents, etc. Scouting better be about what boys think is cool, or else Scouting won't serve boys.>You can't be serious Rob! Using the wrong tool for the wrong job can hurt a lot of people,

>>Of course not, silly, but it certainly can be the road that is the easiest to travel for a young person with the propensity to take it.

Hi Eagle Hmmm, not sure what to say. I've been on several scouting forums and this one is by far is the worst as far as living the scout law and oath. There a few here who use this forum to pump their egos and there are a few who just don't know how to contribute without coming off attacking. And there are few here who leave a gold nugget with each post they give us. I hang out here for the same reason you just gave. A friend told me I could bring a lot of experience and balance based from successes and failures that crossed my path. I know this forum runs off a lot of scouters, and/or intimidates many from contributing. I personally would like to learn more of your experiences and suggestions. Stick around awhile and allow your contributions to represent the kind of person your are. And allow the others to show their colors as well. Maybe you're the new coat of paint this forum could use. It should be the goal of this forum to help everyone say "I love this scouting stuff". Barry

Hi All >>Ah...we have forgotten what it is like to be a boy.

Hi all >>I think the problem is with the word "control."

I'm so sorry. God be with all of you.

OK, the requirements where different then, I think at that time the scout needed the Swimming MB before lifesaving. However your point is taken. The scout wanted to start in town two weeks before summer camp and finish at summer camp. The camp did allow scouts to work on both badges at the same time. So yes, he could do it. That wasn't they way I worked with scouts. I believe scouts should make their own decisions based from there experience and information and guidence of their mentors. I did the same thing when a scout felt ready for BOR and I felt he wasn't. If the camp didn't allow the scout to work on both badges at the same time, it wouldn't have even come up. I never had a reason to force the power of the signature and I made every atempt for the scout to control his experience in the troop. Barry

>>How about a Scout who can't swim wants a blue cards for Swimming and Lifesaving?

What ever reason he/she wants to prevent the scout from earning the MB I guess. Of course that is not correct with the goals of the program, but I'm not really sure the intent of the question. Is there another answer? Barry

Hi All >>Don't make more of this than there is, or give the SM a "power" that is not there

Good morning all Can the scout recieve the MB without the SM signature blank signed? Barry

HI All On top of all that Eagle1973, with the professional training that you listed, I don't think you need Wood Badge. Which leads to a different discussion of testing out. What if a person really is qualified? Dan, I look at the roughly 50 more hours of training a ASM has to take just to get a trained patch, and I cringe. There some here who feel syllibuses should be followed almost word by word or it will degrade the training. How much more can one take before voluntering is nolong fun? I always like hereing new ideas. What do you propose? Barry

Normal excepted protocol is usually the CC delegating the task to a nomination committee or person. That committee or person searches and weeds out the possible candidates. The CC can be part of the process, but more often than not, they wait it out to approve the nominating committees selection or at least a final list. It is at the point they can sign off and accept or disapprove and ask the committee to continue keep looking. Our troop has done it this way as well as our District and Council Committee. In fact, we just got a new CE from the same process. Barry

Nice reply whitewater. Welcome to the forum. Barry

Hi All >>The methods are all there I listed them on flip chart. We went over them one by one in an open discussion. I gave everyone a handout with them listed and an explanation of how to make them work or why they are important.

Hi All >>Mom's who want to be active with their sons scouting and who speak up when they feel something is wrong are labeled "pushy" because they are intruding on a male dominated area.

Hi All He wants to leave after only two months? This sounds like a very young scout, 13 or younger. That would make sense because he hasn't developed the confidence to be a leader yet, at least at the SPL level. What he learns now will stay with him forever, so my thoughts are to get what positive learning from the situation that you can. With what you have given us, I would sit down and explain that a leader is usually the rudder of the ship. It is a very small part of the overall workings of the whole ship. However it is very important to making sure the ship stays on course. He is responsible for keeping the PLC on track towards its goals. Now I don't know what your Troops goals are, but usually the younger and more inexperienced the SPL, the simpler his goals. Guide him that this ASPL will give him practice with others like him. Teach him to use the ASPLs energy to achieving his troops goals. Guide him to run a good PLC meeting that sets the troop in motion and delegates task to keep the program on track. After that, all he has to do is watch and make sure everyone is doing their job, especially the ASPL. If the ASPL does all the work after that, all the better for the SPL. I found that in a six month period, troop junior leaders work very hard the first two months trying to be great leaders, take the next two months off and let the troop fall to it's knees because they burned out the first two months, then spend the last two months working very hard again trying to save face. I imagine that giving him some room, the ASPL just might burn down and let the SPL take on some of the load. And if not, well the SPL has a good hard worker. Make sure you keep working with the SPL as the Troop leader. The ASPL does the work, but make sure the SPL gets his share of the credit and the privileges that come with the job, like maybe supper with the adults. Work with the ASPL as a servant as well and the supporter of the SPL and a team builder. IF he steps over the line, call him on it and guide him. If you let the SPL go back to the patrol, he may not come back. As for the ASPL, hopefully he learns how to work as a team and what happens when he doesn't. Good luck, I know it's always hard trying to do the best thing with these guys. Barry

Hi All I have to say the trend of this thread is very refreshing. Usually the topic of sheath knives takes off in the direction of "no way, not in my troop". The only problem with sheath knives is they are caught up in a politically correct world where the BSA is as concerned about outward appearances as they are number of Eagles. It's about marketing. That being said, I believe the best marketing for Boy Scouting is a successful story of using a learned skill to express character. True, one isn't usually associated with the other anymore, but at one time it was understood that without the development of skills, there was no practice of character. Scouting is the adult world scaled down to a boys size and the Troop is a safe place where boys learn the habits of character by practicing the actions of it. You just can simply talk character into someone. It has always been interesting to me that using a bow saw is of little concern in these discussions, yet it accounts for more injuries than axes, knives and hatchets combined. Many adults don't even realize that there are very few limits on scouts using power tools. The sheath knife has an image problem. I'm for taking the approach of teaching safety by active use of the tool, not by fear of hiding it. Knowledge is a wonder thing in theory, but practice of that knowledge builds practical sense and quenches the thirst of curiosity. I'm not sure how a scout attacking an adult with and axe brings anything to this subject, but it is an interesting story. How did you work with that scout? Have a great scouting week. Barry