EagleInKY

Snake Eater - I'm going to challenge your assumption just a little. You're a few miles south of us, so I assume you're also a few degrees warmer. We normally go camping 10 times a year. Of those, probably 3 of them require a sub-40 degree bag. In those cases, you can double-up your sleeping bag or add a fleece liner and stay relatively comfortable. So, what I encourage scouts to do is first get a lightweight comfortable summer bag, and then consider a winter bag for a Christmas or birthday down the road. They'll get much more good out of it. For a 40 degree bag, I love my Slumberjack Quest. You can usually find it online in the $40-$45 dollar range. It's lightweight (2 lbs 12 oz.) and compresses into a very small space. If the nighttime temps get down in the 40s, I'll add a sheet or fleece throw and be cozy. As for a cold weather bag, you want a mummy style. This leads to another reason for holding off on buying it. The boy's eventual height will determine what size bag you want to get him. If he ends up 6 feet or taller, he'll need a taller bag. Unfortunately, a tall bag will do him very little good right now, due to all of the wasted space. For me, I still use my 25 year old North Face Cat's Meow (20 degree, $160). In very cold weather, I'll still throw in a fleece blanket for additional warmth. I haven't shopped for one in a LONG time, so I don't know what's a good value.

Many remember scouts from their youth, and expect it to be the same way. I know that was my own situation. The troop that I thought most exemplified the scout program when I was a Cub Scout leader, is IMHO, the least scout-like today (adult-ran, MB Mill). Also, when a parent sees an adult-ran troop, all is organized and perfect (much like a well-run pack meeting, only quieter). They'll tend to question the boy-run program due to a certain amount of chaos they will see.

Regarding what Proud Eagle said.... DITTO. Great post (I'm proud of you too). But seriously, he summed it all up very well.

There's only one "official" curriculum, although it does have some options built in it in order to add some variety/customization. Beyond that, you really have to develop your own. That's what I've done. I adjust it each year to reflect what we need to focus on, and to bring in some different games and activities. There are several websites, if you do a search on it. I've got some book marked. If you send me a PM, I'll send you some more info.

Do tell! Mr. Undisclosed, we'd love to know how you get the publicity. (I assume it's good publicity and not the other kind).

Snake Eater - You'll find lots of debate on this forum regarding the New Scout Patrol and the associated "First Class/First Year" program. The reason the NSP usually lasts a year is because that is the approximate time it takes for the majority of new scouts to reach the First Class rank. Yes, some take less and a few take more, but I would guess that around 80% or more make it to First Class within 12 months. The NSP allows you to orient a program tailored for first year scouts and around the advancement program. It still fits within the overall troop annual plan. But it carves out specific pieces for the new scouts. We're just embarking on our first year of using it "by the book" and I hope it works as planned!

No surprise here, I'm agreeing with Semper and Barry. First, make sure that you set the expectations ahead of time. We do this by handing out job descriptions of all positions before the elections. Then, the scouts sign a sheet detailing the posiitons they are interested in. They sign an agreement stating that they understand the requirements and will meet the obligations of the position. Second, as Barry pointed out, if the meeting is useless, the boys won't come no matter what you do. So work with your SPL to make sure the meetings are well-run and meaningful.

I agree with the thought that if no boy wants the job, then they must not see any value in it. Work on the job description and responsibilities. Overseeing patrol QMs is a great start. And, will make the position one of responsibility and one that they shouldn't be overwhelmed by.

Welcome to the forum. I'm just a few miles down I65 and across the river. We look foward to getting to know you.

Welcome to the campfire. However, unlike my friend Semper, the Kentuckian in me prevents me from saying anything complementary about the 'heels.

Welcome to the forum. Sounds like you are a very dedicated scouter.

Welcome and congrats on the growth in your troop.

Check out posts by cliffgolden and johnmbowen. These guys have some good advice regarding troop-planned high adventure trips. Cliff's troop has done a ton of stuff, here is there website: http://members.tripod.com/~CGolden/troop33.htm I don't see Grand Canyon on the list, but maybe you can find some information that will help you in your planning.

Don't go out on a cloudy night. Beyond that, have a great time and welcome to the forums.

IMHO, It's better for the boys to move on up to scouts around Feb-March timeframe. This gives them a few months and 2-3 campouts to get to comfortable with the troop and Boy Scouting before he goes off to Summer Camp for a week. Crossing over at the end of May means he probably will get only one (if that) chance to camp before Summer Camp. I've seen it work, however. Last year we had a boy who's family was relocating to the area the week AFTER summer camp. He visited our troop during his Spring Break and decided that this was the troop he wanted to be in. His parent sent him to town a week early and he went to Summer Camp with a group of virtual strangers. Of course, by Tuesday, he was just one of the guys.

Typically, I believe you can "rejoin" simply by starting to pay dues again. However, I'm not sure if you have to be registered as a Boy Scout leader to do so. Someone on this forum should know. I think you have to be a registered Boy Scout leader (not Cub Scout) to qualify to join. The question is can you reactivate your membership without being a Boy Scout leader.

Thanks for the great info. What an elite group we have here! Jerseyman, I appreciate the dates. I didn't realize that the LC was created along with all those other fads in the early 70s. I was just a Cub Scout when that came along, but my older brother was in Boy Scouts. All I knew was that once our troop grew to a decent size, we had a Leadership Corps, and it seemed to work pretty well. As you stated, it seemed to be a combination of soon-to-be SPLs and former SPLs. I don't remember us really running the troop, but doing a lot of the teaching. Of course, in that day, we did BOR for up to First Class, but that's another thread. Like you, it was there when I left scouts, and gone when I returned. We're planning on forming a Venture Patrol next year and I'm trying to figure out what it's supposed to look like.

I tried spinning this off, but received an error. So here it is without the spinoff. I took a 10 year hiatus from scouts around the mid-80s to mid-90s. During that time, the old Leadership Corps was eliminated. Does anyone know why? What was the reasoning behind the decision? I'm not second guessing (okay, maybe I am a little), but I thought it worked pretty well. I know of several troops that use modern day versions of it or a blend of the leadership corps/venture patrol concept. I even know one troop that still wears the old Leadership Corps patches. They must buy them every time they see them on Ebay. I think they recycle them too.

The youth position is called a "Chaplain's Aide", the adult position is "Chaplain".

Sounds very similar to the old Leadership Corps. Several troops I know of still use some variant of it today. Others have combined this with the Venture patrol idea to have the best of both worlds.

Welcome Kurt. We look forward to hearing some of your stories around the fire.

I would say that he "UZ2BNOWL". Have you put that on your license plate? I think gifts that relate to your patrol emblem are the most special. We gave our troop guide a mounted pair of antelope horns. We printed the course patch, and patrol information on the plaque and signed the back. I think he was quite moved. And, it was only about $5 a person.

Caveman - You wrote "I have been told that they can still be used, and that if a scout starts a MB with an older book, than he can finnish with the original requirements. " The accurate way of saying it is that "if a scout starts a MB before the new requirements go into effect, he can finish with the requirements he started with". The point being that it does not matter what book he uses, but what requirements are in effect on that date. As for old books, it depends. Sometimes the updated requirements are so minor, the book has very little change. Therefore, we keep some of them in our troop library, but get rid of the ones that are drastically out of date.

Thx. We also have a parent's handbook that addresses a lot of the basics (aims & methods, differences in cub scouting & boy scouting, discipline, etc.). They already have that, but it is not specific around names, dates and costs. Laurie - the idea about who to call is a good one. Trying to break the parents calling the SM for everything is a pain. We need to stress calling the PL or Troop Guide from the outset. Keep those ideas coming.

The Tap Out (Or "Call Out" as it is now callled since "tapping" is no longer allowed) is a ceremony where boys are recognized for being elected by their peers to become ordeal members. In most cases, the boys do not know they are being "tapped" or "called" until the ceremony. This provides for a little mystery and intrigue. But, the ceremony is just that, a ceremony, it's not required for membership. If a boy misses the camporee, he can still go on and do his ordeal. Or, if he - as in your case - goes through the ordeal before the ceremony, that's fine too. Your guy didn't break any rules, he just didn't do things in the order that they usually take place.