Honu

Slightly random question- when my son was a wee little Tiger, he coveted it an Eagle clock they had in our scout shop. Whenever we went in, he admired it and asked if I'd get it when he made Eagle. "WHEN" he made Eagle, the kid was 6! I should have paid attention to him then because I'm happy to say he made Eagle last month. He half joked about getting the clock now. Of course, it's not currently sold in the scout shop. I vaguely remember it was a clear (plastic) crystal thing with a metal insert for the clock/Eagle logo. (I remember at the time thinking it looked like something a bank would give you when you opened an account or something.) Does anyone have one/could take a picture? I'm hoping to find at least something similar, but I don't even remember exactly what it looked like. (I'm sur my son does!) I've been keeping an eye out on ebay, but all I'm seeing is homemade clocks, this was definately something that came from BSA. Any ideas where I could look? thanks! Michelle

First campout goal not necessarily to get any requirements signed off (though some might). REALLY basic goals- like establishing "No, the adults are not going to set up your tent, cook your meals, or wash your dishes... welcome to the big league!"

Thanks all, this really does help. Alot of this we do already do. The May campout will be the new guys' first. It is divided up so new guys knock out alot of their basic intro stuff and the older guys go canoeing. (Then they all meet together in the evening/campout.) We've also been pushing summer camp with all the new guys. (The troop traditionally has a high percentage go.) We're fortunate, I guess, that our local camp does have an advancement-based new scout program in addition to merit badge stuff for the older guys. Sounds like we're heading in a right direction. Here's to hoping things settle down a bit!

Thank you both. We questioned doing NSP vs mixed age ones. The biggest issue we had was by the time we had a couple guides (x 3 patrols) plus SPL and a couple patrol leaders for the middle school scouts and an SPL, we'd have pretty much exhausted our supply of older scouts. Seemed better to spread the older ones through the patrols and go from there. Not sure if that's the best route or not, but the numbers really weren't working out the other way. We definately need to have an adjustment on the direction the troop takes. We have been very up front with parents this is an unusually high number. (My son picked a fine time to get elected SPL!) I do worry though about throwing the second year scouts into more than they're ready for as leaders. They've gone from being the "new guys" to helping to lead skills stations in jsut a few short weeks. Eagle92- What are POR? (maybe that's something obvious I'm not putting together.) (Thank you both for your perpective!)

I'm a committee member in a troop of (until recently) 26 active scouts. We strive to have the troop be boy-led, use the patrol method and make it their own, of course with some guidance from adults. We're in a bit of a quandry now and not sure how to help the PLC focus the troop. We've just had 21 new guys join the troop (19 5th graders crossing from other packs, two brand new 6th graders). While it's a blessing in some ways, we're worried about keeping it interesting for all the ages- while getting the new guys all in and settled. In the past- we have had only 6-8 new scouts this time of year and put them in a new scout patrol. With so many, though, we have opted to intergrate them into patrols with older scouts in an effort to make sure each new guy has contact with an older scout to "show him the way". Doing this though puts our middle school guys (who are the same age or only one year older than the new scouts) in a more responsible role than normally they'd have at that age. The theory's always been on skills nights/etc- the oldest scouts instruct, the middle school scouts get a good review and then the youngest scouts absorb what they can, knowing we'll revisit each skill set (orienteering, camping, first aid, etc) multiple times over the program. With so many new scouts though, it's almost like the program needs to be dumbed down (for lack of a better term) to a point where the middle school guys may just not be interested over time. We're of course also having to spend alot of energy just showing the new scouts how the boy scout program works- who the ASM are, how you get signed off on advancements, what equipment they need, etc. Understandably dry for even the second year scouts who know the drill already. Is there some other way to be approaching this we're not considering? (Perhaps separate older/younger scout meetings for a few weeks? I'm not sure that's going to work either.) Any ideas/direction welcome. The PLC will be meeting Sunday for the first time since the new guys have come over (and issues have become apparent.) They very well may have ideas as well, but looking for some been there done that sort of guidance to perhaps share with them. Thanks!