JoeJansen

The behavior of the boy was wrong. The destructive behavior with regard to the camping equipment is of special concern. All the discussion about the punishment and procedures does not address the point that the boy needs help and how he may be helped. Some professional counselling may identify positive steps that, if taken, can help this boy get straightened out. What sometimes helps is to focus on the positive behaviors of the boy and to encourage him to build on and develop his good qualities. If all that is done is to parse the punishment options you are missing the important point that this boy needs help to see that his life unfolds in the direction of positive behaviors. Not simple but you should try something that will be helpful to the boy. He will notice and, hopefully, it will make a positive difference. Good luck.

There is a very interesting discussion of a troop planning process at http://scoutdocs.ca/Documents/Youth_Input.php where the author describes how he had the youth participate in the planning process and how events subsequently unfolded. Joe Jansen JAJansenJr@gmail.com http://www.customprograms.info/scoutingresources.htm I used to be an Owl. SC-70-15

I would suggest that to build a checklist of essential elements for a successful troop you have to start with a checklist of successful elements necessary for a boy to have a great Scouting experience. What makes this a challenge is each boy will progress at a different rate and new boys may join all the time. Still, you have to start with a checklist of successful elements necessary for the individual boy to have a great Scouting experience. So I would look closely at the requirements for each Scout rank and decide how opportunities to earn each requirement depend on a great troop program. It's supposed to be a boy run program, too, so the boys need to be involved in devising the successful troop program elements. It sounds like a challenge and it is, but it's one well worth taking on. The way I would go about it would be to devise some potential plans for the troop and show it to the boys, pointing out how it permits individual growth for each boy. I would also show them a suggested personal growth plan which outlines the path an individual boy may take to advance in the program. I would then encourage the boys to fill in the plan for the troop, keeping in mind the need for opportunities for each individual to progress. The nature of the sugggested personal growth plan and the nature of the suggested troop program elements will depend on where the boys in your troop are at. If they are all beginners - new Scouts - you will have different suggestions than if you have boys who have been in the program some time. All this sounds complicated, and I guess it is, but remember to include in the suggested plan(s) great Scout games and contests and Scout campfire activities to keep it from becoming overly serious and grim. The Scout Promise and Scout Law should be referred to in the planning process to highlight the importance of these in implementing the plan(s). But remember that Scouting is a game and supposed to be fun. At one time there was a position in patrols for a "cheermaster" (the Green Bar Bill Handbook for Patrol Leaders outlined the duties of this and other positions) and keeping Scouting cheerful, both in planning and implementation, is very important. You will find all of the above a challenge but you will be able to rise to this challenge. It is a challenge well worth taking on. Joe Jansen JAJansenJr@gmail.com http://www.customprograms.info/scoutingresources.htm I used to be an Owl. SC-70-15 Scouter's Key earned as a Scoutmaster