LeCastor

Wow, I don't like the idea of the Troop Committee thinking they have the authority to remove a youth leader. In this case, the SPL appointed an ASPL to be there in his absence. Sounds like this is working well. The Troop Committee is there to support the Scoutmaster and make sure that the Troop runs according to BSA guidelines, right? http://meritbadge.org/wiki/index.php/Troop_Committee That link isn't official BSA. However, it draws from publications that the BSA provides its adult members. Perhaps you could thumb through the Scoutmaster's handbook and see what it says for the committee's responsibility. My reading of this is the Troop Committee supports the Scoutmaster and if the Scoutmaster supports the SPL and ASPL there shouldn't be an issue... Suggesting (politely) that the committee members take Troop Committee Challenge might not be a bad idea.

That's all garbage TV though, Stosh. I've been following Sarge Faria's "Woodsman's Ways" YouTube channel for about a year now and some of my older Scouts got hooked on it, too. As much as you like your old-skewl uniform, you might like Sarge's use of canvas tarps, aluminum cookware, and wool blankets. One way to promote STEM in the outdoors could be to talk about how old-skewl firelays, canvas, and wool are still relevant today. Sure, they're not light but wool blankets can keep you warm even when wet and a well-built fire can keep you warm all night. Why is that? Welll, there's science is fire-building and materials construction. Sarge's channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBlbcx2-EOEQNWlFeuJ8OUg

Absolutely! Watching a patrol come together and lead themselves is a glorious thing to behold for a Scouter. Just this week at our Troop meeting, the younger patrol led us with an opening and took off to practice stretcher-building, fireman's carry, and other rescue methods...by themselves. Yes, they did it themselves without a pesky Scouter getting in there and mucking up the works! Our venture patrol's attendance has been spotty lately due to "homework" and "social engagements", but I'm trying to spark a little inter-patrol competition between the younger patrol and these older guys. It's also a veiled attempt to keep the older guys there as mentors to the 12-yr olds.

This is an interesting question, CNY. As a Scoutmaster I often wonder if the Scouts would be more inclined to participate if there were some kind of extra-camping activity involved. I know that the Troop I am with now has tried to couple a campout with a special activity like a bike hike, a conservation project, or a canoe trip. While those are all great things I don't think "just camping" OR activity planning is something the current 12-yr old Scouts are thinking about right now--at least in my Troop. Camping is foreign to these guys and it's like pulling teeth to get them out there and under a tent for two nights. So if we give them the task of coming up with fun things to do in addition to the camping part they just might start showing up more often. As for getting these guys out there, I've suggested maybe heading to the campsite on Saturday morning and only camping one night to sort of ease them into it. They seemed receptive to that idea. But I really do think that it's going to take a little extra "incentive" for them to go in the first place. A planned activity (by the patrol itself) is likely the thing that's going to drive them towards the outdoors. And I always love seeing your screen-name because it makes me think of Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young. I assume, though, that you are in Central New York. Have you been to the William Hillcourt and Carson Buck Scouting Museum in Constantia, NY?

Earlier this year I was lamenting the fact that the ODLR knee socks with the red tops where hard to get these days. Every now and then you can find them on eBay for a fortune: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Brand-new-x-wide-calf-Boy-Scout-socks-/161456546072?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item25978f6118 That's $40.00 for ONE pair! And there's no "Buy it Now" option, so it's likely going to go for much more with bidding.

I truly love the Oscar de la Renta uniform. It just looks Scouty to me and I only truly feel like I'm wearing BSA uniform when I have the ODLR shirt, belt, and pants/shorts on. The "new" stuff just doesn't cut it for me and there's just so many different, competing colors and fabrics that no one looks "uniform" anymore. I think those neat dark brown buttons really make the shirt, too.

Say, brah, I totally agree with you that it should be coupled with the outdoors. Here's what we did at our district camporee this weekend: 1. Mobile ham radio for Jamboree on the Air. A local amateur radio club brought their field unit...into the field. 2. Using math to calculate differing leverage for catapults. Two catapults were brought into the field and the Scouts launched stuff. 3. Conservation hike around camp looking for invasive species and testing the dissolved oxygen of the local river that runs next to camp. STEM is a good thing and there's no reason why it shouldn't be incorporated into the outdoors. Those NOVA awards can be done outdoors, too.

I'm afraid my problem is the committee treasurer used to make the patrols combine (ad hoc) when distributing funds for buying food for outings. There have been many, many things I've tried to change within the Troop but the older Scouts were adamant to keep them the way they were because that was "Troop tradition". Those older boys are all over 18 now and don't have the influence over the new, younger Scouts. It's a transition period now and I believe it's going to get better. The younger boys like to invite their JASM to eat with them on campouts and he gives that older boy guidance. The other older Scouts aren't necessarily into Scouting any more so the Venture Patrol is hopefully going to help them find what they're looking for. As for the lackluster attendance from the younger patrol, it's typically due to sporting conflicts or family issues.

Yes, it is a shame that we must fight for the patrol method when that's what we are supposed to do! And while I agree that the Scouts should be planning and coming up with the ideas for outings, one of my ASMs told me a story about exploring in the South Pole. Paraphrasing: If you point sled dogs at a large expanse of white they won't move forward. However, if you send a guy out ahead on skis, the dogs will follow the tracks. His point is if we show them what's possible they will likely go after it. If they don't know about Sea Base, Swamp Base, Northern Tier, etc it's not likely they'll figure it out and make that leap themselves. Stosh, you're right about the campfire, though. A perfect time to lay on the adventure stories--or send your skier out ahead in the snow field. The issue I have in my Troop is that we're very small and on outings only one or two per patrol show up. The Scouts tend to lump themselves together and make one patrol when that happens. Currently we have an 8-person patrol of 11-13 year olds who are working togehter on T-1-2. Then, there's a Venture Patrol of 5 that wants that extra something out of Scouting. Slowly but surely over the past three years I've gotten the idea of distinct patrols going in the Troop. But the Scouts tend to lapse into the single patrol model, so for me it's no longer the adults intervening that is the problem...

Hey, I have WB beads and I like to carry my mug on my belt! As for the 3-fold job, I would agree with you, @scoutldr. Our past few DEs definitely made it clear that these were their priorities (well, #1 and #2). I think it goes back to what previous posters have said regarding the goals that are set for DEs. Around here I think pro Scouters have been running away due to the stress of the job. We haven't seen the promotion to other positions so much here, though.

@st0ut717, the camporee in question was STEM-based, actually, and was a great success! I loved it and I know most of the Scouts there loved it, too. @scoutldr, LeCastor's Troop does know how merit badges work. That's why their Scoutmaster asked them to revise their activities and make an extra effort. As for the weather, it was cold this weekend. I don't want to hijack the thread so let's bring it back to GSUSA....From what I heard previously, there was little outdoors activities in Girl Scouts. So this article was enlightening to me in that regard. I hope that GSUSA can also incorporate STEM with the outdoors.

Yes, I think GSUSA is realizing this, @st0ut717. And as much as I like the idea of incorporating STEM into the BSA, my youngest Scouts are just not that into camping or being outdoors. Just this weekend I took TWO Scouts to a camporee, the PL and his APL. He couldn't talk the rest of his patrol into going...At the annual planning meeting in August, the PLs game me their list of activities for the year and I'd guess 1/3 where camping/outdoors events. I asked them to include more outing but they want to do STEM merit badges indoors...Makes me so frustrated.

Yeah, Basement, we're in the same situation now since at least the past two years. Two SEs, 3 DEs, and several other shifts in pro Scouters. I've made my peace with it and just run my unit the best I can with the little resources I have. But what's very disappointing is that our interim DE has done the boy talks...in other districts. They seem to be recruiting Cubs in areas all around the city where I live. There is one local pack that won't recharter in December and the one we typically draw from for new Boy Scouts is down to the bare minimum. The future of my Troop is in jeopardy and I don't know what else I can do...Maybe that new DE will have answers!

I agree with you, resqman, in so far as YOU should wear it correctly and set the example. Worrying about what others are doing is not worth your time. YOU should wear your uniform and set the example for the Scouts.

Yeah, I totally agree with you Brewmeister and Blake. It's much easier to just take what you need and get on the road. Honestly, you don't need to spend a lot of money to have the essentials for a fun campout. The dining fly is a pain in the behind to carry/set up and, as you stated, no one really wants to lug that trailer around. Minimal is good in my book.

Guys, I get it. I wear the "sucky" BSA socks, BSA pants/shorts, BSA uniform shirt with patches in the correct placement, and the BSA belt. As the Scoutmaster, I expect that the boys will look at me for the example. I understand it. I get it. And I know it's a method of Scouting. But we get all bent out of shape and lose our focus the young men and women when we spend hours commenting on Bryan on Scouting. That one thread on the Scouts wearing their merit badge sashes in their belts during a flag ceremony. OMG, like what a travesty! I get it, ya'll. The rules say that you don't wear the merit badge sash in your belt. Let's go camping.

I personally see Scouting as letting people in rather than keeping them out...

Trail Life USA...they walked and created their own narrow group. Certainly their choice. Things change, Mr. Blake, and it's not always a bad thing.

@dcsimmons, you have a good point and I respect that. But that inflexibility can be seen on both sides of the coin. There's a lot of missing-the-forest-for-the-trees mentalities at play today and I think we are holding onto things so tightly for the sake of keeping things they way they are rather than doing Scouting and keeping the boys as priority number one. Sometimes change happens on its own and other times it takes some inflexibility by one group to pull other folks into the next generation...

Speaking from recent personal experience, my district is in a dire need of new blood as far as the district committee goes. We don't have a finance chair, membership chair, program chair...I volunteered to be the Boy Scout Roundtable Commissioner because I'm always at roundtable anyway. Now that I'm attending commissioner meetings and district committee meetings, I see how much isn't getting done. For so long it has been the same people doing these jobs and they are just burnt out or gone. There's no new blood stepping up or being nominated...It's frustrating.

You know, I love the uniform as much as the next Scouter. However, it never ceases to amaze me when people get all bent out of shape over whether or not a shirt is tucked in or not on a female adult. As for the youth, heck, if this shirt is on it's a good step some days! I certainly would like a Scout to tuck in his shirt but I never ask him to do that; typically the SPL does that. I find it less important if a female Scouter is self-conscious about tucking in a shirt, and I'm not going to make a point to ask her to do so. Honestly, I'm happy that she shows up consistently and helps the unit. @ymphil, welcome to the forums! I respect your point and know where you're coming from. What I'm trying to say is that uniforming is just one method of Scouting and not the be-all-end-all of what we do. It's very important but kind of a waste of time, in my opinion, to make a special effort to tell a woman to tuck in her shirt. There's probably several factors there that you don't want to mess around with...know what I"m saying?

Change is all around us whether we like it or not, but what we must realize is that Scouting is much more than what it was 100 years ago in BP's head. Just because God is removed from an Oath doesn't mean that you, as an individual, have to stop being a believer. There are plenty of non-believers who are decent human beings who live by the Scout Oath and Law whether they call it that or not. Milennial parents want their children to be good citizens just as much as Baby Boomers want their children to believe in God. (See that generational generalization I just made there?) The times they are a-changin' and maybe that's not such a bad thing...

This is an interesting idea for restructuring Scouting in the US. Interestingly, I believe it fits closer to what our Canadian brothers and sisters are doing now. The only glaring exception I see is that we aren't opening it up to both boys AND girls--other than Venturing, of course. http://www.scouts.ca/ca/programs As for older boys not wanting to to have anything to do with younger boys, I don't personally see that playing out in my Troop. The 14-17 year old Scouts are very interested in mentoring the new boys who cross over. If the BSA were to restructure as indicated in the OP, I would expect to see Venturers coming to Scout meetings to act as mentors/instructors--young men and women. KDD, this actually might make the case for servant leadership...

There is a perfect example of this need for regular Unit Commissioner contact at a Troop in my council. Unfortunately, there's very little Scout-level input: no PLC, no patrols, no cooking by Scouts, infrequent outings. Anyway, without going into too much detail, my point is that I spoke with the District Chairman and he indicated that, at this point, the Troop in question regards the thought of a UC as a threat. They are not welcomed because the Troop has things the way they want them... I agree with those who post here saying that the system, as is, needs tweaking to make the UC more effective.

I just read the article and it left me wanting more! That said, I think it's well-written and much-needed. It's important to explain to milennial parents why Scouting is still relevant and why they, too, should get involved in Scouting with their children. Cub Scout Packs in my community are dwindling each year and, in fact, one of the oldest in the city is folding after this year; they won't recharter this December. In my opinion, there is a lack of understanding from young parents today in regards to Scouting's value in the 21st century.