ptaylor@baughinc.com

Thanks, Your wrote: "I wonder sometimes if folks tend to overlook us because we are small, preferring to go to the larger troops in town simply because they feel that since the troop has so many boys it must be the best." I have found in the past 3 years this was indeed happing, sometimes it was the parents pushing or programs. I also found that boys going to larger troups tend to get "lost in the group" and drop out of scouting all together. We have been able to pick up three boys that got lost in large troops and where about to drop out. Keep working your contacts, stay involved with you district and councle and your group will grow. One thing we are doing that is drawing some attention is we set up a Webelos support program where we will supply support to Den leaders to help the boys earn pins, AOL, SMC, ect...this helps keep our face fresh with the up and coming Webelos. Another thing we do is this; if a den is about to finish the year or is about to cross-over but has boys that do not have their AOL at crossover we will supply a Webelos trained leader to help them continue in scout while meeting with the troop. In other words the boy is still a cub scout and belongs to the pack but his den leader is a troop leader (trained) so he has a den meeting once a week during the troop meeting. This keeps the boy involved until he earns his AOL or turns 11. Paul

High, my name is Paul and I was where you are now 3 years ago and in fact until my son's Den crossed-over (I doubled at pack and troop levels) our troop was between 4 & 13 scouts in size. We crossed over 14 with us so we now have 27 boys. I agree with Dan, have a SPL and one or two patrols but let the boys decide. Our troop started with 4 the first year with the SPL/PL leading the group. Once we got new scouts crossing over we let them form new boy patrols so they would all be same age. As the troop grew we let the PLC combine and create patrols based on age & rank. The FCE boys started out together in one or two patrols with the older boys forming one or two patrols depending on rank and rank needs. I suggest letting the PLC decide how many patrols to form but give them opptions like; new boy, mixed rank, Venture patrol, ect... When you go camping the patrols can combine if needed or they can work in their own small patrols. This will give a since of pride and belonging. Recruiting Webelos, I suggest getting involved with a pack as either leaders, Den Chiefs, or Webelos support. The more contact you have with a group the more likely you are to get some of them at cross over. Also set up and agressive outing program, as a small group we are able to do Rifle/Shotgun, canoeing, climbing, backpacking, ect...This really brings groups out to see us. We now have 27-30 active boys in three years and continue to grow. Yours in scouting, Paul Good luck and Good scouting.