qwazse

Also, don't be surprised if the boys give you "blow back" on the PM! I think you're on the right track. Listen to the issues, they may be: - Cliques (like you've described). Youth don't always realize what they are doing to make other boys feel excluded. - Transportation. Youth don't know how to get to the store and buy stuff. In this day and age you almost always need a car. - Persistence. Fewer and fewer youth work a job where they have to knock on doors to sell something. This means they don't always know how to ask adults for things. - Discouragement. They may hear something negative from an adult that makes them or their ideas feel unwelcome. The older boys, even if trained, might have a "what's the point" attitude based on very real experiences. All of this, when added together can make catch-phrases like "turn us into a PM patrol/troop" sound like what they've been doing before was a failure. Keep that in mind, and coach with other phrases like "give you boys the helm", "amp up the fun", "let the adults sit back and watch you grow", "build that brotherhood!"

PM happens when you train boys to rig a large, comfortable meeting tarp the month before. Then at next month's camporee you bring the tarp and rope as planned (so you can demonstrate your youths' resourcefulness), and they leave the tarp folded on the ground, and use the rope to climb a tree by the latrine and leave enough lag in it that another patrol comes by and decoratively braids it around the latrine post. At least you have the tarp to crawl under if you are too lazy to set up your tent when it rains on night two ... not that I'm bitter or anything P.S. - Okay, it was venturing, but a PM group will have these unexpected results that require an adult to bite his/her tongue. If you are ready for that, dive in. If not, keep in mind that sometimes the pool isn't any warmer no matter how long you stand at the edge.

Our Council exposure: "At last count 136 units need to be converted from Parents of units by December 31, 2012 or approximately 5,840 youth will be without the Scouting program. " That is a significant voting block. If you can coordinate the CORs and get them to a board meeting, a call to your council president that you wish to push a motion to postpone this action indefinitely might just demonstrate that this is not a group of leaders anyone wants to lose.

Two, You know how this happens. Somebody in MomOf's district asked for a rule, and the event organizers felt obliged to make one. Kent, My suggestion: Have the boys read the requirement. Then ask them if they think what they did meets it. If they say "Of course, don't you speak English?" then sign off. If they say "How is it different than my back yard if there aren't any Boy-Scouts there?", then schedule an opportunity to visit where a troop is setting up camp! Honestly, if I were an SM, I would love to meet the latter group of boys!

TT, it sounds like you have the right metrics. By the numbers, your second-years beat ours! Don't shrug off reporting advancement as well. IMHO each quarter, you should be able to describe your troop as # of scouts: On trail to first class (of those, how many joined that quarter), First class (of those, how many completed FC BOR that quarter), Eagle (of those, how many completed E-BOR that quarter). This is stuff that should get summarized at a committee meeting, then you should ask the committee, "So, from the BOR's was there any feedback from the boys that would give us an idea about how we should be supporting the program?" Right now, we're a little top-heavy. (Majority of boys FC+.) Recruitment is rightly a big concern. But on the flip side, we have boys who are very articulate about what they want out of the program. The boy-led stuff is harder to measure, that would be things like tour plans filled out by your SPL/PL's requiring only your signature. Scouts comfortable calling adults and asking about being a resource (driver, trainer, chaperone, activity/fundraiser, consultant). SPL attending troop committee meetings, etc ...

The AoL, mastered, should get a boy a long way down the road to Tenderfoot. It is proof that the boy did his best. Best for this requirement meaning he recited the Scout Oath and Law while a Webelo. It's very likely the kid managed to do this as a W1, but DL didn't drill it at every meeting. The boy was victim of "once and done" and now has to pay the piper. Don't make the cost exorbitant. 1. Make sure he knows the meaning of tough words like trustworthy, reverent, and on my honor. 2. Give him the scout patch. 3. Tell him you look forward to hearing him say it all from memory so a PL can sign off that requirement.

Raingutter regatta Fishing derby Memorial Day parade Resident camp Fierman's parade Pack picnic That was our pack schedule post B&G, and my boys milked to the fullest. Plus they had April birthdays, so the den was invited, and for magic tricks the boys would be whipping and fusing rope or learning to play British Bulldog.

Warning: the more youth involvement, the more short term your calendar needs to be. A boy will say "I wish we could learn about fly fishing." and for him to feel like his troop is responsive, you need to put him in touch with the folks who could present within a month or so. Telling a kid that his MB was not part of the 5 year plan is a real buzz kill.

Anything to help fend off micromanaging demagogues.

Canoeing is just an example. Same principles apply to any kayaking, rafting, or small craft activity. The more diverse activities where a boy sees the principles applied, the better.

Be authentic as possible.

I'm a little more forgiving then Beav. I don't mind if they don't test on those 9 points in the context of a canoe trip or two. But, I don't want them testing before an adult. Simple reason, older boys forget those points no matter how well you've drilled it into them.* If you've executed 12 trips already, like as not you're going to forget some safety point. But, if you've had to test 4 or 5 crossovers every year, as well a trip afloat, earn canoeing MB, etc ... you've bettered the odds of having those points in your head when you need them! *Aren't you all glad that I didn't point out that thanks to "Reference" not being explicitly in EDGE, the boys wouldn't know that they should look up the the safety points before they plan?

I love those RSO volunteers! Are you going to rotate in a lane or two of pistols for any boys who are also Venturers? If you have binoculars, some of the boys could serve as spotters for each shooter. My boys really enjoyed shooting sport evenings and weekends, not so much that they want to do it all the time. (Pity, because my oldest was a good shot.) But, it was great to get them the skill without my investing to heavily in equipment that would only get minimal use. Now that he's an adult, son #1 is investing in archery. My daughter did not enjoy it so much, but her friends did. Regardless, it's thanks to guys like you that my kids could have great experiences like these!

If you can lay out the steps, I'd greatly appreciate it. I learned that JavaScript doesn't mesh with our Google Site, and I tried to wrap it in a Google Gadget, but it's still not "humming" as smoothly as I would like. I know a little more hacking might come up with a resolution, but that would cut into my time replying to threads.

Cambridge, Did you know that rumor has it when JRR Tolkien visited Tennessee and Kentucky he took a great interest in many of the family names in the hills? Names like Brandybuck and Proudfoot that eventually made their way into his Trilogy. Anyway, I would suggest you nail down the week that you are coming and find out which little town's festivals and county fairs are happening. They are scattered throughout Appalachia, and a few do start as early as June. Most really nice "bed and Breakfast" inns are within a day's drive of major international airports.

Thanks. I'll share that with our boys! My observations: The current merit badge covers the ethics of copyright infringement. Flowcharting campsite set-up is not a requirement for the current Computers or Robotics MB. [insert Kudu's 21's Century Woodbadge Rant Here.] (This message has been edited by qwazse)

but mention the Roman Catholic Church and I'm sure that someone will find fault Ea, That does not negate that a very large number of folks depend on the Helpfulness of Catholic Charities for today's meal. Toastmasters, (at least the one meeting I attended) epitomized Friendliness and Courtesy. Is that what you're trying to get at DS?

1. I have a friend who coordinated backpacking medical supplies into isolated Central American Villages. That would definitely fit in with some of my Venturer's ideals. 2. The HS Latin club does trips to Italy/Switzerland/Greece every couple of years. The usual bus tour stuff. For our Venturers, I'd love to fly out and meet them at the end of the tour and extend their stay by hiking in the Alps for a week. Thanks to college tuition and cost overruns on our last adventure, both of those are out of reach for me (for this year at least).

Our crew's annual plan goes something like: This year we are going to ski a couple of times, camp at least a half-dozen nights, share a couple of activities with our troop, gear up for some wilderness backpacking, participate in our VOA, climb a little, and fit in a service project or two. We'll let you know how things went on Scout Sunday. Thanks in advance for your approval.

I would like to break down what I said earlier a little more specifically, focusing on the orienteering requirement. It takes a lot of time to make sure a student "gets" navigation. Personally, I think it's harder than swim testing. Basically, you need to allow a boy a day in varied terrain allowing him to be in complete control of the map and compass. (This alone is something that many boys don't want to do. Last month I was on a great hike except for listening to the 14-17 year olds arguing about holding the map!). If he chooses the wrong path, you should let him follow it for a mile or so before asking him to tell you where he is and then helping him figure out how to correct course. Needless to say meeting prep is important to give a kid a head start, but no amount of meeting is going to replace time in the field. Multiply that by 8 boys, and you need a good 80 hours (and maybe as many miles) or more to get them proficient in just one requirement. On the other hand, if each boy cracks open his book, stares at his compass for a weekend, studies the quadrangle where he lives and finds his house and those of his friends, studies the map of the area the boys are heading before the leave, asks questions about it the meeting before departure, then more than half of them will show proficiency without the older scouts who are with you having to explain a lot. The ones who studied one concept more will correct the others who didn't quite get it, and by about mile 4, you will see them working together with each boy contributing to the success of the hike. It's a rare patrol where the majority of crossovers approach a challenging concept with that level of intensity. (Heck my crew still counts on me to pick the insertion points into wilderness areas! And, although they are getting better at reading weather charts, they still count on me to print them on our go/no-go decision day.). But, if those are the kind of boys you have, then FC in a year or less for all of them is a distinct possibility.

Two MBs done well may be worth the week. You might also suggest the mile swim

What do yeh suppose it really takes for that average lad who comes in without any prior skills to learn enough to be able to plan and navigate a 5 mile route on his own (mix of on-trail and a bit of open land)? On his own meaning that he personally can do the navigation. Because that's the requirement, eh? Simple answer: Step 1: losing patience with EDGE. Step 2: READING REFERENCE MATERIAL

IMHO, if anyone ever pressed the issue ... 1. I'd encourage them to call national about it. 2. If my request to keep both in the program fell on deaf ears, I'd ask the couple to determine which one of them is getting the most benefit from the program, and encourage the other to become "unofficial", but fully supportive of the crew until both cross that 21 mark. I'm also working on getting the "2nd generation" recruited. I'd love an excuse to keep having this much fun for another few years!

not the GOD of the Bible, but a twisted interpretation of scripture that is plainly erroneous So, promotion of heresy (let's set aside, for a moment, the ability of Joe Scouter to discern such a thing in post-modern society) should disqualify a group from calling itself a scouting program?

Does if fall on the PL and APL to juggle the duty roster and Patrol Meeting schedule to meet these individual plans? In our troop, yes and no. I've known PL's who were very serious about doing this, and very frustrated when a kid who last week said he wanted to complete requirement X is now shrugging off his duties for req X! In that case, I encourage a PL to focus attention on other boys who are interested in progressing. Sometimes we have a bunch of younger boys who are picking up skills faster than we could track. (It's been a while.) When that was the case, we gave all of our FC+ scouts basic ground rules on reviewing and approving requirements, and allowed any of them to sign off requirements. In general, that's why we have PLC's and cracker barrels. So that the older boys can vent to one another about those "tough cases". Then they can decide if and how they want to provide program to accommodate them. So we have a little bit of team teaching going on. I've seen this "impromptu teachers' lounge" manifest itself repeatedly. Not merely about scouting. Troop life provides a venue where boys have time to figure out how to address problems in their band or sports team. Even among my crew: one time the young ladies were talking about how to better help a learning disabled client where a couple of them worked. So, the more you let boys take up these responsibilities, the healthier it is. I wouldn't say abandon your chart, because that's largely immaterial to the whole process. With or without a spreadsheet, adults can either act to support a boy-led structure or undermine it.