ScoutDad2

My wife started a Crew 14 mo. ago when her Girl Scouts wanted more. She is charted to a great organization that is very supportive. She started with six girls and two boys, three adults. She is now at 18 girls, 15 boys, and 13 adults. We are all having a blast! The young adults are great, take the planning and their leadership seriously. They are having at least one activity a month (some months two or three). They have their year planned out until February 2008. There are some dual-registered young men, and in most cases this program has re-energized them on Scouting. One in particular wasn't going to go to Eagle and was thinking of dropping out altogether. He is now waiting for his Eagle BoR. Parents are VERY supportive, and most either come along on the trips, or at least help out in some way. Venturing is not very active in our Council, and this group is one of the success stories. It supplements Boy Scouting for those in both programs, does not steal them away if it is done right. All in all, done right, it is a great program. As long as the adults let the young men and women run their program. Let them decide the activities, and they'll plan it.

I'd have to agree with Lisabob. I've had the certification for several years, when I first took it it was for Cub camp. I was told "we're just trying to get them to hit the target and be safe". The training is applicable at/for all levels of the BSA programs. My last re-up was during summer camp and I ran a session during open archery while the instructor worked next to me with MB attendees. I've had small groups attend sessions at a local club where I got into more specifics and different types of bows, arrows, equipment, and safety as part of their merit badge. Now as an Archery MB Counselor, you would need to have a much more in depth understanding of Archery to really give the youth the right experience.

We have four campers in our house, each of us got something scout/outdoor related. Wife: some patches I picked up in the past few outings/events. LED headlight, propane oven. Daughter: A few GS related items, wool socks, bag liner. A tent (probably the most moving gift for mom and I, her brother gave her the tent he got as his prize from Trails End!). Son: cold weather under-gear, led flashilight, lexan eating set, some Jambo patches. Me: Balaclava, really cool folding/lightweight plate and bowl, titanium spoon and fork, some Jambo patches. For the famliy: another GPS unit, another dutch oven.

We just did indoor rock climbing this weekend. The scouts had a great time! My advice, be sure to read and understand the waiver. My troop has done this for the past few years and nobody paid attention to the fine print (this was my first time with the troop). Definitely read through the G2SS on climbing. We have two adults that went through Climb on Safely at summer camp. We had the adults do the belaying, the kids climbed, when time permitted, some of the adults climbed. Be sure you have a tour permit. While we might not all always agree with the rules/policies BSA sets forth, they are there for a reason. You can see Climb on Safely here: http://www.scouting.org/boyscouts/resources/20-099/index.html About some of the other comments in this thread, you should check the age/group guidelines here: http://www.scouting.org/boyscouts/resources/18-260/chart.html which outlines the activities permitted. The rules/policies aren't there to prevent fun, they are there to make sure the fun the scouts are having is safe! Nothing is more of a buzz-kill than someone getting injured, and that is all anyone will remember of the outing. As it has been explained to me many times in my training if you don't follow the policies BSA will find it hard to stand behind you. I like my house, my car, and my lifestyle too much (might be a bit extreme, but let a kid get hurt on your outing and you'll find out fast who your friends are). I've been told many times over the years when I re-cert for Archery under BSA, we are not allowed to use targets that resemble living creatures or that have eyes. I can not find this in any BSA publication but everyone I ask has heard of it. Over the past four years I have had four different instructors of varying scouting experience tell me this. I 'choose' in this case to take the high road and stick to standard ring field targets.

I got in at the ground floor, Tiger Cubs. Survived the turmoil of four Cubmasters, really joined based on the first Cubmaster. Program was great, over the years it had a few holes and bumps. When my son was ready to crossover, we looked at six different troops. Found one that felt right, and seemed right. Fast forward two years.. The current Scoutmaster is an egotistical arrogant person that doesn't go on any of the outings, shows up out of uniform, reprimands scouts that are not in uniform (unless they are in his Crew), forces scouts to join his Crew if they want Eagle! Those that have decided not to go through Crew, have been raked over the coals to get there. He has told me its MY troop, they are MY Eagles, and BSA has it all wrong only I do it right. Wheres the value here? (great reason for there to be term limits) All of the other adult leaders see there is a problem (was actually a topic of discussion at summer camp four nights in a row after the scouts were in bed). I have offered to step in as SM if no one else will so the program can get back to being about the youth. No one from COR down, is willing to step up and address the problem, but they all like to talk about the problems. I brought up a YPT policy, and was told to mind my own business, this is the way we have always done it (wasn't a serious issue). Its sad cause I have met some really great people and have gotten to work with and know some fantastic kids. And, my son and I have really enjoyed the adventure weve had so far together seeing as neither of us was much of an outdoorsy type (plus Ive had a reason to gather a nice collection of camp gadgets and equipment). So, I either grin and bear it, find another troop, start a new troop (have some that have approached me), or just abandon the ship USS BSA. Its probably the fact that in most youth groups, the kids are great and the adults are in it for all of the wrong reasons!