ScoutNut

Yep, no approval process needed here either. Den leader lets the CM know where/when their den meetings are. This is so that the CM can coordinate Pack usage of the meeting room at our CO with all of the other parish organizations that use it too. The CM also can let new/prospective den families know where/when the den meets. If there is some kind of usage conflict, the CM, and the DL work it out together.

GSUSA is different than BSA. Not better, but yes, different, and it is really not fair to either program to compare them.

First of all, she can NOT insist that the Cubmaster stay out of her den meetings, and she can NOT restrict how the Pack communicates to it's members. You should have contact info for the entire Pack. Send ALL Pack families the same information. Send it by both snail (make sure return addy states Pack #1234, not mr&mrs so&so), and e-mail. That way you have a better chance of getting it to your families. Send newsletters, calendars, and fliers. If this den leader complains, just tell her so sorry, new change of policy, nothing can be done. Managing the program of the Pack, guiding den leaders, and making sure that the leaders, and the program, positively reflect the objectives of the BSA IS the JOB of the Cubmaster. Fundraisers - Your Pack could institute a policy that families MUST help the Pack go. It can be by participating in fundraising, or by paying Pack dues. But have it REQUIRED to meet a specific amount one way or the other. Announce this at Pack meetings, and send out an announcement flier to every family. If necessary, put together another fundraiser (don't forget to get council approval), so that families will have a chance to make their fundraising goal for the year.

While your local council does have records on the Packs, some councils are better at record keeping than others. Most District Executives at councils are notoriously bad at returning phone calls. Part of the reason for that is that they are not actually in their office all that much. They are usually out in the community working to start new Packs/Troops/Crews/etc, register new Scouts, and raise funds for the council. You might have better luck with emails. You might also try getting friendly with the front desk secretary. They can be worth their weight in popcorn! To find local Packs near your house, enter your address on this page at the BSA National Web site - https://beascout.scouting.org/ The resulting map will give you the Pack number, and the name of the community organization which charters (owns) it. Some will also give you their address, and contact info. Others will direct you to an email (sometimes to the local council) form to request more info. I suggest you contact the Cubmasters at a number of local Packs (you can find the phone number of the charter org in the phone book if necessary), and make an appointment to visit a den meeting at your sons level, and also a Pack meeting if you can. Talk to the families, and the leaders there. There is a Pack out there which is a good fit for your family. It just might take a bit of work finding it! PS - a good Pack should be thrilled to have 2 registered adult volunteers, but keep in mind that there are other positions that might need filling besides that of den leader. Happy Scouting, and Happy Pack Hunting!

Since it was brought up - While the Girl Scout program is different from that of BSA, they do not have carte blanche to do whatever they want with girls of any age. GSUSA utilizes the concept for progression in activities, as does BSA. They simply do it a bit differently. Also, GSUSA, like BSA, has many rules regarding what leaders, and girls, can and cannot do. There are rules on what training is required for what kind of camping. In order to take your girls camping there MUST be at least one camp trained adult who is trained in ALL camping modules up to and including the module for the type of camping you will be doing. There also MUST be at least one adult on the trip who is certified in first-aid and CPR. "-My daughter has been camping with her troop since she was in first grade." For a long while Daisy Girl Scouts (K-1st grade) were NOT able to overnight camp. They were restricted to day trips only. Then they were allowed to go on an overnight, but it was recommended that parents accompany them. Currently, Daisies can go on an "occasional" overnight camping trip, with proper adult to scout ratios. However they are not allowed to do extended, multi day travel trips. Daisy and Brownie (grd 2-3) Girl Scouts are also restricted on what types of outdoor activities they can do (no canoeing, archery, caving, etc). "-When my daughter went camping, they are required to have a 1:5 scout:adult ratio, that's it. No "adult partners."" Adult partners are only required for BSA Tiger Cubs. Cub Scouts is a family oriented program, Girl Scouts, at all levels, is not. GSUSA does have minimum adult to scout ratios that vary depending on the activity, and the age of the girls. For Daisies (the equivalent of Tigers), in order to go on a Troop overnight there needs to be 2, non-related adults, one of which MUST be female, for the first 6 Daisies, plus 1 extra adult for each 4 additional girls. So to take 11 Daisies out you would need 4 adults. Similar to BSA, the older the Scouts, the fewer adults are needed. "-When my daughter goes tent camping, everyone piles into tents based on space constraints only. All the better when they go winter camping." If adult females are sharing sleeping areas with the youth, there MUST always be at LEAST 2, unrelated female adults, per sleeping area, and adults and youth are never allowed to share a bed. Males are NOT allowed to share sleeping, or toilet, facilities, with girls. Some councils will make exceptions for a girl, and her father. "-My daughter has been cooking over the fire since who knows when." Cooking, and fire building, like other GSUSA activities is progressive, and their abilities for their age/grade level should be taken into consideration. For instance GSUSA recommends that Daisies (K-1st grade) do not do "extensive outdoor cooking". They are only allowed to do easy things, like roasting marshmallows. And keep in mind, that while the youngest Tiger Cub Scout can shoot BB's, and arrows, GSUSA does not allow girls under 12 years old to use any type of firearm, and girls must be in 4th grade to do archery. Also, GSUSA wants ALL trip chaperons to be registered. No unregistered adults should be going on trips with the girls, unless it is a dad/daughter council event. So, while GSUSA gives the girls more independence at an earlier age, it still has it's share of rules, and hoops to jump thru.(This message has been edited by Scoutnut)

If you have a podium on your stage with a microphone, that is where the "caller" should be located. Callers are not part of the Color Guard, or Flag Carriers. Cub Scouts often need amplification in order to be heard especially at Pack meetings. Our callers also lead the Opening Prayer, Pledge, and whatever else the den has planned to do for it's opening flag ceremony. At Pack meetings our caller is at the podium, on the US flag's side of the stage. For den meetings, our caller is at the front of the room, to the den's right of the US flag stand.

As Advancement Chair there were times when I was unable to get some of the awards I needed. I would not usually let the CM know before the Pack meeting, unless there was something he could do to facilitate their purchase. However, since I was always one of the first to arrive, I would immediately let the CM, and the relevant den leaders, know of any change in the awards that had been requested for that evening. Get the COR/Charter Organization on your side. Get completely trained. Recruit an Advancement/Award Chair. With the help of your COR, your Unit Commissioner, and the CC, get monthly Pack Leaders Meetings set up, and on the Pack calendar. If the CC refuses to attend, then you, as CM, should run the meeting. Do your job the best that you can, and ignore the snide comments from the CC. Contact lists - Families should be asked at sign-up if they have a problem with their contact information being given to Pack leaders. Note - Every family MUST have some way, that they regularly check, of being contacted. All BSA registered Pack adults should have a contact list for the entire Pack. Den leaders should be in charge of disseminating den contact information to their own den. Event Chairs should receive contact info as needed. Usually Event Chairs will talk to folks in person at den or Pack meetings to garner their assistance on a Event Committee. Or sign up sheets, including space for contact info, for helpers will be placed out at Pack Meetings. Pack-wide communication should go thru the Pack Leaders Meeting (fliers given to den leaders, info blurbs given to newsletter person, etc). Event Chairs should also report progress toward the event at the monthly Pack Leader's Meeting. Good Luck!

Nothing wrong with her meeting at a time/day that works better for her. In this case, it just can not be at the school. Bear Ach #3 might not have been a lot of fun for the boys the way she did it, however, if the boys actually turned in their report for requirements a, b, and e, with completing requirement j in the den meeting, she HAS actually completed the Achievement. Given everything you have posted - Yes, I would replace this leader. If not this year, definitely for Webelos.

Starting Sept 1st, I think the most meetings they could have had is 6. That is 2 requirements per meeting. Even with sending some of the pieces home as homework, that is a LOT to cover. Including making things, and outings, completing all 12 requirements in 5-6 weeks seems rather far fetched. If she is the one signing off in the books, how does she know that the "homework" was actually done? What does she plan on doing for the rest of the year? She better have a good plan that does not include earning another 30 belt loops. You might mention that none of the belt loops earned by the boys as Tiger, Wolf, or Bear Scouts, will count toward Webelos requirements next year. They will have to be re-earned as a Webelos for them to count. It sounds to me like you need to sit her down, have a heart-to-heart talk, and get some straight answers. Like how Scouts could have completed requirements at meetings they were not at. By the way, The brand new Scouts can NOT receive their Bear badge until they have completed, and received, their Bobcat badge. It may end up that you will have to give, at least some, of the boys their Bear badge. Even if you strongly suspect she is short-cutting the program. However, I suggest you start looking for a new den leader ASAP.

Someone in your Pack should have contact info for this family. Were they in your den last year? Who in your Pack keeps copies of the Youth Applications? Do any of your other Cubs know this family, and are they able to give you contact info? Phone book? Call council for the info. There is no way you should have to wait a week to contact them.

1) This could be a council specific rule, for council/district Cub activities. It can also be used as a maximum number for Pack camping in case you have families who view BSA as Baby Sitters of America. In general though, Pack camping is FAMILY camping. That means parent/child. 2) That is just down right silly, and completely wrong. 3) In numerous places, BSA has stated that BALOO is a one time only course. Before starting to organize any BALOO training, get a copy of the most current BALOO syllabus. Read it, and make sure any BALOO course directors, and BALOO staff follow it. Adding useful handouts, and demonstrations, to improve your presentation of a subject is one thing. Spreading Scouting Myths is quite another.

No, you are collecting food, not money. There is a big difference.

The age/grade flexibility is not just to accommodate LDS. It is also there to help with Scouts who are held back, moved ahead, or otherwise out of "regular" sync. As others have said, talk to the parents. First confirm what their actual age, and grade is. Then, if there is really a problem, find out which level the parents feel their boys would fit better, and register them there. However, keep in mind that the boys must be at least 10 years old (with AOL) in order to cross to Boy Scouts with the rest of their den. If going into Bears now could cause a problem down the road with when he is eligible to join Boy Scouts, let the family know up front so that they can figure that into their decision.

Why does your cake auction takes such a long time? Why on earth are Scouts in tears? NOTE - BSA does not allow it's members to raise funds for other organizations. A cake bake advertised as benefiting a specific charity would fall into that area. If your Pack has to many Scout cakes to make auctioning them off individually workable, why not do a silent auction? Number each cake to keep the baker somewhat anonymous. Put out a sheet of paper (with the cake number on it) for each cake, and let folks write down what they are wiling to pay. That way your regular Pack Meeting programing can be going on at the same time. At the end of the evening announce the winner/new owner of each cake by cake number. Then announce the total amount raised. Give everyone who participated a certificate. Have maybe 3 award categories (best in theme, most unusual, biggest money maker, etc). Get some paper chef's hats and print on them the date, event name, and award name. Give these to the winners. Then enjoy eating the cakes.

As Ghermanno stated, there is no real benefit, or reason for a CM to take IOLS. There is both a reason, and a benefit for a Webelos den leader to take it. However, if you want to take the course for your own benefit, go for it. No reason not to. Training is never wasted. It is entirely up to you.

Attend all Roundtables for a few months in advance to get the word out. Have units sign up with a coordinator name/contact info. Have info fliers, with your contact info, available at every Roundtable. Put notices in your Council/District newsletters. Do this as far in advance, and for as many times as you can. Put a notice on your Council/District Web site - early - with a link to your flier as a pdf file. Advertise to the public in advance, and often. Local newspapers, radio, and TV spots. Many have will do free community notices. Coordinate all registrations and assign each unit a separate area to cover. Get volunteers to put together the collection packets for each unit. We do our SFF in May in conjunction with the National Association of Letter Carriers. We have plastic grocery bags, and 5x4 mini fliers, printed with council and NALC logos. The mini fliers have info on the food drive (what, where, why, where to drop off food if it does not get picked up, etc), and are stapled to the bags. Units distribute the bags one weekend, and pick up the food the next Saturday. Letter Carriers also pick up food. All food is dropped off at the local Post Office, where, at the end of the day, it is sent to an area distribution center, and divided between all local food pantries. This works nicely because the NALC and the local USPS, does much of the main organizational work. Scouts help with the foot, and grunt work, with volunteers also working at the collection, and distribution centers.

http://www.scouting.org/scoutsource/HealthandSafety/GSS/gss09.aspx#e Interesting, the online version seems to be #34416, while the offline version is #34416A. They seem to have shortened the paragraph on paintball/laser tag in the #34416A version.

Yes, you can do laser tag with "a square flashlight-type box that couldn't possibly be confused for a "firearm", as long as - per the Guide to Safe Scouting - "participants shoot at targets that are neither living nor human representations", and you get Council approval, which means, again per the Guide to Safe Scouting - "the approval of the Scout Executive or his designee on a tour permit specifically outlining details of the event", and follow the Sweet 16 of BSA Safety, which is ALSO in the Guide to Safe Scouting. The Rules and Regulations are not updated monthly. They, like handbooks and other publications, are reprinted, but not redone unless there are significant changes. Councils DO get updates emailed to their SE from National, there are also intranet sites that council professionals have access to where they can find new information. Just because the information is out there, and available, does not guarantee that people, professional, or volunteer, will actually read it. You didn't. The G2SS has been online for many years, and in print for many more. The ban on laser tag has been in effect for many years now. If you don't read the BSA publications, or stay on top of updates, why would you assume that all of the folks at your council offices do?

Beav, I agree with you to a certain extent. The boy seems to be doing OK in his current Troop. This seems to be mostly an adult issue that is not really affecting the boys so much. The canceling of trips can have an impact on the boys program, however, that too is an adult issue. Trips are usually canceled because the minimum of two adults, and/or transportation needs, can not be met. This Troop needs more adult help. The lack of SM conferences can also be a problem. However, a SM conference does not take a lot of time. It is basically a chat between the SM and the Scout. If the SM had sufficient help, and/or backing with the program from his ASM, he might be better able to do SM conferences. However, Cheerful also mentioned that they never looked at any other Troops, and in fact, never knew that they could. Cheerful, I suggest that you talk to your son before starting anything. Absent any dramatic problems with this particular Troop, this is a decision that should be mostly his. Does HE want to look around, or is HE comfortable where he is? If your son is open to visiting other Troops, then I say to go ahead. You might find one that is a perfect fit for him, and you. Or, you might find that the Troop you are in now is not so very different from the other Troops. However, if your son wants to stay in his current Troop, then I would suggest that you do your best to make sure that this Troop is running as good a program as possible. That means getting involved. Get completely trained. Read thru his Handbook. Volunteer for outings. Sign up as Merit Badge counselors for areas that interest you. Take Merit Badge Counselor training. Volunteer to be ASM's or Committee Members. As I stated, one of the biggest problems with this Troop seems to be its lack of adult help. You have two adults in your family, and could go a ways to correcting that. Good Luck! and Happy Scouting!

My son is a moose. He started reaching moose size early (6th grade with size 14 wide feet). He also has a tendency to move when sleeping. Two man tents were very uncomfortable for him, especially if his tent mate was similarly sized. Troop tents were Coleman with no vestibules so gear was in tent with you, or outside in garbage bags (not very convenient for access to stuff when in tent). Unless you have small boys, or very slightly built guys, the rule of thumb for most tents housing normal sized folks, is to go one person down from what the manufacturer states is the tent capacity. So a two man tent would be for one, and a four man is really good for only three. I think your best bet is to get some 2-man for the smaller Scouts, and some 3, or 4-man for the older/bigger Scouts.

Yes, this looks like a nice program, even if it is not specific to Scouting. This seems to be similar to the Junior Ranger programs at many State, and Federal, Parks. Many museums, will have similar programs also. Some are even specific to a particular Scout award, or age level. When looking for "fun with a purpose" for your Scouts (both boys and girls) do not forget to check out your local area parks, museums, conservatories, and even large businesses like quarries, electric companies, and water development plants.

While your son might have no intention to overtly recruit the Webelos he is working with, his example, and enthusiasm for Scouting will do it for him. And, make no mistake - That is a GOOD thing! Good for the Cub Scouts because if they are interested in, and excited by, Scouting, they have a better chance of joining Boy Scouts and sticking with the program. Because, your son's influence might make them take a closer look at other Troop options they might have in their area, and find a Troop to join that they really fit in, and enjoy being a member of. Good for the new Troop because it might get them some members who might not have considered them as an option. Good for the old Troop because it might get them off of their back sides, and out of the rut, where they simply expect all of the Webelos in that Pack to automatically join their Troop, with little or no work toward that end from them. Good for the Pack because they have a conscientious, hard working, young man helping, and encouraging their Cub Scouts, and being a great example of what they have to look forward to in Boy Scouting as he does it. Happy Scouting!

Any feedback, and/or discussion with this den leader MUST come from his assistant den leader and the Cubmaster. My suggestion is that the two of them sit down with this den leader for a heart to heart talk as soon as possible. The only other folks who might consider being there are the CC, and the COR. As a den leader yourself, you have no say in what happens in another den. It is not your job. Your job is to give YOUR Scouts in YOUR den the best possible program you can.

Most companies that will give a product to be used for an auction, or raffle, require a written request on letterhead of the organization, and/or, the organization's Federal Tax ID number. These things are used by the company to get deductions when filing their taxes. Unless your BSA unit is it's own charitable organization (501-c-3), donations to it are NOT tax deductible, and might cause the company tax problems if they use them as such. If your CO is a 501©(3), you can use letterhead that puts your CO's name predominately on top (St Pine Tree Church's Cub Scout Pack), along with their address and Federal Tax ID #, and you should have no problem.

The Guide to Safe Scouting - Online version (which is identical to the current printed version) - http://www.scouting.org/sitecore/content/Home/HealthandSafety/GSS/toc.aspx BSA National on it's insurance - http://www.scouting.org/sitecore/content/Home/HealthandSafety/Alerts/Insurance.aspx The 2009 version of BSA's Cub Scout Outdoor Program Guidelines - http://www.scouting.org/filestore/pdf/510-631.pdf I think that BSA does a good job of making it perfectly clear that ONLY Webelos dens are allowed to camp alone as a den. I think they also do a good job of making it perfectly clear that BSA insurance covers ONLY official Scouting activities, and that Tiger, Wolf, and Bear dens, camping as a den, is NOT an official Scouting activity, and will NOT be covered by BSA liability insurance. People can, and will, spin, and manipulate, this any way they want, to achieve the results they want. There is not a darn thing we can do that will change that, and I don't see any point in trying past the "show me in writing" part. Folks will do what they want to do regardless.