Sentinel947

Unless I'm missing something. Your Troop should have record of his completion. The council should too, if your advancement coordinator turned them in already. You are saying your son has his applicants record of the blue card?

Welcome!

Krampus, you're right, I miss typed.

http://scoutmastercg.com/troubleshooting-the-patrol-method/ I've used this with success.

Send a few upstart 12-14 year olds to NYLT. You've got to play the long game. I've been in a similar situation (but as an ASM, which increases the difficulty.) Sending those Scouts to the training, where they will be taught by older Scouts, gives them a feel for how the program should be. Assuming the NYLT staff does it's job, they'll come back with a lot of energy and enthusiasm. I gave up trying to win over the 16-17 year old's when we started the transition a few years back. They are generally going to be comfortable with how things are and won't want to change. Cultural changes are very difficult, even where you are in the position of SM and have the CC on board. Each Troops culture is different, so it's hard to give you a step by step list. For my Troop I realized the need when we couldn't retain older Scouts. The leadership and ownership the Patrol method gives is the key to their retention. We had always sent Scouts to NYLT, our adults just weren't letting them do anything with it. Coaching them is key, but let the SPL's and PL's develop a vision and pitch that to the other Scouts. Like the stages of team development, don't get discouraged when stuff goes sideways. Some weeks I leave the meetings energized and jazzed up, others like last night, I wonder if we're ever going to get it. I hope my ramblings have something useful contained within.

I completely agree with Stosh.

I'm sorry you feel that way. Especially if my comments directed at you have caused you to make this decision. I've learned a good deal from you BD. Good luck with your scouting and personal endeavors going forward. Per your request, I will close out your account. Sentinel947

Better. That's the very valuable perspective you bring to the table BD. Both of you have hit the nail on the head. You're from different perspectives, different situations that require different approaches. For BD's troop, a philmont trek is out of the question. They have to get more creative for High Adventure. There is nothing wrong with that, in fact, I'd argue it meets the spirit of High Adventure more than the BSA bases do.. However, Hedge's Troop is probably (Correct me if I'm wrong) suburban, middle class or upper class Troop. I'm not talking the 1% upper class, but middle-upper class. These Scouts have access to more opportunities than their working class, rural or urban peers. The issues behind that disparity will not be solved on this forum. Hedgehog should be free to share his perspective and what works for him and his unit, so those in a similar situation can learn from it. Basementdweller's situation teaches us how to do more with less. Less money, less volunteer help. Feedback is a gift, it truly is, but a Scout is also courteous and kind. Making the worse assumptions about another member here is neither. Take that for what it is. If I have put words in anybody's mouth, I apologize. Welcome back Basementdweller. I look forward to hearing what you and your unit has been up to the last couple of months. Sentinel947

Basement dweller. Harass other members and I'll send you back to the cellar. I appreciate the perspective you bring here, but I'm not going to let you insult people on this forum. Consider that your warning.

Just read it like the newspaper and strip it of any context that might help make sense of it.

http://www.backpacker.com/skills/how-the-girl-scouts-failed-me/ Interesting article..

Welcome! Glad to have your insights and thoughts on Scouting!

Nobody has brought it up so far.

Reach out to potential Catholic COs. most church activities besides retreats, weddings and funerals take place on Sundays... Almost every parish I've been a member in had/has a Boy Scout troop.

c6-438-15. Finished weekend one. I'm enjoying the company of people who love Scouting as much as I do. While I am an Eagle and NYLT trained, a lot of the course material isn't new, but refreshing it is allowing me to re sharpen the blade so to speak. If anything Woodbadge has challenged me to reevaluate my troops progress over the last few years, and what I should be looking at and doing going forward. "I used to be a Buffalo..."

How would the Pope know? He's the Vicar of Jesus Christ, that's how he'd know.

God help any parent that wants to talk with me about Scouting for an hour. I'm in college, I have the spare time, and I love to talk Scouting...

He coaches year round, for teams that practice 5-6 hours a week, plus games, plus out of state tournaments, and Scouting is too much work? I'd say he's simply not interested. Desertrat: I was not alive in 72, but I think the BSA saw declining membership and freaked out, not understanding the demographic shift behind declining membership.

I'd lose some fantastic friends and role models if women were not allowed in Scouting. Furthermore, the BSA would have to change how they hire employees for summer camps. Since they must follow discrimination laws, but require summer camp staff to BSA members, removing women would cause some unintended issues.

Now there's an idea!!! Push teaching IOLs skills to new parents off to the JASM.. Interesting idea... I doubt I could get the District Training boss to bite. Even if I verified afterwards... Too bad. @@JoeBob I get it. For me, my parents had limited outdoor experience. Being a Scout gave me the skills and confidence to stay on as a Troop leader, but also to continue hiking and backpacking away from the Troop. I try to pass on my love of that activity to my friends, but it's often a tough sell. (I live in an urban area.)

Good luck with your efforts. I look forward to hearing your problems and your insights into others people's situations. Sentinel947

I think all of our experiences are different and we should be careful to not assume all conditions are like our local conditions. Maybe where you live that's the case, where the other poster lives in an LA Suburb if I remember correctly. Probably not a whole lot of experienced woodsmen living in LA. I've met more hunters and outdoorsmen (and women!) through my membership in the BSA then I've met at any place I've studied or worked.

Me, because so many of my Troops parents are along for the ride.

Maybe they don't see it as an issue... What is surprising is the lack of cooperation between our two WOSM scouting organizations here in the USA.

Troop has been to all four BSA high adventure bases. But High Adventure doesn't need to be something like a BSA adventure base. Yellowstone, Grand Tetons, Grand Canyon for people out West. Out East Shenandoah or Smokey Mountains are both great choices for Backpacking. Sentinel947