DuctTape

If you do go this route, I would recommend only partial scholarships (generally). This is so the attendee/recipient has some "skin in the game". I wrote generally, to allow *you* to make exceptions. Another thought is to have it be a reimbursement scholarship after "completion".

I don't think it was meant to be almost the polar opposite though. At one time the dens operated like patrols with the den leader as the patrol leader. There were no "parent sign-offs" on requirements. Activities were done as a den, and awards, arrowheads, etc... were earned as a cub scout not done at home with mommy or daddy. Pack activities were limited to only a few a year, pinewood derby, and blue&gold were the only ones I even recollect as a kid except for the pack campouts which were really den campouts with dozens of other dens around. I think the idea behind cubs was worthy as a growth step for boys to become Boy Scouts, but along the way it has morphed into something so different that in many cases is an obstacle to becoming a boy scout.

You have recieved very good advice thus far. I only wanted to comment as to some of the rationale. The age/grade joining requirements for Boy Scouts are less for those those who have earned arrow of light. The assumption is that by earning that award, they have demonstrated their readiness at a younger age. Thus if they have not earned the award, they need to wait to join until they are "age-grade ready". Of course the assumption that those who earned AoL are ready is not always true either.

I disagree with the conclusion. I have seen more than my fair share of leaders with scouting experience, some even eagle who do not provide a quality program. They are mostly adult led. I have seen just as many leaders with zero scout experience learn quickly what a quality program is supposed to be and then help deliver it. Thus I do not agree that just having scouting experience yields a quality program. Green bar bill, james west, daniel beard, and edward cave were not boy scouts in their youth.

As a current school board trustee, the idea that the taxpayer has no say is also incorrect. As an elected trustee, their voice is carried through mine. Second, all budgets are voted upon by the community... the only budget anyone gets to vote on, and thirdly the community gets a direct voice by participating in the community forums, and committees which put the budget together. When it comes to school taxes and budget, the taxpayer has a greater voice than they do compared to just about every other governmental agency.

I have no issue with a facemask or earplugs, etc... However if one needs a facemask for the swim test, then it follows that the mask must be worn all the time whenever "pass the swim test" is a requisite.

The BSA used to have filmstrips as part of its training materials. I wonder if any of those are still available to be used as a source to create a skit or presentation.

Another piece to the polling question is potential scouts. To make my point at the patrol level, if the PL only asks his members on the campout about said campout that only gives him the opinion of those who went. If he ignores the opinion of those who did not attend, he might not have the best information for what to do differently (if anything) the next time. While I agree with some others who lament for the old days, what changed was the program at the unit level, and for the most part it was by adults who grew up as scouts in the 50s and 60s, many of them moved away from the patrol method. It had little to do with membership changes, it was a move towards adult led, advancement oriented scouting. The membership issues which arose were because adults' influences, not the scouts. I had patrol mates who were gay way back when, none of us cared. We focused on camping and having fun. We also did not care what religion they followed, if any. The practical religion of scouts was evidenced by us following the oath and law, doing a good turn daily, being prepared to do the right thing all of the time regardless of the consequences. Adults need to focus on program, all the other stuff is a distraction.

Over time the adults work their way farther and farther away from the entire process (planning and execution) to a place where the boy leaders are doing it all. Like teaching a young child to ride a bike. Start by holding on to the seat and walking with them, every once in a while remove your hand to see if they have it. Eventually you are walking next to them without touching the seat at all, then you stop walking beside them and they are now ready to ride on their own. While planning and implementing an outing is more complex, the basic idea remains the same. Incrementally let go as they demonstrate competence at each level.

I do not understand your reply to my point that there are very many women who actively engage in outdoor activities such as hiking, camping and backpacking.

In my local hiking club, there are just as many(if not more) 30-50 year old women as there are men. On my non-scouting hackpacking trips, I usually have more women than men join me. The trip coordinator for another backpacking club I belong to is a woman. I get just as many groans and excuses from dads as I do moms. The men have no monopoly on being lazy and out of shape.

The short answer is you don't. Set up the committee, and move forward.

Brian, these thoughts by Baden Powell might be helpful: http://www.inquiry.net/ideals/b-p/religion.htm

Even though "a tube" is listed in the unauthorized, the key component is being "carried aloft". Meanin tubing is safe as long as it is done at a speed and in conditions in which the tube and rider do not get airborne. In other words, be safe while tubing.

Should be, but the new handbooks are woefully limited. A Scout Handbook from the 1950s would actually provide some substance for a scout. Like REAL examples, not just abstract ideas. Even better,I would suggest a First Edition Fieldbook and use that.

One of my favorites as well because all too often "be prepared" is interpreted as simply "having gear" instead of a mindset regarding action.

I would not ask that type of question as it does not provide any information about the program. And more importantly as Brian points out what response is "acceptable, or even informative. A real question about the program would be, "What aspect, or experience in your scouting journey was the most influential to your personal growth and why?"

Start with a single activity. Like a joint campout. Choose a date and location and the troops all arrive/camp/leave separately. Think of it as a mini-camporee.

I see all experiences as opportunities for the boys. I believe that is our mission. Since their is no safety issue to resolve, this is an issue for the boys in the (now disbanded) patrol to figure out. If they would like guidance, or a sounding board the Scouters can provide that. As fas as a policy moving forward, I would not recommend making policy just to avoid potential conflicts as it really takes away an opportunity for the scouts to learn and grow. This is all part of the game of scouting, let them play the game without unnecessary interference.

Often kids will use the phrase "yelled at" for a wide range of actions. Few involve actually "yelling" or even a raised voice. Of course, sometimes real yelling does occur. Not having been witness to the OPs incident I do not know if actual yelling occurred, or the group was chastised, or... But my experience tells me to ask the kids more clarifying questions to discern what he meant by "yelled at". More often than not, there was no yelling, not even a raised voice. Usually a stern statement of expectations.

That assumption is also part of the issue. Because the program has been allowed to be run incorrectly, the quality diminishes. The real value of Scouting is lost and we end up trying to compete with all the other youth activities and camps. If the BSA would focus on Quality instead of quantity then the scouts would benefit and the known quality becomes its own marketing tool. Major advertising campaigns are done for a variety of reasons, one is when something is in its fledling stages and is unknown, another is when the quality is lacking so the marketers use advertising as a way to "anchor" the product/service in the minds of consumers for the last minute/uninformed consumers. When a product/service is well known by name and its quality it is chosen by the consumers over the inferior. Of course this over-simplifies marketing as a whole but I dobelieve we all desire to produce a high quality program. Some (not here) either don't want to, or do not know how, or just think they are. But in the end, the inferirior run programs tarnish the whole brand. The summer camp merit badge factories are exhibit A.

That is a good one too. I modified an oft stated maxim in the backpacking community. Sleeping bags can be warm, cheap and light but you can only choose two.

Thank you for the insight. So if mb factories were curtailed (to be in line with the GTA) and a Scout camp provided other trophies/ribbons/patches then the issue could be resolved?

The awesome scouting adventures in the old books were NOT high adventure or grandiose trips. They were scouts as a patrol doing fun scouting things. Most were patrol hikes, or weekend camping trips.

Agreed. And the BSA used to do this 100 years ago, albeit a different medium. There were scores of books and comics portraying awesome scouting adventures for the boys to read. Most were not even published by the BSA, but by others (I assume BSA had no problem with it since it was free marketing.) I have a couple of these old books from the teens and twenties. What you describe is the 21st century version. Doesn't need to be an Adult (like Grylls) it can (should??) be actual Scouts!