DuctTape

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!

I am not sure I understand the parent perspective of "paying good money with nothing to show for it". Here is why I am confused. Let's say parents and Scouts have 2 options: Option A is Boy Scout Summer Camp Option B is a non-scout summer camp. If Scout Camp ceases to be a merit badge factory the claim is they don't want to spend good money and not get advancement so instead they will go to a non scout camp. Why choose a non-scout camp where there is nothing to show for it?

Recruitment methods can be Cheap, Easy and Effective, but you only get to pick two.

A scout is trustworthy. Any council that allows (let alone promotes) one of their camps to regularly and systematically bypass the guide to advancement with willful ignoring of the merit badge guidelines should have their leadership removed.

in my experience "join nights" only recruit those who were most likely interested to begin with. In other words, even without the join night, they would have joined scouting. One doesn't fish successfully by tossing a line and hoping the fish come to it, instead they toss the line where the fish are. Instead of join nights (or in addition to) go to an event where the kids and parents already are and recruit them. Summer festivals, or events run by the chartering org are two suggestions. I apologize if you already know and do these things, it wasn't apparent from your initial query, and others new to scout recruitment might benefit.

It has been mentioned several times, however the body of research into that claim is mixed. For every study in support, there is one that refutes. The same is true for research suggesting coed is better, that research is mixed. I believe the reason for the inconclusive research is that humans differ greatly in so many ways that any attempt to find a single variable which explains the differences is futile.

@@NJCubScouter We are about 5 hrs away. I know the camp has decreased the number of weeks the camp is operational recently.

<p>My troop is not part of that council but we go to Sabattis because they do patrol cooking. Our council camp uses a dining hall.</p>

I would use the grocery store gift card to buy snacks and drinks for my volunteers.

Our camping as a webelos was with the troops we visited in the spring. we didn't join a troop until the following fall. None of this crossover in april or earlier.

My point was providing quality, not about cost. Fulfilling the promise of adventure doesn't cost much. I would argue it might even cost less.

Besides waiting until 3rd grade for Cubs, I would also eliminate the arrow of light exemption and have Boy Scouts start at 12 years old. I am not concerned about numbers dropping off. I have said it before, I would rather we have half the number of scouts and a quality program with the boys interested, leading, and active in real scouting adventures then the current focus on numbers and advancement. Quality vs Quantity. Unfortunately most business people seem to focus on the McDonalds strategy instead of Ruth's Chris.