Eagle94-A1

Anyone else note the drop in Venturing? 59.7% drop in Venturing and Sea Scouts since 2016. 74.9% drop since 2012.

I too hope @Cburkhardt is correct, but to quote many characters in my favorite movie franchise, "I have a bad feeling about this." I'm a former pro, and know that units can still be listed as "active" up to 2 months afters the expiration of recharter, unless things have changed since I was a DE. That is because there are sometimes paperwork issues with the recharters, and other times the staff get overwhelmed with the process. I vividly remember the Scout office being "closed" for Christmas, yet all hands were in the office working on recharters. Everyone able to process recharters was on a computer doing so, and the rest of us was doing whatever it took to support them. We were lucky, we were able to get every charter either processed, or fully prepared and paperwork issues resolved on Dec. 23rd, otherwise we would have been in on the 24th working. And even with all the work prepared and ready for processing, it still took about 14-21 days after December 31st to enter everything into the system. And I know of a few cases where it has taken longer. So I believe the April Stats will be giving us a more accurate view since some councils use a January 31st recharter date instead of a December 31st date.

It looks like 3 organizations according to https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scouting_and_Guiding_in_India

Custom orders require 2 to be made.

Why is the committee involved in what type of tents to buy? Back in the day, our QM was responsible for gear selection. He was given a budget and did all the research. Sadly the committee member didn't follow his advice, and bought different tents that were on sale. The bulk of those tents were destroyed on the first camp out, the rest of them on the second. The Scouts know their needs better than adults.

@SteveMM This look VERY similar to BSA pants. Also check out Walmart. I once saw pants that were 95% identical to the uniform canvas pants, and it was approx $20. https://www.amazon.com/Outdoor-Convertible-Lightweight-Fishing-Trousers/dp/B07M5N1VGX/ref=sr_1_41_sspa?crid=278PX1XRQZ01Y&keywords=green+outdoor+pants+mens&qid=1575567166&s=outdoor-recreation&sprefix=green+outdoor+pants%2Cfashion%2C193&sr=1-41-spons&psc=1&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUE4M1U1NUgwVDFFMTEmZW5jcnlwdGVkSWQ9QTA0MzYyODMzMVlPWElWQkhEM0wwJmVuY3J5cHRlZEFkSWQ9QTA1MTEyNTAyVDBHWldNVDdOVkw1JndpZGdldE5hbWU9c3BfbXRmJmFjdGlvbj1jbGlja1JlZGlyZWN0JmRvTm90TG9nQ2xpY2s9dHJ1ZQ==

Are there any thrift stores in your area? Does your son's troop have a uniform closets that sell uniforms? Is eBay or Craigslist an option? One cool thing about the older Oscar De La Renta pants with elastic, the size was with the elastic fully expanded. You could move up a size, and in some cases 2 sizes, and hem the pants so that you can let out the legs as they grow. Recommended that when i work in Supply, and did that with my sons' pants. I know way back in the day, I went to a army surplus store and used pants i got there.

@ianwilkins, I thought it was because he was a sneaky son of a gun of an intelligence officer who caused panic German Intel folks during WWI. Abwer were seriously concerned about him, evan at his age.

Also if BP was an avowed fascist, A) why would he petition to get the German Scout associations out from under the Hitler Youth, and B ) why was he on the Nazi's most wanted list if OPERATION SEA LION would have occurred and successful?

Yes it's complex, and many faceted. And I admit, you need experienced volunteers to help units with program. But what happens when you have volunteers with 20, 30, 40, 50, and 60+ years of Scouter experience who raise concerns and questions, and are ignored, browbeaten, or worse, expelled from the movement? I've seen all three happen, including the expulsion of a longtime volunteer who discovered some financial irregularities. When volunteers do not feel appreciated, they leave. When volunteers are overruled on things, they leave. When volunteers feel like they have been lied to, they leave. Mark Stinnet is the best public example of this. Over 40 years as a volunteer, served on the National Philmont Oversight Committee, and not only was he informed of decisions AFTER THE FACT on something HE HAD OVERSIGHT OF, he was then ignored and told he does not know what he is talking about when concerns were raised . A lot of long time Scouters in my area feel that they have been ignored and lied to, and they have walked with their feet. And when experienced folks leave, there is a very large place that is a void. Many excellent organizers and trainers have left altogether, while some are now focusing solely on their units. People who loved and supported the BSA for years, and some cases decades, no longer want anything to do with the BSA because of the professionals at National. And that hurts everyone.

So you are saying these are not issues? How do expect new adults, especially ones with NO (emphasis) Boy Scout/Scouts BSA experience to provide a productive program for the youth. Training should be the answer, but it is a joke as others have pointed out. I have seen "trained" adults nearly destroy troops. Remember this is a brand new troop, only in existence since February 2019. It is one of the hundreds that have arisen this past year. The only experienced Scouter is the SM, everyone else is new to Scouts BSA. But every adult is "trained." Apparently there was was some "discussion" among the the "trained" ASMs scheduled to go camping and the "trained and experienced" SM who worked with the youth, and got them prepared to go. The "trained" ASMs had no experience cold weather camping. The "trained" ASMs had been camping since March, including summer camp. Plus their time with Cub Scout family camping. Plus SM had been working with his Scouts, and his ASMs, on the matter. The Scouts were indeed ready, it was the "trained" adults who were not. Why "back to basics" training, training that is no longer done, is so vital for having a productive program. Especially with all the new troops coming into existence. ITOLS is suppose to "" Futher I am sorry, but something is wrong with the training program if "trained" adults do not want to go camping, except for health, safety, and emergency reasons. And don't try and blame their trainers, I know them well. I helped trained them, and used one of them as staff for my ITOLS course. The other took over my job as Training Chair. Yes, a Scouter with drive and vision is important. But Scouters having the Knowledge, Skills, Abilities that come from both TRAINING and EXPERIENCE are vital to the success of a program. When a bunch of "trained" but inexperienced ASMs argue with the trained and experienced SM, and force his hand to cancel a trip by pulling out at the last minute, there is a problem. BSA's current training syllabi are no effective and need to be redone. But I know that won't happen unless changes at National occur. I, and other former pros, know BSA's corporate culture regarding volunteers: recruit ones that agree with you 100% and use them until they burn out or they start disagreeing with you and need to be removed. I was encouraged to use that approach as DE. I saw it in several districts and councils I was involved in. I have friends who have been involved on the regional and national levels that this has happened to them. Until someone at National realizes academic theories are not working, and BSA needs to get 'Back to Basics" and folks on the committee are all on board, change won't happen. So I do not blame the volunteers, but the professionals.

That's because most of the units have Scouters who have had experience as youth and know how the program is to run, or came into established units, and were mentored by the experienced Scouters, and then took over as the experienced folks stepped down. Problem is we are now getting a lot of adults with little to no experience as youth, forming new units. We had a new troop locally whose new adults complained so much about camping in the cold, that the experienced SM was forced to cancel a trip. And these are "trained" new adults I might add.

Respectfully disagree regarding volunteers failing. IT IS BECAUSE THE PROFESSIONALS ARE FAILING. (everything is emphasis, not shouting). Yes, volunteers run the units and some units have issues. But who is responsible for developing the training materials to create the program? The Professionals. And when you have professionals with little to no experience in the movement, either as a youth or volunteeer, but instead has a rich academic career and are pushing their theories into training, there will be problems. None of the current training syllabi compares to the previous versions. And even the previous versions left out so much information compared to earlier versions. And Volunteers are being ignored, and are getting fed up. Don't believe me? let's look at some recent history. When National does surveys and polls, they either A) ignore the published results of the poll and do what they want anyway (InstaPalms); not count a segment of the membership (LDS Church members in the Western region were not counted in one poll), using leading questions to get desired results ( the girls in Scouting poll), or not even publish the results of the poll (BSA to this day has not published the MEMBER (emphasis) results of the girls in Scouting poll; they only use the public poll that leaves out the BSA's involvement). And don't forget about the last minute registration fee increases. These have happened twice now. The first time was right in the middle of Fall Round UP season when they announced it, after many units had created budgets, recruiting flyers, etc. A lot of folks were ticked off and you would think the Pros at National would have listened. NO, they did it again, and they did it AFTER Round Up season started, and 3 days before it went into effect for recharter! (Again emphasis) Don't know how other areas recruiting went, but ours was horrible, worse it has been ever. And it is apparently the Pros at National are ignoring their own, hand picked national level volunteers. We now know that long time, national level volunteers are being ignored and uninformed on matters that they are suppose to be responsible for. Look at Mark Stinnett, 1975-1978: Camp Director and Ranger (Philmont) 2009: first recipient Distinguished Service Award, Philmont Staff Association 2011: This year, Silver Sage Awards were presented to David Caffey, Edward Pease and Mark Stinnett. Mark Stinnett worked at Philmont four years in the 1970s and has served as a former PSA President and the longest-tenured editor of High Country. He has also served on the Philmont Ranch Committee, the Program and Risk Management Task Force and the Health Lodge Task Force. Stinnett has also chaired the BSA Outdoor Programs Committee, the Fieldbook Task Force and the Biannual National Outdoor Conference. Civic Involvement (from lawfirm profile ) Boy Scouts of America – National Council Chairman, National Outdoor Programs Support Committee Chairman, Fieldbook Task Force Chairman, National Outdoor Conference Chairman, Camping & Properties Implementation Task Force, National Membership Standards Study Initiative Member, National Camp Accreditation Committee Member, Outdoor Adventures Committee Member, Philmont Ranch Committee Boy Scouts of America – Philmont Scout Ranch Chairman, Program Task Force, Philmont Ranch Committee Chairman, Strategic Planning Task Force Member, Philmont Health Lodge Task Force Instructor, Risk Management Training for Camp Directors Boy Scouts of America – Pikes Peak Council Member, Troop 78 Committee Challenger Learning Center of Colorado Former Advisor, Aerospace Explorer Post 1986 National Eagle Scout Association Outdoor Organization Memberships: American Camp Association American Hiking Society Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics Philmont Staff Association President, 1994-1997 National Director, 1990-1993 Editor, High Country Magazine, 1998-2008 Chairman, Presidents Committee, 2005-present Contributing Editor, High Country Magazine, 2009-present Here is a guy who has dedicated over 40 years to the Movement, and the pros at national won't even keep him informed of what they are doing to the property he is responsible for overseeing? I'm sorry but the volunteers are NOT to be blamed. I'm a former pro, and served on district and council committees in several councils. I know what the Pros want, 'Yes Men," and when you start thinking for yourself and questioning why things are done, you are removed. As a DE, I was "advised" to remove over 1/2 my district committee because they were questioning things at the council level. Seen long time volunteers removed from positions, and I have not been on a council committee for several years because I questioned things. Volunteers are NOT the reason for BSA failing, the professionals are

Both my Life and Star Scout hated having to do cyberchip for Star. Youngest doesn't realize he needs to do it again for Star yet. All 3 hated it.

Can I verify it for him? I looked her up as well, and I would considered myself a pretty good researcher. As Evie O'Connell said, "I am a librarian. "

In the UK, Scout bands were a big deal. Usually district or county wide, and they would only perform on special occasions. Not like US marching bands.

It was a complete flop. Can't believe someone is going to try it again.

I too would rather 10 serious Arrowman, than 100 going through the motions. I remember upsetting a SM when I stated that those who are not interested in the OA could leave their names off the ballots, and several of his Scouts volunteered NOT to be on the ballot. This is the Same SM who had a bunch of Arrowman in the troop, but none active I knew this would happen when they changed the election process in the 1990s. I just didn't know how long it would take. Combined with some other decisions by national OA, specifically the new new AOL and Cross Over Policies, I do not see anything inspiring Scouts to be interested. And of course, the poor Call Out Ceremony I attended really upset people.

I think there is a ton of pressure on lodges and chapters to up membership and Brotherhood conversion rates, especially since it now takes only 6 months to earn. From reports elsewhere, OA is in a downward spiral nationally. P.S. I think pressuring candidates and Ordeal members will backfire.

While to a Webelos it may be "backpacking," I do not think it is. I remember my old council having a mega event where people had a choice of either carrying their gear 1 mile or more from the parking lot to their campsite, or using the "4th Marine Division Delivery Service" to drop off their gear at some point at their campsite. We had a number of families carry things in. So I have seen Cubs carrying their own gear a mile or more to a campsite. I know when my youngest was a Webelos, he was ticked off that his older 2 brothers were going to go backpacking on the AT, and he could not go. To prove his point that he was capable of backpacking with his brothers, on a pack camp out that included hiking, he wore his pack and carried everything but his hammock and tarp. He did about 6-7 miles that day. And the only reason he didn't carry the hammock and tarp was good trees to hang in were few and far between. I would make sure that the campground is approved by your council for Cub Scouts, if they even have a list. I know my council does not have one, and packs in my district use the OA's WHERE TO GO CAMPING BOOK as their guide on whether the campground is approved or not. Sadly I have met a few council level Scouters who have stated, "Cubs don't need to camp."

I. HATE. ONLINE. TRAINING. Not only for the lack of contact with others, especially experienced Scouters who have "been there, done that," but also because the Powers That Be don't seem the grasp that technological disparities across the country. Not everyone has high speed internet. One person took over 4 hours to do just the YPT2.0 training because he had to use dial up; there are no high speed providers in the area that will service him. We had a group so fed up with trying to do YPT2.0 online, that they begged council to allow a live class, which thankfully council obliged. We would have lost several units if we didn't have that class. And don't get me started on the Specific Leader courses. Out of all the Cub Leaders in my district, 5 are completely trained. And 3 of those are experienced Cub Scout Leaders who took Cub Scout Basic Leader Training way back in the day. The bulk of the problem lies in internet connectivity issues. But also the way the training is presented, in a series of courses and not as a single, standalone course as in the old days,is confusing and intimidating some folks. Add in the fact that National changed all the courses, and if you were in the middle of training you had to start all over again, was the complaint I head from one of the 2 trained CSDLs who did it online last year. Plus National has attempted to state that in order to be "Trained" you have to have all the current courses, which makes people ask "why get trained at all if they will be invalid when they change?" Thankfully enough volunteers complained about that policy that it was quickly, but quietly , reversed. But sadly even the classroom training appears watered down. I was asked to be training chair again, and I am in the process of getting my syllabi to start setting up courses. In comparing my old syllabi to the ones I have used in the past, I am noticing the following: Length of courses have shortened; Topics have been watered down, or omitted completely; writing style of the syllabi seems to be geared towards a Middle School First Class Scout instead of adult learners.

Funny thing this topic of recruitment. We were doing a compass course at a local park. One group was about 30 minutes behind schedule because two non-scout friends showed up riding bikes. They ended up tagging along and watching the Scouts do their thing. I am hoping one, if not both show up at the meeting they were invited to.

Because we have shrunk so much. 10 years ago, the troop had 4 patrols . Not having a feeder pack is killing us

Sadly we would apply as a neighborhood patrol. Oldest picture we have of the troop is their 1926 trip to DC and the White House. At lease 50 Scouts are in the picture, if not more.

Troop I grew up in made their own shirts. We had a silk screen made, and used it every year. Each year was a different color shirt and ink. Got them at the Christmas COH/ party. It was way cheaper making your own.