Scouting412

I appreciate the introduction and the advice! I will keep that parting thought in mind going forward. I may have to do some reconciling with that one.

Imma just go through these one at a time, because every one is a great point to address! Thanks for the welcome by the way! It is great to hear from other scouters in the area. Imma keep that espresso offer open, for the record. I'm sure we will cross paths at some point. 1. Scoutmaster and I are on the same page, but I had to teach him how to tie a clove hitch this past week. All for what I am trying to do now, but also learning as he goes. Great guy, and I think he is a great scoutmaster. He is very optimistic, very enthusiastic, and very willing to participate. I think I have become the go-to scout skills type of leader 2. Did that. So over it. I think my scouts are too, so crossing my fingers! 3. I like this. I think this is the plan this year. Other positions that we allow scouts to "campaign" for would include things like historian, chaplain, etc. Positions outside of the PLC... 4. This will be done! Don't have to tell me twice on walking around! I used to live in Oakland and Squirrel hill. One of my hobbies is street photography. I'm all for that kind of thing! I want to do ice skating at schenley park with the troop . Just don't ask me to put on a pack and hike 10 miles with a bunch of gear!

I'm glad to say I have always tried to be the "expert" as you so eloquently put it. I have been to multiple jamborees, high adventure, NOAC, etc, and have always been a huge advocate for doing things outside of the troop environment. I stress that to my scouts, and regularly remind them to reach out if they have any questions. We do camp almost every month. November and December are our exceptions due to school activities, holidays, and such. Something I have noticed is that campouts have turned into blow-off weekends, however. Nothing is accomplished, no activities... nothing. Football and cards. Even when we go to planned camporees, it can be like pulling teeth trying to get scouts to enjoy the activities. When they finally get out, they enjoy the things they do, but it almost seems like they are afraid because their lack of basic scout skills makes the activities intimidating. I think I have realized that, as stated above, the youth-adult interaction is a cyclical thing. When I was a scout, the troop was extremely active, dynamic, and skilled. There was a great cycle of education within the troop. As the troop changed, scouts got younger with not nearly as many experienced scouts to teach. Leadership was extremely hands-off. The hole was dug at that point. If I can do a bit to get the pendulum swinging the other way again, without interfering in the scouts autonomy, then I will have succeeded. Even something as simple as swinging the energy into a positive direction would be a great start. We will see how it all works out. I feel like there is light on the horizon somewhere. Just gotta help them up the next few steps so that they can see over the horizon too!

Unfortunately I am not much of a hiker, but there are some adults in the troop who are! I was always more of a canoe/kayak kind of person We are pretty lucky to have a lot of nice hiking and biking trails around here.

Hello everyone! I'm Matt, and I'm a 27 year old scouter from Pittsburgh, PA. I currently serve as an Assistant Scoutmaster within my troop, and have been filling the role on and off for about 3 years now. Prior, I was a scout in the same troop, receiving my Eagle Scout in 2011. From 2013 to 2018, I was in school, earning a degree in Mechanical Engineering. Came home, re-registered, and here I am... I will admit, however, that I am not here out of mere curiosity. I come looking for ideas, as my troop seems to have lost its way a bit. Due to COVID, a bit of apathy, and a lack of leadership (from myself included), morale and productivity is at an all-time low in the troop. This is not an indictment on my scouts or fellow leaders. All are great, and I am genuinely thankful to be a part of their endeavors. We have just reached a "funk" that we have found it difficult to dig ourselves out of. I have finally hit a turning point. Not one of those new year's resolution type of turning point, but an actual moment where the motivation to improve has exceeded my usual 27 yo mindset. For the time being, I have effectively thrown the idea of "boy-led" out the window. I have been leading the last few meetings. I am, essentially, re-teaching the troop how to be a troop. Elections are coming up, and I hope this can help the new leadership understand that meetings can be both productive and interesting. My intentions are to continue this with the new PLC, slowly backing off through the spring. I have every intention of sending a few scouts to NYLT (something my troop has neglected since I left in 2013), and I hope this will be a major catalyst to bigger and better things for the boys. So far, results have been positive. Scouts seem to be more energized, and momentum is building with each meeting. I have had one scout even tell me that he intended to quit before the routine changed. Part of me never wanted it to come to this, being a huge advocate for the boy-run model. Desperate times, however... My first two questions for the forums at large: 1. Am I doing the right thing? Is there a point where the troop can/should be strong-armed in the right direction, even if it means temporarily removing some of the traditional hands-off mentality? Am I potentially setting up the troop for an even bigger fall, or is there a good way to work my way out of this, hopefully leaving things better than I found them? 2. Is this blog worthy? I have dabbled in the idea of creating a blog from the view-point of a young scouter in a young, rather small troop. I feel there is a lot of development and story-telling that can be had. If you made it this far in my post.... Wow. Kudos! Matt