CubsRgr8

My younger son's pack is chartered to a phantom group known as Friends of XYZ Public School Scouting. By phantom, I mean this group exists on paper only: it never meets, it has no membership list, and all the executive does is sign the recharter form once a year. I'm guessing that this isn't an unusual situation, as I understand that a lot of scouting units chartered directly to public schools or their associated PTAs were cut loose in the 80s and 90s. As the assistant cubmaster, and the most experience member of the adult leadership (3 whole years!), I'm not real comfortable with the existing setup - it strikes me as less than truthful. Add in that the executive said he won't be signing the recharter paperwork next spring and it's time to do something. But what? I greatly appreciate hearing from everyone, but especially from scouters with units similarly chartered to Friends Of organizations. Thanks in advance!

The best training I ever attended was Basic Leader, the first training session I attended. With no experience in scouting, and starting as my volunteer career as a cubmaster, I was wondering how I would survive. The trainers put us at ease with their friendly manner and willingness to answer any questions we posed. I left, after only couple of hours, confident that I could do the job and do it well. I don't remember their names, but I'll always be grateful. To all you trainers out there: THANK YOU! You really make a difference!

A neighboring council posted a copy of the memo on their website, which I found just by accident yesterday. I'm hoping the tie-ins with character connections can be integrated into the monthly pack meeting themes. dsteele, (or anybody else) have you seen any of these books? Do they have the same feel as the current Tiger book? Bottom line, are they worth waiting for? We usually present the boys with their new books at our May pack meeting/campfire and we certainly will wait if the new books are as good as they sound in the national memo I saw.(This message has been edited by CubsRgr8)

A Scout is reverent toward God. He is faithful in his religious duties. He respects the beliefs of others.

acco40, how can a scout be "active in his troop and patrol" without attending troop and patrol meetings, activities and campouts?

kwc57 - webelos den leader is a lot harder work than committee chair, but it is so rewarding to work directly with the boys. I was asked to be either CM or CC next year and turned them down because I'm continuing with my Bear through his (and his denmates) years as Webelos. Follow your heart and follow mk9750's advice about having den meetings all through the summer. Sure, some boys will miss a few meetings, but they'll have a much easier time advancing and you'll have more fun.

How do scouts who have never been PLs get JLT trained? Do you offer it to all scouts, all the time? Is it restricted to a certain rank? Is it automatic at a certain rank?

My son's troop subsidizes montly campouts, but not summer camp. Most scouts are able to earn a significant chunk of that cost by participating in the fall wreath sale.(This message has been edited by CubsRgr8)

Good looking website overall. In the main page picture, who is a crew member and who is an advisor? It isn't clear to me, as no one appears to be wearing a scout uniform.

Expand the program whereby young men in college or vo-tech are provided stipends in return for running traditional scouting units in disadvantaged neighborhoods.

Eamonn, I did a search for "Build A Troop" at scouting.org and came up empty handed. I'm on my son's committee and am looking for this kind of information. Can you provide a web address or link?

Apparently, the religious emblems program for RC GSA members is different from the one you're familiar with. I found information at: http://www.nfcym.org/v3/nccgscf/recognition.html. Your diocese office should have a staffer who coordinates the program for its member parishes. For most other denominations, the awards are the same for GSA/BSA and information can be found at: http://www.praypub.org. All too many leaders (in both GSA and BSA) are unaware of this great program that allows the scout to be recognized for fullfilling their Duty to God. Good luck to you and your daughter as you work on her first award!(This message has been edited by CubsRgr8)

Why would a troop have a separate weekend campout the same month as a district camporee or summer camp?

Part II Well, here's how it turned out. Each scout in the troop voted for who they felt were the six scouts best qualified to be a patrol leader. The SPL then contacted the scout with the most votes and asked if he would serve. The SPL proceeded down the list until he had six patrol leaders. I suspect several (many?) scouts turned him down, because we didn't end up with a single high school age PL. Then the draft took place and every scout found out last night to which patrol was his. The patrols seem balanced in age, rank and friendships, in that order. My son now belongs to a patrol led by a 7th grader who recently made Star rank. I'm thrilled because the young man really seems to get it. I don't know if the same can be said about the other PLs, especially the two 6th graders who each have a couple of high school kids to lead (?). Not quite the official BSA method, but closer than what was used last year. I'll report back with Part III after the first troop campout in May.

It's called "Cub Scout Recruiting CD". I'm told it comes in cases of 100, item 32424, and is ordered by councils, along with other recruiting materials. My store sells them for $0.50 each at the checkout counter. It's got some games on it featuring TC, Akela & Baloo, along with a pitch for Cub Scouting. My pack's affiliated school is low on boys in K5 & 1 grade, so we'll be using it for our spring recruiting drive at the end of the month. I think I'll put a coupon on the flyer, offering a free computer game when redeemed at the Pack Meeting.

OneHour, CM Transition: don't wear any uniform to pack meetings, refer pack questions to the pack leaders, support the CM's decisions 200%, make "I'm just a parent here" your mantra. Pack Transition: It's time for a spring recruitment drive. Encourage pack leadership to somehow reach every K-4 boy in your affiliated school(s) and neighborhood. Hand out the games CD to the K-2 boys. Invite the boys to the April pack meeting as special guests. Tie in attendance at summer camp with joining the pack this spring. Earn that summertime activity award!

Day Camp Strategies That Really Work! I am so pumped up about day camp for my pack this summer! I had almost half (19!) of my pack sign up Tuesday night, and this is a pack that hasn't done ANY summertime activities for years and years! How can this be, you might ask? Here are the winning strategies. 1) Attend your council's day camp leader orientation. That way, you really are the expert and don't have to tell people, "I'll get back to you" or the dreaded "call the council office." 2) Gather a consensus from the other den leaders as to which session works for the group. Between the four in my pack, my narrowed it down to one session that we all will all attend as leaders. 3) This becomes THE session you promote to your pack families. While you let them know there are other sessions available, you promote THE session as a fun, easy for parents, pack activity. 4) Pick a pack meeting as sign-up night that can still that take advantage of the early bird discount from your council. 5) Mail out a day-glo orange flyer to each scout. It won't get lost in their backpacks and they love getting mail. 6) Have a slide or video show playing at the signup table while you're collecting forms and fees. I rented ($17) a table top Cara-mate slide projector. 7) Be enthusiastic! Be a rah-rah! Have fun! Hope the Secret Seven work for you!

Wow! You'll be great! Enthusiasm is 80% of the job, with knowledge and experience 60% each. Yeah, I know that adds up to 200%, but we all know that's what you always give the boys!

I disagree. Since it's only two months, let the APL run the patrol, with extra assistance from a TG, ASM or the SM. After all, that's one of the APL jobs. Any other decision for such a short term problem sends a lack of confidence message to the APL. Also, the PL is already bumming out major league. Let him know his patrol and position are waiting for him to return as an incentive to buckle down to academics. It sounds to me like the PL's parents need to better understand the purpose of scouting. It's hard to build young men of character if they aren't allowed to participate. Unfortunately, they're not the only parents who don't get it.

I'd require adult volunteer recertification training every three years.

I asked one of the boy's mother to take him home as he obviously didn't want to be there but his mother said that he was going to stay and that his behavior would improve. Say what? That mother completely undermined your authority as den leader, whether or not his behavior improved. Would she dare say that to her son's teacher? soccer coach? I think not. This boy apparently does not understand what he says when he recites the Law of the Pack. Frankly, I would not let that boy back into your den meetings until you, the cubmaster and the family have a discussion. Am I acting like an old curmugeon? Yep, and proud of it.

Have a couple of sewing enabled adults helping the scouts make their own red, brag vests. Have a series of puzzle stations that the scouts and their parents work to solve. Solve 10/12 and be rewarded with a PWD patch. Have the scouts vote for a "scouts choice" trophy before the racing begins. Have a series of stations where real, live Boy Scouts are teaching how to tie knots. DYB to tie them, have a Boy Scout sign a chit, and the scout earns a patch. Have a couple of auto-themed craft projects set up. You know, neckerchief slides, photo frames, etc. Set up tables to promote a planned service project, summer camp, etc. For many of these, it's important to have a few "planted" scouts (ususually your son and a buddy or two) who do it and then politely communicate (aka brag) to their buddies "look what I did!"(This message has been edited by CubsRgr8)

Yes, all these answers help. Thanks again.

Yes, all these answers help. Thanks again.

Sparkie, tell us more about being the Religious Counselor. Duty to God seems to be the weak link in my son's troop and I'd like to see it improve.(This message has been edited by CubsRgr8)