CubsRgr8

Here's what I'm working on for my troop's next COH. Call the scouts up by patrol. The scouts amble forward, shake hands with the SM, are lined up facing the audience by the SPL, while an ASM reads each boy's name, their POR (if any) and their specific achievements (EXCEPT rank advancement). Got a scout who didn't earn a MB or other cloth recognition this quarter? Why, they are "contributing to their patrol" or another similarly positive statement. Then have the patrol give their patrol yell. A round of applause for the patrol and off to the side they go to receive their recognitions from the CC, while the process starts over with the next patrol. For rank advancements, call the scouts up by rank, Tenderfoot first. The scouts amble forward, shake hands with the SM, the SPL lines them up facing the audience while another ASM is reading each boy's name. The SM does a short spiel about the meaning of the rank, then a round of applause for the scouts and off to the side they go to receive their rank badges and cards from the CC. I know, I know, what about calling the parents forward for the higher ranks? That just takes tooooooo much time in a large troop. Instead, have a place set up afterwards for posed photos, framed by the US and troop flags. The driver behind these ideas is to keep the COH moving along, while making sure each scout is recognized.

A scout in a POR can not be removed? What about when his performance is so poor that it is hurting his patrol or the troop?

Isn't the crux of the matter that Quixote's post is about a troop outing, vs. a patrol outing? A troop outing requires a tour permit and adult supervision, no exceptions. On the other hand, all a patrol outing requires is the Scoutmaster's approval. Am I right or am I wrong? Although it probably belongs in the Patrol Forum, I would appreciate various scoutmaster's comments regarding what they look for before they give such approval. Thanks.

Ed, could you please explain a little about your troop insurance? Is this a stand-alone policy your troop purchases on an annual basis? If so, what does it cover that the national BSA policy doesn't? What does it cost? etc? Thanks.

My son's troop has an ASM for each new scout patrol. They have a six month plan of FCFY activities during troop meetings, monthly campouts and summer camp. The other ASMs assist the SM on an as-needed basis, with no formal assigned duties.

Haven't heard of that happening around my neck of the woods, but what a great idea for a service project! It is an outdoor physical activity that helps conserve resources and benefits local people in need. Fantastic!

Good for you! I wish you were going to be in my son's pack - I know they would benefit from having you as a leader!

As a leader, I expect the parents to inform me if their son has any special needs. If I lack the ability to deal with their son's special needs, then I expect the parents to work with me to provide the assistance necessary so that their son can participate. For example, I had one scout last year in my Webelos2 den that was ADHD. I didn't know this until his parents told me and we agreed that one needed to attend our den meetings and outings. It worked out well and he earned his AOL. The key is communication. The parents must be upfront with any special needs and the leaders must be upfront with their ability to deal with those needs.

I'm going to serve as my younger son's Webelos Leader starting next summer. I want to take this course, because it is exactly what I need. OUTDOOR WEBELOS LEADER TRAINING (OWL) For all Webelos Leaders and soon to be Leaders. OWL is training to help Webelos Leaders learn the skills necessary to successfully implement the Webelos program. The leader will learn such skills as Fire Building, Outdoor Cooking, Knots, etc. But, a council professional told me OWL was discontinued and suggested I take Basic Adult Leader Outdoor Orientation (BALOO). I took BALOO last spring and it was nothing like the course described above. What do you suggest? And, does anyone have their old OWL syllabus that I could pay for a copy? By the way, I though BALOO was a very good course, but it's purpose is to train a pack leader so that a pack may go camping at non-BSA sites, not train how to teach outdoors Webelos skills needed to earn their badges.(This message has been edited by CubsRgr8)

Your good news report is like a breath of fresh air this afternoon. Thanks for sharing it with this forum.

Pepper, I strongly disagree with and object to your POV. The BSA programs for boys (Cub and Boy Scouting) and the GSA program for girls (Girl Scouting) are excellent programs that continue to exist because they work and parents see value in providing that experience to their children. BSA also has excellent programs (Learning For Life and Venturing) that are coed. To desribe BSA and GSA programs as "separate but equal" thereby implies that they are a societal evil on par with Jim Crow and racism. Them's fighting words that have no place in this forum and will not go unchallenged. Do you support coed scouting? Good for you. Set up a Learning For Life or Venturing unit with your charter organization. Put your actions where your mouth is! Walk your talk and stop slandering BSA/GSA.

Bob White, we're not communicating. Two years ago (and last Saturday), I left basic training with the understanding that the professional's job is to provide me, the unit volunteer, with support. To me, and I dare say the overwhelming majority of new volunteers, that means his job includes the following. 1) Make sure the right training is scheduled at the right time (that includes some evenings, for volunteers who work weekends). 2) Make sure that District activities (Cub events, camporees, etc.) are scheduled BEFORE our annual planning meeting in August and don't tell me to come to the September RT to get info on September's Cub Event. 3) Make sure we have a competent Unit Commissioner. 4) Make sure the August (and every) RT focuses on program and doesn't consist of a 60 minute presentation on Trails' End popcorn. 5) Make sure the Council has an up-to-date website. If his job is to handle fund-raising and unit growth and it's the volunteer District and Council committees that provide support, great. But national training doesn't explain this. It tells us that the professional is responsible to provide the support we need. That's why I had a poor perception of the professionals. No one ever explained their real job to me before this thread. And Saturday's training perpetuated this for 25 brand new volunteers.

Pepper, I strongly disagree with and object to your POV. The BSA programs for boys (Cub and Boy Scouting) and the GSA program for girls (Girl Scouting) are excellent programs that continue to exist because they work and parents see value in providing that experience to their children. BSA also has excellent programs (Learning For Life and Venturing) that are coed. To desribe BSA and GSA programs as "separate but equal" thereby implies that they are a societal evil on par with Jim Crow and racism. Them's fighting words that have no place in this forum and will not go unchallenged. Do you support coed scouting? Good for you. Set up a Learning For Life or Venturing unit with your charter organization. Put your actions where your mouth is! Walk your talk and stop slandering BSA/GSA.

At training on Saturday, the trainer stressed getting every scout's family involved, either in an official capacity (leadership) or an unoffficial capacity (positions designed for the specific adult). For example, the mom with two in diapers and dad on the road 5 days a week couldn't serve on committee, couldn't handle the fundraiser, couldn't be a den leader BUT she became the Birthday Coordinator. Her job was to call the Cubmaster and remind him which scouts had had their birthday since the last pack meeting, so he could recognize them. There's no such official position, but she didn't know this and did a great job for years. Great example of thinking outside the box.

On Saturday, I went to New Leaders Essentials, followed by Cub Scout Leader Basics. The trainers used the new, national, video format and explained that its main benefit is consistency of presentation. 90% of the people at this training were new, unit volunteers gearing up for this fall. Well, then, on a national basis, scouting's new unit volunteers are NOT hearing that growth (membership and $$$) is, indeed, the most important responsibility of the professionals. Instead, they are hearing that the primary role of the professionals is to support the unit volunteers so that they can provide a quality program. So, yes, many unit volunteers have the perception that professionals are focused on growth instead of program support. And we are often frustrated with our professionals because the training we attend perpetuates the idea that their focus should be program support. I'll be contacting my district training committee to raise this concern. Every professional I've met so far is dedicated and truly supports Scouting. For us volunteers to be misinformed about their role is something that needs fixing, and that needs to start with our training.

Bob White, I'd swear the DE/CE role was explained to me in training along these lines: the role of the DE/CE is to ensure that unit volunteers have available all the resources they need to deliver a superior program in their units. Using your description of the DE/CE roles, then I need to take my concerns to the District/Council committees responsible for those areas: camping, training, etc. I'll let you know how it goes. As always, I sure am glad this forum exists. I'm off to training tomorrow (New Leader Essentials and Pack Committee). I'll report back how the DE/CE role is explained.

I sure would like to disagree with you, but... I was sorely disappointed to attend my District kickoff two weeks ago and spend 90% of the time on Trail's End popcorn and 0% on useful information (dates for training, summer camp, district/council activities, etc.). And this took the place of the monthly roundtable! Grump, grump. It sure does seem like fundraising is the #1 priority.

As indicated elsewhere, my son is doing well in a NSP in a troop that has a great FCFY program. He's already 2C, earned a merit badge, and I expect he'll make 1C by Christmas. However (you know this was coming), I've got some questions about NSP in general and how my son's troop is implementing it. My son's troop has three NSPs with 7-9 scouts each. Scouts came from 5 or 6 different Packs and were randomly assigned to the patrols. At their first meeting, they were told to elect a PL to serve for 6 months, who then chose another scout to be the patrol QM. Each patrol was assigned 2 Troop Guides, who took turns working with the NSPs during troop meetings, campouts, and summer camp. 1) Is this the standard NSP implementation? I've read stuff on other threads that causes me to wonder. 2) None of the scouts has a clue what a PL is supposed to do and how they are to work with him. When are they supposed to learn this, by osmosis? 3) None of the patrols have gelled as a team. All too often I hear a scout dissing his own patrol and/or another patrol member. Isn't team building part of the NSP program? My son and I like this troop, don't get me wrong, but I'd like to see it get even better.

sctmom, I think the best thing you could do is to register as the new scout patrol ASM (and what troop would refuse another registered leader?). School's started for you, so you should have training available, but don't wait! Jump in now! I know how much you want your son to enjoy and succeed in Scouting! In my son's troop, the NSPASM (try saying that three times fast ) put together a plan where he grouped similar TF, 2C & 1C activities (ie knots), and offered them at several non-consecutive troop meetings/campouts. Most scouts are now 2C, or almost there. His philosophy seems to be: gently prod them for six months, then start to ease off so that by the end of one year, they're self-directed. As far as boring troop meetings, well, it sounds like you need alternatives for the NSP. Suggest several easy MBs like leatherwork or basketry (meritbadge.com is fantastic!) and have them pick one to work on as a patrol. And go on some solo patrol excursions. Yes, it almost sounds like Webelos 3, but you know, that's what NSP and FCFY are! Good luck and let us know how it turns out!(This message has been edited by CubsRgr8)

Does anyone know where I might find drawings/plans to setup and/or build a space derby race track?

I M H O! The or-ange shirt has got to go! Seriously, national needs to take a look at this and get with the program. Just ask the boys! Seven year old boys WANT to wear Cub Scout blue, not Tiger orange. With the growing emphasis on Webelos wearing tan (and their new oval emblem, making it impossible to continue to wear their earlier ranks), and the new Tiger book that looks just like the Wolf and Bear books, and the fact the Tigers are supposed to be considered a regular den (and have their own den leader), it makes perfect sense for Tigers to wear blue. Also, check out the story in this month's Boys Life (or is it Scouting?) about the NYC Cub Scout in Pack 80. Great story, great photo, hmmm. What's that? He's seven years old, wearing a blue uniform, with an orange Tiger hat! (This message has been edited by CubsRgr8)

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Don't be shocked. The term "devil's advocate" originates with the Roman Catholic church. During the process of considering a candidate for the various steps along the road to official RC sainthood, the church appoints a member of the Roman curia (the RC church bureacracy) to try and find any and all reasons why the candidate is unfit to be canonized. They take on this adversarial role in an effort to prevent any dubious canonizations. The slang term for these priests is "devil's advocate". So, the use of this term by your son's advisors means that they are going to do him the favor of scrutinizing everything about his application for Eagle, in the hope of finding any problems before they become unsurmountable. For example, did all of his ranks get entered properly into the national Scout database? Stuff like that. Good luck on his project.

No electronics whatsoever! Although, of course, the older scouts try to see if they can outfox the scoutmaster, usually without success (I swear he has Superman x-ray vision!).

Since joining my son's troop as a committee member, I have sat on a couple of dozen BORs for every rank except Eagle. Next Wednesday, I will sit on my first Eagle BOR. I have read just about every resource available on this, but would appreciate feedback from veteran Eagle BOR members about their experiences. Thanks.