getting the details right

[Lisabob]

OK so this is one of my pet peeves, I admit it. But lately I've been dealing with an awful lot of adults in troops and district and council committees who a) do not have their facts straight on various aspects of the cub scout (esp. Webelos) program and b) do not seem to care or will not believe it when told they're incorrect.

 

Why is it that people who have not been involved with cub scouts in quite a few years (or ever, in some cases) seem to be so sure they're right when they variously assert that:

 

1) Webelos can't camp;

2) Webelos MUST camp to earn their Outdoorsman/Webelos/Arrow of Light award (take your pick);

3) Webelos not only must camp, but must do so with the troop they intend to join;

4) Boys who haven't earned AoL can't join Boy Scouts until they finish 5th grade (regardless of age), or

4b) Boys can't join Boy Scouts until they're 11, even if they finished 5th grade and have AoL

 

And so on, and so forth. I've heard all of the above this week from supposedly "trained" sources, which makes me think that either we need to do some quality control on our training, or we need to start requiring refresher courses. One person told me that they were sure they were correct and that there's a new Webelos book out and our council scout shop just isn't selling it yet (I suppose this might be true, but I can't find any evidence of it anywhere else. If anyone has seen a new Webelos book, I'd be grateful for the info).

 

OK, thanks for letting me vent. It has been that sort of week I guess.

 

 

[Gonzo1]

Lisa,

Sounds like old timers with out of date training / knowledge or younger adults with out of date memories of what is was like "back in the day".

 

Recommend to your council training committee to get the facts in the newsletter, on the council website and to UC and roundtable staffs.

 

 

[OldGrayOwl]

Lisa,

Here is a web site that you would find interesting:

 

http://www.inquiry.net/adult/trainer/urban_legends.htm

 

It deals with Scouting Urban Legends.

[scoutldr]

The "continuing education" phase is Roundtable. Program updates should be pushed down at RT and in Council newsletters. Those who refuse to attend or read will remain ignorant. Pack Trainers should also be a resource for updated information. All Packs have Pack Trainers, don't they???

[Beavah]

Yah, LOL! Welcome to da life of a commissioner.

 

That's probably a big reason why I tend to get on the case of folks who are

 

a) a bit too strident in providing information. Too often even if they're right, people hear it wrong and then place too much emphasis on it when they in turn pass it along. Better to be friendly, low key, and give 'em explanations of reasons not just rules.

 

b) passing along urban legends and half-truths, especially ones to "frighten" fellow volunteers into compliance.

 

I think "Webelos can't camp" comes from the Age Appropriate Guidelines on Camporees.

 

Webelos must camp with the troop comes from the "visit a troop activity" requirement coupled with councils that arrange join webelos-troop camporees.

 

Dependin' on where yeh live, not joining Boy Scouts until age 11 might be a hangover from the LDS program, so someone hears it from an LDS scouter and thinks every troop has to work like that.

 

etc., etc.

 

Wish I could change da BSA "rules culture" to be more of a "service culture" that way, eh? Far better to start by thinking "What makes sense for these kids?". But da other way is pretty deeply ingrained.

 

Beavah

 

[John-in-KC]

B,

 

Not to mention that in OUR youth, age 11 WAS the floor.

 

Of course,it's also been 39 years and 10 months since I joined Troop 110, Reseda CA.