Convincing a Unit?

[Back Pack]

But, is the SPL wrong? How? By being cost conscious? What seems like a couple of extra bucks for some can break the bank of others. Save $ on summer camp = one more weekend camping or working on an MB to offset what the cheap cussing camp doesn't offer.

Pro tip: When told "all of the boys" want X, a good working assumption is that your son and his closest friends want it, the rest are probably ambivalent. To the boys, "Tough. Next time elect an SPL who will respectfully dig his heels in and represent you to the committee."

Boys do planning, not adults.

 

Camp too far, have a fund raiser to pay for gas.

 

Adults leaving camp and not sleeping there, are the covering two deep and the proper ratio?

 

Adults too lazy to give up a week? Go as a contingent with another troop.

 

There's all sorts of options here which does lead to Adult Scouts of America ruining what should be a boy led program.

[Back Pack]

If you said the Scouts should get off their backsides and earn the money to go where they want, I would agree, a Scout is Thrifty.

But if a Unit is not running properly and the adults are unable/unwilling to make the changes to run the troop correctly the perhaps it is time to speak with the Unit Commissioner or District Executive and have them explain troop operations to the committee.

Try to find other troops willing to let your boys tag along. This may solve the problem. We always allow other Scouts to join us.

[frankpalazzi]

You can rotate adults in and out all week long. You only need two: One 21+ (registered) and an 18+.  Have the 18+ fill out an adult application and keep it "on file" for the week.   See who's available what days/nights and develop a schedule.  We've done it for years.

 

Sounds like an "adult-run" troop to me too.  Does the committee dictate all of the activities?

[Back Pack]

You can rotate adults in and out all week long. You only need two: One 21+ (registered) and an 18+.  Have the 18+ fill out an adult application and keep it "on file" for the week.   See who's available what days/nights and develop a schedule.  We've done it for years.

Well that's not entirely true.

 

- You must have a minimum of one "trained" adult SM at all times. So that means an ASM that has IOLS and Leader-specific training. In some councils and camps they also need other training.

- According to your tour plan you need one person on site at all times with first aid training, weather hazards, and cpr/aed.

- You have to keep a 1:10 adult to Scout ratio. I've seen camp require 1:8 or less.

- All adults must have valid YPT. Some councils require face-to-face YPT. Some camps require a minimum of four adults.

 

As long as you have these points covered with folks rotating in, you're valid as far as BSA is concerned. If not, well, let's hope nothing goes wrong. I've seen adults and troops kicked out for not having these things.

[SSScout]

If the adult/parent views camp escort duty as a "chore", yeah, you will have a hard time filling those roles.

 

**Discuss with the parent/adult how it can be a mini vacation, away from home. It is not a rough and rugged camp out, not "Philmont", not this time.   The adult can offer help in any event, as they see themselves able, but it can be a sit and watch, or walk thru the woods, or sit and fish type of thing. 

** Offer them a letter from the Troop or camp or council (work this out with your DE and SE) addressed to the fellow's boss/company,  testifying to the adult's worthiness in helping to grow "good, responsible citizens" thru the Scout program, and thanking the boss/company for allowing their employee time off in this important endeavor.  They will get back a better trained, rested and enthusiastic employee, etc.  And MEAN it when the letter is written.  Examples of this are all over the web, especially from Greater Pittsburgh Council.  Looks good in the employee record folder.  Makes the boss feel good.   Oh, make it a PAPER letter, not just email. I always saw the signing of several hundred of such letters as a worthy responsibility of a Camp Director or Scout Executive.

 ??  Bonding with son?  Maybe, but not so much bonding as the  growth of respect, one to the other.  Setting an example for the Scout?   Sharing of skills and stories?  You are not camping with your boy so much as beside him.   

 

Pity the poor parent who does not regret the time they could not (would not? )  spend with their child. 

[fred johnson]

IMHO, the way to make change is to build excitement and build interest.  Perhaps, volunteer to run a 2nd weekend in the summer during a different month.  Then coordinate taking a subset of the boys to the other camp.  See if they become interested.  

 

For any week long summer camp, an hour or two drive minimum sounds reasonable.  Otherwise, you are just camping at one of the locations you are camping at other months of the year.

[Stosh]

We have often been faced with patrols wanting different camps.  We have worked around this by relying on the patrol method.  If the young boys want one camp, the leaders focus on supporting the First Year Camper program and for the older boys, that is off the table and the focus is on what the camp has to offer for off-site high adventure.  The blessing in that is the different skills of the adults come into play, the boys get what they want and the adults don't have to split into tow different directions to try and help out everyone at the same time.

 

Combined camp needs 4 adults two to stay with the First Year Campers and the other two to go with the HA groups off-site.  With a limited number of available adults this could be a problem.

[JasonG172]

Go Provo! PERIOD

 

VOTE to have the committee replaced

[David CO]

Just curious, Jason, does this election of unit committee members take place at the same time as our general election of scout executives, or is during the midterm elections?

Edited February 21, 2017 by David CO

[blw2]

kind of funny in a way, we have almost the opposite problem.  Troop adults have steered the thinking to the idea that summer camp must be up in the mountains so that it's cooler weather.  My son doesn't want to go because it's not enough fun to justify the long car ride.  he'd rather stay closer.....

and while I agree I'm not jazzed about camping in the heat, I also see that we could go much closer and get into some hills but yet not the mountains.... or beach side someplace...and be a whole lot closer yet still maybe just a bit cooler than our own council....& this would then enable adults to do partial week hand offs and spend less vacation time, etc...

 

I'm reminded about the other thread about fund raising.... if the argument is that it's about the committee paying for gas.... THIS is where scout lead fundraising makes sense....they find out how much it's going to cost, and they figure out a way to pay for it.... no more argument.

[TAHAWK]

The Scouts could raise "gasoline money."

 

Camp is for Scouts, not adults.  You only need two.  The others are welcome to stay home during the week.

 

Did anyone on the Committee take training.  I know it's "only" BSA policy for 87 years that the Committee agreed to follow, but the Committee in deciding whether they can support the program plan that is to be made by the PLC are counseled to remember that Boy Scouting program is to be boy-planned and adult-supported.

[Petey091]

Our boys vote each year for where they want to go. For the last four or more years they have voted to return to the same camp. It's a great camp and the boys have fun and do well. It is a 4 hour drive to the camp. We usually have two shifts of parents that either stay the first part of the week or the last part of the week. We also have a former scoutmaster whose son has aged out years ago but still serves stay for the week each year. The boys have voted next year to go to a camp that is much closer to home next summer.

[ParkMan]

Hi Jason,

 

I'd recommend that you volunteer to lead a summer camp contingent to the other camp.  Then, get the word out and get a good list of scouts to attend.  Once you've got that, you'll find another adult to attend with you - I'm pretty certain of that.

 

Good luck!

 

EDIT:  Sorry folks - I saw the last append was a few days ago and didn't realize this was an old thread.  

Edited June 13, 2017 by ParkMan