SPLs are now 7th graders

[John-in-KC]

Two comments on Venturing vice Venture Patrol:

 

There are items in the G2SS RESTRICTED TO THE VENTURING PROGRAM ... pistol shooting is certainly one. Ability to drive self/others (with permission) to activities and on expeditions is another.

 

At the same time, the Executive officer of the Chartered Partner (note from one of my professionals: "Institutional Head (IH)" is no longer in the BSA lexicon) the COR, the various Committee Chairmen, and the various Program Officers have a joint responsibility to ensure that Packs, Troops and Crews work together for the common good of all the youth in the program.

[ps56k]

just an update on our personal situation and observation....

Our Scout is 14, Life, and was involved with NYLT staff, Jamboree, along with being SPL, ASPL, along the way. Well, this month (May 2005) was just too much and he has basically turned off Scouting. The JYLT/NYLT had 2 campouts, and the Jamboree had 1 (same weekend as NYLT), along with other things going on. He had not been to a Troop meeting in weeks, as his Track team had their meets on the same night as the Troop meetings.

So, he finally just said enough... this month...

He QUIT the NYLT as a staff member.

He QUIT going to Troop meetings.

He lost interest in Jamboree.

 

I can now see how things look from the "dark side".

He needs to feel some reason for doing an activity. He is on a swim team, a track team, was on a soccer team, gets A's in school, and is a really knowledgeable Scout, etc....

Swim team - he is fastest in his group

Track team - he took 3rd in area conference for 110, 200, and short sprints

Soccer team - quit... too hard to run all the time

Troop - hmmmmm - as you get older (14) you have all your skills, you just need to chase MB's, and only have 6months of a POR... If you keep going to meetings, most of the time, you have to GIVE to others as a SPL, ASPL, Guide, etc. The key is that his may not be enough of an incentive to go to the meeting. Whadda think, if you go, you have to WORK as a leader, vs just goofing off, or not going at all - DUH - tough choice -

He tried the leader path, but had no critical mass of peers. His age group peers were the usual kids goofing around, and he really didn't have any Scouting peers that had the skill level and knowledge he did. So, he was an island.

I'd seen the same thing happen to each of the SPL scouts - they were an island, and could not strike the fire needed to create the critical mass of knowledge, interest, and direction....

So - they became the Life Scout ghost patrol.