Are you sagging?

[Gina]

The Webloes that are coming up this year will meet with the Boy Scouts this Monday night so they can see some of what they will be doing as Scouts. The ones that came up last year will be having their packs and gear checked for an upcoming mountain backpacking and camping weekend the end of February.

The ones from last year have been on a couple of backpacking trips last fall but no winter time events. Moms tend to pack their packs and Mom puts so much unnecessary stuff in their packs a mule couldn't carry them.

The troop does something at least one weekend a month with six of those being backpacking/camping weekends. The troop goes to Philmont every forth year year so this is to get them in shape and trail wise for their great adventure. Son went this past summer and he still gets excited talking about it.

That sounds like an awesome troop. We have a bunch of pansies in our's.  My son is one of a few that has a few polar bear badges.  They always cancel right before if it's raining, hot, or cold.  Hubby is a den leader.

[JohnnyReb]

That sounds like an awesome troop. We have a bunch of pansies in our's.  My son is one of a few that has a few polar bear badges.  They always cancel right before if it's raining, hot, or cold.  Hubby is a den leader.

It is the best in the district. They have strict requirements. Scouts must attend at least 75% of the meetings and other events, make rank and earn certain meritbadges on schedule. Order of the Arrow events are also required events.

Under the leadership of one Scout Master (32 years) they have bought and paid for a house, two vans, an enclosed trailer, canoes and trailer, camping equipment....the list goes on. They raise money by holding an annual auction, collecting cans and Christmas tree sales. The boys get credited for Christmas tree sales and is mostly how the boys pay for their Philmont trip. Any amount a scout earns over the amount they need for the trip they can use to buy personal gear needed for the trip.

They keep the troop small. I think there's 18/20 on the roll right now. Children of past troop members get first dibs, then kids of church members of the sponsoring church and then any remaining slots are up for grabs. Most of the boys live within a few miles of the Scout Hut but a couple of boys come from other distant towns to be in this troop....and some that live within a stones throw of the Scout Hut travel miles to be in other "softer" troops....my cousins kids being some of that group. You may wonder how they keep it so small...well, 12 cubs moved up the same year my son did....and 9 dropped out before the end of the first year. The required commitment and effort is more than some kids and parents want to take on.

This coming Sunday is Scout Sunday at the church. The scouts will conduct the service. The past Scout Master (but still active in the troop) has put together a string band from within the troop and they will be playing religious songs Sunday. Son is in that group.

 

[Eupher]

It is the best in the district. They have strict requirements. Scouts must attend at least 75% of the meetings and other events, make rank and earn certain meritbadges on schedule. Order of the Arrow events are also required events.

Under the leadership of one Scout Master (32 years) they have bought and paid for a house, two vans, an enclosed trailer, canoes and trailer, camping equipment....the list goes on. They raise money by holding an annual auction, collecting cans and Christmas tree sales. The boys get credited for Christmas tree sales and is mostly how the boys pay for their Philmont trip. Any amount a scout earns over the amount they need for the trip they can use to buy personal gear needed for the trip.

They keep the troop small. I think there's 18/20 on the roll right now. Children of past troop members get first dibs, then kids of church members of the sponsoring church and then any remaining slots are up for grabs. Most of the boys live within a few miles of the Scout Hut but a couple of boys come from other distant towns to be in this troop....and some that live within a stones throw of the Scout Hut travel miles to be in other "softer" troops....my cousins kids being some of that group. You may wonder how they keep it so small...well, 12 cubs moved up the same year my son did....and 9 dropped out before the end of the first year. The required commitment and effort is more than some kids and parents want to take on.

This coming Sunday is Scout Sunday at the church. The scouts will conduct the service. The past Scout Master (but still active in the troop) has put together a string band from within the troop and they will be playing religious songs Sunday. Son is in that group.
 

Interesting description of the troop dynamics. Most troops I'd ever heard of (and worked in) embraced just about anybody who would darken the doorway. While the standards are high - indeed, too high for many - there seems to be no problem with maintaining membership at the desired level. Although, I don't quite understand why they'd like to keep the troop that small. Twenty Scouts is not a lot, but I have to say if it works, no need to fix it.

This is proof positive that setting high standards and enforcing them bring out the best in people and separates the proverbial men from the boys.

I know you're proud of your son, JR. Good on both of you for the effort and the results. 

[Gina]

Interesting description of the troop dynamics. Most troops I'd ever heard of (and worked in) embraced just about anybody who would darken the doorway. While the standards are high - indeed, too high for many - there seems to be no problem with maintaining membership at the desired level. Although, I don't quite understand why they'd like to keep the troop that small. Twenty Scouts is not a lot, but I have to say if it works, no need to fix it.

This is proof positive that setting high standards and enforcing them bring out the best in people and separates the proverbial men from the boys.

I know you're proud of your son, JR. Good on both of you for the effort and the results. 

I really wish the bolded was true.    My husband has a horrible den.  It's like he got every kid with every type of behavioral problem.  The parent's/grandparent's do nothing to reign their little heathen's in even after getting a talking to from the leader.  I so wish we could kick the little bastard troublemaker's out

[JohnnyReb]

I misspoke when I said "They keep the troop small.". The rules tend to keep it small. My son has been in the troop for 5 years now and during that time I've only known of one kid that they asked not to come back...and hell, he is in my family tree....shame...shame... but the kid would actually lay down by the trail side and refuse to walk any more. Pulled that stunt more than once. The weak, lazy and misbehaving type soon fall out. The older boys are expected to help the younger scouts but after the first year they're expected to pull their own weight.

Many times I've heard the Scout Leaders say that when they travel people come up to them and compliment them on what a well behaved group of boys they have. It's hard to keep your thumb on a large group and get that kind of behavior.

Son had AJROTC every other day last year at school and was on the "Rifle Team". This year it's every day for the spring semester only. He had already joined the AJROTC "Raiders Team" this semester and then after getting called late the other night to be on the Color Guard, he up and joined the "Drill Team". So now he's either conditioning or drilling after school until 5 pm. everyday. He told the Major if any of the AJROTC stuff conflicted with his Scout stuff, the Scouts came first.

....and the truth shall find you out. Son's real reason for all that extra AJROTC stuff. Drill Team gets him a rope for one shoulder, Raider Team gets him a rope for the other shoulder, a couple of ribbons, some rank and some kinda insignia to pin on his uniform. Going for the bling to impress the girls I guess.

[Gina]

I misspoke when I said "They keep the troop small.". The rules tend to keep it small. My son has been in the troop for 5 years now and during that time I've only known of one kid that they asked not to come back...and hell, he is in my family tree....shame...shame... but the kid would actually lay down by the trail side and refuse to walk any more. Pulled that stunt more than once. The weak, lazy and misbehaving type soon fall out. The older boys are expected to help the younger scouts but after the first year they're expected to pull their own weight.

Many times I've heard the Scout Leaders say that when they travel people come up to them and compliment them on what a well behaved group of boys they have. It's hard to keep your thumb on a large group and get that kind of behavior.

Son had AJROTC every other day last year at school and was on the "Rifle Team". This year it's every day for the spring semester only. He had already joined the AJROTC "Raiders Team" this semester and then after getting called late the other night to be on the Color Guard, he up and joined the "Drill Team". So now he's either conditioning or drilling after school until 5 pm. everyday. He told the Major if any of the AJROTC stuff conflicted with his Scout stuff, the Scouts came first.

....and the truth shall find you out. Son's real reason for all that extra AJROTC stuff. Drill Team gets him a rope for one shoulder, Raider Team gets him a rope for the other shoulder, a couple of ribbons, some rank and some kinda insignia to pin on his uniform. Going for the bling to impress the girls I guess.

The packmaster's son here is scared of bugs.  All of a sudden you will be out in the woods and hear what you would think was a woman screaming.  He cries when he has to go camping