Some thoughts on how to evaluate a Scout Troop as a visiting parent

First, I found these 10 points helpful.  They are from Clarke Green's Scoutmaster CG blog, which I've found to be an EXCELLENT source and he's one of my regular reads.  (This particular post seems no longer to be present, but I still use it)

• Ten points to gauge the health of a troop (from the Scoutmaster CG Blog)
• Ask a random scout the date of the next camping trip, where they are going, what they will do there and what it costs.  Where did he learn this information?
• Ask a random parent what rank their scout holds and what they need to do to advance to the next rank.  Ask their role in advancement.  Ask when the next parents’ meeting is scheduled.
• Ask the youngest scout how to go about earning a merit badge
• How long will current Scoutmaster, Committee Chair and Chartered Organization Rep commit to staying in those positions?  Who is the next Scoutmaster, Committee Chair and Chartered Organization Rep?  Is there a transition plan?
• Ask the patrol leaders’ council to list the last 5 times they were told they could not do something or that their decision was overturned, or they were told to do something they’d rather not.
• What is the next step in training your adult leaders?  What are they doing to increase their knowledge and skill over the next six months?  The next 12 months?
• What is the year-round active recruiting plan?
• Why did the last five scouts who dropped from the roster leave?  Did they age out, or leave for other reasons?  Were those reasons discussed and addressed by the Scouters in the unit?
•  Ask a patrol leader the name and rank of each member of his patrol, and what each member needs to do for his next rank
• What is the long-range calendar?  What happens over the next five years?  What are your high adventure, advancement and participation goals
• See scoutmastercg.com/10-point-troop-checkup

Questions to ask each troop:

•  How many members, in how many patrols?  (Want to hear at least two patrols and 10-15 members minimum.)  How many new Scouts do you expect this year?
•  How many WEBELOS joined a year ago, how many are left, and what is their rank?
•  How many adults are on the Troop Committee and serving as ASM?
•  How long has your Scoutmaster been in position, average tenure of Assistant Scoutmasters, Committee Chair and members?
•  Are new adults welcome on committee and as ASM?
•  How many adults have a trained strip?  Scouter’s Training Award?  How many have completed Wood Badge?  How many committee members have completed Troop Committee Challenge?
•  How often does the PLC meet?  How is the annual program planned?  (Expect monthly PLC and youth led annual planning conference)
•  Have youth leaders completed ILST?  NYLE?  Trainer’s EDGE?  (If no one has done ILST, that’s very bad.)
•  How long has the SPL been in office?  How is he trained?  Did the adult leadership stay out of the SPL’s way during the meeting?
•  How long has the Troop Guide been in office?  Been in Scouts?  What level of training has he had?  May we meet him?
•  Which adult leader advises the Troop Guide?  How long has he been working with New Scouts?  Has he had ILOS training?  Earned his Trained Strip?
•  Will our WEBELOS be in a New Scout Patrol, or with older boys?   If a New Scout Patrol, will they be mixed with Cubs from other Packs?
•  What are dues and fees?   Average annual cost?  How is fundraising handled?
•  How often does the troop camp, and where?   High adventure?  Summer camp? Can we have a copy of your calendar?
•  What is the level of troop participation in District and Council events (Camp-o-ree, Klondike Derby, First Aid Meet etc)?  How many troop members attended an OA event in the last year?
•  Is there equipment enough for the whole troop?  Is it in good repair?  Is there sufficient budget to maintain the current equipment, plus regularly update it?  Where is it stored, and how is it transported to camp outs?
•  Is the troop in uniform?  Can scouts wear jeans with their uniforms?  Athletic shorts?  White socks, or no socks at all?
•  Is there a written discipline policy?  How does it account for scouts with behavioral problems?
•  Does the troop follow Troop Program Features for meeting plans, or use its own plan?  Advancement work in meetings or not?
•  What is the average length of time to reach First Class Rank?
•  What was your JTE Score last year and the year before?  Can I have a copy of the score worksheet?

Advice WEBELOS for parents on choosing a Scout Troop

First of all, remember that the transition is for you and your Scout to choose -- the fact that I look for specific attributes in a  Scout Troop does not necessarily mean you should.

My guide is also somewhat geared toward the fact that we are in a metropolitan area of close to 150,000 people in a BSA District that has about 30 troops in two counties.  About 20 of the troops are within a 20 minute drive of our Pack's meeting place, and many of them are closer to our members homes than our chartering organization.  (Side note, there are two local troops chartered to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.  Because their Scouting program is slightly different and includes slightly different ages for joining, I chose not to list them.  If you're an LDS Scout, check with your local council and congregation for more details)

The following is a two-page handout that will be going to my younger son's 4th grade WEBELOS Den in about 3 weeks at our Blue and Gold Banquet.  We've already made one troop visit, and last weekend observed at the Council's Klondike Derby.  We had four specific troops we intended to observe, but the boys liked a patrol from a 5th troop, and we spent a large part of our morning with them.

A few things you should know about choosing a Scout Troop:

• Our WEBELOS Den is NOT required to all join the same Scout Troop.  Although often in the past, all of the New Scouts from Pack 38 have gone to the same troop; there is no requirement to do so.  It is well worth your time and effort to consider each troop we have visited (and potentially others, as well) before determining which troop is the best fit for you and your scout.
• Consider geography.  There are scout troops all over Springfield, and in Sherman, Riverton, Rochester, New Berlin and Pleasant Plains, plus three in Chatham.  Choose a troop a comfortable distance from your home, and be aware of which school district most of the troop members attend.
• Consider troop size.  Scout troops vary greatly in size.  Some units, like Troop 210 at Asbury/Jerome UMC, are very large.  Others are much smaller.   Larger troops typically have more resources and may provide more programs to their scouts.   Smaller troops generally provide more individual attention to each scout, and tend to provide more chances for individual achievement.
• Consider the troop calendar.   Scout troops have a great deal of individual freedom in how they run the basic BSA program.   All troops will offer a long-term camp during the summer.  Some may offer multiple chances to attend long-term camp.  Some may offer a “high adventure” camp in addition to (or in place of) the basic summer camp.  Many local troops have 12 or more camping trips in a year, but some have fewer.  (Troops can have as few as 4 in a given year.)  Most troops meet year-round instead of taking the summer off like Cub Scouts.  In some cases, missing lots of summer activities may slow your scout’s advancement.
• Consider program costs.  The minimum cost for a Scout in any troop is $36 a year ($24 for National Registration and $12 for Boy’s Life).   Some troops charge the minimum, and then any additional costs are passed on following a “per scout, per activity” basis.  You’ll pay for each troop activity as it happens, and only if you participate.   Other troops follow the model that Pack 38 uses and charge an annual fee that includes the majority of annual program costs.  In these troops, you’ll pay a single annual fee that includes some specific activities.  Some troops offer a blend of these.  Most have some fund-raising to offset some costs.
• Consider uniform and equipment costs.   Most, but not all, scout troops locally expect their members to wear the full uniform (uniform shirt, uniform pants or uniform shorts and uniform socks, uniform belt and hat).   You may wish to find out if the troop you are considering maintains a “uniform bank” where uniforms are donated when no longer needed.  Scouts may take uniforms for their own use from the uniform bank if they wish.  Many troops also have troop T-shirts.  You should find out if the troop you’re considering has one of these and what costs are involved.  (Some provide a shirt as part of the annual program costs).  Likewise, find out what camping equipment the troop expects each scout to have.  (Most expect you to have a backpack, sleeping bag, mess kit, flashlight, and rain gear.)
• Consider a troop’s discipline policy.  Boy Scouts are expected to be more mature than Cub Scouts.  Ask what rules of behavior a troop expects its members to follow.  Ask what a troop’s policy is for those times when a scout doesn’t follow the troop’s rules.
• Consider the tone and general feel of a troop.  Some troops are very formal, others more casual.  Some spend half of the meeting playing a game; others spend lots of time on instruction.  Some are quiet and others boisterous.   Some have different meeting plans for summer.
• Consider the leadership of the troop.   Boy Scout Troops are supposed to be run by the boys, with advice and counsel from the adults.  When visiting, look for evidence that the program is planned and run by the boys, rather than the adults.  Be aware that sometimes a boy-run troop can be a bit more chaotic than an adult run troop . . . but in the end, your scout will get more out of the boy-run troop.  Consider also the adult leadership, and their length of service/future plans.   Joining a troop whose Scoutmaster is marking time until his son earns his Eagle and quits next summer may result in a rude shock.  Look for a troop with several trained and committed leaders, who DON’T have 16 or 17 year old sons.
• Consider the training level of the troop.  It’s mandatory that the Scoutmaster and Assistant Scoutmasters have completed BSA Youth Protection Training.  You should ask what level of additional training the adults have.  (In particular, look for adults wearing a “Trained” strip on their sleeve and for adults wearing a leather thong around their neck with wooden beads hanging from the thong).   Ask how many youth in the troop have been trained, and to what level.  Most troops provide some training in the troop.  Ask about ILST “Introduction to Leadership Skills – Troop,” the basic course available for troops to use to teach leadership.  Well run troops send one or more youth to “NYLE” the “National Youth Leadership Experience” which is offered annually by each council.  Exceptional troops will have sent an occasional member to NAYLE – the National Advanced Youth Leadership Experience, offered at one of the BSA National Level camps.  These scouts serve on staff for the local training course.
• Consider quality.   There is no single metric for the quality of a troop’s program, but a close approximation is in their Journey to Excellence score.  Don’t be afraid to ask if they qualified for JTE last year, and at what level.   They should be able to tell you bronze, silver or gold for the last several years.  You could also consider asking how many Eagle scouts the troop has produced in the last several years, and when was the most recent.
• Consider the environment in which the troop meets and camps.  Do they have a clean, spacious, well-lit meeting area?   Is the troop’s equipment stored in a trailer, or a garage, or a storeroom in the building . . . or is it in the Scoutmaster’s garage or even sent home with various families?   Is the troop’s equipment in good shape?
• Consider tradition, family and friends.   It goes without saying . . . but if your scout’s father and grandfather were in a troop, you should consider joining that troop.  If your church or social organization sponsors a troop, you should consider joining that troop.  Troop 3, at Douglas Avenue UMC, is the oldest continuously active troop in the Abraham Lincoln Council (Founded in 1915, and in continuous service since 1942).   If your scout’s best friends joined a specific troop, you may consider joining that troop as well.

Once you’ve chosen a troop:

There are things you need to do once you’ve chosen a troop.

•          Inform your Den Leader. 
•         Inform that troop.  They should have an application and medical forms for your scout.  (Parts A and B you can fill out right away.  Part C must be completed by a doctor before summer camp.)  Probably, they will also have an adult application for you. 
• .       Confirm your new troop’s meeting time and location.   Find out what time is the earliest you can drop off, and the latest you can pick up.  You don’t want to wait 20 minutes in the car before someone arrives, or worse - arrive mid-meeting.  Likewise, if you’re the last to pick up your scout, two adults will have to wait with your scout until you arrive.
• .       Make sure you have an up-to-date Troop Calendar. 
• .       Get to know five people, right away.  The adults you should know are the Scoutmaster, the Assistant Scoutmaster running the New Scout program, and the Troop Committee Chair.  (These three adults will have all the information you need, and will be glad to listen to your questions and/or complaints.)   The other two you should know are older boys.  The Senior Patrol Leader is the boy who runs the troop.  You should know who he is.  (Look for a patch on his left sleeve with a silver-colored Boy Scout Symbol over three equal bars.)  The Troop Guide is the boy who will be working most closely with the new scouts.  (Look for a patch on his left sleeve with a bright red Boy Scout Symbol over three equal bars.)   Everyone else can wait . . .
• .       Confirm your new troop’s policy on uniforms, and any suggestions on camping equipment.  Some troops don’t expect new scouts to wear their uniform until they earn Tenderfoot rank, others will expect WEBELOS Crossing over to be in correct uniforms right away.   Some units will need you to have proper winter camping gear right away, others will expect very minimal camping gear, or may have gear to loan.
• .       Confirm summer camp dates, and dates for any deposits.  Confirm with the Pack any camp fees that they might forward to your new troop, and under what conditions.

WEBELOS Transition Introduction.

For several years, I've been adding to a collection of information about transitioning boys from Cub Scouts (4th and 5th graders are WEBELOS -- for WE'll BE LOyal Scouts) until they complete their Arrow of Light or turn 11 years old or complete 5th grade.  When one of those conditions is met, they can join a Boy Scout Troop.

Some background is in order -- for those who don't know, I was a Cub Scout starting in 2nd grade (1976) until I turned 11 in 1980.  My Pack was having some difficulties at the time, and I didn't earn the Arrow of Light (nor did anyone else).  I was the only member of my pack to join the troop I joined in January 1980 (someone fudged the requirements a little, and I attended a camp out as a "Scout" about 3 weeks before I was eligible to join).   In January 1981, after a move, I joined a troop where I spent the next 6 years and earned my Eagle Scout Award.

I was very lucky as an 18 year old college freshman, and another student observed that I was wearing a National Scout Jamboree T-shirt my first day of classes at college.  Long story short, he gave me a ride to a meeting that night at a local troop and I served through the next 3 years as their Assistant Scoutmaster working with the first year scouts.  (Wisely, our Scoutmaster didn't want an 18 year old working with the 16 and 17 year old junior leaders).

After finishing college, I served a year as an Assistant Scoutmaster at Troop 3 in Springfield IL, and then 5 years as their Scoutmaster before moving to Bloomington IL and serving 6 years as Scoutmaster of Troop 18.

Troop 3 was notably successful in recruiting and integrating WEBELOS into the troop and Troop 18 was not.  As a result, Troop 3 grew from 4 scouts in the fall of 1990 to 45 scouts when I left in December 1995 (and my successor grew the troop to nearly 70 scouts at one point).  Troop 18 wavered between 10 and 14 scouts the whole time I was involved.

After my involvement with Troop 18 ended due to professional commitments, I wasn't directly involved with Scouting until my older son became a Tiger Cub in 2011.

Our Pack does not have a co-sponsored troop, so we continually have to evaluate where our WEBELOS will go when they leave the pack.  Since 2011, we've had boys join (or commit to join next month) four separate troops, and there are two others in the running for future scouts.

I've been advising parents informally since the fall of 2012 regarding troops to visit and how to choose.   The following items are the current results of that work.  (By the way, for those who are deeply involved with Scouting -- this collection of information is being organized into a "WEBELOS Parent's Orientation" as part of my Wood Badge Ticket)

First -- general information from a course in the topic that I took in January 2015 at a University of Scouting event hosted by the Lewis and Clark Council of the Boy Scouts of America.  (Note that anything in parenthesis with my initials "prp" is my addition or editorial comment rather than course material as given)

From Lewis and Clark Council University of Scouting, January 31, 2015

The importance of the WEBELOS Leader

·         Must provide a good outdoor program

·         Should enjoy a good relationship with a Boy Scout Troop (or two – prp)

·         Should have completed Scoutmaster Position Specific training if possible

WEBELOS Den Leader’s Job

·         Have the den function like a Boy Scout Patrol

·         Offer multiple opportunities for WEBELOS to camp

·         Ensure necessary scoutcraft skills are taught

·         Become familiar with local troops (through roundtable or other adult training opportunities)

·         Recruit a Den Chief

·         Plan bridging ceremony (or ceremonies)

·         Verify transfer of records to the troop after crossover

Receiving Scoutmaster’s role

·         Include WEBELOS den in summer camp reservations and promotions (less of an issue with winter crossovers – prp)

·         Discuss camp, troop activities and costs with WEBELOS parents

·         Invite the WEBELOS and parents to troop meetings and some outings – AND BE WELCOMING (emphasis added – prp)

·         Become part of the pack graduation ceremony

·         Assist in finding Den Chiefs for the WEBELOS Dens

·         Ensure all forms are completed

·         Must understand the good in having WEBELOS observe the troop

·         Invite the WEBELOS Den Leader to become part of the troop (preferably observing older scouts at first – prp)

·         Hold a pre-summer camp orientation for Scout skills to make sure new scouts are ready for long term camp (Again, this is less of a problem with early crossover – prp)

Assistant Scoutmaster’s role

·         Help to form the new scout patrol (or patrols – prp)

·         Make sure WEBELOS Feel welcome and that they are part of the troop

·         Advise the Troop Guide in planning instruction of Scout Skills and patrol learning

·         Assist with advancement through First Class (Scout, Tenderfoot, Second Class, First Class)

·         Verify and reinforce good Scout Skills – be a role model

The Den Chief’s role

·         Resource for Scout Skills (Across all dens, not just WEBELOS –prp)

·         Help form WEBELOS Den into a patrol and instill patrol spirit

·         Help WEBELOS Patrol operate with Patrol Method

·         Assist at Ceremonies

·         Be a good role model

Cubmaster’s Role

·         Fall and Winter – Develop a point of contact with local troops, examine membership levels and schedules (can be delegated to others, but CM should have this knowledge in the long term – prp)

·         Summer – Confirm WEBELOS on target for outdoor program (especially with the 2015 WEBELOS Requirements – prp)

·         September – Confirm potential crossover dates with WEBELOS Den and Troops, encourage visits to troops (for BOTH 4^th and 5^th Graders – prp) and confirm 5^th Graders have made at least tentative decisions about where to transfer.

·         September-April – Ensure Arrow of Light is completed, AOL is recorded and all records are transferred to the troop.

Suggested Transition Plan

·         Plan should be finalized in November or December (read this as “60 days before crossover” – prp)

·         Pack shares roster (address, phone, email) with troop

·         Troop provides camp plan and fees (and troop calendar! – prp) to the pack before crossover

·         Within the last 60 days before crossover, set a date for the Scoutmaster(s) to meet with WEBELOS Parents (familiarization, camp promotion, general orientation)

·         The FOLLOWING year’s WEBELOS (4^th graders) should visit the troop within 30-45 days of crossover (this was not in the original notes, but developed from a post-course discussion with the instructor – prp)

“Graduation Briefing”

·         Remind the WEBELOS that Merit Badges are similar to their activity badges

o   Accuracy is important

o   Neatness is important

o   Timeliness is important

·         Provide a copy of the “Scout” rank requirements (especially important for 2016 crossovers, as the requirement changed 1/1/2016 – prp)

·         Remind them that this is the continuation of a journey, not something new.

·         Remind them that the Scoutmaster and Junior Leaders have been recruiting them for a year or more – they ARE wanted in the troop.

Recommended timeline

·         Fall 4^th grade, visit first troop.  WEBELOS should visit at least two troops.  Troops being considered should be visited more than once – the first time by prior arrangement and the second visit by “surprise” (less than a week’s notice – so the troop can’t plan something special, but with enough warning that you’re not showing up on a night they aren’t meeting or are conducting an election or something like that)

·         Fall 4^th grade, den should have an overnight (WEBELOS Resident camp or WEBELOS Woods both count for this – prp).  Den should act as a patrol, plan menus with the help of Den Leaders, Troop Guides, etc.)

·         Winter 4^th grade, den should choose a name, make a flag, create a yell and start wearing their patrol emblem on the right sleeve (optional, for Tan uniforms).   Especially recommended that the den begin using a rotating Denner as “Patrol Leader” (note that when this class was given, the requirement to do this for “Scouting Adventure” was not known yet – prp)

·         Spring 4^th grade, visit second troop, and have 2^nd (surprise visit) to the troop visited last fall.

·         Spring 4^th grade, additional overnight den outings, as needed to complete requirements (course materials mention “Outdoorsman” from 2003 requirements, but apply now to Cast Iron Chef, WEBELOS Walkabout, Camper and Scouting Adventure – prp)

·         Spring 4^th grade, joint camp with one of the troops visited.  If possible, camp as an extra patrol in their troop.

·         Summer after 4^th grade, resident camp

·         Fall 5^th grade, second (surprise) visit to second troop.   Visit additional troops as needed.

·         Fall 5^th grade, joint camp with second troop visited.  (Additional camp outs beyond this one are good, unless they interfere with the troop or pack schedule)

·         Late fall 5^th grade, final visit to troop chosen to join.

·         Winter 5^th grade, crossover

·         Spring 5^th grade, Pack adult leadership follows up with troop

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas from Chatham!

Yes, it’s true – after just a bit over nine years in Springfield, we packed up and moved 11.6 miles south and east to our new home.

The year had a few other exciting moments too, but mostly they centered around our quest to move and the aftermath of moving.

We started the year off sadly – Lucy, the pet I adopted as a single man, who had patiently adjusted to a wife, two kids and a move, died on what would have been my parents 50^th wedding anniversary.

Not long afterward, we decided that if we were ever going to sell our house, we’d need to remodel it. . . so through the winter we decided what would go and what would stay, and then over a two-week period in February and March, we moved out (Thanks for loaning us your place, Dad!) while workers replaced all of the interior doors, replaced the carpet and flooring in the bathroom and laundry room and painted all of the walls and ceilings.    When the weather warmed up a bit, we touched up the exterior paint and put the house on the market.

We can assure you that nothing reminds you of the comforts of home so much as the need to keep that home clean and ready at a moment’s notice to be staged for a realtor and potential buyer.  Indeed, at least twice we had zero notice (once, literally as we were pre-heating a skillet to prepare dinner).

And we also discovered that the only thing more stressful than attempting to sell a home, is the panic of realizing you’re closing the sale of your home in 40 days and haven’t yet found a place to buy.

But in July, it all worked out (with a final burst of confusion . . . NEVER schedule roofers, electricians and movers all on the same day) – and over the course of a week, we packed everything, moved it, unpacked it and settled into our new home. 

We’re still adjusting – but we’ve got great neighbors and the boys are loving their new schools.  Joshua, particularly. (His old school was notable for being the first school in Springfield IL to be built with indoor plumbing, in 1915.   The new building was built in 1995.) 

We’ve managed to do the typical Springfield things – we attended minor league hockey and baseball games this year (although we managed to miss high school football – there’s always next year), and we spent a day at the State Fair.   Although, our State Fair visit was enlivened when newly elected Governor Bruce Rauner arrived unannounced at the Dairy Building just as the boys were finishing their milkshakes.   (For those keeping score, Joshua’s shaken hands with the last two governors now.)

We’ve all been remarkably healthy this year, and the boys are continuing to do what boys do best – eat and grow.

We’re continuing our involvement with Scouting – Joshua’s been proudly serving as a leader in his den this fall (although he’s ready to hand the responsibilities to someone else come January) and John finished his time as a Cub Scout by earning all of the awards available to him and joining one of the Boy Scout Troops in Chatham on December 17.   Patrick’s continuing to volunteer much more than Karen would like, serving as a Pack Committee Member, Assistant Den Leader in Joshua’s Den, and “fill-in” Den Leader for the boys a year younger than Joshua.  At the same time, he’s continuing his work on the District Staff, and just added a role as a Troop Committee Member for John’s new troop.   Karen’s serving as Pack 38’s Chaplain, and spent the fall leading 9 young men through their “God and Family” awards, and 11 first through third graders in their “God and Me” award in one long December day.   She’s also joined the Troop Committee for John’s troop.

As if her Scouting wasn’t enough, Karen has been carefully adjusting her diet and exercise, and has lost 40 pounds since May.   She’s also added more hours in her job with Dennis Foot and Ankle Center, returning to patient care part of the time, while serving as Office Manager the rest of the time.   And still working as an Outpatient Therapist at Lincoln Prairie Behavioral Health Center.   She’s now the longest-serving therapist in her department.

We’re hoping that this note finds you well, and that you’re celebrating the joys of the season.

With much love,

Patrick, Karen, John and Joshua

John – 5^th Grade

Joshua – 4^th Grade

Merry Christmas from all of us!

Lucy: 12/1/2001-2/12/2015

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas everyone!   In skimming through the 10 (wow!) previous Christmas letters, I notice a theme . . . any time we get an early start on the letter, our house is visited by illness.  So, out of an abundance of caution, we waited until December 20!

It’s been a difficult year, with the death in June of Patrick’s mother.  She died peacefully, surrounded by her husband and sons.  The last week of June was spent reflecting on her life and legacy.  While we were grateful to see many family and friends, we would have been much happier if they were visiting for a different reason.

Patrick’s work has been stressful, but rewarding – as he continues updating system analysis and participating in the design of new financial software for the Illinois Department of Transportation.  He’s gotten a whole new education in bureaucracy as IDOT purchased specialized software to automate some system analysis tasks, and he’s had to work with the state’s Central Management Services to acquire the software and servers to run it.  He’s spending far more time in meetings than he likes, but progress is being made.  He continues to serve as a Cub Scout leader, and was recognized in the fall with the Scouter’s Training Award for Cub Scouters (represented by a small pin on an existing patch on his uniform)

Karen’s had the most productive year of her career, as well as a year of personal milestones.  In March, she was one of a band of crazies who jumped into the frigid waters of Lake Springfield as part of the Polar Plunge to raise money for the Special Olympics.  They raised $85,000 dollars, but had to deal with the fact that they were restricted by the size of the relatively small area where the 8-inch-thick ice on Lake Springfield had been cut away.  She followed that up in April by becoming a published author – her article “The ‘S’ Method: Eight Effective Components for Treating Depression” which was in the April issue of “Contact” -- The magazine of The Illinois Counseling Association.  This led to spending her summer helping a professor at her Alma Mater, Lincoln Christian University to rewrite the curriculum for one of the graduate-level counseling courses.  She reports that after that experience she has no desire to be a professor.  She wound up her year, by adding another new experience.  She took three weeks of lessons to learn to shoot a bow and arrow, so that she may keep up with her Cub Scouts on an archery range.

Collectively, Karen and I completed a long-held goal in July – we’ve finally visited every winery in the State of Illinois, and purchased a bottle from each.   We’re in the process of consolidating our tasting notes from 110 wineries into book form, before beginning a search for a publisher.

The boys are continuing to thrive.  John is 4^th grader, and the highlight of his year so far was the Egg Drop last fall.  His class had a week to build (at home – with parental help) a container to hold a raw egg as it was dropped from the third floor fire escape at his school.   John’s creation had the egg cradled in a nest of rubber bands, suspended from a handmade parachute.  He was thrilled when his egg survived without a scratch.  John’s continuing in Cub Scouts as a first-year WEBELOS.  WEBLOS Cubs are expected to complete 8 activity badges over two years, and John’s set a goal to complete all 20 available badges.  He’s well on his way, with 12 completed as of this weekend.  He’s learning the harsh lesson that Dad won’t sign off on everything, and so is a bit frustrated that he hasn’t completed his WEBELOS Badge yet – he needs one more specific badge, and will complete it with the rest of the boys in his den in January.

Joshua’s continuing his string of excellent teachers, and is finally buckling down and getting caught up with his classmates in math.  (He continues to read a grade-level ahead of them.)  His love of baking continues, and in fact he spent the afternoon baking Christmas Cookies with his mother.  (He’s asked if he can bake bread during his Christmas break.)  Joshua’s also very active in Cub Scouts.  He was the number-one popcorn seller in his Den as a Bear Cub.  (He doesn’t know it, but he was also the 5^th highest seller of the 51 boys in the pack.)   Joshua completed the requirements for his Bear Badge earlier this week, meeting his big goal for the year, which was to earn it faster than John did.

We had pretty good year with our very old dog (13 years), Lucy right up until mid-December.  She has been growing ever more tired and feeble.   When the summer got hot, we quit walking her, and never restarted in the fall, due to arthritis and cancerous tumors in her legs.  The particular form of cancer she has can lead to abdominal problems and ulcers (she’s been taking Pepcid AC every day since July 2013), and on December 13 her ulcers flared up and we had to take her to the vet.  New medicine has helped, but her time is growing short.  She’s lived a long and very eventful life for a dog (I was a single man when I bought her).

Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas,

Patrick, Karen, John, Joshua and Lucy

     

 

 Lucy -- Age 13 -- December 2014

 Provart Family -- September 2014

 Joshua -- 8 1/2 years, 3rd grade, September 2014

    John -- 9 1/2 years, 4th grade, September 2014 

The Dirty Dozen

For those who don't know . . . I was a scout as a youth, rising to Eagle Scout just short of my 18th birthday.

I got very lucky as a freshman in college -- I happened to wear a National Scout Jamboree T-shirt to my first day of classes, which led to lunch with a fellow Eagle -- which led to him giving me a ride to a troop meeting that night, and 3 years as an Assistant Scoutmaster while a full time college student.

I dropped out of college after my Junior year and started night school, and spent a year as an Assistant Scoutmaster of Troop 3 in Springfield IL before serving almost exactly 4 years as Scoutmaster of Troop 3.   Then I packed up and moved 70 miles northeast, where I served as Scoutmaster of Troop 18 in Bloomington IL for just short of 6 years before transitioning to Troop 18's Chartered Organization Rep for about a year.

Being a Scoutmaster necessarily entails dealing with a lot of parents, and often when they aren't on their best behavior.   As part of a parent's guide I put together years ago, I listed "The Dirty Dozen Parents" and subtitled it "How not to Become a Campfire Story" -- names and identifying details have been changed . . . and I should point out that of the 12 stories listed here, 6 of the boys ended up earning their Eagle.  (And one of the parents mentioned had multiple Eagles in the house)

So here, the Dirty Dozen, in the spirit of providing an example you should NOT follow:

By the way, I'm NOT the scoutmaster listed in number 4, although I am the scoutmaster in all of the other stories.

The Dirty Dozen

Or

“How to Become a Campfire Story”

Over the years, as hundreds of young men have come through the troop, a number of parents have stood out from the crowd for the negative experience they caused in dealing with the troop.  Here’s a quick primer in ways YOU can become one of the “Dirty Dozen.”

1.      1.   Be a “Helicopter Parent” – hovering over your scout every moment of every event, to protect him from ANY responsibility for his own progress or safety.  Story: While preparing to depart for a camp out, a scout’s mother angrily informed the scoutmaster that “My son says on the last trip, he didn't wear his seat belt in the car.  What are YOU going to do about it?”

2.   2.  Assume that BSA Safety Rules don’t apply to you.  Story: as the troop prepared for a whitewater trip, a parent announced that he wouldn't allow his son to go in a canoe without him.  Problem – dad was neither willing nor able to pass the BSA Swimmer test, which means he’s not allowed to be in a canoe at all.  His response: “The rules don’t apply to me because I’m not a boy.”  The resolution: neither father nor son went on the trip.

3.      3.   Blame the Troop/BSA/Scoutmaster or someone else for your failure to update your records.  Story: When the troop calendar was originally published in August, the time for the FEBRUARY outing was incorrect.  The time was corrected when the error was noticed in November.  The correction was announced at a troop Court of Honor in November, mentioned at four Troop Committee Meetings, announced every week for three months in meetings, and sent home on a permission slip the parents signed.  ONE scout and his father came in mid-February at the original time from the August calendar.   The father very loudly blamed the Scoutmaster for changing the time, despite the fact that 35 other families had gotten correct information.

4.      4.   Assume that BSA Advancement Requirements can be bent in order to benefit your scout.  Story: A young man about to get his driver’s license was quickly losing interest in Scouting.  He finished his Eagle project which included building and painting two outhouses at a local youth campground.  When filling out his Eagle Scout Application, it was discovered that he was short ONE merit badge, so his Assistant Scoutmaster dad signed off on Painting Merit Badge (“my son PAINTED those buildings”).  Because the merit badge card had been signed, and reported to Council before the problem was found, the boy was awarded Painting MB, but the Scoutmaster refused to allow him to count it toward his Eagle.  He ended up earning one extra merit badge.

5.       5.  Wrap up your own self-worth in your Scout’s achievements.  Story: A group of gifted young men joined the troop all at the same time. One of them was the son of his WEBELOS Leader, who became a Troop Committee Member.  The son was a good scout, but others were better, and the son was not elected to the Order of the Arrow on the first ballot for which he was eligible.  Two of his peers were.  When the OA Calling-out Ceremony concluded and the boy had not been called out, the father threw his hat on the ground and began loudly cursing about how unfair it was that his son hadn't been elected.  Resolution: the District Executive asked the father to control his temper or leave; and soon after, the father and son both quit scouting.

6.       6.  Assume that your scout can do no wrong, and that his misbehavior is justifiable and excused.  Story: a Scout had some truly terrible things happen to him in his younger days, and was now living with his Grandmother.  Grandmother assured him that whatever he wanted or felt at that moment was correct; any behavior of his was justified because of the bad things that had happened.  He often argued and fought with other scouts who had to deal with him.  Final straw – when planning a menu he bullied the rest of his patrol into pancakes, when they wanted something requiring less work.  On that camp out, when he realized how much work the clean-up crew would have to do, he demanded that the patrol switch to instant oatmeal. (There was enough for each patrol member to have one envelope of oatmeal each day)  When the Assistant Patrol Leader objected, this scout punched him in the face.  Grandmother was so unhappy that she had been asked to come pick up her Scout from the camp out that she wrote letters to the Chartering Organization and the Council Office complaining of unfair treatment.  The boy moved to another troop and lasted less than a year before being asked to leave due to fighting.

7.      7.   Make substitutions in assignments sent home with your scout – especially assignments for scouts in a position of responsibility.   Story – the instructions for a camp out in early March included “every meal should include a hot main dish.”   During Friday night, while the troop slept, temperatures plummeted and snow fell.  Saturday morning, the troop woke to a half inch of snow and 15 degree temperatures.  Three of the four patrols in the troop built fires and got hot food.  The fourth patrol, despite having bacon and eggs on their menu, didn’t light a fire or cook their food.  When the SPL checked on them, he found that the Patrol Leader’s mother had decided the menu was “too much work” and had replaced everything on it.  The patrol had cold cereal for breakfast, pb&J for lunch and hot dogs for dinner, with no buns (“so they could have a weenie roast” said mom.)  Short term result – a group of scouts so miserable that the troop pulled out after lunch on Saturday to come home early.   Long term result – instead of completing the cooking requirement for First Class Scout, no one in that patrol did.  Their advancement to First Class was delayed two months until they could meet the requirement. 

8.       8.  Assume that the troop’s rules don’t apply to your scout.  Story: In the late 90’s when cell phones were still fairly rare and expensive, a troop had a rule (really intended for video games and music players) that electronic devices could only be used in the cars on the way to or from a camp out and that the troop was not responsible for the devices.  (The actual wording in a parent’s guide was “Don’t send any electronic device you’re not willing to have broken or lost.”)  New scout, away from home for the first time, had mom’s brand new flip-phone with him, hidden in his gear.  Saturday afternoon, he used the phone to call mom and tell her he was having a great time, put the phone in his pocket and promptly fell into the creek beside the campsite.  In the process of getting out of the creek, the phone, which was probably already wet, fell out of his pocket.  When it was found in the muddy water 10-15 minutes later, it was thoroughly ruined.  Mom was very upset with the troop, and tried to get the troop and church to replace her phone.

9.       9.  Ignore troop financial rules and policies.  Story: Scout mom had checks for scout popcorn made out to her instead of the troop.  She wrote a single check to the troop for all of her son’s popcorn sales.  The first time the troop attempted to cash the check it was returned for insufficient funds.  She was called by the Committee Chair and promised that it could be cashed at the end of the week.  The second time the troop attempted to cash the check, the account had been closed.  The mom refused to answer the phone or door, until a registered letter was sent giving her 30 days to make good her debt (which was the majority of the troop’s profit) or the Chartering Organization would file a criminal complaint.  She eventually paid the troop back, and had never intended to take the money – she just thought it would be more convenient to have the checks made to her so she wouldn't lose them. 

1   10.  Be overly attentive to your scout’s perceived problems.  Story:  First year camper had a few rough patches in his week at camp.  Thursday morning, he’d cut his finger badly enough to require stitches.  Friday morning, he was told he couldn't participate in an aquatic event because stitches and lake water don’t mix.  In tears, he used the camp payphone to call home and ask mom to come get him – which she did.  She did not, however, sign him out or inform anyone except his 11 year old tent mate that he was leaving.  When the scout was not present at lunch and the scout’s mom couldn't be reached on the phone, the Camp Director insisted on following policy and called for a lost camper drill.  The other 75 or so scouts in camp that week lost more than an hour of their Friday afternoon activities while camp was searched until the mom returned the phone call and confirmed she had her son.

111.   Fail to keep outcomes in perspective.  Story: On a rainy camp out, a young scout was warned three times not to leave a skillet of bacon grease unattended on the camp stove while he moved bacon to another pan to stay warm while he cooked.  After the third warning, the unattended grease caught fire in a crowded dining fly.  The assistant cook using the other burner was slightly burned, and an adult leader had to toss the burning pan out into the rain.  The inattentive cook was chewed out by the Scoutmaster.  At the next committee meeting, his mom complained about the chewing-out.  Another leader who had been present said: “You DO realize he nearly set another scout on fire, right?  We would have had a real problem if our adults had been even a little slower.”  The upset mother said “That’s not important – the scoutmaster could have done real psychological damage to my son.”  The mother of the boy who was burned disagreed.

112.   Assume that any scout who advances faster than your scout must be cheating somehow.  Story: A truly exceptional young man completed his Eagle Scout requirements about 60 days before he turned 13.  The mother of another scout in the troop accused the troop of “cheating” because both of the young Eagle’s parents were involved in troop leadership and had counseled him for Merit Badges.  The accuser said “He’s only an Eagle so young because his parents GAVE him those badges.”  At the direction of the Troop Committee Chair, the Scoutmaster produced a list of all of the merit badges taught by the young Eagle’s parents and who had earned them.  Turned out the accuser’s son had earned three more merit badges from the Eagle’s parents than the Eagle had.  One of the three was a topic the Eagle wasn't interested in, and the other two were still in progress because the Eagle hadn't finished the requirements to his parents’ standards, and the accuser’s son had.