Scouting anyone?

[Feraud]

It's a pity that a lot of todays teenagers think it's just not 'cool'.

Right. If an outdoor activity is not "extreme" (meaning somthing stupid enough to get you seriously injured or killed) society tends to look down on it.

Many people take a "these kids today..." attitude but I blame the parents who allow such ideas to flourish in their children.

 

[Mike K.]

Interest in scouting has waxed and waned over the years, and will likely continue to do so. I recall reading that there was a very pronounced decline within the Boy Scouts during the 1970s, followed by a membership spike in the 1980s (when I was a scout). I suspect that what we are currently seeing is only temporary and that something will trigger increased interest sometime down the road. Take this article about scouting in the UK that shows a recent upsurge in interest due to TV adventurer Bear Grylls being named the new Chief Scout.

http://scouts.org.uk/news/187/new-chief-scout-leads-to-flurry-of-interest-in-scouting

 

[Spitfire]

I believe the problem with modern scouting is, that they try too hard to be modern! - In order to attract kids.

Instead they should go back to old-school, vintage scouting. As it used to be - and was meant to be. (Hiking, camping, making your food on a fire, surviving...)
To day a scoutmeeting (at least in Denmark) consist of a soccergame, some computergames and some scateboards.
You can get that everywhere!!!!
But there is nowhere you can learn to build a fire in pouring rain - and light it with only two matches.
If I should start a scouttroop today, I would make it totally "vintage scouting" And it would be a raving succes!

 

[Feraud]

Take this article about scouting in the UK that shows a recent upsurge in interest due to TV adventurer Bear Grylls being named the new Chief Scout.

http://scouts.org.uk/news/187/new-chief-scout-leads-to-flurry-of-interest-in-scouting

Great! Maybe the U.S. scouts will take a lesson.

 

[Lefty]

My dad is still an active Asst. Scoutmaster. He told me about his camping experience two weeks ago. It was All Scouts Day weekend - sort of a weekend exhibition of scouts showing off their skills to the public while camping in a city park. When word got around that severe storms were predicted, all of the i-scouts broke out their phones, looked at the radar, and called their parents to be picked-up. We're not talking tornadoes, we're talking thunderstorms. Phones have made wimps of them all.


/rant

 

[jamespowers]

I believe the problem with modern scouting is, that they try too hard to be modern! - In order to attract kids.

Instead they should go back to old-school, vintage scouting. As it used to be - and was meant to be. (Hiking, camping, making your food on a fire, surviving...)
To day a scoutmeeting (at least in Denmark) consist of a soccergame, some computergames and some scateboards.
You can get that everywhere!!!!
But there is nowhere you can learn to build a fire in pouring rain - and light it with only two matches.
If I should start a scouttroop today, I would make it totally "vintage scouting" And it would be a raving succes!

Those are all good points. Having been stuck out in the snow more than once (during an Ordeal no less ), I know it stinks but you deal with it.
I have not been back to my troop in years but It was not about games and silly stuff back then. It was about the true scouting you mention---achievement. You learned to tie knots(that, amazingly, I still use today), camping skills, personal skills, leadership skills and maybe earned a merit badge or two.

 

[Feraud]

My dad is still an active Asst. Scoutmaster. He told me about his camping experience two weeks ago. It was All Scouts Day weekend - sort of a weekend exhibition of scouts showing off their skills to the public while camping in a city park. When word got around that severe storms were predicted, all of the i-scouts broke out their phones, looked at the radar, and called their parents to be picked-up. We're not talking tornadoes, we're talking thunderstorms. Phones have made wimps of them all.


/rant

It is not the phones but the adults who allow this weak behavior to flourish. The adults are the ones who are supposed to know better and be the leaders. Since when do kids make the rules?

 

[jamespowers]

It is not the phones but the adults who allow this weak behavior to flourish. The adults are the ones who are supposed to know better and be the leaders. Since when do kids make the rules?

That has been going on since parents have allowed their children to carry cell phones. I could just hear my mother: "What do you need a cell phone for? You don't have an office to contact for your messages."

 

[1961MJS]

Hi

"Be Prepared" means being prepared to stay somewhere and survive no matter what happens. IFFF a tornado is coming your way, leaving is a good option. If a tornado isn't coming, staying is pretty much a given in our troop. Our troop leaders have cell phones, but we don't generally like the kids to take them along.

One thing that hasn't helped make Scouting popular is the "Character Counts" slogan. Character Counts gets parents to put their kids in scouting, it is especially attractive to those parents who can't seem to get their kids to behave. Having a troop full of kids "who NEEED scouting" runs the other kids off.

Troop 510 Committee

 

[Feraud]

One thing that hasn't helped make Scouting popular is the "Character Counts" slogan. Character Counts gets parents to put their kids in scouting, it is especially attractive to those parents who can't seem to get their kids to behave. Having a troop full of kids "who NEEED scouting" runs the other kids off.

Troop 510 Committee

I am confused by this. Are you saying scouting is being hurt by the kids who need it most?

 

[Lefty]

That has been going on since parents have allowed their children to carry cell phones. I could just hear my mother: "What do you need a cell phone for? You don't have an office to contact for your messages."

Yep. A leader can talk about scouting, being prepared, roughing it, etc., but if a scout decides to call home, and mom or dad doesn't talk the scout into staying, it's over. IMO, only leaders should have phones, and those should only be for emergencies; no contact with parents unless there is a real medical need.

 

[Mav]

Having been stuck out in the snow more than once (during an Ordeal no less ),

Good Lord. Where was your Ordeal? I only had to deal with rain, and I thought that sucked.

 

[jamespowers]

Good Lord. Where was your Ordeal? I only had to deal with rain, and I thought that sucked.

Los Mochos. We were pretty shocked as well. Especially having to get it off of the sleeping bag in the morning.
Then you know what you have to do the next day---well it was in the snow. At least the snow wasn't falling. It was just on the ground. The snow cleared out by mid day but it was pretty darn cold.
That was a very strange year in terms of temperatures in the Cold Livermore mountains.

 

[Mav]

Then you know what you have to do the next day---well it was in the snow.

Gah. One would think that the wardrobe requirement would have been waved. I guess that's why they call it an Ordeal.

 

[jamespowers]

Gah. One would think that the wardrobe requirement would have been waved. I guess that's why they call it an Ordeal.

You just had to Be Prepared. Being right next to a tree didn't help much though. lol

 

[miss_elise]

well, i can't comment on scouting, but our Guide pack does everything from playing games and mucking about to good old fashioned colours ceremonies (which they love) and camping.

All of my girls know how to light a match, different tracking signals, and to use a public telephone (in case their mobile is dead in an emergency - which surprisingly few of them knew how to do), but they also know how to make icecream in 5 minutes and silly goo...

it really depends on the leaders and their implementation of the programs and values of these movements. You can still have the same values but if you implement them in such a way that the kids still enjoy them, then you shouldn't have too many problems with numbers.

One of my fellow leaders said recently that she had forgotten that it didn't always need to be about 'fun' but the girls are actually very receptive to more serious issues as well.

"Bilby"
1st Hartwell Pack Leader & Camberwell District Leader
Girl Guides Australia

 

[1961MJS]

I am confused by this. Are you saying scouting is being hurt by the kids who need it most?

Bingo.

The primary reason that kids today NEED character development is that their parents are unable and unwilling to discipline them.

One child that is impossible to control can and will wreck any organization fairly quickly. If you have a boy who acts up in 2 meetings, other kids will quit showing up at the 3rd meeting. Scouts gets these kids through our slogan Character Counts.

Later

 

[Mav]

Bingo.

The primary reason that kids today NEED character development is that their parents are unable and unwilling to discipline them.

One child that is impossible to control can and will wreck any organization fairly quickly. If you have a boy who acts up in 2 meetings, other kids will quit showing up at the 3rd meeting. Scouts gets these kids through our slogan Character Counts.

Later

Sadly, I agree. I think that extends to other youth groups, as well. I've seen a couple of DeMolay Chapters dissolve due to a few undisciplined kids. These groups don't provide basic discipline; they refine and teach skills to kids who are disciplined at home.

 

[Andykev]

Boy Scouts

Circa 1968 or so. My twin brother and I at a Scout camp out.

 

[NDW76]

I was involved in scouting throughout most of my child hood and a fair bit of my teen years. There was no PC stuff when I was involved, but it came in shortly after. When I joined the local scouts the scout master who had just left liked children a little too much. Understandably many of the other children were screwed up by this. So it was in scouting that I learned how to turn everyday items into weapons. One kid also taught me how to tie a noose. Sadly he isn't with us anymore.