Father (or Mother) knows best? Maybe, but that’s not how a Scout troop, Varsity team or Venturing crew is supposed to work. Scouting is a youth-led, youth-run organization. Your responsibility as an adult leader is to
You’ll notice it right away, of course. You’ll see Tristan across the room at your pack or troop meeting this week and instantly spot the unit numerals on the wrong sleeve, the rank patch on
If BSA founder James E. West were around today, how would your Scouts address him? Mr. West? James? Mr. James? Jimmy E.? The way Scouts and Venturers address leaders was on the mind of Scouter
Quality trumps quantity when it comes to Scouting. A well-run unit of 15 to 20 boys or girls beats a dysfunctional unit of 80 to 100 Scouts every time. (Many larger troops thrive, but only
In your unit, is a Scout’s contact info freely available or guarded like nuclear launch codes? Two forces are competing here: Effective, efficient communication between families — and privacy. How do you straddle the thin line
Scouts trade with Scouts; adults trade with adults. Along with “trade one for one,” “always shake hands,” and “don’t bring money into a deal,” it’s one of the central tenets of patch trading. But does
You can’t blame this one on inflation. More than 60 years ago, the average age of a boy earning Eagle was 14.6. Today it’s 17.1. As we celebrate the 100th Anniversary of the Eagle Scout
In Scouting, knives are a double-edged sword. Used safely, they’re part of a rite of passage for boys and a chance for leaders to impart important lessons to help Scouts become “Prepared. For Life.” But