Open for Debate - 2/2 - Bryan on Scouting

Is an older Scout who wears his uniform in public committing ‘social suicide?’ Weigh in on one Scoutmaster’s policy

May 14, 2012 62

Here’s a new one: An East Coast troop’s uniform policy involves telling older Scouts not to wear their uniforms in public. Yep, it happened in Scouter B.C.’s troop. Here’s how B.C., who asked me not to use

Should Scouters capitalize on archery interest inspired by ‘The Hunger Games’?

April 26, 2012 11

Thanks to The Hunger Games, archery is cool again. Your move, Scout leaders. In the megahit film and book, the character Katniss Everdeen (above) uses a bow and arrow to hunt for food. And she

What to do when Scouts — or Scouters — use foul language

April 5, 2012 14

A Scout is Clean, but what if his mouth isn’t? Dirty words can soil the reputation of any Scout (or Scouter), but a swift response from you can make the guilty party think twice next

What’s your unit’s electronics policy?

March 14, 2012 40

Should you allow your Scouts to bring their smartphones on camping trips? Sure, Scouters and Scouts can do it all with these powerful gadgets. A smartphone (or tablet) is a watch, an alarm clock, a

Open for Debate: Who really made that Pinewood Derby car?

February 23, 2012 39

There’s something fishy about Hunter’s Pinewood Derby car. The paint job is a little too professional, the edges a little too perfect. While other cars wobble down the track, this thing’s a rocket every time.

Open for debate: To snack or not to snack at den or pack meetings

January 20, 2012 22

Here’s a question to chew on: Should you serve snacks at den meetings? Why or why not? And if you do, what is served? I posed that question to our Facebook friends and got an

Open for debate: What’s your Scout unit’s uniform policy?

June 17, 2011 151

The BSA Insignia Guide says it’s your responsibility as an adult leader to “promote the wearing of the correct complete uniform on all suitable occasions.”

Retention: Six reasons Scouts drop out and how you can prevent it

June 1, 2011 59

What’s the one thing the Scouting program can’t live without? Scouts. The Boy Scouts of America offers the premier program for youth, but Scouts need the means and desire to stick around.

Open for debate: Are boys who earn Eagle Scout at 13 or 14 too young?

May 20, 2011 310

What difference exists between a 13-year-old boy who earns the Eagle Scout award and one who gets there at 17½? That was the subject of a fascinating discussion among your fellow Scouters on our Facebook page

Open for debate: ‘Term limits’ for Scoutmasters, Cubmasters?

May 17, 2011 87

Scoutmasters in Troop 1776 serve for three years and then step down. As a Scout growing up in 1776, I assumed that every troop did it that way. Boy was I wrong! In fact, after