Category: Boy Scouts/ScoutsBSA

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Fulfilling responsibility

The new BSA Guide to Advancement lays out and clarifies what it takes for a troop to evaluate whether a Scout has satisfactorily served in a position of responsibility as required for the ranks beyond First Class.

While this is primarily handled by the Scoutmaster and assistants, the final evaluation takes place at a board of review. In most cases, the Scoutmaster conference will determine whether the requirement has been satisfied, and the Board of Review can concentrate on other areas of a youth’s development. Continue reading “Fulfilling responsibility”

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The new definition of “active”

The BSA raised our eyebrows recently with the publication of the new Guide to Advancement, which replaces the Advancement Committee Policies and Procedures book that had been in use for several years. There are thirteen significant changes in the new guidebook, the pros and cons of which have been or are being discussed on other Scouting blogs and discussion groups. The changes are summarized in the Introduction, and range from editorial restructuring to some fairly big changes to the Eagle project process.

One change, however, places a significant responsibility on the troop committee if it chooses to accept it, and that is the definition of an “active Scout” for rank advancement purposes and the evaluation of how a Scout in a position of responsibility has fulfilled his role. Continue reading “The new definition of “active””

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How’s your Journey going?

(See the end of this post for an update.)

As we move into mid-September, it’s time to stop and evaluate how our Journey is going this year.

Of course, I’m referring to the Journey to Excellence, the BSA’s replacement for the Centennial Quality Unit award. Last fall, I wrote about the new evaluation program that stacks units up not against their own commitments but a list of thirteen reference points with measurements for each, similar to the old Quality Unit program, but with a twist: there are three levels of success and two ways to get there. You must score points in 11 of 13 categories, and the number of points you score determines your level — bronze, silver or gold. Continue reading “How’s your Journey going?”

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What can Scouters learn from skaters?

Photo by Rob Woelkers - PluskateboardingSkateboarders and Scouts may seem at first like completely different groups of kids. Scouts are seen as courteous, obedient, cheerful, and clean, while skaters have been typecast as disrespectful, rebellious loners who wear dirty, ripped clothing and hang out in shady areas.

Take a closer look at skateboarding, though, and you’ll see respectful young people who help one another, take care of their surroundings and are engaging in healthful outdoor activities. They learn and practice skills, then try, fail, try, fail, try and succeed.  Sounds a lot more like Scouting now, doesn’t it? Continue reading “What can Scouters learn from skaters?”