Here are three reasons Scouts don’t advance, and some simple ways to recognize and resolve them. REASON ONE They don’t want to “do requirements”. WHAT’S HAPPENING When Scouts don’t advance it may be we’re preoccupied with a list of stuff Scouts need to do (the requirements). If we have an active program of camping Scouts meet requirements as a result; not because they are ‘doing requirements’. Scouts don’t want to ‘do requirements’, they want to go camping....
Every Scout parent struggles with letting go as their child grows up. From the Swedish Scouting is awesome! blog. Thoughts on how Scouting helps parents understand letting go so children can become adults: One of the aims of scouting is to make young people independent and self sufficiant. We do a great job for the most part, but it is so difficult to let go and let them try their wings and fly unsupervised....
When Apollo spacecraft passed to the far side of the moon there were some tense moments in mission control. During this part of the orbit radio communication with the earth was impossible. There was no way to know if everything was alright until the spacecraft reappeared. Imagine yourself sitting in mission control without being able to see or speak to the astronauts and not knowing if they were in trouble. It must have been a completely helpless feeling....
Many Scouts will, at some point, resist going any further in Scouting. When does a parent intervene and make him stay in Scouts? Just about every boy will reach some impasse along the way that will make them reluctant or downright adamant about participating. If you are a Scouting parent it’s more than likely that this is going to happen to you; don’t be surprised. Your son is probably not much different than the millions of other Scouts who preceded him....
What does Scouting cost? Depends how you look at it; I think Scouting is free. I’ve volunteered in our local government for a dozen or more years. If I hear someone complaining about their water bill I point out the water is free, it’s the pipes that cost money. Making water safe to drink, getting it to your house, and treating wastewater costs money – but the water itself is free....
Before you waste anymore time trying to fix what is wrong with a Scout Troop look around and see if you can’t find one that is a better fit. Put aside the question of dedication, misplaced loyalty and grim determination and look at what the problems are doing to your son. People of good will sometimes find themselves at odds with one another in schools, churches, community organizations and Scout Troops....
Scouting works in concert with the parents of our Scouts to achieve the main aim, and we rely on parents who become Scouters to support the Scout’s program. How do we define this role so the scouts are able to do what they need to accomplish with this much-needed support yet without undue interference? The “More September 2006” column at Ask Andy addresses the question of too many parents involved in troop camping....