🚀 go-pugleaf

In a previous article, johnm@cbnews.cb.att.com (john.s.maddaus) says:

>
>I'm sorry Mike Walton, but on several points I must disagree.  I am a
>volunteer.  I am involved because I believe in the fundamental values
>which scouting promotes.  I want my children and as many others as
>are so inclined to be offered the chance to experience life within the
>context of the fundamental values we support as leaders: Family, God and 
>Country.  But, I also want to spend as much time with my children as possible
>doing outdoor activities that unfortunately my father an I never did at all.
>I recognize the role of our Council and District Executive.  We and our DE 
>know the rules.  We practice two deep leadership faithfully.  We participate 
>in SME, Popcorn sales, Scouting for Food, etc. willingly.  
>
>Our Webelos attend Fall and Spring Camporees with our Webelos leaders and
>assistants.  Our council offers resident camp (4 nights, 5 days) for Cubs 
>(including recently graduated Tigers) each summer, and yes we put two
>seven year olds in a tent together for four nights.  By the way, we have had
>nearly 100% turnout with new "Wolves" nearly every year.  Last summer, we sent 
>35 boys and 11 adults to summer camp.  This is outdoor camping - everyone sleeps
>in tents.  The boys that go one year, go back every year they remain in cub
>scouting.  In addition, we have a minimum of 2 overnight events each year for 
>the entire Pack.  We organize our events as family (one boy, one parent) events.
>We sleep indoors and outdoors and include our Tigers through Webelos. Thankfully
>overnights are becoming a big business with museums and military installations 
>in New England.  It is precisely the outdoor/overnight experiences that are 
>paramount to the boys.  They are the ONLY three things I remember from my Cub 
>days in the 50's.  I didn't want to do crafts at my den leaders house -  I 
>wanted to do things outdoors.  That is exactly why I lost interest and dropped 
>out.
>
>We make two simple assumptions.  First, our boys will only stay in scouting
>if they remain interested in the program.  Second, our boys will only stay
>in scouting if the parents remain interested in the program, the latter being
>especially true at the cub level.  To that extent, our Pack emphasizes FAMILY 
>events, the most important of which are the overnight outings.  We stress 
>one-on-one, but we don't mandate it.  Should we not allow a boy to go because
>his single mother has to care for her other children?  A one night sleepover 
>on the Battleship Massachusetts increased our pack size by 30%.  Those boys 
>are still involved and the parents loved it.  We sent 95 boys and parents last 
>year and a number of boys and parents asked to go back this year.  It 
>accomplished exactly what we wanted it to do - get parents and boys more
>involved with Pack functions.  I have noticed a direct relationship between
>attendance at "normal" Pack functions and the quality of the overnight
>programs.  A successful overnight can set the tone for the entire year.
>
>Council has always supported us.  We have never had a tour permit denied.
>Our roundtables openly discuss overnight possibilities for packs.  Insurance
>has always covered any injuries.  It is a part of scouting life in our region.
>The largest packs in our council are those that provide overnight experiences.
>If we didn't do it, the boys would leave the program and still go camping
>with their parents (or spend more time in outdoor sports) and unfortunately 
>miss out on the programs such as Battleship Mass which are tailored specifically
>for Scouts and not available to the general public.  I talked to a friend in
>Monmouth County, N.J. and they do the same things.  I find it difficult to
>understand the discrepancy between Council interpretations of the BSA rules.
>Further, if BSA is so blind to understand that boys want to be outdoors (even
>at early ages) and that in general the Girl Scout program (including Brownies)
>has better equipped camping facilities and places a greater emphasis on outdoor
>activities, then they need to go back to school.  Even the middle school in
>our town requires all students to spend a weekend camping with minimal super-
>vision.  Do you want to know who the natural leaders are?  AND we are beginning
>to draw the most popular and intelligent kids into scouting, and they are
>staying.  Thank you Daniel Webster Council for being progressive enough to
>recognize reality!
>
>Yours in Scouting,
>John S. Maddaus
>Cubmaster - Pack 5
>Bedford, N.H.
>__
>
>John S. Maddaus                 |"They're worth their weight in gold!  Do you |
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>
Congratulations on your success with Cubbibg and camping.  But you only told
part of the story.  What percentage of the boys go on to Boy Scouting, how
long do they stay in (and why do they drop if they drop within a year) and
how does the troop keep them interested?

Frank Bates, Scoutmaster
Troop 306 Mentor
Chagrin Valley District
Northeast Ohio Council
-- 
Frank J. Bates, Jr.      Internet: ae110@Cleveland.Freenet.Edu
Society Corp 00-01-0601  Voice: +1 (216) 689-9684; Fax: +1 (216) 689-8982 
2025 Ontario St          "We have not inherited the earth from our parents;
Cleveland OH 44115-1063   we are borrowed it from our children" - unknown