Issue 608 – July 17, 2019

Hi Andy,

I saw this article in about the Baden-Powell Service Association in a local newspaper the other day:

https://www.nj.com/news/2019/07/these-kids-do-scouting-the-old-fashioned-way-but-membership-has-a-modern-twist.html

I know there are various “alternative” Scout-like organizations in recent years, established largely in reaction to certain BSA policies. This one was formed in 2006 and seems to differentiate from the BSA based on inclusiveness and a reaction against the BSA’s new “techie” merit badges (I can’t find their requirements, so can’t compare). They say they have “60 PBSA groups with more than 2,300 participants nationwide,” which is pretty small (the BSA has 2.4 million youth members). Any thoughts on this? (Mitch Erickson, Commissioner, Patriots’ Path Council, NJ)

Of course, that article, while apparently accurate so far as the BPSA is concerned, is entirely incorrect as to how the American “Girl Scouts” organization was created. But that’s a whole ‘nuther story…

As to “techie” merit badges, the whole idea of the merit badge program is to offer “food” that young people enjoy “eating.” For instance, when pig farming was a major American “cottage industry,” the BSA offered this subject as a merit badge. Later on, when this industry became more large-scale corporate in nature, this merit badge faded away not because the BSA declared this, but because fewer and fewer Scouts were interested in pursuing it! “Techie” stuff—STEM, if you will—is on the rise nationwide, and once again the BSA, sensitive to teenagers’ interests, has designed merit badges that will introduce youth to a new coterie of technical endeavors. So let’s remember that merit badges aren’t designed to create “experts”—they’re designed to provide samplings of career and hobby opportunities along with some useful skills.

The BPSA strikes me as just fine: It offers a set of values for life cleverly disguised as adventurous fun. And isn’t that what this is all about?
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Hi Andy,

I agree with what you said in your June 25th column about Eagle Scout Mentor pins. I’ve handled Eagle coaching responsibilities in our large troop and for some other troops in our district, for some fifteen years. When Scouts pass their Eagle board of review, I make a point of sending them a letter that says, in part:

“Soon your Eagle Scout award kit will arrive at our council office and will be available for presentation at a court of honor. There are several items in the packet; almost all are self-explanatory, except for one that’s commonly misunderstood. The straightforward items are the Eagle Scout rank badge, the medal, and two parents’ pins (mother and father). The possibly confusing item is the Eagle Scout Mentor pin. This pin can be presented to a person in your life whom you consider to be a mentor (it’s stated that this not be a parent, since that’s already understood, plus there is a pin for each of them). By “mentor,” I don’t mean a “coach.” A coach is someone who helps a Scout navigate the Eagle service project process; a mentor is much more: this is a person with whom you’ve developed a personal relationship, and, in that context, this person provides guidance. Whereas a coach may provide tactical advice (“do this, don’t do that, try this”), a mentor is much more of a strategic advisor (“what do you think would happen if you did this or that?”). You don’t have the award the mentor pin at all if you don’t have a clear sense of who to present it to, but I’d encourage you to consider this and not miss the opportunity to honor whoever might be a mentor in your life. And do keep in mind that this doesn’t need to be someone in Scouting—he or she might be a teacher or clergy or aunt or uncle or grandparent, even, who has made a significant difference in your life and your Eagle Scout ambition. Congratulations again on earning the Eagle Scout rank, and best wishes for future success.”

On rare occasions a Scout has decided to present multiple mentor pins; in some occasions the Scout presents none. Both decisions are okay, and I never question their decision. On very rare occasions, I’ve seen a Scout present this pin to a former fellow Scout—typically an older Scout who has aged out now, and who really mentored this new Eagle along the advancement pathway. (Carl Sommer, Troop Advancement Coordinator)

That’s one terrific letter! Thanks for sharing it.
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Good morning Andy,

Several days ago, on the last day of our troop’s summer camp week, all of our Scout parents were in the camp’s parking lot prepared to pick up their sons and head home (the camp is under an hour’s drive from our hometown)—except for one parent, who was nowhere to be found. His son was left standing alone in the lot, despite our committee previously advising all parents on the correct day, date, and time for pickup, and this being the fourth consecutive time this Scout has attended summer camp with our troop. This one lone Scout had already texted his father twice, earlier that same morning, but had received no replies. We—I’m Scoutmaster and had two Assistant Scoutmasters with me—asked this Scout to call (not text) his father, and Dad answered, with the reply that “I’ll get there when I can” (yes, we actually heard him say this). By prearrangement with his parents, my two ASMs were taking another Scout home that day and agreed to take this Scout back to our sponsor’s parking lot where his father could pick him up. But when they all got there, they had to wait another half-hour for someone from that Scout’s family—we were expecting his father—could retrieve him. A car finally showed up, driven by…the Scout’s brother. Dad never showed up.

How do we deal with a repeat of this in the future? My call would be to make the Scout wait in the parking lot (or near the camp headquarters building) and then call the local police and report an abandoned child.

To complicate this further, this particular father—as pastor of the church that sponsors us—is the Executive Officer of our chartered organization, and has been throwing around “rules” that are ticking off both our Scouts and the troop’s adult volunteers. For instance, he rants about us “not parking where we’re supposed to” on troop meeting nights, even though the church’s parking lot has no designated parking lines. He’s even gone so far as to insist that we stop “playing games” during troop meetings because “these Scouts need to focus on instruction; not play-time” (Oh, yeah, it looks like it’s gonna be a fun year—not!)

If you can help with any thoughts on how to deal with these issues, it would sure help us out! Thanks! (Name & Council Withheld)

It seems to me that there are two problems—Scout-to-parent and troop-to-institutional head—both emanating from the same guy. My priority is: Scout first. Then we’ll deal with your second problem.

There’s typically still a bunch of staffers still in camp on the day Scouts are headed home with their parents. Assuming this was the case, meaning that this Scout wouldn’t have been “abandoned”—he would simply be hanging around waiting till his father showed up. The kindness shown by the two ASMs actually turned out to be a mistake, because they got stuck having to wait for the father to show up as well, and that’s unfortunate because this is a dad-and-son issue only. Oh well…water under the bridge at this point.

For the future, you might first want to have a Scoutmaster conference (in other words, a conversation) with this Scout about whether this “I’ll get there when I can” stuff from his dad is a one-time occurrence or whether Dad makes a habit of this in Scouts as well as other areas of this young man’s life. Once you know this—and for this conversation, let’s say his dad is a “repeater”—you can talk with his son about other possible ways of handling this habit and heading it off next time. For instance, maybe this Scout can ask his Patrol Leader (or a patrol-mate) if he can ride along with him and his father (yes, two Scouts and one adult in the car is perfectly okay, if one is the son of the driver).

As for the father, and his role as Exec. Officer of your sponsoring organization, a conversation between him and both you, the Scoutmaster, and the troop’s Committee Chair is in order. Here, you can ask him exactly where he’d like to see cars parked (in other words, start out by “giving him one”). Then have a conversation about how important intra-patrol games are for building teamwork and creating situations where Scouts can use the skills they’ve learned. This is how you convey how Scouting is specifically designed to absolutely not a “classroom” or even formal learning program—it’s all about learning by doing, hands on! Then bring up other matters that may be on his mind and gently “educate” him about what “real” Scouting is all about (never forget that, as a boy, he may have been subjected to a Scoutmaster-as-drill sergeant mentality!).

So there you have it: Two ways to deal with two issues. They may not be “perfect,” but they stand a good chance of getting the jobs done.

Happy Scouting!

Andy

Have a question? Facing a dilemma? Wondering where to find a BSA policy or guideline? Write to askandybsa@yahoo.com. Please include your name and council. (If you’d prefer to be anonymous, if published, let me know and that’s what we’ll do.)

[No. 608 – 7/17/2019 – Copyright © Andy McCommish 2019]