Scouts Need Help.

[red129]

At Ruth Hill the scouts were starting a new den.But they need help ,I really wanted my son to stay in but it needs help. So there for my son is not in scout any more.Maybe if someone could help it get started right ,and get them on the right track. Then just maybe it will get going. Because as of now it is:confused: Very sad mother.

[spfadmin]

What council are you in? District?

[jkpell]

Are you talking about Ruth Hill in Newnan?

[CubmasterJohn]

Let me start off by saying I feel your pain. I've put four children through Ruth Hill and though I think it is an outstanding school, it just has too many obstacles to overcome. But the problem really isn't the school itself. First and foremost in my opinion if you don't have the support of the parents then your program is doomed to failure. Which explains why Ruth Hill has not had a pack of their own until this past year. The parents need to be EXCITED, INVOLVED, CREATIVE, ENTHUSED. That is the first step.
Second step is to get the leadership that's going to carry you year to year and not month to month or week to week. (I've seen it personnally-6 cubmasters in one year. But I digress). COMMITTED LEADERSHIP. Get the training they need by going to step three.
Third step is to contact your District Executive and District Commissioner. Set up a face to face meeting. Hash out a plan. Attend Roundtable Meetings. Bug them till you just can't think of any more questions.
I believe once these three starting points have been achieved you'll see the program picking up steam.

[Flaxin]

I have no idea where Ruth Hill is, but please understand that the issues that Pack faces are NOT unique to that area nor this time.

I have met and talked with Cub Scouting leaders from all over the country and read charters and leaders notes from 50 years ago, and it is astonishing to see just how similar and recuring the issues are.

I completely agree with Cubmaster John in his recommendation of the three steps necessary to "straighten that train out". They are the same three areas that I have seen for every other struggling Pack that I have seen in my District and others across the country.

YIS,

Ray

Let me start off by saying I feel your pain. I've put four children through Ruth Hill and though I think it is an outstanding school, it just has too many obstacles to overcome. But the problem really isn't the school itself. First and foremost in my opinion if you don't have the support of the parents then your program is doomed to failure. Which explains why Ruth Hill has not had a pack of their own until this past year. The parents need to be EXCITED, INVOLVED, CREATIVE, ENTHUSED. That is the first step.
Second step is to get the leadership that's going to carry you year to year and not month to month or week to week. (I've seen it personnally-6 cubmasters in one year. But I digress). COMMITTED LEADERSHIP. Get the training they need by going to step three.
Third step is to contact your District Executive and District Commissioner. Set up a face to face meeting. Hash out a plan. Attend Roundtable Meetings. Bug them till you just can't think of any more questions.
I believe once these three starting points have been achieved you'll see the program picking up steam.

[WB Bear]

Unfortunately that is not a unique situation. The really sad thing is that parents look for "someone" to get it going. Where do we find those "someones"? Maybe we could find some parents whose boy wants to be a Scout or a parent who wants their son to participate to do it?

The next question is where do we find parents who know about the operation of the Scouting program? Well there are some fathers that might have been a Scout as a youth, but does that mean they know how to run a Pack?

BSA publishes a great deal of literature and provides an abundance of material and resources that are available. Councils and District offer opportunities to help people to "get it going" such as training courses and monthly Roundtables. They also provide support to those "someones" who will be providing the program such as Commissioners and DE's.

It take parents to make the program run. I do realize that some might not have as much time as other to provide Scouting to their sons but there are many ways people can assist with making it happen.

[1st Mate]

This is why a planned effort separate of the unit is needed to bring more parents into scouting with their children.

As far as not having a den leader. If a boy could pick any adult he knew that he could play with for a specifc time every week, build things, sing songs, go places...who do you think your child would pick...You or a stranger.

The best reason to become a cub scout leader...Your child would love to play with you even if it were just for that one meeting a week.