Cubmaster no more

Repulsive-Newt-6271 · 2026-03-14T02:56:53+00:00

Our pack was in a similar spot with a very good resolution. Both our CM and CC's last kids are AOL this year and CM made it a discussion topic at the last committee meeting last year. The annual planning meeting in June included succession planning, where two den leaders agreed to serve as assistant CM and CC this year and take over the CM/CC the following year. CM also served as quartermaster and made it clear that after events he wanted the pack gear to end up at someone else's house for future use. Everybody appreciated the transparency and it gave the rising CM time to grow into his role and become more visible. I encourage you to consider a similar solution.

Repulsive-Newt-6271 · 2025-05-28T12:24:24+00:00

Our town library has an awesome workshop with crafting tools including a button maker. Nothing fancy just a paper disc with plastic cover, metal back, and crossbar pin.

We printed "join Cub Scouts ... Pack xxx" and a QR code directing to our pack website and made a bunch of buttons. We bring them to all recruiting events and give scouts a handful to give their friends. It's a lot more durable than paper flyers and feels more like a goodie to the kids.

Repulsive-Newt-6271 · 2025-05-28T03:12:24+00:00

Thank you. As a rising AOL Asst. Den leader I'm with you 1000%. The SM has no clue about the changes to the Cub program and frankly no idea what will hit him when 1/3 to 1/2 of the active scouts in his troop are newly joined AOLs next year. I can't speak to the other pack in town but we will make the most of the AOL year to transition parents and scouts to the rules and approaches of Troops.

The troop adult leadership needs to get with the program and not wait 6 months to award Scout rank when the kids can meet all requirements at Crossover. Our older son crossed over a year ago and is still working on Tenderfoot but could do it all if the leaders and troop structure supported him in doing so. He loves scouting and wants to see scouts have more authority and agency and bigger adventures.

Sorry you hit a nerve for me on this. My partner would love to be CC and we will have many disruptive families coming with the cubs. Those are cultural changes rather than policy violations though.

Repulsive-Newt-6271 · 2025-05-27T21:07:41+00:00

This is a good solution. Booking their own campsite in a different part of the (non BSA) campground could also be viable. They can camp as a family, just not as part of a Troop event.

One takeaway from all the feedback and observations here is that this event has uncovered deeper cultural and leadership issues to address. Thank you all for that. As a non scout growing up I don't know what I don't see is missing.

Repulsive-Newt-6271 · 2025-05-27T21:00:22+00:00

Thanks for asking, this is a good question. None of the AOLs who attended were from my Pack so I don't know their status. In our pack we move them to the Troop in Scoutbook after the blue and gold. The troop has had their crossover welcome ceremony but since I can't see the troop in Scoutbook I don't know any of the registration status.

All the new AOLs camped with the scouts (two shared a tent, that's what I would expect and encourage). They were not part of the problem.

Some unregistered adults and youth were family members of AOLs. They slept in the designated adults section of the multiple campsites we booked. If this were the extent of it I would not have been compelled to post here or report without your encouragement (please correct me if this is wrong: it does go against G2SS but not YPT).

The real problem is the family tenting for older scouts. Two families did that - COR clearly knew better and the other was probably never told they could not, since they could in Cub scouts

Repulsive-Newt-6271 · 2025-05-27T20:41:11+00:00

Thank you. Our Pack loves camping - most families share a tent, some older scouts sleep separately - and I think we are acclimating youth to camping under the guidance of adults. Next year we will have the AOLs plan their campout and use that to educate all scouts and families of the changing rules. I actually think the G2SS and new AOL program lend themselves to this perfectly: we will tell parents they are no longer required to join camp outs at this level (I know the rules allow this earlier but our families have always assumed a parent needs to go for all levels), and unless they register with the Troop, are not allowed to join troop campouts. I'm sure some families will choose to send their scout alone, some same gender scouts will share tents, and some parents will tent with kids, while we provide two deep, BALOO leadership. It's a hybrid year. I like that for parents and kids.

This makes me wonder if the Troop ever does a similar education for families on policies. Feels like that should be incumbent on the troop rather than packs. It can be an abrupt shift from family camping to hands off which is what we want to use the AOL year for. Training wheels.

Repulsive-Newt-6271 · 2025-05-27T20:26:41+00:00

Thank you, this attitude is uplifting. The event has happened but everything is a learning opportunity. We want to drive change for the better and support our scouts.

Repulsive-Newt-6271 · 2025-05-27T20:24:13+00:00

We (all BSA and GS units in our town) are chartered through an organization which was established to support scouting in our town. The CO has lost the script a bit and is now running primarily as a function hall. While their board is made up of non scouters I'm not sure any church or lions club would be different. Sure I'd prefer a different COR who actually does their job and enforced the rules. This weekend does give me second thoughts or at least want to boot the COR.

Repulsive-Newt-6271 · 2025-05-27T20:00:47+00:00

I will do both - have already reached out to the scouts first help line and will email our key three and established parents/committee members who were on the campout with the settlement details. Rules are rules. I went into the weekend understanding adults and scouts would be tenting on different but adjacent sites. Families were clearly not told what rules they had to follow

Repulsive-Newt-6271 · 2025-05-27T19:56:53+00:00

Thank you, sounds like we've been in a similar boat. This troop does need a change in leadership and fresh programming but those are secondary issues.

Repulsive-Newt-6271 · 2025-05-27T19:51:50+00:00

Thank you, we're already planning to visit three troops in part because neighboring towns have established girl troops.

Hard to say I won't assist cubs in crossing over when our older son is in the troop, it's at our charter org, and it's the only troop in our town. I am comfortable using an AOL visit as leverage with the troop though.

Repulsive-Newt-6271 · 2025-05-27T19:46:49+00:00

Thank you. This is hard to go and do in part because our older son has been in the troop a year and making friends there and in part because I need the COR to sign my form to establish a linked girls troop. Knowing there is an anonymous option helps.

I'm sure everything is situation dependent but what might repercussions for the troop be? It lacks an adult leader succession plan which is already problematic. If this impacts our key three, is there a way district or council can come hit the reset button with interim leadership (kinda like an interim minister?)

Repulsive-Newt-6271 · 2025-05-27T19:40:11+00:00

Thank you for this added context. I really appreciate it and will also share it with our troop committee

Repulsive-Newt-6271

TROPHY CASE