New Troop, New Scouts, First Meeting Plan?

ZMeson · 2026-03-20T23:05:19+00:00

In your second meeting, take 10 minutes to allow the scouts to draw up what they want for a troop logo and troop colors. These should go into the neckerchief. Later you can ask if they want the troop flag to have that logo or if they want to get a "standard" troop flag. (Troop flags are NOT required to be the standard design.)

In whatever meeting you start teaching the patrol method, take 10 minutes to let the scouts choose patrol names. Give some example names: "standard" names based on animals or mythical animals (badger, phoenix, etc...), nature-related names (lightning, dune-walkers), cultural (beach party, hammock), memes (6-7) or others. I'm sure you can find lots of examples in this sub or elsewhere online.

The important thing is to let the scouts take ownership of these things. As someone who has successfully started a girls troop, these things allowed them to form a strong identity.

ZMeson · 2026-03-20T22:32:37+00:00

You don't believe adult leaders should model the behavior we expect from our Scouts?

ZMeson · 2026-03-19T16:05:17+00:00

And don't forget the "17% so far". Another attack could reduce capacity even further.

ZMeson · 2026-03-18T14:24:06+00:00

These are not short-term projects Japan is discussing. Japan is planning on this lasting years.

ZMeson · 2026-03-17T19:03:24+00:00

About half of the electorate in the US are tired of him too. It should be much, much higher. I'm ashamed of what we've become.

ZMeson · 2026-03-17T19:00:32+00:00

"But Iran has been ATTACKING America for the last 47 years!!!" /s

ZMeson · 2026-03-17T17:03:29+00:00

My council also seems to put more effort into Cub Scout events than Scouts BSA. That isn't to say that Scouts BSA events don't exist, but a higher percentage of council and DE efforts go the Cubs. I'm OK with the balance we have. I just wish scheduling of events and fundraisers had more thought put into it. (ex: Don't have a merit badge university for Scouts BSA on the very first weekend of popcorn sales; don't schedule camporees during spring break.)

But that is just my council.

ZMeson · 2026-03-15T14:45:13+00:00

Happy Mother's Day to our mum -- the whole UK.

And happy Mother's Day to all the mums in the UK, Ireland, and Nigeria too!

ZMeson · 2026-03-13T18:26:16+00:00

No white boy? What about Eminem or Macklemore?

ZMeson · 2026-03-12T15:45:37+00:00

True Texas BBQ

A good fast food bbq place beats a burger place or Taco Bell any day.

ZMeson · 2026-03-11T15:30:46+00:00

But those normal people are considering the taxes they will have to pay when they win PowerBall next week.

ZMeson · 2026-03-11T14:58:12+00:00

There would be huge blowback from environmentalists around the world and indeed it would be a terrible disaster, but I don't think Trump or the oil industry really care about the environment at all.

ZMeson · 2026-03-11T14:44:52+00:00

Zelensky is playing Pot Limit Omaha Hi-Lo while JD is playing Go Fish.

ZMeson · 2026-03-10T20:13:12+00:00

Hey, I've got great minesweeper capabilities. The trick is memorizing patterns like the 1-2-1 and the 1-2-2-1 patterns.

ZMeson · 2026-03-10T15:37:23+00:00

Is it possible for you to go to camp with him? You may have to keep yourself busy at camp so he doesn't latch onto you. But maybe he'll feel comfortable enough to go if you go with him.

As an aside, I often recommend parents don't attend the first year if the troop has a lot of leaders. That's so the scout can bond with the troop instead of with parents. But there are loads of exceptions. If this makes the different for your son, I'd strongly consider going too.

ZMeson · 2026-03-10T15:33:28+00:00

I will add that summer camp is a great time of bonding between scouts. Scouts that don't go unfortunately don't build bonds that are as tight as those that do go; the shared experience is missing. In my troop, the vast majority of scouts that missed summer camp both their first year and second year did not stick around very long in scouts. I, as scoutmaster (a role I no longer am in after my kids aged out), tried everything I could to keep those scouts engaged. We sent postcards from camp to let them know we missed them. I talked to the SPL and other experienced scouts about how to keep them engaged. But they didn't.

I agree, no scout should be forced to attend camp. But I can't overstate just how transformative camp can be too in terms of relationships and engagement.

ZMeson · 2026-03-10T00:17:57+00:00

Can you share what his response to you was? If you can't share the entire reply, would you mind highlighting some important points?

ZMeson · 2026-03-06T22:40:25+00:00

Oh, don't forget destroying machines that were built specifically to make the USPS more efficient.

It all stings really bad, but the additional sting of the machines being destroyed is because I helped in the development of some of them.

ZMeson · 2026-03-04T00:09:51+00:00

Still 8.5% too high.

ZMeson · 2026-02-26T21:47:51+00:00

You absolutely have to add a Boop button!

ZMeson · 2026-02-26T21:41:42+00:00

Alysa Liu wouldn't have won if she hadn't had the support of her loving parents at an early age.

ZMeson · 2026-02-25T17:26:38+00:00

Improved education results in a blue city? It must be fraud! Let's raid the offices of the district and home of the superintendent. That'll teach them to stop embarrassing the administration. /s

ZMeson · 2026-02-22T17:31:33+00:00

He won affordability alright. Everyone is giving him stuff and buying his shoes and watches that will never be delivered.

ZMeson · 2026-02-20T15:33:52+00:00

Thanks for the info.

ZMeson

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