Survey Feedback

[agdparker]

I am serving on the district program committee and last week during our break-out, our DE mentioned that council had received feedback for our Pack from the "Voice of the Scout" (I might have the name wrong) survey. Specifically, he said that the person indicated that our Pack should be doing a better job of "turning Cub Scouts into men". I'm not quite sure what that means, but I hadn't really thought of the Cub program as having that as an immediate goal. For me, it's about building character through the various parts of the program, although the end result may be "turning Cubs into men", if done correctly.

I had not heard of this survey, but the DE said he was very surprised to get negative feedback on our unit since we have been doing extremely well in the past year that I've been Cubmaster, including JtE Gold level, National Summertime Award, 100% graduation to Scouts, etc. I've also had many parents and leaders compliment on my enthusiasm and communication (I think I'm straining their spam filters). Committee attendance is low (2 - 4 parents at the most) and I haven't really heard any negative feedback thus far.

I am still new and humble enough in the position to look for opportunities to improve the program, so I'm trying to find out more information about the feedback. I might email the parents and let them know I'm interested in getting more specific information from the person who sent the feedback.

Has anyone else received direct feedback from this survey?

[tonkatim]

I have not heard of this survey either. So, I googled it and it looks like it is a Council by Council thing. I personally, would not worry about a negative feed back incident. I would look at whole group numbers and trends. If you get bogged down trying to please everyone then no one is happy.

It also sounds like you have a volunteer for your Packs JtE 12 physical fitness program as well as a new Religious Emblems Co-ordinator.
I am sure that they would want their Cubs to be well rounded men.

[ismellbacon]

"turning cubs into men" hmm... sounds like you need to purchase some torture racks from the middle ages and start stretching these boys!

Seriously though, I wouldn't worry about one survey... You can't please everyone all of the time, esp. those that don't give their names.

It sounds like you are running a great program, if you are earning awards for the pack and have a great promotion and retention rate, then I wouldn't worry about it.

Remember, keep it fun for the scouts, and offer them an outdoor program that teaches them about character development, citizenship, and physical fitness.

Again, don't let one nameless naysayer have an effect on your program.

[wagionvigil]

This Sounds like parents that want the boys to do Boy Scout things now instead of waiting. tnis is one of the reasons I would like to make a different division in the programs
Elementary school cubs, grade 4 and 5 webelos grad 6 -8 Boys scouts grade 9-18 rover or senior Scouts and Coed 14-21 venturing. But restrict all the fun high adventure activities to Venturing

[ScoutMomGWRC]

If you Google "Voice of Scouts" you will get several hits.
http://www.lhcbsa.org/filestore/mission ... al_FAQ.pdf
http://www.scouting.org/jte.aspx

It seems that it is a survey that is being sent to people who have emails registered with ScoutNET...
and it looks like it will go out between March - May.

I am registered with ScoutNET but haven't received anything yet, maybe my council is on a different time frame.

Anyway.... what I really came here to say is that I wouldn't worry about one person's opinion. Opinions are like.... noses... everyone has one.

MY opinion on the cub scout program is that it shouldn't be turning little guys into men. It should be about introducing them to scouting and teaching them some skills and having a fun environment. "Turning boys into men" isn't something that should be happening on the cub scout level. I think that scouting does help lead young men (11-17) into becoming more prepared for adulthood, but nothing can be forced anyway.

Relax and keep doing what you are doing, it sounds like you have a great program and maybe one parent who believes something different... it is nice that you want to reach out to that person and understand the meaning behind the words... but you will never make everyone happy.
I am surprised that the DE even brought it up as "negative feedback"!

[ScoutMomGWRC]

But restrict all the fun high adventure activities to Venturing

But I don't want my 14 year old boy with 19 year old girls!!

[6yearscouter]

I received my voice of the scout survey.
They seem to be working downward, from council people, then district, then IH, COR, CC, then pack people, boy scouts, etc. Your council may be going in a different direction.
Mine was as IH so it asked about how council is serving our unit and how our relationship with council could be different--well it's been a couple months so I don't remember the exact details.
Part of ourdistrict level for JTE includes these survey scores.

[razor_strop]

Elementary school cubs, grade 4 and 5 webelos grad 6 -8 Boys scouts grade 9-18

Wow, those would be some pretty well educated (but old) Boy Scouts, assuming Grade 18 is the equivalent of a graduate degree.

[wagionvigil]

Elementary school cubs, grade 4 and 5 webelos grad 6 -8 Boys scouts grade 9-18

Wow, those would be some pretty well educated (but old) Boy Scouts, assuming Grade 18 is the equivalent of a graduate degree.

Grade 9 through age 18 OK? LOL

[agdparker]

Got some more information today about the feedback:

It was from a guy concerned about how Scouting handles special needs kids. He thinks there is a lack of sensitivity within Scouting for their needs. He had two examples of the Eagle process that he thought illustrated this.

I clarified with my DE that this was with the Pack since I am a MC for the Troop/Team/Crew and he appeared to be referencing Boy Scout examples:

It survey came back with your Pack as the identified unit. Talk with him showed that there were more issues out there…

We do have some special needs kids in the Pack and some in the recent past, but I don't recall any major issues dealing with those. I probably need to do a blast email to the parents about the accommodations available to Scouts.