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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Yep this is typical. GS requires a ton of parent direction that only gets more intense as the girls get older. I have been a troop leader for four years and am extremely burnt out because it is a lot of work and the parents are resistant to helping. I would also say that at least for our troop, the girls who have stayed are largely ones who are neuodivergent or at least quirky and don't participate in other activities, so the meetings can also be very difficult to manage. If the troop would not fold without me, I would absolutely quit. [/quote]

This sounds like a you problem. In my experience, the girls take over much more as they get older. Sounds like you are controlling and the other parents don't like you (probably because you are an ableist a-hol*).[/quote]

This response is not in keeping with the GS spirit.  Being kinder to the PPs, I would not that there is a certain luck of the draw in maintaining troops as the girls age.  Girls tend to join troops when they are very young, before personalities are formed.  Some girls reach an age where they are very introverted and don't like group activities, or they only like to do activities with their close friends and not with the sort-of-random grouping that is a girl scout troop.  As the parent of neurodivergent kids and also a long-time scout leader in both organizations, it is accurate that scout troops may have a higher than average rate of neurodivergence, precisely because troops are welcoming.  For some kids, that is a turnoff and they may not be willing to be in that kind of inclusive community and they may leave the troop because of that.  It is sometimes also challenging because sometimes the parents might not provide the appropriate information or support for the scout leader to support a neurodivergent scout.  It is a recognized issue within scout leadership that scout leaders, unlike for instance teachers, aren't really trained on difference in this way, and so unless the leader happens to have this experience from their own life, it can be challenging for the scout leader.  This is something that leaders have asked Council to provide more assistance with, so that leaders can appropriate support the scouts.  I think its important for scout leaders to reach out to the parents and ask "how can i help your child," as I know that sometimes parents of children with SN feel bad about being the squeaky wheel, or don't want to highlight their child's challenges if they aren't already apparent.  
I had two different troops -- one had fabulous parents who were really supportive and appreciative of what I was doing as a volunteer.  The other one had some parents who tended to see it all as "my job" and not theirs, and it was a little challenging.  I think parents should at least be appreciative, even if they don't have the bandwidth or skill set to be really helpful.  
I also agree that girls should take more ownership as they age, but that does sometimes lead to an increased need for parental assistance.  The little girls are easy to please, and you can do meetings that are easy to plan.  The older girls want more outings, more travel, more excitement, all of which requires more money and more parents who are willing to help chaperone, drive, maybe call vendors or community groups or specialists, etc.  [/quote]

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