Questions about Camp Impartials

<<23 Jul 1998 12:28:31 Jim Lindberg <jal@CRAY.COM>
<Question 3: Go catch another fish. Our Troop has =

<not accepted camp requirements before when they =

<weren't really met. Your son should feel great =

<about fulfilling the whole requirement.

<<23 Jul 1998 13:13:03 Paul.S.Wolf@ALUM.WPI.EDU>>
<> He then reminded the SM about the bass he had caught (and cooked)
<> stated that since he had not requested to work on the Fishing badge
<> back in August, it wouldn't count.

<Here the SM is wrong. There is NOTHING that says that work done
<before requesting permission to work with a Counselor on a MB
<can't be used, so long as it was done after he JOINED Boy Scouts.
<
<Would he ask your son to start a NEW Stamp or Coin Collection =

<just to work on the MB, or could he use an existing one?


Hi AL-Carol, and Jim.

In totally agreeing with PaulW let me hopefully say it
a different way that might help you in your discussions.

Many Counsellors and it seems like your SM considers =

this one more fish NO-BIG deal. And it may not be
a big deal yet this approach in addition to being
"off" creates a Consistency Difficulty and sometimes
intra-troop personality conflicts.

Many things a scout does while in scouting are difficult =

to repeat a 2nd time or a 3rd time with the Merit Badge
Counsellor in Charge or the Troop in Lock Step with
each scout's current timely needs for a sign-off.

Each Merit Badge Counsellor should verify with the =

Troop Advancement Chairperson, SM, or the Scout's =

personal records any activities that support =

signing off a requirement. Some Merit Badge =

Counsellors elect to have the TAdvC, SM, ASM(SA),
or a registered parent sign-off the requirement.


Examples: =

Camping: (Has several hard to repeat)
The 1.5 mile to and fro BackPacking Trek and campout.

Any troop might plan to have one of these a year or =

only every other year. When the Troop goes all the
boys who go, are eligible to have this signed off
when they finally take the Camping Merit Badge.

Camping Merit Badge is neat and a top worthwhile
badge and skill to learn early.

Citz&Nation: =

A Troop Trip to the Nation's Capital for a brand =

new scout who hasn't yet signed up for this badge
is still acceptable to most C&N counsellors.

Those that chase the boy to go visit something
again while his associate scouts get it easy makes
for "hard feelings"]

Many Others:


Consistency Difficulty
----------------------
While your SM or these rigid Merit Badge Counsellors
might agree with the 1.5 mile hike not needing
repeating or other Troop or Individual things
like the Stamp Collection PaulW noted they will
become sticklers on requirements being completed
only after the Blue Card is signed. They don't =

recognize that currently BSA allows a Parallel
approach.

The message this sends TO THE boy is that the SM
is whimsical and basically does what (s)he wants.
Most boys go along with these whims just to please
the SM knowing them as whims. As adults this is =

one of the advantages we can add by assisting the
SM in changing his/er's practices.


The Better Way
--------------
Ideally, YET ALMOST NEVER DONE, the Troop Youth
Leaders and Adult Leaders should be Pro-Active
for each scout. When a scout is going to do
something that fills a requirement in one of
the merit badge booklets a Blue Card should
be filled out and a Counsellor chosen in advance.
The boy will then start accumulating "partials"
without ever seeming to work. This tends to =

encourage him and the troop to complete more
merit badges because they are "half way up the
mountain" and have a smaller stroll to the top.

ALMOST NEVER DONE because this approach requires
a high level of Adult and Youth Preparedness
beyond what most people can accomplish. A few
troops do it yet not many.


SO MY ADVICE to you AL-Carol is MAYBE:
1>Win your discussion with the SM, TAdvP,
or at the Troop Committee Meeting
2>USE the back of your son's BoyScoutHandbook
and help him start to recognize his own
Partials. =

(I have done it separate of the book with a =

(separate lined paper log sized to fit into
(the BSHandbook as an insert with a sturdy
(cover
<My reason is the book falls apart if used
< and then all the records are lost.



YiS, IMHO, and may we each attempt to live the SO,SL,SS,SM

Mr Dave (Hawleyton, NY (Baden-Powell Council=

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