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  1. Today
  2. RememberSchiff
    Safeguarding Our Youth General Session presentation (46 min) with Glen Pounder whose job title Youth Protection Executive appears renamed and NEB member Frank Tsuru who also serves as Chair of the Youth Safeguarding Committee. IMHO, presentation gets interesting starting at 19:00 when Mr. Tsuru talks about transparency and policy. Mr. Pounder continues and expands on that discussion. Why NAM presentations can't be broadcast (live and archived) online to all of us remains a puzzle to me. Better yet lets have a two-way dialog, maybe discuss pitfalls of perp profiling, the need for rep
  3. Eagle94-A1
    This is what happens when educators take over the program. BP said it best: "Boys can see adventure in a dirty old duck puddle, and if the Scoutmaster is a boys’ man he can see it too." “See things from the boy's point of view.” "A boy is not a sitting-down animal." "A fisherman does not bait his hook with food he likes. He uses food the fish likes. So with boys." We need folks writing advancement requirements who can see things through a kid's eye, remembering the ex
  4. Eagle94-A1
    Reading your post, and thinking how National will be "simplifying" the Scouts BSA program, It's as if multiple voices in my head are saying
  5. RememberSchiff
    May 31, 2024 Update: The civil lawsuit filed by the family of an 11-year-old Boy Scout Manuel Carvalho killed August 28, 2022, at the Camp Honokaia Boy Scout Camp range has been settled. The terms of the out-of-court settlement are confidential. Neither the Carvalho's family attorney Kris LaGuire nor the BSA attorney Lincoln Ashida would comment further. "There have been no arrests or criminal charges filed in connection with Carvalho’s death." "Capt. Rio-Amon Wilkins of the East Hawaii Criminal Investigation Division said at the time all the charges under review for potential f
  6. Armymutt started following New Cub Scout requirements are up - denner?
  7. Armymutt
    Took a glance at SB tonight. One of the requirements for the Bear Bobcat adventure is "Learn about the denner position and responsibilities." That will be interesting with 2 kids. I also noticed that the youth protection part that used to be just part of the rank requirements is now one of the required adventures. Bears no longer have to learn about knife safety or how to tie knots. The only outdoor activity required is a 1-mile hike. There is no requirement to observe nature during this hike. You could probably do it on a track. Oh, and there's exciting stuff like reviewing your medic
  8. Yesterday
  9. RememberSchiff
    May 30, 2024: National Executive Board (NEB) election results from National Annual Meeting from 3 weeks earlier were announced by Brad Tilden. New NEB members: (The NEB has 40-48 members.) "Laurie Champion, managing director at Marsh & McLennan Companies, has served as the Michigan Crossroads Council president and on numerous BSA committees and groups, including the National Program Safety Subcommittee, Insurance Advisory Group, National Governance Task Force and Scouts BSA Committee... Anne-Marie Lamarche is a strategy consultant at Lamarche & Associates with 35 years
  10. SSScout
    Internal, external, Aluminuminum, magnesium, bushwah... Bring back the universally useful, eminently adaptable war surplus plywood M4 Pack board:
  11. qwazse
    External frames + bushwhacking: bring extra cotter pins, wire, thread, and tools. Brace for snags and torque. It’ll last decades. Internal frames + bushwhacking: bring extra thread, needles and chord. Fewer snags, but one must patch rips promptly. Jury is still out if it will last. BSA is trying to work an “internal frame” to minimize litigation snags (not just from CSA, but from accidents— both physical and psychological). I think this is because the organization has used up its cotter pins, wire, and repair kits (i.e. insurance and endowments.)
  12. SiouxRanger
    And well, while awaiting shipping on my soap box, Kelty external frame packs tend to have aluminum frames which are relatively light. And that is fine. Dana Design pack frames are significantly more solid and heavy. I own both. I'd have carried a Kelty Super Tioga at Philmont if I had not lent it out to a Scout of limited means, and if I were not carrying significant crew safety gear which increased my pack to about 65 lbs. The Dana Design pack hip belt and fiberglass wand system of transferring load from the frame to the hip belt is simply genius.
  13. SiouxRanger
    I think that you are right. Internal frame packs were designed for climbers, day or weekend campers/hikers, but not serious cold weather camping (where bulky gear is needed) nor extended hiking (Philmont Treks, anything over 2 or 3 days). Kelty Tiogas and Super Tiogas are very lightweight and superb external frame packs. Dana Designs (the old school versions on eBay) are Backpacker Magazine Award winners. Specifically, the K-2 Long Bed. There are other versions and virtually any external frame older Dana Designs pack is a gem. All of them were originally retailed at about $300.
  14. HashTagScouts
    Outside group is not participating in "Scouting programs". so would see it as at discretion to that council.
  15. Last week
  16. ccjj
    Question along the lines of these changes....... Referring to this statement: The use of personal firearms and personal ammunition is prohibited in all Scouting programs at nationally authorized camp properties I am reading that as any Scout activity must use the event/camps firearms/ammunition. If an outside group rents the range, are they still allowed to bring their own firearms/ammunition? I read it as yes, a friend says no to all personal firearms and personal ammunition. What does this group say?
  17. Cburkhardt
    Realistic National Leaders Willing to Take Action. Those who served as principal national BSA leaders in the last two decades have addressed simultaneous diminishing membership, financial decline, an angry cultural left, and angry cultural right, hostile litigation over membership standards and child sexual abuse, a worst-case relationship with the press, angry volunteers with every imaginable complaint, disappointed councils, departure of national chartered organization membership, diminished brand equity, hostile youth service competitors and reorganization bankruptcy. With perfect hindsig
  18. DannyG
    As it is now, the troop starts preparing 18 months - 2 years out. I'd keep the backpacking/hiking activity ongoing, several trips a year, if it were entirely up to me.
  19. Eagle94-A1
    Sadly I know one of the SEs mentioned in the article. He threatened a volunteer's son with not getting Eagle if the volunteer didn't do what he was told. And I have seen first hand volunteers removed for questioning SEs.
  20. SiouxRanger
    Precisely and absolutely true.
  21. InquisitiveScouter
    To help the organization survive in a state that they want (instead of looking for ways to change it for the better), BSA professionals expel dissenters. Although dated, here is a blog which elaborates on this: (not a Daily KOS fan, in general, but I do read stuff there to learn how others think...) https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2006/3/4/191709/-Supressing-Dissent-in-Boy-Scouts-a-model-for-the-GOP From the writing: "The combination of lap dog boards and control of senior and middle volunteer management positions give the pros an immensely powerful position from which to
  22. Eagle94-A1
    1. Legacy members and Volunteers. I grew up in the Scouting program, and the SM and ASMs were the "father figures" I looked up and sought advice from. My fellow Scouts were like brothers to me. In essence Scouting was my surrogate family. I continued on as a Scouter even when I had no kids, because I NEEDED to give back. There was no way I could ever repay my SM and ASMs for every thing they did for me. Closest I could do is give back. When I did have kids, I wanted them to have some of the same experiences and joys that I had as a Scout, and if possible even better ones. But t
  23. skeptic
    If that crew is a regular thing, it would be a good idea if the unit was prepping regularly, not just when the crew comes along.
  24. skeptic started following YOUTUBE VIDEO OF BSA JAMBOREE 1953
  25. skeptic
    Sadly, the time when the Government offered much free, or at cost help, is long gone. One of the reasons for the Summit was the increasing outside pressures from some political individuals against the government allowing BSA on military bases, especially AP Hill. It did not matter to them that while yes, BSA was getting expensive services at cost, or in some cases under, the military was getting major training opportunity in their support at the events. Again, little was completely free the Base personnel or its property, only at "costs". A different perspective and a different world
  26. rallybug
    Our eldest does Code Ninjas (learning to write code in C#, Python, Java for things like Minecraft mods) - that costs $220 a month. Our youngest (just transitioned to a Bear) does karate three times a week, I think that was $3k for 2 years.
  27. fred8033
    Agreed. Fundraising can mitigate the cost as it can in sports and other programs too. The cost discussion started because of asserting scouting is a good value compared to other programs like sports. Since those programs can also fundraise to reduce cost, the comparison is best done on raw cost. What is the family cost before it is reduce by unit fundraisers. I'd still argue scouting is a great program, but not necessarily cheaper at all. If your scout is active, it costs money.
  28. DannyG
    Yes. Fundraising helps. Even though my scout can cost up to $1500 annually, I really pay less than half out-of-pocket because of unit fundraising. Just trying to be open and generic to the amount it really costs to scout. Many councils have instituted their own council fee above the $85 national membership. In effect they can charge up to $85 more. And every unit I have been a part of charges their own dues for patches and costs. That's how I estimate $200, but it really doesn't cost me that much out-of-pocket to register. You can reduce the uniform cost by reusing old uniforms. Buy it a
  29. RememberSchiff
    Found this on Orange County history website: The biggest single Scouting event ever to hit Orange County (CA) was the Third National Jamboree, held here in July 1953. Some 50,000 Scouts and Scouters from across the United States descended on the Irvine Ranch for seven days of fellowship and fun. ... The fee for the Jamboree was just $48 per boy, and yet they still turned a profit, and refunded each camper $13.50. The Irvine Company donated the site and some of the preparations, which helped keep the costs down, and lots of equipment was borrowed from the military... The Sco
  30. swilliams
    Better/finished picture of the rain garden and bocce court behind it.
  1. Load more activity

  • Posts

    • RememberSchiff
      National Annual Meeting NAM May 5-9, 2024 Orlanda

      By RememberSchiff · Posted

      Safeguarding Our Youth General Session presentation (46 min) with Glen Pounder whose job title Youth Protection Executive appears renamed and NEB member Frank Tsuru who also serves as Chair of the Youth Safeguarding Committee. IMHO, presentation gets interesting starting at 19:00 when Mr. Tsuru talks about transparency and policy. Mr. Pounder continues and expands on that discussion. Why NAM presentations can't be broadcast (live and archived) online to all of us remains a puzzle to me.  Better yet lets have a two-way dialog, maybe discuss pitfalls of perp profiling, the need for report tracking for both end-user and organizations...I am seeing some of the same failed solutions presented in a new tech suit. We have ideas and questions. My $0.02.  
    • Eagle94-A1
      New Cub Scout requirements are up - denner?

      By Eagle94-A1 · Posted

      This is what happens when educators take over the program.  BP said it best:                            "Boys can see adventure in a dirty old duck puddle, and if the Scoutmaster is a boys’ man he can see it too."                            “See things from the boy's point of view.”                         "A boy is not a sitting-down animal."                         "A fisherman does not bait his hook with food he likes. He uses food the fish likes. So with boys." We need folks writing advancement  requirements who can see things through a kid's eye, remembering the excitement and adventures of their youth. We need folks writing advancement  requirements who realize the importance of experimental learning, as opposed to formal learning.  We need folks writing advancement  requirements that understand that some folks, especially boys, learn by doing. We need folks writing advancement  requirements that understand that failure is a learning method, probably one of the best. We need folks writing advancement  requirements that understand giving responsibility to youth is a way to help them learn and grow. But most importantly We need folks writing advancement  requirement that understand that we cannot be all things to all people because "The open-air is the real objective of Scouting and the key to its success." (sorry for some bolding, cannot undo it despite several attempts.)  
    • Eagle94-A1
      New Cub Scout requirements are up - denner?

      By Eagle94-A1 · Posted

      Reading your post, and thinking how National will be "simplifying" the Scouts BSA program, It's as if multiple voices in my head are saying  
    • RememberSchiff
      Accidental shooting at Aloha Council camp news

      By RememberSchiff · Posted

      May 31, 2024 Update: The civil lawsuit filed by the family of an 11-year-old Boy Scout Manuel Carvalho killed August 28, 2022, at the Camp Honokaia Boy Scout Camp range has been settled. The terms of the out-of-court settlement are confidential. Neither the Carvalho's family attorney Kris LaGuire nor the BSA attorney Lincoln Ashida would comment further. "There have been no arrests or criminal charges filed in connection with Carvalho’s death." "Capt. Rio-Amon Wilkins of the East Hawaii Criminal Investigation Division said at the time all the charges under review for potential filing are misdemeanors, punishable by up to a year in jail upon conviction. The statute of limitations for misdemeanors in Hawaii is two years from the time of an incident for the authorities to file related charges." More at source (but behind pay wall) https://www.hawaiitribune-herald.com/2024/05/31/hawaii-news/plaintiffs-boy-scouts-settle-wrongful-death-case/ https://www.westhawaiitoday.com/2024/05/31/hawaii-news/plaintiffs-boy-scouts-settle-wrongful-death-case/
    • Armymutt
      New Cub Scout requirements are up - denner?

      By Armymutt · Posted

      Took a glance at SB tonight.  One of the requirements for the Bear Bobcat adventure is "Learn about the denner position and responsibilities."  That will be interesting with 2 kids.  I also noticed that the youth protection part that used to be just part of the rank requirements is now one of the required adventures.  Bears no longer have to learn about knife safety or how to tie knots.  The only outdoor activity required is a 1-mile hike.  There is no requirement to observe nature during this hike.  You could probably do it on a track.  Oh, and there's exciting stuff like reviewing your medical record and "Learn about the mission of any non-profit. Find out how they fund their activities and how volunteers are used to help."  That just screams 3rd grader fun.  No more outings, no need to interact with the community.  Everything could be done in a classroom in 8 weeks.  This is definitely going to bring in hordes of kids.  

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