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Actually there is a form in the project workbook. Eagle_Scout_Service_Project_Fundraising_Application.pdf
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If your ASM thinks there should be a form ask him to show it to you. But unless your council has something weird there isn’t one. As you said, have your son answer the question on form F: “Mr. Smith has generously agreed to donate all the costs necessary for this project.” If he wants to elaborate a bit he can add some thing like, “because Mr. Smith is a supporter of both Scouting and the community organization this project benefits.” As a guess, I would guess ASM is sort of waving at some IRS rule about donations over $500, but that’s not for the scout to worry about, that’s
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Hey all. I got a tough one here. and this one's personal. My son has his project proposal next week and I have a MC, ASM and myself as Dad and son getting conflicting information regarding private monetary donations for his eagle project. The kid is building a deck and the whole thing is being funded by a private donation from one of our unit members who is also a parent who is also a friend of the family. Total is just under $900. The problem is that I have an ASM that has sat on our district eagle board telling me that because it's over $500 my son needs to fill out a form. It's n
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And there is a place that makes summer camp badges difficult at times. Going through dozens of signed blue cards from camp, how many of us will have a serious talk with each scout about what he learned or did? Hard to selectively judge unless something rings an alarm, like hearing from the counselor that the youth was not going, or not participating. Of course then, the card also should never be signed as completed if that were the case. We want to trust the youth, and hopefully will find few times to seriously challenge some things. Fine lines and balance much of the time. I am reminded
- Yesterday
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Well, the parents would be right. The average kid is far safer from sexual abuse in sports than the average kid in scouting. Sexual abuse of children is a society wide problem in any setting where adults have access to kids, but a kid on a soccer field for two hours in public view is far safer than a kid on a campground overnight in a remote location with unrelated adults. Studies like this highlight our problems with CSA but have little bearing on BSA's experiences and track record with it.
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I'm salivating waiting for this. It's going to exactly like climb on safely! A legal chokehold that elevates national from liability and voiding the indemnification clause for leaders who do not have the training and experience an incident. This is directly from climb on safely. "The adult supervisor works cooperatively with the climbing instructor and is responsible for all matters outside of the climbing/rappelling activity. " Climb on safely is not a training course in climbing. Contrary to popular belief it's a sideways acknowledgment from the leader who takes it that if BSA policies -
The sporting thing; there's an aspect of this compare and contrast that is not being discussed. https://childusa.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Five-Key-Findings-from-the-EAS-7.9.2021-Updated.pdf#:~:text=18.3% (nearly 1 in 5) of elite athletes,minor by a sport official or peer athlete. Because of the decentralized nature of sports, schools, clubs, etc ... there's no great big target with a big pocket of money (when comparing to BSA). So for 30 years there are local discussion when a pedo coach or physically abusive coach or exclusionary club gets caught doing the wrong thing; however, the
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Lot of wrong information about that second discussion with the SM about the MB. Page 41 of the GTA states that the 2nd discussion with the SM is supposed to be about the scouts experience, not a retest. As a SM you're signing the blue card not as an approval or denial, but acknowledging that the adult association of the discussion has taken place.
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What is it about the BSA that has allowed it to survive?
Cburkhardt replied to Cburkhardt's topic in Issues & Politics
I think the fundamental activity of the BSA, which is working with and helping to form the character of young people, is an underlying reason why we continue to move forward. As long as we are believed to be doing a good job on this, we continue to have support. We cannot take that support for granted though. Local volunteers are the face of the BSA. People and parents know and like our local volunteers. They generally have good reason to trust them Another key attribute of the BSA which has led to survival is that it is a local organization. Local chartered organizations with l -
What is it about the BSA that has allowed it to survive?
Tron replied to Cburkhardt's topic in Issues & Politics
Tradition. There are a lot of people who were in scouting as a youth and want their kids in it to share the tradition. Americana. There are people drawn to it from the aspect that is iconic and part of the overall American experience. Oath & Law. People are drawn to the oath and law. There is a certain thing about wanting your kids practicing certain principals/ideals and being around other kids who are also practicing those principals and ideals. Outdoors. There are youth and adults who want their kids to learn outdoors skills. -
What is it about the BSA that has allowed it to survive? The BSA as a whole (from the unit through national levels) has processed significant challenges during the past thirty years. For purposes of this posting I include the discrimination lawsuits (Dale v. BSA, etc.), changes to membership standards, institution of YPT, youth abuse lawsuits, inclusion of girls in Cubs and Scouts, COVID, bankruptcy, establishment of the Summit and rebranding. It would seem impossible for a not-for-profit organization to survive such a combination – yet the BSA moves forward. What attributes of t
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This is going sideways fast. I don't want to lock this thread, so please, don't let this website ruin your day. In the meantime ... Doesn't it make anyone else wonder that if we're arguing over advancement that isn't being done and the scouts don't mind and don't care, that this is really just a huge waste of effort? It seems the adults care about the advancement a lot more than the scouts do. Just maybe that means advancement isn't doing what it was intended to do. Aren't all the methods supposed to be ways to motivate the scouts to participate and interact with each other so they l
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During COVID, we had no choice but to allow families to pick up and drop off. Since everything was within 90 minutes (usually 45 minutes or less, but that one day trip) we had a few issues, but they were workable. HOWEVER post COVID had a major trip, 6+ hours away. family was going to be in the area prior to us and afterwards, so the decision to let us meet and drop off and pick up was made. That was a mistake. We got to the meet up point about 30 minutes late due to an accident on the highway. Family was upset that we were late. When asked when to expect arrival for pick up, we told the
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If this works for your unit, then I say try it. It worked very well for us in Cub Scouts to have open campouts. Join us when your schedule allows so you don't have to write-off the entire weekend. If you have another obligation Friday night, but you can camp with us Saturday night, then join us late. Or if you don't have the personal gear or are unsure about camping out the entire night, make it a day camp and join us for activities. This works well with Cubs family camping, with parents providing transportation to/from camp and staying. Logistically, this sort of transportation arrangement fo
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Wise man once said, "OUTING is three-fourths of ScOUTING." ( The author of the 2010's edition misquoted him, he obviously didn't do the math). Scouting and sports are two completely separate programs, with completely different goals and objectives.
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Perhaps for Cub Scouts but absolutely not for Scouts BSA. Scouting isn't for everyone. If a kid doesn't like camping out two nights or wants a day camp experience perhaps just stick with travel indoor sports. Also, while adult leader meetings are a great time for adults to drink and eventually discuss the Troop, scout outings are not. As a parent who has kids in both travel sports and scouts, I find the fewer parents involved in scouting a major benefit. Let's not destroy scouting by taking everything that is bad with travel sports and applying it to Scouts BSA.
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National Annual Reports
InquisitiveScouter replied to RememberSchiff's topic in Open Discussion - Program
To be a Merit Badge Counselor, you must be 18. A Summer Camp Counselor (staffer) is not a de facto Merit Badge Counselor. And ONLY registered Merit Badge Counselors may sign off requirements completions. You must have never read your Scout Handbook, any Merit Badge pamphlet, taken the Merit Badge Counselor training, or read the Guide to Advancement to have this all jumbled up. -
Yes? That do that with the counselor. That counselor may end up not being an adult. It is up to the council advancment committe (see other parts of the guide to advancement) to manage the quality of the summer camp mb program. I can assure you that about 90% of MBs am nation wide are taught by counselors under 18. Have you been to camp? Have you assured yourself and your scouts of quality instruction? I have. If you have, you’d know that the requirements are done with an MBC that is more likely than not under 18. You must be new to the program to have this all jumbled up.
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National Annual Reports
InquisitiveScouter replied to RememberSchiff's topic in Open Discussion - Program
G2A "There must be attention to each individual’s projects and fulfillment of all requirements. We must know that every Scout—actually and personally—completed them. If, for example, a requirement uses words like “show,” “demonstrate,” or “discuss,” then every Scout must do that. It is unacceptable to award badges on the basis of sitting in classrooms watching demonstrations, or remaining silent during discussions. " -
^^^ If I could upvote this twice, I would. It's probably the most concise explanation for why families choose youth sports over Scouting. Rather than try to compete with youth sports, Scouting just needs to acknowledge it's fundamentally different and position itself as a compliment or alternative. We might consider making the program more inviting by offering additional day camps or 1-night camping options. I find this preferable to an indoor program (or no program).
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Actually, that isn't true. If so, all counselors would need to be 18. They oversee quality control to make sure those that are teaching the MB are holding to the standards, but the adult is not expected to test each scout on each requirement. Just not part of the program or expectations.
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And, while most such weak or fudged things are not dangerous, in the case of swimming it can be. I had a real wake up on that. I had a boy do swimming for a week at camp and he received his approval and card. A month later, we went to the local Naval Base and used their pool. The Navy guy running the pool told them all to swim the length of the pool,thenfloat, so he could judge their skill levels. The boy I noted could not do it. Now if you completed the badge just a month prior you should have verified minimal skill in four strokes at least, plus float. When I confronted the boy he ad
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Sadly, it is more common than one might think at summer camps. And some camps are significantly worse than others. Part of the problem is the "counselors" are other scouts, albeit a few years older. This should not be allowed. Even if if was an adult who officially signed the card. The adult is supposed to have tested each scout on the requirements, not rely on a 15 year old CIT who "led a class". The merita badge mill summer camps are a stain on the entire process. Sadly BSA doesn't just turn a blind eye, it appears they actively encourage it.
- Last week
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This makes sense as it would allow a leader to say "yes, we have an RSO, we have a rifle instructor, and we are at a commercial range". Just like safe swim defense or climbing, they could confirm that they are setup to meet the requirements vs. just saying "well, these are guys who do shooting normally at district events, so they know best". -
When the Scout admits it. Your example of a Scout admitting they didn't read the requirements is a pretty poor judge if they did them or not. If swimming merit badge at camp covers certain requirements each day, the counselor tracks completion, and when done, done. There isn't a requirement for the Scout to read the requirements, just do them. And it should be rare. Rare. Not a regular occurrence. It sounds like for your unit, this was a regular occurrence. Your sense of righteousness seems strong. Again "Just as we avoid penalizing Scouts for the mistakes of adults, it should be a rare
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Posts
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Actually there is a form in the project workbook. Eagle_Scout_Service_Project_Fundraising_Application.pdf -
If your ASM thinks there should be a form ask him to show it to you. But unless your council has something weird there isn’t one. As you said, have your son answer the question on form F: “Mr. Smith has generously agreed to donate all the costs necessary for this project.” If he wants to elaborate a bit he can add some thing like, “because Mr. Smith is a supporter of both Scouting and the community organization this project benefits.” As a guess, I would guess ASM is sort of waving at some IRS rule about donations over $500, but that’s not for the scout to worry about, that’s between Smith and the beneficiary org, because that’s who he is actually donating to. -
Hey all. I got a tough one here. and this one's personal. My son has his project proposal next week and I have a MC, ASM and myself as Dad and son getting conflicting information regarding private monetary donations for his eagle project. The kid is building a deck and the whole thing is being funded by a private donation from one of our unit members who is also a parent who is also a friend of the family. Total is just under $900. The problem is that I have an ASM that has sat on our district eagle board telling me that because it's over $500 my son needs to fill out a form. It's not a fundraiser and he's not fundraising, so what form is he referring to. The donor is not donating materials, supplies, etc. He's donating cash. My other ASM is telling us that donations only need to be documented on page F of the workbook. Please help ! He's taking on this grand project cause he goes big and as his ASM I'm incredibly proud and as his father I think he's out of his dang mind. LOL But it's his project. But this donor vs fundraiser vs form vs workbook nonsense is driving us all crazy and I don't want him to get rejected by the eagle board. Thank you as always ! -
And there is a place that makes summer camp badges difficult at times. Going through dozens of signed blue cards from camp, how many of us will have a serious talk with each scout about what he learned or did? Hard to selectively judge unless something rings an alarm, like hearing from the counselor that the youth was not going, or not participating. Of course then, the card also should never be signed as completed if that were the case. We want to trust the youth, and hopefully will find few times to seriously challenge some things. Fine lines and balance much of the time. I am reminded of the great book by Cochraan, Be Prepared. The SM in the story has taken over a troubled troop where much has been let slide. He has two youth that are Eagles, and he has concerns about them based on observations of their skills and so on. So, when he suspects they may not really be swimmers due to indictions they avoid the water and make excuses, he takes them in a row boat to the middle of the lake. It is only a few hundred yards from shore which for someone with the swimming and life saving badges should not be an issue to swim back. So, he tells them he wants them to swim back to shore and they refuse and admit they are pretty much unable to swim. He challenges them as to how then they could be Eagles. More discussion and he finally rows them all back. He informs them that he is distressed by their obvious issues, especially as he needs them as leaders. So, he suggests that they give him back their Eagles untilcan validate they deserve them. I know, not allowed or realistic, but it is a story. The book is really fun and also encouraging. Ultimately, one boy's father challenges the issue and threatens the SM, while the other youth's parent acknowledges an issue. And one boy does prove himself and is again given his Eagle. The other drops out and has other issues as well. Idealistic, but also makes us think. -
Well, the parents would be right. The average kid is far safer from sexual abuse in sports than the average kid in scouting. Sexual abuse of children is a society wide problem in any setting where adults have access to kids, but a kid on a soccer field for two hours in public view is far safer than a kid on a campground overnight in a remote location with unrelated adults. Studies like this highlight our problems with CSA but have little bearing on BSA's experiences and track record with it.
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