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LATEST POSTS
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By Eagle94-A1 · Posted
A few things. 1. If an error like the one I describe happens, and cannot be fixed easily, that is an issue. It should not take rebuilding records from scratch. 2. if BSA’s systems are so reliable, why is it that information is still incorrect? My son’s records were missing things, and had the wrong Cub Scout pack in the records, a pack that did not exist at the time? 3. You do realize that areas of the country have either no internet service, or service is not affordable? And as a result folks do not use SCOUTBOOK et al, because they do not have internet access at home. And do we want folks using shared computers at the public library? 4 you do realize that some districts are struggling to provide basic services, like recruitment, program, etc? -
Many of the camps could be closed and the land still used for camping without all the infrastructure. Use for patrol based primitive camping dispersed on the entire property. Cost to council would be significantly less. Cost to patrols to reserve a site could be minimal. -
They also need to stop making excuses about local council independence. It a small portion of the monies donated on a national level were properly shared with those smaller camps, and perhaps National found a few donors from their own list to step in, some might be salvedged. IF Camping is to be a mainsay of the program, the camps need to survive locally. Few local groups can travel to the Big and solvent ones. More importantly, from my view, is the disconnect with our environmental and "teaching" face. Every camp should be an example of how best to protect the enironment, and should find ways to showcase the best options. Today, with huge progress in clean options, all of them should be using those options wheneve possible. Not only a teaching element, but also a cost reduction. Solar and wind are likely possible most places, and often also water power. The camp cuts expenses and the Scouts learn the future. Another barely touched option is partnerships with serious sporting and outdoor companies. Using climbing walls in conjunction with local clubs; offering the camp space for corporate events; embracing the Mike Rowe concept of skilled learning. A bit of the right connections might find large cooking schools for example that might find summer programs a great option for teaching and the camp could again save money and likely often eat better. So much of this is difficult for councils to move into, but with a properly developed National program, with the smaller camps open to it as well, would bring huge forward movement, and maybe even overcome the negative press with the right promos and examples. Just an old guy with odd ideas that get written off. -
Our council summer camp is notoriously strict about cell phones in camp. Scouts are forbidden from having them at all, any scouts who bring one to camp are supposed to have it confiscated by their troop leaders, and camp staff confiscate phones if they see scouts with them around camp. Adults are strongly discouraged from having phones in view of scouts. So much so that even taking pictures is frowned upon. Even smart watches (like the Apple watch) are prohibited for scouts and strongly discouraged for adults. Meanwhile, at Jambo phones are pretty much a necessity. Phones are actually encouraged there, plus there's an event app, and a lot of the activities utilize connected technology as part of the experience (scanning QR codes, pulling up information), as well as for taking pictures, accessing schedules and event info, and of course communicating both at the event with your troop and contacting parents back home. As more and more scouting materials go digital (like merit badge pamphlets), this all seems to frequently beg the question: Is it time for National to set new guidelines for cell phone usage that puts the decision entirely with the troop? Similar to how we have received better uniform and clothing guidelines from National, I think it's time we got some more clear and up-to-date guidance on phone policies and technology usage in general throughout the organization. Along with empowering troops who want to ease off the restrictive policies to do so at their own discretion, without camps being able to impose blanket bans and harsh restrictions for youth and adults. Even in troops that want to maintain a limit on phone usage, I think we could at least be a little more nuanced about how phone policies are applied. Blanket bans seem to miss an opportunity to encourage appropriate and helpful use of technology in scouting environments. And when those bans even apply to the adults, I think it's a significant overstep. It also seems ironic to me that we're rolling out MBs like AI and cybersecurity while at the same time telling scouts they can't even have a phone on a trip at all. -
I'm also a heart-attack Eagle (SM conference 3 days before I turned 18), and I did wear the rank badge for a year after. I didn't even know I wasn't supposed to, and no one said anything. If anyone had, I'd have been fine with the square knot. Interestingly enough, the guy wears zero square knots. 😅
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