Leaderboard

"Each individual should “take charge” of the documentation of their training, " Because BSA and Council records can be a little off. When I checked my record a couple years ago, it said I completed Scoutmaster training in 1910. I submitted the official form that I was given to point out that the correct date was 1961. My official record now says I completed Scoutmaster training in 1912. 🎃

Hmm, I disagree. Zero tolerance removes the burden of using judgement or reason to determine guilt. Even ticketed speeders can get their time in court before a judge. Zero tolerance takes out the humility of judgement and the risk of accountability. Barry

My understanding of YPT is no one on one contact and two adults gets conflated. There's nothing wrong with a merit badge class at camp having 1 adult or no adults, so long as the adults are not alone with youth and if there are no adults there are at least two close enough to be summoned if a need arises. They are two separate but related rules. 1. No one on one contact between adults and youth where a second adult or youth aren't present. 2. 2 Adults on every outing. Otherwise every vehicle transporting Scouts to camp would require two adults.

I spent the past couple of days with some scouts from Israel. They do things very differently than we do and some of it is very impressive. Here's my understanding of their program. Scouting in Israel goes from 4th grade through 12th grade. There is only one program. So no cubs, just scouts. It's essentially our webelos and scouts combined. The scouts I talked to said that scouts is very popular in Israel. There are very few adults involved. My impression is it's somewhat like the venturing model where the adults are advisors at best but mostly take care of support. Note that the ven

Thanks for all of your input - Our scouts decided to do the Superior Hiking Trail (SHT) vs Smokies or Yosemite. They wanted to go low budget to save for Philmont in 2020. It should be cooler there near the lake and we hope to get some great vistas in.

Does having adults around on a patrol hike change things? Yes, no mater how quiet they are, and how much in the background they stay. It hurts the scouts. Multiple studies have shown the benefits of unsupervised time for child development. The kids need time without any adults around to grow. Youth Protection is important, but not at the expense of the kids.

While technically true, people need to actually understand what Do Your Best means. It is not a license to simply pass a kid along. It does not mean a kid gets to check a box because he tried and didn't succeed the first time. It actually means do your best. Showing up and being present on the day a topic is reviewed is not doing one's best is 99.9% of cases. A kid must make a real effort. And I'll turn it back on the leaders - did the leaders do their best in helping a kid grasp the material?

Do you really want to be pedantic about "requirements". Fine - there are service project hours required of younger scouts and those service projects may require the use of wagons and wheelbarrows to complete. As for risks present for younger scouts in the use of wheelbarrows or wagons? None that I can think of for wagons, something young boys AND girls use outside of scouting all the time. For wheelbarrows? As long as they are working with wheelbarrows of an appropriate size and are not trying to steer a wheelbarrow up or down a ramp into a truck or building, the only real risk is tha

Another thought is Ask another Troop if you can camp next to them. Separate programs, but additional adults in the area. Barry

I must confess, I find the comparing the job of a Webelos leader to a sales job equally unsettling. As a Webelos leader, I have NEVER looked at my boys in that light, nor my duties in that way. I am not a salesman. I am a teacher, a mentor, and a guardian to these boys. My job is to help them become better people, and I need to do it with my example, my encouragement, and my training. And I have to love them enough to accept the fact that not everything we do may be fun, but it all matters - and I have to let them know that. I have to be 100% transparent with them; my job is to prepare t

So much for meeting with an MBC, even in a public library, even if one or both non-registered parent(s) stays with the scout.

Welcome to liability underwriter attorneys having the only voice that counts, he says cynically.

Years ago scouts could no longer camp by themselves. Today it appears they can no longer have meetings or day activities without adults. "Two registered adult leaders 21 years of age or over are required at all Scouting activities, including meetings." "Patrol Activities—A Scout patrol may participate in patrol activities. Two-deep adult leadership is required."