Leaderboard

Frankly, I am disappointed about not being able to use regailia for Arrow of Light ceremonies and probably more in the future. But to me that isn't the purpose and reason we are in OA. It is a tool that OA currently uses to help serve its purpose but it isn't the purpose. I would think that most people with Native American decent would not have problems with how OA uses the themes but I am sure there are those that dislike it. I am also sure that some ceremony teams disrespect native american cultures which is sad. I would be much more disappointed if a large group of Arrowmen dropped

Terrible place we have come to. As a Native American, I had no issue with the ceremonies, when done respectfully and the ceremonialists treated it as such. This new crossover script is corny as heck, and I don't see many kids jumping up and volunteering to use it. I absolutely don't think the Lodges should take on any part in carrying these ceremonies out at all, it has no connection at all to the OA, and wearing a sash for it is IMHO an inappropriate event to wear the sash now.

(I was trying to respond in the other thread to some comments about consulting the membership on this. I hope it’s OK to continue that particular conversation in this thread; mods, if it’s not, just delete, thanks.) Each lodge sends delegates to elect the section chief. The section chiefs elect the national chief and vice-chief, who represent the youth membership on the national committee. If you want to influence National OA policy, then you have to start at the lodge level and make sure that your officers and especially the lodge chief represent your views and are going to elect pe

I can't rule anything out at the Constitution-free zone that is our modern border, but this shouldn't be any different than someone who smokes dope in Amsterdam, has a beer at Oktoberfest, or eats some raw milk cheese in France. Besides taxation the US doesn't typically try to enforce laws outside their jurisdiction for US citizens.

I was looking for some supplemental materials for helping to teach basic compass skills and came across this video. It's hilarious while also covering some good basic information. Enjoy!

I'm not sure the exec committee is listening

I have an umbrella policy, but not because of my involvement in Scouting.

I FINALLY found my answer. https://www.scouting.org/health-and-safety/gss/gss02/ Life Jackets Properly fitted U.S. Coast Guard–approved life jackets must be worn by all persons engaged in boating activity (rowing, canoeing, sailing, boardsailing, motorboating, waterskiing, rafting, tubing, and kayaking). Type III life jackets are recommended for general recreational use. For vessels over 20 feet in length, life jackets need not be worn when participants are below deck or on deck when the qualified supervisor aboard the vessel determines that it is prudent to abide by l

It's the kind of thing even cubscouts will roll their eyes and laugh at. I'll bet a weeks pay that I could put five den chiefs in a room and they could write a script that is three times better in an hour.

I have sat on many EBOR, both in my own Troop and as the District rep for many other troops. I agree, this EBOR was flawed. Once the Board deliberates, the vote MUST be unanimous. If the EBOR denies the Eagle, it can be appealed to the District Advancement committee. And in my experience, it is a rubber stamp approval at that level. If the committee member had "reservations" about the Scout's worthiness, the time to abstain was when he was asked to be on the Board. That being said, the EBOR is a done deal. The District, Council and National have upheld the decision and the Scout has hi

I read Walk in the woods post as sarcasm, but maybe he is looking for a glass quarter full. Still, I wonder if there is an opportunity here to bring honor back to OA by rehighlighting the camping and cheerful service of the program. Personally, I would push the minimum membership requirements back up to 13, maybe even 14 years of age to give scouts the time to develop the skills for an honor program. Then, try and wedge some of the mystery of the organization by restricting membership with higher minimal camping skills, cheerful service, and Living the Scout Oath and Law. Membership would

@sst3rd, I hear ya. I know that ceremonies are not the focus of the OA. But they are the things that inspired us to do cheerful service and lead by example. I have seen and used ceremony teams as a way to inspire Scouts and Arrowman, and rebuild active chapters. When I became chapter advisor, the chapter was dead. No one knew or cared about the OA. All they saw us do was run the trading post at camporees. Starting a AOL/Cross Over ceremony team was one of the first things I did. It helped reignite the chapter. We went from doing only camporee trading posts to chapter work days at the loca

I have been carrying an umbrella liability policy for almost 30 years. I don't know what BSA would do, but my assumption is their lawyers would do all in their power to find some infraction of BSA policy (or even BSA recommendations) to shed the liability to someone else. My insurance company's lawyers would probably be doing the same to avoid paying the claim. It's what insurance company lawyers are paid to do. Call me paranoid...but I have been able to sleep at night. It's relatively cheap insurance.

Barry, yes the ceremonies were only one aspect of it. I did a lot of that heavy lifting. Camporee staff, counclfire building, Trail clearing, bridge building, raking leaves, if it needed to be done we went out and did it. We were the ones who did the hard work, the Dirty Work and we were damn proud of it. You never asked for money, or a patch, we didn't even care if we got a round of applause. It didn't really matter if anyone else knew, we knew. And that was enough for us. That is the attitude and mindset I have striven to instill in the current generation. It is admittedly a lot ha

I mean you know disrespect all Oldscout, but your post represents how OA has been minimalized to irrelevance in the modern scouting program. Used to, Arrowmen were the heavy lifters, not entertainers. Oh sure, they performed ceremonies, but they were also the goto resource for clearing and cleaning up camps, clearing old trails and blazing new trails. They were brought in as experts for council camping activities and leaders of council outdoor activities. If you needed scout activities experts for large gatherings, you called OA. Their outdoor expertise was only marginally less than their repu

Well another BSA tradition is tossed onto the altar of political correctness. This directed and influenced by people not involved in the program nor interested in the why. Also those supposedly offended by the usage who are in many cases supportive of the usage and tradition were not consulted. Is Akela still mentioned in Cubs or is that verboten now?

E94, Thanks for posting the reference. I agree with you and Oldscout. OA is losing a part of its identity. Moreover, its losing a very important way to promote itself to future members. I am truly saddened by this. Prof

ok I have read this whole thing, really surprised at how fired up uninvolved, anonymous folks can get about stuff. If I were the OP....kid made eagle. he is entitled/deserves an ECOH. As a parent I absolutely see wanting to get that for him. So much so, I would see to it myself (which is how our Troop does it anyway). It is obvious there is some issue driving the cmte to not put the event on. I doubt you will ever get the answers you are looking for. I also doubt you will ever get them to do as you wish and/or put on the ceremony. And further, why would you want to force folks to do

I'm a former lifeguard and lifeguard instructor. I cannot tell you enough how dangerous ANY type of GO rescue is. And I was an instructor back when they taught you how to make rescues without equipment, something they no longer do today. EVERY TIME YOU GO YOU PUT YOUR LIFE AT RISK.

Right it isnt my sons story..lol My son was up front and present for everything, meetings ECOH, Camp, Webelos woods.. name it. He was there. Right from the beginning

I commend your "can-do" attitude about getting in the trenches and organizing your own ECOH. Given the circumstances, I think that is your only viable option at this point. Good luck for a successful and meaningful event!

Not at all - that's not at all how we roll in my troop. I'm just trying to decipher what might be their motivation. I will repeat what I said in my post: "I'm not saying their attitude is justified, but it is understandable". The resentment toward your son and your family goes back to the time he crossed over from Cubs. That sounds like many years to me. Fair enough. I based my comments on the fact that his project was completed last minute and the paperwork was turned in on his birthday. I don't condone the uncooperative and begrudging behavior

No. When I said “Yes, I did, and proud that I did”. I meant that for the den leader position. My son went to camp to get the swimming badge done and could not do the endurance of it so alternatively he did the hiking. We found a great meet up group that does hiking regularly and it was slow paced so my son could complete it and he did. Yes everything is complete. he was awarded eagle

OK, I have to say this. You say you were a volunteer in Cub Scouts for 7 years. Thank you for serving. No doubt you took the required Youth Protection training which addresses the BSA's zero tolerance policy on bullying. You also assert that your son was constantly bullied by adults in his Troop the entire time he was a member. Did YOU report this to the Scout Executive as required by the YP requirements? If not, why not? The BSA has procedures in place for handling bullies and it should have been nipped in the bud. I'm not trying to cast accusations...just trying to close some holes in

The Scout is an Eagle...the EBOR was convened and he passed. His application was approved by the SM, the Troop Committee Chair, District, Council and National and he has his certificate and medal in hand. All this pontificating about a "valid" EBOR is moot. The only remaining question is why the jerks on the Troop Committee and SM are denying him a Court of Honor.

Just completed our trek. 4 days, 26 miles. Very challenging terrain.

I think MattR is on point here. I was at breakfast this morning with my wife, and we overheard (they were very loud) discussing youth soccer. These were coaches (possibly parent-coaches) .It was plainly obvious they were coaching kids like they are collegiate or pros without realizing the benefit of less structure, and playing the game. They were complaining about kids "not being committed to the sport" because they had other interests; athletic and otherwise. They fail to understand the benefit of the off-season, other sports, etc...

The message I got from that article is that soccer numbers are dropping because parents are taking the fun out of it. Select soccer at 6? At 6 my kids met at the park and the coach was no more than the screw ball in chief. It's kind of like watching parents with kids skiing. Good ski instructors realize 6 year olds are as interested in hot chocolate and playing in the snow as actually skiing but the parents want their kids skiing the whole time. Message to scouters would be keep it fun. I just came back from talking to scouts, parents and staff at summer camp and the idea that summer camp

First of all, you look here - STOP THINKING ABOUT WHAT OTHERS THINK. You are not there for yourself - you are there for your son. So you have a track record that embarasses you. Well, and I mean this lovingly - get over it! Your son wants you there - your son needs you there. So what if you haven't been able to give 100% in the past? There are many parents, MANY, who won't give 20 or even 10%! I have parents that I have to drag to Blue and Gold, for pete's sake! You want to be involved. That is worth gold as a parent. Even if it's only in the smallest capacity, you want to do the right thing,

There are definitely some LNT zealots out there. Can we all do a better job of lessening our impact while camping, absolutely. If you were camping in the 60' and 70's as the low impact became the thing, the thought was to not camp where others had camped as that would lessen the impact, no designated sites, it's gonna be great. Well, you ended up with impact all over an area. Now rangers and whatnot have realized that if you can direct the impact, you can in fact lessen the overall impact. Impact the crud out of this area, but it lessens the impact elsewhere The challenge is for peop

We have an umbrella policy anyway, but I am not worried about Scouting lawsuits.

There are always at least two sides to every story. The argument from Mich08212 is compelling, but I wonder what the Scoutmaster's version might be. We had a Scout who was approaching his 18th birthday when suddenly he reappeared on the scene after years of inactivity in the troop. He had missed the deadline for his Life Scout board of review (it needed to be 6 months before his birthday). "Sorry fella - tough break", but he submitted an appeal to the council stating that he had been sick (he wasn't). The council approved his appeal. He then started asking the troop to schedule special ca