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Showing content with the highest reputation on 07/30/18 in all areas

  1. A patrol with two adults supervising it is no longer a patrol. It's a den.
    11 points
  2. Attention Richard B: I am one of those "old farts," first a district leader in 1962, red jacket and all. Council leader in 1964. You claim that, "The patrol method hasn't changed." Apparently, you don't know what the Patrol Method is. Here is what it is. "Patrols are small groups of Scouts [nb "Scouts"] who camp together, cook together, play together, and learn together. Patrols are where Scouts learn citizenship at the most basic level. They also take on responsibilities within the patrol, and learn teamwork and leadership." BSA July 29, 2018. "For a Troop to be
    7 points
  3. I'm so glad you asked this, as it gives an opportunity for me to brag about our troop 3 years after its merger. We've moved back to our original CO which, be it ever so humble, allows the troop multiple rooms and the entire grounds without reservation (or, more importantly, the threat of charging us rent). Less than 20% of the meeting time is in the main room, with adults. Scouts may also excuse themselves from their patrol for a conference with an SM or a counselor, but generally they are meeting with their patrol or involved in a wide game or a service project with the SPL or QM. Adults are
    3 points
  4. well, somebody has to make sure that scouts under 14 wont use wagons to tote around water balloons larger than a golf ball.
    3 points
  5. @RichardB, tell the many boys in WPa, who meet regularly in the absence of adults to hike, camp, pick up litter, ... whatever good and noble thing ... that they need to join the BSA so that they can have the requisite adults in tow. I'm living a paradox. As soon as boys are able and equipped, they're camping without me (or any other trained adult) to guide them. Sure, I'm no longer liable, but they also no longer have any sense of accountability to someone like me for making a good plan and executing it well. They can skip shakedowns, leave naive parents vague hike plans, carry equipment
    3 points
  6. I'm sure you will get the answers to your question. But, you come off to most of us as having little understanding or experience with patrol method. How much do you have? Our discussion with your depends on your knowledge and experience. Barry
    2 points
  7. We've done close to his scenario several times. We never lower the lights, but we often add a candle lighting or similar. Sometimes it reflects the three parts of the scout oath. The biggest benefit is the whole troops is there and I think that's the biggest benefit. Too many ECOHs have low attendance because of bad timing or yet another meeting for the week. I think there is nothing better than doing the MBs, then the lower ranks and then a special recognition for the new Eagle scout. All relatively fast and clean. Plus, all our COHs are pot-luck meals with the spring COH havi
    2 points
  8. Many Scoutmasters too. Been there and done that. So many reasons why Scoutmaster's don't get much sleep. Barry
    1 point
  9. It's a den as of 10/18 IF the Pack can find another adult - and one who will register. Buzz, buzz.
    1 point
  10. True. To be perfectly honest, I just recommend my Scouts start the Camping MB when they join the troop (I’m also registered as the counselor). They earn it piecemeal within two years.
    1 point
  11. This is always a big question mark for me. I always choose the train if I can. It is comfortable, relaxing, "knee room" a-plenty. Every time I have taken a train somewhere, it has been , to my eye, fully loaded, at capacity. In my experience in Europe, the trains are THE way to travel between cities. Are they nationally subsidized? Absolutely. Asphalt roads are subsidized. Airports are built with public money, why not the rails?
    1 point
  12. When I was a bumbling, unmotivated Tenderfoot, I witnessed a scout receiving his medal at the end of a regularly scheduled troop court of honor. All of the merit badges earned at summer camp were presented (but none for me--I went but didn't earn any that year). Then the ranks...Tenderfoot, Second Class, First Class. Fair amount of scouts went up and collected their new patch. Star...Life...only a couple of those. Then the new Eagle was called forward. The lights were dimmed. SM had some meaningful words. Medal pinned on scout. Mom's pin presented. New Eagle said a few words.
    1 point
  13. I was involved in a tragic boating accident when I was a young adult. I learned my lesson the hard way, and now view PFDs like I view seat belts, when you need one it better already be on you or it's probably useless. So I wear a pfd whenever I'm on a boat, and if you're on my boat, or on a boat which I'm captaining, you wear a pfd if we're under way. I invested in expensive, comfortable jackets so comfort isn't an issue.
    1 point
  14. Borders on the criminal?
    1 point
  15. I was the first Eagle in my Troop. I inched out a Scout, much younger, who had announced "publicly", that he would be Eagle in so many months (he did the math, so many months required in each rank), which would have made him the first Eagle. Us older Scouts (who had been having fun camping and hiking , not so much worrying about ranks), got together and said "we can't let this happen". So we cooperated with Merit Badge classes, service projects, activity planning. The young Scout was good, but "life happens", and he had family issues and did not meet his schedule. He became the third Eag
    1 point
  16. Attention @tahawk The patrol method hasn't changed. Supervision requirements by adults of that patrol activity has. You can find the latest here: https://www.scouting.org/health-and-safety/gss/gss01/#a RichardB
    -1 points
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