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I think that if the Scouter has worked with male Scouters and it's not working, try a female Scouter. My Wood Badge course director was female, and I kind of idolized her, she was great, and so when she made a recommendation not to do XYZ, I listened to her with less resentment than I would if some guy I had no connection to and who was maybe not my best match to work with gave me a recommendation not to do XYZ. Does that make sense? The example was, I offered to go help with NYLT training, and she advised me to find a ticket item working with Cub (where I had more experience). So I

Unvaccinated Students in Rockland County, New York, Told to Stay Home Following Measles Outbreak With declining vaccination rates, it seems summer camps will likely face outbreaks in the near future. Do camps have procedures in place to deal with them, such as sending unvaccinated personnel home, etc.? With measles, there is a 90% chance of infection for susceptible people who are exposed.

Sadly this happens already with some folks. I've encountered folks whose attitude is "If you don't wear beads, you don't know squat." And I agree is does indeed cause drama and problems we don't need. I've seen some extremely experienced and knowledgeable Scouters get frustrated with the attitude and either quit Scouting all together, or just refocus their energy on the unit. Me personally, I get a kick out of using all the WB/NYLT techniques, methods, and language, and getting asked what critter I am. I love the look on folks' faces when I proudly jump into song, "I'm a Cocky Curlew of

I agree that more training, not less is better. However all training should be incremental. At one time, as has been pointed out, WB was for experienced scouters. It was the highest level after having demonstrated skill at the other levels. The last few iterations are using WB as the introductory training. Which is ok, if it is marketed as such and there exists follow-up advanced trainings. However these do not exist. Imagine a scouter training regimen which has levels and required trainings to be completed to advance in each level. They can be called whatever we wish, but for the reqs co

While comparisons to stomach bugs and other illnesses may be helpful, it is important to note that diseases like measles seem to be very different. 1. People who have contracted measles are contagious for four days before symptoms appear; by contrast, patients infected with the flu are contagious for just one day before symptoms appear. Checking glands and temperatures upon arrival will not catch measles in advance; by the time infected people are found, others have already been exposed. 2. Unlike the flu, there is no "season" for diseases like measles. While it may spread faster i

You can catch any communicable diseases even though you are vaccinated. They wear off as you age, and as the flu vaccines show us every year, some are not a effective as others. Someone choosing not to vaccinate their child for whatever reason CAN impact my family's health. The BSA should come out as pro vaccination. It's as much a part of teaching about the public good as the citizenship and preparedness lessons we use daily with our Scouts.

The BSA is already pro-vaccination, thank goodness. See Public Health merit badge, requirement 2.

Let’s say the camp’s lone health officer (a paramedic around here) spends 2 minutes per camper X 400 Scouts and Scouters = 800 minutes = 13+ hours just on wellness checks alone, no prescription or health/activity restriction checks. If your camp can call up a team of nurses or physicians willing to help with that for free every Sunday afternoon in June and July, more power to you, but we don’t have that resource. The refund idea is good, but creates a giant loophole for abuse for people who just don’t want to come at the last minute. Who’s the doctor that will make that call?

I have heard that reference and don't get me started on that statement. The two could not be more different in goals, aims, and achievements. I did see one (was a Cub Leader at the time) wonder why there was no knot for WB...I swear that guy slept in his beads...

This was actually a major topic of discussion on the forums 20 years ago. And was also the reason National replaced the WB course in 2000 with the 21st Century WB. The previous course was an exact replica of an ideal troop program. Not to teach the ideal troop program, but just to provide an environment for its real purpose of teaching new leadership styles to experienced scouters. Today’s course barely resembles that course. It was designed for scouters who already had the basic skills of running a boy run program, kind of like the 14 year age requirement Scouts attending NYLT. I was told by

Communicable diseases are a real risk, there are some incident reviews that are in the works but are not ready for publication. The American Camp Association also has some great resources. https://www.acacamps.org/staff-professionals/core-competencies/health-wellness/communicable-diseases-infestations

The national rule is tetanus is mandatory, the others are just recommended.

@malraux, I would strongly suggest against throwing babies out with bathwater. It's entirely possible that someone could be wrong about one thing and quite right about another. As to influenza vaccinations, it's true that the more people get them the better the odds of survival for the vulnerable in our communities. But, that's only to a point. @WisconsinMomma, I bet you probably are on that balancing point. The odds of you or your suffering gravely from your vaccination are likely balanced against the odds of someone around you suffering gravely from being exposed to the virus that you'l

Might suggest review of this: https://filestore.scouting.org/filestore/HealthSafety/pdf/680-103(18)_Prev_of_CommunicableDiseases.pdf

Something seems to go haywire, too many wood badgers return and take over the role of acting SPL and wants to lead everything, with flip charts and power point being the order of the day. On the bright side they are super energized about scouting and are very proud to have "earned their Eagle" in wood badge.

I wonder sometimes if the staff knows this. I have never heard any staff ever state this at any training, except for when I staffed a training and was explicit about adult roles and scout roles.

So they utterly missed the fact that the staff is roleplaying the role of scouts and not adults? 🙃

Now my mansplaining take...I took that post as a bit of tongue in cheek, especially after further clarifications from @qwazse. He does go “off the reservation” from time to time (like most of us) but I don’t think it was fully along the lines of find yourself a rich maid. Quips don’t all translate to Internet forums well. I took it as find a good life partner that will be willing to do their share of work in the marriage. That other attributes may not be the best to go on. Perhaps there is a bit of an assumption of what roles in marriage each should take, but that is something that

Ditto, Worcester,MA https://www.telegram.com/news/20181016/worcester-excluding-unvaccinated-students-from-school In Massachusetts, "students need to receive the DTaP/Tdap (for diphtheria, tetanus, and whooping cough), MMR (for measles, mumps and rubella), polio, Hepatitis B, and chickenpox vaccines". But then there are home-schoolers, exclusions for medical and religious reasons... First, I think we need to get back to providing proof of current vaccination - either a certified vaccination record and/or antibody test (proof the vaccine worked). Long ago as an EMT, I was vacc

It's important to have these reminders. We tend to get so invested in chasing the ideal of what we want for our troops and scouts, we miss the really important stuff that is going well. The last couple months of scouting for me have been somewhat stressful as I help the new Scoutmaster transition into his role. Its important to come to terms with what we can control and what we just need to stop worrying about.

If he likes the sleeping bag and it fits try getting a sleeping bag liner to help when its colder. You should be able to to get one for $10-$15 if you shop around. Most are advertised as comfortable up to 50 degrees alone and add 15 degrees when added to another sleeping bag. I sleep in my fleece liner all summer on top of my normal sleeping bag.

Kudos to you, @Eagle94-A1! Keep thinking like a proton and stay positive! 🙂

The people at REI tend to be very helpful and knowledgeable. REI carries a number of really good internal frame backpacks that are fully adjustable, and can grow with your child. I bought one last spring for my nephew's first Boy Scout backpacking trip, that after adjustments will last him for years. As for sleeping bags, a lot of that would depend on where you are located. We have 2, a summer weight bag that is very light and compact, and one that is rated to 10 degrees for those rare cold Jan/Feb nights here in FL. (coldest night in it this year was 27)

I'm with qwazse, scouts change a lot in the next three years, so until he can get enough experience to figure out what he wants, I wouldn't get in a hurry. Backpacks are even worse, they grow out of those things so fast. Our scouts started selling their pack (cheap) to newer scouts so they could go up to the next step, which is typically an internal frame packs. New scouts do better with externals. Unless you have the funds and just enjoy getting that kind of stuff. And hey, I understand. Mrs Barry (and CPA) is telling me one of the motorcycles has got to go. I'm not sure why. Barry

I have been really happy with the SnugPak Basecamp OPS Navigator, it is a 19 degree bag, it weighs 4 pounds, and you can pick one up for $36. If I ever get cold in my sleeping bag I just cover my sleeping bag with my SnugPak Jungle Blanket. The Jungle blanket also keeps me warm sitting around the camp fire on cold nights and when it is in its stuff bag it makes a great pillow.

If he's really happy with his current bag, I'd hesitate to change until he grows out of it. I've found that sleeping pads, fleece/wool blankets, caps, and scarves are my friend. When he puts on a little weight and height, that's when the zero-degree bag makes a big difference. I haven't been able to beat (but have rarely been able to afford) Big Angus.

I didn't say boys, I said good old boys, and you know what that means. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Good_ol'_boy And I will add that any access to minors comes only with the permission of mom and dad, they are not the enemy. Scouting does belong to mom and dad and siblings, and we all have our roles and opportunities within the organization. I have three children in Scouting and I absolutely have influence in our troop. I have more influence than older Scouters whose children grew up and left decades ago, because it is my family and my kids. Scouting exists today because of o

A rare creature that some of us have actually seen. Unlike of course the mysterious Unit Executive which is a mythical creature which has only been rumored to have been seen by some scouters that say they caught rare glimpses of one, but it was always a foggy nite and if you ask me their tales are often a little far fetched.

No, blanket announcements of "I need a volunteer to . . ." don't work very well. Conversely, putting people on the spot is not my favorite technique either. One has to be a little devious but if you know the adults you should have a good idea of who may or may not be a good candidate for the position you are seeking to fill (or task to be accomplished). It takes some skill but get with that person one-on-one, talk sincerely about the need and how you think that person would be a great asset and nine times out of ten you close the deal - no public shaming required.

I am brand new at this leadership stuff. In my view, people need to be "voluntold". It's just like when you need someone to call 911 - you don't say, "Somebody call 911!" Instead, you point at a particular person and say, "You call 911!" Generic pleas for help often go unanswered because everyone assumes that someone else is going to step up. Put people on the spot. When you have your parents sitting there go up to a specific parent and ask them, "Will you take the YPT training this week?" Make them commit or shirk publicly. Go right down the row.

That's the age I went on my first week long scout summer camp, with my parents, dad the scout leader, mum running the stores, and looking after me. My memories of it are patchy at best. I know I knocked around with another couple of leader's kids, and the farmer's field we were in had a damp bit that may have been a pond in winter, and a hollow tree in it. I would guess the scouts were all in patrols, as they usually were, and did all their cooking and stuff themselves, as well as coming together for activities and games and so on. I guess it's possible, probably even, that I wandered over to

You're complaining about having an enthusiastic leader?

Agree on Family Scouting Sadly many have lost the focus of Scouting in the rush to "Family" scouting. Scouting was NEVER intended or designed to be a "Family" event or activity. The dens were designed to be "patrols" with the Den Leader as the patrol leader. They are supposed to do things as a group WITHOUT Mom and Dad and family being involved. Go off and do stuff that they experience from THEIR perspective. Over time the family camping, the siblings, etc have lessened that and made it more the circus that Cubs is. Now we can see that creeping into Scouts. We

Follow-up: Assembly was this last weekend. My son went through Ordeal and did great IMHO. The old SM was there but didn't interact with him at all so that was perfect. Best thing of all, my son came home super jazzed about OA and Scouting. So it was a great outcome.

I'm following your point. I do think it would be good for a Troop to apply the same standard to any member. But, I do think folks would look at behavior problems warranting a parent and physically or mentally disabled scout requiring specially trained individuals as unique cases. I don't think being a girl is an exception case like these. A "boys only" troop asking any invited, co-ed dens to provide proper supervision seems like the right way to go. So, in cases like the one in this topic - there is an easy solution with no impact on the troop. I do understand that this specific

So where and when is this campout? I'm a female; I like camping; I'm registered; I have YPT. Can I bring our girl Webelos den?

CANBERRA, Australia -- The organisation has admitted they did not listen when some victims came forward. "We failed you, and we apologise for the pain that this has caused," Scouts chief commissioner Phil Harrison said. "Scouting sincerely hopes that the apology will help those who suffered through their time in Scouting, as well as their families who have also been affected," ... "The apology is a genuine and heartfelt admission that, for some young people, their time in Scouting was a negative experience. For this, we are truly sorry," Scouts Australia Chief Commissioner Phil

Two grandsons new in a cub pack. There are (horrors!) girls. No one seems to notice. They do stuff together. It's almost as if it's not unnatural.

I agree and disagree. There are plenty of exclusive private and public universities that admit only the best high school students. They have an important place in our society. I teach science at community college, whose mission, in part, is to provide second (or more) chances to students that did not do well in high school. Every quarter I have one or more single mothers who are often my best students. Most of my students are in the so-called lower middle class, supposedly the main Trump demographic. Some of them work hard and some continue the habits that put them and their families in

While I firmly oppose BSA's girl decision, I strongly support kindness and sensitivity in personal interactions. Even though their Cub Scout Pack is at fault for breaking fundamental rules about mixed-gender Dens, a kind approach is still merited as the situation gets resolved. A Scout is friendly, courteous, and kind, and nobody should be made to feel like an outcast. First, I'd explain in the friendliest way possible to the girl and her parents that we are excited for her interest in Scouting. Then I'd also explain in the friendliest way possible that because we are a boy-only troop, we

I gotcha. We all know that they reason troops invite packs to events is for recruiting. However, from that pack perspective, these are great events to encourage Scouts to continue along in the program. We have all kind of Cubs visit our troop knowing full well they will never join. We do this in order to help these younger Scouts in their journey and hope a few decide to join us. So, now we're in a world where we might have some girls visit us. So what? Yep, they can't join our troop, but we sure can serve as older role models and encourage them to continue along in Scouting. E

Legal action seems strong, but as a whole, this pack sure doesn't seem to have their act together. You can't invite girls to attend and then backpedal. That is tantamount to gender discrimination. You're either 100% in or you're not. I think they are even fine with saying "we're in if we get 5 scouts". But, inviting girls to join, attending meetings, excluding them from events - that's just wrong. The other unfortunate thing here is this seems similar to some of the other petty unit politics we see. Pack makes a decision, someone complains, so they make a different decision. It get

That doesn't seem exactly right. The threat is that "If we are not assured that she will be allowed to attend and participate fully then legal action may be the next step. I also plan on having a word with the school about allowing an organization to sell a program to girls that is then excluding those girls. In the future, parental permission should be required for outside organizations to use school time to recruit." That is not threatening legal action to require all units to go co-ed. Just that the troop shouldn't offer a camping opportunity to a pack and exclude some of the pack memb

College is meaningless if you go just for the sake of getting a degree. What I don't get is the mentality that college is just about the degree. Every high school kid gets it drilled into them that if they want to get into a good college they need to do more than just show up in class throughout high school. And yet when they get to college, all they do is show up for class and work towards graduation, and then wonder why they end up feeling like it was a waste. I don't think college is a waste of time or money, as long as you go there intent on doing something to better yourself an

I agree with Peter Thiel 's statement in the posted video that reformation of college education will come from the outside. IMO, outside from education consumers, parents and students, in high schools. My younger son is not attending high school, he is taking courses at a local community college - better teachers, better courses. He has friends doing the same, other friends attending charter or private schools , others being home-schooled, and still others though physically in a public school are taking Virtual High School classes from Stanford or BYU. If grassroot's educationa

I think the organizations are just too different. One or the other or both would have had to have changed a lot for the two to have coordinated their programs together. I think that coordinating the two together, even if the attempt were to meet halfway, would have required a lot more change from BSA than simply adding its own girl program. And I doubt if GSUSA would have wanted to meet halfway, either.

Yes, there is a war on boys and men and it is horrible. The same people that are waging war on boys are also waging war on girls and women. Boys are being treated like toxic monsters that need to be drugged into submission and girls are brain washed into thinking they are helpless victims that can't do anything on their own and require special help to get anywhere in life and men are the eternal enemy and oppressors of women. Back when I was a kid, boys and girls liked one another and got along pretty well. My Boy Scout troop sold Christmas Trees along side the Girl Scouts and

I usually let these be on the shaky legs on which they stand. But when they seem to come in spades, it might be time to correct. Barry, you should know by that ad hominem serves only to hint that any real arguments you have are specious. If at any point I have lorded my erstwhile rank over someone else, please quote. I vow to contact them personally and apologize. Until then, let readers know that your aim is blind. If I can claim superiority in anything it is memories: of young women and men at a camp fire baking bread on sticks, of them settling in on an Appalac

It is the right of the citizen to decide whether to vaccinate their children or not. In Scouting, this is going to be the decision of the camp owners (presumably the council) so most of us are not involved in these decisions anyway. Also, I'm sure there are laws related to how these issues should and should not be handled. When we want to encourage participation in Scouting, it is not a great idea to take on a controversial issue such as vaxing or not vaxing. Why open the can of worms? Parents can and should decide their preferences. Why make it even harder for people to enjoy c

I really don't want to debate vaccinations or start a debate on vaccinations when what we have in place seems to be working. Have there been any cases of Hep A or measles outbreaks spreading via Scout camps in the last decade? Do we have a problem or are we making up a problem so we can argue about it? Can a person vaccinated for measles get the measles? The answer should be, no. The people most at risk for measles are unvaccinated pregnant women and very young unvaccinated children. Can a person vaccinated for HepA get it? It's the same kind of situation isn't it? I