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BSA have an opportunity in 2019, in the form of the world jamboree, to have some really good PR. While only a tiny proportion of your scouts (indeed any nations's scouts) get to go it is nevertheless a very big good news story that the national media will show an interest in. I do hope your national HQ has this firmly in their sites! On its own that does not produce new recruits. Local units have to do that and then have the program to retain them, but what it does is provide a positive backdrop for local units to work with to go out and start recruiting.

And also did not "produce" nearly as many children in the first place, which I think is the largest factor in the membership decline in the BSA in the 70's and after.

Yep. The peak of Scouting, I feel (if your judgement point is numbers) was due to the influx of WW2 folks coming into parent hood and making sure THEIR kids became Scouts. The dads that had been soldiers, who had learned the survival stuff, camping etc. made sure their kids did the same. The "Baby Boomers" then fell short in making sure THEIR kids had the outdoor experience, the patriotic experience. I had a good friend in school who's parents were German immigrants. He joined Cub Scouts with me, but dropped out later when he and his parents found BSA too "militaristic" . (an indic

It's really just a test of your cheerfulness. Let's face it, this is a silly thing to point out to anyone.

For Philmont stoves I second @69RoadRunner, I do not recommend jetboils or pocket rocket style stoves that screw onto the top of the canisters. Philmont encourages cooking in one or two large pots. Putting a large pot on top of a canister stove is going to be a tipping hazard. A pocket rocket's arms literally cannot take the reflected heat and weight. Last Philmont trek I went on, we used one of these. https://www.msrgear.com/windpro-ii Other manufacturers make similar models with similar or better performance for less cost. These are more stable, while still getting to use the ispro but

Nah. US media will spin it. Positive stories don't get clicks. Only scandal and destruction. The headline will be: "BSA throws expensive international event while declaring bankruptcy to avoid creditors."