Leaderboard

Eagle may be scouting's highest rank, but there are awards that are FAR rarer and more prestigious. The oldest of these is the Silver Hornaday medal. In many years, the number of these awarded nation-wide is in the single digits. Many scouts find their Eagle project to be a daunting challenge. Imagine having to do at least FOUR projects of equal or greater complexity, all of them focused on different areas of conservation....and requiring approval by national. Well, that's the kind of effort a highly motivated scout must have to earn a Silver Hornaday. My heart soared today at the news t

I met an Eagle Scout a few months back. Talked to him for a bit coming out of the hospital. He was 20 years old, about to marry his high school sweet heart and was enrolling in college. He wants to be a biomedical engineer. He lost both legs below the knees and part of his hand in Afghanistan. I assume from IED, he didn't say and I didn't pry. He did say he was an E4 and a squad leader over there. I couldn't imagine telling him he was not ANYTHING enough to be a full fledged Scout leader if he chose. Yet I have met fifty-something year old Scouters I wouldn't let walk my dog let al

sadly, most Eagle boards I sit on I am depressed afterwards because they just checked off the marks, got a project from the scoutmaster or committee and went through the motions. They are Eagles, yes, but the variance is great between them. It goes on their resume, mom and dad are happy, and we all move on. Hornaday, Ranger, and Quartermaster awards carry more weight as a group imho.

Let the boy have his money directly from you. Teach him the value of work.

I think @The Latin Scot we all are victims of an inordinate elevation of Eagle rank ... to the point that I fear many scouts who could do otherwise just "stop there." Case in point: avid readers of Bryan's Blog, know that Eldred was the first Eagle scout. How was the first Quartermaster, Silver Awardee, or Summit Awardee? A scout's Eagle project should be the first of many such endeavors. It is truly impressive when youth coalesces his/her next four projects along a single theme in a few short years. The Hornaday award (along with awards in Venturing, Sea Scouts, and Exploring) have

Last week I learned that a troop can no longer camp with one adult over 21 and one over 18, but not yet 21. When did that change? I now that is how its been for venturing as long as I could remember, but for troops. This is just another nail in the coffin for small troops like mine, with parents that work for a living. It was kind of weird telling a 19 year old Eagle Scout and Vigil Honor arrowman that the BSA didn't think he was good enough to be an adult on a troop camp out (but uncle Sam would send him off to die halfway around the world).

I'll have to let the NRA know. After all, "When fat is outlawed, only outlaws will have fat."

Agreed. Gift cards and other gimmicks are an annoyance. Money talks...everything else walks.

@Matty2Shoes, welcome to scouter. If I were doing it, I’d register as a Scouter Take Youth Protection training Take merit badge Counselor training offer Salesmanship merit badge.

Its hard to encourage Hornaday projects when you live in urban areas - less available advisors for sure. You can also double dip with your Eagle project. A much higher achievement in my opinion is the National Outdoor Award Medal not as rare for sure but does prove that you indeed worked hard at scouting and didnt just check the boxes.

It's lovely that this young man has worked so hard to achieve so much. However, I think it's important that we don't adopt a perspective which leads us to use phrases such as "mere" Eagle. The Eagle Scout Rank is still representative of extraordinary effort, service and leadership, and while this young man has certainly gone far beyond the usual expectations, it in no way lessens the full significance of "just" earning one's Eagle rank. Rarity and prestige are not, after all, the real reasons we earn these awards, though certainly we honor those who achieve them. Again however, it's great

Two recent updates to YPT; one on March 1, when a newer iteration was released to account for some of the membership changes we have experienced. I took the new version, and found it to be well done. At the time of that release, we were told that new, optional modules were coming. Those were released last week, and cover: 1. Physical Abuse Prevention; 2. Exposure to Violence Prevention; 3. Emotional Abuse Prevention; 4. Neglect Prevention These new optional modules are well worth taking a look at.

Or this: From "The Sacrament of Fire" by John Oxenham (1852-1941) Kneel always when you light a fire! Kneel reverently, and thankful be For God’s unfailing charity; And on ascending flame inspire A little prayer, which shall upbear The incense of your thankfulness For this sweet grace of warmth and light; For here again is sacrifice For your delight. Oak, Elm, and Chestnut, Beech and Red Pine Bole ; -- God shrined HIS sunshine and enwombed For you these stores of light and heat, Your Life- Joys complete. These all have di

As an ADC, that 72 hour rule is one of the new YPT policies that I see the most confusion concerning. It is not a total of 72 hours of attendance per year, it is an event that lasts 72 consecutive hours or more. For most troops, that means something like summer camp, or the occasional trek during winter or spring breaks. It may also come into play for Cub Resident Camps, although a number of councils have cut those to just a weekend, to miss hitting 72 hours.

Oh, one more note. Velco works great, but sewing it on is a major hassle unless you have a heavy duty machine. I paid a lady I knew to do sew on the velcro. She asked that I not bring it to her again.

I'm not comfortable with the "us vs. them" mentality. WB courses are area events. This is because a single council cannot possibly set up a course to suit all of its scouter's schedules. It's intended to be a "you train my scouters, I'll train yours" scenario. The OP's situation is that the extra vacation time is available this year, not next. I think the situation is that this year he can attend summer camp and the WB weekends, and next year he'll have to pick and choose. So, waiting until next year may mean setting aside summer camp to attend WB. I can't imagine any council wanting to l

You've got a plan. That might relieve a bit of the anxiety. There is still some time before the event, so you can expect him to swing back and forth on this. Be prepared to be flexible.

I think that's the real key - knowing what works for your unique kid.

First, I’m adamantly opposed to blanket rules. I prefer that each Scout be judged on his/ her attitude and accomplishments. However, one of the requirements for being on the ballot for OA is approval of the Scoutmaster. We do that because the SM should know the qualities of the Scouts in question better than anyone else in Scouting. OA is not a rank or merit badge where the requirements can be checked off. It is an honor, where first the Scoutmaster must approve and then the Scouts. I have watched thousands of Scouts go through Ordeal and some have been 11-12 years old. Most o