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I started backpacking in the '70s. There were plenty of funky, loud backpacks and tents. And the clothes! Remember the stars and stripes/red/white/blue external frame packs? I've always wanted one of those. But I digress. When I was backpacking as a scout back then and encountered other folks on the trail, be they earthy Ecology types, hippies, or Joe or Jane Citizen, not once, not ever, was there an issue about bright colors. There was always a sense of mutual respect and camaraderie, even for just a couple seconds in passing, or we might stop and visit a spell. Scouts, "squares"

Your first statement is an impossible standard to meet. I'm an old straight white guy. Some significant portion of the population will be offended by my breathing. Your second series of examples are a non-sequitor. All the actions you mentioned show intention by one person to interrupt/disrupt the second person's experience. Intention is the key. Using a yellow tent has no intention to disturb. Beyond that, you started this discussion with an indirect ad hominem attack on anybody who might disagree by using words like clowns, garish, and serious. If you were serious about i

If you eliminated all bright colors from nature, you would loose hummingbirds, wildflowers, butterflies ... The very idea that somehow it's "disrespectful" to wear bright colors in the outdoors is rather silly. REAL nature is full of color. A group of boys in bright colors is no more "disruptive" than a cardinal in a tree. The world is full of bright and beautiful shades and hues, and none of those the boys may wear is going to detract from that - unless you choose to be bothered by it, in which case the fault is yours, not the shirt's.

Oh, and I would have ONE signature page for the entire project.

I should think that a scouter would be familiar with that concept.

I have been reading this thread with a mixture of amusement and skepticism. I fully agree that LNT is something we should all be aware of and every scout should do their best to adhere to, however, the color of a scouts t-shirt leaves does not adversely affect the natural environment. Our troop can choose forest green or grey for shirts, so that is not generally an issue when we are on the trail, but if the color of a scouts shirt offends someones sensibilities, that would definitely be at the bottom of my list of concerns.

This is such a strange discussion to have from a scouter perspective. My boys are intrusive in so many other ways, that their colors are the least of my worries. One dropped wrapper or abandoned bottle is far more heartbreaking than eight bright shirts. Regarding bright tents (or any tarp, really), mitigate their impact by choosing a campsite sufficiently off trail. When I'm with my scouts in an area that allows canines, I blame it on my dog. I want him to have a spot where he can enjoy their patrol's company and not be riled by passing hikers. Even in a meadow, a bright tent 100 yards of

Believe it or not, your proposal was indeed a "thing" in the '70s. It wasn't common but it did happen. I didn't see it myself but I know of others who witnessed it. There were times I saw clothing choices of that era that were, shall we say, minimal and revealing....

Annually for summer we do a summer activity shirt. Same chest design, but the back has summer camps and HA that the troop is doing Some colors over the last few years Burgundy Grey Black Texas Orange Navy Scarlett Forest Green Red Royal Blue After the scouts have been in a few years nice to see the different colors at activities. The leaders seem to have stacks of different colors. As for the gentle blending in aesthetic mentioned, that may work if you and a friend or two are out in the wilderness. You put 40 Scouts out on an o

Canned bake beans! Nothing more 4th of July-y than a side dish of canned bake beans.

Well, almost. Last time I checked I was doing the labor AND paying for it.

That would be Camp Belzer. It has brought out the best of several generations. Rest in peace, fellow Eagle.

I understand your position, I just don't agree with it. With all due respect, this color issue is an artificial construct. We shouldn't wear certain colors because they might offend someone? What does that have to do with flora and fauna? Nothing. Equating a loud shirt with loud music and such is truly apples/oranges, and ultimately detracts from what LNT is trying to achieve. It just comes across as judgmental and another rule to follow. "Take nothing but pictures, leave nothing but footprints." Congratulations, print a certificate of your choice, put your 200 dollars back i

While doing advancement at the district and council level, I've met many wonderful scouters, both professional and volunteer. These scouters are dedicated and do an outstanding job. With that said, I suspect our council is fairly common about processing Eagle paperwork. From the time the scout gives his application to his scoutmaster, and the scoutmaster drives it into the council office ... and then it gets reviewed by the council ... and then it is sent to the EBOR ... and the EBOR is scheduled ... and the EBOR occurs ... and the paperwork is returned to the council ... and the scout

I agree...but are bright colors part of the annihilation process? I recommend we focus on the big issues concerning our planet, and leave color choices and free will to each man and woman. Otherwise, LNT and other worthy movements get tuned out because they are perceived as just another bunch of rules and regulations and judgment from others--the very things we are mostly trying to escape when we hoist the pack on our back at the trail head.

And the Blazing Saddles Campfire Scene on a loop!

So now you're saying I'm not a serious outdoorsman? Basically you are saying that anyone that disagrees on this issue with you can't be a serious outdoorsman. I don't see that bright colored clothes leave a trace at all. They cause absolutely no damage to the environment, other than your sensibilities.

As long as nobody is hurt, we trust and encourage all scouts to try something new. I hate to tell you this but some of the best barbecue I've ever had was in Argentina. The only spice they used was salt. What made it so good was the fact that the meat was all grass fed and very slowly cooked. Every house in Argentina has a very simple brick barbecue in the back yard that consists of a U shaped brick wall on a concrete slab. That's it. They put a fire at the base in a corner, stretch the meat across an antenna looking thing, and just lean it over the coals. For several hours they drink be

This is an important skill. I am currently helping some HS youth arrange a baccalaureate service. It's a little rough because, although many are natural leaders, they've always relied on someone else to organize their religion for them. One youth leader explained that he was concerned they might not handle embarrassment well if they fail. I replied that the beauty of being a scouter is that your concerns over failure with knives and fires eclipse concerns over a little failure leading worship.

Communication MB doesn't have any real time blockers, but requirement 8 is to plan and emcee a troop event (court of honor OR campfire OR worship service). Our troop is large and there are always scouts who want to emcee the campfire, so there's a "waiting list" for that job....and there's only a couple Court of Honors per year, so that emcee job requires waiting too. So here's a tip for scouts who want to quickly complete requirement 8 ... choose the "worship service" option. Even though our troop is chartered by a church and has a significant number of kids whose families belong

Agreed, buy it there. I can't recall the exact cost, but it's very reasonable. And it's one less thing to coordinate prior to arrival.

Buy it at Philmont.

Welcome to the forum. I don't think there is a legal problem here because the CO still owns all of the assets of the unit. If the CO gives the unit $1000 to buy tents, the tents are still owned by the CO. No money has changed hands.

It's a great way to explore Pikes Peak, and I don't trust my Scouts and fellow Scouters lives in my hands to drive up Pikes Peak in a van. 🤣

Just put it in a few minutes ago....guess I need to learn to proofread a bit better, eh? 😎

best colors for cubs are bright colors for that reason.

There are different reasons. My old troop had the neckers that were forest green with yellow writing (BSA symbol, etc.). Our Class Bs were the same color scheme. I don't really buy the LNT argument against bright colors. I don't find bright colored gear to be offensive. That said, the neutral colors are better for nature watching. The bright colors are safer, especially in the woods during hunting season.

Over the years and via different organizations I have dozens of shirts that range from pastel blues, to fire engine red to forest green, black, blue on and on an on. Personally if we are in council camps, state parks, around the city etc. I don't care what color they wear. But when we go into the back country I prefer the youth in bright colors. On the outside chance that they get lost I want every possible advantage to find them.

All I need to say, if there was a google docs version I would probably get at least 2 hours of my life back due to Acrobat being outdated and a hassle.

As an aside, I ran into our troop SPL last week wearing the same troop t-shirt we designed in 1994. It was nice to see some things never change. The design is on a gray shirt, by the way. Barry

Good point. I like scouters who say things like that. My son's first scoutmaster was a great guy who set a strong example for the boys. When my son went for his Tenderfoot scoutmaster conference, he was told to come back next week because he was wearing jeans and red gym socks, but a Class-A shirt. Wish more scouters would keep the bar high enough to help the boys learn pride in who they are as scouts...

We're at the cub level and we have the brightest neon orange known to man. I love it for tracking kids.

Yep, very sad. Let's just agree to hold to our Scout Law and Promise and move on down the trail... All Scouting is local. When the people lead, the leaders must follow.... PinkP, perchance more coffee? What kind of pie is THAT one... ?

"Oh, the humanity...." http://www.tournamenttroop.org/ https://www.facebook.com/TournamentTroop/

Camp song "Linger" Hmmm, I want to linger. Hmmm, A little longer. Hmmm, A little longer, Here with you. Hmmm, It's such a perfect night. Hmmm, It doesn't seem quite right. Hmmm, That this should be, My last with you. Hmmm, And come September, Hmmm, I will remember, Hmmm, Our Scouting days, Of friendships true. Hmmm, And as the years go by, Hmmm, I'll think of you and sigh. Hmmm, This is good night And not good bye. Hmmm I want to linger. Hmmm A little longer. Hmmm A little longer, Here with you.

Hah - yes, I hear you! Really, the BSA doesn't define what "within 2 years" means. It could be the numerical integer approach, it could be literally born withing a two year period from the day that the Scout was born. I have to think that if the BSA really was that concerrned about 24 months vs. two numerical years, they'd say so. But, they don't. I myself suspect the discussion at National was something like "should it be two years or three years? Hmm, yes - two years it is. Ok, next topic."

I'm not quoting anything at all about the EBOR. I'm saying the backend paperwork done by unit, district and council should be expedited. Currently, it takes way too long and there are too many people touching the application with no value added. The EBOR should continue as now. If anything, the scout could take more responsibility for his EBOR by bringing his presentation materials with him into the EBOR. Thus, making it more his EBOR that he actively drives than an EBOR that he just sits through.

If by streamline you mean eliminate most of it then yes, I'm onboard! I'm on record in another thread as advocating for the elimination of the project workbook thing. The application itself should absolutely be online. Council's should commit to reviewing all Eagle applications within say 5 business days of their submission. The reality is the first review should probably be automated with nearly immediate feedback to the submitting person of any errors noted, largely eliminating the need for a person at council to review other than say yep, it passed the check.

I'm so over these project workbooks and applications. It's ridiculous. I wish they would give me a shot at reworking the project workbook. I could do it in two pages and it would contain the exact same information. I reached out to National a couple of times. But hey, what does an Eagle Scout who serves on EBORs and is a technical writer know about rewriting Boy Scout forms?

BSA does have a program with rules and policies. And no, we do not all wear a uniform.

So David CO, why do you do Scouting then. You constantly push back against everything that is Scouting. I notice that you are one of the folks on this group that post negative comments about what Scouting is. I don't get it. If you don't want to wear a uniform or follow policies and want to do the exact opposite or find and pick each and every opening to do the opposite of what the program is really about, why do it. Why not move on and find something that aligns with your views?