Leaderboard

I do find it rather frustrating when people become sticklers for ... well, let's say a lackadaisical attitude towards the uniform. I could simply repost a comment I made earlier in another thread concerning uniforms, but as far as this topic goes, I have only one line of thought: changing our personal language to refer to field and activity uniforms (as opposed to "class A and B") requires almost no effort beyond a conscious choice, and those who find such a tiny alteration of their speech challenging are hindered not by the difficulty of the task, but rather by their own attitudes and pr

Which uniform do I have to wear while traveling for insurance?

I try to evenly distribute the weight in my pack to some degree, makes the trail miles much easier. Though you likely want slightly more weight in the top. Keep water low and not too much stuff randomly strapped on bouncing about. I may have missed the intent of this discussion.....

You don't really need to give them a compass and map. Just make the destination a video game arcade and let their instincts take over.

Better but they have some challenges. Limiting the number of adults has helped the Scouts overall. The Scouts are gaining more experience and doing things on their own. While it is "organized chaos", they are growing. Gunship is now SM, but he has mellowed some. Some of that is growing into his role. Before I left we had a good chat, and saw he is getting it. Some of it is his job. He is being called out more, and needing to rely on the Scouts and ASMs. BUT the have had to cancel camp outs due to lack of adults. One of the problem parents, who is a trained ASM and approved by

State Farm khakis.

Troop, Quartermaster, the Venturing salute, boatswain, Second Class, First Class, Bugler, ...

Maybe family scouting is the only way for the program to survive. Strangely, parents may grow more from scouting than their kids when looking at the "Free Range Kids" approach. Of course some will have to get past their uniform hangup first. Barry

I have to chuckle here. Often we knock the BSA for it's lack of consistency. Yet, here they've been pretty consistent on this one for many years. So, because people are used to saying "Class A" or "Class B", we want the BSA to relax and go with those terms. Why don't we all just go with the terms the BSA prefers and call it a day?

Be stubborn about your goals and flexible about your methods.

I apologize for my comment in the other thread. I did not realize it would have been so bothersome to some. My reasoning for even mentioning it has to do with the military history of its usage. I see a lot of military customs, etc... creeping into the BSA. It isn't the words, but the shifting towards adult run program in a militaryesque efficiency which I fear. This is not just my concern but also that of BP's. He often wrote about the movement using terms such as "a jolly game in the out of doors", and eschewed words and conceps like "half hou drills once a day". He often specifically refere

Perhaps rather than stew over semantics, we should focus on the proper and complete wearing of the uniform.

Maybe the BSA could solve this by re engineering a field uniform that is actually a field uniform. The current uniform is more like a military dress or ceremonial uniform. It's completely impractical for the field. The shirts are not warm in winter or weather wicking in summer. The patches, other than those that allow leaders to recognize who is who (meaning, I can see from a distance that that scout is in my unit 000), serve no purpose. The shoulder tabs get speared by branches. The neckerchief is actually a safety hazard in certain circumstances. The thin pant fabrics offer no warmth or lit

If you really want to cover your bases, and I do think that this is technically required, you might think of how this would be easiest for the situation. I would recommend providing the form to volunteers ahead of time (A&B) with something like the following explanation on an envelope containing the form) As an explanation - I advocate for the following handling of the AHMR- Forms are turned in sealed in a standard envelope. Each participant (or guardian) is asked "Do you (or your scout) have any medical issues we should be aware of before we are away from prompt medi

The most surprising thing out of all of this is that a unit actually followed the correct procedure and submitted a fundraising application

From 1910 to 1948, scouts were expected to do a solo outdoor experience in order to complete their First Class Rank. Here is a sample of the requirement from the 1936 Scout Handbook... "5. Make a round trip alone or with another Scout by foot or rowboat to a point at least 7 miles away, and write a satisfactory account of the trip & things observed." Earlier versions of that requirement suggested the trip be done over 2 days. Source: "BSA Rank Advancement Requirements, 1910–2018", http://www.troop97.net/pdfbin/bsa_ranks.pdf

My thoughts also, as far as compliance with 2 deep goes. Just be there to make sure they aren't going to walk off a cliff because they are staring at their GPS screens or too deep into a swamp. Let them go in a little ways and they say you're not going to go in there and get your boots all messy. Radio is a great idea, but I'm always worried about battery life and problems with reception or moving out of range. Things like this require two adults behind the scouts. Have them be kids for the fun of it. Bicker with each other. Whine now and then about being hungry, bored, wanting to be carr

In the OP, the Dutch drop a group of blindfolded scouts called a dropping team, on a paved road with GPS and cellphone. The dropping team does carry a cellphone in case of emergency, and the scouting association requires participants to wear high-visibility vests and distributes a long list of guidelines, mainly geared toward traffic safety. “Pushing boundaries is fun,” reads one recommendation, “but that, too, has boundaries.” Yawn...lame. I believe Scouting should have a solo outdoor experience akin to what Outward Bound does. Back in the day, I solo'd on a OB expedition. (

If you could control yourself and another leader (have them there for the YPT requirements) but just follow the scouts (from the rear and far enough back) and just let them make all the steps. If they get you lost, go with it. Just because an adult is present, doesn't take away from the experience. They will try to get answers and directions out of you, but after enough shrugs and blank stares, they will realize they are on their own.

Two-Deep is required at the activity. It doesn't mean 2 adult Scouters must be within arm's-reach at all times. I would see nothing wrong with dropping qualified and competent Scouts at a location a few km away from home base. Of course I'd ensure they were prepared, and had communication devices. Don't really see much difference between this and sending Scouts off to MB classes at summer camp while Scouters stay back at camp. Or if we must be overly protective, who's to say the Scouters couldn't just follow along, not interacting or helping.

Agreed. I think it depends how we define "big brotherly." Baden Powell has a similar quote that I think is easier to understand. “To get a hold on boys you must be their friend.” The YPT rules have definitely made communications between adults and youth restricted. We cannot communicate or interact with our Scouts like they do their peers in the troop or school. The YPT rules have made it impossible for adults to have "private" relationship with a Scout that nobody else is aware of, and that's a necessary safeguard. As @DuctTape said, "in the spirit of." I believe very strongly that

I just noticed that the Scouter Forum passed the half million mark in terms of number of posts. Y'all RAWK! Time to catch up on my reading!!

Our unit asked our meeting place (not the CO) for a room in the basement for storage. They approved and we now emptyed our trailer into the room. When we go on camp outs they scouts(PLs) give the QM a list of the equipment they need and it is put in the trailer. It not only covers us in case the trailer is stolen (parked at a former troop members ranch ) but it also teaches the boys to pack lite and not bring everything and the kitchen sink. Because they’d have to carry it up the stairs!!

We went out of our council to camp last week. They seemed not very well prepared for females as some other camps are. At this time one bathroom/bathhouse had a wooden sign you flip Males Only/Females only and same with the changing rooms at aquatics. At a leaders meeting they gave the leaders instructions to talk with the scouts about knocking and not flipping signs while someone is in there. We wish they had dedicated male/female facilities like some camps do. The latrines have locking door stalls and so does another bath house so no male/female separation. Here was a huge issue we

There are no class A or class B uniforms in BSA.