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There is no formal order of precedence of square knot awards, but mine are starting to accrue in an unattractive way. It got me thinking about how to sort and rank them for the purpose of shaving them down to the ones I would consider most important. 6 look good. 9 looks OK. 12 is starting to get questionable and past that the shirt starts getting stiff and uncomfortable. That being said, I completely support everyone making their own decisions about what to wear and in what order, but I am curious what everyone thinks of my system of determining order of precedence and what to wear.

Just got back from Philmont on 7/12/2019. As for the "crowds", we saw fewer people there than we tended to run into hiking the GA sections of the AT for our prep hikes, but it wasn't uncommon to pass other crews coming the other direction. Only 2 times (from my poor memory) did we overtake crews going the same direction and one of those was on the way approaching Baldy, so that was fairly understandable. Camps tended to have enough room to move away from others so it didn't feel crowded, but there were only 3 nights out of 10 on the trail (out of base camp) where we were the only group in a

It's always been the unofficial rule that for Volunteers it's a max of 3 rows and for Professionals it's a max of one row. Again, that's unofficial. But I think anything that goes over is too "look at me"

Oh yes! Very different situation. My 6yr old had scouts approach her and give her things because she is so little. The older boys we were with called her our patch magnet. Lol

This is why it really frustrates me when parents don't bother bringing their kids to the ECOH since their own child won't be receiving an award. I mean, I get it, your family is busy. But if just getting the kid there is a problem, then let someone know and we'll find them a ride.

Difference is I'm a single man in my 20's without kids. If I strike up conversations with random youth that's kinda weird.

Plastic tote. Steel pan (Lodge?). Cast iron griddle (Cheapo at walmart). A big light weight pot for boiling water-ish type foods. A little pot. Metal utensils. Strainer. Wash tubs. I think that's most of it. That's all they use, anyway. We got away from anything with a non stick coating other than patina from cooking stuff with fats.

I have known Scouts who did not want a full blown special ECoH. I have known Scouts that settled for an elongated "normal" Troop CoH. I have known Scouts that relished the notoriety of the hotel catered dinner with speech from the State Senator. I have known Scouts that "went thru" the CoH for their parents and were never seen again at any Scout event. My favorite was a pair of brothers. The older waited for his younger to pass his EBoR and then they planned a campout on their grandparents' farm. Everything and everyone had to hike in to the site about 500 yards. Tables set up, ca

I met @Sentinel947 at Summit Central yesterday after my nap. (Oh the life of a contingent leader.) We just sat on a shady spot in the lawn and watched the variety of uniforms (mostly activity uniforms) come up the sidewalk. We then hit the trading post. Surprisingly, it was not terribly crowded.

On a side note, I refer to my car as the Polka car. I state quite loudly that polka music will be available. And I do play it loud and proud with windows down as I'm driving up to pick up scouts. I might even play it for a minute as we're leaving the parking lot. Then I turn off the music and inform the oldest scout in the group that he is now in charge of the radio. What would he like to listen to? With the provision that it can not be a bunch of filthy words strung together as a lyric because it doesn't reflect well on us if someone sees/hears us jamming to it. If any scout makes a mes

This isn't something you are going to get answered from a web forum. You'll want to engage your District Executive and a Unit Commissioner if you have one. I'm not sure what you were told when you took on your role as Committee Chair, but here is the job description from the BSA. https://meritbadge.org/wiki/index.php/Troop_Committee_Chair. While not a BSA publication, it cites the Troop Committee Guidebook, which is an official publication of the BSA. My own thoughts: I'm a big proponent of Scouts being in charge and leading themselves. Still, the role of adults is to establish wha

@logistician24, I had a scout bring pot to summer camp. Long story short (because everyone else has heard it) the camp director was told, he called the sheriff, the scout was put in to the legal system (and went home that day), and eventually he was removed from scouting because he just didn't understand that he did something wrong. He knew he got caught and that was a problem, but he never understood that a 16 year old can't smoke pot. You're absolutely right to see this as a problem. And since you are the CC, you do have some say in the matter. You oversee the SM. This was a miserable t

Without delving into details ... The boy needs to be suspended from the troop. It sounds like he does not want to be a scout (a scout is trustworthy, ... obedient, ... clean). Give him three to six months of not being one. Then he can call if he wants back in. That is how you offer a second chance. Note, I have learned from this forum that some councils want their DE's to be informed of suspended scouts. So, let your DE know what you're planning to do. They may be able to provide the mom with some helpful resources.

If the youth had drugs at a Scout camp, the Camp Director wouldn't even give the unit the option of "a second chance", he would need to go immediately. I am a believer that behavior outside of scouting, when it involves acting directly against the values of the Oath and Law, are significant. Truly, the actions of this youth were/are being noticed by the other scouts, and that is directly affecting the unit morale and cannot be ignored. I'm a bit lost on why the option was for the parent to come in the morning- I would have had him sent home ASAP.

I'm hearing reports that due to an insufficient number of buses, Western Region USA scouts are being bused out early, before or during Closing Ceremony, and will have to spend the night in the airport. This is a pretty stunning level of logistical incompetence.