Leaderboard

Off topic a bit, but the scoutmaster I've been mentoring this last year, puts so much emphasis on updating advancement online, she completely forgets to update the scout's handbooks. I guess my "old" is showing, but I thought the idea was for the scouts to read and study their handbooks as they are teaching and/or learning scouting skills pertaining to advancement. EDGE works, but all scouts should be taught to refer to their scout handbooks for ideas and info. I think they should always be able to refer to the back of their handbooks to review their "sign-offs" , and be able to know what

Not sure if anyone is interested, but I would like to give an update and also thank you for supporting me and giving me guidance. In March, I signed my then 12-year-old up in another troop and have been personally keeping a tap on him. Although he has been in scouting half of his life, he was not sure about it at the beginning and fought against my decision. I guess he was worried if the leaders in the new troop were aware of his behavior from the previous troop since both were in the same district. Anyway, once again, I had to fight my lone battle with him. I made sure he attended all th

I provide a yearly Leatherworking "workshop" for the letherworking MB for my troop. We only make 1 item which is a leather stool. This takes between 6 and 9 hours worth of work and is usually spread over 3 or 4 weekends.Heres is how we do it. Weekend 1: We go on a trip to the Tandy store 30 minutes away. They have a huge selection of everything. The scout get to see all different types of tools, hundreds of different leathers (snake, skate, lamb, goat, chrome tan, veg tan). As we are looking at different leathers we talk about how the idfferent leathers are made. I just ask questions know

I agree, but my view is slightly different. Paper scout handbook is for the scouts. It's the best way for them to track, drive and own their advancement. Online tools such as internet advancement or the online scoutbook web site is for the adults and parents. The online scoutbook.com the best way for them to see BSA's official records. When the SM signs off a rank or receives a MB card, it should be entered by an adult into BSA's official records ... as soon as possible. BUT, it should be fully recorded in the paper scout handbook too.

OK, this past year I have done quite a few Leatherwork Merit Badge Classes (LWMB) in our Council and I've had a few problems. The main one has to do with time management. The classes have been 3 hours long and it seems that a high percentage of students don't get their project completed. So, I mark on their blue card that they have to complete the project and show the Scoutmaster. I do spend what I think is an appropriate amount of time on the discussion part of the class, but there is never enough time at the end to do everything. So I have come up with some ideas that I think might help

Discussed:

I like the sign-offs in their handbooks -- not only can they see what they have completed, it also puts the record keeping responsibility on the scout. I'd also like to keep personal electronic devices from intruding too much on outings. Sign offs in scout handbooks don't require getting out someones cell phone. I have seen that not everyone has the same opinion I have.

Thanks for the good news!

I have the same doubts and would liked them to be unfounded.

Maybe I am a pessimist, but why would they listen to the Scouts and Venturers on anything, when they do not even listen to the Scouters who volunteer their time and treasure to the program? Don't believe me, well there is the "Instapalm" survey of 2015 in which 94% were either against (18%) or strongly against (76%) the idea, and they did it anyway.

I talked to someone a few years ago that ran an optional program for older scouts: 24 hours in the woods, tending a fire, no talking, only water to drink. I thought it would be great to do for older scouts. I talked to a few adults and they were not supportive. I think the scouts would have really gotten a lot out of it.

This is my "Cheat Sheet" for IA2.0. It seems to work. This is for only reporting completions, not tracking partials or individual rank requirements or anything like that. You have to be a "Key 3" to have access; if you are not, one of your Key 3 can give you Key 3 Delegate access then it should work. 1. Go to scoutbook.scouting.org . 2. Log on using my.scouting.org login/password (same one used for Youth Protection Training). 3. Check the box next to a scout’s name. 4. Click on “Record Advancement”. 5. Put in the date, type and item. 6. If you n