Leaderboard

I can't recall witnessing a situation where a scout was solely focused on earning MBs. Usually, if they are determined to collect a ton of badges, Eagle is also on their "to earn" list.

@dkurtenbach while we're in the holidays, we would do well to consider the words of one who urged against straining at gnats only to swallow a camel. You assert that in earning two MBs a month, an ambitious scout undermines his/her troop and patrol. But, in the same reply you say ... In other words, by your own admission, the merit badge program enhances the life of many units. In other words, some MBs include a service requirement. Therefore, in the process of earning all badges, the scout will necessarily perform some service. I would argue that in the process of earning

When I was a SM, my goal for all the scouts was to develop moral and ethical decision makers. The more a often a scout makes a decision, the more likely they will grow into an ethical moral decision maker. Done properly, the MB process is almost entirely the practice of making decisions. The MB process only looses integrity when the adults make some of the decisions for the scouts. Barry

Point of order: there is a mathematics badge. It's called Orienteering. Or maybe it's Woodwork. Or maybe one of dozens of other badges that throw down constant mathematical challenges. Carry on.

BSA isn't concerned with program. Their focus is on finance. If commissioners had the power to "make corrections" in a unit, they would very quickly start using that power to mandate fundraising. The commissioners job would be entirely about $$$.

And I may have been a bit harsh as well. What I meant to try and say is that we need to all temper our selves at times, especially our knee jerk, rush to judgment. I see the proposed program as positive, as noted already. But it too needs to be monitored and tweaked to work for the specific group. And, part of that monitoring is keeping the youth in the leadership at the Scout level and above. The Philmont program appears to basically be an extension of what has been offered at PTC for decades, and many youth that participated in those PTC groups went on to become adamant, enthusiastic ou

December, 1910: Wilhelm Bjerregaard read "If you want to be a Scout, you go and make up a patrol and go out scouting.” from a book given to him by his brother that Christmas. In the new year , Wilhelm became a scout. Years later, he would restore Scouting by teaching scouts with his books how to make up a patrol. In the coming year, may all scouts make up their patrols and go out scouting. ~ The moderators of scouter.com

It already is. When I was a UC, FOS, Popcorn, and Camp Cards were the first agenda item on 9 of 10 monthly meetings during the scout year. Maybe 8, charter renewal fell in there a couple of times as well, but, that's also about cash.