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But his feet surely show it! They are Longfellows!

April, 2022 Scout troop was camped in Harriman State Park when around 1:20AM a bear wandered into camp. According to Scoutmaster, All their food, garbage and cooking gear was properly stored in bear bags hung off the ground, but that wasn't going to stop the bear from looking. The bear grabbed one sleeping bag and pulled on it. The bear then grabbed another sleeping bag, where scout was sleeping, and also grabbed his lower leg. The scout screamed and kicked the bear and it ran away. "He had some scrapes and bruises, but other than that he was fine," said scout's mother. "He

The story reminded me of our Philmont Ranger in 1979. He had a nickname, Bear Bait. He was sleeping outside while out with a couple other rangers, but he was first year and had been the target of a few jokes. So, when he felt like someone was trying to roll him over in his bag, he reached up and smacked at who he thought it was, one of the others tormenting him. The bear did not like getting slapped and proceeded to reciprocate. Fortunately, the bag was thick enough, and the ranger able to curl up within it; and his screams woke the others nearby who ran the bear off. But he ended up wit

If I were that scout, I’d ask DEC for the claws that poked my bag!

You a poet and didn't know it. Thank you

IIRC, the "choosing" was all done ahead of time by the PLC. This was just the announcing. So it wasn't like gym class and picking teams. It is possible they announced all the patrols selections at the same time, "Tigers select Jimmy and John". It was a long time ago.

Tradition is one of the main reasons I stick around. Not to say that there isn't innovative ways to do things, but the foundation is strong and remains so. I don't have a scouting background, but it's the elders I sought out and learned from that enables me to pass on that tradition.

Maybe there is a scouting conservation service opportunity here with the Dept of Agriculture to warn of another human problem that only YOU can prevent? Say with a little help from one of their experienced employees or trademark at least, in fact he's an American Black Bear too. as it says "and wildlife". My $0.02

For future reference, is this documented somewhere?

An interesting idea I only experienced once, and that was when I joined my first troop. At the first few troop meetings all the new scouts participated with all of the patrols (a different patrol each week). IIRC, we went as 2 per patrol. After 3 or 4 meetings the Patrols chose which of us were invited to join them. They made a big deal about choosing us. It was kind of like "draft day", the SPL would announce "The Toads choose Jimmy to join their patrol"! Cheers and high fives as each scout would run over to their patrol, be greeted with enthusiam and given their patrol badge.

Neither is hiking, camping, canoeing, or an particular activity. As you say, the program is in the entertainment business. Children wish to explore their world The most popular merit badges at summer camp are STEM. So if you are trying to say that STEM activities do not attract and entertain children, then you would not be correct. Scouting needs to incorporate STEM activities into the program in a manner to challenge those who are interested but not negatively affect those who are less interested. It is a technique that works and attracts youth.

I have long made the argument that Scouting was in the entertainment business. Providing fun and engaging activities while intermixing learning and leadership aspects in those activities. A happy and engaged Scout brings his friends. And participation grows. It just seems that my council, and apparently National, has no clue. Math is not Scouting. Enthusiasm is.

Scouterlockport (Illinois?) what is the basis of your downvote? I can't learn from a mere downvote.

I'm catching up but I noticed that you posted that comment and then photos of Scouts and adults. I'm also assuming that these are not all your family. If that's the case I believe they should be removed from this forum. Unless releases were signed or there was express consent that photos taken during a Scouting event would be shared with a larger audience I suspect those pictured and their parents believed this was for private and not public use. If It was my child I'd ask that you use photos he wasn't in to make your case. All of that said, I hope you will be as aggressive as you bel

Short answer: Apparently not. Long answer: I haven't seen this in writing but that shouldn't be taken to mean that it isn't important or could be part of new YP measures. I think all parties (TCC and SWG) were focused on creating a structural mechanism for ongoing evaluation and changes. This was the right tact to take. If the non-monetary demands were too granular then there would have been an excellent chance that any "laundry list" would have had omissions AND not able to address needed changes in the future. So, the non-monetary agreements are for a YP Executive and Youth Protection

In high school, so many moons ago, like 56 years ago, a brilliant math teacher in presenting a proof on the chalk board, when it did not quite work out, would say: "The best laid plans of mice and men oft times go astray." I think National will likely taste the bitter edge of this aphorism. The "pre-loaded" plan failed. The vote failed (as most seem to think). Many of the tangential big players have not gotten "on board" (Catholics, some insurance companies, Methodists (it appears, more or less), Mormons abandoned ship, parents and their kids seem to be looking for som

I wouldn't think a committee should be investigating a YPT report that was submitted to the council. Other than cooperating with the investigation, a unit committee should not be involved. If I were CC, I would simply ask the SE if there was any immediate action needed and if not, move on. There are times for volunteers to take the lead. There are times for professionals to lead. This is a time where volunteers should take a step back and let the professionals run the investigation/actions. They have the training, experience and any resulting liability to run a proper investigatio

I'm kinda disturbed by the attitude displayed here that bullying is not a reportable incident. Handling stuff like this on the quiet is a big part of what has led to the BSA's current legal trouble.

We complain when national has no high level employees with non scouting experience. That there is no new ideas or better business practice being brought in. But we complain about lost of tradition when the adults dont have a scouting background. Maybe there new perspective is what is going to save scouting. Because I know just keeping to tradition is no gonna work because it hasn't for the last 20 years