Leaderboard

I fudged my Nature merit badge in 1959, I think. It grated on my conscious, and later I earned completely Soil and Water, Forestry, and worked on Wildlife Management. I also did insect study. Outside of Scouts, I took a summer school class in biology that I did not need to take, but felt it would also salve my disappointment in myself. It was not just learning about nature and so on, but about myself. Self reflection can be good for you, and as an adolescent, it is even more important perhaps. Another reason we should, in my view, mentor bad behaviour in a way that might allow the youth

The only merit badge I received that I can say I probably did not truly earn was Basketry. The was done at summer camp. At the time I recall 2 requirements: 1. Make a basket. 2. Cane a chair seat. For #1, we used a kit with a wooden base. For #2, we weaved criss-cross strings over a square platform. Afterwards, as an older scout I learned how to make an actual basket without a kit... Significantly more complex. I also learned to cane a seat from my father as he would restore antique chairs as a hobby. Wow was that a complex process. I never complete

aww, it was an incomplete..... It was a tail dragger...

The New Zealand Scouts Jamboree is underway in Waikato with over 4000 scouts setting up camp. The spacious surrounds of the Mystery Creek Events Centre have been transformed into a vast "tent city" for the duration of the nine-day event which has attracted scouting enthusiasts from as far away as the United States and United Kingdom. Most of the scouts are aged between 11 and 14, but a group of 14 and a half, and 15 and a half-year-olds were also invited because the last Jamboree was disrupted by the pandemic. ... The range of activities on offer includes water s

*sigh* So much philosophical water under the metaphoric bridge. Way back when I was working on my Stegasaurus Husbandry Merit Badge, my Troop was a very active outdoors Troop. Like I am sure many of you, our adult leaders/parents were veterans of the Great Depression, WW2, Korean war.... I remember one winter campout, snow on the ground, we were going to the back woods of one of our leaders. And just before, we were told we would have a "guest Troop" camping with us. A GIRL SCOUT TROOP. Who'd a guessed? All the Girl Scouts I knew back then sold cookies and held fashion part

Lots of interesting thoughts. We do not know her exact age but personally I have never seen any new scout hit the ground running and do their 1st PT test the afternoon of crossover to start the clock. Those who are eager to get requirements done usually have a parent help them manage their advancement particularly when it comes to MBs. Clearly the advancement program has changed that assists in this happening. MB events where you can get 5 or 6 at a time (for a fee), Summer camps, and being able to work on all ranks at the same time etc. JMHO. The missing th