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I don't understand. It appears your troop is a lifeboat for this scout and scouts like him. Our troop averaged one scout transfer per month because of our program reputation. Many were friends of scouts in our troop. Council often referred out-of-state transfers to us . These scouts lack of skills can be challenging, but I always found them and their parents enthusiastic and great supporters for our program. I'm so thankful for your service. Barry

You can only do what you can do; by that I mean offer the options and tools and then let them use them. Eagle is, and should NOT be the goal, but rather self sufficiency and good citizenship. Having pride in themselves, whether or not the Rank is achieved. We can never win them all, but if we give up, we will lose them all. My frustrations are greater now due to my age. I can no longer just do some things and get others to join. Other than simple drive in camping, and preferably a good cot, my body rebels. And while the troop refuses to take me off officially, I am mostly a symbol or something; and I Am Able to do conferences and teach many skills still, though much more slowly. My greater frustration comes from the poor support from our council and the seeming impediments they put in place under the guise of avoiding "issues". Just CYA. And I have been labeled silently as someone to put off and ignore or keep from others, as I might infect them somehow with expectations of doing scouting in its truer sense. Yet, I will not drop out completely and hope to find a way to encourage other younger leaders to keep the good fight up and stay the course. And when obvious wins show up, it moves us forward, and it plants that seed in the youth, if we are lucky.

Well, I had another disheartening moment yesterday. We had a life Scout transfer into the troop because "you do stuff." Yes their troop camped, but it was very infrequent. The Life Scout didn't know how to write a menu, food purchasing list, or duty roster. I am beginning to wonder if I am fighting an uphill battle staying in Scouting.

@jcousinoand @mrjohns2, it would have been nice to have a Wildlife Manager's perspective in the article to provide some balance and background on this. (We would hope that the area is under good wildlife management, as it is a National Elk Refuge.) You are both correct, that, under the principles of Leave No Trace, we should "Leave What You Find". However, for all principles, there should be an overriding understanding that the owners and/or managers of the land have the prerogative to allow activities which might seem to be in conflict with the principles. Hunting in the National Elk Refuge is an example. The land managers know the herd is too large for the land to sustain, so they permit the hunting of elk to cull the herd to reduce the numbers to restore a balance. As I understand it, the elk antler hunt is a strictly managed, limited time, restricted entry event, so as to keep some of the antler resource in place. https://www.jacksonwy.gov/668/Antler-Shed-Hunt it is also quite funny to see the other side of this... now, some businesses are upset that the land managers and game commission are limiting the number of elk hunting licenses because the herd is getting smaller. https://www.jhnewsandguide.com/news/environmental/local/jackson-elk-herd-hunt-season-sees-deeper-cuts-following-public-comment/article_5e6a7d56-4155-4832-8403-0b4af37f3594.html 'The outfitters blamed the herd’s downturn on wolves. “The pressure from predation up there is horrific,” Taylor said.' LOL... that's the mentality we really need to change... good luck 😜

very impressive project. i would unfortunately have to say that scout involvement violates the scouting LNT principles as this sheds provide a mineral source for a lot of small animals so removing something that is part of natural process violates leave what you find and respect wildlife. but it does sound interesting money or principles. my 2 cents

Harbor Freight has a couple options. Both are under $9. With a 90 day warranty, buy just before the project and any that end up breaking will be replaced. Both have good reviews as well.

Here a University Extension service, designed for vocational certification, was adapted for a whole day outdoor classroom merit badge experience. "Each mentor brought the latest equipment they use in the field, and Scouts rotated between five stations where they learned mapping and drafting, surveying history and careers, leveling, creating boundaries, and 3-D laser scanning." University of Florida School of Forest, Fisheries, and Geomatics Sciences , Surveying Merit Badge Great story which captures the intent of merit badge program - spark an interest, enthusiasm, hands-on, minds engaged, adult association ( professionals and previous scouts}, career possibilities... https://alachuachronicle.com/scouts-earn-surveying-badges-thanks-to-uf-geomatics-extension-program/ https://www.scouting.org/merit-badges/surveying/ Scout Salute,

Seemed timely and topic relevant... “Remember, we are just custodians, we are here for a very short period of time on Earth. So when you work with Scouts, make sure we pass along a good Earth and a good world and all the good values that are important.” “Often times, young people get sidetracked by and consumed with commercialism – things like television and cell phones are not as important as the values that you teach in Scouting. That’s what’s important, so make sure you teach your Scouts how these important values will stay with them the rest of their lives, while consumerism is just fleeting and passes through your life as a person.” Pope Francis (1936-2025) in a 2015 interview with ScoutingWire Bray Barnes Reference: https://www.scout.org/news/scouts-worldwide-pay-tribute-to-pope-francis

Depends on the project. In general, scouts at this age are better served by being asked to exercise verbal presentation skills. I would encourage troops to avoid mandating boiler-plate formats.

An Eagle in my neck of the woods, when asked what he learned from doing his project, responded, "Paperwork will suck the joy out of anything you love." As for PowerPoint Presentations, not for the project approval or for the EBOR, but other things related to the project could require them. One Eagle I had went to a foundation for a grant to do his project. They wanted him to do a PPT to the board in order to get approval for it. He submitted the PPT to the foundation director, and presented his case for his project. He got the funding. THAT IS AN UNDERSTATEMENT!!!!!!! (emphasis, not shouting at you) My tech savy son, who is now a computer science major, told me the program completely whacked when it come to photos. Whenever we talk to Life Scouts about project workbooks, we tell them do not worry about the photos in the workbook, add them to the end of it as individual photos.

No more and no less, use the tools and requirements Sadly there are units that feel the need to put "their" spin on projects. Must have CAD drawings, Must build something, Must put in XX hours, Must have XX Scouts work on the project, Must, Must, Must. While the intentions may be good, as has been noted, these local add-ons do not adhere to G2A. How to politely navigate that deviation can be a challenge

Always refer to the G2A ... Guide To Advancement. In my view ... The Eagle Project is about service and leadership in doing that service. The workbook is well laid out and explicitly describes the steps. The project is enough in and of itself. Adding troop unique expectations makes the Eagle Project more about jumping hoops and than giving service. IMHO, we teach bad lessons when we make advancement about jumping hoops. Not required and can't be required ... but troops still do it. Is it harmful? Mostly no. Is this a hill to die on either direction? No. Is it a good idea? No, but I flip flop and can see both sides. Does it help the scout? Maybe a few scouts, but mostly no. The scout MUST fill out the Eagle Project Workbook in detail. That is the scout's commitment. A PowerPoint is extra and just decorative. Committees ... chair or designee(s) ... must review the workbook. That is what is being signed and is effectively a contract. A PowerPoint presentation is NOT what is being signed off. I've had scouts show me their PowerPoint presentation required by their troop. I sat nicely and listened. ... THEN, we went section by section thru the workbook write-up because that is the commitment. Bad ... Could be the unrequired extra hoop to jump thru that causes a scout to give up on Eagle. Good ... Might give some scouts presentation practice that helps scouts later in the process ... IMHO this is a big stretch. Why do troops do it? Biggest reason I've seen is the worst because it does not match Guide To Advancement. Troops justify it as it gives scouts experience presenting to groups and talking in front of groups. IMHO, that's what the Communications MB is about. That's what the rest of the scouting program is about. Eagle project is about service and leading that service. IMHO, it smells more of committee self-importance. If a troop wants to do it, it's not a hill to die on. Smile nicely. Listen. Don't promote the practice and point out the scout requirements are in the Eagle project workbook and the Guide To Advancement. ... Sorry if I am long winded. This was a hot button topic for me as I've been involved in many Eagle project proposal reviews.

So if a scout can take off and work on MBs at a camporee, what does the rest of his or her patrol do without that scout? So much for patrol method. There's sort of a win all you can mindset but my guess is that not understanding the benefits of the patrol method is a bigger problem. I heard an interview with someone that studies youth problems with changing technology. It was like they were begging for something just like the patrol method. The idea of a gang of kids, where the older ones look out for the younger ones and teach them the rules of society started fading with the advent of computers as entertainment. Lack of social skills, depression, etc. Smart phones made it that much worse. Their biggest fear is when parents can buy AI "friends" for their children. They'll never have to talk to real people! To be honest, I think there's another problem. I'm a grandparent with 3 grandkids aged 2 and under. Of all the people I knew that were parents while my kids were living at home, most don't have grandkids. Few of their children want children. Maybe they're too busy earning "MBs"? I admit that it's expensive and difficult to find the time, but, when it comes to a high adventure trip, having kids is really one of the best. Both my kids are in the not enough sleep phase but they love their kids. It's wonderful for me to watch. Both of my kids live in town. It's been an insane winter of colds and my wife and I are always on call. I've been sick more this winter than I can remember. I also love that I can spend this time with my family. I wouldn't call it quality time but some day, after I'm gone, I hope my grandkids have fond memories of playing with me. Bottom line: MBs are easy, life is not. Life is an adventure, MBs are not. MBs are worn on your sleeve, good memories are worn on your soul.

Our district has the option to earn 1 or 2. I’m involved as an archery MCA ONLY so scouts can complete partials from camp. I think that is a good service for the Scouts where the others MBs are not good scouting. In my youth, there were no MBs at camporees nor were there merit badge universities.

This seems to be part of the overall trend where Scouting is less experiential learning, less growing through group dynamics, less boy led and more, well almost school work focus. Along with MBU and not really becoming "Scouts", this is wanted by parents, who do not want to actually be involved, they just have expectations. They are expecting the new scouts to stay within their peer groups, stay in their comfort zones, get socially promoted through the ranks and be led by the leaders through monitored and "safe" activities. That whole outdoor and weekend camping interferes with sports, is scary and challenging, and boys may get dirty and be uncomfortable. Also how will the parents keep an eye on them, I mean they aren't heading out to the woods as an ASM or leader. In many cases the new crossover families want a warm and embracing Webelos III experience. The challenge is many boys, after 5th grade, find this somewhat boring. The retention rates is very low for many units due to these expectations and families assuming the Scouts program (11 - 17 years olds) will be like Cubs. One of the reasons there is not overall growth in the program. On a macro scale the promise of fun and adventure in many (though not all) cases is not being delivered. Units are getting way smaller. Average size for units at our camp 8 years ago was +/- 24 youth in camp. Last year the average was less than 17 youth. The Scouts that are in units that camp, that challenge them, that get them out of their normal comfort zone, and let the youth run the program keep those Scouts. Those units lose most to aging out, not just having kids not showing up any more. Sadly there are less and less units that are run in this manner.