Eagledad

>>In 30+ years we have only had to use this once, when a scout simply refused to do any work whatsoever in his patrol.

>>It's when he signs up for MB and then we find out the last day that he didn't go to the "sessions" (we're not allowed to call them "classes") that we get upset.

There needs to be an unbiased third party involved. Barry

>>Adult-led units are a difficult animal to control and modern scouting does very little to rein them in. Maybe it's time to scrap adult-led methods in a program designed to promote boy-led leadership.

Hi Michael You ask a complicated question because every Scoutmaster uses the JASM differently. Neal and Beveaher gave excellent answers to your questions and I really cant add to Beavehers explanation. Since your SM wants you to hang with the adults, he is certainly trying to build a program where mature scouts can take on more mature responsibilities. Our JASMs were given the choice to hang with adults if they liked. They tried it and do pretty well, but I found that when 16 and 17 year olds needs some down time and they would rather do it with friends their age. When it comes to gas, g

Home made GORP is the best. Barry

>>Still have no idea why I would have been issued two.

Well here a few random thoughts: >>I'm torn as to what is really best for the youth.>If I were to accept the SM position I would likely step down as a UC.>I belive that in a Troop the CC is almost as important as the SM>If I change positions I should do so before I answer the 20 questions.>The current SM and myself have worked to change the troop in the past year from adult led to youth led, which was one of my main concerns when I accepted the CC position.

Our troop planned their own triathlons where the troop would hike, bike and canoe in one outing, but I have not heard of an organized version. That would be really cool. Ideally the crew changes camp every day by hiking, biking or canoeing to and from camp. Depending on the requirements like what you can carry, biking could be the hardest for a crew if they have to carry all the gear. But, a following crew of cars can solve that problem. Takes some long term planning to get all the gear and get prepared for using it. It was a perfect program for a troop because it required learning so ma

>>Aside from the book keeping issues that might be involved, these are the two arguments I'm anticipating. (And if you do get these, how do you combat them?)

Sounds to me like you are already doing a pretty good job getting ready. Since you have knee problems, I would suggest you look at hiking poles to go along with your knee brace. Hiking poles look very much like ski poles and are used about the same way. They are made of light weight material so they dont add a lot of weight to your load. Dont worry that you will look nerdy, there are usually a few hikers using them in most groups at Philmont. When used correctly, hiking poles can take as much as 80% of the stress off your knees, especially hiking up and down inclines. Im told by my friends who

This might be a balancing experience for your troop. I know that one of the spring boards that gave our troop a huge jump in numbers was our adventurous outdoor program, much the same as yours. New families always knew what they were getting in to when they joined and they were either financially willing or prepared to work hard on fundraisers. I cant ever recall anyone telling us they didnt join our troop because of cost. I can also say as things got more expensive, we started going every third year to council camp. That was about as much as we could stand. Im betting your troop will pu

>>So, the good kid, in order to gain the attention he feels he deserves from his parents, strikes his sister whos perpetrated no wrong against him. Hmmm. If youre trying to convince me that this kid is inherently good, this example doesnt do it.

Rooster>>I think when a three year old smacks his younger sister because she has the audacity to pick up one of his toys; it has nothing to do with survival. Its just a kid acting out and being selfish.>Explain a >50% divorce rate and the amount of child abuse thats reported here in the U.S. and elsewhere. What happened to all those great kids did they do through another developmental stage?>Yah, Rooster, Lord of the Flies is a work of fiction, not a documentary. Yeh might as well cite Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde to justify believin' adults secretly turn into hairy monsters at nigh

>>eventually, it's not about development...it's just about ourselves. My vote - we're inherently bad (i.e. prone to please ourselves...prone to sin).

So many questions. The best answer for these questions is Religion has stayed pretty consistent over time. Interpretations vary some through time but usually seem to get back to the same basic alignment, which is why history repeats itself. Have a great day. Barry

>>Eagledad, which religions have been consistent since their inception in moral teachings about slavery and homosexuality?

>>We are all animals and thus we wish to procreate with the fittest and we wish to survive. Working together, getting along, etc have little to do with those urges. Criminal behavior (that will often refer to as base) is more close to our innate behavior. Thus, the key to the other laws is a sense of reverence. I do not think that the program would be the same without the 12th point.

>>He may start planning his court of honor but must wait until the certificate arrives before scheduling it. But as of right now, YOU ARE AN EAGLE SCOUT! Well done man!

>>Stosh - I hate top throw water (!) on your Whitewater canoeing example of a patrol activity, but don't forget the first point in Safety Afloat is "Qualified Adult Supervision", someone over 21 accompanying the group in a 1:10 ration.

>>I also wonder if pack and Beavah and yes, me too, might take greater offense at this in large part because we work in fields where freedom of expression and freedom from censorship are highly prized cultural practices in their own right, regardless of the content.

I'm sorry, what was the question? Barry

>>I think that about the only thing that other scout traditionalists and I don't match up exactly on is the principle of Servant Leadership. I am under the premise that SL is the basic building block upon which leadership is built and not just "part of" a bag of magic tricks that teach leadership skills.

>>Your focused on the lie when the focus should be on the inappropriate action by the group.

>> In both the NYLT matter and the NESA lifetime member knot, National's solution has been: "Gee, let's give away a bauble incentive." That's bribery, imo.