Exibar

Your credentials are impressive for sure.... however, WFA certification training is for when the EMT is days or weeks away, not a simple phonecall to 911.... it's to ensure that you stabilize the patient, make him comfortable until help comes in days, not hours.... OR get him out of the back country alive and safe if needed.... It is a different set of training skills then that of an EMT or Paramedic went through.... Although, any qualified Paramedic such as yourself, would be able to keep the patient alive.... I encourage you to take the training and then report on your honest thou

thanks for the quick replies! Yes, I agree it's up to the MB counselor and not the SM.... however, how many consessions can be made before "too much is too much"... I suppose it's simply a matter of the MBC accepting the "spirit of the requirement" for the Merity Badge... as long as that is met in the eyes of the MBC, the scout has earned it... Ranks advancements are nto in question here, just MB requirements... I'll have to re-read the GTA as well...

How much do you folks bend the merit badge requirements for those boys that are on the autism scale? Do you not bend them at all and hold these boys to the same exacting standard as all the other boys? If you do bend the requirements, how is that fair to those other boys that followed the "as is" requirements? Does this even matter? there are alternate rank advancements, but there aren't any alternate requirements for Merit Badges..... leaving this up to "scoutmaster discretion" isn't exactly easy or kind on the Scoutmaster... looking for input, thanks all! Mike B

Huey, I'd love to chat off list with ya as you certainly have inside information about the park that would be HUGE to help plan the better routes there are... Would you mind sending me an email with your email address? Mine's exibar@thelair.com I couldnt' find a way to private message you through this site :-( thanks! Mike B

fundraising was mentioned in a comment... but not intrinsic to the original question :-) Troop size is 25 active boys. I have 9 crossing over in March that will be assimilated...

wow, guys.... please dont' take this the wrong way you're all a great bunch of guys.. all feedback is a gift, and I appreciate it all, really.... but honestly, many replies to me about how my troop should be more boy led, I shouldn't be planning this the boys should, etc etc... that type of feedback doesn't help nor comes close to answering my question I posed.... some posts had some useful thoughts though and for those i thank you, Resqman hit the nail right on the head though, thank you very much ;-) I see your point about the 18 training trips, which really amounts to 9 additional tr

so true!!! there are limits or boundaries that have to be imposed, but nothing hard set in stone... the scouts have to learn to be accountable, they can't say they'll do something, and then not do it and expect zero consequences... some of the best trips are started and planned by the boys :-) I'll plan maybe one outing a year for my troop, helps to give the boys ideas of what's possible... the rest are on the boy's shoulders (aside from our annual Turkey cook campout... that's a given every year and all hands on deck!)

wow, Reqman, thank you very much for your reply this was *very* helpful! This was exactly what I was looking for, how another troop does this type of thing and not criticism or rants or "well your troop should be more boy led and not adult led".... My troop is boy led, and it's the BOYS that are asking for help planning this trip of a lifetime. I'm helping them with the finer points so that next time they can plan completely on their own and simply present their plan to me to see if they missed anything. Afterall, my job as Scoutmaster is to help and guide the boys right? :-) Than

also I'm thinking requirements such as: 14 years old First Class or higher physically able to hike 10 miles per day for 5 days Orienteering badge first aid badge camping badge wilderness survival badge only able to miss 1 of the training trips (reasons for missing more than 1 will be considered)

I edited... I meant to say 2 training trips per month leading up to it.... anyone thing that's too much? We'd have at least one outing per month anyway, but I'm thinking an extra backpacking trip for the boys and adults going to Yellowstone.... the younger scouts would be optional for these treks... I also want to bestow upon some of the adults that have volunteered (read NOT currently scout leaders) that this is a serious commitment to the troop and not just a one time deal... My "core" leaders are all committed, trained, etc, and honestly that's all I really need, or ever had for b

We're planning on hiking Yellowstone in 2015. I want to make sure that any adult volunteers for the trip are fully trained and registered (obviously). I also wanted to set some training criteria for the boys (and adults) as well though. I have a couple firm criteria, must be 14 yrs old or older, must be an active fundraiser for the trip, must commit to the trip first meeting of 2014, everyone is responsible wholey for their own gear in their backpack, and must attend the training backpack trips. We'll be backpacking approx 10 miles a day while in Yellowstone.... for 4 or 5 days. I want to

Why is the Comm. Chair involved to this extent with Discipline and punishment of the boys? The ScoutMaster has the final say with everything pertaining to the boys, not the CC. I used to have issues within my troop when I first took it over... we had a few "bad apples" that were only interested in causing trouble... once I took over the boys realized that they'll actually have to earn what they receive, I now leave initial punishment to the SPL and ASPL... they have a heavier and more appropriate hand than I ever would. If something occurs that warrants my attention as SM, the boys bring t

first this weekend we had the naked pictures of a girl on a toilet popping up, now various links are getting blocked by malwarebytes on my computer http:// hjfghj.com / r.php is one of them from today.... looks like it's the banner ad that is right below the logout link to the right that is causing pain this time.... can someone PLEASE look into this??? I'll bet there are dozens of folks that are now infected due to these malicious web banner ads :-( Mike B

My expectation was that the Eagle recipient receive the Eagle kit, necker, and slide from council and perhaps a certificate to frame on the wall. It came as a shock to me that all they'd receive is a wallet card and a letter from council. I didn't have to pay for my own woodbadge class B/beads/necker/slide in addition to the course fees.... I wasn't expecting to have to pay for the Eagle kit... although we have to buy all the other rank patches so I don't know why this surprised me so much.... Great suggestions guys! I actually forgot about the necker and slide... I'll have to

yes, the Centennial badge is in the kit, and I picked up an extra one as well. so it sounds like Council does give a bit, but you'd think that they'd give them the full Eagle kit instead of the troop having to buy it ;( I'm in SE Mass as well Frank! I Scott Brown's office has always been *very* accommodating for letters and such, to the point they've overnighted one that was needed in a hurry... guess my taxes actually picked that cost up, but it was great to be asked to have it overnighted. I've put in a request for him to attend the ECoH, and the local selectman always attends

Hi All! I'm very proud to say that my first Eagle scout candidate made Eagle last week since I took over as Scoutmaster in 2010! He also has enough Merit badges and time to make Silver Palm too, the first in our troop's history of 50 years ;-) I was shocked this weekend when I turned in his final paperwork to the scout store when they told me that all he'll get in the mail from Council or National is a wallet card and a certificate. The troop has to purchase the "Eagle kit" with the medal/pins/rank patch for $24.95... I was a bit shocked, but I guess I shouldn't be as I've alway

thank you all for your replies. I have tried, and tried and tried with this boy. I will not give up on him... I may have been too kind in my OP. I have two ASM's that have told me that they will not be part of his EBOR, as he does not deserve it. He is lazy and lethargic, and a troublemaker most of the time. He is only in scouting because his father made him. Now, his father is no longer in the picture for reasons I won't go into here, and I feel his mom is asking him to just stay in until Eagle as he's almost done. He has told his friends that when he makes Eagle he's gon

thanks Moose! so it sounds like an Eagle BOR isn't much different than a regular BOR, aside my leaders/committee members are the ones giving it. His project meets my approval for an Eagle project, that's my scout's first step... when he's ready with his workbook, which he's not working on currently because in his words "..it's winter, I'm not doing any work on that during the winter its going to have to wait..." when he told me that, I just told him that "I'd like to see the completed workbook this year, but I'm not going to twist your arm to get it to me, you have to want to get it do

oh no, I never though fraud at any time, heavens no! The previous scoutmaster is an honorable man by all means, and the scouts know I'd call them on it if they signed off someone else's name. He is in a patrol, he's actually Patrol leader of that patrol. I tried to give him a couple tasks to do, like teaching how to lash two poles together... it's like watching a train wreck with him trying to teach something he clearly doesn't know how to do. I usually send a tenderfoot or a new cross over scout over to help him... Certainly can't unring a bell... no matter how much I wish th

Hi All, what if you have a boy that's life scout. The boy made life scout before you became scoutmaster. This boy clearly doesn't know anything leading up to life, right down to can't tie a clove hitch, probably can't tie a square knot either, yes it's this bad. AND this boy is looking at Eagle and starting slightly to get a project together... He has 21 merit badges, and the other requirements completed for Eagle.. again most of which were received before you became scoutmaster of the troop... To add things and make it worse... he's not living up to the scout law in his daily life

We were going to have the boyscouts hand out the tickets during candy bar sale the weekend before. We were also going to have the boys participate that evening at RedRobin doing anything they could. I'm thinking it's worth the little bit of effort for a little bit extra gain for the troop.

Anyone do this as a fund raiser? Redrobin will donate 15% of food sales if you present them with a card that you received from a scout on a particular day. It seems like a nice easy fundraiser for the "inbetween" time between a couple major fundraisers. I figure if we get a couple hundred bucks, it'll be worth it.... anyone do this fundraiser? what was your approx gain? Just generally, over $100? over $500? anywhere near $1000? wow, $1000 would be really nice fo rsure! thanks! Mike B

You know what would be nice, to have a WoodBadge SquareKnot for our uniforms. That way those of us that are proud to have gone through and completed our tickets can were a simple knot as a nice subdued way to show our accomplishment. Of course, I'd recommend wearing everything for ECoH, and other special "full dress" events. Kinda like the military, you don't see a well decorated general wearing all his awards every day... just for those occasions that require it. Mike B

I haven't been beaded yet, but hopefully I'll finish my ticket and get my beads. But, I do wear the troop1 necker and woggle in place of my troop necker. when I look down at it or see it, it reminds me that I have a way to go on my ticket. I'm proud to have gone this far, I've been told that I've brought much improvement into my troop, I'm also proud of that. The "in training" necker has also induced some conversations with others that have gone through woodbadge, great conversations that might have otherwise not occurred. I'm not sure if I'll wear my troop necker or my woodbad

remember the movie UP? "Hello, my name is DUG. I just met you and I love you. My master made me this collar so I could talk.... SQUIRREL!!! I love you!" :-)