fred johnson

IMHO, home sickness is much more common now. Especially as kids spend so much more time "IN THE HOUSE" and "WITH THE PARENTS". When we were kids, parents kicked us outside and told us not to come back until the next meal. Now, kids are watched so much that they can't handle independence. We see it every year with a few scouts. It is very hard for them. The only good solution we've seen is to keep them busy morning to night. Work on MB requirements and advancement requirements. Make them learn lashing inside and out. Then, build some lashing construct for camp. Keep them hyd

My apologies. I did not mean to imply you were. I just wanted to communicate that it is a sensitive area because we've had so many parents that do try to step in.

dcsimmons ... Agreed that is a distinction that needs to be made. Local choice works until scouters start using scouting for none scouting purposes. Marching in a parade in support of a controversial topic is using BSA for politics and not worthy of a scouter.

Atheists ???? BSA national? ... sure. Unit chartered by my "church"? ... if they don't make a point of it ... fine. Unit chartered by my "church"? ... if they make a public issue of it ... they wouldn't have a prayer. ----------------------------------------- It's really the same as sexual orientation .... as it exists now. BSA national? ... Sure. Unit chartered by my "church"? ... if they don't make a point of it ... fine. Unit chartered by my "church"? ... if they make a public issue of it ... you would be out and not just of the closet. --

As for the rest ... already too late. This might be a controversial view, but ... girls ... transgender ... etc. The threshold has been past with alternative orientations. Already we need to consider more dating issues and more privacy issues. Perhaps it is best if scouting units all changed to using one "person" tents.

"​Local option" is about the charter organization "unit" membership. Marching in a city July 4th parade, fine. Marching in a "Pride parade" is more about taking a position and using scouting for a political agenda. At that points, leaders are using scouting for politics and they have no business doing that.

Just wanted to add one more thing. Your scoutmaster's actions are pretty standard. Many of us are very sensitive to parents sheltering their kid or being the driving force. On camp outs, we expect scouts to work with each other, cook with each other share tents etc etc. And ... we'd see big red flags if the parent stepped in to setup the tent or cook the food or carry the scout's stuff or .... etc etc etc. Same with advancement. I know I've had mothers upset with me when I've emphasized it's the scout's experience and advancement is his responsibility. Those conversa

chistineka ... Requirements can not be added or dropped, but expectations are adjusted for the ability of every scout. This is one reason some leader prefer that scouts are older when working on some merit badges, life saving for example. But BSA says any scout can work on any merit badge. There is no age or capability minimum. IMHO ... and I think BSA says this too ... it is important to consider effort and making it a meaningful experience. For example ... if you teach Personal Fitness to two scouts. One is eleven and in no sports. The other is 17 and captain of the Footb

Sentinel947 is right. I'd add be careful and pick your battles. This is a big gray area. Scoutmaster is probably trying his best. He might be concerned about a pattern beginning where you are counseling your son. It's okay now and then, but I can easily see a SM getting rightfully concerned that you and your son would do ten badges that way. Bugling is not eagle required and it's a really hard MB because of learning the calls. I'd hope the SM would not have an issue with you finishing this MB with your son.

... Variety ... A major reason for the merit badge program is to interact with a lot of different people. Get out. Meet people. Find out what they like. Learn how to work with many different people. ... Effort .... IMHO, it is much easier to earn two MB from one counselor than to earn two MB from two different MBCs. A lot of the effort is getting to know each other and forming norms between the scout and the MBC. So if a scout earns a MB from a MBC and then learns he could council another, that is much easier than earning two MBC from two different MBCs. I'm not for one MB per MBC, but en

We've moved to these. Great tents. Expensive, but we've found sales over the years for 40% or more off. Great for canoe trips. Less so for backpacking. http://store.eurekatent.com/timberli...tfitter-4-tent The "outfitter" verion solves issues we had with the current lower end Timerline tents. Lower end have zippers break after a year or two and the rain flies were too short to prevent the corners from being drenched. I don't believe people that say you can set the lower end ones up right to keep them dry. ......................... Backpacking .. probably a bit too heaving depe

Ya know, I just wanted to share. I am sad you just can't take my thoughts at face value without jumping all over it. ------------------------------------------ GeorgiaMom ... Treatment option ... You are being unfair. Youth with special needs have multiple treatment paths that are pursued concurrently. Yes, your son has extremely trained doctors and physical therapists and occupational therapists and probably others and special help in schools, etc, etc. But medical professionals do often suggest scouting as part of options to help their patients. It addresses social, physical and sk

Sounds like the wrong answer on insurance. Find someone else who knows more. You do NOT have to meet under your CO's roof to be insured.

MattR ... nice comments ... Your troop sounds sort of like ours, dead on. Aspergers, ADHD, PTSD, kids whose mother is in jail, medications, etc etc. At a court of honor, my wife said the troop was filled with more than our share of special needs. Please please please forgive me for ever thinking this ... but I wonder if that is a potential problem that scouting has these days. Medical practitioners and others have recognized that scouting can be good for kids facing social challenges and other challenges. So scouting becomes a treatment option. It is strange because those s

packsaddle ...

Sentinel947 ... Tough situation - I agree. It is strange, but I do have more sympathy for rank advancement than for membership. I fully believe scouts "earn" advancement. So if the scout can make amends for his action, I'm okay with it. Advancement is not the goal of scouting, but it is something scouts value. So I have sympathy there ... after he makes amends. Plus pot is just not that big a deal anymore. Many kids have tried it. It's everywhere at high schools and somewhat in middle schools. So I sort of view this as a "whoops" depending on the kid and the situation. Him and his

JoeBob ... I agree. Sort of like the scout parents that had a five hour drive to camp with their Tiger Cubs. They stopped for dinner at a Hooters restaurant. They figured the kids wouldn't know the difference at that age. Scouting is supposed to have an innocense and non-partisianship. I see this the same as a New Orleans Mardi Gras parade or a parade with women on trampolines. Just add a big controversy in addition to the stepping on societal limits.

Twocubdad ... I don't see it that way and I'm sorry you do. ... Ya don't like the merit badge program, then your troop should not use it. You're doing that. Great! You want it better, work for change. You want to discuss improving it, discussing changes. But it's un-scout-like to complain and worse to look down at others. ------------------------------- Our council summer camp staff makes $100 to $200 week (depending on job, skill and age) and are up there for 9 to 12 weeks. They have assignments from morning to night often including kitchen, camp fire, speci

dfscott ... Of all the camping requirements, that sounds like a great requirement to complete with your scoutmaster as he's the guy you camp with every month.

Of course the camp staff counselors don't want the adults around. It's like being SPL in a troop with a uptight scoutmaster waiting to pounce on you at the slightest mistake. Scouts get many things out of summer camp merit badges. Some is the program itself. ... Outstanding. Horsemanship. Chess. First Aid (with the right counselor). Small boat sailing. ... Good detailed experiences. Shotgun. Rifle. Archery. Environmental Science. First Aid. Wood carving. Fishing ... Inconsistent over the years and often shallow ... ... ... Camping (we do more in the troop even outside the

Of course the counselors don't want the adults around. It would suck trying to work with scouts with a bunch of judgmental know-it-all curmudgeons hanging around. It's like being SPL in a troop with a uptight scoutmaster waiting to pounce on you at the slightest mistake. Scouts get many things out of summer camp merit badges. Some is the program itself. ... Outstanding. Horsemanship. Chess. First Aid (with the right counselor). Small boat sailing. ... Good detailed experiences. Shotgun. Rifle. Archery. Environmental Science. First Aid. Wood carving. Fishing