fred8033

I'm one. I've been called Reagan era republican. I cringe in hindsight that I'm now associated with about eight years ago bringing in a BSA scout Indian regalia dance team to our cub scout pack for our pack program. Was it wrong? Not explicitly. Do I want to be seen as the guy who brought them in? Absolutely not. It's similar to telling crude inappropriate jokes. I really don't have trouble with most and will defend a person's right to tell the jokes. I just don't want to be seen as the guy telling the joke or asking someone else to tell the joke. BSA's use of indian lore in scouting has turned into an off-color joke. Time to change. Heck, the NFL and MLB made the change. Time for BSA to clean up.

Rules? Procedures? Who can vote? ... This is cub scouts. It's about asking parents to spend time with their kids outside and being active. Leaders change all the time. The written rule is good guidance, but there is a lot to be said for finding a way to get everyone to work well together.

There are rules and then rules. A published budget is a useful baseline, but unless everyone buys into the planning, it's really not agreed. Sometimes treading lightly really helps. I know in the past, our unit has reimbursed some groups more than others "just to keep the peace". Specifically, some den leaders got reimbursed and I (and a few other leaders) did not submit our expenses because it was our choice to spend that money. If it was core (advancement, books, etc), I'd always submit expenses. If it was decorations, food, optional stuff that "I choose", I often would not. Is there a path that keeps the peace and that can work toward establishing more clear rules for the future?

Link please? I did not see anything about OA ordeal / regalia changes. It would not surprise me though. It's been discussed many times. OA ceremonies make many cringe with over-the-line cultural appropriation with caricatures that border on racism. I know the ceremonies are to honor native american culture, but obviously not everyone agrees with that view. Sadly, IMHO, it's time to remove native American references from OA.

This is a real question that we should discuss. If a kid joins scouting and is already in a swim team and is a skilled swimmer, does the "swimming" merit badge add value? Perhaps scouts should be required to get 21 MBs to show "growth". We can list "core" (such as swimming), but if the kid is already a good swimmer, they get a badge for effectively no work in scouting. Perhaps swimming should be replaced with canoeing or hiking or ?????

Absolutely agree. How often do we argue about scouts double dipping on requirements? Fulfilling two requirements with one activity. Well, this is worse. This is about scouts not adding value because it's already covered. It's an eye roller for the scouts.

When our troop did it, we'd often work in a few MBs during the week. MBs that would align with the location / activities. Heck, if a scout wants to earn a MB, there are ways to make it happen.

Love that statement.

Well answered. Requirements are to enlighten the scout and lift his experience. ... IMHO, requirements are not to be "unreasonable" show-stoppers. If there would be a chance a year out to visit a federal facility and it fits the scouts journey, great. But if the requirement will cost $1000 ... or the scout has been showing advancement progress and this one requirement causes an big stopping point, then I'd look for more creative solutions.

Scouts are supposed to be active. 21 merit badges and too many are redundant with school or just boring paperwork. Now, we have yet another. Four citizenship MBs is just too many. ... Five actually ... family, society, nation, world, society? What next? Universe? ... Citizen of the Ecology?

That's the trouble with accusations. They happen. Sometimes real. Sometimes someone squirming to get out of somewhere they don't want to be. How do you defend against loose accusations but also protect the vulnerable. This #### is hard. Wishing you the best.

Lone scout learning leadership? Citizenship by themselves? Or do you mean the four merit badges? Character as a lone scout? Is it any different from homeschooling by the parents? Fitness by themselves? Fitness is achieved by being in an active, busy group; not just a merit badge. IMHO, a specific sport would be better than the lone scout program. Scouting is social. I'm not against the lone scout for isolated families, but I question the match in this situation.

The challenge is always that the unit leaders are volunteers. They are not paid or trained to handle EBD kids and EBD some of the hardest cases. Worse, those unit volunteers are usually parents too. They will say one thing and do another. My favorite: "if any kid needs scouting, it's this kid" ... BUT ... at the same time, they will quickly pull back on their own kid's involvement because they are afraid of the impact. OR, their own kid gets scared away. ... It can kill membership and influence previous recruiting ties to go elsewhere. I'm not saying abandon the scout. I'm saying this is a really hard situation and always is. A pragmatic approach is important.

It's okay to work with troubled scouts, but boundaries exist. Scouts that can't control themselves or are a risk to others do need to be separated from the troop. As for lone scout, I always question the value of it. Scout's value is in working with other scouts. Scouting is about community and developing connections. At some point, lone scout sounds more like getting rank than getting value.

You can provide friendly views to the SM, but at some point, you have to salute that the SM is the SM.

Monthly camping is the ideal; not a hard rule. 12 months a year is rare. 10 out of 12 months is outstanding. 7 to 9 months a year is good. 2 to 3 would be a warning sign. Also, it's how you count the outings. Camp in at the charter org? One night? Some months with two campouts in one month (some scouts go to one, some to another). ... I'd worry less about the number and more about holes in the calendar where the scouts could be active.

There is no meaningful scouting without camping and the associated adventures. Scouting is building character by being outside. You can't require camping, but why be in scouting if you don't learn to love the core activities. It would be like being on a football team, but not wanting to be on the field.

Schedule separation between your high adventure and the routine summer camp. Many scouts will want to do both. Many will want to brag about their pending or completed adventure. Our troop often did something like ... June = High Adventure. July = BSA Summer Camp. August = Troop summer camp.

BSA rules set the tone without addressing all twists and turns. A wise scouter once said you can't write concisely and still handle every possible nuanced twist. Leaders do need to interpret. It would be automatic if it was less than six nights, explicitly in the published rule. What about "resident"? Setup / tear down each night is not a resident camp. So not long term? Further, your own camping site is usually not considered a "resident camp". Resident camps are BSA run fixed location with fixed infrastructure sites. State parks, river edge camps, etc are have never generally been called "resident camps". Situations like this require a good leader to use wise, compassionate judgement. And yes, we might reach different conclusions for different reasons. It's up to the leader and the scout to work together to make a positive result.

I fear that scouts sometimes are harder on themselves than others would be. I fear that many of us would pass him if he's a good scout, but the scout might block himself. IMHO, you have a legitimate argument that the canoe trek was not a long-term as each night was a completely different camp site with setup and tear down.

Your outside. With scouters. It's not perfect, but celebrate being together and honoring new members.

Yeah. I'm probably reading more into that others. One hand in pocket while other is up is common. I eas reading it as two hands not up. Probably best I start stepping away. I just don't spend enough time in scouting anymore.

I meant to mention in my previous post. I'm pretty lenient most of the time. I'm more concerned with active and program than formalities. BUT, this is a hard show stopper for me and is something that is immediately fixed. If the SPL won't put his hand up for oath and law ... and especially the Pledge ... I'd remove the scout as SPL. He's setting a bad example. That's one of the most important roles of the SPL: to set an example. I'd immediately talk to the SPL at the next appropriate moment and talk about offending others by not showing respect to the Pledge. Setting an example. etc, etc. ... IMHO, it's one of the few places that I do take a hard line. We can argue about holding elbow at 90 degrees. BUT, you don't keep your hands in your pocket during the pledge. Period.

Wow. Times change !!!! LED lanterns are a game changer. I never would have guessed LED lanterns would be a patrol box choice. BUT, it makes sense. Times change.

Thanks. I really question my advice these days as I don't spend all my life in scouting anymore. I'll be moving onto my next journey soon. I think that journey will be the health nut phase.