GaHillBilly

I started skimming this post to gain a better understanding of the ''climate'' of this forum . . . and of the personality and positions of some of the frequent posters. Ironically, some of the information here relates pretty directly to a local situation here. A nearby National Park is used frequently by both Boy Scouts and by participants in the "tearoom trade". (We''d taken to calling them ''back-enders'', combining a crude pun with a description of how they park their vehicles!) The park has numerous short trails, which my wife and I have been using for exercise for several years now.

Again, I''ll note my experience with Scouting is limited. But, I''ve worked with youth enough in enough different situations to observe all of the following: + Home schooled youths tend to relate to adults VERY differently than do mass-schooled youths. + Certain adults are respected and listened to by youths -- pretty much no matter what. My 84 year old uncle is one example: I''m totally confident that I could bring him on a camping trip, and by the end of the trip, not all the Scouts would like him, but they all would listen to him. + Other adults are pretty much ignore

Noticed one poster reporting FF 2.0.0.3 . There are some URL based exploits that affect both IE and FF. They are not (to the best of my knowledge) FULLY fixed in either browser, but I know FF / Mozilla has been issuing patches to fix bits and pieces of this problem The CURRENT FF version is 2.0.0.6! Compared to 2.0.0.3, it DEFINITELY is less vulnerable. I think that there''s an equivalent patched version for the 1.5 series. So . . . if you are using FF, go to Help|Check for Updates , and patch up to the latest version. It only takes minute or so, if you''ve got cable. On a mode

It might be worth trying Firefox (www.firefox.com) -- I've logged in multiple times in the past week, and never seen that issue. Most browser exploits target IE, both because it's the #1 browser, and because FF tends to be more secure and resistant to such problems. This does not, of course, address the problem of a server hack or exploit, allowing the presence of some code redirecting you to the Chinese hacker site. For what it's worth, the entire login process has components that are written in an IE-only manner. I actually had to scan through page HTML source code, on the new regi

Trevorum wrote: "I dont believe that an artificially homogenous social group is healthy for young, developing minds." Why? Within all the mammalian orders I can recall, social groups are homogenized by 'artifice' or, more often, by force. Those that fit and submit, are included. Those that don't, are excluded. Why should humans be different? Why would you think, based on either trendy and modern psycho-biological principles, or else on old fashioned religious ones (you pick the religion), that this is wrong? I know it's 'diversity' is, and has been, a trendy membership 'marker'

As I've noted before, I and my son are new to Scouting. But my wife and I are long time homeschoolers, and have been thinking about how to raise and teach adolescents for years. For a number of reasons, we've both come to believe that the lack of peer "socialization", which has been a primary criticism of homeschooling, is, on the whole, a great benefit. My recent involvement with Scouting has given me a new perspective from which to rethink and refine this conclusion. In particular, I've come to suspect the problem is not precisely peer association, but rather peer association in groups

Ugg! Clear as mud. It sounds like the actual practice in different councils varies quite a bit. I interpret the responses collectively as evidence that there's no clear and absolute guidance from national on the question, "To LTP or NOT to LTP?", at least with respect to local events with no transportation provided. Given that practice varies, it sounds like I need to back off for the moment, put my ear to the ground locally, and find out what will be acceptable and not cause a ruckus here. Thanks, GaHillBilly PS: I envy anyone in a council that can get an LTP back in

Hi All; I've got another question, concerning the swim training / MB work / checkout activity I'm trying to arrange: I just took my first detailed look at a Local Tour Permit . . . and it doesn't seem to apply! Point #1: It appears the MB counselors can meet with (2) or more Scout counselees, with no other adult present, and no LTP required. Point #2: No LTP is required for the regular Scout meeting. Point #3: No LTP is required (I think! Corrections?) for an individually scheduled meeting of the PLC. Point #4: The LTP self-describes itself as being "for trips and camp

"What a shame that this behavior went on for so long and no one felt it necessary to let the Council know about it!" I think you are missing the point: EITHER the council execs didn't know because they either didn't want to know OR they knew, and didn't care! I never knew which it was. However other information I have made it clear (at least to me) that it was one or the other. I can't share these details without identifying more than I'd like to do. Please keep in mind that people like the camp director were hired DIRECTLY by the council execs. The far, far left political and social

OK, "GSUSA" "What exactly were these "things" you saw at that one camp you visited?" + Sexually promiscuous staff, who -- discussed various sexual activities, in our (all male) hearing, while also in the presence of Brownie (is that still the right term?) aged girls. One staffer, while standing just outside the bathhouse as young girls were going in and out, discussed at length and in exact detail what she was going to do to, and with, her boyfriend during the upcoming week off. She stated loudly, and with much laughter from her audience, that she had warned him that he'd better ha

As the original poster, I'd like to thank all who've participated. It's been both helpful and enlightening. + To those who've pointed out that most Boy Scouts can't float, not because they are lean, but because they are thrashing around, I can only say . . . it's my guess that you are right, and that that's something I'll need to keep in mind. I'm saving this page, and will learn and apply, as needed, some of the help-them-float techniques described here. + But, I'm not surprised to see the confirmation that there have been occasional and widespread problems due to a rigidly written

Thanks, all. This thread has given me a lot to think about. Even some of the conclusions or comments I disagree with, have still helped me think through the situation here. Hopefully, all this will end up benefiting the boys. A couple of final notes: + In its current issue, US News & WR has a series of articles I found helpful. Maybe some of you will, too. Here's the link to the central article: http://health.usnews.com/articles/health/2007/08/31/how-to-win-the-weight-battle.html Also, some corrections: Camp Merrill IS near Dahlonega, but it is NOT "home to th

This topic caught my eye, even though I'm here for BSA, not GSA. For a number of years, I had a fairly close business relationship with the local GSA council, and particularly with the camp. I have NO complaints whatsoever with respect the business relationship; I was treated well and fairly, and tried to do the same. But . . . Due to the things I saw at GSA camp, I have warned MANY friends and acquaintances that the GSA camp I saw was not at all compatible with the values they held. I cautioned them that if they desired that their girls adopt similar values, they might want to

If: 1. The test swimmer is not afraid of submerging, or of the water. 2. The test swimmer can and will follow instructions. 3. For a given inhalation (air) volume, swimmer's buoyancy is a fixed physical constant. Then: 1. The only way your method can INCREASE buoyancy, is to INCREASE lung expansion (air volume). Been there, tried that method, sat on the bottom after. I *did* sink more slowly than with other positions. I suspect that that position helps maximize lung inflation. And, thus, as a method of helping kids meet the requirements, it's a worthwhile attempt. H

To respond to a variety of remarks: + As far as being welcome, thanks. + I had not read the conditions for the alternate requirements; I don't know if I'd overlooked them or never seen them. I should have checked. It would seem that obesity would not be a covered condition. + The destination would be NOT Fort Benning, but Camp Merrill. -- The camp is a one week BOY SCOUT high adventure camp, not a Ranger camp, even though Ranger instructors lead parts of it, and even though it is based at Camp Merrill. -- Also, it's not an SM decision, it's a only a possibility . . . BUT

Hi All; In replies to my previous post, it was pointed out that fit and thin Boy Scouts may not be so common. My experience is too limited to let me confirm that, but it is true that over 1/2 the boys in my son's troop are over weight, and one is quite obese. This troop is only a year old, but already several of the boys are ducking some trips and activities because of their fitness level. The SM and ASM don't seem too concerned, but it's not hard to see where that path leads for these boys. The SM is already considering taking the troop to the adventure camp sponsored by the 5th Ran

OK, I hadn't thought about it, but over the past 20 years, most of the kids and teens I've seen in the water have probably been a-typically fit. So I guess I can buy the idea that the problem is less common than I might have imagined. I don't yet have enough experience with Scouts generally to have any idea where the lean/fat average is among Scouts, but it is true that a number of boys in my son's troop are either obese, or approaching it. (See the related post.) GaHillBilly

Hi All; I'd appreciate informed comments on one aspect of the BSA Swimmer test, specifically, the bit that goes "after completing the swim, rest by floating". This element is interpreted by these comments (http://www.scouting.org/pubs/gss/gss02.html): "This critically important part of the test evaluates the swimmer's ability to maintain himself in the water indefinitely even though exhausted or otherwise unable to continue swimming. Treading water or swimming in place will further tire the swimmer and therefore is unacceptable. The duration of the float test is not significant, exce