Get Outdoors

How about shaking there hand and a big thank you? Save the cerimonies for the kids, especially for the cubs. They could care less what a Trained Leader means.

We just returned from summer camp and I have some of the same issues....MBC's that are way too young to be signing off blue cards. It's great seeing these young men and women teaching but quite honestly I don't feel they have the experence to teach some of this stuff. Luckily most of the MB's in question were not the "big" ones like Swimming, First Aid, Citizenships. I guess we'll be spending 3 - 6 months reviewing what they should have learned at camp. I had a boy tell me during the last days of camp he wouldn't be earning shotgun shooting since he didn't hit 49% for two rounds. (very li

As BSA and our Councils keep adding requiremnts and giving the childish threats of... "if you dont do XXXX training, we will not recharter you next year" At what point does the potential new blood step back and say "I'm not to willing to give that much"? We recently had a large group of new scouts join. I got talking with a new dad that I think could be a huge asset as an ASM and possibly my replacement someday. (I've known him for years ouside of scouting) As I was explaining the required training, I could see his enthuseasm dwindle as he started to realize the commitment outside of w

As BSA and our Councils keep adding requiremnts and giving the childish threats of... "if you dont do XXXX training, we will not recharter you next year" At what point does the potential new blood step back and say "I'm not to willing to give that much"? We recently had a large group of new scouts join. I got talking with a new dad that I think could be a huge asset as an ASM and possibly my replacement someday. (I've known him for years ouside of scouting) As I was explaining the required training, I could see his enthuseasm dwindle as he started to realize the commitment outside of w

Back to the original post. Some have said the boy needs to go back to the MBC to get the new blue card signed. WRONG! If the boy turned over the blue card to the advancement chair and that person lost it, the advancement chair needs to take responsability and go back to the counselors not the boy. The boy did his job, the adult didn't.

Yep, the lawyers are the ones that are pushing the required training for direct contact scout leaders. I happen to agree with getting volenteers trained but national needs to look closely at this and not throw the kitchen sink at us. I also think most trained leaders are better than those that are not trained. Requiring the 4 or 5 days of training for all will just force potential new leaders away from the program. This is more of a problem for smaller troops. 1) Why not require two leaders to be completely trained. In addition one additional, completly trained leader for every X number

When I first started following this thread my though was "if this happens.....I'm done!" LOL The more I read and the more I think about it (open my mind) the more I think it COULD be a good thing. In my opinion, the BSA is not perfect at all but what we do very well is 1)Character Developement 2)Citizenship Training, 3)Mental and Physical Fitness AND OUTDOOR PROGRAM. From what I see, the Girl Scouts don't do any of these very well. (but they can make a ton of money off those darn cookies!) I look and see some very fine young men that may have turned out that way because of scouting.

I was quite proud to see that this morning on the front page of MSN!

I have to admitt, I don't go very often (yes, shame on me!) The times I do go, I feel like I could be doing something much more productive. IMHO, talking about scout skills and YP is a waste when someone with a half of a brian can easily find the information elsewhere. My sugestions would be #1 Have a published yearly calander with the topic of the month. That would give some of us a chance to look and say " Hey, I need to go to that meeting, that will help me help the troop!" (Sorry, I'll pass on the adult cooking competitions) #2 The topics should be things we can't find in publi

Since so many myths are against National Policy and commonly practiced in the trenches, It makes me wonder if national policy can be modified, changed or added to at the District or Council level. As one example, our council has a written policy that says "no scout can earn more than 5 MB's from a single couselor" (Publication 33088, page 13 says otherwise) Does anyone know if they are permitted by National to make these types of changes?

A SM not allowingt a scout to take a required MB is going against the whole idea of Boy led. As long as a merit badge is being taught correctly, why not offer those at camp? Having a minimum age or rank may be wise to keep first or second year scouts from loading up on the eagle reguired ones.

Junk food at camp? OMG, send those kids home!!!!!!!!! How dare those kids.....well....act like kids! I find it quite depressing how many adult hard-nosed egomaniacs there are in scouting. As long as I serve youth, I vow never to lose site of the fact that these are kids and my actions will have an impact on them for rest of their lives. Just like my scoutmaster impacted my life for the past 30 years. "It's easier to build a boy than repair a man" I lived the nightmare of the illegal substances. Should they stay or kick them out. Call the police? Sleepless nights trying to figure ou

Thank you OGE, Great reminder. I think I'm going to read out of the book at our next COH. After all these posts I've determined I can lead a horse to water but I can't make him drink. For those that say if a boy is not participating it's due to lack of program. Take your head of of your DE's "you know what" We're a small 25 member Troop. I judge the sucess of our program by how many kids we have had drop out. We've had one in the past three or four years. I also judge our health by how many transfers we get from other troops. We average about two a year. I judge by how many cross

What are your opinions if: I kid brought a bottle of vodka on a camping trip? How about an older scout brings some pot on an outing and shares with a two of his buddies? Assume all these kids are "good" kids (all kids are good to some extent in my book)good scouts that I've never had any real problems with. What would you do?

If 100% "Trained" becomes manditiory, I wonder how many new parents will be willing to volenteer when we tell them in addition to the one day for the basics and on-line stuff, one Sat. away from your family for leader specific, then take half day off from work fri. to be a camp for a full weekend of outdoor. Ummm just easier dropping the kid off. I also wonder why all this training and not requiring ALL leaders to be First Aid/CPR certified.

1) The BSA needs to stop being greedy trying to make 80% profit margins off of us. We don't have a choice where we buy this stuff do we? (I would love to own a business with no compitition) 2) There are tons of companies that would love to provide for the BSA but with US wages higher than china, the BSA will need to settle for less profit. Say 50% Maybe $3 a day wage in china is true (not) but what does $3 buy that person in China? It's relative. 3) We want our stuff made in the USA, writing letters wont help. We have to hit National where it hurts, their pocket. 4) Instead of letters

sorry, acco40, I see you don't allow them to advance. Per my DE, you don't have the power to do so. They consider that "adding requirments" Not trying to debate you, I personally agree that is what is should be but I don't write the BSA rules.

acco40, So what happens if the scout doesn't participate in 50% of the activities?

Nicely done Beaveh, thanks. I will certainly keep the "duties and obligations" thing in my back pocket. Where would I find the "rules and regulations" you referance below? Why is it that the folks in TX are so wishy-washy about this, afraid to take a real position on this? Is it, if they have a policy they will have less kids in scouting? Less Eagle scouts? Is it all about the numbers to them? Kinda makes ya wonder. If I, the SM doesn't sign an eagle application because the boy hasn't camped in a year and only attended a handful of meetings, the boy will appeal and concile will ov

What I'm determining here is our Troop P&P is pretty much worthless unless it's supported by BSA policy. FScouter where did you find this? "Just to be clear, BSA does NOT define "active" as being "registered". What BSA has said is the a troop may NOT define "active" with an arbitrary percentage. " I don't want to get to a topic that has been discussed in another threads but what the BSA Advancement Committee Policies and Procedures says is " A Scout will be considered "active" in his unit if he is 1) Registered in his unit 2) not dismissed from his unit for disciplinary reasons

Thanks everyone, this info is very helpful! Our troop has a policy prohibiting leaders from signing off on their own boys. During a recent BOR our commitee denied a scout first class due to his father, an assistant leader signed off on a requirement that I know was completed correctly. (identify native plants) In this case the commitree is going by the Troop policies which is fine but this is coming from the same commitee that is presuring the SM (me) to sign off EAgle rank when the scout has been "Active" in about 10% of Troop activities. Our Troop also has a minimum policy for partici

Our adult leaders and/or visiting parents are the "Old Crows" on outings. (average 4-6 adults) We don't have any yell, flag, saying or any patrol "flash" Usually no formal meal planning or duty rosters. We just all chip in and get it done. We could just as easily be called the "adults". We leave the "boy scouting" to the boys. However, I could see the need to divide the adults into groups (patrols) when you get 8, 10 or more adults.

Does anyone know if the BSA has a written policy prohibiting a SM or ASM from signing off on their own son's rank adavancement requirements? I"m not looking for; is it right or wrong? I'm looking for the black and white version. I'm assuming this is adressed somewhere but I suspect I'm not looking in the right place. Thanks

I wouldn't drop any merit badges, only add to the list. Part of what we are supposed to do as scouters is expose boys to things they may not otherwise have an oportunity to experience. If a kid gets to build a shelter and sleep in it, he may not directly get much out of it but maybe we have given him some confidence in himself or maybe he learns that those little red ants bit....HARD. If a boy takes Reading, is there something he learned in a book he read that may steer him down a path less traveled? That being said, I feel most merit badge requirements could use some seroius overhau

It amazes me how many people don't get what scouting program is really about. Maybe ask this SM how he lives the oath and law is his daily life and what kind of example he's setting. Don't waste too much time, contact your DE. If you don't get any satisfaction from him/her, contact nation. The reality is that Scouters have a "good 'ol boy" network and likely will not step on each others toes so you may need to talk with someone in power that doesn't have a relationship with this leader.