HiLo

1Vigil - you're right about having to change uniform when they move from Cubs to Scouts. That bothers me too. In fact it's four different shirts for four different age based sections here. Five if you count leader level. But cost isn't really a huge issue from my perspective. All the parents need to buy is the shirt, $29.95 Australian. That's about $26 American. And in my neighborhood we're pretty flexible with families who can't find the money immediately. I'm inherently old fashioned too (along with being chronologically old), and I wasn't convinced about the change here in Australia, b

No Eamonn, it shouldn't be camo, and WVCubDad, a strong push with the Australian uniform was to move away from anything with military connotations, and that meant not khaki. This isn't being negative about the military, just saying that Scouts is not the military. After nearly four years, the new Australian shirts have now gone through a full cycle, at least for the rapidly growing kids, and seem to wear very well. Price is around $25 (US dollars) for the simpler shirt. Not bad for something that will last three to four years. I don't have one handy to check, but I suspect they are m

For those interested, a few pictures of the Australian uniform are on my state branch web site: www.vicscouts.asn.au

The dark blue was probably seen as better for hiding the dirt. And it's not proper Scouting if the Scouts aren't getting dirty!

Maybe we need a camp where the gateway are is assessable item, but they have to demonstrate the best use of recycled materials.

Can't argue with those ideas Gold Winger. Four years ago Australian Scouting moved to a radical new uniform. For all leaders and all youth levels it is now a navy shirt, with the youth shirts having the yoke (the bit over your shoulders and on top of the (short) sleeves being in the color traditionally associated with that age group in Scouting. The shirts come in two styles, button up, or a more casual polo shirt. Leaders tend to choose button up, youth members the polo shirt. The navy color conceals armpit stains well. The necker and slide (we call it a scarf and woggle) seem to si

I'm glad you mentioned the Friendship thing. And of course, as these forums demonstrate, it's global! Service IS important too.

While it does seem a little impolite for us foreigners to be telling an American organization they haven't got it quite right, I'm with Slouchhat. To be making money out of copyright matters on the Scouting name seems over the top. Protect the image, yes. Don't let someone call something Scouting if it's in direct contradiction with some of the basic principles. But don't let money rule everything.

dan said: " If someone thinks that BSA has got it wrong they should either Try to change the BSA in an orderly manner....." Orderly manner is good.

What if one loves B-P's ideas, but thinks BSA has got it wrong? My understanding as an outsider is that it's legally very difficult for anyone to initiate something called Scouts in the USA without coming under the umbrella of the BSA. While I'm sure the vast majority of BSA administrators have all the right intentions, it has to be valid for others to occasionally question their collective current interpretation of B-P's philosophies.

Yes, we must sell, sell, sell. We have a great product, but we must not keep that product a secret. And as for what that product is, I'll go along with the package of outdoor adventure and fun, plus leadership development, and I would add independence. A good Scout can lead others effectively, but can also achieve more than others on his own, particularly when the going gets tough.

A couple of years ago someone broke into our Venturers' Den, breaking the lock on the door, and stole nothing but the Australian flag. (Yes, I'm in Australia.) It's nice to have patriotic criminals.

Does anyone else see the self fulfilling nature of what happens with Girl Scouts? Because they tend tend to have a more conservative program than Boy Scouts, those who go through that program, and then become leaders in it, will tend to have the same conservative outlook. It doesn't prove that girls' and boys' needs are different. It simply proves that we have always treated them differently.(This message has been edited by hilo)

Thanks for the tips everyone. I really didn't expect such a big response so quickly. And yes, I am one of a very small percentage of Australians who is familiar with driving in snow and ice. There's a driveway containing three Subarus outside precisely for for that purpose. But I still don't consider such conditions to be all that much fun. I'm certainly no Finnish rally driver. But quite frankly, I'm just as worried about learning to drive on the wrong side of the road! To those of you suggesting more time on the road, I know you're right, and I'd love to, but work doesn't perm

Hi all I'm not sure if this is the right forum for this. I'll take advice and move it if people think I should. I'm an Australian planning a visit to the USA in January with my wife and 20 year old son. (Im an old-timer at 59.) My son and I are both involved in Scouting, so I thought I could use this site to see if we could add a Scouting perspective to our journey. First, why winter? We have a 26 year old daughter working as a ski instructor at Heavenly Resort on Lake Tahoe, so we plan to visit her. We come from the cooler corner of Australia, and are moderately used to snow, i

moxieman posted: "Several times over the past many years and some of those times I got this from our paid scouters: BSA isn't completely coed because of some sort of agreement with GSUSA. If it weren't for that agreement, we would be ScoutsUSA (much like BSC became Scouts Canada about 15 years back). One of the explanations has been something about GSUSA having better lawyers. (shrug) " That's a really interesting perspective moxieman. I'm from Australia, one of those places where Scouting is now completely co-ed, and we often wonder about why Scouting in the US is like it is. Yours

We need to be very careful attributing all things that are good to a god, and implying that a person without a god in their lives is not so good. I know many very good people for whom religion plays no part at all in their lives.

Why are you all beating around the bush, with a largely meaningless, non-specific term like Special Needs. Every child is different. Some are more different than others. You can't discuss this rationally without knowing the individual child's needs. So what are they?(This message has been edited by hilo)

But surely the existence of those rules means there are plenty of people who would like to control those areas.

Yes, same for me. I can't edit my own posts. Now that's serious security! ;-)

My sincerest sympathies. A Scout from a neighbouring troop died in an accident earlier this year. Many of us knew him. It will take a long time to forget, if we ever do.

Gidday from Australia Frank. Yes, they allow foreigners on here!

Packsaddle wrote: "I couldn't begin to make any sweeping statement for all the ideas about 'God'...only my own" It may interest you all to know that an Australian Scout swears to "...do my duty to MY god...." It's a personal thing. It's not meant to be prescribed by another person or organisation. Following the other Scout Laws will make us tolerant of others' beliefs, including non-belief.

Thank you erickelly65. Those hooked Judeo-Christian religions have to accept that Scouting isn't.

If this person feels the need to display more awards than he has actually earned, the real issue isn't a particular knot on his shirt, but why he's really in Scouting.