IM_Kathy

Basementdweller I'm registered to work with any troop not just my son's... have yet to be contacted by anyone from another troop. The registered MBC we have listed for our "troop" (may be registered with other troops too - don't know) many of them do not have an active scout and some don't have any - they just live in the city of the troop. A few more of the registered are parents of current scouts, but that are never at a meeting unless they are called to work on a badge. To me asking a boy to contact a total stranger for every badge and then having their parent(s) shuttle to and from a few times and possibly several miles since we don't live in a major city is going beyond the requirements - just as it would be if someone said they had to do x,y,z above requirements for a rank or mb.

I try to make sure I'm not the MBC for my son but I'm the only councilor for astronomy, swimming, and livesaving in our troop... I made my son take swimming at summer camp - there was only 1 thing he didn't complete and that was the surface dives. I had him complete those when we were doing swim tests with the new scouts so other adults were witness. When he did astronomy at summer camp there were more things to do at home afterward, but no other boys were wanting to do that badge so he was the only one with me doing a few of this projects, but since it wasn't "eagle required" we didn't worry so much about it. If he decides to do livesaving then the same will apply, but not sure if he will since he already did Emergency Prep.

the pack my son was with did the cross over in May which was a terrible time because the boys got just 1 outting before summer camp. The troop he is with now has their feeder packs cross over in December - our December campout is our winter tenting before they join, and then the new scouts get to attend winter survival training which we require before they are allowed to tent camp in the winter. Since my son left his pack they have changed to also doing their OA ceremony in December to let them cross then.

I've only seen two ways: 1) order earned regardless of "eagle" or "non-eagle" 2) order earned but the "eagles" all on top and the "non-eagle" below... the boy I saw with this measured up number he'd have that were "eagle" and then started the others below. thankfully my son picked number 1 - it makes sewing them on so much easier because I don't have to worry about where to put them unless he gets a few at the same time and then he lays them out for me in order.

First off I think it's important for people to understand the difference between Agnostic and Atheist.... Agnostic: a person who holds that the existence of the ultimate cause, as God, and the essential nature of things are unknown and unknowable, or that human knowledge is limited to experience. Atheist: a person who denies or disbelieves the existence of a supreme being or beings. A person who is atheist says there is no god... an agnostic person says there may be a god or there may not be, it is beyond human knowledge to know for sure. Another way to word it would be an agnostic can say that there may very well be some sort of god or higher power, but at this time I have no personal understanding of on. being a person that does have a belief in god or higher power if you prefer, but does not practice any form of religion and has run the gammat of different beliefs I would simply ask the boy what he does belief and what he doesn't. I grew up in a catholic household and went to religious ed and even catholic school from 4th-12th... and some of the things I was taught just didn't "jive" with everything I learned in science. For me I had to go through everything I was taught and decide if I could believe in it or not. Through that process my beliefs fit in no form of organized religion and so to many I would appear to be agnostic, but I do actually have a good spiritual belief. of course this conversation is often best left up to a young man, his parents, and his religious leaders... but if he's like me all those people tell him the same line and dance which for me made me feel more and more angostic... it wasn't until I had people outside my religious upbringing assist me in this subject that I was able to come to the understanding that I do today. ok, it's late, and I've been up for over 30 hours so I hope that all made sense.

I'm just wondering what this boy did other than merit badges and scout rank work... he's 15 and already earned them all. My son is almost 14 and is quite proud of his dozen or so, but then with school, home work, chores, choir, student council, chess club, musical, conservation team, art club, and I'm sure I'm missing some but the school year just started so not sure if he's adding more this year or not he has a full load - having to be early to school 3 times a week and staying late a few too for all those activities. Some times he just wants to take a break and chill out like a "normal" teen now and then. I'm just wondering what this young man is going to do for the rest of his 3 years of scouts.

my son's troop... for SPL: Rank: 1st Class or higher Experience: Previous service as SPL, ASPL, PL, or APL Attendance: 75% over previous 6 months for PL: Rank: none Experience: none Attendance: 75% over previous 6 months for ASPL: Rank: 1st Class or higher Experience: none Attendance: 50% over the previous 6 months for APL: Rank: none Experience: none Attendance: 50% over previous 6 months

reading this I gotta say I'm even more proud of my son... his first time at summer camp he wanted 1 that he could do completely at camp so he'd have 1 merit badge for court of honor - he did leatherwork because it was something he really wanted to learn about. He also took astronomy that year which was only partial at camp the rest he spent a good couple of months doing at home to complete. He picked it because it was something he wanted to learn more about. That summer he did what our camp called "Eagle Bound" which covered a lot of T-2-1 requirements, but he hated it because he was bored out of his mind and wanted to "do" more than "listen" next one he did swimming (he finally was able to get over his fear of drowning and learned to swim to do this) so while it is considered an easy one he spent months prior to summer camp at the local Y working on his swimming, he took camping which was a partial - he's almost done, and he took cooking because he loves to cook - he isn't finished with it and may never finish it but is almost always his patrol cook on campouts, and he took fishing because he wanted a badge that was more relaxing though he didn't catch a single fish while at camp and he just recently caught his second type of fish at a troop campout (I can't believe the number of blue gill he caught while trying to get that second type) this past year he took enviromental science purely because he knows it's eagle required, he also took weather because it was something he really wanted to learn about (just has 1 more thing to finish but requires a long stretch at home and he's been gone a lot lately), and the final was pioneering because he loves building and knots. I would definetly not call our camp an eagle mill - this past summer the boys get to pick 3 merit badges and 1 activity grouping to do, while the year before they did get to pick 4. so for him he picked only one because he knew it was "easy" all the others were ones he wanted to do or try. He's contimplating climbing next summer - he doesn't have a fear of heights, but he doesn't like them - but he wants to learn how to do it and thinks it might get him to where he can like heights a bit.

my son's troop the boys that have already completed a skill teached the skill to boy's learning... when the teaching boy believes the learning boy now knows what he is doing he tells the boy 'ok now go show leader X and he/she will sign it off once you show off your skill' I personally like this method because it does let the boys teach, but it also allows the adults to know for a fact that the boy has learned the skill.

my son is way past early cub years... but being involved with both cub/boy scouts and girl scouts I am in favor of this. Girl Scouts starts with kindergarten, but the boys have to wait until 1st grade. We had 1 set of mixed twins where they made the girl wait until 1st grade since her brother couldn't join scouts until then. Some one also mentioned how they start many sports at kindergarten age as well - I think starting at 1st grade a parent/boy might think I'm already busy with baseball and basketball, unless scouts is something the parent really wants their son to be involved in.

ok here are some ways that I go about it... I'm the committee quartermaster - basically making sure we have everything we need and refilling and repairing as needed. Our troop quartermaster was unable to attend the last campout - the boy filling in knew most of what needed done, but not everything. He comes up to me and says ok I know we need to do a,b,c done before we head out does it matter what order they are done in? I answer the question by saying it's easier to get the water jugs in and out without so much stuff in the trailer --- at camp loading time he did what was right and got in the trailer pulled out all the water jugs and assigned different boys to go fill them and he loaded those up before loading personal gear. Since we were expecting rain when it was loading time I showed him the quartermast log and how he would need to write in who was taking home tents to dry out after ward. I was not able to attend the campout, but had I and seen that he was making mistakes I would've talked with him during a down time at a troop meeting and ask him why he did it his way, is it easier that way? if not I'd ask him how he's seen quartermaster's in the past do it and which way was easiest for him as a regular scout. together we'd see what works best for him and for the other scouts as well.

another option is that if there is no junior level troop forms she can stay with her GG unit/troop (don't know what that's called sorry) and then sign up as a Juliette with GS staying a junior level and can complete her bronze. she can also be a part of the newly bridged cadette troop, but stay a junior scout... many of the badges do mix well between the two levels. I have a troop with Juniors, Cadettes, and Seniors. Some badges the Juniors will do more work that is "required" for their badge. here is a website that helps with badges and level equivelants: http://server.ellenbecker.net:4271/Recognition%20Equivlents.htm

I'm glad to hear someone mention the one-handed bowline... I'm in my 30's and been involved in scouts with my daughter for 10 years and my son for 7 years (I think those years are right) and I have yet to tie a bowline without doing it the one-handed method. but hey, I can do it right handed or left handed ) it's also the only way I teach it.

the answer is yes... but if your son is like my son the answer is "I'm not a girl scout mom" He sees lots of girl scouts since I double dip and he does not like all those fun patches. I don't like tons either except for some that are really special like my daughter's troop just took a trip to south dakota and so got a few from there which is really cool to show off to the younger scouts. My soon will stick to wearing one on his pocket when he choses to - normally he doesn't wear any temporary patches - he just sticks them in his scout show off binder.

Gags - thank you for the link... I've saved in case I ever have the need. We have more than just the one boy missing this requirement and none are in big hurry to get it done so just waiting until later in the fall.

we've actually had a scout that got held up with that same requirement. our school district doesn't really go into it until 8th grade (shocking if you ask me) so when we were with our past troop I worked with a local doctor and the SPL and we had a meeting focused on this requirement. And I was quite pleased to see even the older scouts did still come and participate. Unfortunately 1 boy missed that meeting. He changed troops along with my son and a couple other boys... the troop we are with now is in a different school district and it's done in like 6th grade there so the boys all get it done through school and they don't do a troop activity. It took a little while to find out what they do for home schooled boys and get this boy all that info and get him to complete that. Now he's missing his orienteering course because he missed our last troop activity when we did that so he's waiting until this fall when we can do it again.

when I sit on boards with a boy that has never been through a BOR I like to start off by telling him exactly what will take place... here in a bit we'll ask you to say the oath and law... if you mess up or stuble a little bit it's okay... it's done at all BOR and great prep for if you ever get to go for an eagle BOR then we'll ask some basic questions that go over some of the requirements you completed - like for the cooking we'll ask you what you cooked. we'll also ask you some questions about how you feel about the troop and if there's things that you'd like to change or do to make it better. places you'd like to go on a future camping trip or activities you really enjoy doing. we'll also ask you some questions about how you are outside of scout activities and what you enjoy doing there. this isn't a test, it's a get to know you time, if you are nervous at any time just let us know and we'll help you get at ease. are you ready to start? ok then let's start with the oath and law and then the first question I usually ask is one that is totally not related to scouts but just a fun question... what's your favorite candy? or what's your favorite jolly rancher flavor? and the adults will say something like "oh that's a good one I like it too" or "I haven't tried that is it really that good" it lets them know exactly what all will take place, and gets them at ease quickly. the troop my son was first with was a re-test type of board and all the boys stressed over that and would study and cram for a couple of days before the board... so glad we aren't with them any more. also, our troop has a large number of adults able to sit on boards and we do them when ever they ask for a board... as soon as done with SMC he tells the boy to go ask 3 of the adults he'd like to do his BOR... so if there is an adult the boy is scared of he can easily ask others instead

I have been around scouts that were kept from getting a rank for a time period... 1 was in our former troop and it was the SM's son and he signed off scout spirit and it envolved an episode on a campout that the members on BOR heard about and told him his behavior and attitude needed to improve to recieve his rank approval (was for star or life forget which) the other was with our current troop and it also had to deal with behavior and was handled at SMC with a set of what needs improved with a date for them to work toward. as to your son needing just another requirement for 2nd class and it may taking him a year to get... that depends on what the requirement is. The troop my son is with typically does the orienteering course once or twice a year... the swimming we do once and then at camp. If a boy does not complete the test that time or is unable to attend then he may in fact not advance as quickly as others that joined at the same time. We are limited to when we can do our orienteering course because it's where the little league and soccer club plays so we have to do it when it's not being used... our swimming we usually do soon after new boys join so that if we are doing a boating activity before summer camp we know who can fully participate and who we need to make other arrangements for.

when my son was in cubs his pack did RGR but didn't use the kits... they used quart sized milk cartons. my son did all the work for his boats except the year he wanted to make a "pizza boat" and he laid out the topping onto the piece from where he cut carton in 1/2 and I took laminating paper and pressed it down over to keep it all in place - he tried and just kept pushing all the toppings off we were down to our last bit of laminating sheet otherwise I'd let him keep trying LOL for whoever is running it... make sure the gutters don't leak ahead of time and caulk does work to stop leaks but is best to do when dry which we learned our first year LOL

trying to remember all... the ones I recall: pinewood car (obviously) leather key chain/coin flob bird house with chimes they learned to use a sewing machine and made stuff bags for sleeping bags or dirty clothes... it does require extra help, more than 1 machine, and boys willing to take turns. pvc is also fun to work with though my son didn't start "playing" with it until he became a den chief

I'm really torn about which way to side with this... I do think summer camp should be geared toward the more "outdoors" and "skills" MB BUT that being said my son is not into shooting or archary, is still scared to death of the climbing wall... and is getting close to completely most of the other MB's that are typically offered. He still wants to go to summer camp and will continue to go, but not having a MB he wants to do or needs to do may eventually make him think of not going. so like I said I'm really torn... if offering those MB might get a boy who would not go to summer camp to actually go then offer away... if offering those MB doesn't it'll show by boys not signing up for those because they know that they can get those at home where as others they can't do except at summer camp.

I don't know what all has made you feel this way, but I'm sorry. the only thing we came across since being in cub scouts and now in boy scouts was 1 rule (and I don't know if it was a national, council, district, or camp) and that was that a boy was only allowed to share a tent with a "parent" and they wouldn't allow step-dad to share a tent. Step-dad was involved in everything else and was only told about that rule when we signed up for webelos summer camp so that's why I don't know the origin of that rule. to me it doesn't matter who is what to who... if they are there to support the boys and scouting and are good representives of the oath/law then GREAT! I'm just curious how much is from being a step and viewing it as that... could it be that wife does more and is there more? I know my husband is not (and I mean majorly NOT) into camping and outdoors... he only goes to troop meetings when I'm tied up with other things (meeting is 20min away so why drive back and forth) and will help at fundraisers when I'm busy... he will help with eagle projects especially when the boy is needed major muscle to help him with his plans....... anyway, when he is there not all the adults really know him or know much about him - same for him to them - so he doesn't feel as welcome as I do, but the more he goes to those things he's getting better at getting to know everyone and feel apart of.

I haven't do deal with this with BSA but I have with GSUSA - there if the money and form are still in my possecion or our registar then we return it, but once it's out of our hands and sent in to council it is totally up to them and they parents have to work that out with them. as to how to get the ones that are very hit and miss... I'd try talking with them via phone or at a meeting that they do come to and find out why and if it's because it's "not fun enough" find out what they would like to see happen to make it more fun. There's a lot of reason boys miss - sports, band, split households, illness in the family, and the list could go on and on.

I can think of tasks that boys could be responsible for either as a one outting at a time deal or how ever long you want to make it... 1)tent helper - some of the shorter guys will sometimes have trouble with some tents because they just aren't tall enough to do a couple of the connections 2) camp fire planner and mc - if you do a campfire entertainment then this scout makes contact with the different patrols and finds out what they are doing, makes sure people aren't duplicating, plans the ofder, and works as an MC... I believe this will also tie in with the communication MB 3) free time game planner - boy or group of boys are assigned to plan some sort of game(s) during free time... can be just "fun" games like a game of touch football, a team building game where patrols have to work together to complete tasks, a scout skills game, or well you get the idea. 4) make sure your instructors that are coming have some time if it's appropriate venue to teach some of their skills

the pack my son was with had the individual accounts... it's just a paper account where all the money is still in the pack account and the boys money is tracked and kept on record. things you need to determin: how much $/ or % goes to the boys what will happen when a boy quits scouts - some packs I know the money can be passed down to another sibling... but if there are no siblings and a boy quits scouts then the money stays with the pack what will happen if there is still money when the cross over to boy scouts... I've heard of some that it stays with the pack... to me this isn't right and goes to the troop the boy joins as he's still in scouts. what will the boys/parents be allowed to use this money on... I've seen some where they could only use it for summer camp... I've seen some that they could use it for any pack event or summer camp. all this will need to be decided before you start doing individual accounts so boys and parents understand it all