Jay K

Pets Merit Badge (PMB) My son, in pusuit of PMB, got a friend interested in having a green cheeked Conure (A species of parakeet) like the one my son has. My son talked about it with him, showed him highlights in the book about it, and e-mailed links to the boy that were places where birds like that can be gotten. The parent said "no!" The Counselor said that my son had done all he could and that the requirement was fulfilled, because my son could not control what the other family did. My son has PMB. This is similar to the discussion about "attainabilty" of Wood Badge ticket goals. Those

Pretty wild disregard of Safety Afloat.

My standard reply: Apparantly, I've given offense. I apologize. Please forgive me. My speech to the crowd would be: "Let's finish the cleanup and packing from our campout, and then when that's done, go to our gaming event." If the work isn't done in time, "Oops, I had no idea that would take so long." SM conference with the QM that skipped out would be good.

Porque no? Wood Bade en Espanol? Excellente!

Johnponz, have a great time at Wood Badge. I was at a Wood Badge Breakfast, and I bid on a Commissioner Bolo tie at the Silent Auction, but I didn't win.

Yes, Praise HIS holy name.

If the troop has 50 Scouts, the Quartermaster needs a staff of assistant QMs. Ideally, that would be the Assistant Patrol Leaders. Keeping track of equipment that was checked out to the patrol will train the APL as he interacts with the Scouts of the patrol regarding the proper care and use of the equipment. This will work on the Trustworthy part of the Scout Law because the APLS will be accountable; when they turn equipment in, it will have been properly prepared and packed before being turned over to the QM. Then the QM will be trained in leadership as he manages the APLs and gives

If the troop has 50 Scouts, the Quartermaster needs a staff of assistant QMs. Ideally, that would be the Assistant Patrol Leaders. Keeping track of equipment that was checked out to the patrol will train the APL as he interacts with the Scouts of the patrol regarding the proper care and use of the equipment. This will work on the Trustworthy part of the Scout Law because the APLS will be accountable; when they turn equipment in, it will have been properly prepared and packed before being turned over to the QM. Then the QM will be trained in leadership as he manages the APLs and give

They did discontinue the Scoutmaster's Award of Merit. It was replaced by the Unit Leader award of Merit.

Well said, Scoutbox

Son 1. Didn't want to do any advancement and didn't get Arrow of light. The Pack people were confused and discouraged him from crossing the bridge. That was when I decided to get involved as a youth leader, much to my wife's ongoing chagrin. (I had been Pack Committee.) That son made Life before he pooped out. Son 2. Figured out that he could nail Arrow of light, cross over, and come to Summer camp with us in the Troop. We had a June Pack meeting that was a bike rodeo, and after the rodeo, we went inside and did an 18 minute Arrow of light/crossover ceremony. I had told him to wear a t-

Family Medicine. EMTs are their own ball of wax...

My Doctor is an ASM and a First Aid MB counselor.

It is hard to do Lifesaving MB with only one Scout. It's nice to have at least two to take turns being the victim and the rescuer. I have found that the ideal group size is eight, two "patrols" of four. I suppose that makes it become a "class," My bad.

Only 1 question: "What are a Scoutmaster's most important jobs?" (1. Be a friend to the Scouts.) (2.Train the youth leaders.) Jay Scoutmaster

TPS form! Just do it, Make your DE happy. The price is right. A happy DE is a good thng. A qualty District is a good thing. Do your part. Jay Trained Unit Commissioner, and they spent a good chunk of the 6 hour Commissioner Basic training on JTE.

YES We'll Be Loyal Scouts. WEBELOS. The Activity Pins mimic and presage the Merit Badge Program. Camping begins to resemble Boy Scout Camping. The Uniform begins to resemble the Boy Scout Uniform There is no reason that it can't be lots of fun. To my mind there is no purpose to WEBELOS if they aren't going to become Boy Scouts. BP himself that the purpose of Cubs is to prepare boys to be Boy Scouts. Jay Former Webelos Den Leader.

Ripley Rendezvous, Minnesota (Camp Ripley) 2007. Native americans and enthusiasts of other cultures are doing a demonstraton of costumes and competition dancing. They are encouraging middle aged white guys (me) to step into the circle and learn some dance steps. They tell us that in high level competitions that there are wild free form non traditional dancers, and very traditional dancers, and dancers in between, in definite divisions. Not all competitors are Native American. They caution us about doing religous dances,(don't!) but encourage us to dance our hearts out and wear anything w

1. They run experimental Merit Badge classes before they release the Merit Badge for all. In fact, I have been asked to help with the development of another new Merit Badge. 2. I work with the Uncle of the 2 millionth Eagle, Anthony Thomas, and I will ask!

Yes! bribery! It works "Real Good." We call it "incentive."

Huzzah, Bacchus! Further, Merit Badges are Such & Such 101. They are a taste of a subject. A Scout who takes Dentistry MB isn't then a Dentist. When I train Scouts in Lifesaving MB, they aren't now Lifeguards. (Close, though.) The big Merit Badge fairs ARE fun.

Opinion: BSA is not too risk adverse. BSA is risk mitigation oriented. You can do whatever you want. The Guide to Safe Scouting tells you what is approved, i.e. what the "insurance" will and won't cover, and how to comply with the "insurance" requirements. What they do in another country isn't relevant. If you go to another country, it becomes relevant. Jay-BSA National Camping School veteran. (This message has been edited by a staff member.)

Scan the treatise? If I can find it...I read it long ago.

Chaplain Aide? To what Chaplain? The Chaplain and the Scoutmaster might be able to take the Scout out for a Sprite.tm and do the "Sandwich." "You are a good SPL, are showing leadership development, etc." "We have some suggestions about areas in which you can grow." "Facebook, respecting adults, Directive versus Supportive leadership..." "You are a great Scout, we hope that you advance to the next rank, and we think that you'd be great as ... in your next role. " The SM should, perhaps, be coaching him on leadership on a day to day (meeting to meeting) basis as normal

The ten mile hikes are the conditioning for the 20 miler. 20 pounds is too much. The 150 yards for Swimming MB are only 50 yards more than is required for 1st class requirement 9b. IF the Scout doesn't ride bikes and doesn't swim, I think that the Scout needs to be nudged a little bit. Baden-Powell said "EVERY Scout a swimmer..." I'm not counseling against Hiking MB, just the avoidance mentality. I got all three (Hiking, Swimming, and Cycling,) when I was a Scout, in the middle of the last century in the previous Millenium... I can still cover 10 miles, on level terra