le Voyageur

Bingo. It isn't the name, it is the policy that needs to be examined. The problem with the BSA is that it IS a group that refuses to allow certain boys to join. While it has that right, it must then abide by the consequences of that decision. But it also would not change things for the BSA one bit if the Y suddenly became a discriminatory organization too. The BSA would still face these problems, which stem from the BSA's apparent desire to set exclusionary youth membership standards and yet also expect government entities to violate local, state, and federal law in order to fund and support BSA units. Well said Lisa... Folks tend to forget that these laws trumps BSA's outdated Congressional Charter.

getting in late on this one...per Say what you will Leroy but I and everyone in this forum view you as nothing more than an invasive nuisance that obviously has an axe to grind against scouting. I am sure if we could investigate you we would find a plethora of faults with you, but since we can not you continue to fan the flames which makes you like a parasite and in this forum an outlandish TROLL. So attack if you will but that doesn't change the fact you are indeed a pitiful little troll. BP I'll have to disagree,ML is right. Time for BSA to become more inculsive.....

I would say their are none....there are those beliefs outside the mains that the traditionals of the major faiths prefer to ignore, and cast aside. Seen this behavior at various summer camps,camporees,Woodbadge, and as well as NCS. Interfaith services imho serves only to protect the exclusivity of the alphas....

Interesting.... http://the-brights.net/ ?....should Brights be excluded from Scouting? thoughts????

Never had a problem with a heater (sheep herder stove) in a tent...however, I would never allow a scout to have one in theirs.

consider this.... http://www.mrheater.com/ProductFamily.aspx?catid=41

I've always found it interesting in that BSA requires either this cert, or that cert for certain program areas. But, absoulutely no experience, or tenure for those certs. As an exampe,consider who would you want running your Range at camp. A 21 year old with an NCS card, and no Range experience other then a week at NCS. Or, a RSO with over 20 years of experience, but no NCS card? Besides Shooting Sports, this lack of a tenure/experience requirement is also seen in Climbing, Cope, and Trek....

Better yet, instead of Adults wearing their Palms on the Eagle Knot, the better solution would be a blank square knot patch for Palms....

Eagle Knot...50th Aniversity Achievment Patch.....NCS Staff Patch

Forgot...in Flagstaff, across the tracks, and behind the Amtrak Station,a pretty nice hostel. Ten bucks for a bunk the last time through a year ago. Here's their number,(928) 779-9421

Touch base with the Grand Canyon Council... http://www.doubleknot.com/openrosters/view_homepage.asp?orgkey=62 .....for information on their trail awards for hiking the Canyon. I've gotten their Rim to Rim, Rim to Rim to Rim, and the Supai to River segments. It's a pretty neat patch that will reinforce your Scouts bragging rights....

Fake SEALS, and all military fakes need to be ferreted out, and exposed. Just ask this fake where he trained at, his BUD's company, his training officer, his platoon number, and the dates of the different phases for his training... http://www.stolenvalor.com/ I would suggest finding another unit....

When a Webelos, or an 11 year old scout can pull off a nine mile portage, then I'll be the first in line to ask BSA to end age restrictions. Until then....

"Great for lifetime bragging rights, but can you do it now? (I am not ragging on you. It was the Morse code requirement which kept me from earning my Quartermaster back in the early 80s. I practiced for 2 years and could not get it down fast enough. Ironically, this requirement was dropped; oh well.)" Buffalo Skipper... The answer is yes, as well as in semaphore, too. Morse code is easy, it's a binary system, just convert the dits and dahs to 1's, and 0's, and remember the numbers...

From memory, and in International Morse Code send and receive sections from the Gettysburg Address using your Scout neckerchief.(In 1963, we took first place for this one during the Spring Camporee) (This message has been edited by Le Voyageur)

Horsemanship looks like a flea can we go back to the horse head? Actually, the orginial horse head was for Animal Husbandry, the Horsemanship mb of my era was the horseshoe... I agree, bring back the black pot for cooking....the muffin hat looks silly....

ah yes....Choice Point. The data mining agency created by neo Conservatives. Guess our Texas based BSA Inc. has decided to lean hard right....(big sigh) Has me wondering how many BSA volunteers who lean middle to left will now be scrubed from voter lists during major elections.... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ChoicePoint

I could see this base closing as passports are now required for Canadian travel.

Yes, I understand the bug issue as I sometimes tent in the Dismal Swamp, same goes for Maine. However, I've learned to camp at the top of windy hills to keep the bugs at bay. Means I don't use DEET, and not concern about future health issues caused by slathering myself with toxins. None the less, when the bugs are few to gone, much better to leave the tents behind, and "rough it" a bit...

Why tent? In good weather they're nothing more then a waste of a good night's sky. And, a small tarp works fine to keep the dew off the bag if's that a concern...

Here's just a small bit of what I would suggest for non BSA training.... Swift Water Navigation - oar and paddle techniques, route selection, hydraulics, strategies (momentum, ferry angles, bump, runs), boat spacing and river etiquette. Portaging, lining, and assisted portages. Strainers,undercuts, and hazards. Swift Water Rescue, swimming in whitewater, dealing with flips, dealing with wraps, and pins. Foot entrapment, evacuation strategies and planning. Hand and paddle signals, dealing with hypothermia. Basic z drags, 3 to 1's, knots, slings and anchors Boat care, loading, rigging, and repairing... WFR - NOLS or SOLO, the gold standards, nothing less River dynamics, CFS, volume, watershed, bottom topography, Driver training - getting boats, gear, and crews to and from the river(This message has been edited by Le Voyageur)

I know your frustration....after my stint at summer camp lets start shooting emails to each other, as well as to other professional river guides within our ranks,and do something that National has elected not to do, which is to create a Registered BSA River Guide position which serves at the Council level...what say you?

NCS - National Camp School CD - Camp Director or Climbing Director PD - Program Director CC - Council Commissioner, or Camp Commissioner CG - Chief Guide AD - Area Director or Aquatic Director WFD - Water Front Director SSD - Shooting Sports Director SCD - Scoutcraft Director KS - Kitchen Staff OM - Operations Manager MB - Merit Badge CA - Chaplin Aide COPE - Challenging Outdoor Personal Experience WEBELOS - We Be Loyal Scouts CoH - Court of Honor RC - Regional Commissioner AC - Area Commissioner NC - National Commissioner CP - Council President

Been reviewing NOLS, and a few other sources on this subject as part of updating our Trek's float plan. If there is one, unpeachable fact about lightning is that it is unpredictable. As such, let me toss three questions your way for your thoughts. When should activities be stopped? Where should your crew go for safety? When should activities be resumed?

The answer is no. It's a youth award...and any trained, and experienced DC would know better. I've a feeling this DC has never done a stint as a UC....