Owl62

Calls of nature at night in tents can be managed without a trip outside the tent. Without going into a much detail, there are means of dealing with calls of nature in the tent - maybe easier for the males, but still manageable for all.

If a Webelos II has completed the AOLand is 10, you can informally award it, complete an advancement report to your council, and the Scout can then join a troop. There is no BSA requirement that I know of for a "formal" AOL award ceremony. If the powers that be will allow it, an I see no reason why they would not, he can go still go to the "formal" AOL ceremony later. I see no reason to not allow a Scout to cross over and join a Boy Scout troop, if he has met all requirement, prior to having a "formal" AOL award ceremony. In our unit, a Scout is immediately recognized when advancement r

In our area, when people complain of the cost of Scouting, I often hear from those who never say anything that even hints that there are any problems in the program, "the money is going to a good cause" or "it's for the Scouts" or other such comments. I doubt that much of the money spent on uniforms, and other fees actually directly benefit Scouts. I doubt that any of the money spent on uniforms actually goes to Scouts. I think that most of it goes to the manufacturer. Same for other items. We conduct a function for one of our programs that has no fees for the participants other than what

Eamonn, Not a problem. Sometimes the old ways still work. Aren't moms wonderful! (I keep reminding Scouts about that) Inconvenience and discomfort are very effective teachers for most people. Most people will naturally try to prevent things that cause inconvenience and discomfort.

Bissybbb, Here are some things that help me stay warm in a tent and sleeping bag when it is cold. Tents: 1. Try to erect tents out of the wind if you can for one thing. 2. For tents that are longer than they are wide, try to erect the tent so that the length of the tent is in the same direction as the prevailing wind. 3. Try to not erect tents in a low lying area when it is cold will make them be colder. Cold air settles lower, warm air rises. 4. Try to erect the on a bed of natural insulators leaves, or pine straw can help. 5. Try to not erect a tent on snow or ice. The

Unless a tent is specifically designed to be heated it probably can't and should not be heated. This is especially true of tents commonly used in Scouting. Fueled heaters should not be used in most tents and never in tents used by Scouts. Simple matter of safey. They can cause fires, and carbon monoxide poisoning. Just not a really good idea, nor is it safe. I'd rather be a little cold than dead. There are some things that can be done to make tents perform better in the cold. Erect them out of the wind if you can for one thing. Also, erecting a tent in a low lying area when it is

I know of no official requirement to travel in uniform to be covered by insurance. My opinion is that the speaker was mistaken, misinformed, or deliberately misleading in an effort to "require" uniform wear. You might want to ask the person telling you that to show it to you in a official written BSA document or publication. I have found that a very effective way to reduce the amount of misinformation. If the speaker does not have the official document or publication at hand, they should offer to get it for you and if they don't offer, ask them to get it for you. Again, my opinion is

There are a number of things you can do to reduce loss of items: 1. Label them in some way so that if someone finds the items, there is a better chance the items will be returned to the owner. (you may want to consider using the unit name and city rather than the owner's address). This is especially troop for items taken to Scout camps. If they are labelled, there is a good chance they will be returned. Some items that a commonly found unattended at Scout camps are: Scout handbook, merit badge books, caps/hats, gloves, canteens/water bottles, swim trunks, towels, soap dishes, jackets, swe

"If it ain't raining, it ain't training!" I also like Trevorum's: "There's no such thing as 'bad weather', There's just poor choices in clothing." You can almost bank on it that if I am camping, it will rain. What's that other saying? "Be Prepared"

Yes

Our troop has adopted a neckerchief. It is one of the BSA standard ones. The only times the neckerchief is required to be worn is at COH, ceremonies and other special occasions. It can be worn other times if the Scout or Scouter just wants to when wearing the field uniform. They can also have their choice of slide or just tie it in a knot. Most only wear it for ceremonies. Most of the Scouters in the troop are older and we are trying to gently guide the troop back to traditional ways. The neckerchief is one such example. Not that we want to live in the past, just stay in touch with it.

As I said interpretation. Perhaps there are some here who have access to the full set of uniform regulations???? To me, it makes little difference whether the beads are worn with neckerchiefs other than the Wood Badge Neckerchief. In fact, personally, I see nothing wrong with it. And I wouldn't say anything to someone I see wearing the beads with other neckerchiefs. But, I still interpret the current BSA Uniform Guide as the beads are worn with the WB Neckerchief and that is the only neckerchief I will wear them with - unless like I said someone has access to the whole set of un

Ozemu, I have a Scouter friend in the UK and he says that they can wear the Wood Badge Beads with their unit neckerchiefs too. And as you say, we are all always supposed to wear the beads when wearing the Wood Badge Neckerchief and Woggle. The 2005 Insignia Guide states: "Wood Badge slide or woggle, No. 02173 trained Scouter, with Wood Badge neckrchief; necklace with two beads, No. 02175; three beads, No. 02176; four beads, No.02177; worn under the Wood Badge neckerchief, and over the ends below the woggle, with the official field uniform; Wood Badge beads are not worn with civi

Lisabob, The Wood Badge beads can be worn with the official field uniform anytime you where it. With that uniform you can wear the beads, with or without the WB Neckerchief and woggle but if you wear the neckerchief and woggle you must wear the beads also. The Wood Badge regalia can be worn with the Cub Scout, Boy Scout, Varsity, and Venturing leader field uniform. You should not wear the beads, neckerchief or woggle with anything else. Someone on here once told me that it was permissible to wear the beads with other neckerchiefs, but I checked the insignia guide and it says only wit

Here is what I would consider to be an ideal uniform. I would use one uniform for all programs. Same shirt, same pants/shorts. Still offer the shirt in short and longsleeved versions. I would have one standard short and long sleeved t-shirt (with a breast pocket (pocket tee). This would eliminate the need for those in multiple positions and units having to have multiple uniforms. I would change from the current pants to make them more like the current Venturing pants but with velcro on all pockets and I would make them convertible so that the legs could be zipped off to convert them

Basically, we should strive to wear a uniform consisting of official components. I think most of us do that, but, sometimes practicality causes some to do otherwise. Personally, I wear official uniform components for MOST activities as do most of the members of the units I am associated with. And I think this is probably pretty much the same situation in most places. In our troop, if the family has financial issues, we advise them to get the Boy Scout Handbook first. Then at least the uniform shirt. The unit provides the unit numbers, red shoulder loops, patrol patch, and position pa

Thanks to all. I have completed Venturing Adult Leader Basic Training, New Leader Essentials, a bunch of other training courses including Boy Scout Committee training over the past 30 years. Venturing Adult Leader Basic training mentioned the committee crew, but did not cover it in as much detail as the Boy Scout Committee training course did for Troop Committee training. I have not been able to find any type of Venturing Crew Committee training anywhere. I don't think it exists. Another question is, can Venturing Crew Committee members wear the trained strip with their com

Does anyone know if there are Leader Specific training courses for: Venturing Crew Committee Venturing Crew Committee Chairman Those courses exist for Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts but I have necer seen them for Venturing. Thanks.

Wood Badge is big in our council. Sometimes there are only 4 courses a year but they try to do five.

I am just trying to find out how adult training is done in your council. In our council, training is usually conducted as follows: University of Scouting: 1 time per year for a day. Offers counrses that can lead to degrees in Cub Scouting, Boy Scouting, Venturing, District Committee, and Commissioner Science. Wood Badge: 5 courses a year, 1 is at Philmont for a week, 1 is for LDS Scouters only, and the other three are conducted locally over two three day periods each. Aditionally, courses are scheduled throughout the year such as facilitator training, CPR and first aid trai

I have heard the topic of Venturing and Order of the Arrow being discussed over the pass couple of years. OA is a program within the Boy Scout program of the BSA. There are some who feel that Venturers who meet certain requiremens should be eligible for membership in the OA. But I have heard that there have been some honor societies that have been started in the Venturing program (not sure if they are officially supported by the BSA or not). Does anyone know about any Venturing Honor Societies that have or are in the process of being formed? Thanks.

I find it interesting that the word "respect" has been used pretty much throughout this thread. Interesting how some things are just "rules". Maybe respect is more of an opinion than a fact? But it may be a fact in the mind of the person with the opinion. Respect is earned and is not automatic because of our age, profession, or station in life. I know people that I don't have a whole lot of respect for and just because I address them by their title, in no way indicates that I repect them to any degree. There are generally two groups of people that I address by their ti

I don't usually suggest specific sources for gear, and I don't necessarily endorse any but LED lights can be bought at several retail outlets that are located in most areas: Target Store - now appear to be carrying a nice variety of LED Lights for good prices. New lines include "Rock River" and Inova. The little Inova micro lights are inexpensive and are good lights. Wal-Mart - has carried LED lights for a while. Academy - carries a wide variety of LED lights as well. There are probably others but Target and Wal-mart are located across the US. I really like the "micr

Champ: Most any light, but especially white light will attract a wide variety of bugs. When I fish at night, if I need a light, I usually use a propane lantern placed 6-10 feet away from me but placed so that it will light the area I need. That draws the bugs away. One problem with headlights, whether they be LED or other, is that they will tend to attract insects - right around your head.

The issue of wearing unofficial items of clothing with the official Scout uniform comes up all the time. There are some parts of the Insignia Guide that generally addresses this: Page 1 Official Policy under the section entitled Personal Commitment. Official Uniforms Clause 2: "The official uniforms authorized as evidence of official relationship to the Boy Scouts of America shall be those approved by the action of the Executive Board of the Boy Scouts of America from time to time, as illustrated and correctly described in the handbooks, catalogs, and other official publicati