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At our best, we don't promote MBs. We promote activities related to MBs. Our boys have had fellow-scouts with severe disabilities, so the concepts were pretty much routine, however, not one took the MB. In another example, SM brought in retired fire extinguishers and we practiced putting out oil fires, plus we went over the requirements. Not one boy went after the badge. The point of being an MB counselor is not to hold a course, but to provide unique activities that make for one-of-a-kind meetings.

Although this caters to my ego, I'm only right. Not "so" much so that a leader shouldn't be concerned if he/she never has a leader of the opposite sex at meetings. Young venturers should get to know their leaders long before they attend overnight activities where at least one leader of their sex is "officially" required.

FYI, this isn't perfect. My boys fail to implement plans a lot. The "calendar beast" is hard to slay. Plus one has to set aside video games to interface with people in the real world if you want real world adventure. Girls, especially current and former girl scouts, are a little more successful at this. The equation changes if your crew elects a VP of Program who calls each activity chair (that's the term in Venturing-speak for any youth who plans an event) for updates in advance of every meeting.

I see that as one of those unnecessary "perks" of venturing. And, as far as I am concerned, sufficient justification to not worry about the regulation at all for young adults. If you are willing to gas your tank and spend your weekend with my boys, when legally you could be out buying some smokes and lottery tickets, I'm willing to let your badge stay on your shirt -- be the pocket tan or green. And, if you are now by any definition in a boy's world an "old fart" who can still fit his decades-old uniform .. by all means keep that badge on until you wear out that shirt scouting with your boys! Need a new shirt? Then it's probably time to just sew on the knot! But, let's make a deal. If you really want to keep that badge on your uniform, promise me you'll wear your Eagle medal on your lapel when your in suit and tie at formal activities like fund-raisers, graduations, and football games.

IMHO, the reasoning that any troop leader should have for starting a crew: 1) There is enthusiasm from the boys to take on additional responsibilities. 2) There are youth in your community who would benefit from joining in with your boys. You really need both. Otherwise, your super-skilled boys just become the troop's "HA patrol." They can do that without all the trappings of a whole new program, divided adult leadership, etc ...

Welcome back! I hope your return will be the personal blessing that mine has been. Just to double check, I looked at my uniform that I had from when I was a young assistant scoutmaster in the 80s, and sure enough there's my eagle badge! I knew adults weren't to wear rank patches, but nobody discussed when that transition had to be made. Evidently it wasn't during those couple of college years when I was dropping in on troop activities. By the time I was a dad ready to join the leadership, I got a new uniform, passed on the badge and purchased knots for AoL and Eagle. And that's basically how we handle things in these parts. Nobody whips out their lock-blade and asks our newest scouters to cut away the badge. But, as they get adult training and read the insignia guide themselves, they transition from badge to knot. As far as the prodigious knot program and all it's intricacies, well I suppose National thinks there is more to being a scout than those three feats you mentioned, and each deserves to be part of a scouter's "totem". Sorry that bothers you. Just set aside some drawer space for all the knots you garner but won't wear because the "third world general look" is not your thing. Finally, thanks in advance for all of your service to our boys (and young women, if Venturing draws you into its wild ride!)

Freudian slip or autocorrect?

There's really only one question, well maybe two: Does your son like it? Is he flourishing there?

This is a negative viewpoint. For rhetorical purposes, the writer implies that we are moving to a required venturing uniform and that the new awards are actually "ranks". I don't believe that either of those are true. However, I haven't seen the new VLST training materials to know exactly how this will be fed to new leaders.

OPPS?

Tarp ridge-lines don't bear as much weight as hammocks, so I don't think webbing protects bark any better than rope when the load is that small. Also, I prefer 3/8" or 1/2" braided line line (75# strength) that will flatten a little under pressure.

The trick with pocket knifes for carving is a light touch and little chips. This is something that takes a while to practice. Use soft wood, like balsa. Most boys aren't going to become apprentice wood carvers, so keep the bar low.

You were a victim of double-speak. When Bill Evans visited our council in '07, he said that every venturer should take advantage of the "awards opportunity" in venturing The understanding was that not every venturer would get Silver, but there was an expectation that more than .001 of the membership would work on an award. The notion that dozens of youth would gather together, plan adventures, serve the community, etc ... not one of them wanting to bother with being recognized for it ... that is completely foreign to the great minds in the BSA. So if the new awards don't have any more curb appeal than the old ones, expect this cycle to repeat. In the minds of executives, underutilized=failure.

Some boys can work with a picture. Most need to actually see the knot (in 3d) then they need to try it themselves, then see you tie it, then have you hold their hands while they try again ...

Welcome. And thanks for your service! Hopefully the link below will answer your questions and provide some thoughtful discussion.

Well that does stink. But what you can do at the end of the year is give the troop the contact info of your former cubs. Once they've all finished 5th grade, their troop boys might want to just give them a call and extend an invite.

Never ask for a rule! It does not say "where scouts and scouters can view the interaction" for a very good reason. It allows a counselor and scouts to meet, say, in a community coffee shop or at the counselor's place of business (if there are plenty of folk in view). Tell your scout that he's right and you were being overly cautious. However, it is definitely more fun to do anything with a buddy, so encourage the boys to team up go with their friends (scout or not) to visit counselors.

Sentinel, Venturers have boundary issues! But I think this one fits under "patrol method." The problem predates Venturing. Back when we were "Leadership Corps" we asked ourselves if we should be members of respective patrols or set ourselves apart. I don't think there's one pat answer. If your PL's are resenting the venturers going off and leaving them in the lurch, then maybe it's time to give them their own patrol. On the other hand, if they are coming back from crew outings with new skills and a better vision of scouting, maybe you'd rather have each patrol "salted" with a couple venturers. Bloop, I think if the boys have strong opinions about how they should be organized, stand by them. But, don't let them get away without consequences. If they are under-performing, figure out a way to get them to evaluate and reflect on how to improve. Encourage them to consider if how they're organized is contributing to the problem. If the boys don't seem to care, maybe you could draft a roster, then ask the PLC to review and revise it. Give it six months. Have them evaluate if everything is okay, then support them if they think change is needed.

"Beginning in 2016 in Boy Scouts, Duty to God will be incorporated in the requirement to show Scout Spirit. During the unit leader conference, the Scout will be asked what Duty to God means to him and how he demonstrates that duty." For some folks this does not represent change. For others, it is asking them to step into the subject in a way they may not be comfortable doing.

Well, Barry, the Venturing division has called that "stealth advancement" it's a great approach if scouters are satisfied with 1 in every thousand boys moving beyond First Class. What's very interesting: nobody is nagging any of my venturers to earn venturing awards (old or new). So, how I choose to advise the occasional youth who chooses to go for an award comes under zero criticism. Fact is, I try to stay as mum as possible about Eagle to our youth. We have enough older scouts proposing projects and having special courts of honor that the cycle seems pretty much self-sustaining. That should be enough, but Son #2 can't avoid heat from all angles: Grandma sits beside him and says, "Now I don't want you to worry or anything, but Papa and I aren't getting any younger, and we sure would like to be spry enough to make it to your Court of Honor." A soccer dad (whose boys are in another troop) confronts him every week about why he hasn't started Personal Fitness MB. Grandpa tells me there aren't many families that can boast 3 Eagles in a household. Mrs. Q is demanding daily progress reports. There have been tears. Unnecessary shouting matches. Lame excuses. Frankly, if he'd miss the 17.5 mark to earn Life, I'd be just fine. I want to call off the hounds. But folks, I have to sleep at night! So I'm trying to walk a line saying to him privately "If you don't want this, just say so. I'll back you. But if you do, hustle up." At the moment he's hustling up. It's just a little sad that some of that is out of fear of disappointment vs. out of joy for the opportunities.