qwazse

2cub, you just described the venturing recognition program. Youth earn national (i.e., not exclusive to BSA) certifications, not MB's. Share (in front of other youth, not an adult counselor) and/or apply what they've learned. Qualify for an award.

Okay. That does make a difference. Oh and since we're crossing threads, you have to cut your son some slack about the "submit a report" definition. You see, thanks to WB21C he was brainwashed on the EDGE method, which does not include any notion of the written word as an essential tool for successful transfer of skills. Therefore, he thinks report is something verbal, sort of an ExplaiDemostro thing. He doesn't realize that by requesting something in writing, you are in fact enabling the presenter to encapsulate his core thoughts and distinguish himself from any other species on the planet. But most people don't associate "writing" with "enabling", so that method is lost in the adoption of a pithy non-translatable acronym. Once he abandons EDGE for more sound methods he'll respect your judgement!

Actually, they did. I saw a film about it. It was only 14 feet tall, but it was your standard COPE element (except helmets were nowhere to be seen).

I got to "Call BS" on your son and future D-I-L. They have their own trails to walk. Sit on the couch, be silent, and pray. But, may I suggest you give the troop committee chair the right to "Call BS" on you. The all-in-the family routine can erode trust. Get some accountability into the situation. The boy's SM and CC will have to put their signature on the application. Tell them the nature of his work. Describe the exact quality of the chart. If the boys unit leaders have doubts, they can call your husband. Bottom Line: I had a scout/venturer whose Family Life chart was clearly cobbled together retrospectively. The MBC told CC she had misgivings about signing the blue card. The CC refused to sign the application. (It's in a post somewhere.) I was on the phone with him on deadline day, and my bottom line: "Did you fulfill all of the requirements?" "No" "Well, then, you have a lot to be proud of. Just not this medal." Tell us (and have the SM ask that boy) what makes this boy's trail complete while my boy failed to earn his bird?(This message has been edited by qwazse)

"I'm under no obligation whatsoever to countenance violators of the 5th point of th scout law." Usually this kind of behavior doesn't manifest itself until about 13. Does this kid have an older sibling. For the older boys, my line is "At what point did your pubescent angst become any concern of mine?"

My boys and my daughter made the the same decision over the past three Jambo opportunities. and we have done a lot with the money not spent. If he's catching on with the glucose control, he has it in him to prepare for a wide array of opportunities.

Our CO runs the local food pantry. That solves a lot of the problems. Folks have a better sense that they would be shorting their neighbor, not just any Samaritan.

MT What of your 5 tickets depended on Scouting U... I don't see it. Sorry, it was 3. Promote Venturing Leader Specific Training to my crew committee U of S was going to be my primary training outlet for getting my adult leaders. There were other opportunities since then. I did lots of promotion of subsequent trainings, and later co-taught the course for folks from a neighboring crew. But you know how once someone muddles through for a while without something, they feel that it's perfectly OK to keep on doing it? Well ... that's my people. Also if yours is at month 17 you must have had a vision all these steps fell under ... "Because of our enthusiasm for outdoor activities and involvement in social activities that extend across district, council, and area, students and graduates in and around our school district will see our crew as the co-ed outdoor program of choice." not sure how ticket #4 fell into that vision. That's a diversity goal. Getting youth to appreciate what's good about their neighborhoods and share it with their fellow venturers. Getting the youth and their plans for great activities "out there." And showing Venturers some different ministry and service opportunities. The challenge: you would be amazed how much kids think there's nothing fun (and safe) in their neighborhoods! (Maybe that's what drove them to be a Crew!) It seems this past year I've done 10 other ticket items besides these. I think we're achieving our vision. It just isn't happening primarily through my WB ticket! (Did I ever mention this Advisor business can be a wild ride?) By the way, you all might not have known it. But you've been great sounding boards, even as I'm coming down to the final stretch. Thanks. Oh, and I used to be a crow, a good old ... Oooooh shiny!

I guess I'm concerned about going forward - is the situation we're in now the lesser of all the possible evils? Is relying on "extended donations" preferable to soliciting the council for funds? Or donating the equipment directly to the council? This boils down to one variable: "How much do your people value control?" If they want stuff, but they don't want personal baggage, and they want zero risk of corporate mis-management, then they have to pay up. If saving some dimes is more important, then they need to eat a little crow.

I have stove-top espresso pots. (9-cup for car camping, and 3-cup for backpacking or smaller groups. Although I really could get by with just a 1 cup most weekends. The plastic Dixie cups make perfect shot glasses!) They clean up relatively quickly and are durable. Dads do pick on me and my 'motor oil', but they usually will use it as a supplement to their runny stuff! Anyway, it's those quirks about yourself that you discover along the way of camping with these youth that are your real prestige!

And it stinks that all of those beautiful Rocky Mountains are 19+ hours away! Not just because Philmont's over there. I have three lovely nieces and a great niece who are so far away! I do think there's a market for some type of western region BSA event. LA, Portland, or Seattle would be a big draw. Maybe if we pull this internet stuff off, we can do a coast-to-coast festival. It might be decades away, but start putting the bugs in our youth's ears. They're the ones who will make it happen if they really care.

The bad choice was people getting their egos wrapped up in the program! Time to ask the donors "Can we return the gear to you? Or, can we recognize your donation of the gear at fair market value?" Yep, you're gonna have to fundraise for the gear if they take it back, but maybe your council has already done just that over the years and has some gear they can loan you! The other option is to clearly understand the conditions under which the owners of the gear will cheerfully loan it. Get those in writing and circulate it to all parties involved. Set a time limit on the policy. (E.g. this year only, the next 5 years, or as long as Troop X is functioning with CO Y.)

Another pet peeve are screen names that often seem willfully obscure and impenetrable. I don't see the point. Why, you ask? Just beqwazse. Blame me for promoting "MIB," it just seemed like the right thing to do because my kids were huge fans of Men In Black. Even offline, call me nearly anything. Just don't call me late for dinner. But, to anyone out there: If for you my whacky redaction of your screen name is truly offensive, say so and I will try to reform my ways.

You may not have the skill sets to pull it off, but one year our district did a canoe trip camporee. If there was an island in the middle of a river that could accommodate you all, you could set up some wide games.

A CO that expects that will probably also expect the Cub pack to be strongly religious (in a born-again Christian sense) in its emphasis ... That's not a forgone conclusion. Most of these programs get planted because a member of the CO feels that they should be doing something different that what already exists, and he/she scopes out existing programs and finds finds one that would "fill that gap". One group won't impose on the other. AHA's COR Jane wouldn't tell BSA's COR John how to do his ministry. The CO may set minimum standards for both. But, they will probably insist that leaders bend over backwards to make the non-Christian in the group feel welcome. (E.g. our CO asks: be good, say grace before meals, do a voluntary "scouts own" devotional if you find yourselves out on a Sunday. No enforcement.) The reason is simple, they don't want running in the woods and carving box cars and even memorizing a few verses of scripture to be confounded with being counted as a member of their religion -- even though they would love if a slew of kids did any or all of those things under their roof. Again that's the typical operation of most successful church boards, even ones that come from a hierarchical tradition.

Month 17. Just getting my summary ready for my ticket counselor: 1. A venturer school recruiting program using an auto fill script that presenters can complete online. 2. Promote using venturing advancement for senior service projects. 3. Promote Venturing Leader Specific Training to my crew committee. 4. Encourage youth identify locations to meet in their various neighborhoods. 5. Perform a self-assessment. Mine were very dependent on others. For example University of Scouting got cancelled last year! Doing my part didn't necessarily yield in the results I wanted. Lesson learned. Moving on.

I too would look elsewhere for a BSA unit if my unit's CO chartered an AHG group. I would question that the CO's religious policies had turned toward a much more limited, and aggressive, direction, and would be concerned that those polices/views would affect their BSA program. Does your CO have a youth group a Sunday school class that invites non Christians? Maybe you should leave now! If good people are pouring out love to my kids, then they've earned the right to preach religion to them. and if those kids want to race derby cars brothers and sisters together, that's fine by me. Now if my CO harbored armed militias (history of clergy fomenting the Whiskey Rebellion doesn't count), I would consider relocating.(This message has been edited by Qwazse)

Thanks emb,I've read other material you've written on mission and vision, and I like the distinction between global and local scope. The reason I asked this is that a new advisor invited me and some others to his first open-house/informational meeting, and if asked to speak, rather than going on about my on-the-ground vision of venturing, I'd like to be able to say some thing like "here's how some other youth described this program ...". [insert comments ripped,from this's thread here] So if you have some fodder, I'm at the trough.

Last time I checked..camping, hiking, exploring or knowing what to do in an emergency is not limited to english speaking people. But using a four letter word as an acronym for an inadequate teaching method is! Hopefully the Spanish course will pick a sharper mnemonic that includes "reference".

It's okay to tell people "I'm sorry, I forgot,your name?" I saw the VP schmoozing on our town's parade route yesterday, and he acted fine that everybody new him, and he was letting complete strangers take his picture give him their babies to kiss, etc.... But along those lines, it is also okay to make tough decisions like you are going to trade off one responsibility for another, so if you take on a position, you do so in a way that will do the most good. Turning down a position because under the circumstances, it's the better decision for the boys -- could fall in that category. It sounds like you helped the SM get the bigger picture, and maybe he'll still tap you as a resource. You can put him in touch with adults who will help him call "BS" on his dysfunctional committee. There was a time as a new crew advisor (the first one I ever met), my trainers did exactly that for me. I used the folks on our council's Venturing committee and the VOA as a sounding board. I could ask them, "Am I crazy?" They would reply, "Yes, but you are also right." That kept me going for several months until the adults in my troop and crew got on the same page. And the unit numbers on your shoulder won't have to match for you to provide that service!

I'll add this to a number of things to be prepared to call "BS" on. But, I have only seen this discussion in these forums. Must be in SW PA one doesn't come between a boy and his knife.

Keep in mind that Christian CO's are tasked with welcoming non-Christians into their community, so they will give support to programs that allow that. So. If AHG comes off as turning away families who,would rather keep church at arms length,the adult leaders might hear from the institutional head.

Naw, what shows the CO that we care enough to go above the minimum is lots of youth filling their building, posters of their exploits each year, the food pantry full when times are tough in the community.

Hammocks. Wipes. Portable camp showers are possible, but set-up is time consuming. BTW, the young women in my crew disdain cabins. Even sailing, they prefer to sleep topside.

Double post(This message has been edited by Qwazse)