qwazse

I'm certain that our litigious society has forced BSA into a position of pervading events and activities even obliquely related to the unit. It has most certainly cost them membership. Why? Because taking "scout" from its source (in military espionage) and authentically applying it to youth we get a vision of the pinnacle scouting experience of hiking and camping independently with your mates. In other words, one finds himself to be an authentic boy scout (girls, no exception) when one calls on a half-dozen friends, makes a sound plan, communicates it to a thoughtful and caring adult - who admiringly approves, and executes it. Observing and, subsequently reporting.

I’m not sure about the stats. I don’t think there’s limit on the number of scouts who can earn the award. But it involves a substantial amount of paperwork. So, you have a diligent adult leader to thank for doing that. National Courts of Honor are hosted by council and each council does it differently.

I routinely pray for those in authority ... so they don’t get much extra on this account. ... unless the Almighty does some kind of triple word score with prayers for those with disease and affliction. I do hope their symptoms continue to be mild - and that everyone else attending the last debate continues to test negative. On the other hand, there is something to be said for getting it over with and not having to worry about this particular virus for at least a little while.

Those limits are quite narrow and often self-selecting. For example, a church that welcomes atheists to participate in its programs might be less likely to agree to a BSA charter by virtue of its Declaration of Religious Principle. A troop whose CO demands scouts contribute monetarily to the CO would likely find a different CO. Whereas what the CO must use scouting for is quite broad: One should expect specific challenges if the CO is using scouting primarily for faith-based youth ministry. One should expect different challenges if the CO is using scouting primarily for patriotism and military and veteran recognition.

A quick read of the history of the Papacy indicates that you couldn’t stoop that low! But yes, I have grievances regarding my CO‘s governance ... they border on stark theological differences. Yet, I comport myself as their representative when I’m in uniform. The boys know nothing about my issues I have. Because in spite of its flaws, this CO has put heart and soul into our troop and crew when others who might suit my world view have given scouting lip-service. They never asked me to sign a document. But I would in a heartbeat. (Actions trump words, etc ...)

I agree that scout-run and HA are orthogonal. A canned HA wont necessarily erode a scout-run ethos. It could cut the other way. For example, a crew may fall in with a Seabase captain or a Philmont ranger who firmly gets adults to stand down and who puts the scouts at the helm. That in turn can open the eyes of adult leaders for the first time. Folks come home more willing to let youth take the lead in decision making. Those leaders can back the youth to a skeptical committee because they've seen it in action and they want to see it again. The canned vs. planned adventure decision can come from adult- or youth- run crews. Sometimes youth can easily put in a few more hours at work (or make themselves worth that much doing a few more chores at home) and their earnings offset the cost savings of planned adventure. Or they know they can mobilize adults for a fundraiser better than they can mobilize them to re-vamp the unit program toward planning the next big-ticket event. They can't find the synergy between a planned adventure and their weekly program ... so, they opt for canned. It's not so much ignorance as it is impatience.

Boys Life has its own archive. Not sure if it's indexed in any way that would help navigate to GBB's columns more quickly. I loved those columns too.

I disagree. Troops hesitate to plan their own big-ticket activities because it is a time-consuming distraction from the troop's other activities. It is far easier to beef up a fundraiser to cover costs of staff who tailor trips for novice scouts (novice to the adventure, and often novice to being scout-run for a week straight.) than it is to build the level of scouts' personal responsibility for every aspect of the trip. It's awesome if you can get your unit's parents to buy-in to building a troops' activities around shaping up for the next scout-researched-scout-designed-super-activity. Doing so really inspires younger scouts. Badges start being earned around what's needed to prepare for the trip. Advancement is no longer an end in itself. (My first-years are learning to "throw" a clove hitch over a post. One of them is inspired to become a sea scout.) But, it requires connecting a lot of dots -- building a vision -- that many troops are not prepared to do. That's the case for my troop at the moment. This batch of older scouts has been sheltered from doing the heavy lifting of trip preparation. They know it because I tell them so when there's an event that interests them and I put it on them to line up transportation, schedules, and campsite location. And it's going to take a few more of my "special offerings" of events where they miss deadlines and, consequently, opportunities because "Mr. Q. is good for nothing and best used that way." But, once they realize that I'm with them anywhere and up for anything if they make the phone calls and line up the plans, we are gonna have a lot of fun (and eat quite well) on some lean budgets. I'm sure most of my parents would rather throw money at the problem -- and if they'd pay my way and do the phone calls I'd almost take them up on it. But, it turns out that boys who are in a habit of the 'rents buying canned adventure are boys who haven't built a habit of uniting on a particular adventure in a particular year ... nor are they prepared with their backpack at the end of their bed ready to grab-and-go when someone has a last-minute opening in their crew. If a scouter has a dozen scouts with BSA Seabase on the brain, he/she should build up the cash to make it happen. Along the way, they'll pick up tips and tricks for home-growing the next big-ticket activity. Their program will sync with their next adventure, and even the scouts who aren't on the trip will have buy-in on account of the skills they pick up in the preparation.

I've done Key West Sailing adventure with three crews (on the same week) and Bahamas Sailing Adventure with two crews. They are both very rewarding. Especially the snorkeling in the Bahamas. I'd go back to the Bahamas with my family in a heartbeat. Oh wait, I did! Yes, you can get private outfitters for each, but self-provisioning is a day out of your schedule. And the captains who sign up to host scouts are a unique breed.

@MattR, It sounds like your son's dog is my dog's evil twin. (Someone's chocolate took a shining to someone's golden.) Yes, he needs to get out. He'll hike till he drops. Those poor hips aren't doing mine any favors. And @heres_a_llama, being in GS/USA as long as you were, you understand the risks. People have not changed. @SemperParatus may have an axe to grind. But, his concern is valid. At the end of the day, people trust us adult leaders beyond the organization's ability to assure our integrity. Learning our Youth Protection Training is the best asset you and your son will have. If any of that unnerves you, post your concerns, we creepy strangers on the internet might be able to walk you through it.

@heres_a_llama, don’t let the curmudgeons get on your nerves. Yes some of us are dealing with national issues and cultural shifts, and that can be discouraging. BSA isn’t some up-front investment of thousands. Were it to fold next year, hopefully you’ll have got out what you put in this year. Positive attitudes year by year ... that’s what shapes the worlds largest youth movement.

PL’s cannot sign-off requirements in scoutbook. It is a read-only book to them. Patrol Method is optimized when the only signatures in a scout’s book are from his/her PL. That includes the SM conference. At PLC, the SM reports on which scouts he conferenced, and PLs note that in the respective scouts’ books. Really, the only things that adults are obliged to record are boards of review and advancement for each rank. Boys having to stop by the advancement chair or SM to have their books updated for every little requirement is an artifact of recent decades.

1. This season could have done with more preemptive bow-sawing in some parts of the west. 2. It’s sheer folly to judge someone’s mindset, especially a teen’s, based on a statement (probably parroted by adults throughout the scouterverse) clipped from an interview that was no doubt 10 times as long.

IMHO. There have been way too many scouters who think every Eagle project should be something more than a scout and his buddies slapping together a nice looking bench in a public location. I have more trouble with projects that are barn-raisers that take thousands of man-hours where the scout’s hand on the tiller seemed incredibly light.

If a governor limited youth camping to "groups of no greater than 10 close friends from the same neighborhood, adult supervision and other groups no closer than 100 yards," how many council/units would comply?

I will say that certain young teens have a special knack for those especially challenging kids.

No. Fun gives no specific benefits.

An adult sibling serves as a designated guardian. E.g., on the permission slip, who can take a child home from an activity. BSA is ambiguous on these scenarios because they are many and unpredictable. But think of it from a litigation perspective. Right now "public service" announcements are reminding us that being exposed to pornography is a form of sexual abuse. How many youth were introduced to it by their older siblings? How many older siblings were also ASMs? Things to keep us awake at night.

Photographing the color guard: cool. Photographing players and audience: not cool.

For me, the training offered a little more than the ticket. I was pretty good at goal setting and project management. The networking gained through the training pays dividends to this day.

Don't know about where you live, but eight buddies pitching in $15 can get a kid to some very sweet campsites in Western, PA. That includes filling their bellies with some quality ingredients -- possibly fresh eggs and milk if you're willing to pitch in and help the farmer/ranger with a project or two. So, the calculus has become: pay BSA registration vs. go camping once a month. I am honestly astounded that the parents in my troop think it's worth the price of admission.

Also, the dollar cost advantage of MB pamphlets are when they make it to a troop library to be shared with other scouts. Do you envision that your app for a particular MB could be purchased by one scout (possibly the troop librarian) to be shared with 40 other scouts over the next few years?

Are you aware that the scouterverse has been here before? https://blog.scoutingmagazine.org/2015/06/16/casting-call-bsa-seeks-boy-scouts-star-instructional-videos/

Thanks to @HICO_Eagle’s nods, I just realized, we were just two weeks to lockdown when I wrote this. The moral of the story: if your 1st years ask to mix, let them do so ASAP. You never know when the next wave will come.

We make a commitment form for each big trip. Here is an financial section that I used for a trip. It was not the crew's responsibility if you couldn't go. How much you got returned to you was between you and whoever replaced you. A. Finances/Paperwork: I will raise funds (no more than $1500) for the trip by participating in crew fundraisers, working on my own, or negotiating fairly with my parents. From now until April 2011 I will make monthly payments to Crew 321 to cover the cost of the trip. If I cannot go on the trip: I am responsible to find someone else to go instead of me, and they may reimburse me for what I have paid. I will complete a physical exam by within 12 months prior to the trip and have my physician complete the Seabase medical form. I will obtain a passport for travel to the to the Bahamas. qwazse, I edited this so it doesn’t take up two screens. John.