RememberSchiff

I know this is I&P, but urinary aids for the disabled is not funny. I hid those two posts for moderator review. @NJCubScouter , @Sentinel947

Talking fun works better for recruitment but If asked, I will mention my boys and our medical response as they both were bit during scout outings. My wife contracted Lyme on a family vacation. Not fun. Thanks for your kind thoughts.

The white flag is dragged over brush. On the white cloth, the ticks are easier to see and remove for study. A black, furry bog might be a plan B or a faithful companion.

Agree. People may be just reporting more. That said, nearly every family in my unit has a family member who had one of these diseases. Both my sons had the Lyme bullseye and were quickly treated with antibiotics. Their doctor's wife who was also a doctor is a Lyme victim. She is now wheelchair bound. Mrs. Schiff has recurring Bell's Palsy from Lyme. IMO, the problem has been made worse by lost predator habitats - the suburban sprawl. While the predators are away, the mice will multiply. Education and bug sprays may prevent infection but they do not minimize the cause.

I have carried a neckerchief (a real, 4-sided one) in my glove compartment and in my suitcase when traveling. Maybe I should carry one in my back pocket as well.

Here's a positive step that Scouts might take - a tick drag. Scout Michael Kinsey heard of this research while considering Eagle projects. He reasoned that if Boy Scouts across the state (Texas) would incorporate a tick drag during their campouts, thousands of samples could be generated to accelerate the research. In the process, they would learn important information about protecting themselves from tick bites, and gain greater understanding of the outdoors. https://www.txlda.com/texas-teen-turns-tables-on-tragic-illness/ Maybe Scouts can help mitigate this problem.

I know Councils do sponsor/charter Venture Crews, e.g. summer camp Crew 1. Maybe the same approach will be used with girl troops?

Doubt it. If the media bugs a CO, the CO will just say talk to Council. If Council pushes, the many recalcitrant CO's around here will say "We had a Boy Scout troop, bye" and if they are also a savvy CO "oh.. and thanks for the equipment for our new youth group." There are numerous other options for former CO's. IMO, any pressure from the outside and National will be on Councils.

Any pressure will be on Councils, not existing CO's as CO's still determine their leadership and membership not the media, not the Council. I agree starting a new unit is hard here, but that is a National-made problem not the existing CO's. As I understand the UK Scout Association has no CO's, maybe they have a solution. My $0.02,

Yes.

Not much we can do about cooties, however the mice population might be another matter. I have wondered if Scouts placing or selling mouse traps might help reduce the number of infected ticks.

@cgail , welcome to scouter.com

Illnesses from mosquito, tick, and flea bites have tripled in the U.S., with more than 640,000 cases reported during the 13 years from 2004 through 2016. Nine new germs spread by mosquitoes and ticks were discovered or introduced into the United States during this time. This is impacting our troop's outdoor program more and more. https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2018/p0501-vs-vector-borne.html https://www.scouting.org/health-and-safety/gss/gss13/

@plumchas , welcome to scouter.com

Scouts and scouters can dissent without breaking the Scout Oath and Law. They courteously state their opinions supported by facts not innuendos.

Agree as we have seen before again and again.

I get you are upset, but I think we should focus more on our scout program and less on names.

Thanks for link. Yes "I am a Scout" , but there is no mention that a scout CANNOT say they are a "Boy Scout"

No change from yesterday, despite insinuations to the contrary.

Your nonsense was this false rumor. @NJCubScouter , @LeCastor

Doesn't matter one way or the other. Like I said less nonsense.

Not true. Less nonsense, more substance.

https://www.scoutingnewsroom.org/press-releases/scout-me-in/

New discussion started by OP request. I will temporarily lock this topic to limit confusion. @NJCubScouter

@AnnieScout welcome to scouter.com