RememberSchiff

Anyone know if meritbadge.org is undergoing maintenance? Their web server has been unreachable for awhile.

@hoosierscoutmom welcome to scouter.com

10 minutes ago, Tampa Turtle said:

I think this may be the start of a new thread.

Good point, moved to. Thanks.

@TuckahoeJoe , welcome to scouter.com

I am sensing an Eagle Scout drain in the Trump Administration.

Sect. of Health and Human Services Tom Price (Eagle Scout) resigned and replaced by Alex Azar who I understand was not a scout.

Sect. of State Rex Tillerson (Eagle Scout) fired. Designated replacement Mike Pompeo,  again as I understand was not a scout.

Next Eagle Scout to go?

What to tell our scouts?

When teaching citizenship, we often watch Mr Smith Goes to Washington with its positive message of participating and fighting for our principles. But  today, if there was a sequel would the message be reversed, Mr. Tillerson Expelled from Washington?

Will our scouts become more cynical of government service with the firing of Mr. Tillerson? I hope Mr. Tillerson speaks to American youth this week about government service, particularly under adverse circumstances.  Maybe he will come back to the BSA?

2 hours ago, JasonG172 said:

I believe that was because LNT (an American based company) assisted with and help create this program for the BSA

No and yes. The roots of LNT start with the BSA and Bureau of Land Management in the 80's. In the 90's NOLS took over with the US Forest Service.  Other government partners joined. Government funding of these education programs was always a problem. which lead to the creation in 1994 of  LNT, a non-profit educational program which marketed courses to many groups including the BSA.

More details at this link.

https://lnt.org/sites/default/files/Leave_No_Trace_History_Paper.pdf

@SSF,  I wish your post was on a sign at every Camp Splashalot waterfront.  I remember when Scouting had a strong Every Scout a Swimmer program.

3 hours ago, CubMasterDan said:

My question is this, have you ever gone to resident camp with a scout without the scout's parent? What would you watch out for? How would you alter your plan if you had to do it again?

Yes.

What they are eating - mess hall food vs snacks they bring vs snacks they buy at camp store.  Definitely need a Snack policy or Snack Czar.

Make sure any cuts and scrapes are handled. A supply of large bandaids, some of us call them "Cub Scout" bandaids  comes in handy. Get to know camp nurse.

Have a large selection of games and songs for anytime - they are waiting in line, back at camp, at the campfire, rain...

Most scouts have been to camp before and know the routine which they quickly show the new  younger scouts ( a prelude of Boy Scouts). But don't assume, case in point bug repellent and  sun screen application.

Check all tents, especially cots each morning. Have a response for bedwetting. Sometimes parents will inform. Bring extra sleeping bag(s). Find out if the camp has a washer and dryer available.

I have experienced few home sickness cases,  but maybe that was just luck.

Hope this helps.

21 hours ago, JustAScoutMom said:

He quickly accepted the swim team idea (in the past, he has HATED the idea), but he is determined to impress his peeps by passing the test in June.  His legs are strong due to daily inline skating.  I think the swim coach will great for him...he will gain endurance AND learn the proper stroke techniques.  I'm excited for him.  I think each new skill will make him feel accomplished.  More importantly, he will absolutely know that when he passes, he really earned it.  Its his alone and he can take a lot of pride in it.

My older son also joined a swim team to pass swim tests. Though not fast or able to flip turn, he medalled in competitions since he had no lane violations. 

@MicheleG please contact the forum owner @SCOUTER-Terry regarding advertising your product and services.  Thanks.

@NJCubScouter, @LeCastor

From our exit discussions, most of our families view Boy Scouts as a middle school extra-curricular activity. Some of those families are in full press for Eagle before high school starts and they depart. A few may stick around for a year or so to complete Eagle. The 18th birthday deadline is irrelevant, as Eagle or not, they leave by 16. Summer SAT-prep and pre-college courses for high school students are very popular, despite the expense. Why go to Philmont when you can spend a week at hopefully your #1 pick college living the college life away from Mom and Dad.

With one exception, Scouts is just not part of their "pathway" (not trail) forward after middle school and we scouters are not  viewed as "stakeholders" . I think these buzzwords came from a school district meeting. The exception is those Scouts who want to attend the service academies.

Another $0.02,

@Tutavena welcome to scouter.com

12 minutes ago, Tampa Turtle said:

I respect all scouts I just want the option for all boy Troops for similar reasons many females want GSUSA to stay female only, I just do not think it will be a real option. I do not think national can pull off what they say.  Boys are being neglected in our society. However it seems that is an opinion that is not allowed to be uttered on this board. 

Well you just uttered it...and in a courteous way.

5 minutes ago, David CO said:

A brother? How can a girl be a brother?

 

Maybe we should go back to arguing about art? 

27 minutes ago, David CO said:

You are an intelligent man. You understand that people of certain religions object to, and even condemn, the beliefs and behaviors of certain other people. Yes, we have disagreements. Very serious disagreements.

You trivialize these disagreement when you lump them together with benign characteristics such as hair color and food preferences. You insult us when you compare our disagreements with racism.

If, for this and no other reason, we were to distance the scouts in our units from those in yours, just to avoid the insult and indignity of being called out as bigots, that would be reason enough for us to not participate in a district or council scouting activity.

 

My point was that scouts/scouters should overcome these disagreements - trite or serious depending on whose perception - and participate in scout activities together. A Scout is a Friend to All and a Brother to Every Other Scout ?

Sorry if I was unclear.

Maybe this should be a JTE or Camping MB requirement: each year every troop must camp with another troop.  One on one. I wonder if the adults could get through Friday night?

My $0.02

I am skeptical of any survey with multiple choice responses. It should be open response only with a follow-up.

My $0.02

23 minutes ago, qwazse said:

@gblotter, @RememberSchiff, @Jameson76and @Tampa Turtle

Lead scouts or lead someone else .... my recommendation remains: work for smiles.

• When my venturers were getting short shrift because, well, girls were seen as some sort of contaminant -- even when no girls were present and I had simply dropped by a troop meeting in a venturing shirt: I made it clear to adults that I was not about to be bothered by the burrs up anyone's butts -- especially theirs. (Yes, I used those words. No, that's not how I usually phrase things.) Instead I made sure that their boys had outstanding, inexpensive, backcountry experiences.
• The reward: Boys taking an extra weekend to help girls hike. Shouts across a copse in the dark: "Hey Boy Scouts, you wanna play cards?" An introverted 11 year old making tea for a 16 year old venturer. E-mail from young  scout thanking me for a backpacking trip. Girl Scouts canoeing FOR THEIR FIRST TIME. Chili powder+espresso suggested by an Italian scout/venturer. Watching her say "cheap" because "thrifty" wouldn't roll of the tongue! The look on my SM's face when he realized he was transporting his first car-full of girls, and his offer to assist me anytime after that.
• And what's more, I had plenty of all-boy outings full of smiles there as well.

I reaped a lot of rewards. Nevertheless, I certainly could have done without the well-meaning scouters who tried to "tradition-shame" me.

So, if another scouter manages reap that level of happiness maintaining a unisex environment, why should we "world-shame" him or her? Especially when the WOSM does nothing of the sort?  

While some of us move on to making BSA4G environments, we need to do our level best to honor scouters asking for unisex environments for their youth. Some of you, citing Scouts UK, think it's gotta be one way or the other. Good news, we're not British.

Unisex and coed. We want to have it all. It's the American way.

World-shaming?

I cannot understand why any scout or scouter would say they will not participate in a scouting activity with other scouts because those scouts are girls, gays, geeks, SPED, blacks, Muslims, LDS, gingers, vegans, jocks, ...

I am old and remember when black Boy Scouts could not attend our summer camp yet we attended the same high schools. My friends attended a separate black scout camp.

We have disagreements, but we are all scouts.

My $0.02

WILKES-BARRE — When the Northeastern Pennsylvania Council awarded a 2018 Distinguished Citizen award to former state revenue Secretary Dan Meuser, it was clear — from the event program as well as his acceptance speech — that the Republican is running to represent the 9th Congressional District.

Another Republican candidate for the seat, Andrew Shecktor, a councilman from Berwick, on Friday described the scouts’ “potential endorsement” in presenting the award as “clearly a violation of IRS regulation.”

Scout Executive Mark Barbernitz countered that the program was in line with scout values — recognizing the person while avoiding the politics.

“We didn’t endorse him,” Barbernitz said. “We recognized him for his service to the community, what he’s done in the past.”

Federal law prohibits nonprofit organizations, such as the Boy Scouts, from participating in political campaigns.

In a program the scouts distributed at the event — which features a full-page color ad for Meuser’s congressional campaign — Meuser’s profile uses the phrase “Candidate for Congress” to identify his occupation. An introductory letter by dinner co-chairmen Peter J. Danchak and Marianne Gilmartin, as well as Scout Executive Mark Barbernitz, also extols Meuser and his brother Scott, CEO of the Meuser family company Pride Mobility,

“Dan Meuser is committed to serving the community and fighting for their best interest,” the letter said.

In brief remarks at the dinner, Meuser, 54, of Kingston Twp., concentrated on his history in the Boy Scouts and in community affairs, but did allude to his candidacy for Congress.

Both Meusers were honored at the dinner, but they took the stage separately after each was introduced by a video featuring testimonials from relatives and friends. Dan Meuser’s video included remarks from Patrick J. Solano, an influential local Republican who held jobs in the administrations of every governor from Bill Scranton to Ed Rendell and capped his career as a senior adviser to GOP governors Tom Ridge and Mark Schweiker.

...

Barbernitz, the scout executive, said that the scouts selected Meuser for the award sometime around November, and that he was initially listed as affiliated with Pride Mobility, along with his brother. The switch to congressional candidate came after the scouts learned he was no longer at that company, he said.

“It’s not an endorsement. It’s just, ‘What title should we put for him?’” Barbernitz said. “We don’t get into politics because whatever you do, 50 percent of the people are going to be upset with you. We teach citizenship, and we teach the kids to participate in the political system. We encourage that and we encourage patriotism, but we don’t get into endorsing candidates or picking sides.”

http://citizensvoice.com/news/boy-scouts-take-heat-for-honoring-candidate-1.2311974

FAQ about the Ban on Campaign Interventions by 501(c)(3)

https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-tege/501c3_polcampfaqs.pdf

TEXARKANA, Arkansas - Boy Scouts of America is now operating under increased security standards after a brush with unfriendly visitors.

After installing surveillance cameras and monitors throughout the Caddo Area Council building, Scout Executive Anthony Escobar is taking safety a step further with an active shooter course led by Texarkana, Arkansas Lieutenant Chris Rankin. He says, the worst time to try to formulate a plan is when the event is taking place, you need to have at least given it some consideration and some thought before hand."

Lt. Rankin encourages people to follow three steps, avoid, deny and defend. "Deny access to the building again through locks and  through again a good lock down procedure and then the last case of that scenario is to defend yourself," say Rankin.

Check out video interview with SE Anthony Escobar.

http://www.arklatexhomepage.com/news/local-news/tapd-offers-active-shooter-training-to-boy-scouts-of-america/1026915083

@xj-boonie welcome to scouter.com

2 minutes ago, blw2 said:

funny thing.... I've never seen this thing on my daughters' GSUSA uniforms.... so much for unity.

GSUSA, as I understand, is a member of WAGGGS not the WOSM.

12 minutes ago, gblotter said:

And if you don't support the DRP, are you still worthy to wear the World Crest? What about unity and brotherhood?

I disagreed with the decision to exclude those families from BSA but obeyed it.

13 minutes ago, Jameson76 said:

Funny, I had the same sort of feedback when I spoke with our local SE (sorry CEO) after the announcement, he rolled out the term "conditional scouters".  Guess the implication is I was only active and supportive as long as I like the conditions.

Clearly the challenge is conditions have changed.  I did not change it, you did not change it.   Not sure this is all good change management

Deja vu all over again. Felt the same when DRP was forced on us.

51 minutes ago, gblotter said:

I wouldn't want our boys sharing merit badge classes, evening campfires, flag ceremonies, or dining hall times with girl troops. I seek to continue the same summer camp experience our boys have enjoyed before these announcements.

If they are scouts same as you and your scouts, where is the unity and brotherhood in your statement above?