RememberSchiff

Found this graphic allegedly from 2025 Report to the Nation. Source: https://scoutingamericafoundation.org/scouting-america-delivers-2025-report-to-the-nation-highlighting-achievements-and-vision/

The LA abuse settlement still needs to be approved by both the county claims board and county supervisors, is a billion dollars more than what county officials had anticipated as the worst-case scenario to resolve a flurry of lawsuits — and far more than other organizations notorious for allowing unchecked sex abuse have paid victims. Much more at source: https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2025-04-04/in-unprecedented-payout-l-a-county-settles-sex-abuse-claims-for-4-billion

Moderator note: We scouts can agree to disagree without being disagreeable. Thank you! ~ RS @Eagle1993

April 1, 2025 (I hope this is NOT an April Fools Joke!!!) Unlike recent years, this year Scouting America delivered on time as required by its U.S. Charter, its annual Report to the Nation. Announcement links: https://www.scoutingnewsroom.org/press-releases/scouting-america-delivers-report-to-the-nation-in-washington-d-c-highlighting-impact-and-future-vision/ https://www.globenewswire.com/fr/news-release/2025/04/01/3053541/0/en/Scouting-America-Delivers-Report-to-the-Nation-in-Washington-D-C-Highlighting-Impact-and-Future-Vision.html P.S. I will now look for the actual report ~RS

April 1, 2025: IMO, this opens the door to the use of unsafe kazoo's.

@YinYan75 welcome to scouter.com

Suppose it was instead My Honorary or Honored Scout to be completed by the scout if he or she chooses. Scout chooses and acquires that person's signature on certificate/card. When I think about the signatures, some famous some not so much, that I had the opportunity to get back in day ... who could refuse an Eagle Scout's request to sign his/her card? Excelsior! My $0.02,

Back in day, I received both my Eagle certificate and medal long after my Troop Court of Honor but that's another story. Anyway, when I finally received my certificate signed by President Nixon, I groaned to my Dad that I rather it had been signed by Stan Lee. My Dad was not amused.

“Boy Scouts lets him be a kid.” At his pack's annual Blue and Gold Banquet, nine-year-old Cameron Echols received a wooden axe for his bravery in fighting his cancer. The axe had inscriptions ‘A Scout is Brave’ with Cameron’s name and the scripture Joshua 1:9 — “Be strong and courageous, do not be afraid, do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God is with you.” "Cameron was diagnosed with a brain tumor last year, a myeloblastoma, near his cerebellum in his brain that was blocking fluid from going to the rest of his body. A surgery was performed that removed most of the tumor, but to get the rest they used radiation that he went through up until last December. Cameron is still going through chemotherapy and will continue that up until this fall with the hope he is done sometime in September or October. In the meantime, scouting has given the young boy a true outlet to feel like a normal kid for a bit and get away from everything he is enduring." More at source (text with audio): https://www.clantonadvertiser.com/2025/03/26/echols-fighting-cancer-with-family-scouts-support-behind-him/

"If you have integrity, nothing else matters. If you don't have integrity, nothing else matters." Senator Alan K. Simpson (1931-2025) Scout Salute and Farewell

Update 3/3/2025: Two have now been charged with vehicular homicide by recklessness, as well as safe speed, risk of collision and head-on situation violations. Both have posted a $5,000 bond, according to Wilson County jail records. Both were working for the Middle Tennessee Council, Scouting America at the time of the crash, their attorneys said. More at source: https://www.tennessean.com/story/news/local/wilson/2025/03/03/charges-filed-in-old-hickory-lake-boy-scout-crash-that-killed-tennessee-boy-10-jack-gear/80300219007/

Welcome to scouter.com Don't know myself. As you likely already know, the program refers scouts to existing merit badges: Exploration and/or Geology. https://troopleader.scouting.org/program-features/caving/information/

Show me a Life Scout who cannot develop Eagle project ideas and I will show you a scout with limited community service. Consider 17 year old Life Scout Bowden Warren who is also a member of Newton Grove Fire and Rescue (NC) and his words to Newton Grove Town Board. “I’m here to propose my Eagle Scout project plan. This will be a significant enhancement to the Newton Grove emergency helicopter landing zone that we, the Newton Grove Fire and Rescue, use. This project is designed to help improve the safety, visibility and accessibility of the area, ensuring it meets modern standards for helicopter landings. Based on my experience as a member of Newton Grove Fire and Rescue, I’ve seen first hand the need to improve this existing location, which at this time, is just an open grass lot that we have to use. There are some safety concerns that are due to limited lighting and unmarked power lines. There have been some close calls when landing helicopters. In the last 12 months, per last year’s call volume, we averaged more than one Life Flight per month from the Newton Grove emergency landing zone, which has increased. The logistics of Newton Grove, as each of you know, we’re an agriculture community. We have a major interstate with highways that intersect, and we are growing an industrial area as well. I believe this validates the need of having a more permanent and upgraded emergency landing zone. If you support this plan, the construction would include land preparation, electrical work and pouring a concrete pad that would be encased by a decorative perimeter. It would also have a sidewalk to access the service road, which is located off of Mount Olive Highway on East Weeksdale Street. Based on the projected expenses of this project being around $40,000, I plan to reach out to the Newton Grove community as well as local businesses to help with funding for this project. I hope each of you see this project as a major asset to the town and surrounding communities, as much as I do.” Response from Mayor and more at source: https://www.clintonnc.com/news/103506/n-grove-helipad-gets-green-light

Welcome to scouter.com . Some experienced member will hopefully respond shortly, meanwhile here are some past topics that may help you.

Test Lab Scouts work with a registered adult volunteer of their choosing on a new merit badge under consideration. After completion of all requirements, Scout must take a short survey which will result in a certificate of completion. When and if the merit badge is officially adopted, it will count towards advancement. Note test merit badges have no printed pamphlet (digital resources) and are hexagon shaped Merit Badges currently being tested until June 30, 2026: Auctioneering Wildland Fire Management Life Skills Unclear about adult volunteer feedback. More at sources, including Test Lab rules and PR release by National Auction Association. https://www.scouting.org/skills/merit-badges/test-lab/ https://www.newswire.com/news/national-auction-association-partners-with-scouting-america-to-launch-22520683

BSA Lifeguard and Instructor Program Transition Webinar 1/16/2025 about 58 minutes https://scouting-org.zoom.us/rec/play/LvRxtS6duldLsLsiZv2y6uhEfjUtzzNIOcSJzlT7kLK4_fW3J0tnmdayNHhtP9YtEdPMzvBtsy4lTrgb.z4NJvlopIo4FB-6b?canPlayFromShare=true&from=share_recording_detail&startTime=1737075625000&componentName=rec-play&originRequestUrl=https%3A%2F%2Fscouting-org.zoom.us%2Frec%2Fshare%2FTWms542tzepJvs-uevzEczkFz31g0Y6SCngQD-et7LsJFZA9gv4sZhHVJCMPxjhe.gz8qVAiFNa5a_HCG%3FstartTime%3D1737075625000

Transitioning to Red Cross Certification: Opportunities for BSA Aquatics Instructors and BSA Lifeguard Instructors "As part of this transition, currently certified BSA Lifeguard Instructors and BSA Aquatics Instructors will have the option to participate in a crossover course to become American Red Cross Lifeguard Instructors, if they choose. More information about these opportunities will be available soon. For individuals and camps that have relied on National Camping School Aquatics Instructor courses to become certified as lifeguard instructors, opportunities to earn certification as an American Red Cross Lifeguard Instructor will be offered both before or after National Camping School in 2025, along with additional certification options available at locations nationwide." More at source: https://www.scouting.org/outdoor-programs/aquatics/bsa-lifeguard-instructor-transition/

Back on Topic: Seems only 4 agencies are recognized to train lifeguards and/or lifeguard instructors? "After careful consideration and evaluation, Scouting America will transition away from the BSA Lifeguard certification program effective December 31, 2024. Over the last decade, training lifeguards across the entire aquatics industry has continued to evolve. While our partnership with the American Red Cross remains strong, the Red Cross materials will no longer be available to be used jointly for instruction of the BSA Lifeguard program. In addition, Scouting America does not possess the scientific and other resources required to develop and update a Scouting America specific lifeguard training curriculum that meets the industry standards mandated through state and federal regulations. Moving forward, we believe that partnering with well-established certifying agencies such as the American Red Cross, YMCA, StarGuard Elite, and Ellis & Associates will still allow us to offer local councils access to top-tier lifeguard training. We are confident that this approach will provide Scouting with quality training while also meeting industry standards. Our primary focus is on ensuring that every council has the support it needs to certify lifeguards for both summer camp and year-round aquatic activities. We will provide further updates in the coming weeks..." More at Source, updated 9/27/2025: https://www.scouting.org/trail-to-adventure-blog/bsa-lifeguard-certification-program-retiring-effective-december-31-2024/

Oh the irony, yesterday on National Boy Scouts Day, we officially rebranded to Scouting America.

Hmmm, that wasn't public long. I don't know if it was a copyright issue with AP or the comments being on? Here's the AP news story with the same video embedded. https://apnews.com/article/boy-scouts-scouting-america-birthday-name-change-796935fe9474fda03d179aa8c087ab42

I would assume that all camp aquatic staff had current lifeguard certification*, but then when one assumes... I found this curious document BSA Aquatics Staff Guide , Revised 3/15/2022, 148 pages. https://www.scouting.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/AQUATICS-STAFF-GUIDE-10072020.pdf page 17 Staff Training, Pre-Camp Training Only 50% of the aquatics staff must be BSA LifeGuard certification? IMHO, seemingly a half-way measure. Meanwhile NPR picked up the story https://www.nhpr.org/nh-news/2025-02-04/parents-allege-boy-scouts-failed-to-prevent-sons-2023-death-at-gilmanton-camp *Note BSA Lifeguard certification ended Dec, 2024. Seek training through Y, Red Cross,...

Update 2/4/25: The parents of Scout Keoni Hubbard are accusing Scouting America of violating its duty of keeping children in its care safe. In a lawsuit, they are "alleging that Scouting America violated many of its own safety rules, including having a qualified boating operator who is over 21, that the boat operator be a trained lifeguard and that there should be a second person on that boat serving as a lookout for the children in the water. " Sources: https://www.boston.com/news/local-news/2025/02/04/boy-scout-killed-2023-new-hampshire-boating-accident-lawsuit/ https://www.wmur.com/article/boy-scout-boating-accident-lawsuit-2425/63667843

Skilled trades teaching centers ... I wonder if Mike Rowe is involved and whether GTSS power tool restrictions will be reconsidered.

I read the article below about value given by Eagle projects of a certain District to its community and comparing the value of Eagle projects in other Districts. The value was in dollars! Only one Eagle project was briefly described "resurfacing of the playground" as it had the highest value to the community at $10,091. "Eagle Scout projects completed in the Powderhorn District — which covers western Oneida County and all of Madison County and serves more than 700 youngsters in 45 units — contributed an average of $2,053 per project, surpassing the contributions from other districts in the region, the announcement said. The Adirondack Foothills District averaged $1,719 per Eagle Scout project, while the Susquehanna Headwaters District averaged $1,329, officials added." Really? The value of Eagle Projects is in the money spent? Maybe the dollar amounts should be removed from Eagle Project Workbooks so as not to confuse people with the true value of Eagle projects. My $0.02 Source: https://www.romesentinel.com/townnews/politics/powderhorn-district-received-massive-contributions-through-eagle-scout-projects/article_f9346c9e-d988-11ef-b040-9fe4062a4095.html