RememberSchiff

Cheating seems more prevalent. I say "seems" as the cheating is in areas that are harder to prove, e.g. lubricants and axles, and there is little time or willingness to have a fair investigation. In my experience, the cheaters have been parents or grandparents and not scouts. As to the original question, a solution might be to reserve a hall and have scout/parent build and race on the same day. So early Saturday morning: handout the MARKED kits, have a builders workshop, check cars, then race. Many of the balsa sailboat regattas are done this way. Just wondering. Has anyone held a

The original intent was to prevent individuals from profiting off the BSA, not hamstring fundraisers for units and scout service projects. When doing a scout service project, you are a scout and are encouraged to wear your uniform proudly in your service. Now about those Boy Scouts that sold war bonds during World War I and my scouts who ushered (collected money) during Scout Sunday service last month ...

His doctor and the Philmont medical staff makes the call. Sorry I don't have any answers for you but here are some questions to ask. 1. (As mentioned) What is the impact on his health if the device totally fails upon arrival? Does he not sleep or do crew members have to take turns monitoring his breathing during night? 2. Has he used this device successfully on a local group training treks? 3. How well does this device work at Philmont high elevations, i.e., Philmont is not at sea level? 4. Are the batteries a common off-the-shelf variety? 5. If traveling to Philmont by plane, has

As I understand as of 2008, Red Cross First Aid and CPR is no longer sufficient. At least one Philmont crew member must have completed WFA from a nationally recognized organization as stated in this link (found by Searching from the new scouting.org) http://old.scouting.org/philmont/2008firstaidrequirements.pdf I was an EMT and as mentioned, there is a the big difference in handling wilderness situations and resources. You won't have the big truck ( no backboard) and will likely have to direct others to handle patient care including clearing the spine and patient transport over miles

Thanks for making this film to address this problem. Not many scouts in my unit do merit badge work outside of summer camp. Great opening with video game as it quickly draws attention. Good composition and production. Good humor, like the eye chart and stuffed animals in the vet's office and the music was well selected. I had some questions: 1. Why did you select a fictional merit badge? Why not work on a real merit badge like Cinematography and earn it at the COH? 2. What did you cut from your film? Did you have a time/size limit restriction on your film? 2a. Will you a

Good topic. Hopefully, we are informed beings with free will, conscience, and duty to others. I teach my scouts that a good leader understands and can explain the reasons for his rules and if you decide to go against the rules you too will be asked to explain your reasons. There is responsibility and accountability on both sides. Judgment building is an exercise for both leaders and followers. These came to mind and some overlap yours. Rn1. Rules are clearly posted for all to see. Ignorance is no excuse. (Local Tour permits come to mind) Rn2. Imperfect rules are better than n

From back in May, 2005 http://www.maine.gov/tools/whatsnew/index.php?topic=housedems+news&id=7037&v=Article The point here - it took a child's death to permit common sense in dealing with allergies. This tragedy occurred at a YMCA camp. AUGUSTA The Maine House of Representatives Thursday supported a measure proposed by Rep. Chris Barstow, D-Gorham, to allow children at summer camp to carry emergency medications in order to self-administer the live-saving drugs in an urgent situation. The bill builds upon Barstows successful effort during the last legislative sessio

Back in the 60's...our Neighborhood Commissioner (weren't called District Commissioner yet) would monitor the program quality. How did anyone know that your troop was running a scout program? Your unit Neighborhood Commissioner said so. A visit my him would entail: - Inspection of facility using check sheet. - Inspection of troops and adult leaders using uniform sheet - Attendance check by patrol and he wanted to hear a patrol cheer. - Inspection of troop records - membership, attendance, program schedule, advancement, and bank account(very important!). - Talk with Troop Committ

The "Story of Akela and Mowgli" is in the Cub Scout Wolf Handbook (at least the edition I used a couple of years ago). Pages 8-13 in the Parent Guide after Youth Protection. Parents are suppose to read and sign.

The National website scouting.org appears updated, though Search still does not work for me. Nice to see a "Guideline for using Cannons", as I have sensed a less-than-manly artillery gap between my troop and other troops with a full field artillery unit. Remember we are not a military unit nor are we to wear military-like uniforms unless we are, of course, Sea Scouts. http://scouting.org/HealthandSafety/Alerts/cannons.aspx

The sixties - equal but separate, benign neglect, civil rights movement,... Was there a National/Council/Troop segregation or integration policy? Segregation existed. There were Negro troops (the term "black" was not used yet). I was a young teenager in Jersey. Negro or black boys, some who were members of our CO church, would visit our troop meetings. They received a friendly greeting from us scouts, after all, they were our friends from school and we needed membership. None joined. Their families were strongly discouraged by our adult leaders. Blatant racism? I doubt it, maybe th

As to the original questions, if I may paraphrase: 1. I agree there is often an over-emphasis on uniform and advancement methods and an under-emphasis on leadership and patrol method. Guess which methods are harder to teach. 2. Easiest judge of our success? Well, just look at your scouts how are they doing? (trick question, even experienced leaders have a hard time evaluating this). If you want a metric, try a competitive scout activity like a Klondike Derby look at how they scored for scout spirit, skills, teamwork, did they have fun,... 3. Neither a sharply full uniformed troo

Gotta agree. Planning, communication, and delegation are difficult skills for scouts to acquire. If you are not short-handed and the activity is in a fixed area, say meal preparation at a campsite, try this 1) SPL picks a standing (not sitting) spot from where he can see and direct. 2) draw a 3' circle about that spot. Not too large, not too small. 3) He can't leave the circle. He can call people to him but he cannot leave the circle unless it is an emergency or it is now time to eat. 4) No one can be in the circle with him for more than 30 seconds. So no hanging with the SPL, ev

In Boy Scouts, we want a boy-run troop where the boys take on this responsibility. You want Option #2. When a patrol is meal planning, the question should be asked upfront "Do we have any diet restrictions?" - be they allergy, religious, medical, or "I just won't eat broccoli". Note my son has a nut allergy and carries an epipen just in case. So far, he has three incidents with the troop - all due to adult supplied food - brownies, cookies, and moose-something ice cream, i.e. "snacks I made for the boys...oh I didn't know". Yeah, real fun going to the ER. At the Cub Scouts, this

Pedro and Pee Wee Harris Extreme Beach Volleyball?

The uniform method is a useful tool. But I have successfully delivered the scout program without the uniform method, in fact so stated,'You are expected to be scouts whether you are wearing the uniform or not'. So if the "uniform" is keeping away boys, units should consider alternatives. I have never seen a "fitting in" problem at a scout gathering. Envy of custom t-shirts, ball caps, and those damn sneakers that they should not be wearing - yes, "scout uniform" envy - no. Not like the old days... my scouts are rather indifferent about patches; it is the adults who are collecting them.

Sounds like our Professional Scouters are experimenting with uniform options like other WOSM's...Canada and UK come to mind. Canada http://www.scouts.ca/inside.asp?cmPageID=365 UK (probably better links out there) http://www.scoutshops.com/ Prep school or business casual? Well at least their scouts are wearing a neckerchief (unless they are wearing a tie). Less expensive, less sewing/gluing of patches too. (Patches go on sash). Hmmm ...wonder if it's helping?

Why? Scouting has certainly become more invisible.

I dunno. When I browse various council, even the National website, I see photos of scout execs wearing coat and tie so I guess the uniform must be too expensive or is that the new uniform? Our Council has a staff photo page and only one scouter is wearing the uniform. But, then again, the uniform is optional.

As I read the initial posting, the AOL Crossover has not happened yet. If you state an option "receive AOL at the next Pack meeting, but probably no ceremony." It informs the parents of the consequences. They may 1) reconsider and join ceremony, which is where we are trying to steer them. 2) or a response - 'WHAT NO CEREMONY, what do you mean no ceremony? My boy deserves no less ... ' Then sternly but courteously say "Many people have worked long and hard to produce this important ceremony for our scouts, their families, and the Pack. Printing, hall rental, food cater

My advice, having been there 1. It is unlikely that any scheduled time will fit all, afterall it is flu season, so you "do your best" (Cub Scout motto). How many can attend the announced date? Seem a good number, then run as scheduled. If the attendance looks slim, then reconsider. 2. Don't question a parent's decision to attend another activity. That's a lose-lose situation. I have had parents opt to attend Ice Capades because they suddenly had tickets, basketball because they were suddenly in the playoffs,...whatever, their choice. May not make any sense to us, but we are not in th

Today, I attended Scout Sunday at our CO, a Protestant Church, with two dozen scouts from my unit. Some of our scouts who attended are not Christian and coincidentally none of our scouts are members of that Church. But there we were, all willingly participating in the Sunday program though some were non-believers in Jesus. One Muslim scout read part of the service and a Jewish scout another. The Church welcomed all of us to participate in their program today as we felt comfortable. No one said to a scout well you are "this" so you can't do "that" or be a part of our program. There was no relig

I remember similar arguments against allowing women to be scoutmasters. I stand for the Bill of Rights in the U.S. Constitution and pledged allegiance long before I said the Scout Oath and Law. Let's discuss John's proposal. This topic will be heavy on my mind at Scout Sunday tomorrow. A point about Marines...I was not a Marine nor do I know any personally, but whenever I have asked for their help with scouts, I always get a "will do". No can't do, won't try. "Will do". I would like to see Scouting adopt that attitude.

Well the family decided to be atheists and the BSA decided to ban atheists from membership and then there was the troop policy of Scout Sunday attendance. I wasn't part of any of those decisions. Look at the Boy Scout Application that I handed them, page 1 "As a Boy Scout, I will meet the obligations of living the Scout Oath or Promise"... in the right margin is the Scout Oath and Promise. sign __________________ From their perspective, they walked away. From my perspective, I followed the BSA and troop policy and turned them away. Yeah, I thought then and still do that

"Who gave you the impression that being in one organization would automatically qualify someone to be in the other?" His father. It was his impression that a young man who joined the Marines should have been allowed to join scouts. So you don't agree. Thank his son for the privilege.