Ridgewalker

What are your thoughts about commercial patch traders? I recently found a patch at auction on e-Bay that I designed for a council event that was given only to participants. It was being offerred by a commercial trader thousands of miles from me. He must have gotten it from the patch company since it is unlikely that the few dozen we had made would have traveled so far. I don't mind scouts and scouters exchanging and trading patches. But now it seems that our council is coming out with 'anniversary' and special event patches simply as a fund raiser. Basically, if I haven't earned it I

I forgot to mention another source for inexpensive High Adventure destimations: Selden's List at http://www.lns.cornell.edu/~SEB/high-adventure.html. It has links to many other websites. Also, if you know of a high adventure location in your area that might not be known nationally, please post it on this forum with a web link if it has one. I'll start with the Porcupine Mountains in Michigan's Upper Peninsula on Lake Superior. It is a great one week backpacking destination. You can make it a two week event by also visiting Picture Rocks to the east. PS, there's dozens of w

Let's not forget that one of the purposes of BSA high adventure progams is older boy retention. The big three of Sea Base, Boundry Waters and Philmont are great, but have become the ONLY high adventure destinations in the minds of some leaders and scouts. When a unit isn't able to get into the BSA bases it can have a negative effect on their program because they have never considered anything else. That is why I encourage unit leaders to use the Passport to Adventure as a guide. I've been on five Philmont treks, and three backcountry training sessions, and will be leading a council c

Get a copy of the BSA publication: Passport to High Adventure. It lists all the Council High Adventure camps, and their programs, in the country. Your scout shop should have it, or can order it. As far as costs, Philmont is $415 next year. Add transportation, meals and miscellaneous expenses and you can easily spend $750-$1,000 each. Our contingent from Wisconsin is charging $800 for 2002, this year it is $720, but Amtrak and Philmont fees have gone up. However, if you're willing to have your scouts and leaders put in the planning time, you can do a great self-directed week-long High

That is good news, thanks for the update.

The Philmont LNT course was basically a Master Educator course without some of the Wilderness Medicine emphasis. We originally expected that there would be a NOLS trainer, but BSA decided not to have one for some reason. Participants are registered with LNT as Awareness Trainers qualified to train Scoutmasters, SPLs and others to present LNT to their units. I have given presentations to adults at our day-long Rendezvous adult training event in November, plus to Roundtables. I do not give them to individual units, that is the responsibility of the unit leaders. The Philmont

Okay everyone, here's the bad news. In July, 2000 I paid $2,500 (that's not a typo) to Scouter for an ad in their postcard pack, which they have never publshed. In the past six months I have been lied to repeatedly by several people at the Sakima Group, which actually owns and publishes Scouter magazine. The only thing that I'm amazed at anymore is that this web site is still operating. Has anyone receive a copy of Scouter magazine lately? I'm supposed to get a 'free' ad in there for my business because I've been so patient waiting for the postcard pack to come out.

Hello out there. According to the little number in the corner, over 60 people have read this forum, but only two have replied. Are the rest of you indifferent, confused, hostile? Or, just busy? Can't have much of a forum if I'm mainly talking to myself.

Dear Tallkinbear... as long as you brought it up... our council camping committee has been having discussions about what Native American inspired activities and ceremonies are appropriate in Scouting. Specifically, O/A ceremonies, summer camp activities and symbolism, and cub related programs. I don't want to take away from the 'hoop dance' question, but it does bring up related issues.

Philmont fees for 2001 are $395.00. Our council contingent is charging $720 each, which includes the Philmont fee, Amtrak and bus transportation from the Milwaukee area to Philmont, all meals there and back, plus a hat, shirt and patches. The council also makes all the arrangements and handles administrative details. For 2002 the contingent fee is estimated at $800 because we anticipate that both Philmont and Amtrak will raise their fees. In 2000 our fee was $650. Other nearby councils charge more than $1,000, but include an extra day of sight-seeing plus some equipment.

I am only aware of the Cub Scout and Boy Scout Oaths. I've never heard of the professional staff taking a special Oath, but they may have directed a few at us Souters from time to time. Two sources for a wealth of Scouting information on the web are www.usscouts.org/ and www.ins.cornell.edu/, plus this Scouter.com site.

I think that National BSA wants to take the mystique out of scouting. They are afraid that anything special will be considered exclusionary or secret, so they are taking a lot of the 'tradition' out of Wood Badge, O/A and Philmont. Fifteen years ago when I joined Scouting I felt left out because I hadn't done a lot of things or earned a lot of recognitions. Now, these things represent my commitment to Scouting. Who knows what's right. As to going over the three peaks, you have to pick a specific itinerary that takes you to one or more of the areas. There are now almost three d

Thanks for the responses. I took the LNT course at Philmont Training Center this fall, so I'm obviously a believer. However, in my training courses, whether for LNT or anything else I teach, I emphasize "Do Your Best" rather than Do It Perfect or Not At All. Sure, I carry the poop out of pristine wilderness areas, but I also maximize my impact in already impacted areas rather than spreading out and creating many new minimally impacted areas. Once environmental degregation begins it's hard to stop, and 90% of BSA camping occurs in already heavily impacted areas. The trick is to m

Leave No Trace has recently been emphasized by the BSA in Scouting and Venturing. What is the reponse to LNT in your units. Have you heard about? Will you use it in your outdoor program?

In the past the bull patch indicated that you had hiked over the Tooth of Time, Mt. Phillips or Mt. Baldy. Recently, Philmont has tried to downplay this tradition and now says that anyone can wear the patch with the tail positioned over the shoulder. The arrowhead is still reserved for those who have completed a Philmont trek.

I don't have any problem with Scouts posting the flag and leading the Pledge of Allegiance at a political rally, but it does bother me to see them gathered behind the candidate when he or she is speaking or during other "photo opportunities". Especially seeing scouts used in advertising for a candidate is troubling. I don't think the public will see the difference between the candidate supporting scouting and scouts supporting a candidate when they appear on stage together. I'm a counselor for the citizenship merit badges, and have served as an elected official, so I've had som

Dear Stan: Over the years I have attended four Philmont training courses, the last one this September. You received the packet because someone in your council, probably your district DE or council executive staff, thought you would be a good candidate for that course. It is expected that you will make a commitment to bring back what you have learned and share it with your fellow scouters, or use the information in your current or near future scouting position. If the course that you are considering says that you will be in the backcountry and not able to be with your family, believe

Boy Scouts are supposed to be politically neutral. I was disappointed to see scouts at rallies for both candidates. There is always an implied endorsement if scouts show up in uniform. I don't want people to assume that just because I'm involved in Scouts that I must support one candidate or party over the other. Campaign ads for Bush prominently displayed scouts and leaders in uniform behind the candidate. I'm surprise that the National office allowed this.