scoutingagain

While I may have concerns regarding the current administration's policies and where they might take us in the future, bringing back the draft is not one of them. NJ, I agree, that if one were to follow the stated "logic" of the administrations's reasons for going to war, we could concievably justify attacks on the countries you've listed, most notably Syria and Iran. While, Syria hasn't fired SCUD missiles into Israel, it's government seems to have no problem allowing other organizations fire shorter range missils into Iraeli areas from it's territory. There is one big difference be

Our Troop, falls into the OGE and BW camp.(No pun intended.) I can't say we have had any real problems. In the evenings during down time scouts will play cards or somtimes privately listen to music. For the most part scouts don't seem to bring portable electronic game systems, they seem to understand they don't fit the activity. Scoutmasters sometimes play cribbage. Needless to say, when we backpack, this cuts down on many of the "discouraged" items. So far we havn't had issues with portable DVD players, but I'm sure that will happen sometime in the near future. Hopefully they

The practice in our troop is: Troop pays for training for adults. There is no cost for adults to attend summer camp. For long trips, > 200 miles, drivers have been reimbursed for the cost of fuel. On normal weekend outings, adults pay the same as scouts. No one seems to mind and we do not have a problem with adults willing to participate in outings. SA

While the PLBs may be expensive many of our scouts have purchased the Family Service Radios. It is not uncommon for 50 - 60 % of our troop to go into the field with these things. We use the type with the availability of sub-channels so there is little interference with others in the area that may also have the radios. We have found them to be useful in communicating among patrols, groups etc. On a hike we will frequently break up into two or three groups, the Rabbits, that want to travel fast, some in the middle and then those that bring up the rear. The radios, allow the three groups to

"Jackson Pollock comes to mind" I was thinking more like Moe, Larry and Curly (No Shemps). Still think it's a great idea if second grader quality is considered OK. If your careful with specific painting assignments it might not be as bad as some might think. Some boys can probably do a decent job, other will still have trouble keeping the paint away from where it's not supposed to be. Judicious use of drop cloths, masking tape, etc. will help. These are Cub Scouts, so I would include relatively close adult supervision. I would want the boys to use only latex paints, soluble in w

What kinds of political activity would I sign off on? Simple...Nonpartisan activity. I agree with Bob White. Any individual is free to support any cause or candidate of their choice, and scouts should be encouraged to do so, but they are not free to do so while representing, or appearing to represent, the BSA. Why? Because one person's political ideas are not likely to represent those of all scouts or scouters and an individual's participation as a scout or scouter at a partisan activity would imply support by more than just the individual, which would not be true. Such activity

Well I may as well throw my 2 cents in. I've read the thread, and while I sympathize with foto I'm inclined to agree with those that would let the boy attend. EagleinKY comes the closest to capturing my thoughts. If the boy is still registered, and has expressed interest in the trip and has paid a deposit he should be allowed to attend...as a Cub Scout. I would ask the boy if he is a Cub Scout or not. Let him know that the trip is a Cub Scout/Pack activity. If he says he is a Cub Scout, and is willing to try an live up to the Cub Scout Promise, he is welcome to attend as a part

I've watched this thread and the responses. In the specific case that initiated the thread, I see no reason why a scout shouldn't be able to use money from his troop account for an Eagle project, any aspect of it. Presumably this money is there because the scout made an effort at some point to participate in fund raising. If he is willing to donate his share to an Eagle project, even his own, that benefits the community, well I think that is an honorable use of the money. More so than using the money on himself, so he can attend camp, a trip or buy himself equipment. On another though

Well I find myself in Rooster's corner on this one, although I'd express the point a little differently. Instead of saying a man is "uniquely qualified" to be a mentor or role model for a young man I'd say a man is better suited in this role. Why? Simply because boys grow up to be men not women. Instead of saying boys grow up to confront a man's world, I'd say boys grow up and must face the world from a man's perspective. None of this negates the value women leaders can contribute to the program and I have yet to see anyone in this thread express the idea that women should not

I think women should be able to hold any leadership position in the BSA they want and can effectively do. Same as men. However, while I might not go so far as to say men are uniquely qualified to mentor boys, I share the belief that there is added value when boys are mentored by men of character and that part of the Boy Scout experience should be the association of young men with adult men of character. This does not mean that women are not able to mentor boys. I think each gender can bring their own unique value to the program. Men bring some things to the program that women don't a

My mistake, I see the school is an elementary school. Maybe the candidate attended. Maybe he didn't. Still doesn't matter. Bottom line is I would tend to believe the scout feels the project would benefit the students at the school. SA

Noah, Welcome aboard. I expect you thought you had a fairly simple question. Suprise! My thoughts on this tend be with those that would allow the project. From the scout's perspective he sees a school with a need and would like to help the school. I assume, he attends this school. It is his community. I doubt he sees it as for-profit, non-profit, S or C corporation. To him it's his school or at least a school. He sees the need for a flag pole and volunteers his services to organize and lead an effort to build one for the benefit of his school, classmates and community.

Several years ago while we were gathered for a family function my wife and sister-in-law, both scout moms, ran into an ASM and a few scouts in uniform at the local supermarket. The scouts were apparently travelling and spending the night at a nearby campground and were in the market to pick up some items for their dinner. It was supposed to be a quick trip. An hour later my wife and sister-in-law finally returned with the 2-3 items they had gone for. When asked what tool them so long, they said they just had to stay and help the scouts shop! Moms will be moms. SA

Hmm, Interesting idea Hunt. But, I'm inclined not to go for it. I would prefer scouts do outdoor activities because they actually like to do them, earning MB's as a consequence of doing some of the things they like to do. The approach outlined, seems to make advancement the primary motivator to do outdoor activities. SA

Thanks for the responses. Eagle74, I was wondering what your source was for the caffiene content in the various beverages you listed. I don't doubt the accuracy just curious. Personally, I do not use these so called booster drinks, but I am one that enjoys a hot cup of coffee in the morning. My son's do not drink these drinks either, but they do consume more than their share of soft drinks, mostly the non-caffienated varieties. I have noticed that on our backpacking trips, the quantities of these drinks, and other soft drinks that are hauled into the wilderness is much less than when

Since we are discussing adult consumption of alcoholic beverages, I'd was wondering about how folks felt about some of these so called Energy drinks that are available. (The name Red Bull somes to mind but there are others.) These so called energy boosters may contain some stuff that could be consider nutritious and are high in calories, but many contain large amounts of sugar and an extra dose of caffiene. There are no restrictions on their sale and it is not uncommon for some of our youth members to show up with a six pack or two of this stuff as their beverage of choice for an outing, or

Eagle in KY, A good question. In general I believe we as leaders have a responsibility to uphold and live by the rules set forth in the G2SS. I also agree with Ed, and that our primary concern should be the safety of the youth members. And, it's great to see BW back. I would have been suprised to see him stay away for long. Just for yucks I'll pass on my 2 cents with respect to some of the examples you gave. "- A parent shows up at a Pack meeting or event after having some drinks. Maybe they just stopped for happy hour or had a few glasses of wine with dinner. Whate

" . Any hope of stoppin' this train before it leaves the station again?????????" Doubtful, All you have to do is go down the list of topics in this section and look at the title of the thread. Any thread with more than 5 pages, probably involves issues of religion or sexual orientation or both. Does it suprise me that a hungry 16 year old might find a prayer before a meal "rather annoying" ? Not really. At least he didn't say it was an infringment of his constitutional rights to eat, without having to be forced to participate in a religious ritual. (That last sentence is meant to

I'll admit the hiking MB requirements are fairly rigourous. I'm not familiar with the requirements for biking. However, the idea that the Emergency Preparedness MB is equivalent in difficulty as Lifesaving MB is ridiculous. I wonder what percentage of Eagle candidates get the Emergency Preparedness MB instead of the Lifesaving MB. SA

Perhaps they could sell little stuffed animals and claim they have been issued as a limited edition. What? Someone does that? Never mind. SA

Think of all the bad hair days to come. SA

"I disagree with swimming and life saving with being required because some people can't swim. Lifesaving can be diffcuilt especially if the kid is out of shape." If I recall correctly, when swimming and lifesaving were required MBs, if a scout could demonstrate a handicap or physical impairment that prevented him from completing the requirements of these MBs, he could apply for alternative MBs to be earned. Otherwise, scouts that wanted to reach the status (Rank, achievement, award) of Eagle scout were expected to complete these badges. I too think the elimination of these bages as abs

If the premise of this article is correct, it would seem there are other places we can go looking for oil and gas before we need to start poking holes near Philmont. http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=514&e=6&u=/ap/20040813/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/oil_leases_exploration I tend to agree with others, that we should be looking to other technologies as well and believe they will be developed as they become economically viable. Economic viablity will come from developing ways to offer alternative technologies at lower cost and continued increases in the cost of petr

Under some circumstances I could see that there might be nothing wrong with these types of activities. I can see have special events for older scouts or the leadership core of the troop, or specific patrol activities. However if this is just a special clique that wants to do things exclusive of others in the troop, it doesn't sound very scout like. I would ask how arbitrarily excluding others in the troop is friendly, courtious or kind. If they are making plans in secret, how is that being trustworthy? If this is boy led, I might asks the scouts if they minded if others in the t

In 20 - 30 years how will the scouts of today look back on their merit badges? We will hear the kind of nastalgic descriptions we see above or will they say it was easy? SA