scoutldr

Or it could mean that National does not think proper uniforming is as big a deal as we make it to be.

On the cover of mine, the young black scout in the foreground has his Quality Unit patch on the left sleeve, under the Unit numerals. There are two leaders, and 5 other Boy Scouts in the picture. No cubs, webs or venturers. I must have a different version (Boy Scout leaders' Edition)... i didn't see the ones you mentioned.

Thank Heaven! I was suffering from withdrawal!

For Cubs, I was trained that the parent is "Akela" and if they sign it off, it's good to go. No second guessing, unless there is an obvious misunderstanding.

Not arguing...I agree with you. But it's hard to believe that your friend is an Eagle scout and it's taken him this long to notice and object. The January issue has Part 1 of the story of Noah (of 5 parts). I also wonder the same thing about the ads for "free" sheath knives, pre-made pinewood derby cars and "battle dress camo" clothing....all of which are discouraged by the BSA, but ironically advertised in their publication. Not to mention the video game featuring "blood and violence" courtesy of the US Army.

What I was trying to say was that the PLC should be responsible for planning the program...a program that meets the needs of ALL scouts...not just the older ones. All under the gentle guiding of the SM, of course. New Scout patrols should have an ASM and Troop Guide assigned and the PLs are elected from among the newbies (the TG mentors the PL, rather than BEING the PL). The new scout program should be based around the goal of First Class First Year, i.e., basic scout skills, with very little emphasis, if any, on merit badges. Every scout who crosses over should be expected to attend summer camp their first year, taking part in the First year camper program which most camps offer in one form or another. This will get them a long way toward first class and they can even earn a couple of MB as well to whet their appetite. The theory being that most scouts drop out before they make First Class. The senior scouts need to understand that their primary function in the troop is to lead, train and mentor the younger scouts. Reward them with some high-adventure opportunities just for them. What interests 11 year olds is not the same that interests 17 year olds. It sounds like your troop is not "boy led", and the adults are disagreeing over how THEY should run the troop. Or perhaps I have misinterpreted...

Thanks for the info. So there are more than 500 units on the waiting list? That sounds incredible. I guess that, coming from the right coast, it is so cost prohibitive, that most units don't go unless they are part of the Council contingent. From here, the contingent takes 3 weeks.

Just got my 2006 Scoutstuff catalog. Adult uniform pants are only $46 now. I could never afford to be a Venturer...their pants are $66. At least now I can finally decorate my house with official BSA drawer pulls. Life is good.

I've been reading BL since 1963...Stories from the Bible has been a feature in every issue. Where have you been?

"Just found out our troop is wait listed at over 500 for the 2007 Philmont season." For those of us who are ignorant, what exactly does this mean? 500 people in line ahead of you? In my council, "troops" don't go to Philmont (I don't think). You have to apply to be part of the Council contingent.(This message has been edited by scoutldr)

Lisa, Does the PLC think there's a program change needed?

Since the BSA is not a democratic organization, I would have no choice but to support such a decision...or quit. I do hope that before such a draconian measure were taken that the collective wisdom of the volunteers would be considered. I don't care for the current uniform in terms of fit and quality...but I wear it because I have no choice.

One of the first things I would do is go to the bank and make sure my name is removed from the account (and signature cards). It is always a good idea for unit accounts to require two signatures for checks and they shouldn't be husband and wife. Having three people authorized to write checks independently of each other is a recipe for disaster.

It is with great sadness and embarrassment that I report that this happened in my geographic area this week. Elder Young was reportedly an Eagle Scout from Bountiful, Utah. Not sure about Elder Heidbrink. More prayers are in order for a fellow Scout and his family. The world is becoming crazy. What will it take to stop the senseless violence? CHESAPEAKE Police have recovered a gun that they believed was used to shoot two Mormon missionaries in Deep Creek Monday night, killing one of them, and announced in an afternoon statement that they have identified persons possibly involved. According to the statement, investigators believe Morgan Young and Joshua Heidbrink were shot because they witnessed a crime as they went door-to-door on Elkhart Street. After hearing shots fired, a man ran up to them, pulled a gun and shot both of them. Heidbrink checked on Young, then ran toward a nearby nursing home for help, according to a family member. As he approached the nursing home, he heard several more shots. Young, 21, died at Sentara Norfolk General Hospital and Heidbrink is expected to recover from his injuries. Young had been a missionary for nearly two years and was expected to return home to Bountiful, Utah, in March. Heidbrink, 19, had been on his mission for two months. He is expected to return with his family to his home in Greeley, Colo. See also http://www.sltrib.com/ci_3369285

You get only one chance to make a good first impression. That goes for scout camps, too.

I received two prints for Christmas, about 11x17, and personally signed by the artist. They were purchased on ebay for less than $100 each (I hope!).

Sounds like it's going to get like Green Bay Packers season tickets...if your parents don't put you on the waiting list when you're born, you're out of luck. (or so I've heard)

We had the same problem with Astronomy MB. I invited the local astronomy club to come and do sessions with the troop over several weeks. Only two out of about 12 scouts actually completed the MB because they simply would not do the homework and bring it back in. Needless to say it was embarrassing, and I won't make the effort again. If they want a MB, it's up to them to go see the Counselor.

First of all, there is no "Webelos Knot" that I know of. The Arrow of Light knot is worn only by adults. The Arrow of Light badge is worn by youth Scouts and Venturers directly under the Rank patch on the left pocket. The youth religious award knot can be worn by all with a miniature device (in lieu of the medal) to denote which award was earned (Cub or Boy Scout).

Recommend you review the Unit Fund Raising application and rules. Sounds like this does not qualify, since you would be asking for direct cash donations and offering nothing in return.

Just remember next time that Jambo merchandise will be 75% off on Scoutstuff.org afterwards. I bought a whole box full of Christmas presents for less than 50 bucks, including two jackets. That illustrates how much markup there really was.(This message has been edited by scoutldr)

Suggest you send a PM (private message) to SCOUTER Terry, the owner of this site. I'm sure those of us reading the open forums don't have a clue. There have been recent server issues, so that may be the problem.(This message has been edited by scoutldr)

I don't blame the chef for my arterial blockage. I'm the one who decides what to swallow.

As Covey said, "seek first to understand, then to be understood." I spent several hours last night reading about AS and autism. What I learned is 1) it is a real disorder with varying presentations and degrees of severity...no two kids are the same. 2) there is no diagnostic test...diagnosis is based on behavioral traits. 3) It is very hard and even scary to be around AS kids and if there is to be peaceful coexistence, many accomodations need to be made. 4) Most AS adults are successful with a normal to high IQ, but tend to be thought of as "geeks" or "weird". 5) there is a strong genetic component; often one of the parents is also AS. One epidemiologic theory is that Silicon Valley has attracted many AS adults to one geographic area and they are proliferating, which could account for the rise in incidence. That being said, I hear your frustration and desperate desire for your son to be happy and successful. I sympathize and won't say I understand, since I had two sons who are apparently "normal" (whatever that is). But it seems to me that, for the AS kid, a typical scout camp would be such a hostile, unfriendly environment, (full of noise, heat, bugs, crowds, chaos, etc) that I wonder why anyone would want to subject them to that. As you alluded to, and the literature confirmed, the Middle School years (i.e., Scout years) can be the most cruel and hostile. Middle schoolers are typically not "friendly, courteous and kind" and, to coin a phrase, that's just how their brains are wired. From the literature I read, something like a special needs camp, or a computer camp, or a music camp would be much more "AS friendly", since most AS kids are fixated on ONE thing and having to multi-task (such as taking 5 different MB in one day) only frustrates and angers them. And, as I said before, perhaps there is enough demand that your Council should have an "AS week" at camp, where their needs can be more adequately accomodated. Sounds like a perfect Wood Badge diversity ticket item. I also want to agree with kenk that Scouting has a place for all boys...in the proper environment. I myself spent an entire week at the camp pool teaching a Down's Syndrome scout how to swim (the entire troop was "special"). I was "volunteered" because of my quiet, patient nature. At the start of the week, he would go in no farther than his ankles. At the end of the week, he was jumping in and putting his head under. Small victories. But the reward came the following year when his SM told me that he spent the rest of the summer telling everybody how proud he was that "Mr. M" taught him how to swim. I didn't mean to say that the troop leadership was totally off the hook. Of course, every scout (and parent) should have a copy of the Troop schedule and calendar (at least 6 months at a time). Understanding, of course, that schedules need to be flexible because "stuff happens". The "special signals" are also a good idea, and not unreasonable, as is having an educational session for the other scouts. But a scout needs to learn that if he exhibits un-scoutlike behavior, such as grabbing and destroying someone else's property, the consequences need to be fairly and equitably applied to all. There are certain behaviors that can not be accomodated if we are to be safe and adhere to the basic program. Also, I have to say that that many adults spending a week of leisure at the Troop's expense is totally out of line. I would have to object to that, if I were you. Reasonable would be that the troop pays for two (2-deep leadership is required), and the rest pay their own way. I also have to remind everyone that 1-on-1 contact between adult/scout is strictly prohibited. We are lectured on this every year at camp, so having a non-parental adult shadow a scout full time is not a reasonable expectation and violates all our training. We are NEVER to allow ourselves to be alone with a scout, out of sight of others. Thank you for this thread. While you started it out of frustration, it has been highly educational for all, I hope. No offense was intended; just trying to express all points of view.

When we have 7-10 adults along for a Summer Camp, for about 15 kids, I do not feel it is unreasonable that they accompany Scouts to their activities, assuring ALL scouts, not just mine, can attend the Merit Badges of their choice. Tell me, if you were looking forward to learning leather work and wood carving, and were forced to attend environmental science instead--a topic that you have NO interest in--just because that's what another Scout wants...And that's what happened for EVERY ONE of his merit badges 2 years ago. What about the scout who needs Env Sci for Eagle (as they ALL do), but is forced to do Leatherwork instead because your son needs an escort? Is that any more appropriate? I have been attending summer camp for almost 30 years...changing schedules is the norm, due to low or high enrollments, staff availability, schedule conflicts, and failure to meet prerequisites. If the morning Swimming MB class has 2 scouts and the afternoon session has 45, schedules will be changed. That's the way it is. My point is, part of teaching a scout to be self-sufficient is to expect him to complete the week without direct supervision. If they go home without completing their MB, they can explain to their parents what happened. The opportunity was certainly provided. As a leader, I will do spot checks of program areas, I will talk to scouts in the evenings to see how they are progressing, and I will talk to staff to make sure scouts are showing up. But following a scout around all day every day will not happen. For one thing, it could constitute a YP violation. I spend a week of vacation time and about $220 of my own money to attend camp, so it will be on my terms. I will say that your adult:youth ratio is out of whack, and with the same size troop, we only have 2 adults spending the week. I would hope that the adults in your troop are actively serving the camp in some way, and not reading trashy novels in their hammocks all day. If so, they are just taking up bunk space that could be filled with a Scout, and need to stay home. Our adults are working their butts off all week, serving as staff (I am a BSA Lifeguard Counselor), taking adult training, or providing manual labor to the Ranger such as painting, plumbing and cutting grass. No one I know sits around all week. I guess what I am trying to say is, if you think your son needs 100% supervision (or protection?), then you need to provide it. But I don't think that's doing your son a service. By age 13, he needs to be learning to overcome his disabilities and live in the world successfully without Mom by his side, rather than expect the world to adjust to him. No one wants to deal with an emotionally out-of-control teenager. That's what "mainstreaming" is all about, isn't it? Let me finish with the caveat that I am not a mental health expert...if I have said anything ignorant, I apologize and am willing to learn.