scoutldr

There are also patch collector groups on Facebook who may be able to help.

Most camps have a first or second year camper program...ours was called "Finish First" and focused on T-2-1 skills for the first half of the day. I would strongly recommend the younger scouts do that, plus one or two other MB like Swimming. Scouts who are already first class should have free rein, but should not be allowed to just "hang out" for the week. Too much free time can lead to unpleasantness.

Zanfel. Yep, that was it. I thought using BSA uniforms and trademarks for commercial purposes was strictly prohibited???

So, I just caught a glimpse of a commercial for a Poison Ivy remedy and when they said "as used by the military and the Boy Scouts of America" and featured uniformed scouter (a commissioner, I think) it grabbed my attention. So, has the BSA started endorsing commercial products? I only saw it once and didn't catch the name of the product.

Bravo!

Would make a good episode for Undercover Boss.

Ahh...merit badges. Well, as the program was designed back in the day, the earning of merit badges was supposed to be an individual effort (or in more modern times, with a buddy). It fosters the "Adult Association" method whereby a Scout (not Mom) is expected to a) identify a MB of interest, b) tell his SM and ask for a blue card and a referral to a Counselor from the District-approved list, c) the SCOUT (not Mom) calls the counselor and sets up an appointment to meet...etc. There are obviously some MB that are "summer camp" badges, such as Wilderness Survival, and the Aquatics. The badges that can be done anywhere else, should be, in my opinion (Citizenships, First Aid, Cooking, etc.). The idea was that the MB Counselor was an "expert" in the field, either by vocation or avocation...not Timmy's mom who volunteered to do 5 different badges for "Troop XX only" (I hate seeing that on the District List). As others have noted, Troop meetings should be primarily for the purpose of planning the next monthly outing, and developing scout skills for advancement, not sitting in MB "classes". Boys sit in class all day long...if you make them also do it in the evenings and on weekends, you will lose them.

Adult leaders are VOLUNTEERS. We don't HAVE to do anything.

Well, with the influx of all the gay and trans youth flooding our ranks, it should balance out. There have been thousands begging to join, right? Is that the sound of violins playing "Nearer My God to Thee", playing in the background?

OK, I will ask the obvious? Why are you doing the Pack Committee Chair's job? As CM, you do not even need to be a signatory on the accounts. As stated above, the CM works the program approved and funded by the Committee. The Committee (and more specifically, Treasurer) figures out the business and financial end of things. Is everyone Trained in their position? If you don't have a functioning Committee, I suggest one gets put into place before you continue with anything.

Bottom line is, the Scout does not get an Eagle Board of Review without your endorsement. You as Unit Leader have to sign your name on the Eagle Application, as does the Unit Committee Chair. Unless he appeals to Council, that is. I would go with my gut. I would be sympathetic and try to get him help and support. But Eagle Scout is now off the radar. He had a chance to repent and go down a different path. He chose not to. His choice, not yours. If you relent and turn a blind eye, you are making a mockery of the Eagle Award and everyone, down to the youngest Tenderfoot, will get a clear message.

https://www.catholicvote.org/external_content/kansas-archdiocese-severs-ties-with-girl-scouts-and-urges-end-to-cookie-sales/

Been a few years since I've been unit scouting, but we (adults) always found plenty of "cheerful service" that needed doing. Most summers, we assisted the aquatics staff since we were qualified in everything except BSA Aquatics School. One year we made major repairs to the dining hall roof. There was one night of the week when all the boys were on "outpost" for Camping or Wilderness Survival and we headed into town for a beer and a pizza. We ARE adults, after all, and should be able to decide how we spend our limited vacation time.

Adulting does not require hashtags.

Your Council has the forms...if approved by Council, they will send it on to National.

Check the box and move on as quickly as possible. That's not "Scout Spirit" in my book. I got mine...see ya.

I was going to post a rant about "when did it become the Adv Chair's responsibility to maintain the boys' records FOR them" and "back in my day (1960s), it was MY job to maintain my blue cards and make sure I had my $$$$ together when it got time to fill out my Eagle paperwork", and "got to stop spoonfeeding them." But I won't bother...got to learn to let it go. Sorry. I think Ankylus and I are on the same page.

You must wear the CSP for the Council you are currently registered in. Any CSP from that Council is acceptable, although wearing it would imply that you were registered in that Council at that time. For example, if I first registered with the council in 2016, I would not wear a CSP that commemorated an event from 2010. But that's just me...

At EBOR, I stress that an Eagle should be interested in "paying it forward" by continuing to be active in his troop, mentoring younger scouts and earning palms. Many of them are knocking on the door of "adulthood" and will be going off to college, so I remind them of Alpha Phi Omega, or encourage to seek out a local unit and offer to help. If you have scouts "Eagle-out" at 15, you're doing it wrong.

One thing to keep in mind, is that the religious awards are not BSA awards. They are awards managed and developed by denominations, some through an organization called P.R.A.Y.. They are intended for the boy to work on with his family and religious leader and not as a Den or Troop activity (since they are denomination-specific). BSA merely allows the awards to be worn on the Scout uniform. And, as has been stated above, as far as I know, the adult awards are nominated by others and not something you can earn on your own...similar to the District Award of Merit and Silver Beaver.

In regards to YPT and co-ed leaders: I think the message we are being sent from Irving is, "if the parents say she is a boy, then she's a boy. Period." No need to change the way you operate your unit. Operate your unit under the premise that you still have a troop of "all boys". Yes, this will be a mess. Waiting for the response from the major religious supporters such as LDS. http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2017/01/31/its-time-for-churches-to-sever-ties-with-boy-scouts.html

Wouldn't the Fair Tax make this a moot discussion?

Well, I got this far thinking "tree stand" had to do with deer hunting.

I had a "break in service" between college and the birth of my first son. I never counted those years. It's my observation that not many wear their stars anyway. It's up to the individual to add up the years and wear the appropriate star. No one has ever "audited" me.

Music or Bugling in one day? Took me years of lessons.