shortridge

The rules for TC do not grandfather in the WC. They’re two different awards in two different programs. The TC covers all woods tools, not just the pocketknife. But in reality, for a Scout who’s read the Scout Handbook sections and gotten some instruction from an older Scout, it should take maybe an hour to demonstrate all the necessary requirements to earn the TC. They can easily knock it out on their first campout. It’s hardly an inconvenience or an imposition to not be able to whittle for a day.

@5thGenTexan, I’m not seeing a “bad part” in anything you’ve said. Lots of people don’t like to camp. It’s not a big deal. Many people don’t have the time to devote to that level training. IOLS/BALOO is not mandatory for leaders at your level. The CM isn’t going to look down on you because you couldn’t find child care for your daughter. Families make decisions like that all the time. Again, no big deal. About the food issue? Bring your own snacks, rig a bear bag (don’t keep them in your tent), and you’ll be fine. I’ve known leaders with various medical conditions that require special type

While camp costs are highly variable and locally dependent, my local council camp is $475 for a week. The local YMCA overnight camp is $980 a week. The choice is clear.

As always, Richard, thank you for being here and for your willingness to engage. I suspect some of the frustration here stems from the lack of information on “Why” in the G2SS. The “safety moment” doesn’t answer that at all, but just refers back to Scouting values and to the list itself. When BSA prohibits things that we do daily in civilian life (like have kids under 14 pull wagons and push wheelbarrows, and take elementary-aged kids to play laser tag and use water guns), then the “Why” becomes even more important. Our kids are asking it, we are asking it, and it seems reasonable th

Purpose may have been the wrong word. I meant what does the TP+flour combination *do*? Seems to me it wouldn’t throw well, and would explode in a mess that would leave toilet paper shreds all over camp.

I have thought about this multiple times and still don’t understand it. How do you wrap flour up in toilet paper and use it to tag people? What is the purpose?

Lightweight running shoes and Darn Tough socks are an unbeatable combination. I wish BSA would partner with Darn Tough. Dr. Bronner’s soap - laundry detergent, soap, body wash and toothpaste (OK, I haven’t tried that) all in one. A camera or smartphone to take lots of pictures of your Scouts. The candids are the ones they’ll remember, not the posed shots. Synthetic or merino wool underwear. Surprise snacks for a special midweek nighttime treat - watermelon, s’mores, grapes, tacos, apples, etc. Multiple bandanas so you can wear, wash, and dry at the same time. A pa

😮 I can tell you that’s not the experience at our council camps. The Scouts usually swarm the trading post sufficiently without any encouragement! The trend I’ve seen has been adding more and more technology to camp. We now have programming, game design and robotics, plus graphic arts and moviemaking. (And drones!) I’m opposed to this (a Scout is going to have a better experience learning from a programmer or a robotics expert in their lab rather than at summer camp), but as long as they don’t water down or remove the outdoors program topics I’m fine.

You’re confusing the two-deep and no one-on-one rules. See https://blog.scoutingmagazine.org/2018/01/19/whats-the-difference-between-two-deep-leadership-and-no-one-on-one-contact/

What do you mean by this, exactly? Two-deep leadership is the rule that requires two adults at every activity.

Do your anxiety issues flare up just around the topic of camping? If so, there are plenty of ways to be involved without going camping. You can still lead den meetings and do other activities, and find a good assistant to do the camping side. Lots of Cub parents don’t come along to Cub resident camp. If the unknown is the fear and trigger, try finding a good experienced Scouter who can talk you through your questions. Just say “Hey, I want to help my son and his friends succeed, but I’m really nervous about this camping thing. Can you walk me through what happens and what it’s all like?”

The article wasn’t written by Leave No Trace. Don’t assume that one random writer represents the organization.

One of the challenges my district is facing is getting our currently registered leaders to take the new YPT before the October 1 deadline. We don’t want anyone dropped or to have issues attending fall programs like Cub weekends, OA weekends, etc., let alone the eventual barriers to rechartering that will come up. It’s been a particular hurdle explaining to people who just took the old one last fall that they now have to do an all-new session. What tactics and strategies have worked for y’all in convincing currently registered leaders to take an hour and knock it out and not wait until the

I’m guessing the day camp theme was Passport to Adventure, and these volunteers were encouraged to “camp it up” on the final day. During my time on camp staff, I recall staff wearing pirate vests and eyepatches over their Class As. It wasn’t a sign of disrespect, and I don’t think your staff was showing such, either.

2018 camp standards are here: https://filestore.scouting.org/filestore/outdoor program/pdf/430-056.pdf I found nothing in a search for “battery,” “batteries,” or “acid.”

I wonder what your point is.

The other primary difference in my experience is the unit structure. GSUSA units are almost entirely dependent on one or two adult leaders. There is no CO, there is no unit committee. The unit focus can largely be whatever it wants to be. If the unit leader doesn’t like to camp regularly, the girls don’t camp or just attend summer camp.

“Specifically for girls” does not mean a completely different program with different activities and ranks and the like. It means a program in units just for girls, which is what they’ll have once Scouts BSA launches. For example, Venturing - which covers those topics - is not specifically for girls. Girl-only Scouts BSA troops will be “specifically for girls.” I’m fully on board, Jameson. I expect that in another 5-10 years we’ll see complete coed Scouting, and I’m fully on board with that, too. It’s about darn time we join the rest of the world.

I got to Life and was never elected. I was appointed PL of the new-Scout patrol (not how it should happen, I know) and thereafter served as troop librarian, den chief and JASM. I filled in as SPL plenty of times on campouts, but never had the urge to hold the job. As @qwazse pointed out, there are plenty of non-elected PORs that can be held. There is also this option: “carry out a Scoutmaster-approved leadership project to help the troop.” If the Scout can conceive of something neat he wants to do that doesn’t fit into the normal scheme of things, then pitch it to the SM!

According to Scouting, the rules were developed by @RichardB’s team: BSA national health and safety guru Richard Bourlon and his team of volunteers and professionals created these simple, clear guidelines to align the BSA with other youth-serving and service organizations. “Habitat for Humanity gave us great feedback on their experiences” with youth-work restrictions, Bourlon tells me. He also consulted the U.S. Department of Labor. In other words, these guidelines didn’t come out of thin air. They’re the work of hours of analysis meant to prevent injuries. https://blog.sco

I’m sure that this forum has some great examples of public Scouting display events - booth shows, arena displays, Scoutoramas, etc. So let’s see them! What does your unit, district, or council do to spread the word about Scouting? Side note: I’m also curious if anyone knows more about the “Display Award, No. 7119,” that’s referred to in the Activities and Civic Service Committee Guide. There’s no more information than advice to “make generous use” of it, and I can’t find any other references online as to what it is.

You’re right - he should be doing it! 😀

I absolutely love this idea! Thank you! Whoops, resurrected again.

NESA also does academic need-based scholarships at higher levels ($25,000+). http://www.nesa.org/site/c.9oIFJMPsGgIWF/b.9535031/k.8FA8/Scholarships.htm It appears the project of the year award was specifically funded by the Adams family, and perhaps $2,500 is all the endowment allows at this time.

What is your marking method? Colored rope or string, cloth “flags,” patches, etc.? Off-topic, but just because I’m curious - What do you consider tents vs. backpacking tents vs. pup tents?