shortridge

A lot of our area camporees and Klondikes seem to be variations on a simple theme - some sort of round-robin basic Scout skills competition. Firebuilding, knots & lashings, compass bearings & paces, simple cookery, first aid challenge, nature ID, timed bow saw challenge, etc. What are the best competitions you’ve seen to elevate inter-patrol competitions beyond the basic skills and games? How do you challenge older Scouts at these events while accommodating Scouts with less experience? While we’re at it - what event themes have worked best for you for attracting interest?

Your condescension is showing, Barry.

Aren’t you also tired about the constant discussion in the world about racial equality? I thought that after Brown v. Board we would have just gotten to talking about education for all and enough about people of color. <sarcasm> Attention being paid to girls in Scouting doesn’t mean boys are being ignored. Please give that tired trope a rest.

The Annapolis one was amazing when I was a Scout. We had a blast! It may have changed, but back then it was about 30% getting an intro to boring science-based merit badges (sorry, Atomic Energy, I never knew nor earned ya), 60% walking wide-eyed around the Academy and idolizing the middies leading us, and 10% watching hockey and yelling “GO NAVY!”

Tan and green are also colors that blend into the woods more naturally. Yellow of that hue is not. Fingers crossed, but I have very little confidence that that will happen with any speed. The delays of this new uniform do not inspire confidence.

Boy, that article is a incomprehensible piece of gobbledygook. I could barely follow along.

I’ve heard dances are common activities at large Venturing events, fwiw.

If she decides that I suddenly have knowledge worth sharing and asks me, my recommendation to my daughter will be to take no merit badges at camp this summer. Go to the sessions; ask a lot of questions; follow up with open periods in areas you like; visit the areas during evening program; learn plenty of skills; get plenty of practice; try things that you wouldn’t get a chance to do outside of camp. But heavens to Betsy, don’t take any “merit badge classes”! If you really want to earn a badge that piques your interest, take what you’ve learned during this week and find a counselor back home that the SM recommends. There will always be plenty of time and opportunity for that. If you or any Scout wants to spend the week doing nothing but rifle shooting in pursuit of that perfect score, then spend your days doing that! Ditto for gritting out the mile swim, mastering the bow drill, climbing the wall, or catching that elusive giant catfish. But don’t waste camp taking a “class.” School is out. This is the summer. Enjoy it!

Is that a bad thing?

What do you mean by this, Barry?

Shirts don’t typically come with the crest sewn on.

Having seen a council committee in action, I would want to know who else was on the committee. Is it going to be a group that does actual work, or just an assortment of individuals who want to sit around and tell war stories? I would join the former. I don’t have time for the latter.

What’s that have to do with anything?

What are your go-to “comfort items” for summer camp, both personal and for your unit? I’m thinking of things like a hammock, good pillow, paperback book, etc., but also ones like an assortment of lightweight board / card games. Linked to this, do you have any great troop or patrol summer camp traditions like a surprise snack box one night, a night hike, or leaders cooking a special dessert? Thinking of things that would jazz up a new unit’s experience. Thanks!

In my neck of the woods, there is an extreme shortage of unit commissioners. Is this complicated (and overly pretentious, IMO) training system supposed to make it easier to get people to volunteer?

Venturing Scouts ... deep sigh

Thank you for this. I’ve also gotten tired of the constant arguing and trying to turn back the clock. After years of advocacy for girls and gays, we finally have an inclusive program. The decision has been made and these girls - our girls - are going to be Scouts. Let’s give them an amazing welcome!

I agree. I’m going to be checking into embroidery shops / tailors who might be able to copy that and customize.

Because they have taken great pains to note and emphasize that it’s not a coed program. Troops are separate.

Adventure Scouts Action Scouts Explorer Scouts Pathfinder Scouts Outdoor Scouts Wilderness Scouts Patrol Scouts Arrow Scouts

Barry, I agree with you 100% for once! Not everyone can or should be a leader.

I don’t know - never wore them. I joined in 1990, when the berets had been retired but we loved them so much that we ordered military knockoff ones and sewed the BSA logo on. (Or the SM’s wife did, rather.) Some of the older Scouts still had their skill awards. I thought they looked dopey and too much like the Cub belt loops. I’d just gotten out of Cubs, so what would I want to wear belt loops for again?

My first troop was a beret troop ... we looked darn good, too!

You wrote back upstream: “We helped them navigate the Eagle process and they all sat for their initial BORs in November or December. They spent Christmas break helping each other with their Eagle projects, which are all solid projects mind you. No weak sister projects in the bunch. five of them, including my son, will sit for their final Eagle Scout BOR next Tuesday night.” I believe John’s comment was referring to the “initial BOR” and “final Eagle Scout BOR.” There is no such thing. There is one BOR for each rank.