shortridge

The buddy system, and Cub Scouting in general, is not a means to provide instant pals. That comes through friendship and sharing activities in common. If this boy's behavior is way out of line - it sounds like his mom can't even control him? and she may have some emotional control issues herself? - then the other boys aren't going to choose to play with him. You can't force them to do so. This parent needs to have that explained to her. Buddies don't have to be glued at the hip or do everything together. The buddy system is mainly a means to keep track of your kids - if you do a buddy check and you have an odd number, you know instantly someone's missing - and so that if they need to go someplace away from the group (camp trading post, bathroom, etc.), there are two of them in case one gets hurt. Besides, at the Tiger level, the boy already has a buddy - his adult partner.

Gee Ed, you sound like you are from Delaware. Hey, now. No need to get nasty ...

I do not understand why some of you have such a problem with the Charter Organization concept. There is no discrimination involved. The CO OWNS the unit, and uses it to further it's OWN purposes with it's OWN youth. Sometimes those youth are a fairly broad spectrum, diverse, population. Sometimes it is a very narrow population. However, the point is, it is THEIR population. Perhaps people have "a problem" with the CO structure because there's almost nothing else out there to compare it to. It's an utterly foreign system to many folks. Some have compared it to business franchises, but that's not entirely accurate. A franchisor has to operate the business within certain parameters and abide by all corporate policies, and it can't cherry-pick its customers - he or she has to appeal to a wide potential customer base to stay afloat. If a McDonald's franchise decided that it would only serve Mormons, for example, I doubt it would last very long.

... while also providin' a common community of Scoutin' that transcends the differences. I'd put an addendum on this statement by Beavah: ... if the sponsoring organizations want them to be transcended. A common community only exists if the leaders and COs buy in to that idea and don't insist on segregating themselves from the broader community. ============= I know that churches are the biggest source of COs. I just wonder how many of them use Scouting as an integral part of their youth program, like the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints does. My guess - and it's just that - is that most church COs have the kind of hands-off, non-involved relationship we hear about in so many threads here where no one even knows who the COR or IH are. [alert: heading into I/P territory, sorry! ] So I really wonder about the claim that if gays and atheists were allowed, tens of thousands of church COs would drop their troops and packs and crews immediately.

With the CM on board, I think this is an OK compromise. However, before starting, I'd advise the parent to go talk to the CM herself and lay the situation out on the table, as I suggested earlier. It's her kid, not yours. The WDL is definitely in the wrong - these kids are almost Boy Scouts; why is she requiring parents to attend every meeting?? - but there's not going to be any changing her mind at this late juncture. The fact that "the DL has yelled at mom more than once in front of the boy," though, deserves a serious response from the CM. But the parent should be the one to bring that up.

First: Tie between Swimming and Wilderness Survival. I earned them both my first year at summer camp. Did the first-year camper program in the morning (it was then called Baden-Powell Troop Training, and I recall being told it was part of a new national program) and MBs in the afternoon. Favorite: Wilderness Survival. We made up our survival kits (had to fit in our pants pocket) and hiked out to a remote outpost site on the creek, known as Red Banks, which has a legendary status at the camp. I barely slept that night - mosquitoes kept buzzing in my ears - but loved every second of it. I'd already been interested in survival and emergency preparedness, but this badge got me hooked. I went on to teach it for four years at the same summer camp. Second favorite: Mile Swim. OK, not a merit badge, but close. Neither the strongest nor the fastest swimmer, I was the last person in the pool, but I finished the darn thing, and that was a huge ego boost for an 11-year-old kid.(This message has been edited by shortridge)

Power cords? Pshaw! http://www.treehugger.com/files/2008/10/7-portable-solar-laptop-chargers-worth-considering.php With those suckers and a portable projector, you can run your PowerPoint slides against the side of a tarp deep way in the backcountry.

Couldn't the national executive board vote to terminate his contract?

It's hardly the Obama Court... he's just appointed two of nine justices. If he appoints five, then I think it can be called the Obama Court. But that just ain't gonna happen, for any president, unless some horrible disaster strikes (a la President Jack Ryan).

So gays can volunteer and help out? Just as long as they're not "leaders" and fill out a registration form? Color me confused.

Couldn't "Explain" also include "Here's what you use a square knot for"? Putting a skill into context, so as to make it useful and important?

Sorry about any confusion. I presumed that you had read the Insignia Guide before talking about new insignia regulations. From the Insignia Guide, under "Temporary Insignia": Temporary insignia are issued for such events as summer camp, camporees, and Scouting shows. All temporary insignia must contain identification including one of the following: corporate name (Boy Scouts of America); corporate initials (BSA), BSA fleur-de-lis (universal with eagle or plain one-color), "Venturing BSA", or "Venturing". Order of the Arrow regional and national meetings and training activities may also provide them (the totin chip patch is also temporary insignia). Only one such patch may be worn at a time. The patch is worn centered on the right pocket and must not exceed the dimension of the seams of the pocket, nor extend higher than the lowest tip of the pocket flap. It may be either sewn or suspended from under the flap attached to the button. This may also be of interest, showing the wide range of options you have to show your CO affiliation: Consider displaying temporary insignia in ways other than on the official uniform. Here are some suggestions: * Wear it on a BSA red patch vest, campfire robe or blanket, or special neckerchief. * Display it on a wall plaque, trophy hide, or mounted in a frame. * Or, make a special neckerchief slide, sectional totem pole, or flagpole insignia for display.

Did anyone else have problems viewing some pages in the Rules & Regs? Quite a few came up blank.

Thomas54 - you first suggested the patch be placed in the temp patch spot. Now you criticize that? This is becoming a nonsensical discussion.

I understand your desire to help, but the parent should really be talking to the Cubmaster, not you.

Thomas54 - Again, there's nothing that bars any CO from issuing such a patch to be worn on the temp patch pocket. It's entirely up to the CO. So there's no problem.

Sounds like you're dealing with two separate issues - aging tents and disrespect for the equipment. There's really no cure for aging tents, except to keep a close eye on them and make sure they're in good repair. Broken zippers are fixable. Bent poles are repairable, or at least replaceable. Monitoring that closely should be one of the primary jobs of the quartermaster. He could take digital photos of the condition of each tent regularly. For the latter problem, assign certain tents to each patrol. Don't let them change up. The patrols are responsible for the tents, and that's it. If they're not aired out or if they get torn, the patrol members all have to chip in to pay for the repair or replacement. Make sure the parents know this from the get-go. You mention vandalism. I don't view that as a tent issue - it's not the tent's fault that it's been ripped. Address that with the boy or boys responsible. I confess I've never dealt with problems like you describe. We had the occasional zipper getting stuck or tent stake getting lost, but it was never anything huge or deliberate. As a last resort, stow the tents one weekend. From the hardware store, get a roll of black plastic, some cheap nylon cord and a few metal stake-y things, and have the boys make and sleep in tarps. They'll love those tents like they were their own the next time they hit the trail.

Stosh, No offense taken. I'm a firm believer in the boy-led method, and love BP's quote, but sometimes - on rare occasions - boys need a little jolt, a kick in the pants, a gentle nudge, a shot of coffee, etc., from adults who can take the big-picture view by dint of their worldly experiences. The trick is knowing how to toss out those ideas and then shut up and sit down.

One idea-generating option: Pick up a copy of Backpacker magazine. Tear out the info card in the back, and send off for information from all the parks and resorts and guide trips they have, no matter how far-fetched it may seem. Then go online and request tourism information from the states immediately surrounding yours. Bring all that stuff you get to the next PLC meeting and pile it on the table as a way to get the ideas flowing. Another technique you might try is make a list of all the places your troop has been in the last 3-4 years, chronologically. Make sure to include repeat locations multiple times. Use that to demonstrate just how stuck in a rut the troop has been. Kids' active memories generally don't go back all that far - you need to show them how boring it's gotten.

The patrol method can work just as well with one patrol as 10. At its core, it's not so much an issue of competition among patrols as it is Scouts learning to do things on their own and operating independently of adults. Doing things together is precisely the point of the patrol method!

COs already get recognition on the troop flag. And there's nothing stopping a CO right now from creating a temporary patch and asking its Scouts to wear it on their uniforms.

Your friend is confused. You can wear whatever you want while camping and on outdoor adventures. There is no ban on camouflage (either military-style or hunting) or surplus military clothing or outerwear. Ask your friend to show you where this "BSA ban" is. He won't be able to find it. What the BSA frowns upon is adding military-style elements to the uniform, such as helmets, gloves, swords and guns. From the Insignia Guide: Drum and Bugle Corps Uniforms Boy Scouts or Venturers who are members of bands, drill teams, or drum and bugle corps affiliated with a unit or a local council must wear the official uniform for their registration status. The wearing of special helmets, scarves, gloves, unofficial leggings, and the carrying of ceremonial guns or swords by members of such organizations using the uniforms of the Boy Scouts of America is in violation of the Rules and Regulations of the Boy Scouts of America.

My understanding is that a CO can certainly restrict membership. If a Jewish synagogue wants to say that only Jewish boys can join, that's it's prerogative. If a VFW post wants to rule that only children of veterans can join, that's it's choice. If a PTO wants to serve only children from a specific school or district, that's fine. But for a troop to say "we only want Scouts who already have these basic skills" strikes me as the worst kind of silliness. We're supposed to be about helping boys learn those skills. If your troop is as top-notch as you think, you ought to be able to get them acclimated and excited by your outings very quickly.

So you're suggesting more of a revamp of the handbook and MB pamphlet content, rather than a reworking of the actual requirements? OK, I get that. I remember sitting through my first bloodborne pathogen protection training session as a summer camp CIT at age 14. It was incredibly eye-opening. Beavah - I agree with you on improving FA MB, but I don't know how practical it would be to essentially turn it into a WFA-like course. The nearest WFA course around where I live is four hours away, offered maybe once every 3-4 months. There just aren't enough instructors to handle the load - while there are plenty of nurses, doctors, EMTs, etc., who are qualified to teach regular, non-backcountry first aid.

What, exactly, would you like to see improved about your item No. 2? My current copy of the BSHB is AWOL, but the Eleventh Edition has a page with large, boldfaced type about bloodborne pathogen protection. One page later, the protocol for treating severe bleeding includes: "Put on latex gloves from your first aid kit" before taking any action. And advice to wash with soap and water and change out of any contacted clothing is reiterated on the next page. And First Aid MB requirement 2© is: "Explain the standard precautions as applied to bloodborne pathogens." How would you beef that up?