shortridge

Philmont, or a similar HA trek where you aren't "resident" but instead moving around, doesn't seem to count for the long-term resident camp requirement. But it could count for the other camping nights. One misconception out there is that long-term resident camping must be done at a council-run camp, and that's not so. A troop-run camp, approved by the council, also would count. From the OA: It does not say that the resident camp must be at a Boy Scout owned or operated facility. If the national Order of the Arrow committee had wanted to say that, they would have. The language used was very carefully composed. If a troop runs their own long-term resident camp, "under the auspices and standards" of the BSA, it qualifies. The BSA does have very explicit standards for a resident Boy Scout camp, requiring much more than just a week long campout.

don't do anything secret with the money like try to help out a poorer scout without letting the other scouts or the committee know about it A point of clarification on this: It's none of the other Scouts' business. They shouldn't know about the details of financial assistance. The committee or responsible troop leadership, appointed or designated by the CO, should.

BTW, if you're talking about the Quality Unit (or Centennial QU, or whatever they're called or going to be called) awards - they only require participation. If your unit's parents hear the FOS pitch and collectively donate $1, that's participating. Not that big a deal.

Eagle92 - Why do they think that outdoors experience is critical for a Cubmaster? It's not like he or she is going to be leading monthly pack campouts or anything. Just seems odd.

Definitely tell them! It's a great experience. Get in touch with your local chapter chief and ask him to send an elections team. The actual requirement is: "After registration with a troop or team, have experienced 15 days and nights of Boy Scout camping during the two-year period prior to the election. The 15 days and nights must include one, but no more than one, long-term camp consisting of six consecutive days and five nights of resident camping, approved and under the auspices and standards of the Boy Scouts of America. The balance of the camping must be overnight, weekend, or other short-term camps." So it's even easier than you think - it's within two years, not just one.

When they say "help a Scout go to camp," they're talking about underwriting the many, many costs associated with running a summer camp. A Scout's camp fees alone cannot cover those expenses. A previous thread documented some of the many expenses: http://www.scouter.com/forums/viewThread.asp?threadID=236924 If you're encountering a lot of business owners who say "Hey, I already gave," then it sounds like your units and DE need to get on the same page as far as soliciting donations and assistance. It's not that hard to create a list so you don't talk to the same people twice AND get the maximum donation.

onevoice wrote: "do you seriously believe that is what was meant by reverent when the scout law was written?" And yet we're not digging trenches or carrying around heavy canvas tents today, which was the Scouting program as written during the time you cite. As a society, we've changed our minds about many items, even things sexual. BP condemned masturbation, for example - he believed it caused headaches, heart problems and insanity. The public viewpoint toward that practice has clearly changed in the century since. This entire line of reasoning becomes even more ridiculous when you consider that BP didn't even put Reverent in the Scout Law. That was an entirely American invention. Blame James West and the YMCA - it was a marketing tool, not a fundamental principle of the movement. What BP *did* write about religion is crystal-clear: Religion is a very simple thing: 1st. To believe in God. 2nd. To do good to other people. - SFB, p230 I submit that telling an entire group of people that they are not fit to be Scouts or to serve Scouting simply because they love the wrong kind of person is not "doing good."(This message has been edited by shortridge)

"... requiring YPT of the social worker ... " I think I'd disagree with you on this one. BSA's YPT rules are very organization-specific. (Granted, they're also common sense.) And it's not like it's the most onerous training in the world.

Eagle92, When I staffed the first-year-camper program at my local camp, we made it very clear that none of the boys would be "mastering" the T21 skills by the end of the week. It was an introductory program, covering the basics, and we made no claims about competence at the end. That, we told them over and over, comes with lots of practice. Oftentimes, I think it was more useful for the brand-new ASMs that the units sent along to "help" - they got to see the skills in action for perhaps the first time.

First step: Check with your Cubs' parents to make sure a Christmas party is OK and won't put out any non-Christians.

The public thinks that scouting is about creating a wilderness survivalist with First Aid, Firebuilding, and Knot tying skills. BSA thinks scouting is about developing personal self worth, confidence, and leadership that just happens to take place outdoors. That's the Prime Disconnect, right there. If I may generalize, the latter mindset is why we're losing kids. They're promised hair-raising adventure in the wilderness, and we give them meetings in a church basement and monthly campouts a couple hundred feet from an overloaded trailer. You can't have Scouting without outdoor adventure!

Many councils do indeed post maps of their camps. There are two maps of my local camp on my council's website, a trail/outpost map and a map of the main camp. Because camps are run by local councils, not National, and because of the steady, constant changes inherent in running a camp (campsites getting new names, new trails being blazed, new buildings being built), any national website or "database" would be outdated almost instantaneously. Just give your council a call and suggest that they put a map up online for those units that haven't gone there before. It's a simple enough thing to do.

Have you tried contacting the Sequoyah Council directly? They probably have a map they can fax or e-mail you. Phone: [423] 952-6961 Fax: [423] 952-6960 Email: sequoyah713@scbsa.org

Solicitor Diaz said, "In my administration, we will not subsidize discrimination." Actually, it was Mayor Nutter who said that. But you're close. As to what Horizon said - hear, hear!

... and basically, for a few moments managed to get himself alone with the Scouts. SMB, I think you may be fundamentally misunderstanding Youth Protection. The key prohibition is against one-on-one contact. You can have one adult in a room with two Scouts - you just can't have one adult in a room with one Scout. ScoutNut has some good questions.

You're a Cubmaster, a Scoutmaster, a Webelos Den Leader and the District Training Chair? When do you get to go to the latrine?

Short answer: No. Long answer: A den chief must be selected by the SPL and SM, as you stated. The citation: A den chief ... "is an older Boy Scout, Varsity Scout, or Venturer. Selected by the senior patrol leader and Scoutmaster, Varsity Scout Coach, or Venturing Advisor at the request of the Cubmaster. Approved by the Cubmaster and pack committee for recommendation to the den leader." http://www.scouting.org/scoutsource/CubScouts/AboutCubScouts/ThePack/csdcf.aspx No wiggle room there.

First, this type of incident has nothing to do with Youth Protection. Second, it doesn't sound like there was much more you could have done short of installing metal detectors at the doors. The safety rules in Scouting are fairly clear. If the parent doesn't respect them, and is actively encouraging his son to ignore them, then there's no room for him at the table. That said - a no-knife policy at patrol meetings? Unless you're meeting at a school or other facility that bans knives, I don't see why this policy is in place. If a Scout has the Totin' Chip, and he's not doing anything wrong, why prohibit him from carrying an essential Scouting tool?

It's difficult enough to find a course even for adults. It took me more than a year to find a Trainer course locally. The state advocate was no help whatsoever. Supposedly each council is supposed to have a LNT liaison to help coordinate courses, but I haven't seen anything on that in my area.

Hopefully they'll be as poorly written as the rest of the stuff National puts out, so there'll be plenty of opportunities for loopholes.

Anyone been here yet? http://bsauniforms.org/ I have to agree with www.boyscouttrail.com/scoutmastermusings.asp - "Cute, but I don't see the value in weird music, spinning, stumbling scouts, and dragging patches to shirts." Seems like a waste of some Irving staffer's time.

I really, really, REALLY hate to post this. But it looks like the paranoia in some circles may be justified. The G2SS is unchanged, but the current verbiage on scouting.org - advice for a new Patrol Leader, ostensibly - now reads: Patrol Activities Most patrol activities take place within the framework of the troop. However, patrols may also conduct day hikes and service projects independent of the troop, as long as they follow two rules: * The Scoutmaster approves the activity. * The patrol activity does not interfere with any troop function. (Emphasis mine.) Some uptight folks could certainly point to that as justification that overnights aren't allowed, because they're not mentioned.

The only thing that needs to be monitored is that the boys are electing or appointing positions by ability and not by popularity. I think that when its a popularity contest is the only time a SM should step in and make sure the scouts understand the consequences of their decision. Sometimes, the most popular Scouts will surprise you with their ability. Give every Scout a chance before you write them off. The SM should not be stepping in and interfering with the elections results. That's just as bad a plan as appointing the SPL and PLs directly. Pre-emptive SM conferences with each of the boys interested in running for office, making sure they understand the duties and responsibilities of the job? That's a much better way of going about it.

Sounds like the quartermaster needs to get on the ball! Maybe that would be a good fit for your son.

That statement is absolutely false. No ifs, and or buts, this is wrong. OK, I guess the New York Times is lying, then. "A CNN poll this month found that a narrow majority of Americans supported same-sex marriage the first poll to find majority support." - Aug. 21, 2010 For those still in denial: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/22/weekinreview/22gay.html?_r=1 ========== I totally agree with boomerscout that one of the chief obstacles to growing Scouting is that only the negative stuff gets big press. But rather than condemn the media (of which I'm a member), people who support Scouting should be promoting our successes. That means finding good stories and telling them, loudly and proudly. I've written on that subject at great length before in other threads - how to spread the word about what your unit is doing - and won't rehash here. I'll just say that if the only voice is a negative one, that's what's going to get heard.