skeptic

"Perhaps it is just my high school, but as a parent of a teenager I have to say expectations of what teens must do far exceed what was expected of teens 20, 30, 50 years ago. " While you make some cogent points, I believe the issue is an adult issue here as well. The expectations are those put there by adults, and the pressure is generally brought by the adults. Honors and AP classes, from my experience as a long term sub are not doing what they were intended to do. The grades are not accurately weighted by peer comparisons, but instead biased to higher grades, A and B mostly, because

Am I the only one that sees a connection to the controversy still hanging about in relation to females, especially girls, in the BSA? Great history. And I grew up with grand mothers and a mother that all worked, being a latch key kid in the fifties.

Thanks, you are of course right in the general way. We have it much better today than in the past. That in itself may be a contributor to the seeming lack of too many to fend for themselves. There is no doubt that many young people are babied so badly that they do not have a clue of reality in the wider world. At the same time, some of us on here can extoll the benefits many of our mentees have garnered from being asked to think and act on their own. I keep getting reminded that while I too often get annoyed at the absolutely ludicrous ideas with which the proverbial helicopter adults con

For a number of years now, after I was forced into stepping back, our unit insists on keeping me as SM on the charter, though I really am a figurehead now. I have thought a few times that if we curmudgeons could be registered sort of at large with a unit or council as Emeritus. That would cover various hats over time. Limits starting at least a minimum of twenty years as adult volunteer, with maybe borders for decades in some manner. Just a thought as I soon enter the ninth decade of my journey.

Since 1955, with a few gaps. Sequential since 1975 when reupped as adult. I mean, we even marched with dummy rifles in local parades with a VFW sponsor, and we rode in the backs of trucks, mostly open. Pack frames were often home made, or heavy wood, and bedrolls, rather than sleeping bags were fairly common, especially in our unit with VFW who furnished us all wool mummy bags. Yet, most of the past that I remember is familiar to today, just with modern adjustments. Moaning for the old days is nonsense, other than the disappearance of common sense and taking responsibility without be

And this is a surprise? It was written on the wall from the outset almost. Human frailties and too much time were bound to run the train off the rails. And when it is engineered by many questionable lawyers, impossible expectations, and media hype, it should have been obvious. Sadly, the most injured will, as noted, possibly end up with little, while others, find a way to take advantage with little or no proof. There is no equitable way to assure the best outcome, but that will not stop the scammers and carrion birds.

Definitely a violation of the Uniform Code, and in my view, a poor decision. It seems obvious it is a personal thing, and it does not belong as a part of the program directly. Is it worth arguing about? Probably not.

I am not a watcher per se, though do take note on occasion. Our local paper just had an article last weekend about the changes in bird migrations and related things that appear related to the climate issues. Most noted was the moving of boundaries from the past, with many birds going farther north than in the past periods.

Like many good concepts, this may or may not be viable. In today's world of computers and related resources, it could be a viable project. With imagination it might even be a resource to local scouting showcasing, and surely an introduction to a new subject for youth. On the other hand, finding the qualified volunteers might be a challenge. Still, similar things are done around the world it appears if you poke around on the net in the area of World Scouting, and even BSA. Positive face, and fun, along with learning radio skills, to include the short wave. Good luck.

I meant using the same BSA project for more than one BSA recognition or advancement fulfillment. The project noted above would be counted for service, but only one of the options for advancement. But, it is the judgment of the leader, and very subjective.

Double dipping is a decision of the leaders, though normally we would not do it for Scouting related service. Now, on occasion we have counted hours from a separate non Scouting service, but only if voluntary at the same time a Scouting option was scheduled and not for a grade or something.

The actual cert and or patch, no. But the skill it represents, yes.

I have always wanted a good and dependable set of BSA labeled suspenders. Never seen any, but I would think they might be a good seller. When I was still backpacking before the seasoning had stopped me I always wore a set of wide red suspenders to keep the pack from pushing my waist clothing down. Also worked well with day hikes. Better yet, think about a well designed pair of BSA logo Lederhosen knock off.

And that is my general observation as well. Make it easier and stop the subterfuge. Coed with proper YP in serious use. I suspect it would just make it easier to stabilize small units and maybe even advance the overall program considerably. Listen to the youth, not the so called experts that do surveys and studies with bias to begin. Reality is that youth will find their own way if given the opportunities and proper supervision. As a long story I have been reading notes, we need to stop infantilizing young teens and preteens.

While it may not be obvious, it certainly is on the radar. Of course, we already have coed in cubbing, many units mixing boys and girls in the various Den levels due to needing leaders and keeping it working, and there have been few issues from what I have seen or read. Granted, some do have separate girl Dens, but usually mixed then for advancement. Of course, we also know that Exploring, Ventures, and Sea Scouts are all coed. So the truth seems obvious to me, and they just are making it more difficult to keep membership in small units. So, on paper girl and boy troops with the sam

While the political issue is real, and BSA also does not allow politically related actions, the idea is worthwhile from the young people's perspective. My issue here is the apparent nastiness of the Girl Scouts, though we may not be seeing the whole picture. On the other hand, based on some of their verbiage in relation to girls being allowed in BSA and similar confrontations, thye are not known for being diplomatic. At least not from my observations.

There is a lot of hearsay that is out there of units that are simply doing it But I do not know of anything directly from National. It is simply logical and common sense. Having done summer camp with girl troops, and also COR, there is no real issue except from the fringe that cannot find change as positive and making sense, or who are frozen in some outdated concpet of genders somehow noncompatible. As noted, YP is the key, and that has always been the case.

With the emphasis on the Citizenship in Society MB, as well as the struggles to find membership in small units, the comment made regarding Coed units is important. I hope that National will recognize that as something needed, while still allowing separate units if they so choose. Our unit has struggled for years due to location and population changes, and we tried to generate a girl unit alone, but it folded fairly soon. We have more girls in our connect pack than boys, and they "want" to join the troop, as it is, but as a patrol. Personally, I think that is the best avenue to use going fo

I think there is some kind of bug in closets of older people. Though, I do know a few old friends that have gone the other direction, and one old HS flame that can still fit in her HS clothes. Her now almost forty daughter used to wear her mom's old HS stuff when she was in HS herself, especially for those throw back days.

This is one of the numerous judgment calls from my perspective. The Insignia Guide notes certain limitations, but ultimately, they are not absolutes as long as the owner can field objections by the Uniform Police. So, do what is right for you and deal with the nonsense as able. Not worth a serious verbal debate. JMHO of course. And, since I no longer am able to wear mine due to girth, I guess I could just turn it into a hanger brag rag of some sort.

If this is an accurate comment, it IS a poor and, to me, unfathomable situation. Obviously, we are only seeing part of the issue, but I would hope there may be other adults in the shared district that might work to help. While this Forum might offer some aid, you may find more by reviewing FB for local district and council pages, and maybe nearby units. I am fairly confident that someone might respond with a post to one of those, though I could be wrong. Good luck, and please look beyond your own unit for possible aid. And now, I need to respond to a youth on a merit badge we began last y

So, tell me again that the legal buzzards are not getting fed. Meanwhile, those that should be first are last, or so it seems. Only in this country I fear is this somehow found okay by many.

And not just with skills. The PL Council, or Green Bar Council was the go to for both youth advancement on basic skills for the lower ranks, but also were the judges and juries for most issues of discipline or unit functions. Adults sat in to observe, and only if absolutely required would they use their adult power, and often even then it was taken to the committee if needed. Peer pressure is a good thing, and the expectation that you are NOT performing skills properly, as monitored by the peer group, is very powerful. And IF some type of disciplinary function was needed, it too was more l

From my old guy view, only as a feedback for the actual approval of the SM or his assigned adult proxy. Part of the role of a SM is to mentor, and Scout Spirit is a primary element of that description. Still, the older days, when the PLC actually did boards for the lower ranks, is a great loss to today's leadership training, at least in my view. The take over by adults of the advancement board was one of the many changes that has catered to the concept that youth are not able to make sound judgements. Again, just my view, though we see the results of NOT allowing young adults to actually b

Rover Scouts were used for a period in the thirties and forties, mostly fo special groups such as staffs and, in one case here, a place for some long cruise Sea Scouts to have like an alumni group of those that made trips to the Arctic from our area. I discovered the two units buried in our records, one for camp staff of our local camp, and the other the Sea Scout group. Cards and charters in a file and now in archives.