skeptic

Chipmunks??? Another expense for registrations? https://onscouting.org/2026/05/11/parents-and-scouters-get-ready-for-chipmunks/

It is interesting that the original question I posed had to do with why the media picked up story that basically represents someone outside of scouting doing a good deed, and treated it as special. Meanwhile we have the Slogan that we in theory expect our youth to consider doing, but we seldom discuss the subject. A while back I stepped in early in the meeting and posed the query to the group, asking them to describe how they may have met that concept of the Slogan. The discussion morphed into a real interactive thing. We talked about a good deed, and what it meant. We talked about how large an effect it might have and whether simply holding a door, for example was a good deed, and that counted. They should not consider themselves a failure in regard to the Slogan if it was not extraordinary. It eventually morphed into also talking about how the Motto interacted with the Slogan, and touched on the Law. The larger question that now comes to me is how often do we bypass these kinds of opportunities? Do we so focus on getting the "plan" for the meeting accomplished that we lose opportunities? Maybe we need to not be so fixated on some things, but instead listen for these opportunities and explore with our youth. I just read a FB piece about how we, as adults and too often educators, neuter the curiosity of our youth for various reasons. It discussed at what age the kids stop asking why, and how it is related to our NOT taking the time to find out if we do not, ourselves, know. How, if we change direction and explore it with them, that it may have a much larger impact on them, but we also open ourselves again to curiosity. The article was really leading up to an encyclopedic book on what are the most common "why or what" questions of young kids. But, while it was come on for the book, it also did open my eyes a bit more, even at my age. We may need to step back a bit and reevaluate our approaches, not just in Scouting, but in general. I am 82, and I just realized that I have actually learned something about the larger world, and also have gotten a different perspective on why we may do what we do.

When our council started adding a "fee" for these types of things a majority of our leaders sound off negatively. After poor attendance due to the fee stuff, partly due to units refusing to particpate, they revised the program. They now find sponsors for costs and no scout is charged. Guess what, attendance grew dramatically. The next step then was a group meting of leaders where our concerns were hear, mostly not prepping the prerequisites and working on unit communications. I personally stopped doing counseling for the events, and I told them why, though part was just my age and related issues, it was also getting few follow ups from the partials. Those that came prepared, also tended to follow up and arrange a meeting to finish. And that is how I feel it should shake out. I should note that I did have a few parents and a leader or two that were upset I did not sign the blue cards automatically. But, I also had a couple that were glad I did not.

https://www.aol.com/lifestyle/teen-helps-elderly-woman-cross-203010206.html Not sure why this seems to have gone viral. I could not help but think of the long running joke about the Scout helping old ladies across the street. But, my point is simply this is part and parcel an example of what our society seems to have lost, and the fact that Scouting has this as a brick in its foundation.

Work at finding liaisons with other youth groups, including maybe church groups and such. Put together a cooperative or two with local outdoor and sporting stores that run programs for climbing and so on. If feasible, work with local professional groups to use the site for spot training opportunities. Make serious cooperative out reach to local colleges and schools to develop teaching sites at the camp. All things that could be workable, or so it seems to me. Setting rates would need to be fair, and not made to maximize any profit The main thing would be to simply keep trying new ideas and finding cooperative options Corporate weekends might be offered where they could use the sites for company gatherings. The goal woould be to make the property viable, but also to have the community see it as an option. Working with unions might be viable, both in the city and at camp facilities. Union does training at the camp and the camp gets things fixed professionally. Be creative, and if it does not pan out, try other things. Some camps may have the type of location to grow Christmas trees, so that becomes part of the prograam and support. If the camps have unique locations with interesing geograpy, or in our case a fscsimile fort, offer it for movie sets; maybe even incorporate it as part of the MB program to do that. Keep that "can't" at bay.

"As a business the camp is a sunk cost that councils have to pay to maintain and monitor 365. " And here is where some relatively easy adjustments could make huge differences. Weak, or political proxies on a Council BOD is useless. A SE or as seems not the name local CEO, who has little or no concern for the actual membership is a waste of expense and also of time. Scouting has always, in theory been a Community based organization, as its history shows, and it early connection with the YMCA, etal proves. As many training courses, local, and at PTC have suggested; you will get little help from others if you do not ask. But asking just for money is likely a poor method. Community respect, visible viability of local units, and yes, in this case, making real outreach to the broader community to "share" the facilities often donated in early days by people that cared. People mostly still care, especially those that recognize the sad media focus on negative, and find ways to show otherwise, or that it is being worked on for a better way, and a safer way; one that can be a model outside the Scouting families.

While the expense issue may have feet, it is not totally accurate. The facility has proven useful and viable over more recent times. Will it recoup its cost; that is up to those who can think outside the boxes. Most camps, once outfitted with basic needs, can be used for many things besides camping or special programs. And there seems no reason, other than attitude or bias to somehow not offer the space and facilities to outside groups, both as ways to offset expenses, but also as effective utilization of facilities and structures. It might take a while, but it can and should reach a balance. The same thing seems common to many council camps that have fallen or barely hanging on. The local council has upkeep issues, especially as the facility gets older. But, while the have, for example, say a high level climbing wall, it is standing unused more often than used. Iff a program of cooperative use with local climbing groups and maybe even schools were to be developed, it could becaome a viable resource and improve all parties programs. A camp has kitchen and dining hall that is used during Council activities, but often sits unused. Could a local area cooking school perhaps use it for training in the off-season? Could that same school fill a summer need as well that is often a real struggle? The camp is located relatively near seasonal outdoor opportunities; could it be rented out when not used by the council, allowing more people to experience the winter sports and so on? We come back to the missed opportunity position far too often. Would the ideas work; probably with proper planning and follow. But someone says "can't", or we do not have the sources, or other excuses, so the facility ages and disappears. Not only is this ignorance, but it is lost opportunity. Some camps also could be used by the FS for training locations, though currently our misguided (my opinion) leadership is doing all it can to decimate the FS and Parks. Our now lost camp a decade or two back became a six week + basecamp for a major wildfire fight. They took over the whole facility and it proved viable and also put our camp and council in a good light. FS for a long time came as part of the Fire Safety skills program in the summer, bringing trucks and tools to share and demonstrate. But could the site have also been an option regularly for training how to fight the fires, even for non Scouting people? So many times "Can't" is the answer, and nobody challenges that. Our lost camp was built by local groups who felt the Scouting program needed the

I find it interesting that we are seeing basically an updated version of the first moon program. And the same lines of interest amazingly reappear with the youth. HMMM. Could we, as a society, maybe keep the strongest building blocks and share their evolutionary options as bait for the youth? While I have concerns about the worst of the video game intrusions on some, I also see what appears to be serious parallels to the huge science charge the first decade of the space race. No good science is wasted, and often reintroductions of some concepts may lead to unique new concepts and developments. That after all is what comes from the challenges, some of which may stem from the scary video game concerns. How many of the current day "normal" things were seen in fiction and earlier science probes? When was the last time someone made a list of how many now basic tools and concepts came from the Race to the Moon? Not only Tang. Think about how much easier outdoor activities are with the developments that reach back to the prep for the moon. How many new materials are mainstream in tents, packs, navigation, and so on? Young people are often ignored with their idea, yet once in a while those same youth make amazing things, on their own, like the young woman that developed the way to separate micro plastic from the water.

You cannot take Scouting out of the larger community or its issues. You can fliter that community through the tenets of Scouting to make the community hopefully better. YP or whatever the current name is, represents a positive feedback into those larger communities, and the concepts continue to evolve and get stronger, which in turn helps both the program, and those it serves.

Three words that maake a huge difference. "balance", "awareness", and "responsiveness". And these concepts actually relate to youth moving from group levels anywhere. And let them fail, as long as it is safe and then pick them up to try again. All of this of course needs adults to "adult".

And if that person became the character on Ghosts it would still be the fault of Scouting America,etal. At least in this country.

What if's are the worst problem, as we now live in a society that makes them more important than they should be and there is a legal vulture just waiting. But, we also seem afraid to just be normal and use commn sense within the given framework. No answer to most of it due to our specific "blame" society.

Suspect this is not a coincidence. It was sent to leaders on the list for Scouting Safety. Note the heading. " Scouting Safety Newsletter: SAFE Checklist Revisited! Aol/Old Mail Scouting America www.scouting.org From:[email protected] Unsubscribe To:[email protected] Thu, Mar 26 at 3:03 PM View Online S is for Supervision Scouting America’s SAFE Checklist is the primary methodology we use to help ensure all Scouting America activities are conducted safely. While Scouting America expects leaders to use the four points of SAFE when delivering the Scouting Program, this article will be focusing on the first point: Supervision Our movement has always worked on the concept of youth-led adventure, supervised by qualified and trustworthy adults. Today we codify this concept in the SAFE Checklist. Adults supervising youth: Accept the responsibility for the well-being and safety of youth under their care Ensure that adults are adequately trained, experienced and skilled to lead the activity, including the ability to recognize and respond to likely hazards and potential emergencies Know and deliver the program of Scouting America with integrity Use qualified instructors, guides or safety personnel as needed to provide additional guidance Maintain engagement with participants during activities to ensure compliance with established rules and procedures Supervision is not a checkbox step in Scouting, or a one and done. Rather, supervision is the continually occurring process leaders use to ensure adventures have safe and positive outcomes. Scouters must be honest about assessing their knowledge in any given subject to ensure they have the knowledge, skills and abilities to recognize hazards and respond to them properly. Units often need to be strategic and help ensure their adult leaders have the correct training for planned adventures throughout the year. Remember, your council can help connect you with upcoming training activities. Scouters’ knowledge also extends to the program of Scouting America. One way to think of that is to understand “what chapter and page” you are in the Scouting program. If you can’t find an activity in our official materials, that is a good sign it is not aligned with our program goals. An adult leader should only deliver official program-approved materials from qualified subject matter experts. Lastly, supervision means being involved in activities so that you can detect hazards before they occur and help ensure participants are engaged properly. Supervision is not just watching the exits, but being involved in the moment with Scouts, which also demonstrates what real leadership looks like. Visit Scouting America’s Safety Moment landing page here! If you have a safety moment idea for the Scouting Safely website, share your draft with us at [email protected], and we’ll consider it for publication. If you have questions, email us for guidance or support. Together, let’s grow a strong Culture of Safety in Scouting! Read this month's newsletter here. Resources: SAFE Checklist Guide to Safe Scouting Scouting America Code of Conduct"

Yup; I had a similar issue due to changes in codes for training and changing council. It took a number of reviews with our fabulous registrar to get it all fixed, but now it does show up on the records. The one thing that does not show in training is the completion of PTC courses. Have taken a number of them, both district, council, and unit, along with the special on Historical material. As noted, keep the certs and such. My OA entry was as a youth in 1959 in a defunct council. Have the cards. But, also misplaced a few items and simply redid the update rather than wrestle with it. I just thought about my PTC comment. Would that not be something National might review and fix, especially specialized courses that qualify people for less common areas? If nothing else, they could add a PTC section to the records.

While this seems true, I am not convinced it is. On the other hand, I do perceive that many have turned inward, so to speak, and are tring to find the path that will allow the real Scouting to again bloom. But, I also am seeing far too many "giving up", or simply retreating to do what they feel will work, regardless of pressures from the outside. Scouting is best in my worn views when shared with a broader group of youth and adults. BP called it aa brotherhood, and it still is if we allow it. How to allow it with the issues we face is the greater struggle. I hope my great grand nephew, who has an Eagle father, and a Scouting believer as a GF will still experience the better possibilities. Would I live to see him also become an Eagle, or simply like his GF, a firm believer in the Spirit of Scouting. We have a gathering of Leaders locally at a breakfast on Saturdy coming, and the interhanges from the first two of these recently institued sharings has proven worthwhile. The Merit Badge events, for example have been over hauled and are getting better and more focused on the actual requirements. Also, they are nown being broken up to fewer badges, instead focusing on just a dozen or fewer. Still a long way to go, and I am still fighting with them to recognize the need to put our history forward, as well as sevice beyond the "big" events. Community is still silently behind the ideas of Scouting, but they too seem to be holding their brath to see if we can fight our way back. Time will tell, and hopefully I may hold on long enough to see the larger steps.

This old guy feels as if it does matter and we should stop accepting these types of things and putting some honesty back into our units and setting a better example. Probably, and sadly, you are likely to be more correct than I am, and we seem to have lost sight of much of the best Character examples we have tried to exemplify over time. But, maybe not??

One of the things that has I have often felt as a leader is that the concept of breadth in merit badge options should be reinstated. IN the fifties and sixties we had the required badges of the time, but also a "selection" from a number of categories which broadened the picture. It was similar to the once required college breadth for graduation that included classes from the less common areas, including art and music. That, in my opinion, leads to a bit more depth of knowledge and the world in general. What might be the thoughts on this being reinstated in a more modern manner?

Absolute safety is a mirage. Sometimes things just happen, even with every precaution. And every effort to find perfection will fail, no matter what. And in this country, the legal vultures constantly circle because we let them.

With my long beard (not reaally, it will not grow long), I have the imagined perspective of a seasoned adult. And that is the point. How many of the issues we see posted here would simply solve themselves if we, you know, "act" like adults? Hmmmm!

In our society, that is the United States of America, the legal systme is so twisted that it does not protect most of us and can be rigged or leveraged to generally put the onus on those with the least ability to fight it. And personal responsibility too often is brushed aside by the "corporate", especially the insurance industry. Meanwhile, ridiculous payments continue to be made when someone can leverage the system effectively. And, when the insurance is forced to pay, it is likely the insured will be priced out of future insurance of dropped all together. Even small claims can lead to increased cost to the insured, whether or not they have had others. If somebody has no claim for ten years, yet pays on time and fulfills that obligation, why is it legal or seen as acceptable for the company to then drop them or raise their rates drastically? It is a Catch 22.

https://www.fox10tv.com/2026/03/04/family-claims-5-year-old-was-beaten-cub-scout-meeting-while-pack-leader-was-outside-vaping/ After reviewing this and a number of other related pieces from the ether, I cannot say anynthing else but: FOLLOW THE RULES AND BE ADULTS. I am sure the whole story will never be shared, but the basics indicate a lack of paying attention, both by the leaders and the parent. Does it equate to a huge settlement? In our society, it likely will. Should it? In my view, no; but that is not the legal world in which we here exist. Balance and fairness, not "wind all you can". (hmmmm).

This theme has appeared often over my time here on the forum, and it almost alway comes back to reality of lives and responsibilities outside of the program. Early in my long tenure, now fiftyish, I was visiting my parents and mentioned my frustrations to my father, the man that in my youngest years worked three jobs, one full time with a long drive to and from. Anyway, he looked at me and laughed. He said something to the effect of, "nothing new". Then he asked if I thought that all my scout brothers' parents were involved as he was. He was on the committee in a number of jobs, as actually was my mother for the time. She had been a denmother for my brother. He told me a couple of stories that matched mine like a Polaroid almost. Then he told me that if it was important to someone, they somehow would work at it and often find the time. But also he told me that life could wear you down, and that Scouting involvement also could, and likely would.

I might add to your comment the concept of true service and community involvement, often integrated with that outdoor element. It often seems some of the most laudable services revolve around outdoor protection and rejuvenation, along with access improvement.

My wasting tech skills are showing. Oh well. I continue to find it odd that the discussions on the MB going away basically are rehashing the gripes when it was put in place. I said at the time that I thought it was simply unneeded if we were using the simple concept of Scout Spirit as part of their reviews, and also as leaders doing our best as well. IF the rank review, the thing called the SM Conference touches the review of Spirit, then it is a regular review of how well the Scout, and frankly, many adults understand the concepts. But I am old, and still considered Woke by a few, whatever that actually means