skeptic

I have recently noted a number of instances where pundits on line and in articles have began making "Boy Scout" comments in a sarcastic manner to indicate "goody goody", or being a good person. Does that mean we are back?

You may be right, but that goes against a major part of the program. That upkeep and so on could be maintained with some arrangement like I noted, and the properties would get far more use as well. But as I have said a lot lately, I am just a peon whose opinions hold little or no sway. Let us be real; most of the camp issues are simply due to poor planning and kicking things down the road. Cooperative use of properties is a win, win concept, or so it seems to me.

Sadly, though the handwriting was already on the wall, I announce the loss of another almost one hundred year old Summer Camp. Camp Three Falls is gone from the barely surviving Ventura County Council. We will not belabor the myriad reasons why, or how it could have been avoided. Most of them have been noted on here over the past few years, even before the lawsuit and bankruptcy. It is just sad that somehow, in my view, National has not taken a strong stance in preserving camps in councils, as they have for decades been the backbone of the programs. Most councils struggle regularly and have fewer connections, but National might have considered, and actually still could consider, finding a working partnership with outdoor groups, sporting good stores that encourage camping and outdoor activities, including climbing, and maybe form an alliance that would help local councils save camps, even if they are not only for scout use. I keep picturing something along the line of a consortium of say, for example, REI, Dicks, and Bass stepping in to refurbish existing camps and open them to the local scouts, but also to others, especially climbing groups that might use climbing walls, and shooting clubs that might update ranges for all shooting sports. Join with the Y to update water sports, and update boating on lakes in the camps or nearby, again making them available to selected groups such as other youth organizations and churches. Work with colleges and universities to develop on site study options for outdoor sciences, shared with the Scouts for traditional and occasional short term merit badge options. Where the Forest Service and similar government natural resource caretakers find it feasible, perhaps build training sights for park restoration an fire fighting, again allowing youth and leaders to learn more about these things. But that is something that people with real connections would need to work on. And few councils on their own have those resources. The grant just received by national for youth program development proves that there is an interest. Meanwhile, we have officially lost our camp; though rumor says the new owner will work to make it available to us and to save its history. We will see how that shakes out. It could be on the level just noted, or it could be empty promises.

If we were simply carrying the same membership number to the various positions, which we technically are, it should not be that hard I would think. The only real issue is to assure the person is registered with YP and so on. If their number is on more than one list or roster, so what? Too simple I guess.

Another example of some individuals looking for problems that really are not there. Unless some individual scout ended up with an account from popcorn under his name in big dollars, it would never even float a butterfly. Use commons sense, and be even handed with all youth and do not favor one over another, meaning solid rules in place that apply to all. We finally went to the unit just paying for as much as possible directly and not trying to account for individuals directly.

Depending on the project, it might be something to consider as ongoing service later for unit hours and such. Sadly, many projects disappear far too quickly or are destroyed or removed. I felt badly about a couple projects that had no way of surviving very long, as they were open to the elements and or in our area wildfire. The one was a great nature trail for a local group, and just a few weeks after completion we had one of our rare rainy periods and it flooded the area heavily. We have also seen local officials come into place with issues with something, or inspectors that felt, after the fact, that the approved project did not meet standards, though their predecessor said it did. On the other hand, some projects seem to last a very long while, which is nice to see on occasion, especially if the public knows it was service by Scouting.

As noted numerous times. Our judicial system is broken in many ways. It still favors power and money, which often are hand in hand. It also seems to easily be swayed by social media and so on. Wose though is that there are simply far too many less than honest lawyers, in my view.

While looking for something I ran across an old post, though not sure how I ended up with it, commenting on Merlyn. That brought me to recollecions of Bob White and a few others from "way back". So, I tried to find a cumulative list of present and past members, but had no luck. Is there one someplace. My tech skills are very weak, and my focus a bit fuzzy at times. Thanks.

A roll of heavy duty trash bags.

Wouldn't want the attorney to not get billable time.

This is the truth with this, and any rational thinker saw the problem at the start. No amount of money will "fix" those harmed. The only winners are the lawyers that prey on people and twist the truth to pad their pockets. You will never make "survivors or victims" whole. But the 95 percent plus youth and leaders who have been penalized by trying to do the impossible, fix the past, are the final victims who now struggle to find a way forward with the new order. Scouting precepts are a good guide, just as many religious dictums are, but only right acting and thinking people can "mostly" protect the youth or others mentored or served. The darkness of society is always waiting for the careless or easily misled to allow them to act badly and victimize. And that includes the predator lawyers.

Just posted on Aaron on Scouting. It appears that finally the issue is recognized on broader screen world wide. https://blog.scoutingmagazine.org/2024/10/21/five-things-i-learned-from-scouting-americas-safeguarding-youth-symposium/

One issue may be the now too-common increase in price and decrease in size. I was very surprised, almost annoyed, last year when I realized the sleeve of cookies had fewer cookies and more air.

In my naivete I have to wonder where the profits from cookies go, the ones that are raked from the top before local groups may receive them? Just a query.

This is sad, but we have known this for over a year. An example of how the Media regurgitates things for the emotional hit. Of course, that propensity is partly why this became necessary, along with the broken legal system and irrational ideas that you can somehow fix the past. We should be glad the images are already saved, even if not the originals in hand.

YP was not in place as it is today, and even early suggestions sort of related to "supervision" and so on were not focused. And, while BSA did "something" to protect with IV files, it was still not an issue in the broader society. until probably the late fifties or early sixties forward. Add in the messed up legal system and simple ignorance of much of the problem and we ended up where we are today. Ironically, even in the midst of the uproar, the BSA YP was still held up as better than most other youth serving groups.

No need to apologize. I am one of the older curmudgeonly leaders, really now emeritas. But, I had the pleasure and frustration of seeing interactions not just in scouting recently, but also as a sub teacher where the youth displayed a lot of things I found myself watching and adjusting. During a small number of outings we shared camp areas with girls and had combined fires, and one Easter break we were in Balboa Park and each night the leaders, ours and the GS next gate over had to monitor the youth. My last week in summer camp three years ago was an interesting experience, but I saw little issue, though one young woman had to be spoken to by her leaders after some observations and actually youth complaints regarding here demeanor, shall we say. Learning and growing; part of life. Keeping them somehow separated is impractical at best, and asking for rebellion at the worst. JMHO.

This is a weak comment in that no reason having girls in Scouting America should keep the boys and girls from still having their own group sharing and so on. Even in camp situations, the girls and boys can still group, especially since YP has barriers that need to be met. Also, more acceptable social norms develop when adolescents need to be aware of each other on a broader front.

Once again, we choose to accept passing off personal responsibility onto "someone or something". Corporations or PAC's are somehow people, so they can do what individuals can; so says the court. Until somehow we have the courage to FIX the legal jungle and not allow foolish and far fetched ideas or definitions to be accepted, we will continue to have these ongoing messes.

A cog train is also an unusual and fun ride. Rode the short one in the L.A. area, Angel's Flight I believe, as a kid. Was told there was one on Mount Wilson, but never saw or rode it, but I also never visited its observatory. In Europe in the sixties rode a couple of cog trains, as well as long cable cars. We also used to have a small miniature RR at Griffith Park; think it is no longer running, but not sure. Still would love to do the Grand Canyon steam train, but not likely now.

My first real train experience that I remember was also in Scouting. Going to the 1960 Jamboree via Santa Fe RR from San Bernardino, around about for ten days before and after the event and getting the feel of what a railroad was. Today, much of the glamour is gone, but it is still a great experience if going cross country. They have the two level cars to view the scenery, and they even have the night sky visible on some trips. We slept in the pull down births, ate in a dining car attached to a cook car with a woodburning stove, and traveled a couple thousand miles. Still one of the highlights of my life and of Scouting. Took the train to PTC few years ago. Was a nice reminder, and I occasionally go locally on short trips. Of course, I also experienced the old So Cal Red Cars in the fifties. One of the most stupid things they did was get rid of them in favor of the freeways. You could go almost anywhere, and make connections, including to the Grand Central in L.A.

Again; this can all be laid on the warped legal system in this country, along with somehow thinking human frailties can be avoided. Reality tells us that the human animal will often find a way to do what they wish and there are no completely safe interactions, only properly supervised. Most of these issues would not be a problem in other parts of the so-called free world.

Okay; maybe workable? Also seems ripe to be abused if number of units is a stat? hmmmmm

Maybe the efforts could focus on ways to draw modern youth and parents while keeping to the Tenets? Society has changed dramatically since Scouting began, and while the need it there, it is clothed in a new and different atmosphere in the public eye. Looking back is helpful to some extent, but trying to GO back is foolish and asking from failure. B.P. embraced change when he began the movement, and all indications are that he also adjusted for societal changes, to some extent. Comparisons I see much of the time are like the adage of apples to apples. The crops have changed, and there are many more options from which to choose. Too many seem to me to be falling into the same trap our country has, pointing fingers and playing blame games rather than finding new ways and facing facts related to changes in people. Just my view. We have much to offer, so lets find a way and work harder on that to make it happen.