slontwovvy

You have to remember, NJ, that for a lot of people, Eagle Scout is the big thing that they have. One in four Eagle Scouts, I'm told, values his Eagle Scout more than his college degree.

While it might not make a situation more dire, it certainly is a serious step, one that can send a serious message.

Or, a little bit longer, try the history of the The Star-Spangled Banner. Go through Fort McHenry, Francis Scott Key, etc. Then, maybe the following week, find the other three or four verses (yes they do exist) and go through them line by line with the Scouts.

Thinking of God

I remember a poster with a montage of pictures: a playing childtoo young to think of God; a young fellow on a motorbiketoo self-assured to think of God; a newlywed coupletoo happy to think of God; a man at a desktoo busy to think of God; a woman in bedtoo tired to think of God; and a tombstonetoo late to think of God.

Short but powerful.

Our troop's going to Bear Paw Scout Camp, Mountain, Wisconsin. Our older boy group is going backpacking at Philmont.

The statistic that I once heard was that 30% of boys will drop out of Scouting in their first year. I will add that our troop loses about seven or eight out of twenty per year.

Never doubt that a small group of committed people can changed the world; indeed, they're the only people who ever have.

OK, a couple of suggestions.

First of all, troop guides. Older scouts that help younger ones in the patrol setting. They explain and help the patrol leader assert himself. They shouldn't "take over," just help out and be more of a mentor for the patrol leader.

Secondly, maybe you don't want to have patrols of the exact same age, but something close to it. If patrols consist of all different levels, the older scouts will control while the younger scouts are shut out. Try mixing up maybe two years of scouts. Six and seventh graders, eighth and ninth, tenth on up, etc. Move the scouts up when they change due to age, and make it a ceremonious occasion. That way, when the younger scouts enter their patrol, there will be existing leadership from the year prior, there will be a mystique about the patrol leader, and they won't feel alienated.

Just a couple of thoughts.

And for a long time, our states had no problems supporting churches--I believe it was Massachusetts that kept doing it well into the 1840's.

"One man with courage makes a majority."

-Andrew Jackson

Longhaul--

Latinos are already the majority in California. I think they announced it a couple of years ago.

I don't believe that it is appropriate for any forms of sexual promiscuity or deviance to be promoted by the BSA. If there is a highly promiscuous heterosexual couple who wanted to gain entrance into my troop I would say no. Same with those who practice the old standbys of bestiality and incest. Same with those who are nudists. If they want to do their thing that's fine, but then they will have to deal with the consequences of their actions.

As my old Scouting mentor used to say, "it's always the three W's--work, wheels, and women."

Try making your own service. Base it on the twelve points of the Scout Law. Try to find different biblical passages that represent each. Offer time for individual prayer and reflection. Add in other religious bits. Works well, gets boys to think about religious life in a new way, and is non-denominational.

Just a suggestion.

The only time I have even heard of such an action being considered was in a clear case of menace. A boy brought his own box of matches to camp and attempted to burn down the Scoutmaster's canvas tent (luckily no one was inside). The incident happened at 10:00, and he was out of the camp and Scouting before lunchtime.

LongHaul,

You hit the nail on the head. So many idealists want peace, which is not bad. However, they are willing to go to such extremes to get it that it becomes dangerous. I can just imagine what would've happened if this attitude would have prevailed during World War II. We would be "peacefully negotiating" with Adolf Hitler and telling him why he shouldn't annihilate over 10 million people. Idealism, though admirable, is not often practical.

Wow. Gotta love Cayuga Country. Wish more stuff like that could be in the news.

I can't seem to get it to work....

I have definitely noticed this. Too many parents want themselves to look good in their kids' eyes that they forget about actually doing the right thing.

I have a patch from our lodge's first fellowship back in 1973. Wouldn't take it off for the world.

I also know of a few who still wear their lodge flaps from before the merger--Chequah 194 pride runs deep. Illegal? Yes. But one form of nostalgia? Definitely.

Very good sctmom, the respect is flowering....

Very few statistics regarding this issue are bias-free. However, after all of the studies I've seen, I'd feel pretty safe in saying that 2-5% of Americans are homosexual and 35% of pedophiles are homosexual. After that, however...

Thanks for your debate style as well.

My district has merit badge clinics as well. They're held every Friday night in a college building. There are four or five merit badges offered per month, and it seems to work out pretty well.

Leadership skill #1-Knowing and using your resources.

Just ask...

I know of a troop that asked a nationally recognized birder who lived nearby to come in and counsel bird study. The man (who helped illustrate and compile the National Geographic field guide to birds among other things) liked it so much he came back as a leader.

As a Bird Study counselor through summer camp, the week the man was at camp I learned more about identifying birds by sound than ever before (I was up to almost thirty by the end of the week).

In our troop, the Scouts teach Totin' Chip and the Tenderfoot, Second and First class requirements with adult supervision. The adult only adds in if he feels something wasn't adequately covered.

After that, the Scouts (those Star and over) sign off on the requirements.

Just from what you tell me, I feel you should attempt to move to another camp next year. If this camp does not have basic services or will not accomodate requests, you should pick up your troop and bring them elsewhere.

Scout camps should not be allowed to deny boys without a good reason.

I will add, however, that this is coming from me, a rather conservative guy who occasionally visits www.jbs.org. Also, the first hyperlink didn't really work out, so here - www.defendscouting.org.