SSScout

Good on ya, mate. The best awards are the ones you didn't know you were working to earn.

*sigh* Who gets hurt by all this back and forth? You? Me? Nah.... Any organization, BSA, GSUSA, 4H, MYF, CLDSoJC, BPS, KoC, VFW, AL, NHS, RR, Campfire, name any acronym you like, they all have a "standard", a "program" , a "highest award" that a member can aspire to. Youth or adult. The difference between the GSUSA and the BSA has always been one of policy and program. Regardless of any mono-gender requirement. Firstly, BSA has always had a program and training to match that REQUIRED an outdoor, active, lifestyle. The adult leaders were (are?) REQUIRED to buy into this. They were REQUIRED to participate in the hiking, , camping stuff. The possible "watering down" of the BSA program is not at issue here. BSA reputation has ALWAYS been one of outdoor activity. Not so in the GSUSA. If adult leaders (yes, only women, another discussion please) wanted to do the outdoorsy stuff with their girls, they could IF THEY IF WANTED TO. Such was not required or expected. So girls who wanted a more active, down and dirty, physically challenging program might not be able to see that in their local GSUSA Troop if the leader(s) did not see that possibility. This is regardless of Ms Low's original desire and design. Today, therefore, each GSUSA Troop is unique, and need not have the same possible program as the one in the next neighborhood, regardless of what folks may say about the various "adventures" in the book. "This Troop doesn't go camping", so I have heard. Second, the GSUSA design officially does not include the continuation of a GSUSA Troop. The usual thing is for a group of "brownies" to form, and that one group works thru the program of their particular adult leader until they graduate, and that GSUSA Troop disbands. I have heard of GSUSA leaders who welcome younger girls into their Troop , such that that Troop has an ongoing life, being chastised by the local GSUSA group (Council?) for doing so. No GSUSA Troop should exist past 10 or 12 years. How does that square with the BSA tradition of Packs, Troops, Posts, lasting many , many decades? Third, The adult leader may limit the number of girls they will ALLOW in their Troop. Yes, I have been told, "oh no, we have enough girls. We don't want any more Brownies in our Troop." Huh? And we are so in favor of the BSA we have recruitment drives and "Scout Nights"? I have NEVER heard that from ANY Cubmaster or Scoutmaster. Fourth, we forget the capitalistic tradition of depending on "The Market Place" to determine the rise or fall of any particular endeavor. If there are girls who want what their brothers have had, and the BSA can adapt to provide it, why not? If the GSUSA does not see the opportunity being missed, of course they may react defensively. But that does not explain the public ignorance of the GSUSA Gold Award, worthy tho it may be (and is) . The first group of young women who have worked to be awarded the BSA Eagle need that accolation. Yes, after the initial brouhaha dies down, we will be more able to celebrate the "usual" Eagle. AND the "usual "Gold Award". And perhaps the GSUSA will see the need to be more allowing of Julia Low's original outdoorsy challenging program..... .

What, you mean this isn't Westminster Maryland?

No need to wait.... BSA has already been there. At least on paper.... Boys' Life - Google Books

Bought my GS cookies the other day.. The moms at the table outside my local restaurant were friendly. When I mentioned that they didn't look the GIRL Scout type, they laughed and said the daughters were in the car (nodding at it) keeping warm. I said I'll see you when I come out with my order. When I came out, the girls were behind the table , the moms were in the car. Very polite, "thank you sir ! Have good day !" Very tasty, worthy cause, but . . . 12 Lemon Ups in a package that looked like it could have held a few more. Worked out at 45 cents per cookie. Oh well. Popcorn anyone?

It's time to watch some tv..... A Scout named the spacecraft/lander/rover.... Perseverance pays off: Meet the Scout who named the next Mars rover (scoutingmagazine.org) Another Teen named the aircraft.... Q&A with the Student Who Named Ingenuity, NASA's Mars Helicopter – NASA’s Mars Exploration Program And we can watch it all from 480,000,000 KM away....... . Watch Online: Mars Landing - NASA Mars and/or How to watch Perseverance's Mars landing on February 18 | Space | EarthSky and/or your local PBS station . . . . . Nail biting par excellance......

May I suggest your Lifesaving MB Scouts watch the movie "The Guardian"

I would never say that medical considerations, allergic reactions etc. to include Covid deniers. Forgive me if I gave that impression. I have a personal mild reaction to some skin tests, nothing life threatening but still there. The unfortunate folks that try to rationalize their desire to not be inconvenienced by masks, restaurant closings, church attendance limitations ("personal freedom"). . . The 1918 Liberty Loan Parade comparisons between Boston, Philadelphia and St. Louis are educational. St. Louis Medical director convinced the city to close public gatherings and canceled the parade. Philadelphia went ahead some days later and the number of influenza cases sky rocketed in the days to follow. Google is your friend. Philadelphia Threw a WWI Parade That Gave Thousands of Onlookers the Flu | History | Smithsonian Magazine

Not US deaths, 1918-1919 deaths world wide. Hyperbole is not needed, only to learn from the past. To gain "Herd Immunity" ,naturally, without scientific help , all one has to do is wait. That is just about all folks could do world wide in 1918-1919. History of 1918 Flu Pandemic | Pandemic Influenza (Flu) | CDC

The deniers all need to be strapped to a chair, have their eyelids taped open and made to watch "Influenza 1918 " on PBS. Herd immunity? easy to obtain. Let the virus kill off everyone who is NOT resistant . Presto, everyone left is resistant/immune (maybe). Might take 40 or 50 million early deaths, no problem. Vaccine? They had none in 1918-1919. The two or three global sweeps of the viral epidemic (when did the term "Pandemic" come into use?) took care of that. See previous sentence. Maybe the Hong Kong or Swine Flu. Does the conquering of Polio count? There were folks back then that debated the "value" of the various vaccines. Were they even necessary? No worse than the "regular " flu? Ask the folks that became cyanotic and died drowning in their own pneumonia within days of first symptoms. Our present medical science can help alleviate and even prevent such, but not in all. Did not have that back in 1918. Can't wait? Don't see the use of preventive measures like masks and distance and hand washing and "sneeze" barriers? Don't worry ""It’s going to disappear. One day — it’s like a miracle — it will disappear. "" Just trust him. He knows.... I want to buy Dr. Fauci a beer.

Well ,Q, same here. I work part time for a retirement community and so I was in the first group. First Pfizer three weeks ago, I went home, felt some lassitude the next day, took a nap, no problem. Second Pfizer this past monday. the next day, tuesday, I usually wake up about 5:30am, but when I awoke, I felt like I had been chopping wood for the past three days. I was so stiff and achy I could barely stand up. After coffee and breakfast I went back to bed for about 5 more hours. No fever, just achy stiff muscles. The next day, wednesday, I felt much better physically, but a little fuzzy in my thinking. No headache, just .... fuzzy. That went away as the day wore on, went to bed early. And today I am fine, back to my usual snow shoveling self. Talk to Scouts? I talk to everyone who will listen. Masks, handwashing, social distancing, vaccine when available. My family is all well, they all know and acknowledge the risks and preventions. All are on the appointment lists and waiting....

Screaming Eagles. Love it. More like screeching parents? Email to Scoutmaster: Why didn't you help my son more? "I coulda been somebody. I coulda been ... an Eagle.....

Are there still time limits "in rank"? so many months in tenderfoot, etc. ?

I still say they could hire Blue Man Group. And include Venus Hum while you're at it.

Why a beaver.... Marx Bros. Why a Duck? - YouTube

Very neat. Congrats to that young lady. It was obvious that the article did not get proof read by any Scout leader. She is described as being in a Scout Troop, but belongs to and is wearing a Venture Crew uni. Interestingly, on another Scout FBPage, the discussion was spirited, and wonder of wonders, the Scout's GSUSA uniform came in for critique. Sonofagun, the Uniform Police have a precinct in the GSUSA....

Running on a cash basis.... Backin my paleo scout days, in our Troop, each Patrol had a Treasurer. I was my Patrol's for awhile. The Patrol Treasurer collected the Scout's dues, so much a month and passed that on to the Troop Treasurer (an adult). For campouts and such, each Patrol planned their own menus and bought grub each. Money collected that morning. No money? embarrassing, but you went home. With that collection, Scouts went shopping, ONTHE WAY TO THE CAMP ! If you couldn't afford the steaks that Scout chef planned, too bad, the kids going thru the Safeway bought hamburg. Going winter swim at the indoor pool (what a concept !) in the fancy downtown hotel? Collect fees on the spot. No fee, no go. Summer camp? Usually beyond the Patrol Treasurer's pay scale (?) so the parents did that. Things were much more direct and simple if all you had to spend was what you had in your pocket. Maybe going back to a cash society might be a good thing.

Requirements for Membership: 1) Be a breathing young human. 2) Be willing to make the Scout Promise and live by/ abide by the Scout Law. 3) Along the way: go hiking, camping, swimming, canoeing, rock climbing, plant trees, pick up other peoples trash, learn first aid, set an example of "doing unto others what you would have done to you", become self-sufficient and "prepared" for life, keep an open mind, and help your buddies over that rock you just tripped on.

Maine Scout camp may be sold to buyer who may let Scouts continue to use it. Maybe. Belgrade Scout camp may be sold to buyer who will allow use by Boy Scouts - CentralMaine.com

Well, like a lot of things Scouty, "It Depends" . . . When I took WB, my Scout was bridging into Boy Scouts, my good wife was the CSDC Director ( I served as her First Assistant Everything Else) and I became an ASM in my Scout's Troop ( which had been my original Troop many moon ago. Another story). Having helped with CSDC alot (ALOT !) many of my developed tickets were Cub Scout directed. "No, no, you can't do that" my Patrol Guides said, "You are registered as a Boy Scout Leader, therefore, your tickets MUST be connected with Boy, NOT Cub Scouting...." "but, but, but..." What to do? They were good, approvable tickets. The WB folks conferred. "You should be a COMMISSIONER !" "great ! What's a Commissioner? " I'd never heard of them. Well, two days later, I was registered as a Commissioner (They Can Do Anything ! In Any Part Of Scouting!) , my tickets were accepted, and I was off. Perhaps, Treflienne, you might consider reregistering with your District leadership as a Commisher. MBC is great, but Commissishers are privy to alot, your experience can be lent to many others. Just a thought. Good Scouting to you and yours, see you on the trail.....

Oh. gee, I'm sorry you spent so much money on a custom backpack and then had to use so much duct tape on it. Oh, wait....

Have fun. U of Scouting was always an exciting thing to attend and/or teach at. Always enjoyed trying to convince folks I was an "expert" at something. Anything.

We forget , as Mashmaster notes, it is (or should be) up to the Scout. Not every Scout will earn every award. Life is more than piling up bling. Scoutson earned Eagle. His time in the Troop was spent helping other young Scouts. He was the Totin' Chip Instructor. Had no interest in OA, or Seascouts (he went to Seabase, had his own sailboat, loved canoeing), or Venture Scouts (active in 4H, won awards for Rabbit breeding, earned Diamond 4H Award) , did not want to devote any time to the religious awards (altho he had more than half already accomplished just by "habit" and osmosis). Mom and I have no complaints about his life. His choices reflect the Scout Promise and Law in many ways that others of his generation do not. Camp Award? Keep count (excel spreadsheet? ) if it adds up, so be it. If not, count the rest of your Scout's acheivments and smile and wave as they go by. They will choose your Assisted Living Facility , after all. See you on the trail.

Yep. Local Council, NCAC, sez, no Scout official participation.. Parade greatly scaled back . Stay home, stay safe.

The only Scout award Knot (embroidery) in my list is the DAM. The rest are only local to our District. You get a certificate "suitable for framing" and a dangle patch for your right pocket. Or shadow box/shoebox, etc. But your thought is certainly appropos, and knot out of hand. Makes one wonder what the Aussie would use... (244) Tie Me Kangaroo Down Sport - YouTube