SSScout

Every "style" is an alternative. Like the carny barker said, "ya pays yer money and takes yer cherce". What we are doing, methinks, is making sure our Scouts understand better the choices. The 'alternatives'. And the results of those choices. Some folks call it 'Karma', I guess.

Mama Llama, you are in Nawth Kay Row Linah. I truthfully know nothing about your situation. Up here in the Washington DC area, we have many active, wonderful Packs and Troops of Jewish consideration. I have a good Scout buddy, Scoutmaster of one, just earned his Wood Badge. Here is a connection for you: https://www.jewishscouting.org/ Remember the Cub Scout Mantra: KiS MiF, KiS MiF... keep it simple, make it fun. See you on the trail....

In any group/organization/association/club.... there are the ideals, the goals, the "official" reasons for the organization's existence , and then there is the reality of what happens. The people that define the organization (US Constitution? US populace?) are what make the ideals, the goals achievable. Or betray them.... BSA (and , I dare say, other Scout associations around the world) has that situation. So do Churches, Mosques, Synagogues, Boys/Girls Clubs, Soccer Clubs, swim teams, gymnastics schools, public Schools, private schools, equestrian rings, and bird watching groups..... Parents must believe their kids when they come and complain about a youth leader, or a class bully. Adult Leaders in the youth clubs need to act proactively to threats to their charges, with integrity and clarity. Criminal activity must be treated as such, after appropriate investigation. The BSA (et al) have learned these necessities late to their regret. The present day BSA now has many safeguards in place that, in hind sight, would 've profited our earlier days. A thoughtful teacher of my past days in high school was recently convicted of child molestation. It was headline news in our local paper. I had nothing but pleasant memories in his french class. Obviously, someone else did not, and the teacher is being properly dealt with. Nothing hidden. The past BSA unfortunately, did not deal with such problems as openly . This is a lesson hard to learn, and the BSA organization is reaping it's just rewards (lawyer fees are another discussion). All Scouting Is Local. The local units, Packs, Troops, Crews, Ships, Posts, are locally organized and run. The "brand" is national, indeed, international, but the Scouting is you and me and our neighborhood VFW , volunteer fire house, Rotary, Methodist Church and synagogue. If we see something, hear something from our Scout(s), it is not up to Irving to do something about it, it is up to us. The BSA as it is will not be here this time next year. It will be changed. But the Scout Promise and Scout Law will be here. The Poison Ivy will still be on the tree . The rain will still leak into the 12 year old kid"s tent. The 50 miler canoe hike will still be the memory of the old woman or man after you and I have been recalled after our warranty is up. Mama Llama (I'll give you the song in a minute), if your opinion of the Goals of Scouting (kinda like the British constitution, I guess) is such that you want your youngster to reach for those particular stars, then help him , and any other Scouts you meet, along the way. Don't forget, they will be picking out your assisted living facility. Good Scouting to you, I'll see you on the trail. https://www.albinoblacksheep.com/flash/llama

I agree with all theabove comments/suggestions. Observations: Does the family have any other children? How do they deal with them? Only one child? If , as has been stated, the school system provides a para educator, that person is PAID (tax dollars) to be with the child. I was a sub teacher, worked occasionally in Special Ed, and have great respect for those folks, it is a "leading", a profession, and very draining and challenging. Scouting is not that, we are well meaning volunteers. AND,,, as we all know, sometimes the parent does not want to be a parent. Ever have a Scout dropped off at summer camp and you need to call the parent only to find (surprise!) they left on a caribean cruise 2 hours after they dropped the kid off? Who to contact for the broken arm? The parents here need to be reminded that even tho there is a Membership Fee, that only entitles the Scout to "participate", not to be "minded". This is a quid pro quo (where did I hear that before?) situation. . You help with my Scout, I'll help with yours. Together we will raise good citizens. What is this family offering in exchange for us providing their urchin with the opportunity to go camping, hiking, learn knots and what Poison Ivy looks like? It is a given that Scouting is not a one size fits everyone. But it is also known that sometimes (SOMETIMES) Scouting can be just what the Special Ed kid needs, with a mom or dad's support. Sometimes......

Woodbadge camp near Harpers Ferry near to the AT. Food storage was in big plastic coolers, tied shut with rope. Everyone was aware of critter visits. We all slept in separate, one person tents. One morning, after a rainy night, under the "breakfast pavilion", my buddy asks me how I slept, I said fine, you? He said he was kept awake by the "bullfrogs" grunting all night. I found this amusing, as did the rest of the WBers, because the creek was a good 500 yards away from our campsite. Upon further inspection, we found bear tracks thru the campground, in the muddy areas...... Bears do grunt, or is it a "wulf, wulf..." sound?

I don't think you can copyright a color. Otherwise, all the Walmart cargo pants would be an infringement. The BSA buttons with the BSA Eagle Fleur de Lis are a copyright issue, but the GSUSA gets past that with their GS Trefoil... Look at the Rose Bowl Parade videos , with the Gold Award Scouts marching with the Eagle Scouts. Similar uniforms? Stretch your imagination, maybe. But what a concept ! GSs working with BSs ! I think BSA has bigger problems than worrying about a purple golf shirt under a tan cargo vest over dark green cargo pants/skirt......

All kids (ALL kids) want to belong to a gang. A club. Whether that gang creates something or destroys something is the question. That gang of kids in the vacant lot (not too many of them left) that shagged a bat and chose up teams is one such. The gang that self forms and because they all came from the same country is another (Sharks? Jets? ). The older kids are looked up to by the younger. The younger learn how the game is played by watching the older kids. MS13? Scouts? What really is the difference between the two? Who got to the kid first? The Patrol Method works, and it HAS to work without the interference of adults. That is the problem with the New Scout Patrol. Where is the continuity? I was in THE Eagle Patrol for six years ! Loyalty was endemic . We passed on responsibility because we saw it modeled by the older Scouts AND the adults. The chance to EARN rank was just that, a chance, up to us. The hikes, campouts, summer camps were opportunities to learn, practice skills, and earn the ranks. The adults MADE the opportunities, they did not require we use them. We had a choice thereby. The previous discussion seems to be about the idea that often, today's Scout doesn't have the chance to fail, the choice is already made for him/her. You HAVE to succeed, it is required. The skills are taught, the MBs are schooled, the campouts aren't so much about getting out and seeing if you read that part of the Handbook for Boys (!) about keeping warm in cold weather (mom wil make sure I have my mittens, right?) as they are about earning (earning?) First Class by year one..... What was it the 2nd grader said? "It's not FAIR ! !" How'd he know that?

Donations? Did the Scouts wash/dry/vacuum the car out? Did they do a service for the "donation"? What was a carwash worth to the washee? The Scouts still DID a service. Placing US flags on your front lawn during a holiday and retrieving them later. Buying and having the Scout(s) spread mulch/wood chips for you... I once saw a Cub Pack do a "tent set up demo" at a shopping mall . For a price ( ?$5. sticks in my mind) the Cubs would set up a tent for the payee. Your choice of tents, I think. It was fun watching the Cubs rip the parts out of the bag and get the tent up in minutes. It was a "service", an entertainment if you will, but the Cubs worked to earn those bucks. Did folks throw some extra into the pot? Sure, but the price was posted. Then they took it down, repacked it in the bag and waited for the next customer...... Christmas trees and "holiday decor" . . . prices were usually about the same as at the Lion's Club stand or even Home Depooo, but one had a choice of tree and seller. Capitalism rampant. The idea is the Scout needs to take some responsibility for the cost of camping, yes? Council buys and maintains the camp (we hope). That takes big(ger) bucks than operating a Pack or Troop. Sense of scale and experience.

Earning is still different than asking for money. A Scout should early on (from family?) learn/discover the connection between effort and reward. I had (and so did our kids) an "allowance". It was , yes, a gift, but it had strings. Chores to help the family home along. Learn to budget and save. They are off as adults and all doing well, thank you. See my previous post/answer. The BSA has enough present trouble without being thought of as purely a poor "charity" of kids who can't afford to go to camp on their own.

*sigh* "" It depends" (always). One of my courses was a "set up your Patrol Camp" (bring your tent) type. One was in a just vacated summer camp and the tent platforms were still up. (two to tent). One was we come in and Set Up Our Tent Platform prior to the summer camp. None were expected to be a Philmont hike to the site camp with all your gear on your back type. The concentration is (or was !) on Scout Leadership, not so much Scout Skills Demonstrating...

Need a Campfire Story? Bedtime Story for your Lion, Tiger Cub? Thorton W. Burgess,,, 170 books, over 15,000 newspaper columns. Ought to be a Scout regular. Book series entitled "The Boy Scouts of Woodcraft Camp". Paddy Beaver, Reddy Fox, Ole Bob White, Betty, Billy and Cubby Bear, Peter Rabbit (alias Cottontail), Jerry Muskrat, Lil' Joe Otter, among others. Surprised he isn't mentioned more often in Scoutland. Has Nature preserves named for him. Get the reprints (if not the original from your grandmom's shelf) and introduce your young Scouts to him.

Eggs axe lee

Contact Hosteling International . . . Used to be American Youth Hostels. They are still in business, and would be glad to talk to you about "licensing" the site. It has to beowned by SOMEBODY, and lived in for responsibility and care.... https://www.hiusa.org/

When I first assisted teaching IOLS, I suggested to my professor that we include some copied pages from my 1959 edition FieldBook. He agreed, and those pages have been included in every IOLS syllabus since. I once assisted another districts IOLS, and when I noticed they had their campfire building before the Wood's Tools, and shouldn't the Scout learn to use his axe BEFORE he cuts up firewood, they said "we never noticed that....".

""If possible"" . . . Keep good notes. Document episodes. Have you spoken with other Scout parents/Scouts? Have others seen/heard/experienced similar events? My suggestions for order to pursue::: 1) Troop Key Three ( COR, Committee Chair, Scoutmaster) and Committee. Polite conversation, show them the BSA Advancement Guide, G2SS, Brian on Scouting, this website.... whatever is germane. Involve the IH lastly .... Smile and wave... 2) Assigned Unit Commissioner. Conversation, do you HAVE one.... Perhaps your interpretation is incorrect? Make sure....Discuss general Troop/Scout culture. Is the particular situation indicative of other problems? Personal personnel issues? Egoes involved? 3) District Advancement Chair.... Has this happened before locally? Ramifications for the Scout's (Scouts' ) future? Record keeping? 4) Council Advancement chair? Council's attitude will be that this is a "local" issue. IH and COR have jurisdiction unless there are serious YP issues. Keep things on a polite, factual level. Good Scouting to you. If enough parents/Scouts see the same problems, and several express reason to "jump ship" to another unit, the message might get thru......

What he said. Pay attention to everything they send you. Ask questions as needed. Bring extra rope, duct tape, and a silly hat. And if you are so skilled, your bugle. Have fun.

My opinions: 1) Do not donate to any council, encumbered, conditioned or free in clear. See above mentions. 2) Organize a non-profit trustee type foundation, dedicated to "Scouting". Find a good, Scout Friendly lawyer to set things up pro bono. The properties could be leased back to the Council for summer camp and rented to Troops/Packs for their use. The Trust could log the land or rent it out to other "educational" users, county rec department, school districts, colleges, etc. and make a little income thereby. Make it a Nature Preserve. Camp Store? Boat ramp fees? Any professional outfitters, boat renters around? What's on the opposite shore? 2)A)....Multiple Troops? I do not think I would try to divide the ownership, that only complicates things. The trustee Board can have required members from several sources. Talk it over. Private cemeteries and other campgrounds are set up this way. 3) Find a Scout CO that already charters a Unit that might fulfill the Trust idea above. Lions Club? Kiwanis? Isaac Walton? Rotary? Church (?) ? 4) When one of the above options is in place, (or before?) work with the local OA chapter(s) and District Eagle coordinators to find project help in developing the cabins tent sites etc. needed. I think this is a wonderful opportunity. I hope you can find the support to make it happen. We have a "public Park " nearby that is locally known as "Mount Sugarloaf". It is used for hikes, picnics, rock climbing classes, OA events.... Legally it is known as "The Stronghold" , established by a rich department store owner back in the 1930's. See this: http://www.sugarloafmd.com/

Oui, le sauce e tout....

WB was a good experience, learned some taught some, exampled some.... Blew bugle some.... First time, When I presented my ticket ideas, everyone said they were good/great, BUT . . . I couldn't do them. Why? Well. in my past Scout time, I had done alot of Cub Scout stuff, and so at the CSDC, I earned the position of "First Assistant Everything Else" (wife was CSDC Director), so many of my tickets were Cub Scout directed. But at the time, I was "officially " registered as a Assistant Scoutmaster. Scoutmaster types CAN'T do Cub Scout things... What to do? The WB staff huddled and came back :: "You should be a COMMISSIONER !! They can work in ANY program !" Great ! What's a Commissioner ? Within 48 hours, I was a registered, bonafide Commishner. And the rest, as they say, is prolog.....

Sure evokes the BSA look... shoulder loop/epaulettes (color loops for Daisy, Brownie, Cadette, Senior? ? ), tan over green, got the flag over right pocket, service stars, cargo pockets..... Lavender shirt might not be BSA...

Can include veggies and such in the batter? No transfat? Wife would favor gluten free....

How to gain respect: Be able to admit and say "I don't know" and "I will find out." I am reminded of the scene in Master and Commander when the 12 or 13 year old Midshipman, who has already lost an arm in a battle, asks the old sailor for help n sewing up the sail around one of his dead friends.

" If lost...." MAKE YOUR OWN ! Carve, mold, weave, glue, scratch head and design and MAKE YOUR WOGGLE !

Faith and Chaplaincy? When I served as a Jamboree Chaplain, I met more than one Scout that expressed the idea/concern/opinion of "I'm not so sure about this God stuff." We would have a VERY open ended conversation . Scoutmasters that required their Troop to attend some religious service, if only for "educational" purposes, was an idea that raised some questions in my mind. Pick a service, I don't care what , just go. The idea that atheism is NOT a religion is always interesting. The idea that belief in a "higher power" delineates a sub group (large tho it may be) that must totally exclude folks that cannot in good conscience promise to "do my duty to God" also makes for a good discussion. Then too, we have the not-too-sure agnostic label. Perhaps a choice of Scout Promise is a good thing, an inclusive thing, maybe. I have come to say that there are really FOUR promises in the BSA promise, anyhow, rather than the THREE that are mentioned in the Handbook explanation. After all, we promise to "do my duty to God, to our country, to others and to myself. Country and God should NOT be one and the same, yes?

Checks. Cheques. True story: Second World War. American army officer. Goes into a British army officers' club as a guest. For cash, he writes a "cheque" on a plain piece of paper (sometimes said to be the back of a cigarette package, but no matter), to be drawn on a local (to me) US bank. The bank is so well known, (in Britain!) that the cheque is honored, and makes it's way, all the way, , back to the USA where it was , for a time, displayed in the bank.