SSScout

GOING OUTSIDE . . . is not a game or a program, not a device or an app, not a protocol or an operating system. Instead, it’s a comprehensive experiential mode that lets you perceive and do things firsthand, without any intervening media or technology. https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2011/03/28/just-in-time-for-spring

A conversation with the MBCollege/weekend folks would seem to be in order. You spoke to the Scout. Did he seem to think he had "met" the requirements? A Scout is Trustworthy. The parent is correct (is he a lawyer?) , and so the MB is "passed". But perhaps you and the Scout know the truth of the matter. As a MBC for Bugling, I am no longer surprised , only disappointed, by the number of Scouts who will come to the MBCollege with a new Bugle (or no instrument) still in it's wrapper with obvious expectation they will "learn" and "earn" the Merit Badge in one three hour session. Did you read the Pre-requisite page on the sign up page? er, yea.... Did you read thru the MBBook? I've got the worksheet here.... But did you read thru the Book? Did you read the requirements ? Out of ten Scouts, average, one will be prepared (there's that annoying phrase again) . one will be able to pass the requirements the first meeting. Another two will call me up and make another appointment and play the calls (it is a PERFORMING requirement Merit Badge) after some practice. The rest can't even make a noise with their horn. *sigh*. So I make a few "Partials" that never call me back. What happens with them, I never know.

TLHFCKOCTBCR. OMHIWDMBTDMDTGAMCATOTSLTHOPAATTKMPSMAAMS.

I would start here: http://meritbadge.org/wiki/index.php/Orienteering The resources at the bottom of the page include teaching materials. When we teach the Map and Compass requirements for 2nd and 1st class in IOLS, we use a standard USC&GS topo map of our area, and a compass course that basically leads the student out from a starting point, thru three compass turns to a known ending point. With some intention, one can do any number of turns and end up (surprise ! ) back at your start point. This can be done in a field or open woods of about two or three acres. When I was a Scout, my Troop would stretch a rope thru the woods, exactly north and south (or east - west) marked off every twenty feet (A, B, C, etc.) with a 3x5 card taped on. You drew a card out of a bag with compass bearings and distances listed. Some trigonometry student had worked the angles on graph paper so that by starting at card "G" and taking bearings and sighting your line of travel, and pacing off that distance (how many paces to a hundred yards? Or should we do meters?) , and then taking the next bearing, and so on.... you ended up at … what next letter? Hopefully, you measured and sighted correctly. If you ended at the wrong letter, your instructor helped you understand your error, and gave you a NEW direction card.. Try again. GPS, Schmarty phone, that's another thing.... Do not try either thing close to a gigavolt power line !

Our Meeting's Graveyard dates back to 1754. The earliest graves have no stones, as the early Friends considered headstones with names and dates as "vain displays". But the simple markers from about 1820, are illuminating. One of our members did a study of the age at death vs the chronological date. The results, if not definitive, were thought provoking. Before the 20th century, children who died before the age of 5, were not uncommon. often in one family, more than one child would die in a notable succession. Folks back then had big families, to help work the farm, to make sure there would be someone to "carry on" the name. My father had 3 brothers and 2 sisters, born into the era before the Great War, or just after. The GY study implied that the children who died before 1900, died from causes now easily prevented in the US of A, Diptheria, cholera, measles, pneumonia, all easily cured or prevented now. Back then…? After about 1920, there were far fewer, that is to say, a handful, recorded child deaths in our graveyard. Why the drop in incidence? Because of the discovery of preventive vaccines, better nutrition, understanding of sanitation, it is all cumulative. Why have 8, 10, 12 children. One or two will do now, that we have some assurance they will grow to adulthood. If we choose (now we can choose) to have children. 56 million die because of WW2 before their natural time, many before they could have the "privilege" of children. Does the world population still increase geometrically? Perhaps the Third (fourth? ) world does not yet have the medical and health advantages of the United States or the United Europe. Such is the need for OSHA. But then, we will find new ways to shorten a human life if the more accidental and natural ways do not suffice (Dorian?). I have no doubt about the survival of our species. It just may not be contributed to so much by America..... Best we make Good Scouts from the girls and boys at hand. FYI: Epidemiology and Prevention of Vaccine-Preventable Diseases. 15th Edition. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA p 113

You will learn that "all feedback is a gift". Even the kind you might not want to hear....

1) In Scouting, it's called "Bug Juice" . The real life events that led to the metaphor "Kool Aid " are very regrettable and often forgotten, if ever known. 2) Woodbadge, has a National Curriculum. The course you take will therefore depend in large part on the Staff that leads it. Notice I did not say "teach", there can be a large difference in those two terms. The Staff on your course will be very devoted to Scouting, that's a given, but as has been mentioned, the Bead Wearers that exit the course will use the learnt material in many ways. For personal aggrandizement, to help the Scouts, for fun (what's your critter?), for personal growth (the ideas and techniques are applicable in your family , work, not just Scouting) and for philosophical reflection. Up to you. 3) When they start sending you stuff to fill out, and write about, sit down by yourself and be honest with yourself. Most likely (a Scout is Trustworthy), you willnot be required to send in or even share your evaluations with anyone (except food. If you love watermelon, SAY SO !!) . 4) Bring some fun stuff with you . A silly hat. A Hawain shirt. Rope. Your best camp songs. You just might need them. Do you play the bugle? let your Director know.... 5) Be open to new things and creative in defining your "tickets". I was led to believe I could plan projects to benefit ANYTHING in Scouting. Wrong. They had to be in my "registered" position area. As a ASM, they said I couldn't do Cub Scouting! What to do? This is how I found out what a Commissioner is! And now I are one ! 6) Goforth and do Scouting. See you on the trail !

The last time I did Map and Compass for CSDC, Here is what I did: We collected some real magnetic compasses from Oriental Trading, about 50cents per, but they really worked and one could navigate with them. I had collected a number of maps (!) and taped themup in the pavilion thus: Nat Geo Map of the Universe, then "Local Cluster" then Milky Way Galaxy, then Solar System, then a world globe, then a Mercator Projection world Map, then a Buckminster Fuller Dymaxion projection world map, (what a difference!) , then a USA map, then a State (Maryland) map, then a County map, then a map of the campground/park, then,,,, Here we are ! As I pointed and talked about each map, noting the change in scale and detail, I mentioned how big or small a representation it was.. Then, I had the Cubs stand up with their compass, and we talked about magnets, steel tables, steel posts and belt buckles. Everyone pointed North ! Now, This group walks due East, this one due west, this one due north, this one due south for 100 paces ! Turn 90 degrees ! Walk 100 paces ! Look for the LandMark to walk toward ! etc. Most of the Cubs wound up (surprise...) eventually back where they started ! And they had a real compass....

I have no idea what app. It was her Schmart phone. And it was , now, 12 plus years ago.

Triple A (AAA) provides excellent maps. On paper. But one must join, I do not think one can walk in a buy a map in their office, BUT one does not know until one tries, does one?

Cubs or ScoutsBSA? Demonstration camp, offer to lead a flag opening ceremony, check if your Council has a portable climbing wall ("Scouter Horn"), they make a really neat Scout activity, but you must be trained to operate it safely! Pioneering demo (build a short signal tower), Monkey Bridge (rope bridge) for folks to cross "The Mighty Piranha Enfested Amazon !". Charcoal fire, Dutch oven brownies....

And too, my favorite GPS thing..... NASCAR GPS: "turn left, NOW. turn left, NOW. turn left, NOW. turn left, NOW....."

HA ! Knew it all along. True story: Hawaiian vacation. Locals all say we HAVE to visit Waimea Falls. Scenic, historic, wildlife, might go swimming, Waimea Falls.... Got in rentacar, me driving , wife in right seat, Scoutson in back with AAA guidebook and map. Wife sez, "Smartphone sez turn right, turn left turn right...." pretty soon, we are in a suburban subdivision, coulda been at home except for the palm trees. Eventually, we are on a gravel road, facing a LOCKED chain link fence gate. I say, "this CAN'T be right". Wife points to Smart phone and shrugs. Then we see it. A handpainted sign on the fence that reads: "NOT WAIMEA FALLS." Scoutson takes the photo. Scoutson pulls out map, we are at Waimea falls in about 20 minutes.....

The trip you have outlined looks very nice. For paddlers with SOME experience. Do not (DO NOT) do this without several break in trips. Ask around, there are sure to be some flat water rivers or big ponds nearby to practice on. You need some experience to build on. Learn emergency stuff. Paddle skills come in practice. J stroke wasn't made in a day. Find your local Canoe Cruisers Club, a national loose amalgamation of paddlers, enlist them as Canoe Merit Badge Counselors (!). Fall trip could work after summer camp Canoe MB earners. Are your boats to be rented or owned locally so you can use whenever? The CCC can help with this. Maybe your local Scout Camp has boats to borrow, cartop racks, trailer for holding 8 at a time? ""Is it so nice as all that?" asked the mole, shyly... "Nice? It's the only thing," said the Water Rat Solemnly, as he leaned forward for his stroke. "Believe me, my young friend, there is nothing -- absolutely nothing -- half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats." "Simply messing...about in boats -- or with boats... In or out of 'em it doesn't matter. Nothing seems to matter, that's the charm of it. Whether you get away, or whether you don't; whether you arrive at your destination or whether you reach somewhere else, or whether you never get anywhere at all, you're always busy, and you never do anything in particular; and when you've done it there's always something else to do, and you can do it if you like, but you'd much better not.""

Buy the LARGE sash. It can be "taken in" by tacking up the top shoulder area. Then, as the MBs proliferate and the Scout enlarges, it can be let out. I have also seen extra fabric added in (buy another sash and cut it up for extra material?)

"Political advocacy" for me implies arguing for an ideal or a particular candidate. Maybe that includes policy about material use and reuse and trash disposal (trash being whatever a person/society no longer wants. A Van Gogh painting might be considered trash by someone....) I would counsel a Scout to work for a project that, as has been mentioned, leads and manages a group and works for the creation of something of lasting value. Arguing before the City Council? Maybe not. Creating a volunteer recycling center that continues after the Scout "ages out".... That sounds more like it. The Scout in this question sounded like an active activist, of which we need more, but merely arguing a project's acceptance by the city council ("The Committee To Encourage The Elimination Of Unnecessary Plastic and It's Elimination From The World's Oceans") might not be the best fulfilling of the Eagle Service Project template.

I always encourage Scouts to play the "what if" game: when packing for a trip, planning an Eagle project, waking your dog.... Like BP when he was asked, "prepared for what?" and he responded, "why, for any old thing...." I recently watched a fascinating documentary film from about 1922 that showed how the Phiilips Company of Holland made light bulbs, radios, radio vacuum tubes ("Fessenden valves"), loud speakers (Bakelite !), phonographs.... and it struck me, reading thru this thread about safety standards.... One of the reasons OSHA exists is because we procreate so many fewer people . The fewer people created, the more valuable they are and the more they need to be protected? Was life "cheaper" back then? Workmen wearing neck ties while the operate machinery, glass blowing without glasses, no eyeshields before metal lathes, bare handed handling of raw materials, no "hard hats".... the best I saw was a full body suit ( helmit with faceplate, overalls, air tube trailing behind) in a painting booth. The women were delegated to "fine" work, threading wire, soldering connections (not to much ventilation apparent), etc. War, desease, accidents,,,, The new car you buy will soon make it VERY difficult to have an accident. Lane change monitor, front/rear radar, auto braking, auto headlamp lighting, speed monitoring and reminding, flat tire pressure alarm, consciousness (!) recognition..... You kind of get the same feeling watching the building of the Grand Coulee Dam, Boulder Dam, the Golden Gate Bridge and other constructions of the past. The men (and women!) had skills and bravery and accepting of risks beyond what many would accept nowadays. And coal mining. Watch October Sky, and How Green Was My Valley sometime. When I attended the 2013 NatJam, the camps were lettered (A,B,C, etc. ) and named after "famous" coalmines. The coalmine names didn't catch on, and I wondered why the Labor Merit Badge wasn't represented by the AFL/CIO.... And that realization about the "value" of life comes after the Great War, the Spanish Flu, World War 2, and various other conflicts. Or was it a matter of the LACK of concern of the "Bosses" involved? Enough rambling. I just got back from a wonderful vacation, and wouldn't cha know, I start on a free association about safety, population, Scouts and labor unionization..... Pass the pie, please.....

I have known Scouts who did not want a full blown special ECoH. I have known Scouts that settled for an elongated "normal" Troop CoH. I have known Scouts that relished the notoriety of the hotel catered dinner with speech from the State Senator. I have known Scouts that "went thru" the CoH for their parents and were never seen again at any Scout event. My favorite was a pair of brothers. The older waited for his younger to pass his EBoR and then they planned a campout on their grandparents' farm. Everything and everyone had to hike in to the site about 500 yards. Tables set up, campfire, candles, bring your own campchair, SM and other speeches (short !). Campfood, stew, brownies, coffee and cold water and ice tea. . Very moving as the sun went down and the shadows lengthened. At the close of the ceremony, all the civilians(!) packed up and went home. The Scouts stayed and the visiting (so I am told) went long into the night.

In any emergency (ANY emergency) there are three possible responses: 1) Panic, cower, freeze because one cannot think what to do. 2) Stay calm, consider the situation, consider the tools and possibilities at hand, think creatively as to what one might do and do it. 3) Do what has been taught and practiced for just this type of occurrence, because somebody thought "what if..." before hand. Scouting is all about number three, IMHO. The more our Scouts have been led to consider the "what ifs", no matter how terrible the situation, the better they can deal with and help others out of THAT situation. Car accidents, earthquakes, fires, splinters in the finger, a math test not studied for, active shooter, somebody forgot the matches, a girl joins my Troop, dead tree falls on the tent, flash flood, "oh THAT's what poison ivy looks like....", electrocution at the Jamboree..... We need to remember what has been said before.... "... why for any old thing."

Do or do not. There is no try. = Yoda To do is to be. = Socrates To be, or not to be. = Hamlet Do be do be do. = Sinatra

Here's a sticky point. Scout units may not ask for "donations", only the National or Local Councils may solicit outright donations. Scouts are specifically required (?) to EARN their way, thru selling products or work. That has been my understanding for a long time. Am I wrong? Now, if the donee gives something without being asked, if the need (watercraft?) is somehow sensed...….

IMHO, this is an issue that deserves a wider audience. As I suggested, take it directly to the SE, and to your COR. The COR is officially your rep to the Council. Talk to your RoundTable, to your District Leadership. Compare notes with other Units. Conflict with popcorn sales is not a valid reason to NOT fundraise somehow for your Unit. The only "discipline" the Council can do is pull your Unit Charter. That, and rescind everyone's membership in BSA. Those are the only things the Council thru the SE can do. I seriously doubt they would go that route, but ya never can tell. Thus the need for lots of back up, make the issue not just yours, but the rest of Scout Worlds....

Directly ask the Scout Executive "why?" and go from there. If your Fund Raising Application was fully filled out, answering all questions (how, where , what, etc. ) you should be able to get an answer as to "why". Be politely persistent . A Scout is Courteous, Loyal, Obedient, etc.

Thank you for the correction/notation. But Webelos still became a two year program rather than "just another Cub Rank".... And then Lion became the youngest rank , rather than the next to oldest,,,,, Ah me.... I once put up a display of my Scout memorabilia. I glued my old badges to a board. After the night, I discovered the Lion patch had been peeled off. When I mentioned this at another Scout event, I had a wonderful old Scouter GIVE me a Lion patch to complete my collection.

Mash, your Scout should definitely raise his hand and say "OVER HERE, HEY, I'm GOING THERE TOO... I LIKE CHOCO-PEANUT BUTTER COOKIES<<< ! ! "" The more the merrier....