SSScout

The trouble is finding the campcraft experts, the folks that have "been there and done that", that are willing to share their craft and experience. The comparison of the 1950's era Fieldbook with the more recent ones is instructional. Pictures and instruction in chopping down trees and building fire pits/ditches/ and even off the ground fire tables for camp cooking from the older GBB book, compare to the modern Management style book. Of course, a lot of the changes can be blamed on the need to NOT cut down so many trees (one per Tenderfoot?) and not burn up every stick to cook over (Leave Less Trace), but still... The modern boy /girl may seek some adventure, but not without a good WiFi connection back in the parking lot. Once upon a time, a Scout might just add some gear and take off to Philmont. Nowadays, signing up for Philmont includes buying new gear (my old Troop made their own tarp tents), several "shake down" camp trips, and "conditioning hikes". Yes, the world has changed. Not every home has a practical fireplace, where a fire may be laid when the snow is 3 feet deep across the road and the power is out for a week. If you send your Scouts to NYLT, and your adults to Back Country Camping and Wood Badge, would they each and every be ready to take off on a "surprise hike" with an hour's notice, as one old Scouter bragged about of late?

Yep. And then merged into the BSA as an opportunity for boys that might not live close enough to a regular Scout Pack or Troop. See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lone_Scouts_of_America for a good history. "Lone Scout" is not usually promoted in urban areas, but can be pursued if you insist on it.

In our very active, urban District, we hold EBoR twice a month in two sites. Our District has at least (last time I checked) three or four long time serving Eagle Coordinators, who organize and check these EBoRs . Each Eagle Candidate is expected to schedule their EBoR (after his Troop's BoR) with one of the EBCoordinators, on one of the evenings. Sometimes, if there are truly extenuating circumstances, I have heard of the EBoR being scheduled another night, but not often. Each Eagle candidate is expected to be accompanied by his parent/guardian(s), his SM (or designee) and anyone else interested. His records have already been checked and vetted by the Council and all the pertinent records are available there and then. There are always more than one Eagle Candidate at the evening event, therefore the EBoR(s) are easily made up. The EBoR for each Eagle Candidate is made up on the spot with the Eagle Coordinators, the "other " Scoutmasters and available parents. On the evening of my son's EBoR, I sat in on three other EBoRs. There is usually a short intro for folks who are new at this, before they are assigned to a Board. There is always at least one experienced Eagle Coordinator on each Board. There are printed guidelines for the board members and check sheets for each candidate. The adult Board members review the Candidates paperwork and read thru his recommendation letters. As the EBoRs for the evening are assigned their rooms, the Eagle Candidates sit and fidget in the hallway . The appropriate SM leads the ECandidate into the EBoR room, introduces the Candidate to the EBoR (most if not all of whom the Scout has never met) and then leaves. The Candidate the evening I served is asked to repeat the Scout Promise and Law, then sit down and a conversation ensues about the Scouts life, history in Scouting and memories and perhaps his life goals and desires. It is not as tough (so my son reported) as he expected, and was even enjoyable. I hope my Boards did the same for our Scouts. One of my Boards that evening had one glitch with one Merit Badge whose date we noticed did not exactly tally with the Scout's other dates (dang Council !) . We decided it was a mere penmanship problem , it was not a "required" MB, and so could not affect his candidacy. "Passed" . The adults excuse the Scout, he waits in the hall, we hem and haw a bit, sign his paperwork, call him into the room again, congratulate him (?Scout left hand handshake?) and on to the next Scout....

Greetings, Ournextadventure. As has been said, "Lone Scouts" was originally designed/intended for kids that lived too far from a regular Cub Pack/Scout Troop to easily participate in the group. I suppose your family's dynamic and desire might lead you to want to help your boy be involved in Scouting "alone", but understand that a lot of the activities involve multiple boy (!) involvement. As a past "home schooler", I know how it might go. Our "child" (now a strapping successful 24 year old) went thru Scouting to his definite benefit. As he benefited by his experience, so did his parents and those around us in our Scouting trek. I feel sure, with Scouting's desire to be accepting and inclusive, you can find a Scout Unit (Cub Pack and Den in your age group) that your boy might find a Scout home in. Perhaps there are other families in your area that share your desire to have their children experience Scouting but also share your sensitivities for their children ? Perhaps there is a possibility for you to found your own Scout Unit? It has been done that way, I have seen it happen. Scouting is a good thing, ultimately, and you , as parents, can adapt it for your child's benefit. Please use Scouting dot com for your questions and let us benefit from your adventure ! See you on the trail...

Yes, it is a start. Very good to hear.

"It depends" I occasionally sponsor a contest to my home troop, I invite the Scouts to make a slide/woggle and submit it to a contest. Held after a Court of Honor in February usually, I invite one of the local school art teachers to come in and judge the entries, as to artistic merit, practicality, etc. Prizes? I elicit free coupons from the local McDonalds and ice cream shops, seems to be popular that way. Some years I get some very interesting entries some years small rolls of duct tape.... Included , I do an exhibit of the neckers and woggle/slides I have collected thru the years. Woodcarving MB used to be a source of woggle creation. You could buy a wood blank at the camp store and carve it out during the summer camp week. Does anyone else see that happening lately? Sic Gloria Necker....

So how did it go? Fun for all? Push back because you were "Scouts"? "Inquiring minds want to know....."

Yes, the BSA good ol' boys network sometimes is an embarrassment. I am reminded of some past events. Do we remember Owasippe? This Scout Reservation in Michigan became the unwarranted center of discussion some years back. Chicago Council started selling off camps and other property , a Scouter raised flags, garnered support, National got into the fray and lots of bad PR erupted. Somebody wanted the money somewhere.... We have lots of back and forth here on Scouter dot com, you can research it. Then we have the recent New England, Cape Cod Camp brou haha. Same issue. Let's sell off the Scout camp (money for the Council? Any commissions there? ) And on a personal level, I served as a Chaplain (approved by my faith committee) at the Nat Jam in 2005, when I applied again in 2010, (one has to be approved as "Staff" by your local Council and National and in my case by the Faith Committee), I was denied Staff status. When I inquired, it took multiple phone calls and emails to reach a sympathetic Irving person who revealed to me that my local Council had denied my application. Why? he couldn't say. Council person said "it's a confidential matter" . But I am the topic of this confidentiality? Doesn't matter, we can't /won't discuss it. When I asked the National Person again, he read off the vetting record from Council and said, "It looks like you made a enemy in your Council. " I elicited and National and Council received over 20 letters of recommendation from Scout and employer and faith folks, attesting to my personal qualities, but National and the Council contacts both said they could not (would not ) rescind the judgement. Come 2013 Jambo, I again applied (approved by my faith committee, included many letters of recommendation) and discovered the vetting process had been changed. No problem this time. Why the difference? No one would say. Personal opinion and "good ol' Scouter" network? Possible money involvement? Who can say. The light of day is important in many of these cases. No Scouter who follows the Scout Promise and Law should have to operate in fear of his or her good name being besmirched for only an opinion. Seek out the facts. Shine light on the event. See you on the trail.

13 pages of discussion and ideas. I am duly impressed. An important topic, methinks.

The idea of "jeans" is not for ease of the Scout, but ease of the parent. If the Cub is encouraged to take pride in the way he looks and acts, where does he/she get that from? Many kids will do one of two things: Please their parent or "test" things to see what they can get away with. When I was a Cub master, we had a boy who would come to meetings with his Cub shirt over his tshirt, but not buttoned or tucked in his pants (which were not Cub uniform , another issue). His parent ,who was a single mom and a professional counselor by trade, came every meeting. I asked her about the Cub's uniform, and she said he didn't want to button his shirt, it made him "uncomfortable". Did he like being a Cub? Yes , indeed. One evening, I knelt down and asked the Cub about his shirt. I said I knew he would look really good if he had his shirt buttoned up like the other Cubs and I proceeded to button up his shirt, with his mom looking on. I finished, all the time praising his "Cubness", and adjusted his neckerchief, the Cub didn't protest. After that, he attended every meeting, shirt buttoned, necker neat, and participated easily. How did I affect things? Who knows.

What's in a name? That which I call a Scout after a week on the AT would smell as sweet .... https://www.dropbox.com/s/as6n5li5n46cp8i/How I Spent my Summer Vacation.docx?dl=0

When Scoutson (who is now a strapping young man of 24) joined my old Troop, I was very pleased. I I had not had any contact with it for many years. I became an ASM. First time I sat in on a PLCouncil, I listened while the newly named SPL and PLs sat and listened... they were waiting for the SM to TELL them what to do/say. As a sub teacher in the PSchools, I recognized this as the way our kids were required to act. Do not speak out, do not make waves, wait for the teacher to tell them to pick up the pencil, etc. The SM (an astro physicist by trade !) tried to get them to consider their plans for the coming year. Ideas for hike sites? Visit where? Finally, the nascent SPL spoke up and said (quote) "you mean I can make that decision ?" The SM master said (quote) "DUH !!" and the discussion took off from there....

I was an (ordinary) Scout, and thought the new Sea Scout Ship (759, Ashton MD) was a very cool idea. But I stayed a Land Scout thru my career. SS759 started out with a raft created from 55 gallon drums fastened together for a trip down the tidal Potomac and around and up the bay to Annapolis MD. Thank you , Henry.

Good on ya , mate. And congratulations on being able to FIT into your old uniform ! ! 😀

I trust the replacement cost of the globes is shared by the responsible Patrol ? Care and feeding of equipment is a learned experience. I have also seen bar'd guards for Coleman lanterns. Might be worth the investment. Scouts can learn that they can depend on the First National Bank of Momanddad, or they can learn to replace things they lose or break...

P 38 anyone?

Kind, Friendly, Courteous, Cheerful , ,,,,,

to the Sea Scouts out there... Henry Nygard and his good wife (whose name escapes me at present) were good friends of our family, I went to school with both his kids, Ken and Fred.....

This is called "double dipping" here abouts. It is not unheard of, and as has been said, to my knowledge, not verboten by the BSA. Examples from family history: Scoutson's Eagle project involved renovation of a barn at the County Fair grounds. Eagle project credit, Scout service hours credit, 4H service hours credit (yes, 4H kids earn "ranks" and badges, too), and public school Student Service Learning hours (required to graduate ! ) . I signed off on several of each type of form, being a ASM in the Troop and wife signed off on some as a 4H Rabbit Club advisor (!). The 30 or 40 kids and adults who participated were well appreciated and thanked by the County Fair folks and the Rabbit Club folks and us. Double dipping ? In some cases, triple and quadruple dipping !

There is a difference between the trail leader who almost trips over a rock, turns to the fellows behind him and says "watch out for that rock" and the trail follower who steps over the rock and says nothing to the fellow behind him....

Oh, the times they are a-changing (or changed...) Waaaay back when I was about 7 or 8 years of age, my grand dad died, and mom and pop and I made the trip up to Boston to make the arrangements. After they settled us in the motel, they talked to me and decided after the "viewing", I did not have to tag along with them as they made all the other arrangements, so they wrote down everything, made sure I knew where they would be, made sure I knew where the motel was, gave me a key(!) and set me in a taxi with money for the fare both ways, and sent me off to a museum. That's how much they trusted me, and not to mention, the taxi driver, who was tipped generously to come back to pick me up and take me back to the motel. At that age, what did I know? I trusted my folks, both consciously and I guess, unconsciously. When I got back to the motel, I turned on the tv, sat down and watched (I do remember this) Sonya Hennie in an old movie. My folks came back in time to go to dinner, and then they went out again for attorney stuff , they said. I watched a lot of old movies back then (my wife might say I haven't changed much !). How would people react to that nowadays? Child endangerment? Abandonment? I do not think I was challenged once as I walked thru the museum, a single 8 year old skinny kid. The taxi driver did his job, my folks came back, we came to Boston to say goodbye to my Gdad, and then after a week or so of vacation (for me at least), we went home . I think I was even excused from school for the time.

I see three choices... 1) You can accept the requirements as "passed" and note for the parent and the Scout that "A Scout is Trustworthy" . I have often found that if the Scout says he passed the requirement, then he has passed the requirement. If not, ask him would he like to pass it NOW ? 2) Suggest, if in your judgement (as Webelos DL, yes?) the Scout has not quite fulfilled the requirements as listed (age, skill, attendance, etc.), do not sign off. While addressing THE SCOUT (!) not the parent, (because it is the Scout who must pass the requirements, yes?) ask about the discrepencies, smile and ask "when would you like to pass these requirements? Maybe today or... ? " 3) Note for the Scout (with the parent present) the age and other requirements for Boy Scout joining (listed in the book !) . Review these without ire or judgement. Note that Scouting is available for all youth and here are the local Scout Troops, Johnny Scout can join any he wishes. Wish them well. Do not do any of these things without BOTH the Scout and the parent(s) present. And, if possible, a second, silent, unattached, adult witness.... Drama is not necessary nor warranted. Stay on an even keel, do not allow yourself to be drawn into a shouting match or a blame game or a "my son is..." type of thing. Make it a point to include the Scout in all discussions. Do not ask the parent what THEY want, but pointedly ask the Scout what HE wants. This may well be one of the first times the Scout has actually been asked what HE wants... See you on the trail.

Well, yes and no. Good wife came to Scouting by way of her Eagle Scout husband and eager son. She had a bad experience with a past spouse who had a bad experience with his dad in and out of Scouts, so when son asked (!) to be a Cub Scout, she had to depend on me to help her see the benefits. So I did.... After Den Leadering, She became the Cub Scout Day Camp Director, ending up training /apprenticing the next two CSDC Directors. Me? I became her First Assistant Everything Else (that was my official title, patch and all). CubScoutson went on to Boy Scouts and I became an ASM. When I attended WB, my ticket designs were mostly about Cub Scouts and Day Camp. My WB Counselors said no, no, your tickets MUST apply to your registered position. But, But, But.... no, gotta change something. AHA ! You should be a Commissioner ! ? a what? So I became a Commissioner, and Presto ! I can apply my experience to almost any part of Scouting, so I did, and I did....

Favors can be done, and with a smile. If you truly feel you have been "played", then how do you think the Scout feels? Scouting may end up being the example, the ideal this youngster needs. I have traded favors with the parents of Scoutson's friends and with no bad feelings. I did them a favor, I can expect one the next time I need some help. I might approach these folks in that vein. "Drop Johann off at the Grandmom's? Kept him at our house until you can come? Glad to help. " Oh, by the way, I have this pile of debris I need to take to the dump. Could I borrow your pickup and your back?" If Johann Scout has parents that really don't know how to parent, or somehow resent his "drag" on their life, well perhaps you can be the better example for him. After all, we are Scouting for the kids, not really for the parents....

I would think that one adult Scouter could be present in such a public setting. Lots of other adult presences, yes? Not in the back of the store, out of sight ?