SSScout

Wayback when, when Scouting had little competition, "The big thing he emphasises is that when he was that age he joined cubs and then scouts because frankly there was nothing else to do"" Rings true to me. My Cub Pack was part of a Softball League of Cub Packs. We did combination hikes, showed up at school in uniform, no problem. Now.... If the parent gives the child a iPad, what is the kid going to do? If the parent takes the child on a hike with his Cub Den, what is the kid going to do? If the kid is given a smartphone with a Pokémon app, what is the kid going to do? If the dad or mom sits down with the kid and builds a bird house, what is the kid going to do? It is a matter of choice. My parents did things with me, in a Scout unit. It is what they did. Now, my observation is very often, the parent expects, nay seeks out other things for the kid to do and learn from without the parent's participation. They look for an expert to take charge. Often, when the parent seeks out a Scout activity (Pack, Troop, VC) it is too late. The kid has his /her mind already set on what the cyber profiteers want rather than what an involved parent might want. Why are you and I communicating on this key board thing? Because we have too much free time and seeing others react to our words makes us feel good? Very possibly, but I would like to think we are here because we think Scouting is worth a kids interest and participation. The ideals communicated, the skills learned and practiced, the community and cooperation realized.... Maybe we can inspire each other to keep on inspiring some others locally ("All Scouting Is Local.") When we see these things relegated to the side in favor of the accountants' "bottom line" , we react and shake our heads sadly. If Irving truly sees Scouting as a means to a six figure income, as number of "Scout" times $24 equals success, then BP and GBB might truly have reason to roll over in their graves. I would like to think they (pro-Scouters) are better than that. I teach Cub Leader next month (in person!) and Knife and Axe in IOLS (haven't found away to do that in espace) . I think it is still worth while and so long as Irving doesn't interfere too much, I guess I will continue. See you on the trail! Buen Camino!

Calico: Good to see/hear you again. I like your comparison, it is appropriate. Prayer can come in many guises. We may not even recognize our wish as a prayer, but there it is: an expressed desire that somebody, someone , something greater than ourselves can make things different if not better. Good topic for the Faith and Chaplaincy forum. Issues and Politics? Nah.... Open Program ? Too general. F&C , yep. And the realization that, in effect, some may pray FOR rain, some for it to stop. We can categorize prayer, same as any subject of consideration: desire, thanks, admission-recognition, suggestion..... But we were talking about a CA Scout in a Troop. How can he be "reverent" and help in the group's "duty to God".

Maybe this should be transferred to the "Chaplaincy and Faith" forum, moderators? Oh, that's right. """This boy indicates a lack of all three. """ Stosh, while I might agree with your SOP here, how do you know, from this one posting ( welcome to our eCracker Barrel, LilSisKin) , that is the problem. The Scout seems to have a well developed faith defined, from that one sentence. I would think, perhaps, maybe, perchance, could be, the Scout doesn't have the World Experience yet to be accepting of "the other views of the elephant" . I have had to accept more knowledge of the other faiths of the world many times. And it ain't up to me to say that one is more better than this one. LilSisKin, is there more to the story?

Chaplain Aide is a youth position. If there is a named (adult) Chaplain, then the CA does that, he "aids". Usually, the CA is not elected, but is "given the chance" by the SM. As in most clerical positions, one should have a "leading". I would never tell a Scout "YOU are going to be the CA." ( It is not unusual for a Troop to not have one). Such appointments are rarely successful. Elections? "All right, who wants to run for SPL? Any nominations?" Compare with "OKAY, who wants to run for Chaplain's Aide? Any one feel so led?" I cannot fathom having an election for CA. That assumes the position can be "chosen", but , as with good clergy (as opposed to not good? Another discussion), the person can be trained, and will benefit from the training, but how they perform their duties is another thing. A church/temple/mosque might decide to "hire" one person over another as their spiritual leader ,but that's just it, they will be paying them for that service. The CA is a VOLUNTEER. If he is not spiritually led to BE the CA, nothing like an election will make it so. All that being said, the CA has , as his "flock", the boys of the Troop. If the Troop is all of one faith, do what is appropriate. No problem. If it is of mixed faiths, He must realize, as Catholic Father Mulcahey in MASH comes to realize, that his faith , well founded and firm as it is, may not fit another person, and so his performance must be adjusted accordingly. It almost sounds like (could be wrong here), the SM may have some ulterior motive in setting something like this up. And too, praying "in the name of Jesus" is fine with me. I need all the help I can get. "Salaam Aleichem" is okay, as is the "birkat kohanim". If yours is a "boy led" Troop, usually the boys are more attune to these vagaries than us poor set in our ways adults. If it were me , I (as SM) might appoint the interested lads, each, as CA for a period of time and see what threshes out. Or, maybe let the "candidates" form an interested committee and let them discuss it. See the Chaplaincy Facebook Page for more discussion: https://www.facebook.com/groups/103580129706482/ https://www.facebook.com/groups/103580129706482/ See you on the trail!

Chestnut... I would think yours is Chinese Chestnut, yes? Growing up, our Troop had a campground that abutted some old lumbering land. It was a hike to the site, but worth it, we found. The dead American Chestnut stacked up was our prime fuel. It was then more than 30 years old, but still very solid, split and cut, it burned with a blue flame. Very hot, coals for cooking. Nothing like it since. One can still find American Chestnut stumps along the AT, in Shenandoah NP, elsewhere along the Appalachians, the roots still send up a green shoot which will grow for a year or two or even three and then succumb to the blight . But wait, there's more... https://www.americanforests.org/magazine/article/revival-of-the-american-chestnut/

""thrown under the bus." Please, not another traffic accident....

Hoot Hoot. Owl be seeing you....

I see that , as unit BoRs for the lesser ranks are done POSSIBLY according to BSA National guidelines, but are sometimes done however the unit Scouters think they should be done (enough discussion about that on these forums, eh?) , EBoRs are, by contrast, accomplished in very formal, regular, absolutely BSA regulation everyone the same style.... not. Here in Murlen, our District Eagle Coordinators (three in our District) schedule three regular, monthly EBoR sessions. Each Troop calls ahead to the DEC of their choice to schedule the EBoR for their candidate. Each Ecandidate is expected to be (1) escorted to the EBoR by their SM or ASM, and a parent or two, (2) come fully, correctly uniformed (socks might not be checked, but neat clean shoes. Uni trou might be newly bought or borrowed). (3) At the session, the accompanying SM and parent(s) are "volunteered" to serve on one of the other EBoRs held that night (yes, usually more than one. If none scheduled, the DECs have that night off!). None may serve on the EBoR for their Scout. (4)Each EBoR is chaired by someone on the District Advancement Committee. (5) The EBoR is given all the Ecandidates records and reviews them, MBrecord, project, intro letters, and all. Yes, this is the final check, after Council. Yes, I have seen some discrepancies found and corrected right there. (5) The SM comes in and introduces the Ecandidate to the EBoR and then leaves the room. (6) It happens. (7) If he is passed, everyone on the EBoR sign the paperwork . When Scoutson had his, it lasted about 25 minutes. He said it was "interesting" and he had been "challenged" by some of the discussion. The board members came up to me and Good Wife after and complimented us on our son. Good Wife served on one, said she had not been in something like that before, but she enjoyed it. We were given a list of sample questions and some pre-board instruction. We had 4 adults on my board , one other Scouter besides me. The Scout we "drew" in my board had one problem with a MB that had a date that did not match the rest of his record , but we were able to explain that with some discussion with his SM. It was not critical to his passing and had been a "partial" from summer camp that was completed months later. He was, as I remember, a very personable young man. I'd vote for him for governor in twenty years....

"If it looks like an active Scout and sounds like an active Scout and (smells?) like an active Scout, it (he/she) must be an active Scout." How can we see, hear (smell!) a Scout if they are not actively "present"? It is all well and good that the presumptive Scout (there's that word again. I've seen it a lot lately, must be on my mind) is seen as a "Good Scout" by his/her activity in their school, faith, athletic endeavors, but if they are not HERE, how can their Scout "activity" be judged? Either by SM or Committee? And, yes, I think a truly "active" Scout may indeed have a distinctive "smell"! I know my Scoutson did when he returned from some of his "active" Scouting!

Perhaps the least appreciated, greatest nature movie ever. Might rival "To Light A Fire" for discussion leading.... The Bear https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ayzkiNGntd0 Order the DVD and share with your Scouts.

Waaaay back when I was raising Troop funds by selling KKdonuts (I remember it as being kinda fun, working with my buddy Terry C. and Paul S.), I honestly don't remember any DD shops, anywhere. Could be , but I don't remember. Any history out there, should we google that? Understand, now, this is back when I was still working on my Stegasaurus Husbandry Merit Badge....

Maple and Bacon flavored Donut? How more camp can you get than that? I once dated a girl (way back in, oh, maybe 1970's) who was a management intern for Tastee Kake (a true Balmer tradition). She once picked my brain for ideas for a "breakfast" confection, something that could be picked up for less than a buck, but would be nutritious, not only sweet. Scrambled egg omelet Danish? Bacon, sausage Danish wrap? Any of those sound familiar? Homer would be proud. The revival of a past, forgotten tradition. Selling fresh donuts on a sunday morning, door to door (YP issues?) Pavlov, get your napkin out....

Well, GSUSA sells coookies, why not get BSA to have a MOU with Dunkin? Now there's a relationship !

Anything the Scout does will need money. Same for Band, same for Soccer, same for Key Club, MYF, anything. The parents that complain about paying for the uniform, camp gear, boots, summer camp MUST realize that they will pay or the boy (girl?) will pay with part time jobs or entrepreneurial lemonade stands. How much is Traveling Baseball? What exactly is desired? For the Unit to work together (boys, parents) to finance summer camp , or any activity, is a wonderful thing. VERY Scoutlike, and not pursued often enough. Spaghetti dinners, carwashes, even (shudder) popcorn. Involve the Scouts. Don't just say "this is what we will do". Umpteen years ago, my Troop raised money for camping and trips by , now seen in hindsight, a marvelous activity, which I have mentioned before on these pages. Saturday morning , sometimes on a sunday morning, at 7am , we would gather at the sponsoring church. Some Scout parents had gone down to the local Krispy Kreme factory and returned with several HUNDRED dozen glazed, gooey, aromatic donuts. When the station wagons returned to the church parking lot, we divyied the donuts up with Scouts (in pairs) in dads (and moms) cars. Each had a route, a neighborhood to cruise. Maybe 20 or 30 dozen to a car. Knock on a door, in uniform: " Would you like to buy some fresh donuts to support our Scout Troop?" A sleepy mother might answer the door: "TOM! IT'S THE SCOUTS! GET MY WALLET!". or "Where were you last weekend? We were expecting you". Folks would buy 3 and 4 dozen to freeze. Money was made. Camps were visited.

Tahawk: I thought "Friendly " was #4 ?

Momleader: Glad we could be the sympathetic ear. Now, what to do with this not unreasonable list of desires? Have you shared with your Camp Director? DE? After Good Wife was CD for 5 years and I was (Official Title!) the First Assistant Everything Else, we learned that very often an indirect approach was good: Unless the Scout is a real danger to himself or others, if possible, we first spoke to the parent's friend to speak to them. If we needed to speak to the parent, we (CD, DE, myself, another adult staffer) sometimes had to "ambush" the parent , and spoke to them with a partner (witness) along. If possible, without the Scout at first, but always with the Scout eventually. If the Scout protested and denied, we had our witness to back us up. If the parent refused to accept that their Angel Scout could possibly be at fault, we had the witness to the event. We would be direct, short and sweet, no bush around beating. We never made any threat of consequence we were not ready to fulfill (call for the parent to pick up, bar from camp, not allow to swim, not allow to do archery, etc.) . AND we always had the support and agreement of the DE. Without that, you will not succeed in your discipline corrections. Of course, all this presupposes there is no diagnosed ADHD issues. That also needs to be addressed and discussed with the parent(s) in a different but similar manner. Might be too late for this year, But perhaps you can share (all feedback is a gift) , have a communication with the other CSDC Directors in your Council, other neighboring Districts? I hope your CSDC can learn for next years adventure!

First, NJCubScouter speaks my mind. 1) Scout Son must pursue this. You must support him, but he must pursue. 2) A Scout is Courteous. Scout must make it easy, to the point of being impossible not to, for the PTB (SM?) to do their job. Scout must be ready, prepared, and have all ducks in row at all times. 3) A Scout is Cheerful. Scout must smilingly present and accept and present again, as often as necessary, what SM requests. 4) A Scout Thrifty. (couldn't find a really appropriate one here). Document everything privately. Save emails. Keep a diary, if you haven't already. Save calendars and entries for meetings, etc. Collect names of possible witnesses to events. Decide who, if anyone, might be willing to write a letter or appear with you to speak to the other PTB (District Adv. Chair, Council Adv. Chair, etc.) if it becomes necessary to go the next level. 5) Have you spoken to others in the Troop hierarchy? Have others approached the SM to see what's up? Make sure it isn't just Scout, you and him. 6) Be patient. Prayer does lubricate things. The Lord will provide. Again, make sure you are making it as easy as possible for the SM to Do The Right Thing. It will happen.

This isn't ROCKet science, or is it? Lets skip over the obvious, delve deep beyond the surface and toss some ideas out to see what splashes we can elicit from the big pool of world opinion..... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stone_skipping Is there a danger of filling up the reservoirs of the world and advancing, needlessly, the erosion of our river banks ? Is there a future dearth of appropriately shaped missiles? Do we need to ration the tendency of our yooooth to fling? Oh the humanity.... Or mineralology....

If you Google this unfortunate episode, you will find many explications. Most repeat the original Wash Post info (go to the original source ) , and then give it their own particular twist on things. The folks that read any particular webfeed will be of that relative type of person, usually, but not always (thankfully, "we" are not very homogenous still) If you want a more varied sample of the human response to a particular event, go to other webpages and look on with a smile as those with lots of extra time on their hands and keyboard (like us??) give vent.

"Aye, they be more like guidelines...." Bylaws are often the results of previously poorly handled interpersonal relations. If the Scout does not follow the Scout Promise and Law successfully and does not understand the results of his choices of action, perhaps a more definitely defined set of results would be helpful? If the Scout does XX then YY will result... If he doesn't do ZZ then QQ will not happen. These things often sound reasonable and obvious "to the most casual observer" (as my physics professor used to say), but sometimes it helps to spell it out . Sometimes the Bylaws are not needed for the whole Troop, but a behavior contract for a particular Scout may be warranted. See your local Unit Committee and DE for more information. I favor the Scout Promise and Law as the definition of Good Scout Behavior and Inter Personal Relations. That and the Golden Rule (translatable into just about every faith on Earth).

"My father was a wanderer, and so it's in my blood, ,,,,," http://www.mdvolks.org/freestate/Lyrics%20to%20Our%20Theme%20Song.pdf

Larger story, pictures, still sad. https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/two-boy-scout-camp-employees-say-there-were-fired-for-rescuing-an-injured-bald-eagle/2016/07/11/5542b3b6-4481-11e6-8856-f26de2537a9d_story.html

Why do we always concentrate on differences? Why can't we think about our similarities? "a rising tide lifts all boats" "whatever floats your boat" "You can't get to heaven in a red rowboat". "Away All Boats". One is long and skinny, and if you stand up in it, you tip over. The other is wider, more stable, heavier to carry. One used by Voyageurs, the other by John Wesley Powell. Paddles vs oars. Biremes vs triremes vs waka tapu waua. Good to know J-stroke and sculling and feathering. "Now reach, ye lubbers! Put yer backs into it!"

"Please put your Pokémon away" at the Holocaust Museum... at the Arlington National Cemetery... http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2016/07/12/485759308/holocaust-museum-arlington-national-cemetery-plead-no-pokemon

Wouldn't be the first time some BSA folks got bad press for acting in haste. I would be interested in where these young Scouters call home. NCAC camp,