Trevorum

John, I'm curious - when the opportunity arises, do you attend interfaith services (like a Scout's Own), or is that not acceptable? How about if it's not referred to as a "worship" service? I've known folks who see all such interfaith gatherings as as inherently repugnant.

In general, new scouts will readily listen to my advice on gear and will equip themselves better next time. (Stosh is right - no cots in winter!) However, one of the toughest lessons to get across is the importance of changing out of the days clothes - including underwear. When the temperature inside their tent is already frosty, it seems counter intuitive to them to strip down and get even colder. Some kids will just skip that step, thinking it won't really make a big difference. But, kids will listen to the older, experienced scouts on this issue

pack, even heathens can have timeless values

asm411 raises an interesting and valid point. However, the FOX article highlights the popular perception that BSA is primarily about competitive advancement. The other methods get lost in the media

A year ago I was lucky enough to trek Phlmont with a great bunch of guys. Most of the fellows on the trek were from our own troop and you probably know who they were. Maybe you don't know that we also hosted two fellows from another troop on the east side of town. These two fellows were sorta poor and they didn't have a lot of fancy gear. Their troop didn't camp as much as we do and in fact they had not been backpacking much at all. Some of the fellows in our troop didn't think much of their Scout skills. These two fellows were slow on the trail, they had trouble rigging their tents, they couldn't seem to dry their gear after a rainstorm. Basic stuff. Some kind of Scouts, huh? Last week one of these fellows was awarded the Medal of Merit by the National Council of the Boy Scouts of America. He had used his Scout first aid skills to save someone's life after a car accident. This guy may never be best hiker. But it doesn't matter; he had saved a life. Because he was a Scout and he was prepared. Think about it.

I'm glad Rio won. It's about time for the southern Americas. Maybe I'll even visit Brazil that year.

pack, I believe that Horizon may have answered your question. Blasphemy is exclusively with regard to sacred things; heresy is in regard to established beliefs, sacred or secular.

Ed, the most common useage of "uppity" in American English is in reference to oppressed individuals, most often African Americans, who had the temerity to insist on the equality that is proclaimed in the Constitution.

Merlyn, I figure it to be cooties.

Interesting article. I also noted the following. "The LDS Church is the largest single sponsor of Scouting units with over 30,000 units nationwide, which comprise about 13% of BSA's youth members. The LDS Church has stated that it would withdraw from the Scouting program if it was ever compelled to accept homosexual Scout leaders." (emphasis added) This is followed several paragraphs later by, "BSA records show that the number of Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts had dropped by about 14% (as of end of 2007) since the Dale Decision in 2000." (emphasis added)

Thannks, JFL. I had already looked at that link from your earlier posting and that is what prompted my query. From the note on page 118, it doesn't sound like National compiled any rosters (or even a list of courses!) in those early days. I guess I'll never know for certain if my dad was a Wood Badger or not.

Brent, would it make a difference if the teacher preaching to your kid in school was Hindu or Wiccan?

Does anyone have suggestions on how I might go about getting participant information on early Wood Badge courses? My father left me a leather woggle among his many neckerchief slides and, while I never had the opportunity to ask him, I believe he may have gone through Wood Badge in Los Angeles Area Council sometime between 1955 and 1963. I wrote to the council but they did not have those records anymore. Is there a national Wood Badge clearinghouse? Thanks!

I also agree with him on this quote: "I have now one ambition: to retire before it becomes essential to tweet."

SNOPES Claim: Snopes is always right. Status: False Origins: Although generally correct, sometimes Snopes is wrong. This happens rarely, but the problem is determining when they may be wrong. You are advised to conduct your own research.

Excellent! Good job, and thanks for letting us know!

It's by far the best investment you could make in your son's future. No kidding.

Several years ago we had a family in the troop that was uniformiy overweight - dad, mom, and 2 sons. I figured they shared some poor nutrition choices at home. Sure enough, when the dad and the two sons were training for Philmont, the dad confided that the home menu was being drastically altered. Within 5 months, all of them had slimmed down significantly. The trek was a success and all 4 of them are still much more in shape than previously. I think it was the prospect of a real physical challenge - Philmont - that triggered their ephiphany.

I am shocked - shocked, I say - at your righteous indignation. Who could have foretold such a thing?

No matter, some folks just refuse to be righteous. Makes me indignant.

On the other hand, the girls might surprise you with their understanding, tolerance, and maturity. Diversity and inclusiveness are good!

There are some folks who collect camp patches nationwide. Check on Patch-L https://sites.google.com/site/patch-l/Home

2 great quotes for this discussion: "Any sufficiently advanced technology is is indistinguishable from magic." - Arthur C. Clarke "Miracles are the same as magic, but with more witnesses."

"What would be the benefit to the youth?" A new patch to collect!

I'll bet that anyone who really wanted to could, within 10 minutes, discover my dog's name, my employer's phone number, and what outfit my nephew served with in Iraq. We are all globally connected, like it or not. These days it would take a conscious and very strenuous effort to avoid such connections and the next generation is even more connected that are we. The fabric of society has changed while we slept.