bnelon44

The terms "Long term camping" and "Short term camping" are defined in the Language of Scouting http://www.scouting.org/scoutsource/Media/LOS/All.aspx This is the "go to" place for all Scouting terms. This reference is the Boy Scouts of America's definitive resource on terms and style specific to Scouting and this organization.

The terms "Long term camping" and "Short term camping" are defined in the Language of Scouting http://www.scouting.org/scoutsource/Media/LOS/All.aspx This is the "go to" place for all Scouting terms. This reference is the Boy Scouts of America's definitive resource on terms and style specific to Scouting and this organization.

The Eagle Rank is a national award that has not been delegated to local councils to award. So a Life Scout going for Eagle isn't an Eagle Scout until national approves the application. He waits. A Scout is Trustworthy

The definative source for policies and proceedures for the Board of Review is the Guide to Advancement section 8. I would suggest reading that completely. If you still have questions after reading it, I would be interested in knowing what they are. It can be found here: http://scouting.org/scoutsource/GuideToAdvancement/BoardsofReview.aspx

You need to wait until you hear back from National. The Eagle is a national award and until National approves the application, he has not earned it. Call your council and see if they can expidite the process on their end any. Here is the official policy: "The Eagle Scout medal or patch must not be sold or otherwise provided to any unit, nor should the court of honor be scheduled until after the certificate is received at the council service center from the national Advancement Team." Guide to Advancement 8.0.3.0 Particulars for the Eagle Scout Rank http://www.scouting.org/scoutsource/GuideToAdvancement/BoardsofReview.aspx

New Training Award Requirements Last year the national councils awards committee conducted a review of the hundreds of awards presented to Scouts and adults in the BSA. Many recommendations were made to simplify and update procedures, and the awards themselves. Among the recommendations was the update of some awards and/or the knots that represent them on the uniform. These include the training awards and the Cub Scouting awards. For example, to give the award the same recognition as the other top unit leader awards, the Cubmaster Award will become the Cubmasters Key and use the Scouters Key knot. The Cub Scouter and Pack Trainer Awards will use the Scouters Training Award knot. The Tiger Cub, Cub Scout, and Webelos Den Leaders Awards will use the Den Leaders Award knot. Devices to be worn on the knots will be available to indicate which awards, and for which program awards were earned. Scouters who have earned the awards previously will still be able to wear the old knots as long as they are available. The requirements to earn the awards will be similar to the current requirements, but have been updated to reflect current training, the emphasis on program planning, and the Journey to Excellence. They will continue to require training, tenure, and performance. This is Scouting which was removed from the basic training set for most positions, but is still a valuable course to help leaders understand the Scouting program and its history, will be a part of the award requirements. The new requirements will be released at the National Annual Meeting in late May and will be posted on the Training page of Scouting.org after the meeting. Scouters who have begun work on the awards using the previous requirements will be able to finish with the old requirements, or can choose to use the new ones. http://scouting.org/training/trainingupdates.aspx

By the way the definition, "A Scout gets credit for one and only one summer camp experience applied towards Camping merit badge requirement 9a." Came from one of the people at national who authored the requirement. Here is the requirement again: 9. Show experience in camping by doing the following: a. Camp a total of at least 20 nights at designated Scouting activities or events. One long-term camping experience of up to six consecutive nights may be applied toward this requirement. Sleep each night under the sky or in a tent you have pitched. If the camp provides a tent that has already been pitched, you need not pitch your own tent.

This isn't being in a 'grey area' if he is doing any of these (except maybe #5, he is in violation of the GTSS. If after you discussed it with him, he still is doing these things, skip the CC, call the SE immediately. He will advise you from there. But report it. I would also suspend SM activity in the troop until this is resolved.

This came up in our council this week so I am resurrecting this old thread. I ended up writing to National for a definative answer. Here is what I received as a reply: A Scout gets credit for one and only one summer camp experience applied towards Camping merit badge requirement 9a.

perdidochas, A lot of troops are short staff, and people step in when needed. That doesn't really give carte blanch for an ASM to sit on a BOR though. People responsible for delivering the program should not be the ones analyzing quality of the program.

Moosetracker: That is how your troop sees the function of the Advancement Coordinator.. Other troops see the Advancement Coordinator as an intricate part of program, and use him as such.. You can quote all your want from these Guidebooks, but a troop will use it as just that "A Guide" then decide the best way to carry out their mission.. If a SM who is responsible for program, sees the AC as being part of his program.. Then who are you to tell him how to run his program? That is like saying the Guide to Safe Scouting is a Guidebook, not a rule book No that is how National spells out the role of the Advancement Coordinator in the POLICY book called the Guide to Advancement. The following defines it as POLICY not a guidebook: The Guide to Advancement is the official source for administering advancement in all Boy Scouts of America programs: Cub Scouting, Boy Scouting, Varsity Scouting, Venturing, and Sea Scouts. It replaces the Advancement Committee Policies and Procedures and Advancement and Recognition Policies and Procedures, which are no longer valid. Be aware that statements or interpretations offered from unofficial websites and other such sources may be out of date or incorrect. They will not be considered in resolving advancement questions and issues. In situations not specifically covered in this guide, advancement chairs, coordinators, or other administrators should make decisions based on the aims and mission of the Boy Scouts of America, as well as the Scout Oath and Scout Lawand common sense. http://scouting.org/scoutsource/GuideToAdvancement/Introduction.aspx(This message has been edited by bnelon44)(This message has been edited by bnelon44)

The SM is responsible for program. The Advancement Coordinator has other duties. They are not responsible for guiding the Scout. That is the job of the SM and his adult and Jr. Leader staff. Merit Badge Counselors are a District position they report to the District Advancement Chair (I know that is not how units see it, but that is not because it isn't fact, it is lack of training.) For more information on the job of the Unit Advancement Coordinator see section 3.0.0.3 here: http://scouting.org/scoutsource/GuideToAdvancement/GuidelinesForAdvancement.aspx

Does the troop have attendance requirements to satisfy the "active in the troop" requirement? If not, you may want to consider having them. For more information see section 4.2.3.1 of the Guide to Advancement: http://scouting.org/scoutsource/GuideToAdvancement/MechanicsofAdvancement/BoyandVarsity.aspx

smalltroopSM, We are getting off topic and maybe a new thread is in order, but the Merit Badge process is a Council/District process, not a unit process. After assigning a duly commissioned Council/District Merit Badge Counselor, the Scoutmaster has no review authority for Merit Badge or the process. He cannot review and reject a merit badge. Once the Merit Badge Counselor signs off the badge, the Scout has earned it. What is done is done. There is no going back. The Scoutmaster signs the blue card acknowledging receipt of the MBC signed application, that's all the signiture means (read the card.) More information on what the Scoutmaster Signiture means can be found here: http://scouting.org/filestore/advancement_news/512-075_March.pdf and http://scouting.org/scoutsource/GuideToAdvancement/TheMeritBadgeProgram.aspx

KJ Your son's goal should be to get to 1st Class in one year. If he does that he will learn the basic training of Boy Scouting and he will keep active and have fun. As others have pointed out: Merit Badges are purely optional at this stage. Chances are he will get some badges at summer camp. Focus on earning rank right now. If he really wants to pick up a badge outside of summer camp, have him talk with his Scoutmaster or Asst. Scoutmaster for New Scouts. People have posted the merit badge process already. More information on merit badges can be found here: http://www.bsatroop14.com/advancement This isn't Webelos Scouting. Earning all the "pins" is not the goal. The goal is to build moral character, good citizenship, physical, mental, and emotional fitness, and to teach leadership. These things take time. We do it in the outdoors. Building his outdoor skills is extremely important at this stage. He will build them by going through the rank requirements (that's what they are for.)(This message has been edited by bnelon44)

The BSA rules on who can sit on a BOR make more sense if you read CalicoPenn's post.

Mandated Procedures and Recommended Practices This publication clearly identifies mandated procedures with words such as must and shall. Where such language is used, no council, committee, district, unit, or individual has the authority to deviate from the procedures covered, without the written permission of the national Advancement Team. Recommended best practices are offered using words like should, while other options and guidelines are indicated with terms such as may or can. Refer questions on these to your local district or council advancement chairs or staff advisors. They, in turn, may request interpretations and assistance from the national Advancement Team. http://scouting.org/scoutsource/GuideToAdvancement.aspx

The SM may introduce the candidate and may remain in the room, but only to observe, not participate, unless called upon. ( GTA section 8.0.1.0).

Matching leadership styles to the maturity (needs) of the boys is an art. It is different for every troop and can be different for every patrol in the troop. I put together a short guide on the topic here: http://www.bsatroop14.com/patrolmethod

Talked to the National Advancement Team and they suggested, with no guarantees, that there might be grounds for an extension. Find the extension form in GTA, and then to try to meet with the council advancement chair to discuss the process. The extenuating circumstance would involve errors by adults in delaying consideration of the proposal and wrongfully rejecting it based on the number of hours. These days the council must research what happened and submit the extension form along with the results of the research and a recommendation on whether an extension should be approved.

The Boy Scouts of America general liability policy provides coverage for a bodily injury or property damage claim that is made and arises out of an Official Scouting Activity. The Guide to Safe Scouting contains a listing of Unauthorized and Restricted Activities. Unauthorized activities are not considered Official Scouting Activities. Volunteers (registered and unregistered), Units, Chartered Organizations and Local Councils are jeopardizing insurance coverage for themselves and their organization by engaging in unauthorized activities. PLEASE DO NOT PUT YOURSELF AT RISK. http://www.scouting.org/sitecore/content/Home/HealthandSafety/Alerts/Insurance.aspx

"First Class still signifies that a Scout hase mastered all of the basic Scouting Skills. " ONCE That is all the rank requirement requires and for many that is all it is. It isn't a certification that shows a Scout has retained any of the knowledge over time. None, zipp, nada. If you are making it that, you are adding to requirements which is forbidden in BSA policy. If you want to add more training in your troop, that is an admiral thing to do, but it isn't required to become 1st class.

"Taken together, the Tenderfoot, Second Class and First Class ranks offer a short course in these essentials. " A short course is just that, a short course. It isn't expected that they have become masters in these skills by the time they are 1st Class and to the point where any Scoutmaster can reasonably expect that any 1st class scout can take care of themselves in the outdoors. Yes, they have seen the skills and demonstrated the skills, once, but that is all that is in the requirements at that stage. Now someone who has received the camping merit badge, maybe you can assume some level of competence, but by 1st class, it isn't there, they are just finishing learning the skills.

The BSA Volunteer Training Team has a Facebook page that they monitor. I would suggest making suggestions for improvemen there.

> If the unit wants the JTE designation, then meet the standards for that new designation and take the CURRENT training. Simple. Under these rules if the Scouter wants to continue to wear the Trained patch, they have to take the current training as well. At least that is how I understand it.