Bob White

The BSA did at one time produce Cub Scout Boy Scout and eagle Scout rings, I believe they also had an Explorer ring. Unfortunately low sales halted production. I know of know one else who makes one. I'm presuming that you did your own extensive search on the internet as many of us probably have, and come up with the same results. You could try to have a custome one made or as suggested in another string, contact the makers of high school and college rings to see if they can make one. $$$$$ Bob

Unless the counselor checked that they would counsel any scout AND you notified the District Advancement Committee, it is unlikely that the counselor would appear on the District's list. is your counselor legit? probably yes. A follow-up call to your council office to verify they received the application would be a good idea. Also, keep copies of the paperwork you sent in. Bob

Not wanting to be oversensitive, but I think I have the right to defend the "scouting according to Bob " comment. everything I have said is from the resources of the BSA. I have given book and page references as part of my discussion. I see few others doing so. Everything I've presented is the official program, which is available to any volunteer through a variety of official sources. As I say it's not scouting just because you wear a scout uniform. Scouting is the implementation of the methods of scouting to achieve the aims of scouting. Secondly, let's not forget that a major way we gai

Patrol outings without adults does not require iur consensus. It is an element of scouting adventure that is promised to the scoouts in every Official Boy Scout Handbook, and has been since the beginning of the movement. The question remains (and it is the same question asked at the opening of Scoutmaster, Assistant Scoutmaster job specific training) "Are you keeping the promise?"

Tour permits are not required unless motorized vehicles are involved.

The Boy Scout Handbook promises scouts that if the adventure of patrol activities. The handbook goes on to say that with the permission of the SMand parents or guardisns the patrol (not a troop) can do these hikes, camps,and activities, "on their own" which means without adult supervision. Patrol activitities were a big part of my youth days in scouting and is a tool I have used with patrols for over 25 years. The key is in the training and planning prior to the activity. I will share what we have used and am curious as to how many others have had patrol activities without adults. by

keeping up-to-date District Merit Badge Counselor lists is difficult. There are 119 merit badges and the MB counselor registrations must be renewed annually. You're right that ScoutNet, the new national data base, is not ready to do this. (it has so many bugs that even the Orkin Man couldn't fix it). If you have the time and inclination, helping to build and maintain a Troop MB counselor list would no doubt be welcomed by the troop committee and scoutmaster. There are 2 forms required to be filled out by each MB counseor. A standard adult membership application (no joining fee) and a MB c

Why not ask drivers to show you a current drivers license and proof of insurance? That's what is required on the tour permits. Unless you have specific knowledge of a an adult being dangerous behind the wheel, then you could simply arrange enough transportation to where it would not be required that they drive. Bob

Good exchange of opinion. I think we are really working to the core of the issue here. For instance. There is nothing vague about the bold print policies in the Guide to Safe Scouting. The example raised by fscouter is right in line with what I'm saying "get training first". The Guide tells you you need two deep adult leadership in troop activities with some exceptions such as patrol activities where no adult leadership is required. Fscouter, the guide is very exact, you either need two adults or no adults! Here is how the patrol method has worked since the beginning of the program. A tro

Fscouter, Huh? Are you sure you want to tell a parent (assuming that you know of know illegalities)that they cannot drive their own child to an event? The local tour permits are only for adults transporting children other then their own. The Bar-b-que is not a required troop committee training. The requirements for Troop Committee members to be certified as trained and wear the Trained badge is, the 90-minute New Leader Essentials course followed by the 3-hour Troop Committee Challenge course. Fast Start, which has recently been revamped is available as a training tool but is not part o

Ozemu, Just to clarify a point. the reason the few behaviour rules are reviewed every 6-months is because we do troop elections every 6 months so the PLC changes in membership. Since the establishment of the rules comes from the PLC each new group has the opportunity to reveiw and revise as they see fit. It has far less to do with moral training and more to do with leadership and citizenship training. Doesn't the current legislature have the power to reveiw and revise existing laws set by previous legislatures?

NJscouter is absolutely correct. As long as you meet all the requirements in your handbook, and you act in a scoutlike manner, the only requirements you have to meet are in your handbook. I respectfully sugest that before you have to find 6 longhaired Eagles your SM needs to find ONE current scout handbook that has hair length as an Eagle requirement. PS. You or your parents should contact the local District Executive or District Commissioner for assistance.

ba-dad, If your description of the situation is accurate, you need to contact your committee chair and ask for the Den Leader to be removed immediately or move your son to a new den or pack. To change this behavior is not a simple task and takes far to much time for you to leave your son in such an environment. This is abusive behavior and has nothing to do with scouting. Thank you for understanding that this is not proper behavior in scouts and for being concerned about this kind of "leadership". Please consider becoming your son's den leader. You will find, after attending a hal

evmori, The Guide to Safe Scouting has both "policy" and "guidelines" in it. If you notice there are two type faces used in the guide, normal and bold face. Anything printed in Bold letters is BSA policy and is not open to local interpretation. Guidelines or recommendations (regular type), are recommendations based on successful use in other units and test programs. Violation of policy can negate a leaders liability protection as well as their BSA membership. When planning a scout activity, adults and junior leaders should consult the guide to make sure all aspects of related

eisly, Doesn't the Patrol Leaders Council determine a troops program in Boy Scouts? That's what it say's in the Boy Scout Handbook, the Scoutmaster Handbook, the Troop Committee Guide, and the Junior Leader Handbook, not to mention every training course in Boy Scouts. Why not just say to the dad "That's not our decision, thats why it's called Boy Scouts not Adult Scouts." The role of the troop committee according to every resource in scouting is to support the boys decisions not make them. National's goal today is 100% trained adults. Your local training team can show you how this progr

Sorry, make that "nowhere" not "know where", the editing feature is still not working for me.

KoreaScouter, The BSA does require a full uniform. They just don't require it to join. But know where does the BSA say "wear jeans if you want" or "you can wear something that looks alot like a scout uniform, that's OK" If scouters and scouts units set local rules in spite of the uniform policies, how will saying you need to have the uniform when you join be any different? The quickest, most effective way to promote correct uniforming? Local units and volunteers need to wear the correct uniform-set the right example-stop making lame excuses to not wear the official uniform.

Now you can also add the Tiger cub year to the Cub Scout years and just wear a 5yr Cub star. Don't look at it as starting over, it's not, it is continuing his religious service but at a laevel in keeping with his personal growth.

fscouter, You raise some very good points. most of which are covered by the BSA in; the troop committee training, Troop Committee Challenge; The scoutleader training, Scoutmaster Asst. Scoutmaster Leader Specific Training; the budget training video, The Ideal Year of Scouting; the youth protection manual, The Guide to Safe Scouting, and in the policy manual, Advancement Committee Policies and Procedures. I highly recommend that evryone first get trained and learn the program before they write local rules that could be conflict. About the only two points that are not already covered

I do not know of a web site for Tooth of Time Traders (the Philmont trading post) They do have a catalog which is available when you visit. You might try contactiing the camp and ask if they would mail the catalog.

I can tell you that BP used "Be Prepared at Brown Sea Island. He would yell "Be Prepared"! and the scouts would yell in response "We are Prepared"! I don't know where BP got it from.

An Excellent question, and and area that is often misunderstood. The only Cub Scout awards that can be permanently displayed on a Boy scout uniform is the Arrow of Light patch (Not the Knot)and the serive star on the yellow background. The Webelos badge may now be worn temporarily, until the Scout Badge is earned. A common mistake is the religious award. That was earned in Cubs using the Cub requirements and DOES NOT transfer to the Boy Scout Uniform. The Scout would need to earn the award as a Boy Scout under the Boy Scout requirements. The same goes for the Recruiter bar. Bob

I agree, I would like to see a lower price on the official scout uniform...and on gasoline, and property taxes, and milk, and postage stamps. Come to think of it I can't think of anything that I wouldn't be thrilled to pay less for. In the mean time I volunteered to be in the BSA and I am proud to wear the uniform from shoulder to shoes. I can't imagine my two brothers who are police officers wearing pants that look almost like their uniform pants, or a pro ball player wearing a knock-off of thier shirt just because it's cheaper. Why would anyone want to look alomst exactly like a scout i

Mia Culpa, To to upgrade the abacus to version 3.1 Bob

One thing we do is explain to the scouts and parents from the day they join that the scout uniform consists of official shirt, pants, belt, and socks. That the only options are hat and neckerchief. We opt not to wear the hat and we provide the neckerchief and all the patches for the uniform. Where I see units getting in poor uniform habits is when they stary from BSA uniform policies. Pants for instance is not a locally controlled option. Wearing jeans with a scout uniform is no different then wearing a sweaqt shirt with scout pants. Either one is out of uniform. The purpose is no