bobwhite

Thanks jmc and Mike, Sounds as if we have similar outlooks and I do appreciate the input. One factor in all this is the fact that the CC is an Eagle and past member of the troop. He is a very organized fellow and very good at aspects of what he does. I think part of the difficulty arose when he drove a couple of scouts off from the troop for what I thought was mildly disruptive behavior and he saw as an impediment to the troop being what he wants it to be. I got the boys to return in spite of repeated rudeness on the CC's part and did council the boys on the importance of "living the Oath a

Hi Mike and all you others who have been kind enough to respond, Perhaps narrowing this trouble down to a couple of specific issues would help. In keeping with the adult association goals of scouting, which we both agree on, I think our main difference is in implementation. I was seeking to monitor the troop and make certain that correct information was being given by the youth instructors and that adults would only work to help the instructor prepare. Our CC wants adults to do most of the instruction and be directly involved. I think part of his motivation is to get the parents more a part

cjmiam brings an important point up by seeking to codify the meaning of agnostic with a definition from an authoritative source. While I am sure that the definition given is accurate for those within the Agnostic organization, itself, I am left wondering if it is also as correct for many folks who are not as interested in setting artificial boundaries for themselves. The simple definition of agnostic as someone who is seeking knowledge, and therefore does not profess to "know all things", is one that is most prevalent in the community at large. While it may be upsetting to some fundamentalists

The definition of agnostic that I have always understood is "one who does not know". This admission of a degree of uncertainty is very different from making the assertion that God does not exist, as in athesism. By that definition, we are all seekers of knowledge, I hope, and as none among us has firsthand knowledge of God, we could all be agnostics. The reluctance to identify oneself with a particular denomination or organised religion does not, by any stretch, mean that a person has rejected God.I know several Eagles who are agnostics, in the sense above, and I have seen a higher moral stand

Camp Daniel Boone is highly recommended. As already stated it has many fine programs, but you should call or write the Daniel Boone council, I think they even have a web site, http://www.danielboonecouncil.org/. I am from the area and have spent 36 summers troop weeks there, as a Scout and Scouter. We are going to have a new, state of the art dining hall this summer, and several other improved instruction and support areas. Check on the llama trek availability, as I am not certain about whether or not that program is running this coming season. They also have COPE courses, rock climbing, can

LNT is a great program, and like one of the posters we have tried to never leave a mess behind, even if it was there before us. However, I consider cooking over a wood fire, firebuilding and campfires all to be important parts of a well rounded Scout experience. Naturally the locations and impact for these have to be considered carefully and discussed with your Troop, so that they understand the reasons and hopefully, as adults, will be able to pass on these skills and judgements. Some of the extreme criteria advised by the LNT hardliners regarding the choice of tent and clothing colors also

Our troop is dealing with a committee chairman who thinks only his ideas are worth following, and while most are from the book, he also refuses to listen to some program suggestions that are also from the book. We have mixed parental support and are loosing scouts because of his overbearing manner. Suggestions?