King Ding Dong

I wonder if they need to be big to be successful. Do they really need to be "BSA like" ? BSA camp properties are convenient and cheap for many of us, not for others. There is not much that they offer that cannot be found from private outfitters, although with generally a higher cost. They likely can't put together offerings like Jaboree and HA Bases, but they certainly could pull off smaller gatherings like regional festivals with Christian rock bands and the such. 90 percent or so of BSA scouting is really at the troop, patrol(sometimes), pack and den level anyway. If they really fashion it like Kudu's style without trailers and all the trappings that brings, unit startup costs would be minimal. Fundamentalists have proven their ability to raise money and support youth activities that they deem as worthy. They will not have the Brand of Eagle Scout that keeps many in the BSA, but they won't have the bloated bureaucracy, complex rules and all the other baggage. They may do just fine in their eyes as a much smaller organization. I have seen some references to other youth group organizations like Royal Rangers that have allegedly failed, but they still seem to exist at some level. Does size make successful organization. Many here would argue size does not define a successful troop or pack.

Whoops. You suggested checking the temperature of food. Someone on here thinks that's crazy paranoid behavior.

It's those meddling Hacker Scouts.

Maybe it is an act of God.

Momma doesn't want her boy to cook. Can't find anything in GTA that address the Cooking MB specifically, just the general policy that the BSA can change the rules and do whatever they want, whenever they want to. "Sometimes, however especially for more significant changesâ€â€the Scout Handbook, the Boy Scout Requirements book, or official communications from the National Council may set forth a different procedure that must be used and may establish a date by when use of the old requirements must cease."

Seems like an HA overview course to me, not a in depth skills course. It sounds Interesting and fun but $250 is steep. This page has links to more information on the St. Louis one next year. http://www.stlbsa.org/training/Pages/powderhorn.aspx

28% mechandise, 33% registration fees, 24% program support (whatever that means) I guess they plan on selling a whole lot of t-shirts. http://www.traillifeusa.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/TRL_TriFold_DownLoad_PBP.pdf

It appears it is an attempt to keep LDS out of leadership. The whole trinity issue has never been a concern of mine so I don't really understand what the problem is. Is there validity to their assertations about the new BSA policy ? I don't envision many boys wanting to run around the woods in a tutu.

Elmers Wood glue should hold it, not the school craft glue. Gorilla glue is good also, but a bit more expensive. If you have clamps to hold it on for 24 hours that will help also.

Hmmm. By telling a scout it is an at home badge isn't that the same as making them supply materials ? Distinction without a difference ? Can you work on assembling those other wood projects ? What is involved ? Glue, drilling a hole and screws ? You should be able to guide your son to do that.

It is raining and watching football right now. Had an idea. Do you have any plywood ? You could have them make a model football field with goalposts and kick fieldgoals with those little folded paper triangles.

Yes they should be more involved than wolf projects. Cutting, carving whittling, painting, staining could all be involved. Door stops is more wolf level. You could make it a bit more complex making it a crossbow type shooter. I don't know how they expect you to make something out of nothing. I guess you will just have to ask around for donations of materials. I am all about making scouting as thrifty as possible, but good grief this CC just sounds nuts. If you are not already a craftsman type person, how in the world do they expect you to do this by yourself with absolutely no budget ? Are there other people you could ask to help you, like some of dads ? Or is even that not allowed ?

One idea is rubber band shooter. Glue a clothespin on. Do you have den dues ? The dens don't get any pack money for projects in my pack either. We just come up with a cost per scout for a project and the parents pony up. We made squirrel release boxes for the dept of conservation. Cost for cedar boards and screws was about $15 per scout.

I don't think a parent is required, but the Webelos needs to be under the supervision of an adult. Below is an what the GTSS says. A little wishy washy on the subject as usual. Can be read a parent is not require on a Den campout, but is on a den/troop campout. A Webelos Scout may participate in overnight den camping when supervised by an adult. In most cases, the Webelos Scout will be under the supervision of his parent or guardian. It is essential that each Webelos Scout be under the supervision of a parent-approved adult. Joint Webelos den/troop campouts including the parents of the Webelos Scouts are encouraged to strengthen ties between the pack and troop. Den leaders, pack leaders, and parents are expected to accompany the boys on approved trips.

There are people over on Bryan all up in arms over this and I can't figure out why. Cooking is a necessary life skill, more so than most of the other Scoutcraft skills. Not trying to denigrate Scoutcraft, but you have to eat every day. If we made a Eagle Required Laundry MB that required doing your family's laundry for 30 days I suspect moms would be much more supportive of the program. Even if they double the required number of meals it is still fairly easy to do. They are going to cook and eat anyway. Without looking it up I think it is cook for two others, so a patrol can have two cooks. The backpacking meals do not have to be done on a actual backpacking trip, just using the methods. If the increased emphasis is on indoor cooking as rumored, so what ? Buy the groceries and cook for your family for seven consecutive days. Prepared. For Life.

My district has a MBC class, but it is at the annual University of Scouting. Beware it can take 4-6 weeks or longer to be approved. Also, note that the Bugaling MB is the least earned of all of them, so you may not have many calls outside your family. Not sure if there is a limit by National on the number of MBs you can counsel, but some councils do put a limit, mine is 4, so chose wisely. In my Council there is not a registration fee, but you do need to fill out another adult application and be current on YPT. This is from the 2013 GTA "Neither does the National Council place a limit on the number of merit badges a youth may earn from one counselor. However, in situations where a Scout is earning a large number of badges from just one counselor, the unit leader is permitted to place a limit on the number of merit badges that may be earned from one counselor, as long as the same limit applies to all Scouts in the unit. Approved counselors may work with and pass any member, including their own son, ward, or relative. Nevertheless, we often teach young people the importance of broadening horizons. Scouts meeting with counselors beyond their families and beyond even their own units are doing that. They will benefit from the perspectives of many “teachers†and will learn more as a result. They should be encouraged to reach out." Here are a couple of links with more information http://www.scouting.org/scoutsource/boyscouts/guideformeritbadgecounselors/mbcounselorguide.aspx http://www.scouting.org/Training/Adult/Supplemental/MeritBadgeCounselorInstructorsGuide.aspx Section 7 of the GTA explain just about all you need to know about rules on the National level. http://www.scouting.org/filestore/pdf/33088.pdf As you go into the Boy Scout World be aware there is no gender discrimination that I have been able to find. You can be a Scoutmaster, District Trainer, Lifeguard, Unit Commisioner, Climbing Instructor, COPE Instructor, whatever you want. That is not always the case with men in the GSUSA. Your only limits, if any, will be from your religous institution or men in your Council, not from National. If you can you should take IOLS and bring your bugal. You can put all those district level trainers to shame. Having IOLS will open a lot of doors, Woodbadge even more.

Welcome. Let us know what you are struggling with. Many of us are probably struggling with the same things.

Or they could form an alliance with Hacker Scouts and train all the kids to become patent and copyright trolls. Big bucks.

Is this a problem for you ? What other areas do you want to take over ? Preparing a good pack meeting and setting up the Packs program are important and time consuming responsibilities. I assume "the packs program" involves interacting with the other den leaders to help guide their program. Here is the long list of Cubmaster responsibilities. What is the Committee not allowing you to do ? http://www.scouting.org/scoutsource/CubScouts/Leaders/About/ThePack/cmast.aspx

In his defense, after taking Climbing and Rappelling Instructor training I appreciate the need for the Near Miss report better. It does have its place. The guidelines for its use could use some improvement.

Since when do you care about rubbing people the wrong way ? I would ask the CM what he thinks. I was in the same situation last fall having moved in August. I did award the outdoor activity award and summertime pin at a pack meeting, with permission. It did have the effect of sparking interest in scheduling a summer program and the outdoor activity award because it does look like an OA flap that the boys see visiting Scouters wear.

I am so done with snacks and treats at den meetings. We have an hour, a snack takes up 15 minutes of that time with clean up. They can get crumbs in moms car on the ride home. Drinks when we are outside are ok. Preferably water. If there is a birthday, I make an exception but absolutely no #%€¥\{}# cupcakes !!!

If he earned it he should get it.

If he designs, yes. If he is just a grunt in a cabinet mill I would question it. Do you have a flea market around ? There are tons of artists making crafts at those things. They could talk to a bunch of artists. Glad you found the water treatment plant fascinating.

Not sure what his title is but got the job because of his outstanding performance at Keller finding innovative ways to put more and more warning labels on ladders.