King Ding Dong

Can you use EDGE to teach us that special knot ? I usually tie a knot for the slide but a trainer told me that was not a good idea as the cubs tend to grab at the necker when playing games and it could cause a neck injury.

In my area it is very common for both parents to attend a pack meeting. In fact my wife usually takes the boys home so I can help put tables away and take care of any post meeting business with the other leaders. Though I am more interested in a snack than a drink after a meeting.

Add to that the issue of obtaining permission to post pictures of minors on public outlets.

All the above. In theory a Den Chief is the troops biggest PR asset. I have not seen a helpful den chief yet. Have the troop lead the pack meeting. Gives the Scouts great experience and show the parents a bit of what you are trying to achieve in cubs. You have to sell parents also. Troop helps Cub Dads carry equipment and set up tent at pack campout.

There is a card/certificate and a patch. The card is supposed to be carried on their person at all times they are carrying a knife and lists the saftey rules. The card can be taken away by an adult for violations. There are various opinions on how to use the card. Some people cut a corner off for each violation and then make the scout earn it again after all four corners are cut off. This is a long standing tradition but is not official BSA policy. Some use a violation to as a teachable moment and do not cut corners. There have been various discussions on the merits of both approaches here. There is also a patch that looks like a pocket flap patch but does not go on the pocket flap. It is considered a temporary patch so can be worn in the right pocket in the temporary patch location. Some claim BSA did this to increase job security for the Uniform Cops. Both should be available at your friendly neighborhood scout shop or can be ordered on Scoutstuff.org. Google whittling chip and there are images of both. But if you order in the next 10 minutes you get a free Shake Weight.

Paint and decorate a section of PVC pipe is cheap. Carve some from wood is cheap, but takes time. A rubber band is even cheaper.

Sleep Cycle

Why not ? The requirement doesn't state the person actually has to make their living as an artist or needs a degree from the Chicago Art Institute.

When you do engineering I would look for a step up from your local "sanitation engineer" that stops by your house every Thursday.

A scientist does not need to be a guy with coke bottle glasses and a lab coat. There are computer scientists for example and kids are into computers. I chose a tour of the water treatment plant. The men running those plants are definitely doing science. They may not have a phd, but have taken many certification classes in scientific subjects. The plant will have a small lab with testing equipment and he can show how he tests the water at various stages of the treatment process. The sewage treatment plant is another option. Definitly biological science going on there. It was absolutely no problem scheduling a tour, they even had some booklets for the boys to take home. Park Rangers usually come from an environmental science background or sometimes law enforcement. For artist the scrap booking place definitely has artists. There are a lot more graphic artists nowadays than there are guys with a paintbrush and a beret. Do you have a local photography studio ? He is an artist and would love to get some more people in the door to see his work. Maybe he will make a den portrait for you. I called the science chair at the High School and he was a total a$$, said he couldn't do it because the state cut his budget. More often than not the governmental departments are very willing to help, they usually answer to an elected official who wants your vote. You will usually not have a problem getting your congressman to meet with the boys for citizenship. A formal request on pack letterhead 3 months in advance was all I need to get him to speak at out B&G. Didn't even have to use the professional relationship my wife had with him.

Great. That would force the BSA to become a church.

BD for this discussion I am wearing my IH hat. I want to understand the rules and potential lines of liability. My concern is not the twisted ankle, but the copperhead bite, nosedive into the campfire, or fall from a tree or other serious incidents that can occur and people start lawyering up. I don't want to be "that guy" who allowed something to happen and now the whole school district kicks scouts out. (It is a large district). It is clear to me now the culture of this Pack has been to just go do whatever they want, with no training or concern for BSA policies. I aim to change that. Given how vague GTSS on some of these issue, I am certainly leaning towards ADC advise and requiring a Tour Plan filed, even though the council does not require it in most cases.

I think what he may be refering to is the second section of the Family Camping heading in the GTSS. The subheading "Recreational Family". Lets leave the den only camping issue aside for a moment as that is not the real issue I am trying to understand. Family Camping Family camping is an outdoor experience, other than resident camping, that involves Cub Scouting, Boy Scouting, or Venturing program elements in overnight settings with two or more family members, including at least one BSA member of that family. Parents are responsible for the supervision of their children, and Youth Protection policies apply. Recreational Family Camping Recreational family camping occurs when Scouting families camp as a family unit outside of an organized program. It is a nonstructured camping experience, but is conducted within a Scouting framework on local council-owned or -managed property. Local councils may have family camping grounds available for rent at reasonable rates. Other resources may include equipment, information, and training. The point I am trying to make is under what circumstances are you not covered by BSA insurance. Clearly the GTSS allows families to camp as family units as long as there is no "structured program". No mention of training required in this circumstance. Is insurance provided in this circumstance only of you are on council or council managed property or not at all. BD, our council does not have camping cops checking into everything we do beforehand. The issue is when something goes wrong. Accidents happen. ADC, while I agree all cub camping is family camping I see 4 types not two from the GTSS. Family Camping Recreational Family (requires council owned or managed property) Council organized Family Camping Pack overnighter

Do they still have LAN Parties ?

Do LDS units have a separate set of leader and program books ? I have never been able to figure out how a den program works in a LDS unit. How can the Den all be working on the same requirements when they all age out to the next level at different times ? I am trying to imagine how a grade school could operate this way.

Here is a link to the 2013 GTA. Please do yourself, your troop and your leaders a favor and read the sections on the Merit Badge Program. It won't take long. http://www.scouting.org/filestore/pdf/33088.pdf

Don't you have to do what you are told to do anyway. This boys parent is the "cub commissioner" and a "dictator" as you described in the other thread. Not sure what a cub Commisioner is, I assume it is a Unit Commisioner. UC has no authority in a non-LDS Unit. They can only advise. You don't sound very happy with this situation. I wouldn't be either.

Let me get this straight. They don't have to use the worksheet, but if they don't then no MB. Have you read Catch 22 yet ? You really need to get a copy of the GTA and read it several times. I think that will really help you out here. Here is another section of the GTA. Can you find some things your process is violating ? 7.0.4.8 Unofficial Worksheets and Learning Aids Worksheets and other materials that may be of assistance in earning merit badges are available from a variety of places including unofficial sources on the Internet and even troop libraries. Use of these aids is permissible as long as the materials can be correlated with the current requirements that Scouts must fulfill. Completing “worksheets†may suffice where a requirement calls for something in writing, but this would not work for a requirement where the Scout must discuss, tell, show, or demonstrate, etc. Note that Scouts shall not be required to use these learning aids in order to complete a merit badge.

Wow, that's a whole lot of corruption to deal with in an organization. How do you stand it ?

Wow, BD getting all lawyery. I am not sure I followed that. I ran it by a District trainer and a 25 year district guy they both told me without BALOO it is considered family camping and BSA insurance does not cover family camping. GTSS is very vague on this. Notice it says tiger, wolf and bear dens cannot camp as dens and no insurance will be issued. What if your pack is only tigers or only wolves show up ? What bloody difference does it make if the campout has all tigers or all bears anyway, if you have trained leaders and parents ??? We are not camping on council property this time so I want to not only protect the pack but also the CO. I think I have one guy willing to do the BALOO only. He just wants to make sure he is not responsible for planning the whole campout. This will be a less than 24 hour campout, not much to plan. A couple activities, a hike, bobcat ceremony, eat, let the boys run around some more, s'mores, sleep. Wake up, eat, leave. Planning complete.

Bear claws are the best. Picking up a yard bird or pulling pork. Sharp to.

" If you had read the entire thread you would know that I am not the one signing off requirements for the MB. ES441 8/24/13 2:58PM comment on ScoutNut's reply: "I'm the "middle man," Scouts give me the requirements that they have completed and I report to the adult(counselor) who signs them off." And I am teaching the class for the Chess MB " 441 do you understand why some of us have a problem with this ? The problem is that you are a middle man. There is no adult association, whoever signs the blue card is just robo signing. There is not supposed to be a middleman in the merit badge program.

BD can you quote one instance in this thread where some said they took youth into a bar with them to drink ? Or said they got into a car with youth after drinking ? You keep throwing up straw men.

Award it via twitter or Facebook. Seems fitting.

Yeah they all do YPT. I talked to my co IH, no to on family camping, to much liability and I agree. I have a few prospects. One asked me today if BALOO had an online option. Sigh.