King Ding Dong

I vaguely remember from one of the online training courses selecting environmental stewardship or some such term as a value or goal of scouting and getting it wrong. Makes sense now, nature is just a classroom to be used to teach values. There are several religions that the BSA finds acceptable that I find vile, what is described here is very benign in comparison. Christians sure can be a funny bunch in numbers.

Make them sit in the chair? Seriously I would make all the t-1 scouts tie the knots with instruction and leadership from the higher ranks.

Curious , what is a modern day Druid? Wikipedia doesn't seem to say much about it. No need for a long post, can you point me to a primer?

Just don't leave camp for that drink. I got slapped around pretty good for bringing that idea up.

It is interesting no matter how this question is posed. No one will touch it.

Let me run thins past all you. Lets take some common FA scenarios. On the crossover campout a 1st class scout came up to the NSP and asked for a band aid. With no obvious signs of trauma. I asked him what rank he was and if he had a personal FA kit. "Yes, but it is in the bottom of my pack." My response, "where do you think these scouts have theirs?" That was that. This past week end a star came up to us and said he burned his hand on some charcoal. His dad was there so he took care of it. My response would have been to start asking him some questions. How bad is it? What have you done so far? Stop and think about your training. What is the first thing you are supposed to do? (Cool it down, maybe?) Then what should you do? If it blisters should you pop it or leave it be? If the blister pops later what should you do? Instead Dad took him over to the trailer and sprayed it with Solarcaine. Would that be the correct approach?

Ha jblake. That's good. When my my youngest was in 1st grade he insisted on checking out Pokemon books from the school library. I couldn't stand them, and they were beneath his skill level. So at bed time I would only read them in the most obnoxious, condescending, sarcastic voice I could muster. That ended that. You want a real story, bring me one. Great advise again V. If you can't RTFM, then you don't get the position? Is there a way of enforcing this? Here is the manual, you have two weeks to read it and conference with me about its contents or a new election will be called.

No you won't. Helicopter Dad will be there to remind him. Seriously working with him to take charge of his book. That is something I see seriously wrong in cubs. The book is treated as a parent handbook and not the cub's book. The pack moved to Scouttrack, the downside it further takes the recording responsibility away from the cub. What is your response to the goal setting and ambition that advancement fosters?

I don't see the big deal. Gays are about 2-3% of the population. The chances of a gay scout are small. Everyone enjoys making a mountain out of a molehill.

Thanks V. I saw your post yesterday. I am noticing a lot of dropped posts today.

Interesting. I thought it was a scouts responsibility to ask for a SMC. Doing a little handholding BD, eh?

"Basement Bob," I presume? Quite the battle you're putting on. Definitely a lot of dumb going on in the comments for that blog. After he decided to turn his scouting manual into a full-blown program for boys, Baden-Powell's program had no advancement, and it didn't float. When he incorporated Seton's Woodcraft Indians advancement concept, he had what he needed: motivation. Young men can camp, fish, set fires, play Frisbee, build a robot, toast marshmallows, and fool with rope anywhere. They get the ceremony, recognition, belonging/bonding, etc. in Scouts. I agree that the offering thing is over the top, but what about serving as an alter boy? The way I read the policy it counts, but I am not sure it should. I do get your point that is not that much time and shouldn't even be a course for concern. Any scout should have way more than 13 service hours by life.

Does the BSA have a policy on sexual relations inside or outside of scouting? If a 16 year old gets caught in the backseat of his car doing the deed with a girl will National eject him? If he publicly declares he has had sexual relations with a female and will continue to do so will national eject him?

Trained ? Well, the only real training is on the job, but yes all the online stuff (ypt, troop committe, this is scouting, etc) and IOLS ( a full saturday classroom and a whole weekend campout as patrols, IN THE RAIN!), presurized fuel, 2 university of scouting, BALOO, OWL, full cub leader classroom training. I have been reading the Scoutmaster handbook, but not finished. Yes I am a registered member of the BSA. First Class Requirement 4e. " on one campout serve as your patrols cook. Supervise your assistant(s) in using a stove or building a fire. Prepare the breakfast, lunch and dinner in requirement 4a. ...." (I have only seen our patrols use grates over charcoal, a charcoal chimney or open fire, no stoves). I know we have some backpacking stoves. That is what the troop assigned him. I could see the argument that it is to soon for a new crossover or see it as a challenging assignment. In talking to him he said he did the cooking and helped with the dishes/cleanup. The SPL/PL was proud of the meal and brought the old goat patrol a extra burger to sample and said he guaranteed it was better than what we had (kabobs). I do not recall there being a duty roster. It was only 5 scouts 2nd and 3rd years. (Star and up) I think they just pulled together and got the job done. The adult patrol was around a bend and out of sight so we did not observe the actual process.

He bought the food two weeks ago, trip got rained out. We were able to freeze much of it and incorporate the perishables into our home, then replaced the perishables. Then he was patrol cook on this trip. You consider that not doing much ? Ok. What was he supposed to do? Throw away all the food and then repurchase it ? The summer camp requires one leader to be "Scoutmaster", not ASM. The CC asked me to take that position. I guess we can't go now, boys sure are going to be disappointed. As far as talking to the SPL or PL or whatever role he was playing at that time. As I said there was not a lot of troop meeting planning for this trip. My sons original patrol selected him as grubmaster and patrol cook, the SM or whoever organized this trip assigned Ryan to so the same with this trip but with a different patrol. I get how the patrol method is supposed to work, but when you only have 3 members of a patrol attend and food is bought for 6, this troop reassigns patrols. That is what they do, not sure if that is the correct thing to do or not.

May I recommend the REI 3 1/2 pad. ZZZZZZZ I predict you will be SM within the year. I have none of those qualifications and I can feel the suction already. Welcome. The board is buggy but getting better. Post often.

If the argument boils down to behavior and not the desire, would it then not be appropriate to ban avowed heterosexual boys engaging in sexual relations with females ?

Point taken. This was a low turnout event, only 13, so the patrols were mixed up and the SPL was the PL. Not ideal I know. There are no ASMs. I do not have the ASM stripes officially but have been treated as one by the SM. We have not had a full committee meeting to work out the structural details yet. (I am also co-IH and allegedly assistant committee chair. I know that is not an official position and am becoming uncomfortable with the structure the more I understand how things are supposed to work. I am only six weeks in, we will figure it out.) The SM is doing SeaBase this year so will not be at summer camp and I have been assigned the official SM role at camp. I am seeing lots of things being done in non standard ways, but am still in observation and learning mode. With that said, is it inappropriate for me to inform the SPL that my son was assigned grubmaster and was to work on his cooking requirements ? New SPL and event was adult coordinated as a make up for rained out and botched backpacking trip a couple of weeks ago. Not sure why we didn't just reschedule the backpacking trip.

My plan on the pad was to do it myself, but at the tie. I was busy breaking my own camp. I had given the SPL/PL instructions on the letting my son actually do the cooking and stop him only if he was going to flip the burgers on the ground. I failed to let him know about the bag/pad issues. In general he will use a Ozark Trail blue foam pad, I just need to get a strap or rope for it. I agree on the requirements, one and done is not good enough. However, in our troop SM does not sign requirements, only star and up, so the standards may not be as tough as an adult would prefer. I think one possible solution is to make sure the PLC rotates assignments on campouts so scouts don't get to specialized in their strong areas. Just because Timmycrappycamper is really good at starting fires, he should not get to do it every time. I also think the PLC should be encouraged to schedule short competitions on campouts, such as knot tying games. 15 minutes and move on. I am CPR Pro certified, but if I don't review the material every couple of months I start skipping steps.

Dang this software is buggy. Added text from another post. Sigh.

Are you saying there are no swimming MBCs available in your area. Only ones that will work with scouts in their own troop? Granted swimming takes time but I would be willing to meet with a couple of scouts every few weeks for a half hour and review their progress and offer some tips. Being a weekly swim instructor to them would be asking a bit much I think. But so much of swimming is conditioning and just practice. I am of the option they should have the swimming MB by 11 (sans a perfect whip kick) lifesaving by 13 and be ready for BSA or prefStill here folks, we had a campout this weekend. One of the parents has a snack route and we used his trailer haul bikes to a park and the boys took 21 or 27 mile ride Saturday. I got a bit ill and stayed at camp but it worked out well because on the the bikes had a non standard valve and we couldn't pressurize it so he used mine. I have read all the posts here at least a couple of times and really appreciate the time you have taken to respond. It has been a lot to think about. I certainly don't want my son to rush through anything and agree completely he need to focus primarily on having fun and mastering Scoutcraft skills. He was patrol grubmaster and due to a rained out event a few weeks ago and moderate attendance this weekend he was assigned to the older scout patrol. He did really well with the cooking with only a couple minor problems. When breaking camp the older boys tried to tell him rolling up his pad and bag were not about strength but skill and tried to show him how as he was holding up breakfast. He got really frustrated and upset because with the equipment he was using it IS about strength. It is hard for me. That can be fixed with a larger stuff sack and a simpler pad. Given the chance for rain and our leaky tents I sent him his moms 3 1/2" REI pad. Great pad, but hard to roll up. I will just have to play it by ear with this troop. Seeing other scouts rush past him can certainly be discouraging, but if he develops true ambition I can't see slowing him down. It will be largely be upmto him if he wants to work on skills and exercise to get his strength up or play video games. (not that there are no limits on video in my house). At this point he excels when given manageable tasks and takes pride in doing a good job, like patrol grubmaster this weekend. I am bothered a bit by the perception that Eagle is the destination and not just one milestone on the Journey. I think part of that is the result of the BSAs heavy emphasis on that brand. There are so many other goals achievements past Eagle that I feel to little emphasis is placed on. For instance the National Outdoor Badge and Nova awards. Our council is having a STEM camp week this summer where one badge or Nova Is worked on each day. A format that allows for more time and focus than traditional summer camp format. First class is required so that will have to wait until next summer. (If he gets there, but I am sure he will). I am curious what T-1 skills are so hard to master in one year ? As long as it a 2 man tent and not some 8 person hotel the tent should be easy enough in a year. The orienteering skills certainly take practice, but is not rocket science. The knots maybe hard for him, but again 15 minutes with some rope a couple of times a week should get it done. If you don't have a fireplace a trash can lid in the driveway should suffice to get some tinder and a few pieces of kindling started. First aid, plants and animals is just memorization. I grill frequently and it is now his job to flip the chicken and burgers. Good time to slow him down and have a chat on the deck. (Why the heck is an instant read thermometer required on the packing list or internal temperature tables in the handbook ? Meat is done when it is done, not how long it has been over heat.) It was mentioned that it is a rare scout that attends meetings, goes camping, participates in activities, and wants to lead if allowed. That is my son, so far he has perfect attendance, only one of the others in the NSP does. Please keep up the conversation. These kinds of topics should always be active.erably Red Cross Lifeguard at 15 (you need RC for most jobs and can then test out for BSA, besides RC has tougher endurance requirements) What a perfect skill and job for a teenager. Responsibility, good hours and always in demand.

Still here folks, we had a campout this weekend. One of the parents has a snack route and we used his trailer haul bikes to a park and the boys took 21 or 27 mile ride Saturday. I got a bit ill and stayed at camp but it worked out well because on the the bikes had a non standard valve and we couldn't pressurize it so he used mine. I have read all the posts here at least a couple of times and really appreciate the time you have taken to respond. It has been a lot to think about. I certainly don't want my son to rush through anything and agree completely he need to focus primarily on having fun and mastering Scoutcraft skills. He was patrol grubmaster and due to a rained out event a few weeks ago and moderate attendance this weekend he was assigned to the older scout patrol. He did really well with the cooking with only a couple minor problems. When breaking camp the older boys tried to tell him rolling up his pad and bag were not about strength but skill and tried to show him how as he was holding up breakfast. He got really frustrated and upset because with the equipment he was using it IS about strength. It is hard for me. That can be fixed with a larger stuff sack and a simpler pad. Given the chance for rain and our leaky tents I sent him his moms 3 1/2" REI pad. Great pad, but hard to roll up. I will just have to play it by ear with this troop. Seeing other scouts rush past him can certainly be discouraging, but if he develops true ambition I can't see slowing him down. It will be largely be upmto him if he wants to work on skills and exercise to get his strength up or play video games. (not that there are no limits on video in my house). At this point he excels when given manageable tasks and takes pride in doing a good job, like patrol grubmaster this weekend. I am bothered a bit by the perception that Eagle is the destination and not just one milestone on the Journey. I think part of that is the result of the BSAs heavy emphasis on that brand. There are so many other goals achievements past Eagle that I feel to little emphasis is placed on. For instance the National Outdoor Badge and Nova awards. Our council is having a STEM camp week this summer where one badge or Nova Is worked on each day. A format that allows for more time and focus than traditional summer camp format. First class is required so that will have to wait until next summer. (If he gets there, but I am sure he will). I am curious what T-1 skills are so hard to master in one year ? As long as it a 2 man tent and not some 8 person hotel the tent should be easy enough in a year. The orienteering skills certainly take practice, but is not rocket science. The knots maybe hard for him, but again 15 minutes with some rope a couple of times a week should get it done. If you don't have a fireplace a trash can lid in the driveway should suffice to get some tinder and a few pieces of kindling started. First aid, plants and animals is just memorization. I grill frequently and it is now his job to flip the chicken and burgers. Good time to slow him down and have a chat on the deck. (Why the heck is an instant read thermometer required on the packing list or internal temperature tables in the handbook ? Meat is done when it is done, not how long it has been over heat.) It was mentioned that it is a rare scout that attends meetings, goes camping, participates in activities, and wants to lead if allowed. That is my son, so far he has perfect attendance, only one of the others in the NSP does. Please keep up the conversation. These kinds of topics should always be active.

Sounds like the type of manger that charges an employee to go create something "viral" for the website.

No, 10 lol. Around here swimming is a 1st year recommendation. I am not really worried about it, more just trying to understand the level of expectations for requirements. This isn't Cubs. The boy can swim, he did 25 laps a few weeks ago, a mile is 36. He isn't taking lifesaving because that is just to much time in the water he may have trouble getting the brick up in 10 feet of water, he can do it 6 feet. He is only 60 lbs. Why do your boys wait so long to take swimming? Is it an access and lesson issue outside of camp? This boy wants to be eagle by 13 if not 12. I think 12 is seriously pushing it.

Do we not have the ability to deregister scouts from the troop?