Sidney Porter

I have never seen the crossing over to nothing. IMHO a Web2 is old enough to understand that they are making a decision not to cross over and should respect the process. They still would get the AOL if earned. I get that cross over is a troop thing and not a pack thing. But one of the complaints is that AOL is viewed as too much of graduation and leaves an opportunity to leave scouting. I would think that by having it at a cub scout function the younger scouts see the cross over and they make the connection that boy scouts is the next progression. I would think that if cross over was done

I would say the majority. It seems like most packs /den leaders will hold back on ane of the requirements so that they all obtain them around the same time. I think that some packs do not want to do the AOL and cross over multi times a year. We have several scouts that could have AOL the end of Nov (6 months after completing 4th grade). We could go with the 10.5 for some of the scouts but we have one that turned 10 in Aug. Do we make the one scout wait just because his birthday is later, when he has completed all of the requirements at the same pace as the rest of the den? In theory I cou

Has this den leader been in charge since they were tigers? If they have been working this way for 4 years it will be hard to change the den culture in over the next 3-6 months. I am struggling with the fact that your son was brought in as den chief so you could get the den in order requested by the troop and pack. Is the den leader on board with this? Or is the leadership trying to sneak one past the den leader. If the den leader is not doing his job the CM shouled either get a new den leader (you) or the CM should be in there getting his hands dirty and fixing it. If you don't have the s

Not legal advice but this article seems to explain it. http://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/taxes-nonprofit-corporation-earnings-30284.html I have heard that non profits must spend all the money they bring in. That doesn't make sense, I assume that NFP hospitals and churches routinely save money for future expenses. In theory a a scout unit would be the same. In order to jepordize the tax status the group would need to start having excessive unrelated business activities. Say a scout group decides to have a car wash for a fund raiser it would not be a problem. But it was success

I assume that all of the online advancement tools has user rights that could limit the entries to the den leaders. There is no way that I would want to be an advancement coordinator in a big pack if I had to receive a bunch of spreadsheets and come up with the order (I was in a pack of 150 with 20ish dens). Small pack with small dens email and a spreadsheet works.

I am less likely to question the parents entries if I know we will be covering it with the den. I had a parent sign off on aquanaut saying it was done in swim lessons and when they rented canoes. So they subbed the canoe for the row boat... knowing that the program will be changing to a canoe... I guess that can slide. I doubt that they actually did the pdf float and explained how to properly let it dry. As far as the swimming parts I am sure that they did bits and pieces in swim lessons (1, 2, 4 parts of 8) but I don't think they would have discussed the buddy system, rescue methods nor the s

Arguments against a May cross over - for the most part you are doing a huge disservice to the scout with very little benefit to the pack. - They do not get to go on any shake out camping trips with the troop prior to summer camp - Since they are not part of the troop they may miss summer camp sign up - They will miss any spring troop fund raisers where the funds could be used for summer camp - Their peers from other packs are crossing over in Feb and March A Webelos does not need 24 months. I would argue that the typical 20 months is too long but that is how long most of them are.

So let me get this straight. CO A = Pack A and Troop A CO B = Troop B You are involved with Pack A and Troop B? Your concern is that Troop A doesn't do much to support Pack A? Assuming that Troop B is a viable alternative I would not put too much effort into getting Troop A up to speed.

Your son's 2 friends, do they all go to the same school? If yes I would think it will be eaiser for your son to find another troop since he will still be friends with them through school.

Looking at the webelos handbook on page 14 paragraph 3. "the webelos den leader (or another adult the leader designates) signs or initials each requirement your son completes." This differs from the early ranks for comparison page 7 of the wolf handbook "When has a boy completed an elective or achievement? When he, in your opinion as Akela, has completed the skills to the best of his ability." I interpret that has Webelos the den leader needs to authorize the parent to sign off, that differs from the other ranks. For loops* and pins I would probably not make an issue for for anything requ

The time requirement seems like the limiter with earning AOL in one year. They need to be 10.5 or 6 months after completing 4th grade. They would need to be turning 10 in Nov of their 4th grade year which makes them one of the oldest on the class in order to get AOL at the end of their 4th grade year. I agree the actual requirements can be done if the ages all allign. I have a Web 2 who just turned 10 in Aug. My understanding the early he can get AOL light would be Dec using the completed 4th grade + 6 months. He is the youngest in the class but not unheard of he would have started K

If they have earned it give it to them so they can actually wear it on their uniform. It seems like the trend is to hold off and give it at B&G or cross over. Personally I think they should be differenr events. AOL when earned just like any rank earned. B&G should be about cub scouts. Cross over should be separate. I have seem B&G where it becomes all about the webelos with the AOL and Cross Over. We have B&G in Feb while AOL and Cross over is in March. Historically the Webelos have earned the AOL all around the same time at the same time and we have held off until March,

Might be something better presented by the SPL with the SM there for support.

But we allow Buddhist who don't always believe in a supreme being?

I assume you have something else but they also publish this resource on their website. http://www.scouting.org/filestore/membership/pdf/523-021.pdf

More confusion http://www.usatriathlon.org/news/articles/2014/2/021314-bsa-alliance.aspx USA Triathlon and the BSA actually have a partnership and puts on youth triathlons for ages 7-15. But looking at the safe swim only the older scouts could participate. But Wayne Brock's quote seems to indicate otherwise.

Not to high jack the other safe swimming thread. I was reading the section about triathlon Few comments. At cub ages triathlons are normally in a pool and not open water. Most of them are also not what I would call long distance. My son (age 10) participated in 3 this year. All were in a pool. 200 meters, 100 meters and 800 yards. Only the 800 yard one would I consider a long distance. All fo them have been really controlled I would actually think they are a safer environment than kids plying in a pool. To be more honest I am more concerned on the bike portion where you have kids

If you don't collect dues and the pack doesn't like to do fundraisers how has the belt loops been paid for in the past? Was someone in the pack paying for them out of their pocket or did the pack have cash in the bank and that cash is gone? I assume that cash either came out of dues or fund raising before the current scouts. If the fund raising is planned for capital investment (trailer, track etc) then you have to have sues in sufficient amount to cover the annual day to day opperations or the parent pays as they earn achievements. I think you could find a middle ground increase the cost

Are you comparing it to treated or untreated down. This is a good video. I do not have a bag http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/dam/assets/141027151708-child-ray-rice-costume-story-top.jpg

I have never heard to avoid down from a temp standpoint. Cost and care sure. You can also have an issue with it getting wet althought there is treatment on newer bag that will prevent the down from absorbing water. I down have a down bag but I know that my down coat is the warmest coat I have pound for pound.

BSA has a rule against tent heaters. I have a mt heater 4k-9k btu propane heater. whick I will use in may garage. I have tested it out in a tent if it is running it can keep the tent pretty warm, but I would not sleep with it. I also tested it in a 6 person tent with only 2 people so there was plenty of room around it. I also had it on a piece of tile.

Both pack I have been involved with gives out the beads at the following pack meeting. I have always understood that the den loeader should be giving out the beads during the den meeting as earned. I don't think most units do it that way. I think the beads would represent something if you give them right away. Often we have had 3 den meetings in between the pack meetings the scouts do not associate the activity to the specific color of the bead when there is a month lag. Sounds like you are doing it correctly.

Without more info from the orginal post we are shooting in the dark. - how many scouts and adults - What coooking equipment - open fires allowed - duration of the Trip (Friday night thru Sun Morning or Sat through Sun). - what other activities are planned - Do you have adult help that will be helping with the different meals or is all of the prep and process going to fall on one or 2 people If it is is Friday through Sunday. For friday have them on their own for dinner. People will be arriving after work, it will be getting dark and camp needs to be setup. You don't want a big

The either drop out of cubs because of the repetativeness or they convince themselves that Boy scouts is not the same and the finish Webelos with no intention of going on. Hopefully the new program is less repetative and less like school.

I understand that by extending it to Kindergarten you get to the boys before they become involved with other activities. The risk is maintaining pack level activities that are engaging to both 5 year olds and to 11 year olds. I already think that packs suffer from Webelos being bored (even some bears). Some of this can be counter acted with a strong Webelos program within the dens/pack where it is fresh and new for the Webelos.