DuctTape

Since you say the troop relies on the pack as a feeder, I would recommend that when you do have the Key 7 meeting. One of the things you keep in mind is that the cubs have no obligation to go to this troop when they join Scouts BSA. I would also encourage the Webelos dens to visit other troops. One reason the troop culture is not great is b/c they do not have to be. They keep getting scouts and have no competition. Introduce competition and they will have no choice but to change or dissolve.

Reminds me of the Godfather... "No more meetin's, no more discussions, ... we go to the mattresses."

One thing I try to instill in my scouts is that "Be Prepared" is much much more than knowledge, skills and gear. It is the mindset of doing your duty to others, etc... It goes hand in hand with "do a good turn daily". It is the willingness to act, to do the right thing regardless. Knowledge, skills and gear are helpful, although not necessary. It is the honor and duty of a scout to be prepared to do the right thing.

They would be useful instead of solely adornment.

Not sure why temporary confiscation of other inappropriate items such as adult material, etc... is a red herring. If the law is as stated, then the taking of any personal property regardless of the type would be considered theft.

One of the best ways to help scouts (and adults) begin to transition to backpacking is to extend the hike in to a frontcountry campsite from the parking lot. The key is to plan and pack a backpack with gear for all trips as though it was a backpacking trip. Park, load up backpacks with gear, lock cars/trailers, and hike 50 yards to the campsite. Cars/trailer are locked until the return. No multiple trips. Next campout, hike 100 yards. It can be the same campsite, just park farther away. Keep adding distance between the cars and campsite. The scouts will have experience planning

This also should be a topic during the SM conference for the rank prior. Part of the SM conference should be to discuss the scout's future endeavors. Talk to the scout about their previous activities and how he plans to accomplish the ten. Ask how will he know when he has reached the threshold. Most advancement related questions/concerns can be avoided by having the conversation with the scout ahead of time. What a perfect thing to discuss at the SM conference for the prior rank.

Scouting for Girls, I am almost certain. I will check when I get home.

The only GSUSA handbook I have is a first edition. I haven't t looked through it. Would I be correct to assume it has changed a lot?

The older publications of the handbooks (BS, PL, SM, etc...) and Fieldbooks made explicit the "how" by providing actual examples. Of course the examples could not cover every possible scenario, but they provide a baseline for the student from which to begin. IMO, providing the rationale and goal without explicitly stating and showing how is incomptetence at best and malpractice at worst when it comes to creating a handbook. This is why the handbooks aren't really used except as "sign-offs" BECAUSE THEY ARE OTHERWISE BASICALLY USELESS.

The "pocket rocket" type can be found cheaply. They are quite light, and easy to screw on to the canister. There are many name-brands like Primus, MSR which cost $20 - $100. The off-brand chinese knock-offs are less than $20. You get what you pay for.

I use most of the FC skills on every camping trip except first aid fortunately. These are the basics. Often the doo-dads or other gear replace knowledge and skill, these are more often commonplace in car-camping trips. The other skills allow one to take less gear, venture farther from the parking lot and allow for the adventure. All of the ideas you presented are also cool, but next step types of things which are part of mBs. These are great, but should not IMO replace the basics. If anything, I would get rid of the allowing requirements to be "done at anytime while any rank". This would

I reiterate my previous opinion. This is NOT a PLC decision, but one that should be made at the Patrol level. Each patrol needs to decide how their patrol will operate during patrol meetings/activities. The PLC should be a place where the PLs can report on their progress as a patrol, seek advice from other PLs and make TROOP level decisions. The PLC should not dictate how a patrol decides to operate.

I would not put it into the by-laws. I would, as the GTA states, designate persons who you know are trained and understand advancement as a method and have embraced your vision of the troop. In other words, no blanket "prohibitions" instead use specific designations. Utilize your ASM corps, and PLC as the field to which you designate. A brand new scout parent who is a first year ASM is likely not to be designated by me as someone who could sign off any scout requirement. It is vital the adult understands the advancement method and knows the expectations of it. IMO, to be designated by the

The exceptions and ignoring of the rules when it comes to advancement has been going on for a long time as has been noted in this thread and others. BSA has zero quality control.

Start with your other adults. Get them on board with the idea or else they will sabatoge anything you attempt. Get PL handbooks, and SM handbooks and be sure the adults first understand their roles and how they fit in supporting the Patrol Method.

I think it is based on intent. When the adults have advancement as the goal instead if a method; this is when it changes. Even if the scouts meet the requirements as written, they are denied a true scouting experience because the aims are not likely realized as they are not the desired outcome.

I have not been to BWCA, but I do go to the Quetico to the north. So this may or may not apply. I have noticed that the evening mosquitos run like clockwork, and you can hear them a few minutes before they descend on your campsite. Thus I recommend determining their timing on night 1, and then plan each day so all can be safely in bug proof zones for all subsequent nights.

While I usually would recommend a deference to the PLC, in this case I think the decision should be based at the Patrol level.

https://www.scouting.org/resources/insignia-guide/

I see you have asked a lot if questions regarding uniform and insignia. Please forgive me if you have already read: https://www.scouting.org/resources/insignia-guide/ Beyond the official BSA resource, I think it is a good practice to then defer all other uniforming questions NOT included in the BSA guide to the PLC. I use this approach as it is then directly related to achieving the aims of scouting.

I would defer to the PLC as to what constitutes the troop uniform.

I agree with qwazse regarding the signing-off. I would like to focus more on best practices prior to the testing and sign-off. Perhaps I should prime the pump. Starting with a counter-example of NOT best practices. A new scout goes on his first campout and is assigned cooking duty with a patrol mate for breakfast. They make breakfast and then he goes and gets signed-off on the tenderfoot requirement. What is missing here almost entirely is the explanation, demonstration and guidance for the scout to understand and perform assistance at any sort of expected level. A better practice:

I do not favor these, or any other process which takes the scout out of the equation. One of the great opportunities for scouts' personal growth is being denied when they have little to no part in the financial aspect of their program. Weekly dues collected at every meeting, and bringing cash for the upcoming camping trip to give to the patrol mate buying the food are all opportunities to grow in responsibility, and independence. Sure it is easier to have the adults do it all, but that is the case with most everything. So how do the adults help ensure a scout is not excluded from a trip b

keep it simple, imo. No fractional ages. 14 y/o and 12 y/o ok 14 y/o and 11 y/o not.