Eagle94-A1

Why I liked the more camping or why LDS units complained? I liked more camping for a variety of reasons. One is that IMHO the more they camp, the better they master the skills. Yes in my day only 2 camp outs were required to earn Camping Skill Award, and hence First Class. But the 2 months between Scout and Tenderfoot, Tenderfoot and Second Class, and Second Class and First, gave time for Scouts to master those outdoor skills. At least in the troops I've been involved with, that 5 to 6 camp outs and/or summer camp. As to why LDS units cannot have 11 year old First Class Scouts under the January 2016- today requirements, LDS units segregate their 11 year olds into a separate patrol and they are limited to a maximum of 3 camping nights.

Page 12 of the document here is the results Highlights: http://www.scouting.org/filestore/advancement_news/2015_Mar-April.pdf 1900+ respondents 69% say palms are important 80% say it strengthen participation 70% say Scouts look forward to it. 87% rated the Scout spirit requirement as “very important,†69 percent rated the leadership requirement similarly. Here are the kickers 85 percent disagreed with awarding Palms based solely on earning five merit badges. 81 percent rejected the idea of allowing additional active time at Life rank to count toward Eagle Palms. 75 percent rated the three months of tenure as “very important, and 19 percent rated it as “important.†(94%) 78 percent agreed that three months was the proper tenure, 80 percent agreed that activity outside the troop or patrol should be allowed in meeting the tenure requirement. (ASIDE: This is where OA, Camp staff, etc comes in) As to BORs here is the reasoning, but note there are no stats to support it. Finally, while respondents supported both the Scoutmaster conference and board of review requirements, many commented accepting one or the other would be adequate in awarding a Palm. Since Palms are not ranks, requiring both almost puts them in the same league.

I liked when they upped the number of campouts. But I know LDS units complained since none of their 11 year old Scouts can get First Class under the 2016 changes.

After we had one mom pick up her son when he snuck his phone and called her, we talk to the parents, give them our numbers, and then lock up the phones in a safe. problem has not happened again. Unfortunately that camp was about 30 minutes from her house. As for mail, wife and I sent a care package out on the Saturday before they left. Boys got it Wednesday.

Depending upon what the patch looks like, it may be a youth leadership patch, and you wouldn't wear it. If it is the one here: http://www.scoutstuff.org/bsa/uniforms-insignia/insignia-cloth/other/leave-no-trace-trainer-emblem.html#.WWO67oTyucw Then you are out of luck as it is the youth leader patch. Save it though as apparently they changed the name of the position. I think this may be the new POR patch http://www.scoutstuff.org/bsa/uniforms-insignia/insignia-cloth/required/emb-outdoor-ethics-guide.html#.WWO7coTyucw If it the black rectangular ones from here https://lnt.org/shop/product/patchthen it's a temporary patch.

I wish I knew how to sew with a machine. The two times I tried, the people working with me gave up, did the job themselves, and suggested classes. So I only hand sew. IT IS A VALUABLE LIFE SKILL! (emphasis, not shouting) Not only have I sewed numerous patches and buttons, But I have also used them to fix packs and tents. I also did several sets of regalia, both Northern Traditional and Straight, by hand. It's not that difficult. A buddy of mine had the velcro rank patch set up. We were constantly joking with him, "You don't deserve this," and take it off.

Actually they sent out a survey 2 or 3 years ago on this topic. I participated in it. I was opposed to the proposed changes then, and I am opposed to the changes now. To quote the Second Doctor, aka "the Hobo," " I see you changed things...HHHMMM I don't like it."

CONGRATULATIONS!

Our old SM finally retired.Honestly he should have retired a few years back as his health has been failing for some time now. But the COR/CC would not agree with selecting the current SM because he was no longer active with the church since getting married. Between the old SM's wife, and our past IH stepping in, we got a new SM. Our challenge is the old SM is addicted to Scouting. He is on the committee, and attends meetings regularly. The troop was using his property to camp so that he could "still be somewhat involved." But after the accident he had getting the campsite ready, we are not going there anytime soon. Wife told me that is now I am going to be when I get that age. I hope I know when to call it quits.

I actually prefer the terms "Scouter," "Adult," and my personal favorite, "Old Fogey" to "Scout Leader." Scouts are supposed to be the leaders, not adults.

Most current

With all do respect, if the Scout Shop is owned by National, then they would be the experts as they are required to know the uniforms regs and how to get the answers from the The Official Guide to Awards and Insignia. Trust me, I worked for National Supply once upon a time, and that is something they were adamant about: providinf correct information. Also Page 16 of the The Official Guide to Awards and Insignia state that the traditional rank diamond: Bobcat, Wolf, Bear, and Webelos is still allowed on both the blue and tan shirts. page 2 of the link above shows that the diamond i sallowed on both blue and tan. Only the Webelos Oval is not allowed on the blue shirt.

Thanks for the link. Wish National BSA would state something like this for troops: "An adult is called a " Venturing Advisor ", not Venture or Venturer leader. Note: avoid referring to "Adult Advisors" as "Adult Leaders", as Venturing is a youth-led program."

I thought the response was suppose to be the following; Subgroups? SUBGROUPS! WE DON'T NEED NO STINKING SUBGROUPS! Seriously though, trying to use the proper terminology for a camporee guide.Trying to include the 1 or 2 crews in the other district. Despite the green shirts hanging in my closet, it's been a while since I was active with a crew. Even then, I don't recall any specific terminology.

Ok, what is the official term for the subgroups in a Venturing Crew? I know in a Boy Scout troop it is a patrol. In Sea Scouts it is a crew still. In Cub Scouts it is a den. But I cannot recall what it is called in Venturing. Thanks in advance.

Troop is at summer camp. Pack is off this week.

When I got my BSA Lifeguard last year, for $25 more we could have dual certified as ARC Lifeguards. The $25 covered the cost of getting the ARC credentials. Since I do not plan on working at a pool again, I didn't get it.

DANG! April and May is prime Scouting time in my neck of the woods since the weather is better and we can go outdoors. We can usually keep ours until end of May/beginning of June. That's when we move them up and give them their new neckerchiefs and slides. Edited: We usually have 50% attendance over the summer. but it is not like the same folks are missing every week. Still floored by the 50% figure.

My friends who have served on Jambo staff wear the council's jambo patch(es) and the Lodge's Jambo flap if in the OA. One year, I think they made three jambo CSPs: Troop A, Troop B, and Staff.

LOTS of changes to Cub Scouts since '93. Now the Webelos Badge is not needed to earn the AOL. Another change is 6 months since completing 4th grade OR 6 months since turning 10. Oldest was 10 years, 3 months old when he crossed over because he was in 5th grade.

You just proved my point. The majority of Cub Scout leaders believe BnG is suppose to be a big advancement shindig, and not a party celebrating Scouting. Where does it say in any official Cub Scout literature that advancement needs to be completed by BnG. Unless the Scouts are chomping at the bit to Cross Over. We are an active, year-round pack, and we have had some good WDLs. Plus our district, now council, Webeloree really pushes the Patrol Method, and gives a great introduction to the Boy Scout program. So they get a good taste of Boy Scouts in 4th grade as First Year Webelos. By the time December comes, they are ready. Interesting note, one of our new Scouts from this pack made the comment at his BOR that the troop doesn't camp enough, and we do so once per month.

Some packs are still trying to get all the awards done by B&G. That idea, B&G being the big advancement night, really didn't come about until the 1990s and Cub Scout program expanding from 3 Years to 4 or 5 years ( sorry do not remember when Tiger Cubs were officially integrated into packs) When Cub Scouts dropped from 3rd grade to 2nd, and Webelos went from a 1 year program to an 18-24 month program, all the hoopla started with B&G and advancement. What is interesting is that there was enough complaint about June 2015 Cub Scout requirements taking so long to complete, that national in December 2016 changed the requirements for all the adventures and some of the ranks, Didn't really affect Middle son's den as they only one or two items to do to finish. But the DL from other pack we got Scouts from decided to use the new, simpler requirements for those Webelos who would not be earning the AOL either in time for Webeloree, or at all.

We are a traditional pack in that B&G is just a party and not a big extravagant advancement ceremony where everyone gets their awards. So they are not really missing out there. Current AOL requirements state: 1. Be active in your Webelos den for at least six months since completing the fourth grade or for at least six months since becoming 10 years old. (Being active means having good attendance, paying your den dues, and working on den projects.) [emphasis added] So December 1st is the earliest a den can cross over if they met all the other requirements. As active as the pack is, that is not a problem. The one den that decided to wait until March and Webeloree did so because the DL wanted all the Scouts to be the last group to earn all 20 of the old Activity Badges. Regarding the OUTDOORSMAN Adventure Badge (formerly known as CAMPER Adventure Badge, camping is not required to earn that anymore. You have the option of camping, or doing an outdoor activity. Same option applies for Scouting Adventure: troop campout or other outdoor activity. DL signed off because they did either Scouting for Food or Memorial Day service projects with us.

Pack my sons were/are in does Cross Over in the December/Early January time frame. Some of the reasons for this were financial, other reasons were that the dens tend to be ready to cross over then. So far those dens that do Cross Over in Dec/Jan have had plenty of time to get ready for summer camp. That is a very important thing for me since we can usually keep them interested in Scouting if they go to camp. So far no problems. Den before middle son's Cross Over did so in March, and to another troop. Thankfully that troop is extremely active (multiple weekends per month doing Scouting stuff, including one or two months with 2 camp outs in them. So that group has had no problems. It's the dens that Cross Over in March or April that concern me. To date some Scouts, usually the ones who visit and camp with the troop prior to Cross Over, are ready for camp, and others are not. An aside. We had two dens from two different troops Cross Over to us this year. My son's den Crossed Over January 2nd. In addition to camping as Boy Scouts, they also did 1 camp out, Wilderness Survival, as Webelos. I have no concerns with them. It's the second den that concerns me. They Crossed Over in late March. part of that was the parents wanted to make the Cross Over a big deal at the council Webeloree. Part of it was that a few of the Webelos had to be "helped" along to complete the requirements. Helicopter parents is an understatement (2 are going to summer camp, 1 and younger brother are going to be in a hotel nearby for Visitor's Night). Three invitations as Webelos to camp with us over a 20 month period were ignored. And this year at Webeloree, instead of camping with the troop as was done in the past, the parents decided to camp in a different location by themselves. To date the troop has had 2 camp outs (April's was cancelled at the last minute due to a flash flood washing away the road to camp) since this group has crossed over. Out of 9 Scouts, 3 have been on a one camp out. The rest have not camped with the troop at all. Between not being familiar with the Boy Scouts, the helicopter parents, and not having experience camping, I got some concerns about these guys.

As I stated previously, I do not want the program further watered down. I want stuff the Scouts earn to actually mean something, and not just be a participation award. My oldest commented on some of the BSA's advancement policies, as well as some of the practices some summer camps and merit badge universities do. When he first encountered an issue as a new Scout, he didn't understand. But when someone got Chess MB for just being in a summer camp tournament, he was ticked off.