Eagle94-A1

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.

Martha Jones was OK. Sarah Jane Smith was the best companion. though.

I feel for the guy. But I really feel for the Scouts since they are the ones going to get hurt the most. My troop growing up was in a similar situation. We had a church council member very anti-Boy Scout. She eventually became the IH, and expressed her displeasure with the troop by calling the police on us for trespassing when we over the scheduled time for an Eagle Court of Honor. Eventually the troop moved to a different CO that wanted us.

Very true! My MCJROTC unit also gave our rifles girls' names. While the Marine instructor and cadet officers didn't use the exact language Gunnery Sergeant Hartman uses in Full Metal Jacket, it was similar. WARNING: Language

Very appropriate for me and the troop. Our old 30+ year old Coleman Stoves are on their last legs or have died. We're doing a fundraiser next month after camp and hopefully will be able to buy 3 new stoves. I'm personally against the Jetboils due to price. As others commented, you could 2-3 other brands stoves for the price of 1 Genesis.

Do they still have non-IT folks in charge of the IT department? I remember when SCOUTNET 2000 was coming out, and a former Scout Executive with no IT experience whatsoever was put in charge of the SCOUTNET 2000 program.

The Scouts should be the targeted audience, not parents nor Scouters. I'd also add a list of companies that offer Scout discounts, i.e. ALPS Mountaineering through their HIKERDIRECT.COM website, Campmor, Coleman, etc.

Trained Strip is worn with the POR badge you are trained for. For Scouts, if you are not serving in a POR, or if you were not trained for a specific POR, i.e. Den Chief, you are not suppose to wear a trained strip.

Sorry I couldn't resist.

EPA and local regulations. My council has been in the process of getting permits to build a bathhouse for over 10 years now. They are now looking at scaling down the bathhouse and adding a second one to see if they will get approved.

Position Of Responsibility

Yes, I'm a corrupting influence on Webelos Best recruiting we ever did growing up was wilderness survival camp outs with Webelos. OK not individual shelters, patrol size shelters. And they ate it up. This particular Webelos joined my troop's Wilderness Survival weekend to work on Castaway. And ate it up.

Need some help folks, and I know someone here has the book and can help. Hugh Manners wrote The Complete Wilderness Training Manual which the BSA adopted when he revised it. I am guessing he published several variations of this book to boot since when I look him up on Amazon, several books he wrote have either variations of the title and/or the same images as the original. Anyway, could whomever has that book post the contents of his recommended survival kit as wells as the preferred knife to have? I had the library's copy of the book, but believe my wife returned it before I was finished with it. And I know for a fact I cannot get it before I need to post survival kit items because the day I checked it out, a Webelos saw it at my house, and got his mom to reserve it for him. Thanks in advance.

Careful with flea collars. I had a ton of friends use them in the 80s and 90s. Heck one friend wanted them in care packages when he was deployed. Unless you were allergic to whatever it is on them. I tried it, and I had major problems with blistering on my legs where the collars were.

I think there is some confusion as to WHICH (emphasis) NYLT patch we are discussing. If it's the original NYLT temporary patch found here http://www.scoutstuff.org/national-youth-leadership-training-emblem.html#.WUbePuvyucw I've seen those given out at the conclusion of the course. @@Cleveland Rocks, yours isn't the only council to tell them the wrong location. I had to pull out an Insignia Guide to show one SM why his Scouts were not getting some points on the uniform inspection at camporee one year. If it is the new NYLT strip that can be worn in lieu of the Trained Strip, found here http://www.scoutstuff.org/emb-nylt-trained-strip.html#.WUbeFuvyucwthen it is worn either on the flap of the "smokes pocket" on the left sleeve, or under the POR patch, where a trained strip would go, if the sleeve doesn't have a pocket. Those are so new, I do not know if the patch is also given out at the conclusion of the course, or the troop is responsible. EDITED: Can the NYLT strip be worn by itself, or must you wear it in conjunction with a POR patch, like the Trained Strip?

I hope that's sarcasm. Money is not the only issue in building bath houses, at least in my neck of the woods. Due to tons of environmental regulations we are still in the process, after 10+ years, of trying to build a new bath house at the camp I referenced above

Regarding first aid skills and repetition in multiple MBs. I admit I initially thought this was stupid. I thought if you had First Aid MB, you were good to go. But over the years I learned that first aid skills change over time. Any one remember when constrictor bands were used? Anyone remember when tourniquets were NOT recommended for serious bleeding, only to see them re-emerge? Anyone remember when CPR was Airway, Breathing, Compressions or 5 compressions to 2 breaths? (aside, I remember the first time I heard about the current 30 compressions to 2 breaths. It was at a Scout meeting where a cardiologist told us the 5:2 is no good and we need to do 30:2, and that was over 25 years ago!) So it's good to repeat the skills. BUT THE KICKER (emphasis, not shouting at you, maybe shouting in SHOCK though was this past camporee. We had a first aid event where a Life Scout had a very hard time doing simple T-2-1 First aid skills. His excuse was he hadn't had that class ( first aid) since his first summer camp. So I'm a beleiver of repetition.

I have to agree with @@Col. Flagg on this one, I know of camps that do not have the facilities to handle coed Scouting. Heck there is one camp that I know of, when they do a weekend council Cub Family Camp, has to bring in a bunch of portajohns ( don't even ask about showers) b/c there is only one "bath house" at the camp, with 2 rooms; a men's and a ladies.

My concern about coed Scouting is this; What is best for our BOYS? (emphasis not shouting) As others have pointed out, there is a double standard when it comes to girls, they can have their own organizations and practice essentially sexism, but when it comes to boys, they cannot have their own organizations. What i found interesting in another thread on this topic is that the Girl Scout representative stated that research shows that girls do better in an all female environment, and no one argues with it. But when the same research shows the same thing with boys, that they learn better in an all male environment, the research is disregarded, and attempts to show it as inconclusive or not thorough enough.

It sets a bad precedent, and once the floodgates are open, every thing breaks loose. We had some long time Scouters (husband and wife duo) with health issues bring their RV to man camporee. Worked OK for a year or two, then things busted loose. Had to state no RVs. We had a family bring their RV to a weekend Webeloree. Excuse was that Mom was pregnant and they needed the RV. Had to state no RVs. Not an RV but golf carts. We got one troop that has elderly leaders with health issues. They drive everywhere in the golfcart at camporee now. Going to get interesting this year.

When I was a DL, I used my sons' books in conjunction with the Pack and Den meeting Guide (or whatever it was called), as a way to plan and organize my meetings. I also used the books in conjunction with planning Cub Scout day camp. As for reading aloud at meetings, no, it didn't happen. I may have assigned some sections to read at home. But never forced it. One son didn't read the books much. One son devoured the books. Current Cub is mixed. Areas he is interested in he reads. Other areas he doesn't

Why do I think it was deliberately mislaid? It seems as if folks at national, and a lot of pro at the time, didn't like Bill for telling htem in advance the ISS program would not work, and then coming back in from retirement to fix Scouting.