Eagle94-A1

I've not waded into this discussion because of mixed feelings on it. But my $.02 worth. Growing up, my troop was a "full uniform" troop. We didn't expect folks to cough up the money right away, be we did expect the uniform. We did allow some non-BSA items in lieu of official stuff. Some examples of that would be dark socks instead of official socks IF worn with long pants, and the local surplus store had pants in the exact same shade of green except without the cargo pockets. In fact, if you looked at Gen II ODL pants and the surplus pants, only the BSA snaps are different. When we sh

I didn't come up with the idea of random chance, the PLC came up with it. Another ASM came up with an idea to refine it, specifically putting each patrol in their own cup and pulling out instead of everyone in one cup and drawing, and that is what the PLC decided. I agree with you, I would have liked to see how the Scouts themselves would come up with patrols.

Tells me more about the troop than anything. If folks are getting Eagle and leaving, there's a problem with program. I've been fortunate, most of the troops I've been with had folks staying on after getting Eagle as best as they could. College. military service, jobs, etc can put a damper on things. But ifyou have an active program, they will stay.

On a different note, when I did my project, it was one page. I needed the SM's signature, beneficiary's signature, and the DAC's signature. That was it.

@Richard_B, Correct me if I'm wrong, but I thought you and others (I questioned these rules to my SE and he looked in and replied to me) stated the following: 1) Some units work with other non-profits to do service projects, Habitat for Humanity was mentioned by someone, that DOES use the DOL laws in conducting service projects, that was one reason for implementing DOL rules for a VOLUNTEER ( emphasis) organization. 2) Since BSA does employ under 18 year olds at their day camps and summer camps, CONSISTANCY (emphasis) needed to be applied across the board. Personally I thin

Regarding me suggesting things and the Scouts following. That is what I'm most scared off. I want them to think for themselves. I want them to try something new, fail, and learn from it. I don't want them just coming up to adults and doing exactly what they are told to do, nor listening to ideas the adults give out and following exactly the suggested idea. In the past, that is exactly what has been done. On the opposite side, the Scouts have only seen things done one way. They sometimes cannot think outside fo the way they were shown. Even at the PLC, someone mentioned doing age specific p

Troop guide wants a break. BIG TIME. Funny thing is, I saw the list of scouts in the patrols and the "older Scout" has a good chance of being SPL again. The other older scout hasn't been seen in 3 months. Long story short, I have a feeling HE will be the "older Scout" in his patrol

The more I deal with the troop I'm currently in, the more respect my old SM gets, and trust me I got him on a pedestal already . I think a lot of the challenges the troop is facing IS because the adults are meddling into things, helping them out too much, and not letting them struggle some. Scouting is suppose to be a place where kids can screw up royally in a safe environment and learn form their mistakes. Adults need to step away and let them struggle, intervening only when needed. I've compared the situation I feel I am in as being on a tight-wire on a ropes course without the belaying ge

We have 3 patrols currently, and will keep 3 after the switch over. I think some "horse trading" regarding keeping toxic combinations apart dealt with friends. While they may not be with their best buddy, they do have friends together. I've been doing a lot of thinking on the matter.I was with the PLC when they made the decision. I was not around when the new patrols were selected.Talking to the son, he said he thinks the adults pulled the names out of the cups and not the SPL. If that's the case, I'm having some concerns. 1) Even if the selection went without a hitch and done exactly as

II think the ASM announcing the new patrols, was overstepping. Especially without explaining why. Again when we talked to the older guys to come up with ways to get the situation resolved because of the massive influx headed our way. Yes they had concerns, but that potential is a massive thing to be concerned about. Going off on a tangent and slipstreaming some. What are some ideas you guys have to make the switch more palatable for the older Scouts? We got one, some special activities for them based upon their skill levels. One that I want to do, and was shocked that it was

That is something I'm afraid of. Why I and other leaders have talked to the older Scouts about the situation and have just about begged them to come up with ideas to solve it besides going mixed aged. One thing that the older guys are holding on to, and one that we adults need to keep faith with, is allowing them to do some separate activities, i.e. backpacking trip while the rest are hiking, doing a more difficult train at a place that has multiple trails, etc. The Scouts decided the process: picking out of cups. I admit, I would have liked to have the older Scouts decide who to bud

I hope so too.The troop has lost some potential Scouts because of the "disorganization" of the NSP. Doesn't matter that A) Scouting is organized chaos and B) only the NSP is having issues. Folks see the NSP and it's an issue. Plus we have several Scouts frustrated with the situation. As for friends being together, more on that in a bit. That was rather interesting at the PLC. When one person commented on he and his buddy becoming a toxic situation when together, he protested a bit. SPL basically said, think about it, do you and (your buddy) goof off too much, and cause problems w

So the PLC had a lengthy meeting last night. After doing all the pros and cons on NSPs versus Mixed Aged, they decided on Mixed Aged patrol effective Monday May 2nd. Once that was decided, they had to decided how to organize the new patrols. That got interesting. First thing they came up with was who NOT to put together. The Scouts knew which combinations of Scouts would be toxic. Apparently part of the NSP's problem is all the toxic combinations are in the same patrol. Once that was decided came the actual deciding. One suggestion was lining up by size. Another was a single line and "1,

Interesting. I haven't had the time, nor the WB beads, to staff the local NYLT, but my understanding was that regional/national could yank approval if you didn't do it their way. personally, I'd like to see some of the BA22 traditions come back, i.e. plain uniform with only CSP, numbers 22, and your patrol emblem, awarding smokey bears upon completion, etc.

It happens even within the same district. One DAC thinks a project is good enough to be use, but another DAC later on doesn't think it's good enough. That happened to a friend of mine. DAC during the approval process thought making portable training obstacles for the local search and rescue team's dogs was a great idea. When he goes for his EBOR, the current DAC expresses how he didn't think it was good enough for an Eagle project, and he would not have approved it. But since it was approved and completed, there was nothing he could do about it.

I know Green Bar Bill was listed as an Eagle Scout, don't know if it's honorary, or if he got it pre-adult ban. But he was a Knisght Scout in Denmark.

Yes, national doesn't want any changes of the NYLT: no more calling the course Brownsea, Golden Acorn, or any other name used in the past or locally. Nothing is to be added to or taken away from the program. And If I'm not mistaken NYLT course directors also need to attend training on par with WB course director at the regional/national level. As for beads and other bling not being a big deal, it can be. I've done uniform inspections for camporees in the past. I've seen some unauthorized bling on NYLT grads, and when I point out that it's not authorized and I will need to take off points,

I hate to say it, but I have found the last BSHB, "the recommended literature," severely wanting in regard to IOLS skills. It was so bad, I had to create a booklet from older BSA literature to supplement what the handbook had. So what is right, using the current BSA information that is inadequate or incorrect, or adding to the course by providing additional material from older BSA sources? Unfortunately being a leader in the BSA is not a "science" in the classical sense of the word, but rather an "art." One size does not fit all, and you need to adapt to the situation in order to provi

I need to play Devil's Advocate because I'm in a situation where I cannot communicate with someone directly, and must use intermediaries. It's not being cowardly, at least on my part, but rather trying to use my resources, specifically someone who the person WILL listen to. The individual has a negative bias towards me as I "betrayed" him and the troop by letting my son choose a different troop that led to his buddies eventually joining. No amount of talking, emailing, begging, NOTHING will get him to reply to any communications. At the camp out 2 weeks ago, we were in the same campsite, a

Every lodge is different, every chapter is different, and the type of leadership does help. My chapter is very active. We run the trading post at multiple events at the local camp. over the past 10 years, Approx. $12K was given back to the camp in the form or equipment, and "maintenance." The little remaining goes towards a campership each year. I'm estimating $2,700 over the past 10 years. One of the issues we have is nationals new NCAP that has a "one size fits all" approach. New construction at camps need to use specific designs so that all BSA camps will look identical, and keep t

The way we did it was teach a class or two on the topic prior to the campout, depended upon the when we did it. (More years doing it, more time we prepped). At the camp out, we spend the morning building shelters. We did patrol shelters, but a few folks did individual ones. Afternoon was pioneering games ( which is apparently another no-no from national now). Eventually we added utensilless cooking. Although the first time we did it was aluminum cooking.

UPDATE. Well it's going to get interesting. WDL will be stepping down June 1 to become Tiger DL with younger son. They are trying to talk my wife into becoming DL since she is the ADL. Wife is considering it. Actually she is being "voluntold" to do it, especially since it's only 6 months we are talking about. Anyway, wife knows how Webelos-to-Scout transitions go. She was involved with another troop when we were in MS. So she plans on making calls to visit every troop in the area. She will be contacting the CO's troop first, and try to get a visit and camp out with them. But everyone w

I'd include Webelos for Wilderness Survival, but do go easy on them. . #1 It can help them meet CASTAWAY ADVENTURE.(caps emphasis) #2 WILDERNESS SURVIVAL IS THE BEST RECRUITING TOOL I HAVE EVER ENCOUNTERED IN 30+ YEARS IN SCOUTING! ( caps emphasis, OK maybe a little shouting at the top of my longs to show enthusiasm ) Seriously, my a fluke my troop did a wilderness survival camp out, and everyone loved it. First time around, we had to improvise heavily as we found out the nite before our gear was destroyed or damaged, but we kept on doing it year after year. I've suggested it to no o

Camping of any sort was not required in order to earn Eagle from 1972-1979. Pages 79 - 91 of the 1972 handbook shows the requirements, and Camping Skill Award nor Camping MB is required. Tenderfoot required Citizenship Skill Award, an elective Skill Award, and 1 MB Second Class required 3 additional Skill Awards, and 2 MBs. First Class required 3 additional Skill Awards and 2 MBs. That for a total of 5 MBs which 2 had to be Cit Com and First Aid. Star Required a Scout to have total of 9 MBs which an additional 2 had to be Eagle Required. Life required 15 total MBs with7 Eagle requ

If Backpacking is limited to 14+, then my troop is in trouble. Troop is doing a 50 miler on the AT instead of Philmont due to leadership issues. We couldn't get enough leaders to go to Philmont this year. But we now have an ASM heading up the AT trek only because his 12 year old can do the AT, but not Philmont. 12 year old is looking forward to redoing that section of the AT again. It's been 3 years since he did it. EDITED: Just noticed that Wilderness and Backcountry is limited to 14+. Where are we suppose to go camping, only at Scout camps? Why do I think the folks who wrote th