Eagle94-A1

Glad someone is intervening. Sad thing is, it looked as if a bunch of folks were happy to see it online and wanted to do it like that.. That scares me because BALOO and ItOLS are just that: introduction/orientation courses. I've seen Scouters who have taken those courses still have challenges on various skills. I want my Scouts to take care of themselves, not us old fogeys.

I guess they can do it in their backyard.

As I stated, it was in the original Late March/early April COVID-19 FAQ. When this training was first posted on the Boy Scout Volunteers Facebook Group, many people provided links and screen captures of the prohibition. Further your council was addressed in some of those posts that National did not allow. But as you noted, the Updated 4-13-2020 COVID-19 FAQ no longer lists that prohibition. Further the original post on the Boy Scout Volunteers Facebook Group, as well as all the commentary, links and screen captures of the prohibition have been removed. In fact in the quick online search I have done, no prohibition can now be found. So I guess the National Training Committee now approves of online outdoor training. An aside, why do I feel National BSA is turning into 1984's Ministry of Truth. First ignoring the Eagle Palm survey they did. Then stating dodgeball has never been an approved activity, when it was a recommended game in Scoutmaster and troop planning resources from as early as 1929 up until the prohibition was enacted, (and yes National was asked repeatedly to remove the incorrect FAQ response, even after showing the it was indeed an approved game USING A SCREEN CAPTURE FROM SCOUTING.ORG WEBSITE, [emphasis). Now the online outdoor training.

INTERESTING. The updated COVID-19 FAQ removed the prohibition on online BALOO and IOLS, but kept the prohibition on online WFA. I wonder why they kept the physical WFA class, bunt allow online outdoor training classes? I also found it interesting that the post on Boy Scout Volunteers Facebok page also is not longer able to be found. EDITED: looks like I am going to have to print out BSA publications again.

With all due respect, either the person responding has not read the posts on Facebook that link to national's prohibition to online outdoor training, is ignoring the posts with the link, or is not following the first point of the Scout law. Give me a day to find the document.

Those list may not be written down, but they exist. One long time volunteer has been in semi-retirement visiting the grandkids a lot. He's been involved at the district, council, and at point national, level since the early 1960s. But he raised a lot of questions about things over the years, and has been on the unoffical list for years. He finally got the SIlver Beaver this yeart . Funny thing is, everyone thoughty he had it already.

My council is also doing a wait and see regarding a physical camp. however they are also promoting this What additional programming opportunities will be available? We are very excited to announce that we are putting together an all new program! We will be launching a Virtual Summer Camp that will offer some of the traditional summer camp badges from Camp $$$$$$ as well as new and exciting ones that this situation has allowed us to develop. This program is not a replacement for summer camp but rather a new addition. Scouts will have the opportunity to work on multiple badges that will even include materials that will be sent home. More information will be coming out over the next two weeks, but this program will take place in June. Scouts that are currently registered for summer camp or a virtual program will be given first access to register, followed by in-council units, and then nationwide. We are focusing on the quality and scope of the merit badges as we do not wish to cheapen the philosophy behind the merit badge program. Our class sizes will be limited so that students will get the same attention they would at camp. We are currently offering online merit badge courses leading up to a full summer camp program. We will begin offering weekday classes next week through May. We will also be having another Virtual Merit Badge Day on May 16th with morning and afternoon sessions. Our last session filled completely in 96 hours, with over 90% of registration occurring in the first 48. If you would like to become a volunteer merit badge instructor please email the Council’s Virtual MB Class Chair, $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$. None of my Scouts are real fans of online MB classes, except 1. And in all honesty he is being pushed by Mom to get Eagle, so the online classes are really a way to make her happy.

The reason why it is so large is that they combined 3 different sets of guidelines into 1 document. CSDC use to have a separate set of guidelines. Ditto BS resident camp and HA bases. I do not know about CS Resident camp as I was never involved with them. But National created "one book to rule them all, and in the darkness bind them." I actually staffed a camp that did not meet criteria, but was "conditionally accredited." They did not have a 2nd NCS certified person as PD because the PD had a family emergency at the last minute.

I like how they are using a Thai Scout association hat and necker.

What NCAP needs to do IMHO is the following: 1. Go back to 3 different standards: Day Camps, Resident Camps, and HA Bases. I know trying to implement stuff for resident camps and HA bases in my one week a year day camp was a major P.IT.B. Does a day camp really need an alumni association, trading post? 2. Get rid of the "one size fits all" aka "let's make all Scout camps look alike" aka "Scout Brand" for building and structures. Every camp is different, and every state has different standards. We currently have a campsite that is unusable because the NCAP standards will not allow us to rebuild the destroyed structures to their original dimensions. Also we have had some local contractors complain about NCAP guidelines because they are designed for built up camps and not primitive camps. If a simple structure is needed, they have to build it to national's standards, which add to the cost. Or in one case, completely ban building since what national wants built will not comply with local environmental standards.

I saw what happened when 1 Scout brought a GO bug to camp: Over 200 people infected and it lasted about 2 weeks. We were almost shut down.

Sadly, in my experience that is the exact opposite from what I am seeing. And adults are not helping with the matter either. I had a scout who took a MB class a 2nd time for fun. When another troop's SM found out about it, he said the Scout was wasting his time. I have seen too many Scouts just want the badge and don't care about anything else. I have had SMs upset with me because I would not give their Scouts MBs that they did not earn at summer camp and the 2 MB Colleges I taught at. I am told that is one reason why I have not been asked to teach the MB again, I give out partials.

I have not taught the new BALOO course yet; the one I was suppose to help teach was cancelled due to the pandemic. As stated above, to cut down on time in the field, some of the stuff that use to be done at camp, is now done online. Hopefully it is the planning and paperwork aspect. But the council I cited is doing BOTH ( emphasis) BALOO ( which now includes WeLOT) and ItOLS, which national does not want us combining, into a completely online course, which national has prohibited. Further If I understand the council correctly, you get certified for BALOO and ItOLS in 6 hours?!?!?!?!?

Sadly that is not the case everywhere. I was working with a group on Citizenship in the Nation MB. All of the Scouts had Civics in School. I also had a 5th grade Webelos with me, my son, who had a US History class that went over the Constitution as part of the class. NONE OF THE SCOUTS COULD DO THAT PART OF THE MB! (emphasis). The Webelos knew it well. When I asked the Scouts what they learned in school, they told me the teacher told them to use their laptops, and didn't really do anything.

Here's the deal, National has already stated online outdoor training is not allowed, yet A) they are jumping into it and B) People are ecstatic about it.

Apparently the Great Rivers Council has decided to do online outdoor training that covers BALOO, WeLOT ( which is now combined with BALOO) and ItOLS. This is too far.

Can I wear a black bull on my jacket if I take the tour?

Sadly, many at national, and in councils, view the movement as a job, and have little to no experience with the program. They know the program benefits the youth, but they can not fathom how. They do not realize the damage they are doing with their decisions because they are lacking knowledge.

If you are referring to some parents, oh yes some are that smart. Some parents will do anything for their Scout to receive a badge, and will attempt to use any and all policies and procedures to get their child the rank. These parents will see an small, temporary opening, a try to drive a M1A2 thought it with all guns blazing, taking out any adult who gets in their child's way. If you are referring to the folks at national, the majority have little to no experience in the program. Again out of the 5 full timers I worked with at a national Scout shop, I was the only one who had experience in the program, whether it was youth or adult.

This "temporary program" is the camel's nose under the tent flap.

I don't know about now since over half the workforce has been furloughed, but if my Scout Shop represented national as a whole, then out of the 5 full timers, 1 had experience with the program or 20% And those who should know how the program works have been away from the field for so long, they don't remember.

Sorry, no. Families are not surrogate patrols. Not only in my last troop, but in other troops throughout the years, I have seen parents try and take over signing stuff for their Scout. Newly crossed over Cub Scout parents are bad at it, but the worst are the former Cub Scout leaders. They are indoctrinated to be in charge as Cub Scout leaders, that they forget they have to let go as Scouters. Even I had difficulties at times I see a lot of Tenderfoot through First Class BORs in the future, and the Scouts will be clueless when it comes to the outdoors. I assume you are a big fan of FIRST CLASS: FIRST YEAR? You do know that the 1980s data that developed this plan is skewed right? First and foremost,. it was heavily influenced by LDS troops which kept their 11 years olds separate from everyone else. The other factor is that it did not take into how active troops were. The more active the troop is, the more Scouts want to stay in. I give you an example, with the exception of December and February, until COVID-19 came along, we camped every month. December is a service project and Christmas party, and February is Scouting for Food (2 weekends), Scout Sunday, and court of honor. Yet half the kids who have been a year or longer are Second Class or lower. They are staying because the program is fun. I want to add, I think this is setting a precedent that will cause issues in the future. I am willing to bet people wil want this to become the norm, not the exception.

Day camp.

My understanding is we have to allow it. What i find ironic is that they first stated camping requirements would not be altered, yhen the next thing they do is alter the requirements. Edited: INTERESTING. I went to the link posted, AND IT IS DIFFERENT THAN THE ONE I READ YESTERDAY MORNING! (emphasis) The one originally posted not only contradicted itself, but also did not post the exact requirements altered. And did anyone note that these modified requirements are in effect to August or September?

One of our folks is taking a correspondence NCS course. He got the work sent to him and is doing it from home. Forgot to add, he was suppose to go in March and it was cancelled at the last minute.