Eagle94-A1

I think the trip without adults went up until 1972. Give me a few to verify. I am really surprised BSA is working with the Duke of Edinburgh program since it requires a trip without adults.

Actually the #1 selling item at jamboree, the one they could not keep in stock in the trading post, was solar showers. i could see my middle son, the entrepreneur, renting out a solar shower for 15 minutes. This is the guy who sold a "poncho" a garbage bag with holes in it, for a dollar at summer camp one year.

In my neck of the woods, none of the Scouts, at least until they reach Life and work on their projects, and very few Scouters know you need to fill out paperwork. Even then either the paperwork gets lost by council, doesn't get approved until after the event occurs, or as is the case with my old troop, the council wants 10% of the profits as a "FOS donation." Many just stopped filling out paperwork as a result.

It was a regular part of our program too. usually after several months in the troop, when we knew they could take care of themselves, and at summer camp. in a controlled environment.

Playing Devil's Advocate. The council may have a legitimate reason for not allowing the fundraiser. If they accept United Way or other 3rd party funding, they may not be allowed to any fundraiser during a certain time period, to include all suborganizations like troops, ships, packs, and crews. The council may also be planning to ask for a large donation from a donor in the community. I know my council was getting ready to ask a donor for money to buy canoes and kayaks for a new sea base program. A local troop went ahead and asked the donor directly for the money, and got it for themselves instead. Now onto my experience One troop I was with went through the formality of filling out the paperwork to do a fundraiser and was denied because the council wanted a"FOS contribution" of 10% . This after overcharging the unit for popcorn. (an aside, unit lost money on popcorn). Long story short, the fundraiser became the CO's fundraiser with proceeds benefiting the CO's Scouting units. The units sell the tickets for the CO, and provide the manpower for it.

Sadly people would say it is hazing. Closest thing on this side of the pond was Snipe Hunting. And it is banned. Personally I saw it as right of passage and one of acceptance, if done correctly.

Sadly, National does not think the Scouts can handle it. Discipline is there realm of adults according to national. And I don't think some Scouts could handle it. I remember the time when Scouts conducted BORs per national policy. My troop did it, and no problems. Talking to peers, one peer's troop didn't do it at all. Another stated that it didn't work and described his negative experiences with the Scouts running his BOR. Considering he is a know it all and never wrong, he does not take well when folks try to talk and work with him.

Awards or ranks? Ranks, whether the patch or pin, are for youth and not to be worn as adults. Now some youth ranks: Eagle Scout, Sea Scout Quartermaster, Cub Scout Arrow of Light, Venturing Silver/Summit, and some discontinued older Explorer ranks, do have knots that represent the rank that adults do wear on their uniforms. And for Eagle, Quartermaster, Silver/Summit, and the older awards with medals, those are worn on special occasions. As to awards, I do have some of the awards on uniforms because i can still wear them. But most of them ar eframed on wall.

Strongly discourage waiting, especially when they are chomping at the bit to join Scouts BSA. Youngest made the choice to wait 2 months to Cross Over when his den did. However he was "visiting" the troop for 2 months before joining. He even did his fair share of fundraising.with the troop as a Webelos. Forgot to add, while having fun and learning stuff during those 2 months, none of it counted towards advancement. Which is not a big deal for him or me.

National said no hot water ANYWHERE at the Summit. So I assume that includes training center. Hopefully that has changed.

I am originally from New Orleans, and one guy for a NSJ made Tabasco hat pins. He hot glued a safety pin the micro bottles with 1 once. VERY POPULAR. I made woggles, and traded like crazy.

Unless things have changed, those going will be surprised that there is no hot water at the Summit. When The Summit announced that they will only have "ambient temperature" showers, I said it would be mistake when it came time for winter training ans sessions.

On facebook there were comments about the lack of outdoors experiences in this "Wood Badge" course, and many people have no issue with no camping and outdoor skills being used for the course. In fact some folks were praising the lack of outdoors since it would open it up for those volunteers who do not like camping.

Note that it is not conducted outdoors, but entirely inside.

NO, especially at the Cub Scout level. At the Scout level, some people would call putting a rank requirement to attend and a mandatory prep trip an "Invitation Only" event. But in reality it is a way of making a trip more successful for those attending. Trust me, there is a reason why First Class Rank is required for HA activities.

Actually no it is not up to the DE. OA policy states what you asked is possible. Now the SM can decide to put his name on the ballot or not.

Here is the application: https://filestore.scouting.org/filestore/pdf/33748.pdf You are correct.

Troop elections, or unit elections as they are now called do have a set of procedures mandated by National OA. Do not have the updated 2019 policy posted online yet, but here is the 2017 policy and it is not safeguarded. Pages 13-15 of the document has the exact procedure. https://oa-bsa.org/uploads/publications/GuideToUnitElections2017.pdf Regarding can you use part of the nights at Summer camp towards the 15 days, here it is in the Q and A section (page 17 of the document) I posted above 8. My team attends summer camp for five days and four nights. Can that count towards the camping requirement? A. The camping requirement for long-term camps is a minimum of five nights, so three nights of this could be counted as a short-term camp. (italics for quotation) SO 3 of the 5 nights of summer camp can count as short term camping.

Mixed emotions on this one. I am all for working with special needs Scouts. I have done so in the past, and will be spending a week with one in the near future.They can be challenging to work with, but also very rewarding. BUT They can be too challenging too challenging for staff. One Cub at my CSDC needed someone with him all the time because he was indeed that challenging. Thank goodness his grandfather was with him the entire time to help out. Otherwise he would have been asked to leave and not come back the rest of the week. While the RSO could have handled it better, I think he made the right decision. If he thought he could not handle that Scout on the range, he has every right to limit access. The RSO's concern is with EVERYONE on the range, not just one individual. I had restricted access to the range one time with the special needs Scout one time. Grandfather had to leave the area for a few minutes to take care of personal business. Grandfather had not showed up when it was the Cubs turn to shoot, and I did not have enough staff for one-on-one with him. Now, once his grandfather returned, he did get a chance to shoot. I also knew the situation prior to running the range, so it wasn't a surprise.

Regarding First Year Camper programs, my council was spoiled for a long time. We had a retired Marine running our program. Firm, demanding, but fair. You having problems with something and needed extra help learning, he was there for you. Scouts who went through him learned something. I thought all FYC programs were like his. I was wrong. I have seen some great ones, some good ones, some not so good ones, and some pathetic ones over the years. I t depends upon the staff. You need phenomenal staff to run the FYC program because IMHO, it is the most important one. It is the program with the most impact, and has the possibility of either making or breaking Scout's interest in the program. @ItsBrian has a heavy burden as FYC staff to maintain.

I no longer recommend Cooking summer camp it will be a partial. They need to do cooking at home in addition to at camp. Plus it is a waste of food if you are not eating it.

I HATE THAT SUMMER CAMP IS TURNING INTO A MB MILL! (Emphasis, ok maybe a little shouting in anger at this occurring ; ) All jokes aside, summer camp needs to be fun. All electives is fine. Heck taking a MB twice, if it isn't in demand, is fine. The new Scout has plenty of time to work on required MBs. But if you are adamant on Eagle required MBs, First Aid and Swimming are the ones I recommend.

Burn bans in my neck of the woods is no fires period, not even in rings. The Dakota fire pit or fireplace is designed for windy dry that could cause prairie or wildfires. When I was taught it, the Aussie told me that down under, it was the only type of wood fire permitted when they had burn bans.

Agree with campfires and songs/skits. Problem is there are so many rules as to what can be done, folks are losing interest fast. As for cooking, that is a challenge. Burn bans are lousy. Crazy thing is, there is a type of fire designed for these conditions, it's just not LNT friendly. But I am afraid that some folks will want a continuation of GSUSA. Heck they have "Journeys" and we have "Adventures" because we are using the same sets of education experts.

One of the things new Scouters with female troops, especially former GSUSA or duel enrolled GSUSA leaders, is that THE BSA AND GSUSA HAVE MAJOR DIFFERENCES IN HOW THEY OPERATE AND DO THINGS! (emphasis). My biggest fear is that female Scouts BSA troops will have adults with only GSUSA experience, and try to use that model when running a Scouts BSA troop. Recruiting is vital is you want to succeed