vumbi

We were on a troop outing in Tennessee. By chance there was another troop doing a similar outing and we were camped within an easy walk from one to the other. So after the first day, another adult leader and I dropped over to the other troop to say hello. It was a Muslim troop. They were the quietest, best-behaved troop I've ever seen and and the boys took scouting very seriously from what I could see. At first the leaders acted as if we were going to interrogate them or something but when it was clear that we just wanted exchange greetings and friendship they opened up and welcomed us.

TAHAWK, he didn't say the SE 'authorized' anything, just that the SE didn't care. I wouldn't either. Worrying about infractions at this level would border on insanity. But this topic caused me to wonder...has anyone tried embroidering the knots directly onto the uniform? These days it wouldn't be that hard, you'd just have to have one knot design and then multiple thread colors. Just wondering.

A little swearing humor: I was in a meeting of mixed gender members when one of my fellow male committee members let the 'F'-bomb slip. The woman sitting directly across from him took offense and even I winced when I heard the bone-splintering kick she delivered to him as she informed him that, "There are two words I simply will not tolerate and that is one of them". His reply with a painful expression: "Does the other one start with a 'C'?" We waited until after the meeting adjourned to start the laughter.

We had one adult leader who let them get under his skin and he unloaded on them with profanity. Those were his last words to be spoken as an adult leader in this unit.

Desertrat77, I guess I had it pretty good by comparison. As the first Eagle ever for my unit, no one had any better idea than I did about what it was all about. My COH consisted of two minutes of recognition in church one Sunday, lol. We've come a long, long way from that too!

Beavah, I'm glad things have gone so well for you. I asked the boys on our outing today if they'd ever heard of the church of the FSM? Not a single one. I'm guessing it must be regional or something. Anecdotes only cut one way when producing a result that is destructive. And just as I agree with you that parody of others' beliefs is not value-neutral, I also maintain that questioning someone about their beliefs isn't either. And the questioner doesn't get to decide whether or not the question is welcomed or causes hurt - the boy being questioned does. I wish you the best of success in the

When I earned Eagle decades ago, I had no idea that there were people who were so critical, mean even, about Eagle. I hope the boys who earn Eagle these days are just as unaware of it as I was.

Reference to Heinlein...nice.

The last time I observed this kind of inquiry was a boy whose faith was not well-defined and one member of the board did what Beavah claimed he'd do. The board member questioned the boy about a faith for which the board member had no knowledge and it was taken by the boy as an attack on the boy's faith. The snide way the inquiry was presented made me feel the same way about it. The boy, being outnumbered by the board reacted quickly, defensively, and I could see he was upset by having his faith questioned by someone who didn't share it. This is a good example of why this requirement is flawed

I've seen the 'conversation' this requirement starts end up being more of an inquisition. As a leader I basically can't say anything either and I've left the EBOR feeling as betrayed as the scout who got raked over the coals as a result.

The truth that is expressed by KDD and Stosh is a clear a statement as can be found that BSA should not poke its nose into matters of personal faith. Yes, the parent can write the letter and/or act as the reference. You can do almost anything you want and 'pass' this so-called 'requirement' which does what to its importance? It makes the requirement empty of any kind of real meaning and it doesn't matter if the boy is deeply religious, the meaning of his faith, to him, is personal and obviously not enhanced or affected in any way by some requirement by BSA. But it does give those who want to

Am I the only one who thinks that 9pm is kind of late for a planning meeting?

What jpstodwftexas said: yes.

The 'meaning' of eagle is probably unique to each recipient. I'm not sure anyone can characterize the 'meaning' for all recipients as a group. Best to just award the rank when they meet the requirements and let the individuals sort it out for themselves. After all (witness this discussion) that's what's likely to happen anyway.

Excellence on the trail. Sets goals and achieves them. Is a mensch.

Post hole diggers will do the job. However, like others have said, it really depends on where you are. Around here poor land management caused nearly all of the top soil to be lost over 100 years ago. All that's left is a shallow layer of leaf litter and a little organic soil and a whole lot of B horizon or even worse. You'd have to go to a nature preserve to find something that approximates what was here prior to when the Europeans swarmed over the continent.

Well you had me in another April first thing for a few moments. I thought you were about to announce a patch that I've never heard of, lol. Rhode Island would just about be out of luck! And District of Columbia, probably shaped like what, a dollar bill?

From the start in Ga through the Blood Mountain segment is a pretty good starter. The stretch up through Albert Mtn. is spectacular and plenty of access to water off to the sides. Outside of winter, I'd just avoid GSMNP alltogether. Way too crowded. Actually, even though it's spectacular, it's so messed up most places I'd just hike it again for the record and not for the enjoyment. Up around Blacksburg, Va is a really nice stretch and on into Shenandoah...just lovely. But coming from KANSAS!!! Holy smokes I have a tough time imagining what kind of prep that would require. For you I recommen

Mammoth Cave is worth a day. Land Between the Lakes is good too.

I will 'bend' my vow not to enter this cesspool in order to respond to a couple of comments on education. Actually, I rub shoulders with both of these kinds institutions (see avatar) and there is quite a growing interest in doing what Stosh, you say you doubt. One local 4-year state college is constructing new buildings just to house the 'bridge' students coming in from the tech schools. It seems to be a good working partnership and a very rapidly growing one. As for that 'of color' comment by Krampus, the tech schools are quite open to all persons and in this area they are represented

We frequently do segment hikes and backpacks. Many are short enough to do in one day. A couple of segments can be a great overnight. It depends a lot on where you are. If you're in the extreme northern end, it can get pretty rough. The Nantahalas can be a challenge for some boys as well. Where are you located? Our plan usually includes at least two vehicles, one for the troop and one for the shuttle. This means more than two leaders or else someone has to meet us at the takeout to drive back to the start. You can figure this out the best way that works for your group. The rest is just basi

I frequently visit a place that has an annual 'burn' and the locals swear it's a naturally-occurring event. That one also seems to start on the other side of the ridge, rage through the high dry grass and then tops the ridge and works its way down the other side INTO the wind. I think the flame front is just so hot that it keeps igniting even the smallest wisps of fuel. The bare rocks remain bare but everything in its path is burned. And then it burns into the forest a short distance and stops...after expanding the area that will be regrown in grass for the next burn. I'm working on a way to r

A dead thing, that is a GREAT idea. You can also watch all the different kinds of insects that help recycle the carcass. The insects will be the first to arrive. They'll enter the nose, eyes, ears, wounds, and anus. For me the thought causes a little 'pucker factor' if you get my drift. On a similar note, you can do the same thing with an animal (for want of another term) turd (meadow muffin?). For either the carcass or 'that other thing', the boy can take a photo of it from the same angle every hour (in the case of that other thing) or every day in the case of the carcass and make a recor

One birdhouse is unlikely to have more than one species of bird to use it in a season. I'd go with the feeding station. It will be used by everything that eats that food once it's been discovered. But don't waste your time putting it in the middle of the front yard or next to a street. It needs to be in a place where birds would tend not to encounter threats or else they might avoid it. We have one just off the back porch and this morning we had at least 6 species coming through. I wouldn't count a zero as having learned much of anything about nature.