MattHiggins

I never meant to sound like I was being rude, I really just wanted to understand how its so easy. I find myself in such confict with this situation. I came here for advice, i would never be rude to someone trying to help, i hope that clears it up a bit.

I didn't read any of your posts as rude or even close to lashing out. I think it's just a case of this type of communication failing to include tone

We also did this with the Webelos Activity pins so scouts didn't have to wait so long. The parents got in the habit of arriving 10 minutes early before the end of the meeting so they could watch their son get awarded the pins. We still brought the scouts up front and at the pack meeting to present their cards to them in front of the whole pack. 

 

Barry

That's not a bad solution. I am still waiting until pack meetings, but I'm keeping an open mind to presenting awards at den meetings.

Or maybe I should have said, just keep asking until you find someone that will give you the answer you want to hear.

I admit that I'm not really sure what your point is.

I do appreciate your passion for the program and think we're on the same page--if you're going to do it, do it right.

I asked this question because I wanted to know the official policy. I was worried about my uniform, not anyone else's. When I was confident I got the right answer, off came my parent pin for my son's Light of Christ award. I wanted to get it right on my uniform because I want to lead by example. There were plenty of people here who had the go ahead and wear it opinion. The pin is still off even though I got the answer I rather hear.

I just wanted the official ruling  . . .  the opinions just came out anyway

Not trying to be all holier than though (no matter what it's going to come off that way), but it's too bad a photo of some Scouts got shared and picked to pieces down to the merits of an Eagle Scout project. Publically judging a project postmortem seems to set a worse example than wearing jeans with a uniform shirt. I don't think anyone here is a bad guy, but just sayin'.

And as for the jeans issue: I would love it if the Cub Scouts in our pack wore the official pants or shorts. I can't see it happening--ever. As Cubmaster, I wear the full uniform and make an effort to get it right--right down to patch placement and specific positioning and no extra patches on my red jacket. I started this thread because I wanted to make sure I had something right. My son wears the official shorts or pants with his uniform. I'm fairly confident he's the only one. He loves it. I choose to lead by example and answer questions as they come up. I don't make a big deal out of the uniform and I certainly don't say boo when a kid shows up in jeans.

By now, if you're a Cub leader, you have gotten your feet wet in the new program.

I personally like the new program. As far as the activities, thus far, what have you liked and what have you not liked so much?

How are your boys progressing?

What have you done for the activities? For example, for the Bear Cub requirement to build a herb or vegetable garden, we built mini farms in shoebox sized plastic containers. Each box had three fields (one empty) and the kids added personal touches. This was in lieu the typical seed in a cup because the boys have done this in school a few times. I won't you with all of the details, but as part of the related requirement on compost, I passed around mason jars with compost in different stages. Plus one full of goat manure.

I guess my overall question is twofold. At this stage in the new program: 1) How are you liking it? 2) I'm curious what others have done so far. How have you made it fun and interesting for them?

. . . He has visited a vacation place with his family and wants to give me the little souvenir pin . . .

 

There's no way I will NOT wear that pin on my uniform and the guidelines and you sticklers for 'form' can take a flying jump at a rolling doughnut if you don't like it.

I agree 100%. I'd do exactly the same and imagine the vast majority of leaders would too. Eventually, the pin would come off.

It's still worth knowing the correct way to wear the uniform. I have no interest in being the uniform police, I just wanted to know for me. The BSA materials can be both informative and highly frustrating. Quite often sections don't have complete answers and more information is found elsewhere. 

Age appropriate and separate accommodations for adults and Scouts required.

 

• Tenting

  When camping, no one is permitted to sleep with a person of the opposite sex or an adult other than his or her own spouse, parent, or guardian. Assigning youth members more than two years apart in age to sleep in the same tent should be avoided unless the youth are relatives.

 

As you may recognize, that is from Guide to Safe Scouting. It isn't found under camping, but under "Scouting's Barriers to Abuse."

We have a Webelos campout coming up. It's a single night event, but we want to give them more experience than they get at our pack campout, which is technically camping but we eat in a lit pavilion, have the food basically catered, sleep in tents in a field, have a fire started and maintained for us my a local troop and don't get any real outdoors experience. A lot of our kids that crossover get camping-culture shock on their first Boy Scout campout even if they guest-camped with a troop as Webelos. I'm sure it's a familiar story.

So, I gently pushed our Webelos and AOL leaders to schedule a campout. Then a local troop gives us this brand new large cabin-style tent. It's huge, heavy and I'm guessing they had no use for it as they don't have a pack mule. Based on the Guide to Safe Scouting, adults and Cubs can't sleep in it together even if adult leadership was always two deep, which means I'd have to have at least three adults in there. I'm fine with that, but if I'm reading this correctly, we could have multiple Webelos sleep in the tent.

On one hand the BSA promotes more independence at the Webelos level, but states when camping that "In most cases, the Webelos Scout will be under the supervision of his parent or guardian." In the cases where a parent isn't there, what are the sleeping arrangements? The BSA recognizes that there won't always be a parent present, but states adults and youth get separate accommodations when using tents. So, I believe that the big cabin tent can be used as long as only Webelos are in it. Is this correct?

When I was a Scout, about once a year, our troop used a huge canvas wall tent that literally held a couple dozen people easily. Unless, I'm missing something that wouldn't fly under today's requirements.

See, I'm new here and to me with my background CCD is 'charge-coupled device'. What is CCD?

I now stand corrected and you have now read the Holy Writ. Feel better?

I know I sure do.

This topic comes up weekly with me--especially in the fall and spring. Sports is the number one priority. For the all of the dedication of time and money, you'd think every kid was a sure thing future Olympian or pro.

My son does baseball and CCD, in addition to Scouts. He, of course, is not alone. Around here, sports comes before anything--including school and church. I was pleased to see at least two other kids, along with my son, left today's baseball (8 and 9 year olds) early to make it to CCD. All were dusty, dirty messes, but they made it.

It's the value we put on things and how we rank them as priorities that amazes me. I really have no idea what my son will get out of baseball, but I know for certain Scouts will have a profoundly positive impact on him for life.

Matt,

If you're referring to a mentor pin, there is no place for it on a uniform.  If you're referring to a religious emblem from your youth, you're welcome to wear it over the left pocket when the occasion calls for it.  With the exception of those mentioned by Eagle94, pins are meant for civilian wear only.

I'm referring to three pins specifically and just pins in general.

When my son earned Light of Christ, I was offered to buy a small oval "parent pin." I got it. To not wear it on my uniform seems silly to me.

Another is also called a parent pin, but is the rank specific one sold via the Scout store.

The third was the small council pin that was given to us at training. It's not specific to training and just a memento type thing.

Thanks for all of the replies and the welcome.

No really needs to take a deep breath on this one. I appreciate the sentiment that there are bigger issues, but we won't have one less hike or teach one less skill because I want to know the answer on this. As a Cubmaster, I want to get it right. The instructor had good intentions and a good point--as a trainer, I just be setting a good example. Same goes for being a leader, in my opinion.

I just want to know where--if anywhere--on my uniform I can put a pin like my parent's religious award pin?

I had an interesting question come into play yesterday when taking The Scouter's EDGE training. While getting feedback on my presentation, an instructor reminded us to be careful about proper uniforming--something I fully agree with.

I did have a recruiter patch on, which is completely wrong. While I personally think it should apply to adults as well as youth, it does not, so it's off. It was a rather short-lived patch as it was sewed on two days before. But he was right that adults "can't" wear it. That's straightforward and I have no questions there. He was right, I was wrong.

My question has to do with pins. Early in the training we did an exercise and the trainers gave us these small council pins. My fellow trainees put them on their uniform left breast pocket flap. I eventually followed suit. Interestingly he pointed out that too as a uniform faux pas. I imagine he is correct (but giving out the pins seems silly), but what is the official ruling on pins such as this and pins such as parent rank pins and parent religious award pins? These pins seem pointless if there isn't a place to wear them.

My uniform is rather plain, I am not looking to decorate for the sake of decorating. I do not begrudge heavily adorned uniforms as they are usually a reflection of almost countless hours volunteered and a wealth of information. 

As far as Cub Scouts, as a Cubmaster, I'd never want to lose the female leaders we have. Many are good friends and just about all are great leaders. The vast majority are working moms and they still volunteer at a greater rate than the dads. What I would love is to see is the Cub Scout program go coed. Plenty of girls in our community wouldn't instantly join.