Back Pack

I’m not saying I want the name changes. I’m betting that folks cave in and make the name changes to be more inclusive. I think the next five years is going to test even the most patient person. We watched a speech from PGB1 the other day in class. I was stunned at how valid it was to stuff going on today. https://youtu.be/Y3IFbJQzDxo

If you guys start taking about hiking up hill both ways I’m leaving.

So does my dad. He’s not big on travel for travel’s sake. I guess it’s helpful but having taught it so many times its not that remarkable to me anymore. But I guess if folks are looking for an excuse to go to Philmont then this is as good as any.

Stupid system gave you a neg rep instead of positive. Meant +1.

Like I said if you already have the skills or experience it’s not worth it. Maybe older adults find it helpful.

Why? They can come and see whatever they want. That’s open. They can see what they want they just can’t interfere. And the Troop doesn’t pay for them to observe. There’s nothing wrong or closed about this. If they want to observe closer they can volunteer. It’s the same as at ordeal. Units and oa doesn’t pay for parents to observe and they don’t feed them or reimburse them for driving up to observe. They can follow the groups all day if they want but they can’t participate or intervene. So if you call council on my unit you’d have to call about oa ordeals too. Geesh.

This was me. My dad was Scoutmaster and I felt compelled to always be a leader. When I burned out my dad noticed it and he made me a jasm. He said I’d already done my tour of duty and deserved a break. As jasm I was able to still have a leadership role but relied upon the pls and SPL to run things. I’d step in in place of an ASM. That was the break I needed since I was no longer the person responsible for making kids behave. The plc also put in place disciplinary rules and enforced them. Using the scout sign we’d maintain order. If we had to talk to a scout they’d get one warning. A second time and they’d be sent home. The plc had the parents discuss these rules and back us in enforcing it. It took a while but eventually everyone confirmed. A few guys got sent home repeatedly or weren’t allowed on camp outs. My dad says we lost 3-4 Scouts because they wouldn’t conform to the rules. But we saved 5-10 guys who were really good Scouts who were going to leave so we figured the trade off was worth it. I would say to talk to your son like my dad did to me. Ask him what he wants to do and what would make Scouts more fun for him. He may need a break. He may just need a change of view.

The above post shows why scouting isn’t for boys anyone if it takes that long to explain things.

Can’t call it a brotherhood anymore. Can’t say Arrowmen. The concept of inducting braves into the ranks of the warriors is also gone.

Like I said if you already have the skills it’s redundant training. It’s the same overview you get when you’re at camp. I didn’t find it useful when you take in to account the cost versus the benefit. It’s not like the training is all that in depth or any more detailed than you get your first day. At best you get a taste of Philmont processss. You can replicate all of this locally quite easily. I was a ranger for two years and we built the same training for our troop.

My unit allows parents to observe but they do it on their own. Meaning they secure their own camp site, food, entrance fees, etc. They can observe but they can’t address the Scouts or otherwise interfere. Their sons would be embarrassed anyway if any of their non leader parents came. I agree that parents have no place in scouting unless they’re a leader.

Be expected? How can you volunteer a volunteer to run something not part of their charter?

Simple service projects. You need to break down who can use a post hole digger or a step stool. It gets ridiculous having to tell a 6ft 13 year old who lives on a farm he can’t climb higher than a step stool or use post hole digger. http://www.scouting.org/filestore/healthsafety/pdf/680-028.pdf

My dad went to the local one as well. Said it saved him the cost of going to Philmont. If you want it as a short get away then that’s cool. You’ll just day hike to a nearby camp, most likely something on the south range like Bachache Springs or something on the Rayado River valley. I found it redundant since I already knew the stuff, had seen the online videos and had already trained on these skills with my crew and didn’t want to spend a weekend doing something I already knew. When we did ranger training on my first Trek it was identical.

I did PASS with a few adults when I was a jasm. It’s essentially like the ranger training you get at Philmont. I didn’t find it worthwhile because it basically repeated the stuff on the Philmont YouTube channel about gear prep and usage. Since my troop was big on backpacking much of the training was redundant to what we already knew.

Most scouts won’t pay attention to what organization they’re doing a ceremony for. They’ll do it for the service hours and leave. Sounds like this bothers adults more. Kids simply won’t care.

Our team has traditional clothing and half don’t cover well enough to avoid exposing what girls don’t want exposed. I know the guys on our old team wouldn’t change. They’d quit before that.

I love my parents but the last thing I want is my parents or siblings on an outing with my troop. My dad was an ASM and a Scoutmaster but he stayed out of my hair. I saw him less than I saw the other adults and I appreciated that. It’s not wonder Scouting isn’t fun anymore and boys are dropping out. Who wants to spend a weekend with their family when they’re supposed to be spending it with their friends? I get enough of family events at my church. Scouting should be about guys hanging out and having fun. Glad I eagled out if this is what it is becoming. I pity the guys who have to deal with Troops like this.

As a jasm I had to address this issue for a few parents. With the help of my Scoutmaster I referred them to the bsa website and asked them to find the bsa policy being violated. I next sent them Requirement 9a of the Camping mb which states, “Camp a total of at least 20 nights at designated Scouting activities or events.* One long-term camping experience of up to six consecutive nights may be applied toward this requirement. Sleep each night under the sky or in a tent you have pitched. If the camp provides a tent that has already been pitched, you need not pitch your own tent.†I don’t see an opportunity being robbed here. I see one being created. We had a scout one time that always slept under the stars. He viewed being forced to camp in a tent as punishment.

Decreased membership is decreased revenue. Increased membership is increased revenue. If the former happens eventually program and staff and salaries go down. If that latter happens those things go up. That’s not conspiracy theory. That’s business economic.

That’s perfect.

It is not a feeling it is experience. I’ve met guys that were eagles that couldn’t apply simple first aid. I knew guys who never made eagle who knew that much. Eagle is not as standard as you may want to believe. I do think there’s some consistency involved but I’ve met just as many non-eagles who rocked the house as I have Eagles. Just being eagle is no guarantee of quality.

The only baseline is the title Eagle Scout. The variations on how much of an Eagle they are as numerous as there are units.

Even better are references from former employers or people who really know the person. Resumes only say so much and all Eagle Scouts are not the same. References can add a great deal but few people check references with the same diligence they do applicants.

I would have reminded him of the words “trustworthy†and “loyal†and point out that bsa has been neither in their handling of this issue.