Col. Flagg

Finding a troop to do that might be a challenge.

My council struggles to accommodate women as it is now. Imagine if scouting were open to some coed troops and some all (x) troops. The logistics of who sleeps with whom or who uses which latrine is mind boggling. Also, before any girl signs up for summer camp they might want to come check out what our latrines are like in the summer time. Our trap latrines may the B&Ps at Philmont look like French porcelain finery. Just sayin'.

Not my argument, so forgive me, but I thought I might offer my unsolicited view...since that's what such forums are about. I think @@backpack was addressing the poll of members in 2013 prior to the policy change. As I recall the majority of members (folks like you and me) voted against the policy change. Wasn't it the voting members (whoever they are) that actually voted for the change? To your second point, BSA has a coed program, so the reason for Boy Scouts to go coed is what? Access to Eagle?

Have you looked in to Lone Scout? Registers with council. The GTA provides for the scout to have his BOR upheld since the problem was not due to any fault of the scout.

Interesting. It is funny to see some councils do one thing and other councils do others. We used to have folks that misread the whole "be active" thing. They missed the litmus test so clearly pointed out in the GTA and simply interpreted active as being at troop events.

These are all warning signs, IMHO, of a troop where advancement is the goal; not leadership, citizenship or personal growth. Unless the unit camps 12 months a year I don't see how an 11 year old can PROPERLY get in his camping and cooking and leadership and service requirements -- including the Eagle project -- by 14. Sure it happens, but in my experience I have yet to find an Eagle that young worthy of the true title. Yes, the completed the requirements; check the boxes and get your prize. All that said, you son stands a better chance of staying in Scouting if he's with his friends. You'l

We have a old timer in our unit who wears three knots: His AOL, his Eagle and his religious knot. One of our new dads, active in district with a chest full of knots, asked him one night, "Is that all you have after x years of Scouting?" They old timer replied, "No, these mean the most to me because they were accomplishments of experience, faith and service to others. The other 23 are in a box somewhere."

Love Mike Rowe!! The "letter thing" I don't get and Mike's response is prefect. What't the point? They are all form letters saying meaningless things, from people you've never met, from groups the Eagle has likely never heard of. I got Mike's letter for my Eagle. He loved it and knew it was a form letter. He appreciated the fact that I got it for him -- not because it was a congrats letter, and not because it was from Mike Rowe -- but because of what Mike said, "Pack your Eagle stuff away and NOW start the hard work!!" You are not on the limb alone. It's mom or dad who do this. Cer

Some, yes...especially the ultralight tents. Many of the 3-4lbs tents from REI, MSR or Big Agnes are pretty sturdy and can do the double duty. As always, care must be taken.

Medieval cross dressing...

@@fred johnson, have you guys tried to negotiate a discount? I assume you have. We found that, until we asked, no one offered or asked. Once we asked, the price dropped from $250 to $150 or lower per unit.

They create new knots to cater/address certain training, service, activity or other program-related activities in Scouting. The insignia guide points out that the wearer has the discretion to pick which ones they want to wear. I wear the three most important to me, and which I think will have the most impact on my Scouts. One my uniform that I wear for COHs I wear six, the other three are the second three most important to me and reflect my level of training. The other nine stay on my desk in my box that collects Scout patches.

Not bad. Great service. They do tend to give more ribbons now than then did 40-50 years ago. Most officers at that grade will be similarly adorned. Any yes, that's his military uniform where you wear your service ribbons. Though even there, at some point you have to pick what you want to wear if they won't fit correctly on your uniform.

We have an Eagle equivalent from India. He's a great person for the boys to talk to. Different perspective altogether. We just have rattlers, copperheads and cottonmouths to look out for. Imagine dodging mambas, cobras and vipers on camp outs.

Looks like BSA hasn't updated their skit policies to reflect their membership policies. How could someone, with a straight face, stop some kids from doing a cross-dressing skit after the recent membership policy change? Hypocrisy thy name is Boy Scouts.

If that's what they think they aren't folks I want to know anyway. I have found the more knots or beads the less they actually know...but they THINK they know a great deal.

Sadly, Frank, those days are gone. Someone will get offended and someone else will feel the need to check one's "privilege".

Follows the Scout Oath and the Scout Law.

I believe "institutional head".

If you are out in the woods or in a park working with Cub Scouts, one fun game we played with them was trying to leave as little trace as possible. Whether eating, walking, etc., we challenged them to make as little mess, leave as little trace as possible. As you can imagine, the kids made it a game and really tried hard not to leave even footprints. NOTE: We had each Cub carry a plastic bag to put whatever they dropped or found in it. Get big gallon bags. When we sat down with them and explained why we did this. Watching the park service video is fun to do as a group. If an older CS Den

Let's not lose focus here. No one is questioning the guy's commitment to the program or kids. My point was some adults seek the adulation for show, e.g., knots galore.

Still...are we in it for ourselves or the kids? We really need 17 to demonstrate you are a skilled, experienced leader?

Scout: "Dad, my new patrol buddies and I have been arguing for weeks on what our patrol yell should be. Can you help?" Dad: "What would you like me to do that you can't do for yourself?" Scout: "Find for me some cool examples that we might not be able to find?" Dad: "Is your computer or phone broken? Is the Internet down? Do you not know what to search for?" Scout: "No. I just want you to solve it for us." Dad: "If I help you it will be my solution, not yours. You won't have learned anything. You and your friends need to resolve this like any other playground dispute. If yo

At some point the program goes a bit overboard. If you are in Yellowstone (high use area) I can see the efficacy of packing out your poo. In the middle of the Alaskan outback, I doubt two Lincoln Logs are going to give Smokey much heart burn if he tramples across them. The local indigenous folks have been doing it for millennia. I've got just as much chance of passing on something inside me from urination, spitting or blowing my nose (air hanky) as I do from my own scat. It's all about minimizing our impact. IMHO, a few human scat holes properly covered won't do any more damage than our fo

Most would agree. But when you see Scouters making up their own rules and not acting in the best interest of a Scout, there's not a whole lot of benefit of doubt left. Those actions indicate an agenda of controlling things beyond what BSA allows. When a Scout no longer feels he can talk to the adult leaders, those adults have let their credibility erode leaving little doubt remaining as to their motives.