HelpfulTracks

I have worked with Special needs "kids" (some where adults and older than me at the time) as well as terminal children. Both can be extremely rewarding, but soul crushing at the same time. It is difficult when you loose one of those you have come close too, even though in some cases you knew that going in. So yes, for that reason, and others, it takes a special person to be able to do that for long the long term.

I prefer tight roll, loser cinch. That is what I teach the Scouts, but the end result varies based on the Scouts preference. I do miss the collarless shirts.

First, I’m adamantly opposed to blanket rules. I prefer that each Scout be judged on his/ her attitude and accomplishments. However, one of the requirements for being on the ballot for OA is approval of the Scoutmaster. We do that because the SM should know the qualities of the Scouts in question better than anyone else in Scouting. OA is not a rank or merit badge where the requirements can be checked off. It is an honor, where first the Scoutmaster must approve and then the Scouts. I have watched thousands of Scouts go through Ordeal and some have been 11-12 years old. Most o

Yes. We have a fundamental difference on Scouting. Scouting is not about CO's, Councils or really even Troops. It is about the Scouts. The Scout is the heart and soul of Scouting.The raison d'être of Scouting. A CO is a mechanism or structure to support Scouting, like so many others; district committees, council committees, lodges, whose purpose in Scouting is to help the youth have a better Scouting experience. The majority of the time I see a unit fold or move, it is due to neglect or mismanagement of the CO. The CO does own the unit, which really means the assets and meetin

I would hate to see this troop disband. The article is not specific as to how many leaders they need and for what purpose. I would imagine a good portion of the need is for instruction and activities. If so it would a great thing to see them team up with some Crews or older patrols from a couple of troops to help out with activities and instruction, leaving the adults to be free to handle any special needs issues like safety, transportation etc.

As I stated I often disagree with @David CObut I have to agree with him on this. The CO has every right, some would say obligation, to proselytize to the unit. But as I said, the CO is not the unit, the Scouts and volunteers are. If you don't like how the CO manages the unit, then move on. Both the unit and CO have their roles, if either side is unhappy with the relationship then they should withdraw.

That does seem to be in short supply these days. Wood Badger or not.

Well said.

I definitely believe they are equal in importance. There are times that some methods are more relevant to a situation. To me Ideals and Personal Growth are always in play. The rest rise and fall according to the situation. Take Uniform for example, as it seem be the lowest on most list. I have seen units present the troop necker at crossovers and watch the pride in the eyes of he new Scouts as they put it on and became part of the troop. . I have seen troops where most or all of the Scouts couldn't afford their uniforms and the unit did things to allow the Scouts to earn their u

Wood Badgers love their critters. I was given an beautiful wood cut of an Eagle.

I'm not surprised you disagree, we often do when it comes to the role of the CO. But I can tell you, as a Commissioner, I have seen CO's be heavy handed, appoint poor leaders or are too hands off (or have other issues) and the Scouts/Volunteers leave the Unit. The unit folds and the CO has no Scouting program. Those Scouts find a new CO and create a new unit or simply move to an existing unit. The Scouts are the heart of the unit, the reason for the unit, they are the unit. And I can tell you BSA policy agrees. Eagle Projects cannot benefit the unit. But a units CO can be the benefi

I am not giving him a pass. Simply pointing out the Bulgarians were foolish to let him film his show and expect him not to do what he always does. Organizations allow production companies to film because they get something in return, exposure, money, something.....The Bulgarians rolled the dice and lost. In fact they are almost certainly giving Grylls exactly what he wanted....publicity. And I wouldn't point to Grylls as a positive role model. He was "hired" to draw attention to Scouting, that is what celebrity does. It is up to us to teach the Scouts, not Grylls. Just like a

There is a lot to unpack here. Can a CO make the request & make profit from the fundraiser? Yes Can the Unit decline? Yes. While the CO owns the Unit, it is NOT the unit. The Scouts and Volunteers are the unit. We routinely do service projects for our CO, and many of our Eagle Project benefit the CO, but there is no Quid Pro Quo involved. I also wonder how this request potentially impacts the program. Will it replace a meeting night once a month? Is it on a school night? If it is on the weekend, what happens when the "service" conflicts with a Camporee, Merit badge co

Oh, I don't know..... he is a TV personality with an established format. It's the whole scorpion and frog thing. It's kind of like Gordon Ramsey showing up at my restaurant wanting to film. I tell him sure, but no cursing, yelling at my staff or showing health code violations. Then he does all those things he ALWAYS does. Shame on me for thinking the scorpion wouldn't sting the frog. Common sense tells me to turn Gordon away when he shows up or grin an bare it when he does what he always does.

My son and I took WFA and I am not aware of any official pins are patches, though there may be one. I did a quick search and found some that appear to be unofficial, on etsy and ebay. You could search there.

As for Grylls being the "World Scout Ambassador,' if it gets more youth in Scouting and in the outdoors I am for it. Does it appear his shows are staged? Yes. Are they hokey? yes. But for the most part (gigging frogs in Bulgaria, aside) he has a decent reputation and as far as I am aware no real negative press (that said I haven't researched the guy). It is kind of like University of Oregon's football uniforms, not my style, but I am not the target. The kids seem to love it and gets them there. So.....

This has me scratching my head. I have never watch Bear Grylls, but I am aware of his shtick. The article said he and his crew had been briefed on the rules. So clearly the Bulgarians were aware he was there and filming. Why give him permission to film in the first place if all the things he normally does are off limits?

You would not be the first.

She is (was) a Canadian VENTURER SCOUT and earned their highest honor Chief Scout’s Award, but everything I have read she has eschewed Venturing, even asking “If the Venturing program is so similar why can’t they be the same program if they’re the same award?” when she was pointed toward Venturing by National who equated earning the Summit to being equal to Eagle.

No, CA and ACA are specific positions, as are Lodge Adviser and Associate Lodge Adviser. A Lodge/Chapter has numerous other Advisers, as an example for AIA, ceremonies, induction, for specific officer positions, etc., but those are not specified positions with a position patch. The Associate Advisers are generally more experienced Advisers that could step in for the Adviser in his/her absence.

Pardon me, but no. Go back and read the numerous articles, watch and listen to interviews, about/by Ms. Ireland. My opinion is her focus has almost always been about attaining Eagle for resume and scholarship purposes. From my viewpoint she and her father have had many negative and incorrect things to say about BSA, Scouting and negative implications toward Venturing. I don't think it is a stretch to say it has been a me, me, me focused effort. As for Silver Buffalo - I hope not. That award is for "truly noteworthy and extraordinary service to youth" and "exceptional character

I doubt there will be any capitulation on this matter, even though legislators are passing resolutions and making noise. Doing so would open Pandora's box on so many levels. For example, what do you tell the Life and Eagle Scouts that have joined Crews? All of the work they did as Boy Scouts, prior to joining Venturing, doesn't count towards awards in Venturing, but BSA would count work done by someone that didn't even bother to join Venturing? What do you say to all those girls joining Scouts BSA who have been in Venturing for years? Sorry, your work as part of BSA does not count, b

The way the GSUSA councils statement is crafted (or appears to be) is a PR black-eye. I can see this stance if they felt the money was being misappropriated or mishandled, but if they are standing on "control of fundraising" in a situation like this then someone needs to go back to PR school. These were GSUSA Scouts, doing a Scouting project and GSUSA has a problem with other Girls Scouts raising funds for the family because they want to control the all fundraising? Even if GSUSA has a valid reason, the optics are a nightmare.

NOAC had a couple of sessions covering this. By NOAC 2020 all lodges should have consulted with their local tribes and transitioned to regalia that fits that local tribe. As part of that we are also to get their perspective (and accommodate it) about females in these ceremonies. From some second hand discussions I have heard, there is a wide range of responses. Some tribes have been adamant no's on regalia at all, others are OK with regalia but not females doing ceremonies. Some tribes have been neutral or ambivalent. Apparently, some have replied that as far as this type "ceremony" goes, in

I know of appeals failing, but it is unusual. It usually occurs where there is clear evidence a requirement was not completed, or where there are requirements are disputed, like merit badges not earned, and there is no evidence that they were earned. This case seems more of an interpretation of what the project should be. I would appeal and be very prepared to discuss what was done in the project and how it was carried out. By rule, the appeal board will need the information ahead of time to "research" the issue in question. Caution: One thing I am not sure of is if he fails all of t