HashTagScouts

I'm still not clear, having watched this thread grow over the past several days, that the scout referenced in the OP actually has asked the SM why he wasn't eligible to be on the ballot. I'm more focused on that part than trying to tell that SM, or any SM, how to handle themselves- if the scout has questions, it's their job to ask the SM, not the parent or us in the peanut gallery.

I often reflect on what Mike Row had to say when asked about the decision to admit girls- he highlighted the more pressing issue that the BSA, and all of those in it, should be focused on - is the BSA even relevant? If you never read this, or haven't re-read it since last May, give it a look: http://mikerowe.com/2018/05/otw-death-of-the-boy-scouts/ "If I were calling the shots, I’d take a stand against the safe space movement and everything it embodies. And I’d do it in the most public way possible. But of course, that might also require a level of risk completely inconsistent with curren

My council. I know those mentioned by name in this article. Exceptionally sad day for many of us. My son is camp staff at a camp outside of Mayflower, and they had sensitivity training as part of their staff week activities. He also is staff for NYLT outside of Mayflower, and they too have sensitivity training as part of their staff orientation. Why not work with some experts in the field and create age appropriate trainings to be used with all scouts? Similar fashion to how we implement cyber chip?

Welcome @octo. You will find that much of your involvement with OA will be of a "solo" nature. That doesn't mean you won't find other members of your troop participating, but it would be a rarity that if you chose to be part of your lodge ceremonies team you would be with members of your troop, or if you ran for an officer position that you would have other members of your troop also on the same officer group. Look at the OA as the brotherhood of scouts, and consider it an opportunity to be around scouts from other units/backgrounds/interests to learn and form new bonds beyond those you hav

The requirements for cooking nowadays specifically point to "a campout from requirement # X". You have to be sure on reading the related requirement on what it defines a s a campout.

For all the infinite good that can be attributed to the BSA, here is where I roll my eyes. In all instances, in any material being published- SAY EXPLICILTY WHAT YOU MEAN, and then those of us out here trying to make this work won't be confused If in the first part you spelled out "21 years of age or over", spell that out every time. I believe what that second part is supposed to say is: Adult Supervision Q: The Barriers to Abuse say that there must be two registered adults 21 years of age or over present for all Scouting activities and meetings. Does that include merit badge c

i am getting a good chuckle from this. As a MBC, that is the usual response. Previously, the requirements were five 10 mile hikes and one 20 mile hike (and no requirement of having to do them in set order). I've probably had 5-6 scouts over the years that got through the 10 milers, and then after talking to other scouts about how much more strenuous the 20 miler is, give up and decide to go work on swimming MB. I like the more graduated approach under the current requirements myself.

The mention of "buddy" has never explicitly stated that the "buddy" must be another scout, let alone a scout also working on the MB. It is/was for 2 deep reasons that you couldn't have a MBC meeting one-on-one with a youth. "Buddy" could have been a parent, sibling, or another youth. Straight from the BSA's website, current language states: "Scout Buddy System. You must have another person with you at each meeting with the merit badge counselor. This person can be your parent or legal guardian, or another registered adult."

The camp my son attended and worked at had a lot of problems with some MBs, and E Sci specifically. I spent a bit of time at the nature area my first two years attending summer camp as an adult leader (mostly as it was the closest program area to the campsite, and we had a # of kids going through there working on MBs). They had two desktop computers to be used by like 30 kids working on E Sci, on top of those working on Space Exploration and any other MB in camp that needed the internet to look things up. Considering that kids today are not going to handwrite a report unless their life depe

A lot can be explained by troop programming. If most troops put their first year summer campers in a "flight to First Class" program, along with swimming MB, those scouts get all their aquatic requirements for their ranks knocked out, and an Eagle MB to boot. E Sci is probably the suggestion most troops make to their 2nd/3rd year summer campers. As there are not a huge number of scouts who have earned Sustainability in the few years it has been a round, then you would have to assume that means there are few scout summer camp staffers that have it, and can not easily then teach it. Plus

Being that it is one Wednesday (which hopefully is not your meeting day?), I'd do the cost/benefit analysis of whether you would make more money for the unit if you kept the profits from the events than the $1,000 annual payment. I'm not saying that means you commit to it, but I would use that as part of my rationale to the CO on why the arrangement doesn't make the most fiscal sense. By the same token, if the expected profits are less than a $1,000, the math then works to your favor on why not to do it. if @Jameson76 's math is close to the real picture, you can find fundraisers that will

Definitely could be a better design. for my son, i took a small length of paracord and created a loop that went around the metal piece, and the epaulet went through that loop.

https://oa-bsa.org/uploads/publications/OA-Cub-Crossover-Ceremony-2018.pdf https://oa-bsa.org/uploads/publications/OA-Arrow-of-Light-Ceremony-2018.pdf

Or be labelled as the troublemaker. Most adults, even a great number of those were in scouting as youth, either don't want to really know how the cake is made, or would rather just let someone else make it and stay out of the kitchen. And so, if you begin to question the method, you just might find yourself as the one who looks to be disruption what is, in their eyes, "working". I'm sure since the inception in 1910 there have been those units that just took the requirements and rattled through them in the easiest, fastest way possible. i see way to much of it today though, and that mi

There was a symposium at NOAC that was to talk about best practices, and potential to create some norms while allowing local customs/traditions to co-exist. I have not actually had a conversation with anyone that went to that symposium on what was discussed. By all measures though, everything I have heard was to ensure that any regalia used at these ceremonies are appropriate for the region. Chapter ceremony teams also have different roles based on the Lodge. For some lodges, Ordeal weekends and/or Brotherhood conversions are the responsibility of the Chapter, not the Lodge itself, t

My sons first year at summer camp, I told him he would be on his own, I would not be there. I did, however volunteer to be there the second half of the week (troop had a few adults that could be there the whole week, but others that couldn't commit to the whole week, so we had a rotation to give additional adult coverage during the week). That gave my son the ability to adjust on his own without me there, and by the time I got there he had adjusted enough to not need me or spend much of any time with me when I was. That could be a consideration for you to talk tot he troop about.

Or attend another troops meeting before 2/1. The requirement doesn't state "while a member of a Scouts BSA troop" or "attend a meeting of your Scouts BSA troop".

I've never met a scouting unit that requires the scouts to wear a Class A while on an outdoor activity, other than for a formal parade or flag presentation. At that, being in New England, the weather is often at a level where being outdoors is going to require wearing a coat, so you wouldn't see the uniform anyway. Additionally, that's often quite a lot to ask parents to have two uniforms for their kid, a short sleeve and a long sleeve. Especially when they are young and may only get a year out them before thy need to size up. Maybe look into getting troop sweatshirts as opposed to just t-

One unit I have spent time visiting with also meets in a church basement with similar height restriction. They had flag stands made (some one knew someone that had welding equipment), such that the stand is a roughly 18" x 18" piece of 1/4" steel that has a 2 inch diameter pipe welded to it at about a 60 degree angle to the base. That allows them to use a regular length pole.

Also look at what the "rewards" are for completing the survey- Scout Shop gift cards. That's your National office funding those...

Correct. Camping nights can be combined from amongst the programs, but the youth has to hold the rank appropriate to the unit that is electing them as a candidate: Scouts BSA = First Class rank Venturing = Discovery Award Sea Scouts = Ordinary rank

I'd actually like to see some of the elements of the Scouts BSA program better integrated into Venturing. Discovery Award- why wouldn't the First Aid MB satisfy the requirements of this award? Is it we are concerned that the MB isn't being taught quite as it should be? The personal growth requirements for "Development of Faith"- why wouldn't the religious emblem program suffice? Why not have some basics such as Cooking MB/Camping MB as required?

In an article just last summer, Sydney commented she was preparing to work on her project, the last step of to earning her Venturing Summit Award. Yes, right now it does feel to me as this has become a total "me first" statement, sadly. Troubling piece for me is the father commenting that she shouldn't be expected to work on this into college- uh, the Scouts Canada program is also for college age youth, and Venturing is as well- so, we have someone who wants to be an Eagle Scout and is also signalling that they want to be "done" with scouting as soon as they have it? Life is not about handou

It is a real position, and the photo is of the official BSA patch. You would need to go through your lodge to get it though, it is restricted and cannot be purchased through a scout shop.

Also bear in mind- a 13 or 14 year old doing Scout-First class is probably going to go a whole lot faster and smoother than a 10 1/2 year old doing it.