HashTagScouts

I don't believe that "dumbing down" is at all going to be resulting because girls are being admitted- from all that I experience in my area, I feel the dumbing down has already been happening. I am in agreement to @Eagledad's sentiments that what this organization was perceived at before has changed. If "it isn't all about the Eagle', BSA would not keep making the point in all this Scouts BSA marketing, it would just be understood and implied by saying that girls are going to have the same opportunities as boys.

Sentiment I heard from about 8 staff members this summer that are Life scouts- "i want to get my Eagle done before the change". Here's the thing about all of this for me: it isn't about bashing girls, it isn't about just the past traditions, it isn't about what I or any adult desires- the youth of this organization should be the ones deciding the membership policies, and the name of their organization should they so chose to change it.

Yours sound better run that what I have experienced. Ours often have the vibe similar to what others commented - it is expected that every scout will participate in every activity, which just makes it no fun. if its an activity that some of the kids want to do , they get a lesser experience having to concern themselves with the kids who don't want to do it, etc. Then again, I think the same people planning these events today are the same ones who were around planning them when I was a kid, which is a problem in and of itself I get lots of "invitations" at RT that they "need help". Attende

Even as a youth, and even more now as an adult, I disliked Camporee's being so themed and scheduled that the weekend felt like a day of school. Go here for 50 minutes, then walk over her for 50 minutes, etc. I also disliked that adults did all the planning. Get scouts from around the district/council to come together and plan it. That might be difficult to do twice a year, so just have one. And build in plenty of time for the units to be able to "free-form". Even on a troop campout, you'll have some scouts more jazzed about doing pioneering projects than others, or another group may want

Having friends that participate in events with the 501st legion, these things are a lot of setup- and these are not usually events that you can setup, pack up, and then setup again the following day. Many of these individuals bring in movie quality props and sets that take hours to assemble and ready for display.

Unit leaders do not have the authority to deny a Scout a conference that is necessary for him to meet the requirements for his rank. If a unit leader conference is denied, a Scout—if he believes he has fulfilled all the remaining requirements—may still request a board of review. The above is the stance of the BSA Guide to Advancement (section 4.2.3.5 Unit Leader Conference). I can understand the pickle of this situation, as well as the desire of knowing does he truly regret it. Unfortunately, even having a conversation with him about that can be constituted as his SM conference. I woul

A 4 mile backpacking trip is really not overly difficult to carry out. While it's always great to really get the kids into backcountry to experience that, you can do it using your favorite camping spot (ie. your council camp). Help the kids identify a spot on the route getting to the camp that is two miles out, have them muster there and pack into camp, and then pack out when leaving. Leave the troop trailer at home, have them carry all the cooking gear they need, etc. and fulfill the Cooking MB requirement at the same trip.

For me, much of the "formal" training that is intended for adults gets into the aims and methods, but the depth is different between "scoutmaster" track and "committee" track. Both sides should really have understanding of the other IMO. Then you have IOLS, which I feel is helpful for anyone, regardless of how much experience they have with Scouting. However, the material for that course is so condensed to fit a weekend, and it is a lot to digest and can be difficult to really implement - what I mean by the hard to implement, is the schedule to at least cover all the material is generally s

Not implying the Scout did anything wrong, just didn't know the particulars of the young man and his eligibility. Kudos to him if he is driven, I take nothing away from him on that. Correct, he can work on most requirements concurrently. The Cyber Chip is grade specific in how it is structured, not age, so if he is still in 5th grade then the award for 5th grade applies. I tend to think it should be more about age based, as youth crossover at all sorts of various times, and we should have the material presented as to what is more relevant to the program group they are in. As Boy Scout

Something seems off. Children can be Scouts if they have completed the fifth grade and are at least 10 years old, OR have earned the Arrow of Light Award and are at least 10 years old, OR are age 11 but have not reached age 18. Assuming the youth meets the above to be eligible at the Boy Scout level, with the fitness requirements, it would be a month between Scout and Tenderfoot, another month between Tenderfoot and Second Class, and another month between Second class and First Class. Putting aside all the other requirements, especially the # of troop activities, that's a pretty accelerated

I have to agree with @SR540Beaver here. my son has done these ceremonies for the past two years, and is disappointed in the change. He's also disappointed in the poor scripts that have been provided as well. However, he respects that they have been told what they have been told, and his choice is either comply or just don't participate in them at all. His lodge seems intent on offering the new format, but I doubt he'll volunteer for them.

Based on the news article, that was kind of what I took this comment to mean: Steffel claims she learned from Chippewa Valley troop leaders and an area school guidance counselor that the preference out there was for direct donations to the victims’ families. I couldn't find the GoFundMe page itself. This article probably had a link at one point, based on the last sentence. The Council probably had an issue of the wording "You can donate to the Chippewa Falls Girl Scouts and families here." if it wasn't directing through the Council. https://www.wbay.com/content/news/Local-efforts-to-s

It could be they have an issue with GoFundMe- which I can appreciate the convenience of it, but BSA also discourages using it because GFM takes a cut. Or, it could be that the vigil itself was not an issue, but this commemorative patch is the issue (if that patch uses GSUSA's logo or name- even with BSA, troops are actually forbidden from putting a fleur-de-lis on a patch of their own creation, though most probably do ignore it). The whole thing is sad, and while I respect GSUSA having a policy and not wanting to air things out in the press, some type of clarity would do them good here consi

The scripts can be found here: https://oa-bsa.org/resources/inductions As stated in the AoL script: The Presenter may be a Scout from a Troop in field uniform (and sash if a member of the Order of the Arrow), the Cubmaster, or another uniformed Cub Scout leader. From the Crossover script: The performers dress in field uniform—the summer version with shorts and knee socks is preferred as being more distinctive, but is not required. They wear hiking shoes or boots. Each carries a knapsack or backpack that appears to be full. One carries a compass; one carries a map. Additionally, they

I was a little curious to methodology as well. I would place Insect Study into science, not outdoor, for example.

Appeal for sure. Let your son work with his SM on what to say when he gets his opportunity. The use of "we" here, respectfully, needs to be "he" when he gets that opportunity. What you lay out on the experience of how he arrived at 2 being the optimal number of workers, how he had to coordinate the rotation, how he gave the training on what was going to be done, is all showing how he planned and lead the project. My advice is that he needs to hammer all of that home multiple times over when the subject of his project comes up. Not every EBOR will spend much time on the project, as ultimat

I'm with you- my point is that "necessary" depends on the users. Scoutmaster Basic and OLS- yes, I would agree the syllabus content pretty much someone who was truly engaged as a youth (that is, did just more than "check the boxes") should be able to skip that.

Not every Eagle will have served as SPL- heck, not even every Eagle will have served as a PL, or anything more than Troop Librarian- so no, Eagle has not necessarily prepared you for taking over as SM at age 18. Could you obtain knowledge necessary for being an SM/ASM on your own, without the position-specific training? Yes, you could, but not everyone knows where to begin, and as others have pointed out, your participation can be as much about sharing your perspective than your individual learning outcomes.

It may be idealistic, but I'd love to think that those participating in the "temporary crews" are learning some additional leadership skills that they can take back and use to help at the patrol level. sort of the same you hope for a kid who works camp staff, NYLT, etc.

Feeling hopeful for you both Hawkwin and Eagle94-1. My son had some experiences that were similar to yours, and discussions with the SM would become what I would term as "bullish". My son hates confrontation, and at the first sign that the conversation is turning to being heated, he will bow out. Personally, I would have been right there giving it back to the SM, but I appreciate my son didn't. My son stuck it out to finish off his Eagle rank in that troop, and then even ran for a term as SPL- that was his attempt to "be the guy" to try and turn things around as the senior leader. I was n

Experienced the idea of forming a crew out of a troop fail on 3 attempts in 5 years. Predominantly, the failure was lack of commitment on the part of the adults involved to facilitate it as a crew (ie- get others involved who were not already Scouts), and the makeup was Scouts who were really not interested in doing anything aside from fishing/loafing. That is to say, it really was nothing more than what these Scouts did in the troop, when they chose to participate. At the end of the day, whether it be a Venturing Crew, a Venture Patrol, a Senior Scouts patrol, or whatever name you put

Age is too often used as a discriminating factor. My son was 14, and yes he needed some coaching from me on being more clear on what he means or intends. All I can say is, I have had to do the same with 17 year olds as well. While you can’t do the presentation for him, you can certainly role play with him and give him guidance through that which would probably be the most invaluable help he will receive throughout this whole project 😀.

How you have explained the project idea sounds as though it validly is truly a project. Without knowing explicitly what your son discussed with the coordinator may indeed be the issue. When formulating the project idea and getting the approval to move ahead, the scout has to be able to explain it with enough detail to show that there is both value to the receiving organization/entity, AND how the scout is going to demonstrate leadership through the project. Just taking ones own Lego sets and donating them could just be as simple as "here's my giant bin of Lego bricks" - however, explaining

http://alaskascoutingadventures.org http://mainehighadventure.org

I took my training through SOLO. The course was set up by a neighboring council, though my council also uses them (being they are based in New England I would presume).