HashTagScouts

If we take some of the commentary from various persons on the professional side, they cite that coed was happening anyway on the cub side, just not "officially". It's also happening on the Boy Scout side too, just not "officially". There are Troops today that charter Crews, and have the Crew right there at each meeting and each event. Just because you can't give an official transcript for an award doesn't mean the program isn't operating coed. The only thing that really changes is now you can actually charter the girls earlier than age 14. My feelings all along is that National was takin

Advancement not the main goal for sure, but I would give my $.02 that if advancement is being FORCED it isn't what you want, but if your son has figured out when/how to maximize his opportunities, and that leads to advancement say faster than his patrol mates who are not doing so, I have no issue with that. My son had the same opportunities as his patrol mates, but he is Eagle and a few are just getting to Star. Not my sons fault at all, he just didn't leave partial MBs for two years, and volunteered with his new SPL every term to help out with whatever was needed.

If the youth is also using it as teaching moments - for example, taking the new Scout patrol to the grocery store and showing them how to shop (buying store brand versus name brand to keep budget in check, how to figure out quantity to buy, etc) that becomes an Instructor POR, and does count for rank.

Get a three ring binder and some plastic photo sheets, and start setting up a memory book for him to display at his Eagle COH. You can include photos from events, any newspaper clippings, any leaflets from places visited, as well as wristbands or ticket stubs, etc.

Couldn't agree more. Almost as embarrassing to me as a troop that only car camps.

I could provide you a few examples of Boy Scout troops local to me that only camp once or twice a year, so yeah, it is pretty much about perspective.

You have to go back further in the guide- they cannot be earned by anyone who is not "qualified" (dual registered, or had previously reached First Class): 7.0.0.1 The Benefits of Merit Badges There is more to merit badges than simply providing opportunities to learn skills. There is more to them than an introduction to lifetime hobbies, or the inspiration to pursue a career—though these invaluable results occur regularly. It all begins with a Scout’s initial interest and effort in a merit badge subject, followed by a discussion with the unit leader or designated assistant, cont

@HelpfulTracks good summary. I might only add to your final sentence “or they find themselves in a unit that puts advancement above all else, and produces only more potential future Scouters that just repeat the pattern”. Eventhe most ardent Scout can forget most of what they learned as a youth, and needs to take training as an adult with an open mind. I still learn things from my fellow trainers at each OLS course I staff.

As others pointed out previous thread on this topic when the new G2SS was released, MBCs are registered on the same application as SM, ASM, TC, and that app does not say anything to contradict that a MBC is a registered leader (the old apps from several years ago used to have a distinct "position" code that I believe was called Active Parent, meaning they were not a leader but would be present at activities (arguably that is also what a MBC often is as well). The reality is we just don't have an official word on this. Can an 18 year old be a MBC? Yes. They often are the MBC of r

Plenty- I'd say overwhelming majority- of units already have to accommodate youth that are into sports to either leave early or miss out on weekends. I see no problem with that. Effort is what matters, not that the youth is at 100% of everything. I don't even see how anyone could rationalize that this is a problem towards a POR- isnt' delegation a huge part of "showing leadership"? The kid is a PL, and had his stuff together, lead through Saturday night and then gave instruction to his APL on Sunday morning needs, he'd get the gold star from me!

Yes Just trying to be respectful that the church is asking that we not refer to them as LDS or Mormon.

In respect to those who don't agree with the "changes" the CoLDS made to the program as they administer it, I would submit that one should be careful when generalizing. I am being very transparently objective when I say that conservatively 50% of the troops in my council are adult lead, not youth lead. Several troops around me appoint the SPL, he is not elected. Many have annual PLC planning meetings, but the Scouts are only able to select the events for a few campouts, the adults dictate the others. Some other troops I know do not even have PLC meetings, let alone annual planning meetings

Go with where he is comfortable. That sounds like his ship. I've encountered crews and ships that are even more active than many troops, so I feel confident that he isn't "missing anything" if he doesn't chose to stay in a troop as well. Based on his age, trying to maintain significant involvement in both is difficult- he's old enough he's experienced the "trail to 1st class" level stuff, probably doesn't really want to be on those campouts or at those meetings anymore anyway- especially where he has another outlet. Scouting has to be fun - youth will tolerate an amount of "work" to it as

One word, and a word that has zero place in Scouting -ego. I am thrilled for your son he found a niche in scouting that fits him. Hope OA might also be a good place for him too.

Your son is technically chartered and registered with the troop until 12/31, whether he is actively attending meetings there or not. His election by now should already be recorded by the Lodge, so he can attend Ordeal between now and 12/31. The SM cannot do anything about it now. Sea Scouts that are not dual registered are not eligible for OA until the membership change goes into effect in February of next year, and at that point he would need to be elected “again” by that unit if he is not registered to a troop at that time. The situation sounds awful, and is hitting close to home for me

THIS bothers me! As a paid pro, DO NOT worry yourself with promoting what happens after a youth leaves the program, spend more of your time focusing on what happens while the youth is in the program- that is what really matters. A kid earning Eagle is a great accomplishment, but if it what the organization uses to measure the success of the program itself, we have a major problem that can only be fixed by shutting the program down. As a paid pro, I would expect you have far more training than we as volunteers do on the mission and aims and methods of Scouting, and should well know advancemen

I agree with the feelings that "conditional scouter" is offensive, and that it also can be twisted to suit any side of a disagreement as a slap to someone's face. This is life- people disagree in life, it's just going to happen. And life is all about choices. if you were a scouter in a unit that suddenly vanquished the patrol method, took away decision-making from the youth, or otherwise completely distorted the program to it's own viewpoint, you have the choice to go along and make the best of it, stay and try to work to change it, or move on. The same goes for the BSA overall. Those who

Today, a boy can be registered in both (nationally, the majority of males in Venturing are dual registered to a troop), and this equivalency does not exist. If a male were to say leave a troop as a first class scout and join Venturing, he may chose to continue to pursue Eagle using the Boy Scout advancement track. If he decides to pursue the Venturing tack though, he starts at square one with Pathfinder. why would the BSA ever change that for females to go in reverse? That would to me be very much against the "same program" and "nothing is really changing" statements we have heard to date.

From those who went, I was told there as no additional pronouncements or speeches addressing it. At the expo, there were those available that would confirm what was previously announced. One tidbit I got was that you can still use regalia, for Crossover/AOL, so long as the NA groups in your area have been consulted and give their blessing. That seems contradictory to the language in the announcement. so I am working under the impression the announcement is the valid instruction to follow.

Welcome to the forum. I fear the impacts it has on Venturing and Sea Scouts. I also fear the impact it has on OA as well, as we define “youth” in the OA as under 21, and I find it very common in the lodge and section level that some officers are 18+ while others are not. Not being able to have a private conversation with your own leadership group is just a strange concept.

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Not necessarily. In our area, most Packs have the crossover at Blue and Gold, and yes the troop(s) send representatives, but the night is the Packs to plan.

The requirement also does not state it must be "a Scout patrol from your troop" - stick 4 Scouts together that are working on the Mb together at camp, and you have a Scout patrol.

There are a ton of scripts online. One website: http://www.eaglescout.org/finale/coh/coh.html There are no truly formal guidelines to an Eagle COH. At the end of the day, as soon as the BOR declared your son an Eagle, he is an Eagle. The COH is just a public display. The one element that I would say should absolutely be done at any COH is the Eagle charge, administered by another Eagle. Beyond that, add whatever other you and he would like. The website above also gives sample letter templates and address info for writing to public figures for recognition letters. Many will take 6-8

I have met the current National Vice-Chief. When this topic came up in conversation (it's been no secret it was being discussed, and I had hear an announcement was coming at NOAC), he said nothing in support of it and wanted to change the topic of conversation quickly. Based on the conversations that my son has relayed that are going on amongst the summer camp staff this week, I don't believe the youth were in support of this measure at all, or had any say in it.