HashTagScouts

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.

Terrible place we have come to. As a Native American, I had no issue with the ceremonies, when done respectfully and the ceremonialists treated it as such. This new crossover script is corny as heck, and I don't see many kids jumping up and volunteering to use it. I absolutely don't think the Lodges should take on any part in carrying these ceremonies out at all, it has no connection at all to the OA, and wearing a sash for it is IMHO an inappropriate event to wear the sash now.

The OA can be an awesome opportunity for the Scout that is open to new experiences, working with Scouts beyond their home troop/town, and particularly likes the leadership training aspects of Scouting. If your son is in a troop that is not doing much beyond "the same old, same old", he should find some opportunities to meet other Scouts in the same boat, and want to do more. Your sons experience sounds similar to mine- when my son got elected, he really didn't know what the OA was, as he never saw it in action or discussed in the troop. As an Arrowman myself, I could explain it, but experie

Things can certainly differ, but here in MA, council's have nothing to do with a CoH. It's a troop function, but the way it occurs differs by troop. As others mentioned, some troop have funds to help pay for it, others do not. Some have a group celebration once a year, others leave it to the parents to plan. There also isn't a 100% iron clad Eagle CoH ceremony that must occur- troops have different traditions, etc. for my son, it is tradition in his troop that each Eagle gets their own CoH, the parent plans it, chooses location and makes sure it is booked, pays for whatever refreshments/f

Your state senator or representative's office can assist with having a flag flown over the Capitol, and an accompanying certificate, sent to the Eagle Scout. Most charge a feee for it, and many allow you to submit the request through their website.

For me, so long as you are following the same principles that Council fundraising would, you shouldn't feel you are "in the wrong". Don't give any impression that the BSA (or the unit) is endorsing a particular product, and do not have them any type of a "raffle" giveaway. You could have a "sweepstakes", where it doesn't cost money to enter the drawing, or you could have them as auction items- provided the donor is on board with all proceeds going to the unit. We have done things like this in the past.

The Patrol Method is the means by which leadership development and personal growth are intended to be instilled. The Outdoor Program can be viewed as an extension of how the Patrol Method gets realized. This article is older, but still has some relevant items to learn from: https://blog.scoutingmagazine.org/2014/09/05/patrol-method/ If you think about any of the "extensions" of Scouting- the OA, NYLT, even Wood Badge- they are organized around a patrol concept. There's no doubt why so many threads here express frustrations on why units aren't making it a priority, or lamenting on chang

Absolutely run. There is a lot wrong here. Being properly uniformed, especially for a BOR, isn't a terrible idea- but, the youth is not going for Eagle yet, so use it as a teaching moment rather than ridiculing him or degrading him. Get him out, give him a few weeks to let his feelings about that troop dissipate and then start making a list with him about what are the things he would want to see in a troop. That would be helpful for him to "interview" the other units and see which is the best fit for him. Best of luck to him (and you).

Don't you feel like someone should be putting together a grid by this point? (*AHEM* National, anyone paying attention?) Scenario Does age 21 requirement apply (YES/NO)

This is why I love BSA communications so much They list out examples under the other two bullets to give context, but for the first one, they leave it entirely for the reader to interpret!

I'll throw this out for discussion around the campfire- what does this mean for Merit Badge Counselors? Are they now supposed to have to registered leaders age 21+ present with them whenever they are meeting with a scout (assuming that the MBC isn't also registered as an adult leader and are 21+ themselves)? And I roll this out for you too- are MBCs considered "adult leaders"? I can't say there is anything definitive in any guidelines that would indicate a resounding yes on that. Registered adult, yes- registered leader, no. SM/ASM, COR and TC are registered leaders in my mind. I am s

The new G2SS (the October 2018 version) states that two registered adult leaders 21 years of age or over are required at all Scouting activities, which includes any "meeting". The guidelines we operate under today where YPT is required, only one of the adults needs to be 21 or over.

And I am sure I am not alone with the difficulty today of trying to get the 18-20 year olds to understand they can't just go and "hang" with their buds from the troop who are still under 18. Now we'll have the additional challenge that they can't go and hang with just another 18-20 year old present, they need to have the old timers there too.

That is one of my other concerns- are we now going to see more youth age out and not stick around, feeling they are no longer a scout, but also now not a scouter...

I am in agreement to that- what I want, and @MattR is getting there, is some true, honest-to-goodness-in-writing documentation of it in a handbook, training module, etc. so that we have something to point to so that the helicopters can be instructed and know when to buzz off.

The issue of adapting is the issue. BP himself said "The patrol system is not one method in which Scouting for boys can be carried on. It is the only method.” Another one of his great quotes "In Scouting, a boy is encouraged to educate himself instead of being instructed." I understand exactly what @qwazse and @Oldscout448 are getting at- at what point is Scouting no longer Scouting. Put aside any bias anyone has about allowing girls into the troop program, if you change the PM as a whole it no longer is Scouting, straight from the words of the man who founded Scouting. We can't b

Recognition does not necessarily mean "getting the bling", it simply means getting the recognition. Nothing as you describe prevents the scout continuing on their advancement track- the date recorded for their advancement record is the date earned, not when they get their patch. Our troop has a formal COH 3 times a year. Rank patches are granted typically the night the scout ahs their BOR- if we have one on hand. Merit badge cards are also typically handed out the night that the advancement team records it, and the patch comes at the next COH. Bear in mind though that for a troop to obtai