MikeS72

Be sure you are using meritbadge.org, rather than meritbadge.com. It works fine for me right now, and did also yesterday.

They do that one thing well.

🤩 I have occasionally responded to an SPL question with a couple of questions - 1) is it safe? 2) if that answer is yes, what do you think you should do? If where and how he wants the scouts to set up camp on a backpacking or kayaking trip does not present any safety hazards, it then becomes his decision. Sometimes that becomes a learning experience, like the ones whose response to 'are you sure that is where you want to put your tent' was yeah, why not. They learned why not early the next morning when taking the tent down after heavy dew, only to find out what happens when that tent is pitched on Florida sand rather than in the grass like everyone else. I am fairly sure they will not do that again.

$4.49 for shoulder loops is a bit much. About the only time I have told anyone to pay attention to the color of the loops on my shirt is when representing the district at a cub school night, and then only to tell parents that if they have questions specific to the unit, see the folks with the blue loops, if they have a question that the pack leadership cannot answer, look for one of us with the silver loops.

4b only specifies using some type of GPS device, making a scout use it in conjunction with a map would be adding to the requirements. We frequently travel several hours for backpacking, kayaking, camping, etc., and always use GPS to plot those routes. One caution we give our scouts about being overly dependent on GPS, is that sometimes construction is going on that temporarily changes where an exit on the highway may located. We also remind them that if the GPS device they are using is a phone, it's usefulness ends when the battery dies, at which time you better be well acquainted with map and compass skills.

If you are looking for period insignia, check out this site, they have scouting patches and memorabilia going back as much as a hundred years. https://www.scoutstuff4sale.com/

I haven't checked the Scouts BSA shirts, but the current khaki shirts being sold are embroidered.

In most councils camp cards earn money both for the council and the unit. Here in Central Florida scouts can earn free Cub Day Camp, or a free week at the council summer camp. The cards are sold for $5, $3 of which goes to the council and $2 to the unit. We credit our scouts with $2 for every card they sell, so even if they do not sell enough for a free week of summer camp, they can lower their total cost.

My mid-60's shirt did not have a collar, which was kind of a moot point since necker's were a required part of the uniform back then. My uniform in the 70's had a collar, but we wore it turned under; same way we wore the original tan De La Renta shirts. My current troop does not wear a neckerchief, so the only time I wear one now is on occasion when I wear my Woodbadge necker to Roundtable, or when I wear one of my 60's/70's uniforms.

My nephew's Webelos DL also told him he could not wear the one he made on a 3D printer, until I showed her in writing that scouts are welcome to make their own slides.

We are fortunate here in FL that there are hundreds of miles of trail within easy driving distance. Our problem is that we have to try to get it in during our very brief foray into "winter", when we are less likely to fry our brains in the wonderful FL sunshine. We did a 20 mile hike a month ago, where it was 45 degrees at the start of the hike, and 86 at the finish.

I think it is a combination of the two. I see more and more adult leaders who were never scouts themselves, and have little to no interest in strapping on a backpack and doing a minimum of 15 miles. I also see a lot of new scouts who hear 15 miles with a backpack on, (or the dreaded hiking MB 20 miles in a single day) and think, I could never do that; not realizing that only equates to 5 miles each day of the trek. One one of our recent 15 mile trips, the boys made that 5 miles in about 1.5 hours, and spent the rest of the day enjoying themselves.

An updated version of the new YPT was released on March 1. Mostly minor additions dealing with the introduction of girls into Scouts BSA, although I did think what they have done with the bullying segment is good. There is no need for those people who did last year's version to retake YPT until they expire next year. I did it again so I can answer questions I may get as an ADC.

I very much agree. With the current election procedures allowing every scout on the ballot to be elected, it seems that more and more troops expect every First Class scout should be in OA. Many of them do lack the maturity or character to be an Arrowman. When I was elected 50 years ago, we were able to elect a maximum of 4 scouts, regardless of how many met the rank and camping requirements. As I recall, I was the only person elected that year, and we were a fairly large troop. I am all for progress, but changing OA election procedures is one change I wish had not happened. We saw much less 'sash & dash' in the distant past, as it was never a given that eligible scouts would be elected.

The merit badge counselor list provided to the SM should show the names of people who have registered to work with all scouts. It should not make any difference whether that scout is male or female. I think this is something that I would make my district chair aware of, so he can find out why these counselors are not willing to work with girls. It may be that they are not aware of the fact that for merit badge counselor 2 deep leadership, the parent counts. If the scout is a girl, mom would be the preferred parent. In our district, there are also many female MB counselors for most MB's.

If your lodge is anything like mine, they will have chapters camp together at conclave or fellowship. I think you will find that jumping in feet first and attending whether solo or with someone you know from another local troop, is a great way to get to know other members of your chapter. Our spring conclave begins tomorrow, and I am sure that there will be several chapter members who will enjoy the fellowship while being the only member of their troop in attendance. This is actually the first time in quite a while that I will not be the only person from my troop, as I have 2 new Arrowmen who will be attending their second lodge weekend since being inducted in January.

Sounds a little like the military troop I was in 50 years ago. Patrols all stood a attention for inspection, then at parade rest during announcements. We would never have considered fidgeting or talking while our Drill Sargent SM was speaking. This was the troop that elected me an Arrowman 50 years ago in April. We did not have the problem being discussed here, as elections were a lot different back then, as in we had a maximum number of scouts who could be elected in a year, based on the number of scouts in the troop.

I see that as well with the roll and slide positions, although the collar should be the same troop wide.

Wore all of those at one time or another; as a 4'4" 7th grader, platform shoes were a must!

Yes. There was a period where the lighter weight pants had that built in belt with a backpack style locking clasp. We have a couple of pair like that in our uniform closet.

Not sure I have seen a current scout turn their collar under. My troop does not wear a neckerchief, although I do occasionally wear my Woodbadge one, and will on occasion wear an older 60's uniform and do wear a time period neckerchief with it. If I am wearing the collared 60's shirt I turn the collar under, if I am wearing a collarless shirt, it is a moot point. I do make sure that it is rolled tightly, and to a length of 6 inches when I wear any neckerchief, with the slide up to the last buttoned button.

I will agree with several items on that list. The ISP, skill awards, and that period where camping and cooking were no longer required MB's. I earned Eagle in 1971, prior to those changes taking effect. Swimming and Lifesaving were the last two merit badges I needed, and were last for a reason. I did not live anywhere where learning to swim was feasible, for years the closest pool was 100 miles away. If swimming had not been required for First Class, and the 2 MB's required for Eagle, I doubt I would have ever learned. As I have stated several times in response to the many on here who seem to have disliked the berets intensly, I loved them, still have one, and will on occasion wear it with one of my 60's/70's era uniforms.

I like this one. Our pack is doing crossover this Thursday night, I may suggest that to them.

We were way ahead of the culinary trends when I was a young scout in the 60's. Many were the mornings that we enjoyed Cajun Blackened Pancakes.

Klingon