Jameson76

We wear the "official uniform" in transit to outings. Actually we call it Class A and are just hoping the uniform and or phrase police stop by and try to ticket us. But anyway, when we arrive, the Scouts take off the class A (typically tossing them into the dirt) for setup, activities, etc. Most scouts have the Class B troop t-shirts / summer camp / fleece / hoodies to wear. When we depart everyone is back in the Class A shirts. Also good times with many calls that their Class A shirts have been stolen until someone points to the tan lump under some leaves.

Troop total: 13 outings per year, 40.3 average scouts, 2.3 nights average per outing = (roughly) 1,205 nights of camping last year

I was at summer camp and a couple of WB (dare I say) zealots were hitting it pretty heavy that WB was the end all be all. Told them not doubting it may have some benefit, but in the last 5 years I had been pretty busy as we had doubled the number of scouts attending monthly outings, the troop was exceeding 1,000 nights camping each year, we did 2 summer camps, 1 High adventure trek, did 11 other outdoor activities, had 10 -12 Eagle scouts each year, service projects, etc and really was not sure what WB might do to take us the the next level? I explained my focus was on the unit and deliverin

They go inside. Some have lower pockets for the sleeping bags. The tops are expandable for lighter sleeping pads. Yes the nylon will fall apart after many years. Also the padding breaks down if stored in heat and comes out like little pellets. The newer packs with the internal frames take some getting used to if you are only familiar with the frame ones. Though many have handy nalegene pockets that can be accessed right behind you while hiking. One does have to adjust the straps and the way you load more thoughtfully as they can tend to have the center of weight lower and that can te

Big Iron by Marty Robbins is a crowd pleaser...if you have a stand up bass it really sells it To the town of Agua Fria rode a stranger one fine day Hardly spoke to folks around him, didn't have too much to say, No one dared to ask his business, no one dared to make a slip The stranger there among them had a big iron on his hip, Big iron on his hip It was early in the morning when he rode into the town He came riding from the south side, slowly lookin' all around "He's an outlaw loose and runnin'", came a whisper from each lip "And he's here to do some business with a big iron on his

I have heard that reference and don't get me started on that statement. The two could not be more different in goals, aims, and achievements. I did see one (was a Cub Leader at the time) wonder why there was no knot for WB...I swear that guy slept in his beads...

Note the wording on the infographic: are interested in a program like Cub Scouts for their daughters are interested in a program like Boy Scouts® for their daughters They do not say they are specifically interested in CUBS or SCOUTS...just a program LIKE Scouts. So who knows what sort of program that may be.

First - trying to get a youth to e-mail is tough. Should be a knot for accomplishing that task. We just copy another leader / parent and drive on. That is public and two deep leadership. Gotta deliver the program right? The wizards at National who generate the rules and YPT are governed by lawyers. There are no people involved in this that have worked with an actual unit in at least the last 10 years. If the professional group could raise money and earn salaries without having the bothersome youth around, they would be all in for that

A chart for tracking exercise seems reasonable. The other parts should be done as part of activities and the Cubs can accomplish FUN things and not know they are doing it. When working with Scouts on Camping Merit Badge we get to requirement 9b and some Scouts are not sure about this one 1. Hike up a mountain where, at some point, you are at least 1,000 feet higher in elevation from where you started. 2. Backpack, snowshoe, or cross-country ski for at least 4 miles. 3. Take a bike trip of at least 15 miles or at least four hours. 4. Take a nonmotorized trip

Agree on Family Scouting Sadly many have lost the focus of Scouting in the rush to "Family" scouting. Scouting was NEVER intended or designed to be a "Family" event or activity. The dens were designed to be "patrols" with the Den Leader as the patrol leader. They are supposed to do things as a group WITHOUT Mom and Dad and family being involved. Go off and do stuff that they experience from THEIR perspective. Over time the family camping, the siblings, etc have lessened that and made it more the circus that Cubs is. Now we can see that creeping into Scouts. We

Note that most of the YPT intent is directed at and intended for Adults to setup barriers for abuse to youth. Some is there youth to youth, but it is YOUTH Protection The original post was about chat groups used by youth to youth. As has been noted, nothing really different than boys talking to boys, just in a new format. We as leaders cannot be expected to monitor and observe all conversations youth to youth whether they be in person, in notes, on text, PM's, phone calls, conference calls, etc. Yes it is about the PLC and if the conversation involved bullying or other topics that nee

So to be clear...one can be 17 and 11.5 months and sign up for the BSA, (SA??), on 2/1/2019. Then request an extension to work towards EAGLE and you would have until one was 19 and 11.5 months to get the Eagle (24 months from an extension request). No doubt this will make for some interesting camping and sign off experiences. Not sure how I feel about this

Reminder that all troops may not be able to and equipped to handle the wide range of Scouts that come their way. The leaders are volunteers, and they bring only their experiences with them to their roles. You have identified some issues your son. It appears he has some accommodations that have been worked out with the schools - One such plan was to "check for understanding" similar to his what is implemented at his school There may be some troops that have more experience with these challenges

So true So true. Already the DE's are positing about girls in the "pipeline" and not the actual number of real girls showing up to sign up. One pack in our area had 1 girl come, they are looking at options, DE reported 10+ "interested"

Remember (and you know doubt live this) that unit volunteers and professionals approach this with different agendas Unit volunteers will look to what quality program can I provide to the youth and what is the long term window (hopefully years) for participation with the youth coming to my unit Professionals see youth as a commodity and are mainly interested in the numbers NOW, this month, this year. Goals must be attained. If they can get the money (make the sale / ABC Always Be Closing) and add widgets to the spreadsheet, their job is done Cajoling or bullying a unit is doin

Feedback in our unit is the new YPT seems a bit overkill and heavy handed. Seems less the like old one..how to be compliant and adhere to YPT, and has now morphed into selling me that child exploitation is bad, we are likely all on board with that idea. Also children are in danger, predators abound, be fearful, be watchful, be vigilant Wonder how this will play with new leaders, hope it doesn't scare any off

Have fun. If the scouts are not having fun, they will vote with their feet. Keep the helicopter parents in the back and out of the way. Let the youth (with guidance and mentoring) select and be involved with activities that are engaging to them. If the program becomes more school and classwork to get to the vaunted Eagle rank, you will lose many of them Have fun, go outdoors and DO STUFF. Not for advancement sake, not to get this merit badge or that merit badge, because it is fun, challenging, and engaging. The advancement can be a byproduct of what is done, not the main purpose

I did the flag thing when I was in elementary school. Principal chose two of us that were in scouts. We put it up in the morning and took it down in the afternoon. Fun part was running out of class when a storm came up...good times in the 6th grade, dodging lightning and what not. Well done young cubs

Who has time for all the record keeping and math?

Not a huge fan of massive troop "rules". Never had one, do not plan to have one. Once you have written "guidelines" one will need to follow them and then you get boxed into a corner. Sort of like the academic zero tolerance policies. Huge difference when a kid goes camping with dad and accidentally leaves an axe in the car as compared to kid who brings a knife to school to settle a score. One must look at intent and hopefully be able to judge and work with kids as individuals. We have a large troop and literally have only one written policy, and that concerns cell phones and it was w

Try to get a shirt that youth will actually wear outside of Scouting events. If they will wear it outside, they will wear it during We do a Class B shirt every summer, also for high adventure treks. Different color and use the dri-fit type. Over the last 10 years we have used the same front chest design. Then the back is emblems from the activities we do each summer. On outings we have multiple colors, but they are all similar design. I was pretty sure we had hit on a good overall design as I saw the shirts around town, in photos, and other places worn by our scouts. The

Interesting BSA registration fee is $33. Boys Life is $12 The BL is optional Personally I would find another council and tell them to bag the activity fee

I do find it interesting that a 14 year old cannot hold a full time job, cannot typically open a banking account without parental permission, is not able to enter contracts, cannot legally operate a motor vehicle in the US, is not able to consent for sexual activities, serve in the military, vote in elections, cannot purchase a gun, cannot buy liquor or beer, does not have a choice and is required to attend school, cannot fly unaccompanied without a parent or guardian authorizing, and other myriad of items they are not able to do because as a society we have deemed them not mature enough to ha

Waaay Waaay back in the day we could do the school talks. This was for Boy Scout troops that made for a fun presentation. I was the DE and would travel to the schools with tents, backpack, etc. We would setup in the assembly area, then the classes (boys then) would come to us. It would be the local unit leaders, or their representatives, and myself. I would do the basic what is Boy Scouts, then the local unit leader would talk specifically about what the local troop actually did. Note this was early 80's so no mass crossovers, etc. We had good response because it was tangible Not