Jameson76

As a leader you can only treat what you know about. Also I would not be too concerned about the antibiotics. That may be a CYA by the ER. Could be a good learning experience for the troop that all injuries need to be reported to the leaders so proper care can be provided. That's why we have the big honking medical kit (smaller one for backpacking) on all outings

Actually nope. I had to look that one up. Venture Officers Association Let's not forget SWAG SNAFU PDQ

For the EBOR's I have sat on and the ones for our troop (+/- 12 per year) there is not an check on that. If that is what the Scout wants, that is the religious reference.

That is the default From our good friend the Guide to Advancement: References: Must list all six (five if not employed). If not affiliated with an organized religion, then the parent or guardian provides this reference. There are no restrictions on who the Scout may list as the two other references. The candidate may list anyone, including parents or guardians not previously listed, other relatives, Scout leaders including those from the candidate’s unit, or other Scouts and friends. There is no requirement that any of the references be 21 years of age or older

Eventually....

One camp we go to has an off camp option on Friday. We do a troop event to a local natural area and hike in and swim at a waterfall.

Sad story from Colorado https://kdvr.com/2019/06/11/man-on-boy-scouts-trip-in-southern-colorado-dies-in-rafting-accident/?fbclid=IwAR0QgqI13tgJLFSUbeK-2f4xYAj1JEDWZU03adi763oM4tejycR0h2EkbGA Wonder if this was part of a Blue Sky Adventure for a Philmont trip? They offer a Royal Gorge Whitewater Rafting trip in that area

We have the C-130 come over and dump the DDT on us, works great after you get over the coughing spasm

I do not think they do, not actually. They talk about the Philmont OA trek, maybe some vague conclave experience, but it is not actual "Oh I can do that" selling point. Then they talk about doing work days and service, which is needed, but that may not be the best recruiting talking point. Some items they discussed like Philmont OA are good, but not applicable. For instance (in our case) troop goes to Philmont every two years, those that want to go have that avenue. Not a huge selling point.

Many many go into the OA, do the ordeal, and it's one and done. So the question may be, why one and done? Can only speak for the local chapter of our local lodge, they tend to be, how can you say...cliquish. Some of our guys went to some meetings a few years ago and it was not the most welcoming. Also the follow-up at the ordeal as they talk chapters etc is lost on the 13 / 14 year old Scouts. Most are asleep anyway. From a unit perspective the chapter shows up once a year, come in and do the election, show some videos, they seem to not really be able to articulate the WHY a Scout should be active. Yes the whole cheerful service deal, but what is the hook, the draw, what brings them in. What is the "program" and what will be "fun". Sort of like when we had a Venture group at our CO, they wanted to see if our older Scouts might be interested. Note we are a very active troop. So the Venture guy comes to the meeting, the guys ask, what are your next activities, and the answer was; we can do many things, join up and we'll plan some. Not a bad answer, but no real incentive to add something new. I see the same with the OA at least here. They are not good at selling what the benefit is for the Scout to stay active in the chapter, maybe pay dues, etc.

So just an observation, the youth would not have been permitted to participate in any BSA High Adventure base due to not meeting the Height/Weight restrictions

Some do not know when to leave the dance. The have "always" been the SM of unit 1234. It is their identity. Sadly they may not see ship sinking around them. Not sure how many active Scout you may have. There does, at least on paper, need to be some committee members. They are the ones that choose the leaders. Sometimes they are active in that, sometime not so much. As was noted you have some choices. Yours seems really down to a couple. 1) Get the committee to appoint a new SM and that is that. 2) Move on to a new opportunity. If you cannot get #1 done, then #2 is the only option. Unless you plan to stay for another year hoping for change. The COR would appoint the CC but would likely have zero or less knowledge of the how of the troop function

Interesting topic A point that always seems to be made is that phones are "tools". Yes that is true, but the GTSS has a whole bunch of tools that cannot be used. There are also arguments made that that the guidelines are too broad, etc etc, do not take into account all things. The bottom line is that the tool matrix in GTSS is bases on maturity and expectations of maturity. Are all Scouts mature enough to handle phone correctly? Not sure. So the tool comment is entertaining as there are lots and lots of tools not allowed. While not all are listed I doubt that many units would allow Scouts to bring generators, compressors, and nail guns to build stuff at camp. Yet those are in fact tools. @TAHAWK That is a interesting missive on taking things. There are many many things that Scouts can legally have but I believe you would not allow on outings. Air soft guns, automobiles if they are over 16, possibly compound bows. Again to be clear, unit leaders are in fact ultimately responsible for the outing and the unit. The leaders may "hold to keep secure" some items. That does not make it theft, as you neglect to note intent The phones as I noted are an interesting topic. Yes they can be useful, and just as easily that can be a distraction or even a problem. Online games, inappropriate content, and questionable contacts on social media are just some of the potential issues. Not to mention the possibility to lose or damage the phones in the great outdoors. Our unit's stance on phones has evolved. 12 - 15 years ago we had no real policy or guidelines. As these devices moved from just phones to smart phones we had to change. Our next stop on the journey was don't ask don't tell. If we saw them we asked them to be put away. Now we have arrived at the current guideline, no phones on outings. You can have them in the cars going and coming, but leave them there for the outing. That is our culture. If a family does not like that, there are other units.

Can't speak for their specific circumstance, but one of our Scouts Eagle project was a flag collection box at city hall. Periodically we go down and clean that out. They can get numerous. Ours is typically during the annual Webelos visitation campout. We publicize a few weeks prior and get them from the church and random bags left at the shed. Never had 400 but we have had a boatload. The local council summer camp does a great ceremony on Wednesday night and troops can bring flags. They actually have built an oven type device to place at the fire ring. While the main ceremony retires a good many, it does not get all retired. There is every couple of weeks another private ceremony where the staff retires all the collected flags using the stove device. It provides a more concentrated fire and contains the flags. Burns faster and cleaner. Honestly when you start collecting flags, there can be a bunch coming out of the woodwork

We get some new Scouts each year that have bailed out in 4th grade due to "yawn" too long of a Cub program. Then they see us when they are maybe 6th grade, want to know if they can join Boy Scouts as they dropped out of Cubs. A lot of our leaders that were Cub leaders talk about the long long long walk through Cubs...up to 6 years now We tell them if they have the application, pay the dues, and give us to start a Medical A / B...welcome aboard

We had one very eager to rank up. He was looking for a BOR and I asked about troop activities. He said he went on the raft trip, went climbing with the troop, did the five mile hike, and took a hike to an outpost, and had been to summer camp. I had to explain him that as all the list of activities; raft trip, climbing, five mile hike, and hike to an outpost; took place while at summer camp, that was only one troop activity...summer camp. Each thing he did while at summer camp was not in fact a separate activity. We discussed that the intent of the requirement was to have scouts be involved in the troop. He questions my interpretation and wanted to know if I was a lawyer. Told him I was not.

Wasn't that a running gag on Big Bang Theory and Sheldon and his "Fun With Flags" Youtube shows??

So - The United States Flag Code, Title 4, Section 8k states-“The flag, when it is in such condition that it is no longer a fitting emblem of display, should be destroyed in a dignified way, preferably by burning.” Pretty much that is about the only instruction. There are many ways to do this is a dignified manner, and that interpretation (dignified manner) would be up to the unit and those performing the retirement

Naproxen is your friend. Naproxen is prescribed for the treatment of mild to moderate pain and inflammation. Take at night, you will wake up with somewhat less inflammation and tension from the plantar fasciitis and other aches and pains. Don't fear the better living through chemistry option

Honestly, most of the youth from a physical perspective will likely do well. Boots are another issue that need to be addressed of course. Leaders, that's another story. You can do a good pack shakedown in a driveway. Everyone full packs, you run down the list, make sure it's there. If you have folks from past years, have them come and discuss what may or may not be needed (I've never taken rain pants). Biggest thing to get done is crew cohesion, and working together as a team. The Philmont trek is much different than weekend trips or summer camp due to length and smaller numbers (at least in our case) on the outing. On the plus side they are older scouts so hopefully more mature. On the downside there is literally nowhere to go to get away, you can't bail, and if you are not working together at least somewhat, makes for a long 12 days I would make sure you have a solid crew leader, make sure everyone knows there will be daily work to get done; water, tarp, cooking, bear bags, etc etc; and everyone is expected to contribute. There is crew gear; food, stoves, first aid, fuel, etc etc that everyone will tote. Get the admin stuff done prior to departure, good clear structure led by the crew leader, then you are ready to meet the physical demands.

It is a tough call In our troop for Scout - 1st Class the Scout has to get signed off by a Life or above Scout. For SM conference an ASM does that. Our informal process is that you would not do your son's SM Conference or if on the committee BOR For our current SM his son just aged out this year. As he worked through the ranks other leaders did the SM conferences and BOR's. He was an SPL and for that period one of the other leaders in the troop was his guide during the time. Good for the son to hear a different voice at times There does not seem to be a formal rule in GTA, but common sense should prevail and the opportunity for the SM's son to interact with other adults.

Not impugning (def: dispute the truth, validity, or honesty of (a statement or motive); call into question) at all, just noting what is on his public website.

And Dad's a lawyer, so that helps to grease the wheels From his Law firm website - interesting the mention of girls and women in Boy Scouts is on the home page With the guidance of the Law Offices of Gary Ireland, you can maximize income and benefits when joining a company, enhance severance, and if necessary assert rights when leaving. Gary Ireland also works with clients who are seeking to start companies – with his help you can save money and solve legal problems by making smarter business decisions while limiting risk. And Gary is active as an advocate for inclusion and non-discrimination - currently working to enable girls and young women to participate at all of levels of scouting within the Boy Scouts of America.

If you were around for the "Improved Scouting Program" from 73 - 79 there was NO camping required. (it was an option, but not required) You could get Eagle and NO camping, outdoor cooking, or swimming. The only time you may have had to go outside was for Environmental Science. Dark days I tell you....dark days

The patrol camping and cohesion is a good path, but it is a journey. Needs to be in the forefront in camping and meetings When I joined my current troop the camping method was, at best, the blob method. Sort of everyone camps, in a large group. To move towards the patrol method, we revamped the "How" we camped, sort of cold turkey. Working with the PLC we reset the patrol boxes, and every patrol got the box, tarp, table, lantern, etc. First campout (a February one) after we worked through the details, this was the new way. Before any personal gear is setup, trailer is unloaded, patrol sites set (spread out mind you), to include tarp, table, etc. Honestly this took over two hours and there was a good bit of involvement to keep on task. Now 10 years later, this takes maybe 15 minutes and all the Scouts know what to expect and areas are setup, they are spaced out, and we sort of kinda look like a troop with patrols. It is not perfect, but it is better and continuing to be part of the culture. For meetings we have an area outside, (hope it doesn't rain on meeting nights) around the central assembly area there are posts with the patrol names, they group there for opening and closing, and the patrols cycle through instruction by patrols. Our troop has the continual mixed age group patrols. The leaders allocate new Scouts to patrols each year. For PL and APL the patrols hold elections (we do this on paper to discourage Russian influence) every 6 months or so. Typically this is done on one of the outings. Again, not perfect and not technically by the book, but it does seem to work for our troop. Note we are in the 80 +/- Scout range for the unit.