JustAScoutMom

My daughter's troop is disbanding. She is in 7th grade, and has already completed a journey. If we go the Juliette route, is there a place somewhere online that helps clarify requirements so she can continue, by doing just what she needs to do to advance properly with the silver and eventually the gold award? Any help would be appreciated. She is interested in joining BSA in 2/2019, so she will be very into scouting....I just would like to see her finish what she started in GS. TIA!

Anyone who has done one before is asked to consider doing another one. This, however, has to change. Any CM that sits on a BOR should have at least READ this document: https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwiE8syhm6HbAhUEzFMKHfYkBHEQFggqMAA&url=https%3A%2F%2Ffilestore.scouting.org%2Ffilestore%2Fpdf%2F33088.pdf&usg=AOvVaw1IicJ2tSCLnA4geEmxSMEN So many simply do NOT know what their role is. They think its to vet the appropriateness of the scout for the new rank. This is exactly what it i

Shouldn't the PLC understand what makes JTE points? Wouldn't that help them understand the ulterior motive of JTE by seeing the metrics? Of course, some may just want to check the boxes to earn the points...but don't we all do that initially until we fully understand?

I don't understand how the leaders didn't understand or pay proper attention when it was getting even close to the line!

I would also presume the majority of early entry girls were siblings, so quite likely they already knew most of the requirements, but just had to demonstrate. And, they don't even need to earn rank.....not all of the boys do, but if they can do it, great.

And you are not unique to a lot of men....which is exactly why a woman has to be at a campsite when girls are there.

Actually, I'm all for the skorts....just wish they had plentiful pockets!!! They do offer a bit more modesty for the older girls, since shorts can often be more form-fitting in the rear for some girls. And whether its good or bad, girls changing bodies have more difficulty fitting clothes. Boys have it lucky....find shorts with the right waist measurements, and you are good to go. My daughter was trying out uniform pants in August last year....had to try three sizes just to get her waist and hips to fit properly. ...and she was just entering 6th grade. Skorts can be designed to be more fo

This is why we started doing the STEM awards...since it had to be approved by a Nova Counselor....kind of like a merit badge counselor but not quite as intense. Good prepping for BS.

Case in point...my son asked why we were having a formal crossover event for him to earn his AOL patch. He said "he already felt as if he did crossover." He started meeting with boy scout troops in December....4 months BEFORE crossover. He went to the Boy Scout Camporee in January with his den, and they formed an AOL patrol for the event. They attended our Webelos Winter Weekend (just like camporee, but for Webelos only) for the last two years and crushed it as a den....they were independent and self-reliant. The transition was seamless. Not saying that there isn't something to learn....h

The law is not upheld. How many churches in the last 3-4 years have been using the pulpit to endorse a political discussion/candidate. This is no different. Now, the BSA should have encouraged a deferment to honor, after the election, to ensure that it appears unbiased. Endorsing a person during an election (regardless of the election is not mentioned) is certainly publicizing his candidacy...they should have known better.

He quickly accepted the swim team idea (in the past, he has HATED the idea), but he is determined to impress his peeps by passing the test in June. His legs are strong due to daily inline skating. I think the swim coach will great for him...he will gain endurance AND learn the proper stroke techniques. I'm excited for him. I think each new skill will make him feel accomplished. More importantly, he will absolutely know that when he passes, he really earned it. Its his alone and he can take a lot of pride in it.

From a 1st year Boy Scouts perspective, what I'm trying to educate him on is the "first" big differences between cub scouts and boy scouts is this: * You don't just "try your best" and get patted on the back * You don't just get a participation trophy * You need to develop and demonstrate proficiency * You can move as fast or as slow as you want...its all up to you. He doesn't need to focus on those attributes of boy scouts that will demanded on him in a year or two. Now, I thought the above would result in the world crashing down on him. He is one of those "lazy bo

And I do not mean to say that everything about Girl Scouts is bad. Girl Scouts provides those extracurricular educational opportunities that were once in schoolsZ. A trip to the ballet? We did that in school. They don’t do that now! A trip to see how pottery is made? Many high schools no longer have that program either. There is a place for it....and it’s valuable. But it’s not “Scouting.”

Also, the structure of the program shares the burden for all of the activities. The troop has a troop leader and a cookie mom. Thats it. And the troops are typically 6-10 girls, so even if half of all parents volunteered, what are they volunteering for? There is no formal role that they can fill....its just "helping" the troop leader, and not all troop leaders have the time or the patience to involve everyone, since it takes time to do so! The BSA training shows everyone what they need to do and what their role is, so they can immediately add value. As our SM always says "many hands make

GSUSA may say that they are girl-led (they say it ALL the time), but they are not. Never in my entire life as a former girl scout did I have control over anything. They have "leaders" and those are "troop leaders", and the girls follow their leader. They may also say that they develop the best girl leaders, but I have yet to see a leadership development program for girls, and my daughter is a cadette. This may happen in the older years, but the development is not for leadership. It IS to make confident, capable young ladies that can manage work...but a leader is more than that. Basically

Thank you for the feedback everyone. He really wants to ensure that he passes on the first attempt in front of his peeps and "leave them in the dust". While I doubt that would happen (as there are few stronger/bigger boys there with him), I know it would make him feel so accomplished. We may just have him join the local swim team now up until summer camp, just to ensure that he has the stamina and coordination for the strokes. I appreciate any additional words of wisdom though!

My son is a new scout, and he will be attending his first summer camp in June. He is taking a double-block swimming merit badge class. He was in lessons when he was young, and we live near the beach and have a pool, so he is perfectly comfortable and capable in the water....daring and enjoys it. However, he doesn't know the proper strokes and has little upper body strength (legs are strong though!). He is also EXTREMELY skinny (5 feet and barely 75 pounds), so no fat at all in his body. Given the above, what are his chances for earning this merit badge at camp after so many hours swim

I really don't understand how they can mandate it. They do not own the troop meeting location. Logistics could play a part in how many girls you can accommodate. Small house? Can't keep more than 8 girls comfortably in one room? If that were the case, I would NOT allow more than 8 girls in a troop. And throwing a girl on you that has no relationship with any of the other girls? Hardly reasonable to have a stranger in your house wandering around, even if its a 10 year old girl.

Awful article until it started discussing number 1...then it was great. People are different. People can also be equals. I think we should recognize what we have in common, while celebrating the differences that we have. But that 6-list code...read it....how is that any different than how you would want to raise a daughter? They should strive for their own code, letting them go chase their dreams, and fail as well. Certainly we want all children to grow up to be capable adults making ethical decisions. Now, how we accomplish this may be different...but the goals are the same.

I already expressed interest in helping a troop....will see if they ever reach back out to me. We just aged out of the pack, so that is no longer my personal concern.

I'm not saying that they have to...the CO has a choice, and I can respect that, but I also can be disappointed at the decision/preference. However, I would also hope that ONE of them would encourage/welcome this change, as an organization with institutional knowledge can make this much more successful than one that cannot. I would hate to see any effort towards the spreading of scouting ideals fail.

Sadly, I don't know of any pack that is considering adding girls in our council. Our prior CM was completely against the idea, and still is...not sure if his feelings are widespread in this council/district or not.

Ours doesn't limit....but each adult joining MUST be registered/paid with BSA, so that does reduce the number naturally.

GS Day Camp for 2018 is $250-300, while overnight camp is $400+. Compare that to cub scout day camp, which is $85 (and includes a t-shirt), and you have got yourself a steal with BSA. Those boys are also placed into smaller dens, based on rank. They pull in over 250 scouts from the council. They also pull in a LOT of volunteers, boy scout and girl scouts as well. Probably 50 youth staff and another 75 adult staff. And every single day, the boys are swimming, doing archery and bb gun. Did I also say that if you as a parent volunteer, you get $25 off your $85 fee? The biggest issue

But most packs have an elaborate event for rank advancement and crossover, while some combine it with B&G. Most packs have a tradition on how they handle this every single year....this throws a wrench in tradition for the packs, and everyone on top should know it. I don't think its unreasonable to wait until 2019 but it has to be in place right after 1/1/2019! If for nothing else, the troop needs to be organized prior to accepting new scouts.