TMSM

I understand how this fits your needs for the vision of your troop. I am actually thinking of calling it quits as SM. In my opinion campouts are not reallly about sleeping a tent, a 5 mile hike is meant to teach compass skills in the field, evidence of plants or anmals is to get the boys out into the wild and to explore. These real experiences are what I thought taught citizenship, how to help others and how to explore the world. I see no reason to hurry these requirements as if they will miss out being a certain rank - I see more value in waiting 6 months and scouts learning the value of waiting. My scouts are not into getting ranked up but more into hands on skill learning. I really feel like I misinterpreted something along the way and maybe should just move on.

I don't think I am ready to pull the trigger on these yet. My question is do I have to allow these? There are plenty of other requirements to do but if a scout who hates hiking sees this he may choose to do a 5 miles hike plan vs actually doing the hike. FYI - we can still hike in our area.

https://www.scouting.org/coronavirus/covid-19-faq/?fbclid=IwAR1Nbfkd2TbKIjlIS-SNGokCxJEyI37vCVuEtuL0F3CGJiuoCyGbAJlvt4o Tenderfoot rank requirements 1b. – Virtual patrol or troop campouts via video conferencing will be permitted. 2a. – During the same day as your virtual patrol or troop campout, assist in preparing one meal with the help of those with whom you live. Tell your patrol or troop why it was important for each person to share in meal preparation and cleanup. 2b. – During the same day as your virtual campout, demonstrate the appropriate method of safely cleaning items used to prepare, serve and eat a meal. 5a. – Explain the importance of the buddy system as it relates to your personal safety on outings and in your neighborhood. Verbally commit to following the buddy system on your next troop or patrol outing. 7a. – Tell how to display, raise, lower, and fold the U.S. flag. Second Class rank requirements: 1a & 1c. – Virtual patrol or troop activities via video conferencing will be permitted. 3b. – Using a compass and map together, plan a 5-mile hike approved by your adult leader. 4. – Evidence of wild animals can be demonstrated with information or photos of your local area found online. 5c. – May be completed virtually via video conferencing on dry land. 7c. – Learn about the dangers of using drugs, alcohol and tobacco and other practices that could be harmful to your health. Discuss what you learned with your family and explain the dangers of substance addictions. Report to your Scoutmaster or other adult leader in your troop about which parts of the Scout Oath and Scout Law relate to what you learned. 8a. – May be completed virtually using video conferencing. 8d. – May be completed by comparing costs at three (3) online sites or locations. First Class rank requirements: 1a – Virtual patrol or troop activities via video conferencing will be permitted. 2e. – On the same day as your virtual campout, serve as the cook. Supervise your assistant(s) in using a stove or building a cooking fire. Prepare the breakfast, lunch, and dinner planned in First Class requirement 2a. Supervise the cleanup. 4a. – By drawing, computer software, or other virtual methods, plan an orienteering course that would cover at least one mile. Explain why measuring the height and/or width of designated items (tree, tower, canyon, ditch, etc.) is helpful. Explain how you would complete your course using a real map and compass. 4b. – Scouts do not need to follow their route. 5a. – Evidence of native plants can be demonstrated with information or photos of your local area found online. 6e. – May be completed on dry land. 9a. – Visit may take place virtually or by phone. 9c. – Outings can include past or future plans. 10. – Invite the potential new member to a virtual meeting or future activity using video conferencing.

I totaly agree. its good to spend some time talking about this with a scout because I have always found a place that they have been that qualifies. This is why this badge can be done from home while in lock down.

The SM team looked through the long lists being posted as doable at home and have norrowed it down to these: Digital Technology - Family Life - Genealogy - Programming - Salesmanship - assumes you have participated in unit sales. Scholarship - Weather - assumes you can easily find parts for a rain gage American Business - Collections – Citizenship of nation - assumes you have been to a place registered as National Historic or to DC/state capitol (we are not allowing virtual tours) There might be more but we want to do this with local resources if possible. We also would like to keep within the spirit of MBs in that the scout should start with an interest in a subject, meet with his SM, contact the MBC the scoutmaster provides or contacted a registered MBC after the SM has checked YPT .

My two cents - some troops are searching for any excuse to have coed or have girls lead the boys. SPLs lead thier troop not other troops. Stop trying to read into things that you want to happen. BSA is currently not coed.

I teach hammock camping at our council training event every year - here is a deck that I use Hammock_101_.pdf

We attend at out Co and they make a big deal that we are there and talk about the other things we do during the year. Its one of the few times I get a lot of people thanking me for what I do for scouts.

When I took it we didn't open any of the supplys in my kit but we did discuss expeiration date and went through the kit and noted what was expired and what could be added to be better prepared. Our troop pays for this kind of training scout or adult and the troop should provide their first aid kit so it can be checked also. Wilderness first aid is one of the requirements for National Outdoor Award Medal so he should take a look at this to see if its something he could earn.

I volunteered as an MBC because I feel boys are underserved. Nothing against girls in BSA but I would rather spend my limited time on boys.

I am both SM and MBC. I signed up for a few that I just sign off on like Climbing and Cooking because either the instructor was not one or there were minor requirments that needed to be done after we came back from camp or a campout. Our scouts planned a cycling program feature and they hit many requirements so I signed up to help finish off the last few and sign their cards (only a handful of takers).

How many moms showed up with chainsaws?

This seems to be turning south - I don't think it is worth anyones time to debate the strenght of any specific gender, please stop.

Not really, they changed up the activity pins 4 or 5 years ago. I am not sure what you are trying to accomplish with this dad. Sounds like he didnt step up and be a scouter to all of the kids in the den but not sure if expectations were set in the begining of the year or after the den leader quit. Now he wants to has his son earn every pin and is not being accurate in siging off on some of the requirements. My advice is to send an email to all parents asking to recheck all requirements signed off are accurate - a scout is trustworthy. Then move on. Its not worth the heartburn and Cub Scouts is pretty much over.

Some may see this as confrontation and are uncomfortable about this. Most of the Scouting Adventure should be done with other den members so maybe he missed that meeting and did his best to do what he could.Maybe you could say "Hey Mr Smith, Can you help me? I see you signed off on makng a patrol flag but Jimmy wasnt in the den meeting when we did this, turns out Tommy wasn't there either so do you have any tips on how to help Tommy get this signed off?

5 million more to pay off past transgressions that current Scouters didnt do. 5 million more to create marketing material to show potential scout parents the value of scouts and to encourage more boys to join.

Yes, I have bent over backwards to not show any favortism to my son due to the fact that the last SM left a huge mess based on his favoritism to his 2 sons. I had to back off a few helicopter/lawnmower parents in the past 5 years and have had a few of those parents stab me in the back. I get that as SM I will be subject to unfair criticism behind my back so just trying to isolate my son. He gets criticism from fellow scouts who say he got this award or that award (example 500 mile hiking) only because he is my son and this causes him to doubt how great he really is. I do help other scouts on their eagle project when they ask me but I do encourage all to have their own plan in mind and do all of the communication to all parties when possible.

The other great thing is the price $160 and at 28oz it cant be beat.

I have that same tent and it is great. Its a 1 person so understand that there is not a whole lot of room inside the screened in portion but lots of vestibule space and doors on both sides. The doors are on the sides so easier to get in and out. Going to Philmont in 2020 and cant wait to try it out in NM.

We did just change Eagle Coordinators and the comittee does not focus on building any written guidelines for this part of the Eagle project. EC has not responded to emails or texts but the CC has stated he wont put this on the agenda next Monday unless EC gives a thumbs up. The CC doesn't know the EC is slow to respond and most likely thinks the EC is working to help the scout fix a few things. I like the idea of my son letting the CC know hes ready to go. As SM I have learned quite a few tricks to help boys make decisions and act on them without directly telling them what and how to do it so I'll use that to help him.

"The unit committee is responsible for an approval of the proposal. It is acceptable for a troop, crew, or ship committee to designate representative(s) to act on its behalf. This is a unit decision. Neither the district nor the council may institute restrictions, such as how many committee members are to be involved"

I am the SM so trying not to flex on the troop committee on rules but will if I need to. The Eagle Coordinator in our troop is slow to respond and my son only has a small window to get some of his project done. The CC says he wont review the project this month unless the Eagle Coordinator says its ready. I read what my son has written and its better than most I have seen presented at the troop committee meeting so he is good to go in my mind. I just wasnt sure on who contacts the CC that they want a review of their project. We have a great committee who mostly just provides a prod here or there or a suggestion so its a good experience for the scout.

Who decides if a scout is ready to present his eagle project to the committee? Can the scout ask the CC and send a copy of his proposal or does he need the Eagle coordinator to review and set up the timne for committee for review? I am SM and this is my sons proposal so trying not to get involved directly.

What happened to the focus on outdoors and individual accomplishments? I see family camping more as a Cub Scouts thing.