Summitdog

 . . . INI

Glad to see that you are helping the girls getting into Cub Scouts!

Welcome to the forum.  At least the Huskers are not last in the Big 10 West.  That would be my Alma Mater. 

Thanks for jumping in and welcome.

Scotty

Welcome to the forum.  My profile pic is of my old dog. 

3 hours ago, Thunderbird said:

With a few exceptions (such as the personal fitness requirements), the rank requirements for the Scout-First Class ranks may be worked on simultaneously.  However (except for merit badges), a Scout cannot start working on the requirements for Star rank until after making First Class rank.

That said, the Cyber Chip is a bit different.

It is noteworthy that the Cyber Chip requirement is the only requirement, aside from merit badges, that does not contain the language "While a First Class Scout".  Actually, my son completed earlier this year so it has not expired.  Because it "counted" towards his Scout rank, we agreed that he should probably recharge it before it expires if it was to be used towards the Star.  (Quite candidly speaking, he just wanted to work towards ranking up over the Thanksgiving weekend and this seemed to fit the bill. 

Thunderbird, I really want thank you for the article.  Not only did it provide helpful information about the Cyber Chip but also about scouts with ADHD.  I will keep this in the library.  I will likely be a good resource for scouts and parents alike. 

Scotty

Rather than "explaining" my son's activities I present to you several hypos, all of which are address those concerned scouters out there.

1) A child arrows out early, while still 10 years old.  Becomes attains the rank of scout while still in the fourth grade.  Child goes to BSA summer camp and knocks out some of requirements through the "trail to first class".  Attends several council "trail to first class" outings as well.  Then enters fifth grade  . . .

2) A child has been an active scout in 5th grade.  Makes some ranks but for reasons that are not relevant to this discussion decides to repeat 5th grade.  

3) There is no requirement that a scout has to achieve the rank preceding  before working on some of the requirements.  That is to say, if a child achieves the Swimming Merit Badge as a tenderfoot the scout need to "repeat" requirements 6(a) and 6(b) for First Class.  That being said, if a scout wants to work towards completing the Cyber Chip prior to actually achieving the rank of First Class that scout may.  NOTE: If the scout does not achieve the rank of Star by the end of 5th grade then this requirement may be subject to review by the scout master and the advancement committee.)

Some food for thought.

Scotty

Thanks

My son is working on his cyber chip for the Star Scout rank.  The cyber chip card reads: "Cub Master" signature.  This is probably based on the fact that my son is still in 5th grade so that is the curriculum he is working on.  Is this something that the Scout Master must sign or can an ASM sign off on it?

Scotty

The council coordinator for shooting sports told our class that the NRA has modified its platform for an individual to be qualified as an instructor for Rifle, Shotgun, muzzleloader, and Pistol. It used to be that an individual needed the Basic Instructor Training (BIT) and the specific instructor course for the particular discipline, which took approximately three days (including the live fire qualification). Now the new platform will require the prospective instructor to take the BIT, the basic training course for the specific discipline and then the instructor course. 

I can appreciate the desire to make sure that any potential instructor has the basic skill setPrior to allowing them to become an instructor but I imagine that the instructor course should weed out the unqualified.  Perhaps I’m being cynical but seems like the NRA is essentially trying to “double dip”.  My concern is that with this time and expense increase the number of shooting sports instructors in the BSA will decline and thereby decrease the opportunities to the scouts. 

Scotty

Thank you everyone for the replies.  As I understand it from the posts, the "tickets' are supposed to be related to one's registered position, correct?  Isn't a merit badge counselor also a registered position?  Does that mean the tickets could be either for the ASM position or the MB position if one holds both? 

Thanks,

Scotty

Thanks for the clarification and the link.

Scotty

Is the "Outdoor Ethics Action Award" and the "Outdoor Ethics Awareness Award" one and the same?  I've seen both of the terms and it is unclear if they are being used interchangeably. 

Scotty

I am a new scouter.  I hear of people talking about the Wood Badge, wearing the wood chip necklace, etc., but they have a difficult time actually explaining how the course actually assisted the troop or the scouts in the troop.  The way it has been explained to me, it sounds like boy scout merit badge for adults.  I do not intend to offend anyone on the forum.  My query is not an attack on the individuals or the program.  I am just trying to understand the underlying "advantage" to the troop/scouts for an adult to go through the program.

NOTE: Before you flame away, just remember the "I don't get it" from Big. 

Thanks,

Scotty

Just to muddy the waters a bit, the summer camps in Northern California are in the High Sierras.  The lakes consist of near freezing cold water, even in late summer, from all of the snow runoff.  The question is whether a scout is, or should be, permitted to wear a light wet suit just to keep warm?

  Understandably, it will provide some buoyancy, which may discount the effort in someone's view.  On the other hand, it makes for a "safer" swim as the scout is less likely to experience cramping or severe loss of body heat because of the frigid temperature.  NOTE: The surface temperature at the varies lakes average between 50-55 degrees in the spring and to 70 degrees in mid-summer.

Scotty

There are many people with learning differences, e.g., dyslexia, who can greatly benefit from audiobooks.  Learning Ally has quite a few of the merit badge handbooks on audio.  There is an annual fee of Learning Ally is not part of the school's library.  See:  https://learningally.org/

Scotty

This does seem like a systemic issue.  You may wish to reach out to the scout and his family to see how they feel about the situation and what actions they want to undertake with your support.  Additionally, you may wish to record instances of bullying by the CC to corroborate your claim of bullying when the CC is ultimately confronted.

Scotty

I am doing what I can.  I am a merit badge counselor, certified RSO, Rifle Instructor, and Shotgun Instructor.  I will finish my ASM training this weekend.  I have also been one of the adult members of a number of board of reviews.

My son has been a scout since April of this year.  He's been in cub scouts and webelos but this is a new experience for both of us.  It has been a rough start for him.  He went to a summer camp as a provisional scout with another troop.  The younger scouts of the provisional troop tormented him because he was only 10 years old and had a learning difference.  Very long and painful experience him.  Now that the summer is over he is with his troop and getting back into enjoying scouting.

Scotty

This is an old thread that could use reviving.  There are still a great many scouts with learning differences that could benefit for audio books.  I found the Merit Badge Handbook, the Boy Scout Handbook and the Scout Master Handbook all on:  https://learningally.org/

My son is really excited about finally being able to "read" on his own. 

Scotty