Mrjeff

I guess I'm the only one who thinks thats its impractical and even impossible to legitimately earn every merit badge in just over a year.  I have seen Eagle Scouts who can't build a fire, tie a knot, or cook a meal.  I have also heard kids say that they can get a quick military promotion by earning Eagle.  Those who do the promoting expect those Eagle Scouts to know something and if they don't they find themselves in a less then favorable position.  Does anyone remember when an "Eagle Scout is a First Class Scout who has earned a specific number of merit badges?"  

If a person is educated in a specific area and has practiced that field professionally then I would consider that person an expert.  Weather the field be in medicine,  law enforcement, or nuclear energy.  Some merit badg councilors can get by with reading the book and covering the subject and doing the best they can, but others just can not.  I wouldn't  want Mr. Jones teaching on the subject of lifesaving, welding, or firearms unless he is truly qualified to do so.

Ok,that's wonderful and I hope they were meaningful, met a need and you had a good time doing them😉

Well, I agree that they can be really successful engaging in one activity.  But I don't understand how a expert in every subject covered in the merit badge program can be located,  all of the requirements met, and accepted by that expert who is a registered merit badge counselor.   Hmmmmm..................Environmental Science-Welding-Motorboating-Climbing-Personal Management-Rifle Shooting???????, 

Sadly, after all these years, the Boy Scouts of America has simply "run it's course" and is nearing the end of it's  useful existence.   Then dump a truckload of negativity on the tracks and the problems continue to grow.  Anyway, with today's virtual world, academic pressure, extracurricular activities,  negative peer pressure, it may be that most kids just want to stay at home and relax.

First, I would like to say that in my experience Wood Badge and Sea Badge are worth attending and are both rewarding and fun.  To validate this point, I have attended 3 Wood Badge courses as a participant: one was "the old course" in 1982; the next was "WB for the 21st Century"; and the third was a course provided by the National Council.  They were all very different and they were all great.  I've also helped with several courses, and attended Sea Badge. In each case ther were those who really agonized over their Ticket or Logbook.  I would suggest to all that you keep your goals simple and fun.  Look at things that you enjoy doing and meet a specific need.  Big projects are great, but only if YOU would enjoy it, and usually involve others.  Smaller items can be completed relatively guickly, and usually only depend on yourself.  Most importantly, have fun doing it. People used to say "it's all for the boy" and my response to that is "bolderdash", because if the grown folk aren't having fun and are miserable,  the kids won't have fun and will be miserable,  too.  

In 50+ years of Scouting I have only met one young man who earned every merit badge.  This young man is exceptional in every way and is on his way to the Olympics.   At the time, he was an older tean and had been in Scouting for years.  If he couldn't find a registered and legitimate merit badge councilor in his area he would travel to other parts of the country to find one.  Now, it seems that earning every merit badge has become the norm and I just read where two Eagle Scouts from the same troop have accomplished this.  I also read where one Scout did this in just over a year.   Wow, thats impressive but can someone explain how this is done,  especially if each councilor is an expert in their field and registered as a councilor?

Ideological view of what Scouting is.  You lost me on that.  Whose Ideological views?  The general public; volunteers; professionals; parents; or most importantly, the kids?  It's a simple concept that kids want to have fun and be entertained.  They aren't too interested is being in school and learning lessons on their free time.  I'll not bore yall justifying this opinion, but please accept it as my own.  If I do what I am supposed to do as a Scouter, I am the facilitator and give the kids what they want and need to have fun.  Then I slip in some leadership opportunities and even some tips on how to be successful, and sit back and watch the show.  This is my simple formula and I am deliberately excluding adult supervision, YPT, guide to safe scouting, and all the other "do nots" because I don't want to start more crap on how things should be done.  I'm simply presenting MY simple formula for success with kids of all ages in all settings.

Outside of an Eagle board of review I have never heard a kid say they joined Scouts to " become a fine leader"; "learn to be self reliant"; "learn important lessons that will help me through my life's journey" or any of the other grand ideas that many Scout leaders focus on.  Nooooooo, instead I hear things like " to camp out"; "so I can have a knife"; "to go swimming"; "to go to summer camp"; "to mess with fire"; or simply " to have FUN."  I just can't help to wonder how many young people are very disappointed and just walk away because they didn't get what they thought they would get.

You just don't get it,  carry on my patchy friends and beware of the Patch Police!

I give patches away every chance I get and I enjoy the responses of the kids.  In the very rare occasion that for some reason (ie: getting a lodge flap from every lodge in our section before reorganization) I committed the capital offense of trading with kids.  I assure yall that everyone I swapped with got "good patches" and were satisfied.  In patch trading lingo, they got good patches for patches that weren't so good.   Like I said, to me, patches have no value other then to make the kids happy.

Oh KKKKKKKKKKKKK, let's try this again.  First, I know all about patches and how to get them maid.  To explain the point of this post I'll try again.  The BSA is loosing members, employees, volunteers,  and entire councils are disappearing.  The required fees have skyrocketed and have made it impossible for some to participate.  They have initiated the "Camp Manager" requirement for council sponsored events; YPT is required but often times it's impossible to complete because of computer problems; they sunk a lot of money in the Summitt Reserve to include huge and beautiful training facilities which are largely empty and unused.  It would seem to me that our national level employees and volunteers could spend their time trying to make Scouting more affordable and available including high adventure and summer camp programs.  I don't give a rip about patches, patch trading, patch values, or patch placement.  If the kids come up with a design that isn't "naughty" then let the kids have their patch.  Instead of wasting resources saying what is a good or bad scrap of fabric.  This appears to be another method to #$$$ off people and cause them to walk away.  If you maintain that attitude and directio all that will be left are the rule makers and those who worry about those rules.  Again, patches are a way to award kids for stuff, and beyond that I fail to see their value.  It really doesn't matter what anyone else suggests for a solution,  "they're " going to do whatever "they" want to do.  Is that clear enough?

Outside of an Eagle board of review I have never heard a kid say they joined Scouts to " become a fine leader"; "learn to be self reliant"; "learn important lessons that will help me through my life's journey" or any of the other grand ideas that many Scout leaders focus on.  Nooooooo, instead I hear things like " to camp out"; "so I can have a knife"; "to go swimming"; "to go to summer camp"; "to mess with fire"; or simply " to have FUN."  I just can't help to wonder how many young people are very disappointed and just walk away because they didn't get what they thought they would get.

You're rigt and I apologize for causing such a "ruckus." The whole point of the analogies was to say that I think with the whole thing including loss of membership, increase in fees, dedicated Scouters with a whole lot of time, talents, and treasure invested are just walking away.  Such a shame.  You would think that "they" would have bigger and more pressing issues other then weather we can put feathers on a turtle, or not.

I didn't mention one of those things so I guess these changes bother you?  Another set of ruffled feathers.....my goodness! I voiced my opinion, weather you agree or disagree makes no difference to me but negative comments, guilt trips, or shaming won't change my opinion, but does help reinforce my thinking. Thank you for your feedback.

Please don't even think you know what I do or do not understand or be so pretentious as to tell me to do anything. I am allowed to voice my opinion and that is what I've done.  You don't have to agree but I do think you should keep your judgemental yet unsubstantiated comments to yourself.  My opinion is based on 50+ years of Scouting. I can legitimately claim 3 generations of Eagle Scouts, so I think I'm entitled to my opinion. There always is someone who gets their feathers ruffled and feels the need to say just how wrong someone else is or what they know 9r don't know.  Thank you for your opinion and feedback. 

I would request that you rely on your own knowledge, opinions and experiences to answer that. First of all to A Long Walk, never imply that I am trashing the Bill of Rights.  I have defended the Constitution, literally and physically, all of my life, so since you know nothing about me, I would suggest you refrain from personal comments.  To everyone else, I completely understand the branding, approval, and other issues about patches, posters, prints, stickers and jackets.  I agree with the other comments and understand your opinions.  But, to me, the Boy Scouts of America has compromised the concrete foundation on which it was built, but the people in the High Tower still have time to review patches and disapprove designs because it contains a turtle with feathers.  The BSA chooses to control little things like that, but gives in to any whim or idea expressed by anyone with a voice.  The best recent example that I can think of is the building collapse in Miami.  If the foundation and supporting iron cracks, rusts, or otherwise rots away, the whole thing crashes down.  No amount of paint, putty, or shine can stop it from happening, and this is the sad reality.

First of all to A Long Walk, never imply that I am trashing the Bill of Rights.  I have defended the Constitution, literally and physically, all of my life, so since you know nothing about me, I would suggest you refrain from personal comments.  To everyone else, I completely understand the branding, approval, and other issues about patches, posters, prints, stickers and jackets.  I agree with the other comments and understand your opinions.  But, to me, the Boy Scouts of America has compromised the concrete foundation on which it was built, but the people in the High Tower still have time to review patches and disapprove designs because it contains a turtle with feathers.  The BSA chooses to control little things like that, but gives in to any whim or idea expressed by anyone with a voice.  The best recent example that I can think of is the building collapse in Miami.  If the foundation and supporting iron cracks, rusts, or otherwise rots away, the whole thing crashes down.  No amount of paint, putty, or shine can stop it from happening, and this is the sad reality.

The Boy Scouts of America.  At one time this was the premiere youth organization in the country and possibly the world.  It was affordable,  active, and welcoming.  It was based on the dictates of the Scout Oath and Law, the Scout Slogan and Motto, and the Outdoor Code.  I know that everything is dynamic and is in a constant state of change, but when is "enough enough?"  I won't waste time in rehashing old issues and concerns,  opinions or worries, but for me enough is enough.  The BSA has a lot going on and has reduced their national staff,  raised the fees to make membership unaffordable for many, and apply additional rules and redundant regulations that are either unobtainable or simply ignored.  Now, they really do have patch sensors who arbitrarily approve or reject designs that are created by local artists.  Well, if that isn't infringing on the constitutional rights of freedom of speech and freedom of expression, I don't know what else is.  The BSA is absolutely grinding itself out of existence.   Well, for me, enough is enough and after 50 years of membership, support, providing explanations and excuses, I've had enough.

I just wish that the people at the national BSA level would be truthful, direct, and transparent to every volunteer that attended a Scout meeting.   I don't mean pages and pages of documents, just plain fact and truth.  If the money is needed to help cover insurance, let us know!  If the new training requirements are based on new insurance issues, let us know!  At this point even loyal and dedicated volunteers are walking away, this could be prevented if we just knew what was going on!

Well, that's the real issue.  Information at the national level is convoluted, double talk with a lot of "they and we and not yet available " phrases.  Never ever not one time have I gotten a straight answer, which leads to rumor and speculation.  It may be that the fee increase is being used for the BSA National Staff retreat in Hawaii.  Who knows?

So, membership including complete units are disappearing.   Participation in national events is dropping off, local camps are closing and being sold, and the National High Adventure Properties have been mortgaged.  So in order to raise funds let's charge whatever members that are left a higher membership fee.  Then, let's recruit new members and charge them a new member fee and tell them that they still have to pay for everything they do.  In addition, let's build a super sized white elephant in West Virginia with all kinds of cool stuff that the majority of the members will never get to use, including modern learning centers.  Let's put this place hours away from the nearest airport and say it's the jamboree site!  Really? It's no wonder that a lot of people are no longer interested in being part of this mushroom farm (kept in the dark and fed manure.  This is just how I see it and I've quit asking our national leaders because every one I have ever spoken to have mastered the art of "much talk with no meaning. "

Sure, please do.  Thanks!

I know, here we go again!  I have one old scout shirt that has nearly every knot that I ever received, bearing 13 knots. This includes everything from my Eagle Scout knot, to my old "Tiger Cub Group Coach" (anyone remember that?) to the Spurgeon Award.  I look at this collection as  a record of my time of my youth in Scouting and the trails that I  took with my 5 children and 1 grandson as they journeyed through Scouting.  I seldom wear this shirt, but I recently had it on during a meeting.   One adult asked me about the current limit and seemed offended that I wasn't complying with the current directive.  As I understand things, "once official, always official" and during the time that was presented with these knots there wasn't even a recommended limit.  Also, I believe,  it is specified that members of the Old Goat patrol are not required to peal knots off of their respective shirts if they are already on there.   I know that this is a sensitive topic for many but I don't care one little bit how many knots someone wears, as long as they are all legitimate.   Anyway, God bless those who don't wear any knots, those who wear one or two knots, or those who wear 15 or 16, and thank you for your service to youth! Goat patrol are not required to peal knots off of their respective shirts if they are already on there.   I know that this is a sensitive topic for many but I don't care one little bit how many knots someone wears, as long as they are all legitimate.   Anyway, God bless those who don't wear any knots, those who wear one or two knots, or those who wear 15 or 16, and thank you for your service to youth!

I know, here we go again!  I have one old scout shirt that has nearly every knot that I ever received, bearing 13 knots. This includes everything from my Eagle Scout knot, to my old "Tiger Cub Group Coach" (anyone remember that?) to the Spurgeon Award.  I look at this collection as  a record of my time of my youth in Scouting and the trails that I  took with my 5 children and 1 grandson as they journeyed through Scouting.  I seldom wear this shirt, but I recently had it on during a meeting.   One adult asked me about the current limit and seemed offended that I wasn't complying with the current directive.  As I understand things, "once official, always official" and during the time that was presented with these knots there wasn't even a recommended limit.  Also, I believe,  it is specified that members of the Old Goat patrol are not required to peal knots off of their respective shirts if they are already on there.   I know that this is a sensitive topic for many but I don't care one little bit how many knots someone wears, as long as they are all legitimate.   Anyway, God bless those who don't wear any knots, those who wear one or two knots, or those who wear 15 or 16, and thank you for your service to youth!