mrkstvns
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Posts posted by mrkstvns
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On 7/16/2019 at 5:43 AM, Eagle94-A1 said:
National said no hot water ANYWHERE at the Summit. So I assume that includes training center.
When hot water is outlawed, only outlaws will have hot water.
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19 hours ago, scoutldr said:
Third Q/A down. This is what they are hanging their argument on. ANY and ALL Scouting activities and ALL Participants.
I agree...never seen it, nor would I ever enforce it.
Astounding the kind of overreach and unnecessary paperwork that some people can fantasize about.
I'll be sure to avoid reading that FAQ so I have plausible deniability when I continue to use common sense about when to collect (like for camping and adventurous activities) and not collect (like for trivial service projects, merit badge workshops, non-strenuous day trips, etc.)
Thanks for the heads-up about astounding stupidity abounding in some corners of scouting...
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The scoutmaster merit badge is kind of a fun novelty item. While I, personally, wouldn't put it on my uniform, I might sew it on my patch blanket or patch vest.
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On 7/19/2019 at 2:23 PM, TAHAWK said:
if you want to educate in the patrol method, you might review the ILST materials. They are overwhelmingly, as the title suggest, about the "troop method, " unlike the long-gone district-level Junior Leader Orientation Workshop, killed off in 2001 without explanation. JLOW began with 'Welcome to Scouting's Toughest job," and that referred to Patrol Leader, being based on actual Boy Scouting.
Some Councils fight the good fight by offering JLOW despite BSA's abandonment of training outside the troop short of NYLT .
Some volunteers offer JLOW independently of their councils
Interesting stuff!! I haven't come across the JLOW course before and found the PDF you referenced to be interesting reading. I think I might pull some of the patrol method materials from here, but will combine with some of the material from the standard ILST curriculum. For example, I really like the concept of "servant leader" that is in the current ILST, but that I don't see in JLOW. Mix & match the best, most useful concepts from each.
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On 5/23/2019 at 4:17 PM, MikeS72 said:
The other thing to remember when retiring flags, particularly with younger scouts, is the hazard presented by melting and dripping synthetic fabrics.
I had a nice discussion with a fellow ASM about doing flag retirement, and I recalled this point being made here. Unfortunately, it seems to have gotten swept under the rug, which is unfortunate in this fast-changing world we live in.
In today's world, most of the flags we display are made of synthetics (plastic). While the flag code tells us to retire flags respectfully "preferably by burning", that causes lots of potentially toxic fumes that not only can cause health issues, but frankly, just plain smell bad.
How DO people dispose of an old flag made of synthetic material?
I've heard that some people recommend cutting the flag in some manner and then recycling it, but this doesn't seem as dignified as burning. I'm also worried that many recyclers don't really recycle --- they just dump in a landfill anyway, or they ship the materials oversees where an out-of-sight-out-of-mind entity throws them in a landfill. This has become increasingly problematic now that China wants its incoming "recyclable" material to be cleaner than they demanded in the past.
Is it okay to run a cut flag through a shredder? Would that be considered "dignified"?
Should we just accept the risk of noxious fumes and burn synthetic flags like we do cotton flags?
What's the best thing do do?
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17 hours ago, qwazse said:
What are your scouts responsibilities to drivers and their vehicles? From the World Jamboree Thread:
... and, concurring:
I learned from mostly from band, rather than scouts, that riders can make a driver's time pleasurable by:
- Stepping out of muddy boots before entering,
- Putting your towel on your seat,
- Collecting litter just like the airplane stewards do,
- Riding shotgun and talking about life, the universe, ...
- Navigating,
- At the truck stop, giving a buddy your lunch money and your order while you clean windows and mirrors,
- Checking tires/oil/coolant/lights,
- Tuning the radio (especially if the current station goes to commercial for more than 5 seconds),
- Sharing your playlist (well, maybe that's just me, but I talk music and lyric analysis like nobody's business)
- ....
Do you coach your patrols as to how to treat your troop's drivers? What courtesy tips do you give them?
Basically, we tell scouts to follow whatever rules a driver might establish for his riders: His car, his rules.
We do, though, have 2 points that keep coming up:
- only drink clear-colored liquids in the car (no stains)
- if using personal electronics, use headphones or mute volume -
Most of the scouts who have disabilities who I've met have been members of typical community-based units. I know of one troop in the Houston area that promotes itself as supporting kids with physical or developmental disabilities. Now I see a troop in the Baltimore area with a similar membership base (https://www.baltimoresun.com/maryland/harford/aegis/cng-ag-xcomm-shucks-free-library-0717-20190717-vgrs34wclvav7o5tgxr7lcpn3y-story.html).
Are such units common in scouting?
What do you think is better for the individual scout? A unit where the scouts and parents are most capable of understanding and handling issues that such scouts face? Or is it better for the scout to be "mainstreamed" in a typical unit?
Thoughts?
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16 hours ago, DuctTape said:
To be fair to BP he did not say have a big brother relationship, but to guide "in the spirit of".
A thought occurred to me (kind of an aside): in this era of institutional abuse allegations and a pervasive breakdown in trust, I wonder how organizations like Big Brother/Big Sister can cope. Seems to me their whole organization is built around the idea of fostering 1-on-1 relationships between adults and kids so that kids can grow up with mentors and positive role models. That sure wouldn't work in BSA where YPT rules would completely nix such an approach. Anybody know anything about Big Brothers / Big Sisters programs???
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Your troop plans a high adventure trek for months. Everything's set, fees are paid, scouts are transported....but then nature strikes! A tropical storm closes down operations at the high adventure base. What do you do?
When Tropical Storm Barry happened to scouts at Swamp Base last week, they did what scouts do best. They did community service!
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3 minutes ago, fred8033 said:
I wish I could edit more as I bet I could come up with many or refine my thoughts. Here are a few that I like.
- "Keep the outing in scouting" ... My interpretation --> Focus on doing. In doing, we create opportunities to teach and make a difference.
- "Teach at all times. Use words if necessary." ... My interpretation --> Our actions are our greatest teacher. Flip side, too many "teaching" words kills the scout spirit. ... Quote is often attributed to Francis of Assisi, but it may be a pairing down of their religious rules and not a real quote.
I like both of those!
I think that keeping "the outing in scouting" grows to mean different things depending on the age of the boys. At the cub level, it's often about the "go see it" kind of activities. Take the den someplace interesting and help widen the world view: might be a local fire station, maybe letting the boys take a stab at tossing a crust at the local pizzeria....just let 'em see and touch. At the boy scout (Scouts BSA) level, I think it means to put as much emphasis as possible on the outdoors and to help them experience outdoor adventures that can challenge them. At the explorer/venturer/sea scout level, it's to really trust the scouts and to encourage and enable them to do bigger, better, bolder adventures. (Maybe not outdoor adventures).
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On 7/13/2019 at 7:05 AM, RememberSchiff said:
Scout leader gives his side of story...
Brandon Jones is one of the Boy Scout leaders and said they made this trip with Boy Scouts three years ago with no issues — this time they found themselves in a “tough" situation.
Once the canoes were flipped upright again, Jones said the boys continued on their way. The trip required canoeing and camping for a few days, and the boys made it all in their handmade canoes.
“This is about turning young men into men and giving them life experiences,” Jones said. “I think they learned some valuable lessons that when life throws you some curveballs and you can get by.”
More including video at source:
Just goes to show you that there's always 2 sides to a story, and the hyped up emergencies you hear about in the media are often nothing of the sort.
No biggee, no harm, no foul. Yeah, a couple canoes flipped and it sure was great that the sheriff deputies came to help get that done. In the end, a good trip was had by all.
Happy ending. I LIKE it!!
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2 hours ago, qwazse said:
Another: "Never let them know that you can hear them."
My scoutmaster seemed to have believed, "If you hear 'em after lights out, shout at the top of your lungs."
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Cub Scouts in Massachusetts might have to find something other than scouting activities to keep them busy this summer due to health department inspectors closing down a cub day camp just 2 days before it was scheduled to open.
Story: https://www.gazettenet.com/GranbyDayCamp-hg-071619-27012618 -
Yep. It's easy to push a kid too far, too fast. In scouts, as in any other pursuit.
In the case of girls joining scouts, I don't think it's really an issue because those girls who are on a tear to meet deadlines have a different kind of motivation. They're already older and wiser and they know the clock is ticking. It's not a case of mom and dad pushing on a youngster.
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6 minutes ago, RememberSchiff said:
"Starting in 10 days, this will be the biggest city in West Virginia," said Kenn Miller, Summit Bechtel Reserve's director of programs and operations, as he drove from a staging area where 340 UTVs and an assortment of cars, vans and pickup trucks rented for the event were parked.
Nice of Kenn to explain to everyone that UTV means "underwater television".
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1 hour ago, Eagle94-A1 said:
Note that it is not conducted outdoors, but entirely inside.
Perversely enough, you're right.
Sad, isn't it?
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5 minutes ago, Eagledad said:
I guess logical and reasoning suggest matching maturity to the requirements gives the best chance for maximum growth from the activities. But, our scouts who take camping at summer camp have a lot of fun and look forward to each day's activities. If they have that much fun at summer camp, imagine the fun of finishing the requirements with the troop.
Quite right.
Some kids grow up faster than others, and some are much more driven than others. What makes sense for one scout (or even a large group), might not always work best.
Take Lifesaving. I've always viewed this as a badge that is most appropriate for a scout who has already been active a couple years and who already has Swimming MB under his belt. But I know of a scout who was already a very strong swimmer who took Lifesaving his first year and excelled at it. Good for him for making his own choice and not listening to old farts like me who say to just do Swimming the first year!
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12 minutes ago, SteveMM said:
I don't have anything against partials, but in this instance it just doesn't make sense to me. I think if the Scout walks away with a partial and won't actually complete the merit badge for more than a year (which could easily happen with Camping) then they should just wait to take the merit badge. In this example, they could take a more enjoyable merit badge in their first summer camp and then take camping later, when they at least have the camping nights.
Edited to clarify: There are some badges where partials will just happen, and there's no pressure to even finish them if they're not Eagle-required. My son has a couple of those, and may never finish them. My issue is with this particular instance -- taking Camping Merit Badge in a Scout's first summer camp. I think it would make a LOT more sense to wait on that one.
Right you are, Steve.
There's nothing inherently wrong with getting a partial, but the guts of Camping merit badge is experience camping. A scout who waits a couple (or more) years to tackle Camping is better off because he's prepared to meet requirements like the nights of camping and the "experiences" (like rappeling, backpacking, paddling, etc.) He's also better equipped to discuss things like equipment choices because he'll actually have experience with making equipment choices. A first-year scout probably doesn't --- all he's likely to have under his belt are a couple of car-camping weekends.
Most scouts will figure out on their own that Camping is better put off until a later date, but you never know when you'll bump into somebody who thinks, "Scouts camp, so Camping should be the first merit badge they do." The basics of camping are better taught by the troop as a scout pursues his trail to First Class. By then he'll have the basic skills down pat and will be more than prepared to delve in deeper via Camping merit badge.
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11 minutes ago, Eagledad said:
What do you have against partials?
Most of the time, partials are okay. It's a good way to "divide and conquer" the requirements list.
There's a few though that are a pain for the scout, parents, and leaders --- sometimes because of lack of available local resources, or lack of local qualified counselors. My son still has partials from 5 years ago. Maybe he'll finish 'em, maybe not. None are required MBs (but some are kind of cool). He's still got a couple years until he ages out, but he doesn't need any more merit badges, so we'll see if he ever loops around to finish them.
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19 minutes ago, Jackdaws said:
I am an advocate for letting them pick what they want.
... The Advancement chair also said that the first year boys need to take First Aid and Swimming. ...
Well needless to say just after summer camp I replaced her as the advancement chair. She claimed she had been waiting 5 years since her son had aged out for someone to come along and replace her. I said I would take over for her and when I kept asking to help on advancement stuff all I got was attitude.
So I finally told the Committee that she either lets me do it or she can wait another couple years for someone other sucker to come along, I have no problem just going over and sitting with the other parents after volunteering for the last several years in the pack. She was very ugly about it. She pretty much brought in all of the advancement stuff and threw it on the table and walked out. It was all very odd...
Congratulations on the new job, and it sounds to me like you will do a MUCH better job at serving your bosses (the boys) than the previous Advancement Chair did.
I'm not even sure why an Advancement Chair is involved AT ALL in picking merit badges for a troop's summer camp. It's just not part of the job...
Your experience though does reflect one of the fundamental lessons of being a volunteer in any organization: when you complain about somebody else's job performance, you should be prepared to be appointed their successor.
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On 7/13/2019 at 7:12 AM, KYScouter said:
Here's a news story about the first year of Scouts BSA Girls attending our local camp.
https://www.wkyt.com/content/news/Local-BSA-scout-camp-opens-doors-to-all-girl-troops-511816471.html
I notice that the article cites a girl troop with 8 members.
I know that girls in scouting is a new concept, but I wonder if, and when, girl troops will become as large as some of the boy troops. We have troops in our council of well over 100 boys. I wonder if girl troops will grow as large and as active.
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7 minutes ago, Buggie said:
Regarding spiders (and other bugs), I recommend Sansbug . Won't stop them from being in the tent, but will stop pests from disturbing your sleep as long as you don't let them in.
They can be a pain to refold until you get the trick. And they are bulky (wider than a backpack), so not great for hiking in to a campsite.
Looks fancy....but I'm not sure it will be an improvement over the basic mosquito netting that scouts have used for countless summers in the past.
The biggest advantage (to the manufacturers) looks like they charge about 5 times more for these things than the old-style mosquito nets...
Example:
https://www.academy.com/shop/pdp/magellan-outdoors-mosquito-net#repChildCatid=1472930 -
If there's a new wrinkle on BSA troops, there might as well be a new adult leadership course on managing the wrinkles...
Wood Badge for Linked Troops
at the Summit in January 2020
$490 per participant
Story:
https://blog.scoutingmagazine.org/2019/06/05/linked-troop-wood-badge-course-at-sbr-will-blaze-a-new-trail-for-training/Registration:
https://bsa-20-1.com/ -
There's an interesting Bryan on Scouting post about a 16-year old girl who is ensuring she has enough merit badges to make Eagle...she's signed up for four weeks of standard merit badge summer camps this year!
Let's see, the boys in our troop tend to earn about 4 to 5 merit badges each (or at least get substantial partials), so that girl could be coming home from her camp experience with more than 16 badges!
Kudos to her!
Scout with non-verbal autism earns Eagle...
in Scouts with Disabilities
Posted
A New York scout with non-verbal autism was able to earn his Eagle rank at age 21. (Exceptions to the usual age 18 limit are sometimes allowed for disabled scouts, and there have been examples of some young men completing their Eagle at age 30 or later.)
Story:
https://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/ny-boy-scout-nonverbal-autism-eagle-20190722-ltv5ejjzbfgvxlhetx6g6gxgnq-story.html