mrkstvns

That's precisely why the shoulder emblem makes sense. NAYLE represents the highest level of leadership training a youth can reach, so the "normal" position on the sleeve is where it should be indicated --- not a "temporary" place that is unlikely to be used by most youth.

Excellent idea! i'd advocate for giving the award to the patrol that goes furthest "outside" the rut of whatever the troop's usual themes and sites might be...encourage the kids to think for themselves.

Just wondering whether it's more common for a Venturing crew to specialize in a certain kind of activity, or whether it's more common for them to do a smattering of whatever floats their boats... Any thoughts? See: https://venturingcrew.blogspot.com/p/what-will-our-crew-do.html

I would love to take some of the NOLS courses.....just wish they weren't so EXPEN$IVE!!!

I don't buy that argument. The high adventure bases already have pocket patches for NAYLE attendees, so what on earth would be the least little bit hard about having a small shoulder emblem too. They don't even have to sell it via the national scout shop....they could just stock it at the sites that offer NAYLE training. The pocket patch isn't really as useful as the shoulder emblem because it's then a "temporary" patch, vying for space with summer camp patches, high adventure base patches, and lots of award emblems like Nova awards, National Outdoor award patches, etc. Besides, a pocket patch for NAYLE is inconsistent with the way training is indicated for ILST and NYLT. Consistency is good and increases the visibility of leadership progression. Still looking for a GOOD reason for not having a NAYLE emblem....

Scouts typically wear a "Trained" emblem on their shoulder if they completed ILST.... ...or a "NYLT" emblem if they completed more advanced leadership training.... ...but why isn't there a similar "NAYLE" emblem for the scouts who complete BSA's highest level youth leadership training?

I'm a media junkie and while prowling the news this morning, came across the following story about Boy Scouts retiring flags: https://www.nj.com/hunterdon/2019/05/boy-scout-troop-200-retires-us-flags-in-lebanon-borough.html One line in that story particularly jumped out at me: Local vexillologist and former Troop 200 Scoutmaster Larry Friend shared his extensive knowledge about the American flag and its history and explained the role of the Color Guard, the proper way to retire flags and flag etiquette. Now, every flag burning that I've ever attended was done just a bit differently from the others. My understanding was always that there isn't really any such thing as a "proper way to retire flags" ---- as long as your flag retirement is respectful, it's a good ceremony. Is there actually a "proper way" to retire flags? What are the elements of a "proper" flag burning ceremony?

That sounds completely amazing. I just love hearing about people who think outside the box and let their dreams guide their actions. There is a somewhat similar story around these parts of a guy who owns a bakery in the town of Bellville, Texas. He visited castles in Europe and decided that he needed to build himself one too. The result is Newman's Castle which is open for tours to those who patronize his bakery... http://newmanscastle.com/

The basics of all these skills are taught to new adult leaders in the IOLS (Introduction to Outdoor Leadership Skills) course. This is required for Scoutmasters and Assistant Scoutmasters in order to be considered "trained" for their position. Scoutmasters and the more dedicated/hardcore ASMs tend to pursue additional training as they grow into their roles. That might include Wood Badge, or it might take the form of specific skills that enable them to lead or do more within scouting (like taking Wilderness First Aid courses so that they can lead crews at high adventure bases). Parents of new scouts generally do not know much about camping, and few could tie knots, demonstrate map and compass skills, or do the basic first aid tasks that a young scout is asked to demonstrate. But parents can learn and have fun doing it. Like my dad used to say, "You can always teach an old dog a new trick."

Sounds like you'd create a more relevant, challenging program. In addition to incorporating more Orienteering and Wilderness Survival skills, I'd include the "challenging" requirements from Pioneering MB. Using lashings to make something really COOL would be challinging and a practical demonstration of using kntos and lashings. (Besides, who doesn't want to try out a monkey bridge??) I also think that skills in handling watercraft are useful and relevant. Maybe sailing, or maybe kayaking or canoeing. Basic river rescue skills could also be useful. Swimming skills at the level that they could save a life would be nice: complete BSA Lifeguard, or complete BSA Aquatics Supervision: Swimming and Water Rescue (or similarly challenging course, such as Red Cross or YMCA lifeguard certifications). I think it would also be useful to challenge scouts to master some subset of skills to the level they can teach it, for example, get a Red Cross CPR instructor certificate, or become a Leave No Trace trainer, or complete the USA Archery instructor course. (Not just go through the motions using EDGE, but actually be able to teach a skill "for real").

A few things that might be considered as counting towards 1C requirement 1a (troop/patrol activities): troop campouts patrol day hike (5-mile hike, orienteering course, 10-mile hike, etc., even if it also counts towards other rank/advancement requirements) participation in district/council activities (if done as a troop/patrol group), for example, Scout Fair, helping at Pushcart or Webelos campouts helping fellow scouts on Eagle project helping fellow scouts on Hornaday project participating in other troop/patrol service project (for example, helping senior citizens weatherize houses) participating in Merit Badge midway event (if done as troop/patrol group, but not if done individually) participating with troop in Scouting for Food drives participating with troop/patrol in Scout Sunday activities participating with troop/patrol in unit fundraising activities, e.g., bake sale or car wash As long as it's something that was done within the scouting program as a troop or patrol group (and not as an individual), I think it's fair to let a scout count it as an "activity". I'm not inclined to let a scout who is a Den Chief count activities done by the den or pack towards this requirement....

Thanks, Hawkwin! It slipped my mind that girls could have been active as Venturers or Sea Scouts. Appreciate the reminder!

Really?!?! That doesn't jibe with the info I see on scouting.org, which says: "The Hornaday Awards Committee meets three or four times a year. Therefore, applicants must recognize the lead time involved." See: https://www.scouting.org/awards/hornaday-awards/judging/

That's too bad because it means the local lodge is likely ignoring or skirting the rules for OA membership. How does someone who has only been eligible for membership in BSA suddenly achieve 15 nights of camping with 1 long-term (5 night) camp? Don't get me wrong, I'm all for girls in BSA, but I'd be a lot happier if they actually earned their accolades instead of getting there by exception or fiat. These "firsties" devalue the honor that so many scouts have legitimately earned.

This coming weekend is Memorial Day. For many scouting families, it marks the winding down of the school year and the beginning of the summer vacation season. Swimming pools are open for business and college students are back home for a respite. Memorial Day means so much more though. It's a time to remember America's fallen soldiers, and many scout troops will mark the occasion with flag service events at local veterans cemeteries, battlefields, or other military landmarks. Does your troop do something special for Memorial Day?

Agreed. Even though the rules state that only 1 merit badge sash should be worn at a time, the double-wide approach really looks dorky compared to the scouts who blow off the rule and just wear 2 sashes, bandolier style. It's over the top, but at least it kind of looks symmetrical instead of looking like a blanket.

First I've heard about something like this.....sounds like a cool (and profitable) idea! https://buckrail.com/boy-scouts-antler-auction-rakes-in-big-money-for-racks/

I think it depends on the terrain where your camp is located. If I were in a mountainous region, or very rocky terrain, I would definitely prefer the boots, but if I was in a softer, flatter, or forested area (like maybe Northern Tier), then I would prefer something lighter --- like maybe your Nikes.

Agree with jjlash. BALOO and IOLS are not necessarily one and the same. When I did BALOO, it was a few hours, mostly classroom, and definitely centered on family camping. IOLS was centered around the outdoor skills that a scout needs for Tenderfoot through First Class advancement: knots, first aid, map and compass, knife and axe, cooking ---- basically everything that a SM or ASM will be asked to sign off for a scout over his first year or two in a troop. The IOLS was practical camp skills taught in a camp setting. A much better class than BALOO... (Besides, even if some material might be repeated, a little reinforcement never hurts...)

No disrespect intended, Carlos, but you would benefit greatly from reading and embracing the "Guide to Advancement". Any time you create a policy of any kind, type, or form, you make things harder on your scouts and create unnecessary problems for your scouters. Take qwayze's suggestions to heart and you'll be a wiser leader who enables his scouts to succeed.

The only rules that are absolutely inappropriate are the absolute rules. Every scout and scoutmaster is a bit different. There are unquestionably cases where the scoutmaster is BEST qualified to review requirements and do scoutmaster conferences, even if its for his own son. There are other cases where a troop might have really good bench strength and the scout would benefit from working with an ASM rather than with his own dad. Neither approach should be an absolute "must" or an absolute "never". With respect to merit badges, things are a little different because the Guide to Advancement specifically states that any MBC is allowed to sign off for any scout including his own son. In my opinion, any troop that establishes contrary policies is putting up roadblocks for scouts that are unfair and insupportable. There are some cases where an MBC absolutely should sign off for his own son --- like when the counselor is doing an activity or class for a group of scouts and his son is doing exactly the same thing at the same time as his peer (What possible benefit to anybody in scouting could be gleaned by telling the scout he is less deserving of the badge that he earned than his friends doing it with him?)

I was a scout in the same time frame. Whether or not camping was required, our troop sure did a LOT of it (and much more adventurous trips than my son's troop sometimes embarks on). I don't recall our troop ever having a "high adventure" trip, but we did cool things like a 65-mile backpacking trip on the Appalachian Trail (which was only a couple hours away by car, and free). Of course, we were also blessed by a G2SS that wasn't as restrictive and policies that didn't body block every fun activity under the sun.... Might not have been "required", but I can't imagine any but the lamest, most worthless troops doing a program that wasn't very active and completely outdoors. I'd have quit in a heartbeat!

Baloo training varies from council to council and from district to district. Our council is weak on training, mistakenly assuming that districts "got it covered". Some do. Most don't. Looking around for options in neighboring districts or councils is a great idea. I've had to do much of my training at summer camps, or in other councils because our local council just plain fumbles the ball when it comes to providing adequate adult training options. I don't think you need Baloo in order to do a swimming event. "Safe Swim Defense" is your basic intro training for that, and if you want to delve deeper, then the two courses in Aquatics Supervision, "Swimming and Water Rescue" and "Paddle Craft Safety" might be right up your alley. Good luck!

I really didn't mean to be controversial. I just meant that up until this year, there were girls who wanted an outdoors-oriented program like Boy Scouts but the reality was that the organization's rules didn't let them join. Not implying any kind of deliberate malice, just that it is what it was....

As he should be. The bronze medal is a VERY significant award. It means he's essentially done 3 Eagle projects (probably more, since the Hornaday projects I've seen most scouts doing are harder and more time-intensive than your typical Eagle project).