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mrkstvns

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Everything posted by mrkstvns

  1. In 2018, BSA rolled out the 6th NOVA award for Boy Scouts. The new "Splash" award focuses on water and its importance to life on this planet. Requirements are on scouting.org and can be viewed here: http://usscouts.org/advance/nova/scout-nova-6.asp Anybody tried doing this award as part of their troop program?
  2. Ahhhhh....the truth comes out! Thanks, ValleyBoy! If, indeed, your son was involved in bullying another boy, then he's lucky to have gotten a mere 6-month suspension. That's not something a Scoutmaster should ever tolerate.
  3. I would chat with the Scoutmaster and get a different perspective. If your husband told you that troop leaders didn't want parental involvement, then he almost certainly wasn't paying attention...no successful troop runs without parental support. Also, focus on that 6 month suspension. That's really out of line for a well-run troop, and if it really did occur, then the advice that you look for another troop is more than warranted. No good Scoutmaster supports that kind of draconian discipline (with possible exceptions for very serious issues like reckless endangerment). But again, chat wi
  4. I think that emphasizing outdoor adventure is the key to attracting most boys. Camping, canoeing, etc. are obvious places to start. If you've got some older, more experienced scouts at your disposal, a cool "demo" might involve a pioneering project (like a rope bridge). (Assuming you can manage the safety issues, of course.)
  5. I always love this time of year, when Girl Scouts come knocking on the door looking to sell cookies... I can't help myself. I ALWAYS order several boxes of Thin Mints. What do you guys think is the best flavor of Girl Scout cookies?
  6. Say not so!!! Can leisure suits and platform shoes be the next "cool" trend???
  7. Personally, I think we should look for historical inspiration by delving even further back in scouting's heritage than the mere 1980s... How about puffy pants? Or hideously ugly red hats...
  8. This makes sense. The Advancement method in scouting is great for younger scouts, but it loses its impact as a scout gets to be around 14 and/or Life rank. By then, they've done the "fun" merit badges at summer camp and they've earned most of the merit badges they need for Eagle. Except for High Adventure camps, most summer camps and scouting programs offer nothing beyond very basic skills. I think the key to attracting and retaining high school age youth is, as you say, to let them just hang out in the outdoors with like minded individuals. I'm not sure about the "without any agenda" b
  9. I am in Texas (SHAC). I'm constantly impressed by the programs I see being put on by both Capital Area Council and Longhorn Council. You guys are MUCH more on the ball than the Sam Houston Council (where everyone seems more interested in adult fund-raising activities than in presenting fun, exciting, relevant programs for youth). Maybe I will head out your way in September instead of participating in our own local event... By the way....Longhorn Council has the BEST web site of any council in BSA!!
  10. Thanks mashmaster! I saw the flyer for the Powderhorn you've been involved with (yours is the one they bill as "Texas Powderhorn", right?), and it looks better than our council's program. The approach you describe is exactly the one that can inspire an older kid. "Everything is hands on and you are doing the activity." EXACTLY. That's precisely what it should be. Maybe I am just reading it while in a bad mood ... or maybe, promising me lectures about event planning and messenger of peace bores me to tears at the mere prospect of such dreadful NON-adventure.
  11. Yeah, you're right about the kayaking. It can certainly be fun if somebody with passion and knowledge and a sense of adventure encourages folks to try out some of the "good stuff" while avoiding boring background talk. Powder Horn can be good if it's all about experiencing things hands-on. It can be very, VERY bad if any subject in the program is all talk and no do. Some topics like "Dutch oven cooking" (too fundamental) or "scouting heritage" (too bookish) just will NOT be exciting and adventurous regardless of who does the teaching. Including any boring topics whatsoever in the progra
  12. Totally agree with you about Swamp Base --- which is why I have it in my original list of 4 great council-run high adventures. Unfortunately, Seabase Galveston doesn't look like a good option any more. The place seems to have changed. It's evidently no longer a BSA facility connected to Bay Area Council. In fact, they changed their name from "Sea Scout Base " to "Sea Star Base". Doesn't look like they do any BSA high adventure treks anymore --- instead, it looks like their summer programs are open to all youth anywhere. I did find a link to "Scouting" on their site, but it looks like sc
  13. I keep a list of cool camps that I can occasionally mention to my son and his friends and let their minds wander and dream. There's cool programs at the 4 established BSA High Adventure camps (like Dog Sledding at Northern Tier, Scuba treks at Sea Base, and Cavalcade horse treks at Philmont), and there are cool, unique high adventure activities offered by various councils. A few of the coolest sounding council-run high adventure activities include.... Sea Kayaking through the Apostle Islands in northern Wisconsin (Northern Star Council), see: http://camptomahawk.org/apostles)
  14. Those look suspiciously like requirements I sign off for first-year scouts working on their Scout, Tenderfoot, and Second Class ranks...
  15. Our local council sent out an email that included info about an upcoming Powder Horn event. As I read the announcement, it became clear to me that their Powder Horn event is destined to frustrate more scouts than it will excite. The reason can be summed up in 2 words: BO RING!!! Here's what they're telling folks about their event.... "... Would you like to expose your troop, crew or ship to rock climbing, Dutch oven cooking, geocaching, canoeing, kayaking, sailing, paddle boarding, firefighting, search and rescue, trekking in a different countries, mountain biking, fly fishing, ca
  16. Elvis is not dead, he's just left the building. Pity the poor youth of today, never having the opportunity to rock out with the KING of rock n roll... Wellllll, evidently they still CAN. I've recently learned that Elvis Presley's Graceland estate hosts an annual event where they welcome scouts and scouters to visit Graceland and earn some advancement while they do it. Details are here: https://www.graceland.com/scouts-rock-at-graceland
  17. Not really arguing....just discussing. Of course there are camps that have restrictions on certain merit badges for varying reasons. Thankfully, these are generally the exception, not the rule. Just as there might be "better alternatives" for certain scouts and certain merit badges, so too there are often better alternatives than camps that put up too many obstacles for too many scouts (REGARDLESS of the reason/excuse). I'm really looking for general advice that holds true for most scouts/troops/camps --- not hiccups due to exceptions.
  18. In keeping with the Outdoor Code, "...be conservation minded." Many of the eco-systems in the Keys and nearby Caribbean islands are very fragile. Particularly coral reefs. One thing we do as scouters is tell kids to use plenty of sunblock when they're out on the water. Yet most of the sunscreen brands we buy at Wal-Mart contain coral-killing chemicals that aren't appropriate for places like Sea Base (or Hawaii, or Cozumel, or the Virgin Islands, or etc. etc.) Sea Base staff know this and can advise you on acceptable (or unacceptable) brands, or you can find them online. Short
  19. Just because you're not lucky enough to live in the Lone Star State doesn't mean you can't cook and eat like a Texan. In this age of Internet of Everything, you can buy quality spices online even if your local stores don't stock anything spicier than granulated sugar. A couple good sources of different chili powders and blends: * Mild Bill's: https://www.mildbillsspices.com/ * Penzeys: https://www.penzeys.com/ A lot of chili contest winners swear by Mild Bill. My mom was a great cook and always swore by Penzeys. Even though Penzeys is based in Wisconsin, they manage
  20. Confidence. Communication. Independence. Leadership. All very fundamental characteristics that a youth can develop via scouting. It's no coincidence that more often than not, America's leaders were former scouts.
  21. Yes. Parents (and scouts) often assume that just because they take a class, they will earn a badge. (This is also true of scouts attending Merit Badge Universities, Midways, Camps, etc.) In an ideal world, parents (and scouts) would read the requirements of a badge and see what can and can not be reasonably done in a camp (or class) setting. Most of the Eagle-required badges, in particular, have requirements for keeping logs or records over a period of weeks or months. Badges like Citizenship in the Community and Communication have requirements to attend public meetings (City Council
  22. I disagree. I've seen camps that restrict shooting activities, but when I've asked about the reasoning behind it, it's usually that the class is too popular and they don't have the resources to accommodate every kid who wants to do it. So an age restriction might be effective. There's certainly no valid excuse otherwise for restricting Rifle Shooting. Also, the general rule of thumb in BSA is that any registered scout is eligible to earn any merit badge. Rifle Shooting is not something that requires exceptional strength, agility or skills beyond what an 11-year old typically has. A
  23. Every year, parents of first year scouts ask, "What merit badges should my son sign up for at summer camp?" Every year, I hear different responses from the SM and from the different ASMs. Some of the responses make sense. Some don't. What I usually recommend is a 3-point approach: Swimming merit badge Pick fun, outdoor-oriented merit badges that aren't easy to do back home using local troop merit badge counselors or local merit badge workshops. Good choices include: - Archery - Canoeing (or another boating activity) - Rifle Shooting - Horsemanship - Wood C
  24. Okay. I'll try using a bagel instead of a slice of tomato... 😀
  25. I'm getting a little tired of breakfast burritos on each and every campout. There are a lot of other good breakfast options, some of which are faster and require less cleanup. Here's one that can be ready in a flash, can be cooked on either a stove or a campfire, and that requires no pots or pans. Ham and Swiss Breakfast Croissant Ingredients: large fresh croissants (at least 1 per person) thick sliced ham or Canadian bacon swiss cheese Directions: Slice croissants lengthwise. Put one or 2 slices of ham in each croissant. Put a slice of cheese in each. Wrap in alu
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