InquisitiveScouter

I perceive no appetite at the unit, district, council, or national levels to police this. Enforcing any kind of integrity into the process would hamper the money flow of summer camps and merit badge events, and make Jimmy or Jenny less competitive on their college applications. I have had numerous discussions with parents who absolutely expect that, if they pay their $600 camp fee, then their child had better have a multitude of merit badges to show for it. Many parents don't give a hoot about values, ethics, and morals. And we wonder why so many kids do not join Scouting, or if they do, do not stick with it. Once they realize the emperor has no clothes, the ones with a good measure of integrity are tempted to pull their kids from the program. As long as merit badges are available for sale (and I do not mean the pieces of cloth...), then we will have this problem. Pay your fee, get your degree?

A sad, but true, indictment...

Guide to Advancement, para 7.0.2.3... "It is sometimes reported that Scouts who have received merit badges through group instructional settings have not fulfilled all the requirements. To offer a quality merit badge program, council and district advancement committees should ensure the following are in place for all group instructional events. • A culture is established for merit badge group instructional events that partial completions are acceptable expected results. • A guide or information sheet is distributed in advance of events that promotes the acceptability of partials, explains how merit badges can be finished after events, lists merit badge prerequisites, and provides other helpful information that will establish realistic expectations for the number of merit badges that can be earned at an event. " If only we would follow our own literature

1 Timothy 6:10

At last night's meeting, one of my Scouts proudly presented a counselor-signed blue card for a merit badge. (No leader signature.) He had attended, on short notice, a "merit badge event" at a local museum (where he had to pay a fee) and had been counselor-approved for a badge. When I asked him about the badge, I sprinkled in the questions I always ask... 1. Did you read the requirements for the merit badge? "No" 2. Did you talk with a Troop leader before meeting with the counselor? "No" 3. Did the counselor review the requirements for the merit badge with you before starting? "No" So then, we reviewed the requirements.... one of the requirements was a task that he could not have completed at the event... 4. Did the counselor ask you to bring any work you had completed ahead of time? "No" 5. So how did the counselor see your work for requirement X ?? "He never saw it." (Later, at home, I check the website for this event, and there are no pre-requisites listed.) 6. Oh? Well, did you complete requirement X? "Yes, I did it at home after I got back." Would you show me that work? He does... Good job! 7. But, the counselor gave you a signed and completed blue card without having X done? "Yes" OK, thanks! Hey, let's review the instructions in your Scout Handbook on how to earn a merit badge (page 416). We review together, and I emphasize the appropriate points... I review blue card instructions with him. I show him the statement on the blue card which says "The applicant has personally appeared before me and demonstrated to my satisfaction that all requirements have been met for the..." We talk about the meaning of "Trustworthy" and "Obedient", and whether the counselors actions reflected those values, and what he, the Scout, should do in a case like this. (Let a leader know ) I signed the card and congratulated him on his badge. So, given that, in the past, I have never once gotten feedback on any of the concerns I submitted, once again I submitted Reporting Merit Badge Counseling Concerns. https://filestore.scouting.org/filestore/pdf/512-800_WB.pdf Do you think I'll get any constructive feedback on this one?

Might as well, with the posts that we see all around.... Would also prevent showboating..., I chose not to post any links but... For those of you who are serious MB Counselors, like me, you doubt any who are awarded all merit badges, Notice I use the term "awarded" versus "earned".

All of your posts help support the argument for eliminating the age requirement on Eagle Scout. If we remove the 18 year old requirement, it removes the focus on the destination, and helps us turn the spotlight more on the journey

They have been making changes without announcing or annotated the change. Not a great regulatory practice

Just in time to order new sales merch for Jamboree

Nah... let's just log it and get some quick cash. Who cares if the forest is gone, erosion starts, half the camp looks like a disaster area, and wildlife habitat gets destroyed?

I can confirm those are numbers in the system for end of March 2025 and 2026. Those are the total unit based, and do not include LFL.

I posted system numbers on 01 Apr. They have changed slightly: Total Current Youth on 01 Apr was 782,466 (this includes LFL): 18 Apr number is 792,273. ( +9807, or + 1.25%) Total Current Unit-Based Youth on 01 Apr was 749,343 (this is Crews, Posts, Ships, Troops, & Packs): 18 Apr is 756,627 (+7284, or + 0.97%) End of 2025 Total Unit-Based reported on 01 Apr was 877,399 (Total including LFL 907,946), number remains same So that means, from end of Dec 2025 to now, the total unit-based drop is 120,772 or a 13.76% loss Sorry, my 01 Apr calculation was wrong... I had subtracted current unit-based from previous total youth... should have worked with numbers in the same column. My error on 01 Apr painted a rosier picture than reality.

Keyboard Advisor here, lol... @jcousino is right. You are "owned" by your CO. If your CO does not want you to open a bank account, then you have three choices: 1) Don't open a bank account, 2) as @ShootingSports says, find out why your CO "doesn't want the responsibility", and find a way to alleviate their misgivings or 3) Find a new CO. Before you pursue any of those, you need to answer a few questions: A) How is it that you have a bank account (used for years) when your CO says they don't "want the responsibility"?? Did you inform the CO that you already have a bank account using their EIN? Which begs the next question... B) Whose EIN are you actually using for the current account? Which begs the next question... C) Do you have a current signed Annual Unit Charter Agreement?? Your DE is supposed to secure one for you each year, so, as @ShootingSports has said, call your DE to see if they have one. If the answer is "No", then your DE is not doing his job. https://www.scouting.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/524-95625-Annual-Charter-Agreement.pdf Get your Chartered Organization Rep on the horn and ask them to get this all important document coordinated and signed post haste. D) If you do have a signed Annual Charter Agreement, read para II B.4. "Authorize the unit to open a separate bank account for the Unit using the Charter Organization EIN and provide the Unit with policies and procedures for financial reporting and asset management." Again, get your COR and DE on the horn, because the CO not allowing you a bank account is a violation of the Agreement. Recommend you read the whole document for other pertinent responsibilities and understanding of who owns what... Also, for the Moderators... the OP never showed up on my Unread Content. Any idea why??

You'd almost think that old English dude was on to something when he said, "The one part which I can claim as mine towards promoting the movement is that I have been lucky enough to find you men and women to form a group of the right stamp who can be relied upon to carry it on to its goal. You will do well to keep yours eyes open, in your turn, for worthy successors to whom you can, with confidence, hand the torch. Don’t let it became a salaried organization: keep it a voluntary movement of patriotic service." (emphasis added) https://thescoutingpages.org.uk/bps-last-message/

Agreed, but it is only expressly required for camping. ----------------------------------- Camping Scouting America has established the following guidelines for a safe and quality camping experience. Fundamental guiding principles for camping: - Supervision of camping activities must include qualified, registered, adult leadership. - At a minimum, one leader present is current in Hazardous Weather Training for all unit types. It is recommended that all leaders complete this training every two years. ------------------------------------- https://www.scouting.org/health-and-safety/gss/gss03/