InquisitiveScouter

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/

Please help me make this make sense. There is a unit in our District with five adult leaders and eight Scouts on their roster. Scouts are all high schoolers. Five of the eight are the children of three of the adult leaders. These adult leaders have, over the past few years, consistently neglected to complete training for their positions. Commissioners and trainers have had ongoing engagement over the years, but these leaders ignored efforts to help them get their training. They have, at a minimum, kept YPT (now SYT) and Hazardous Weather (as required by Guide to Safe Scouting) up to date. (I personally have not engaged with them, except by email, but I know their Commissioner and the District Training Chair have contacted this unit numerous times over the years.) As of yesterday, the Troop is now at 0% leader trained. No one has Hazardous Weather done. They are still SYT current. The District Training Chair brought this new low to the attention of our District Commissioner, District Chair, and District Executive (a brand new guy), with a call to action to contact the unit to, at a minimum, get Hazardous Weather done. (I do not know if the unit actually has any camping planned.) The new DE response, with courtesy copy to our Assistant Scout Executive, basically told everyone not to worry about any of the training from here on, as this unit is going to fold after their last Scout earns Eagle in a few months. That response is just wrong on so many levels, and sends a bevy of mixed messages that do not align with the stated safety standards, aims of the program, training policies, and negates the sustained efforts of the Commissioner Corps and District to get the unit do what is required. Further, by putting that in an email, it now gives the council some liability if an incident should occur where safety training may have made the difference. I'm really shaking my head on that one... Again, help me make this make sense?

https://info.traillifeusa.com/annual-report (2020 - 2022) https://info.traillifeusa.com/2023-annual-report https://info.traillifeusa.com/2024-annual-report https://info.traillifeusa.com/annual-report-2025

Agree that this is a large factor. I have noted the culture at Council and National of taking adult leaders for granted and simply expecting them to always be there. We have units folding in our council due to lack of adult leaders. And also have units who have names on a roster who do nothing for the unit. These "ghosts" allow their names to be used for registration (as long as the unit pays their fee) and never intend to do any serving, outings, or training for BSA or the youth they are on the roster for... It still baffles me, too, how many people think that the unit leaders get paid, or get some of the money from their registration fees.

UPDATE: OK, the system is back up, and showing current numbers... As of 01 Apr: Total Current Youth 782,466 (Up 927 from last month, same time) this is all programs, including LFL Total Current Unit-Based Youth 749,343 (this is Crews, Posts, Troops, & Packs) End of 2025 Total Unit-Based was 877,399 (Total including LFL 907,946) So that means, from end of Dec 2025 to now, the total unit-based has dropped by 94,933, or 10.82%

I just went in to look at the 31 March numbers. The membership tools system now does not have any numbers posted past 31 Jan 2026. I'll check again over the next day or two to give an update. But, if they have stopped posting numbers because of the story the numbers are telling, then, my friend, that is what the bottom looks like

Do not issue an ultimatum. If you feel that strongly, file the charges. That might be enough to get him suspended. Ask yourself, what is the right thing to do?

So, this will still be calming down over the next few days, but: 1. You should seriously consider filing charges against the guy. He communicated a verbal threat. Should at least be a misdemeanor, depending on state. 2. Talk directly with your Scout Executive. No middle man. DE is middle man. Tell him what happened and the impact on your Scout, you, and the unit. His behavior is unacceptable in a Scouting environment and should be removed. Immediately. Give the SE names of witnesses. 3. If after careful consideration, talk with your spouse, and prayer, you decide from #1 it is best to file charges, then contact your local DA's office, or contact police to file a report. Have the courtesy to let your SE know you are going to do this. It is not up to him. This decision is yours. Give the po-po the names of the witnesses. 4. Consider hiring an attorney. 5. Expect to be removed from Scouting until this is resolved. Yes, you may be guilt-free in the incident... the SE does not care. He has to protect the image of Scouting, and protect youth (probably in that order), and removing you may help him in his priority of image and brand protection. If he chooses to remove (suspend) you, he also should remove or suspend the other leader until resolved. 6. Look into your local Trail Life chapter. I find the Scouts BSA environment to be getting a little toxic lately, too, with all the intolerance of youth behavior that should be admonished and corrected, rather than knee-jerk reported... We still police ourselves in-unit, and have begun to avoid all district or council events because of the horrible behavior of other Scouts and leaders. Yours is a case in point. 7. Move to New Jersey / Pennsylvania and come join our Troop.

Then why don't they just write the policy to say, "On a case-by-case basis, the local council may issue a written exception to a parent or legal guardian to tent with a Scout who has a special need or disability requiring care. The unit and parents must develop a plan in conjunction with their local council Scout Executive to address their specific needs." ???

I agree with that reasoning, but that is not how our pro staff is implementing this locally. Their lament is that, once again, terms and conditions are not clearly articulated from National. Our council has levied the requirement that any out-of-council unit which needs this "exception" must have it in writing from their Scout Executive, or it isn't happening. That is. most likely, a CYA move, because common sense isn't common any more. They also advised us this morning, to get an SE email (so, in writing) to take with us for out-of-council events, to pre-empt any issues which might arise in other "jurisdictions". Once again, National has used the FAQ's to elaborate instead of stating the policy clearly in the source. "Q. Can I share a tent with my son or daughter who has special needs? A. Youth and adults tent separately in the Scouts BSA, Sea Scouts, and Venturing programs. Youth who have a special need or disability who may require a parent or legal guardian to tent with them must develop a plan in conjunction with their local council Scout Executive to address their specific needs." https://www.scouting.org/health-and-safety/yp-faqs/

Further clarification.... the "As an exception..." clause means you'll need to still clear this with council. We had pursued such an exception back in 2019, and our SE coordinated with National an approved exception to allow a parent to camp with a Scout who was a sleepwalker. My professional contacts elaborate that this "new" piece in G2SS means the "exception" is now at the council level.

I can: bad parenting

All, Perusing the Guide to Safe Scouting, as I do from time to time, and came across this... A policy change that went into effect between Sep and Oct 2025, allowing parents/guardians to tent with their child in youth programs beyond Cub Scouts: Current "Accommodations" policy now says: "As an exception, a parent or guardian may share a tent with their own child if they are of the same sex." https://www.scouting.org/health-and-safety/gss/gss01/#a The web archives show this went in last fall... https://web.archive.org/web/20250902105452/https://www.scouting.org/health-and-safety/gss/gss01/ https://web.archive.org/web/20251018205912/https://www.scouting.org/health-and-safety/gss/gss01/ I had not seen any announcement of this in any channels... how about any of you? I'm fine with this, if there is a genuine health and safety reason (sleep walking, bedwetting, severe asthma, etc.) Looks like more of a move toward "Family Scouting", though... Thoughts?