InquisitiveScouter

There are many who cannot distinguish between the two. Ideology often runs deep into our Scouting experiences here in the US. This (for example) was the source of much of the pushback against the genesis of the Citizenship in Society Merit Badge. And that pushback caused BSA to rewrite (thankfully) many of the originally released requirements.

The are many groups within the US that are (were?) considered "pillars" or a "bedrock" of America, and represent "all that is good about America" Here are a few: Boy Scouts of America Girl Scouts of USA US Olympic Committee American Red Cross American Legion Little League Baseball National Academy of Sciences Daughters of the American Revolution This list is not "official", and will vary depending on whom you talk with. One good listing contains those organizations with a Congressional Charter, although some are questionable, and Congress is no longer doing this: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Patriotic_and_national_organizations_chartered_by_the_United_States_Congress Norman Rockwell, with his paintings, many of which were published in widespread media, helped to seal Scouts into the American experience... https://www.nrm.org/2018/04/norman-rockwell-boy-scouts-america/ The activists he is referring to are various groups who wish to change (or destroy, as an alternative) social institutions in order to reshape the social landscape, through a strategy called "The Long March Through the Institutions." Here are a few viewpoints on this: https://renew.org/the-long-march-through-the-institutions-of-society/ https://www.heritage.org/progressivism/commentary/the-long-march-through-the-corporations https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NEt9XepeGt4 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Long_march_through_the_institutions Some folks think this is tin foil hat stuff, some think it is a concerted effort (conspiracy?). I am somewhere in the middle of those two. As to pedophilia being rebranded... yes, there is a move afoot... https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8466899/Paedophiles-rebrand-minor-attracted-persons-chilling-online-propaganda-drive.html https://torontosun.com/news/world/woke-watch-prof-says-lets-ditch-the-term-pedophile-for-minor-attracted-person https://amac.us/newsline/society/u-n-under-fire-for-suggesting-minors-can-consent-to-sexual-activity/

Maybe another fee increase for all of us? 😜

OK, so what happens if the Scouts do neither?? What are the consequences?? "Pick up trash or do push-ups" is just plain silly, and shows a lack of understanding in dealing with youth. In the Scouts' minds, you cannot really make them do either, so to make this ultimatum makes the leader look foolish. I do not see this as a safety issue... nor corporal punishment... It is hazing, however. Which is also prohibited. If, indeed, this demand was made by a leader, and the push ups were imposed somehow, then you'd be obligated to report it. If you intend to do so, recommend you find a second person to corroborate your story. "Physical violence, sexual activity, emotional abuse, spiritual abuse, unauthorized weapons, hazing, discrimination, harassment, initiation rites, bullying, cyberbullying, theft, verbal insults, drugs, alcohol, and pornography have no place in the Scouting program and may result in revocation of membership."

The enemy voted, and you lost that argument.

On deployment to the sandbox, one day we recorded 50 C (122 F), and that was the ambient air temperature... And we were on the tarmack loading and launching aircraft... the soles of our boots got squishy... You could only work for about 20 minutes, and then had to go cool off and hydrate for 30-40. Black flag days are wonderful 😜 Some of our planes were grounded because their performance charts were not graphed, nor their flight computers programmed to go that high. (Engineers... sheesh...) I still use the heat index info to limit Scouting activities... check it out... https://www.hprc-online.org/physical-fitness/environmental-extremes/military-heat-flag-conditions-explained

I'd like to think our discussions here had something to do with this. Anyone have a connection to a decision-maker to be able to tell whether this is true or not??

And squandered the respect of much of the nation...

An Eagle Scout from our unit wanted to pursue his Hornaday Silver medal, after his Eagle Scout Service Project was also approved for his Bronze. He worked with our local Fish and Wildlife officials, and constructed artificial fish habitats for our local 350+ acre lake. This was during the contortions of changing from Hornaday to Distinguished Conservation Service Award... He led the construction and deployment of ten of these and sunk them in our local lake: https://www.fishiding.com/?gclid=CjwKCAjw8ZKmBhArEiwAspcJ7nWcsfdTTGGCzuMPOc6oDktN1r6ARrCrBlLWtR6XfAbvyt26c05sTxoC3uEQAvD_BwE After about three months, they lowered an underwater camera... every one of them had fish hanging about and using them for protection! He was the first youth in our council to earn the DCSA.

I am all about the SKILLS for a MB being taught at a meeting, but then the Scout must take that skill to his MB Counselor and demonstrate it to his counselor's satisfaction... Meetings should not be about requirements. Instead, there should be skills instruction, and perhaps a competition built around that skill...

After four hours of instruction and practice, a Scout (who happens to have cerebral palsy) who simply would not give up, ties a square knot on his own for the first time. He grew 10 feet tall 😜, or at least, that's what it looked like through my tears.

For the love of money is the root of all sorts of evil.

2013 Summit Bechtel Reserve, West Virginia "Go Big. Get Wild." July 15, 2013–July 24, 2013 40,795 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Scout_jamboree_(Boy_Scouts_of_America)

Wow... that is... not so good. They were shooting for 15K, as I understood. Makes for shorter lines for the participants, though!!! Enjoy!!

Agree with all of your observations. I have been volunteering now for the past 5 weeks, and general feedback from unit leaders is also along the lines you lay out. Program has suffered also, due to lack of staffing to offer some events and merit badges. HAB crews and Jamboree are taking away some of our more seasoned Scouts, as well, which is an additional hit to staffing.

And the most valuable resource you are asking any adult for is their time! Cub Scouts is family oriented, and requires a good deal of time from each family to make the program successful. They'd rather put their kids in an organized program that doesn't then require them to run it.

@fred8033, thanks for spending time with us around the virtual campfire! I hope your other pursuits will allow a visit from time to time. It was good to do some Scouting with you, even if only through electrons! Yours in Scouting, Inquisitive Scouter

The only issue we had recently was that automatic reminders were not working, so emails had to be sent each and every time you wanted a notice to go out.

Curious as to how 25 Scouts completed all the requirements as stated in one Saturday session? I worked on this with a Patrol of 10 Scouts in our Troop and it took 5 sessions of 1.5 hours each. Every Scout had to complete the requirements, as stated. So, for example, we had 10 different presentations for requirement 7. That takes a good deal of time. I think 10 Scouts was way too many for one class for this MB. BSA recommends a "small group", but does not say how small is "small". "Due to the maturity and skill needed to serve as the counselor of this badge, it is recommended that this merit badge not be offered in a summer-camp setting. It is not intended to be added onto the existing duties of summer-camp staff members or included in a class setting like a merit badge college. The intent is for the true learning to be experienced through the Scout’s own research. It will work most effectively in the Scout’s discussions with their merit badge counselor or in a small group setting. The goal is to have openness and depth of conversation. (This can be offered in a small group setting or with the merit badge counselor following Youth Protection two-deep leadership requirements of two adults and one youth.)." https://filestore.scouting.org/filestore/merit_badge_reqandres/CitizenshipSociety_Counselors.pdf

We use it exclusively... works great. We have 53 Scouts. Many do not have email addresses, by parent choice. Parents get a copy of all emails...

Get a long thin dinner candle. Explain the behavior you want... "During the Scout meeting openings, there will be no talking after the SPL or the Scout opening the meeting has held up the Scout sign, and until we finish the Outdoor Code (or you are dismissed to Patrol meetings, or whatever it is that you do to end the opening." This period should only last for less than say 10 minutes. Explain that you will light the candle just before each meeting starts, and that you will extinguish it if the rules are broken. Tell them when the candle burns down (to a pre-marked level), they will get a treat or some other reward. Incentivize the behavior you want! Recommend you try one at home, and time the burn for say, one hour (or however long you think that should last). Then mark a new candle at that level. When they burn it down to the mark, reward them. Then try it for another behavior, or a little longer...

Our local camp is operating at approx 70% capacity for entire summer. Normally 8 weeks of camp, they even cut one due to low demand. Historically, 6 out of 8 weeks were full. Fourth of July week and final weeks of camp consistently had some space remaining. Most of Staff is young and inexperienced. Enthusiasm helps, but is not a substitute. Most of our 18+ college students did not return. I am volunteering here for the summer to help fill the void. We would not have been able to open some program areas had I not been here. Have seen and talked with "the usual suspects" in our council over the past 3 1/2 weeks. Generally upbeat all around, but there is a sense of decline among senior staff and unit leaders. Council leadership reached out to me for this support. Guess I am finally out of the doghouse 😉 A friend in need is a friend indeed. From my vantage point, we have a way to go before we are out of the woods.

We have a robust uniform bank, including gently used socks and belts. "We cannot afford a uniform" is, therefore, not sufficient reason for a Scout to be out of uniform. If you are going to set a requirement, then help provide the means or opportunity to attain that requirement. Want all new uniform bits, but cannot afford it? I have loads of yard work for the Scout to do... A Scout is Thrifty: "A Scout works to pay her own way and to help others. She saves for the future. She protects and conserves natural resources. She carefully uses time and property." Correctly wearing a uniform is an extenuation of "A Scout is Thrifty."

Correct wear of the uniform is a demonstration of leadership and setting the example. Be, know, do! Also, you can point out to each Scout who has a Position of Responsibility (PoR) that it is in his basic job description. https://filestore.scouting.org/filestore/training/pdf/510-046_PocketCards17.pdf That is, if the Scout with a PoR is not "wearing the Scout uniform correctly", then he is not doing his job correctly. Does a Scout have or want a PoR, and is not wearing the uniform correctly? Help them set a SMART goal to achieve that standard, and then get them to agree that, in order to receive credit for the position for rank, they must achieve that goal. (Unless there are extenuating circumstances, that is: "the dog ate my uniform" 😜 )

You can try, but it may not be in the system, and so may not be recognized...