InquisitiveScouter

LOL, yeah, the last two points were being facetious... note the "overkill" and "LOL, if only " remarks...

Swimming is much easier. Cycling next. Hiking is awesome, but many balk at the 20-miler. You do have to work up to it, or face some noticeable pain 😛

So, for this, I'd note a few things... 1. When you say "low landers", what do you mean? What is the average altitude above sea level where you live? This will matter... 2. Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS) really becomes a factor above around 8000 feet. The best treatment is to go down in altitude. Much of the route you have there is above 8000', with no easy way to get down to lower altitudes, should the need arise. Plan accordingly. 3. Here's some light reading ... https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/page/travel-to-high-altitudes# https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/P

Because a tent is a huge expense, I recommend you think down the road a bit. What do you intend to use the tent for 5-7 years from now? If you think you will still me doing a lot of car camping, then the Basecamp might be good. If you think you'll want to be more mobile (backpacking, etc.), you may want to opt for two lightweight tents. Basecamp4 is 7.65 kg!! (BTW, Basecamp4 is not 50% off... only 20% with your member discount... at least that is what I am seeing... so $359.20 without tax.)(but you get a dividend of about $45, ) Is your Scout the type that could sleep in a te

I do not recommend big cabin tents, for the reasons you see above... We still have one we bought in the basement. Used it about 5 or 6 times... Our family preferred using our backpacking-type tents more. We set up two, and often put Mom with the girls and Dad with the boys. Even then, it wound up being as @Eagle94-A1 pointed out... I set up the tents while Mom corralled the young ones. You do not spend a lot of time in the tent for any activities other than changing clothes (where people want some privacy) and sleeping. The kids want to be outside playing anyway (even in the rai

Welcome @Jadalexm! You were a Scout from Tiger to Eagle. So, that's about what, a 12-year time span? And I know you have learned a lot more since then... But just looking at your Scouting years, ask yourself the question... "How long does it take to get 12 years worth of knowledge?" Well, it takes about 12 years 😜 Be patient with yourself, as well as your Scouts! You are going to have some meetings and activities where you will feel like you did not accomplish a great deal (if anything.) That's OK. One thing I found very helpful is to read a little about the psycholo

Because the money kept coming in... so the volunteers were expendable. But they are slowly killing the goose that lays the golden egg, and they cannot see it.

During my SM conferences, I ask each Scout, "Other than you 😛 , who is the best Scout in this Troop, and why?" And then I challenge them to emulate the successful behavior they see in others. I also ask them, with a promise of anonymity, "Which Scout challenges you the most, in either a positive or negative way?" In about 75%(?) of answers that they bring up a negative example. Usually some bullying or poor behavior that goes on when adults aren't watching. I take notes and I observe more closely to address the behavior. Often, Scouts talk about how someone goes to merit badge colleges o

I said certificates... and NO PLAQUES, agreed! shoulda said gift certificates or gift cards

Or knots, or certificates, or the Troop paying for their Scouting classes or outings!!!

Again, Native American Heritage Preservation is not in our mission set... and never was. Another "cringy" is watching drumming, singing, and dancing... especially when there is no meaning attached, Then it becomes blind mimicry, and pretty bad at that.

make and print your own basic topo maps at caltopo.com

P.S. Approaching Midsommar 1987, I had the distinct pleasure of helping to construct the midsommarstång!! I went into the forest to help gather flowers and birch branches for the pole!! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v9bJpgyf1X4&ab_channel=GraceonTour The Swedish Scouts taught me the song, "Lasse går i ringen", and on Midsommar, we tried to break the record for dancing!! (Apparently, there was such a thing.) The sun set around 10 PM (IIRC), but I only made it till about 3:30 AM before I gave out 😛 Sunrise was about 4:00 AM!!! A new world of history, culture, food, and l

AES, I experienced this while I was in Sweden as well, and looked (admiringly) at it as a deep connection to familial, community, and cultural roots. You have expressed well exactly what the issue is here... people who have no connection with something deeply meaningful (to those with a connection to the culture) are making attempts (often poor) to copy (with sometimes embarrassing results) for no reason other than some fictional ceremonial purposes. Thank you for putting a "Scandanavian" slant on the context of this discussion. It is helpful to shed light on the issue. (Min fafar

Got it, but you missed the point 😜

574 recognized tribes in US. What about native Hawaiians?? https://www.usa.gov/tribes What qualifies as a "largest nation"??

Neither the BSA nor the OA has a purpose or mission as a Native American Heritage Society. I love what the OA is at heart, and it has nothing to do with any real Native American lore. I say ditch it, and walk away. Structure it around the colonial period and a call to service for freedom. I can think my way through that set up easily.

It took me about 2 years to change the culture of the Troop. And I am retired and spend most of my time working at the unit level. It's been running OK for about 4 years after that, but it is still on shaky ground because people are lazy and apathetic... adult volunteers, Scouts, and parents. I give it about eight months after I depart to fail... unless a like-minded dedicated Scouter comes along to shepherd the process and hold feet to the fire. However, most of the principles in all this--- PLC and Patrol Method--- is the heart of Scouting, and in ALL the literature you read. Yo

In our lexicon, the terms "morals" and "ethics" ought to be decoupled. Without a concept of god, there is no basis for morals. https://theconversation.com/morality-requires-a-god-whether-youre-religious-or-not-42411 There is only ethics, and ethics change according to the consensus of people... The new Scout Oath: I promise do my best to follow my conscience and do my duty to my family, community, country, world, and universe, and to obey the Scout Law; to help other people at all times; to keep myself physically strong, mentally awake, and ethically straight. Th

This is the route that Trail Life USA took. Scouts there can be of any/no faith. Adult leaders must be Christian. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trail_Life_USA

No survey here, and I routinely get them...

We use Scoutbook. The PLC decides our trips and events during the Annual Planning Conference. (We have two APC's per year, so we always have a minimum of six months of activities on the books...) An adult helps the Troop Webmaster and Troop Scribe enter the events in Scoutbook (due to Scoutbook edit permissions.) For "regular" events, our planning horizon is 90 days. Prior to the 90-day clock starting, the PLC has to designate a Youth Planner for the event. The Committee tags an Adult Planner. The Youth and Adult Planner use this checklist (a bit outdated, but still useful...) t

LOL, "Chief" is an English word. And there are/were tribal chiefs (chieftains) around the world in multiple countries/lands throughout history. It is not "appropriation" to use that word. The etymology is French...

Yes, I think that is an accurate assessment

Agreed! I met you at Philmont some years ago when I was there at PTC getting WFA Instructor certified. (I'm sure you thousands of people 😜 ) I have about 50% of our unit currently certified in CPR/AED, and work to get/offer training to folks in our council. Have trained over 200+. Now, getting folks to dedicate time and effort to do First Aid or Wilderness First Aid training is a challenge. I've been pushing for an AED purchase for our Troop trailer, but that's a high-dollar pilferable item, so we have not gotten consensus/committee approval to purchase yet. (About 60-70% of our