InquisitiveScouter

Troop was camping. This Scout is also deeply active in school, sports, band, and church. I wish every Scout was as well rounded as he. Don't jump to conclusions without asking about the facts. You aren't making a very splendid figure @mrjohns2

The canoe trek was August. Election is early Jan. We have one trip sched next month for 2 nights. He'll be short 2, unless we count all the nights of August, then he'd be over the requirement.

Concur... but he has not been in Scouting for full two years. Joined at 13. Very active, great skills, and participates a lot. Def an "honor camper" already. I think it would be a disservice to him (and the Troop) to have him wait another year.

Have experienced 15 nights of Scout camping while registered with a troop, crew, or ship within the two years immediately prior to the election. The 15 nights must include one, but no more than one, long-term camp consisting of at least five consecutive nights of overnight camping, approved and under the auspices and standards of the Boy Scouts of America. Only five nights of the long-term camp may be credited toward the 15-night camping requirement; the balance of the camping (10 nights) must be overnight, weekend, or other short-term camps of, at most, three nights each. Ship nights may be c

I do it for the money! Our Committee just doubled my pay!! $0 x 2 = $0

LOL, yes, you are correct. But he could say "No" to being a "professional." I have turned down several offers of DE positions...

Yes! This is why we tell new folks the best skill to acquire is to know when to say "No."

We give them the 5 year membership so they can apply for scholarships

He was a known quantity in the council. Worked other jobs on the staff and at camp... I never had much interaction with him, and knew of him to be a generally good fellow. First report was that as he got into the role, he realized he sincerely found it distasteful. It is a curious development. I may ask my other contacts what the issue was.

P.S. Even doing an annual increase, that would be about a 10% per year increase!

So, council announced our new DE two weeks ago in our council newsletter!! He quit today. Speaks volumes...

Reviving this old thread. Was just looking at our Troop budget for next year, as we purchase a 5-Year NESA Membership for our new Eagle Scouts. Price is now $100!! Effective 20 Jan 2022. Yes, I know I'm a little late, but we didn't have any Eagle Scouts this year due to a zero recruitment year 5 years ago. But that's another story... That's a 286% increase. Here's their gobbledygook: "NESA is the largest and most recognized group of Eagle Scout Alumni Achievers. We’ve kept membership fees artificially low for many years while offering a high number of college schola

There is an 8-hour ECSI WFA refresher course. It does not count for BSA WFA. BSA has issued a WFA curriculum: https://filestore.scouting.org/filestore/pdf/680-008.pdf And ESCI and BSA have an agreement that the BSA course is 16 hours.... https://www.scouting.org/health-and-safety/training/ecsi/ https://www.scouting.org/health-and-safety/training/wilderness-fa/ There are two options for completing the 16-hour requirement: all classroom, or blended 8-hour online and 8-hour classroom. I have taught both courses. I prefer the full 16-hour in-person course. In

I have witnessed many poor ceremonies where principals read from the books. I recommend focusing on the movements and the flow of the ceremony, rather than worrying about lines. Take heart... most candidates don't really get the meaning of what they are hearing anyway. It takes exposure to the speeches in the ceremonies and ideas several times until the real meaning of the OA begins to sink in. (Like, studying for Brotherhood...)

We are not a UMC-chartered unit, but I know of several in our area. Two linked Troops (B & G) sought out separate new CO's. One went to Kiwanis, and the other to a local Fire House. However, they are staying at their UMC with a FUA, because the relationship is good and the congregation wishes to continue support. Another has council as CO, as they could not find a willing participant, so took up this charter as a temporary arrangement. They are currently at their UMC with a FUA, but are looking to pull up stakes and move completely, when they can find a new home. A mixed

Entertaining? Elaborate, please? As a retired military member deeply involved in our unit, I find that parents and other volunteers greatly appreciate my direct style, and that I hold Scouts and adults accountable for their actions, and to live up to the promises they make. If you agree to serve, and then you don't (absent some extenuating circumstances), we simply thank the volunteers for their interest, and move along... Now, I do wish I could give out Article 15's, as there have been a few adults who certainly deserve them 😜 But, it is much easier to "trim the dead wood" in a S

I have had many parents ask that I sign something off for their Scout, that the Scout did not do. When I explain the requirement, most completely agree. Over many many years, I've only had a small few demand (LOL) that I sign something off. I politely refused, explaining I did not see how the Scout had completed the requirement. One even taunted that they'd just get someone else to sign it off. I tell them I am not responsible for what others do. I am only responsible for what I do. Here's a great phrase to unpack in a Scoutmaster's Minute: "When an honest man discovers he

You have got to be kidding me!!! Surely it wasn't that egregious??

Removed...

LOL, wasn't implying they should be a volunteer. My premise (as I think BP's was, too) is that the whole construct of commercializing the operation is what "poisons the well." What is the primary reason for councils to exist?? You should really explore that question. I propose the radical idea of doing away with that structure entirely.

Application clearly has Requirement 7. Look at the end of the form... I think we both agree this is a muddled and poorly designed process, rife with opportunity for improvement. But, my best advice to Eagle Candidates is "Read and complete the requirements!" as this drives them to do the application to get references and Statement... BTW, did you know Scoutbook will generate a pdf for your Scout, complete with all dates already filled in? They have to tweak it to add references, but it is still a huge time and headache saver.

It is... 2. "...List on your Eagle Scout Rank Application..." Between 6 & 7... "In preparation for your board of review, prepare and attach to your Eagle Scout Rank Application a statement of your ambitions and life purpose ..." Although, I'd be the first to support articulating more clearly as a requirement.

To my Brother Scouters and Guides: Cecil Rhodes said at the end of his life (and I, in my turn, feel the truth of it), "So much to do and so little time to do it." No one can hope to see the consummation, as well as the start, of a big venture within the short span of one life-time. I have had an extraordinary experience in seeing the development of Scouting from its beginning up to its present stage. But there is a vast job before it. The Movement is only now getting into its stride. (When I speak of Scouting I include in it Guiding also.) The one part which I can claim as mine towa

Not mistrust... For an old man, you do jump a lot... to conclusions, that is. I find that the individual counselors do a much better job of guiding Scouts as they fulfill the requirements. Your average 15-year old teaching a bunch of Scouts at summer camp??? Not so much... A whole heck of a lot of pencil-whipping going on. But hey, that's what parents are paying for, right? Wink, wink, nudge, nudge...

Free thinkers will be ridiculed, ostracized, and banned! Report to your council service center immediately for rejection processing. If you really wish to push your idea, submit it in writing with higher denominations of currency, and we'll provide further rejection.