InquisitiveScouter

One thing we have put into the Troop culture for trip planning is to block off 3 or 4 hours of 'unstructured time' where the Scouts figure out what they want to do 'in the moment'. All kinds of Scouting breaks out...one set of buddies builds (another) fire, some hike, some have a rock skipping contest, flag folding, lashing, knife, ax, and saw work, rope work, some grab an older Scout or adult to work on requirements, etc, etc, etc The only limitation is that you cannot sit around playing on a screen.

Your wisdom is worth much more🙂💪😜

This rule is ludicrous. To the point, as an SM, I answer to the Troop Committee Chair and the Chartered Org Rep. In the case of multiple units camping together, if all CORs approve, the district or council can't say squat. This is probably the only lever that National wants the LCs to pull anyway. If you have CO top-cover, thru your COR, you are good to go. So, if you have say an email chain from the three CORs approving the event, you could send that to your DE, informing them of your outing, so they know, for 'legal' purposes only. If your COR is not FULLY aware of the scope and program for your outings, then you have failed to 'let your boss know what you are doing'

It's not green!! That's what!!

LOVE that letter 😜

No, Barry, it is the volunteers at the unit level who are "teaching" it. I find few examples in the professional corps who are teaching it. And I look for them. When I do find them, I praise them profusely and support them. Publicly and privately. Can't speak for @yknot of course. The last three DE's I had significant contact with, who walked the talk, have left BSA employ. Two of the three because of the internal rottenness they could no longer stomach. It's been a long while since I have interacted with an upstanding SE. Totally agree this is my subjective opinion, and others are free to believe and behave otherwise...

There really is no concrete thing as an "organization." That is an "agreed-upon fiction." People constitute organizations, and without people, there is no organization. When I refer to the BSA, I refer to the people running it, leading it, and making and/or carrying out the decisions. And, as is this case, people often hide (retain anonymity) behind the shield of an organization. Also, there is a difference between mistakes and immoral actions. A mistake is something generally done without intent, or out of ignorance. I am very forgiving of mistakes. Even then, I defer to Lincoln, "When a man who is honestly mistaken hears the truth, he will either quit being mistaken or cease to be honest." Immoral actions (or downright crimes) usually involve intent. Prerequisites for forgiveness and compassion in those instances are sincere confession, contrition, and wherever possible, restitution. These are what are lacking. Otherwise, punishments and scorn are the just deserts.

Doesn't that say volumes about the way this organization conducts itself?

Yes, I have observed the trend of SEs finding people who have drunk the kool-aid and recruiting them to their boards. (BTW, why would the SE have any influence over who is on the executive board?) Typical boards are NOT representative of the people in the community who make up the volunteer corps. I find their interests and agendas are not aligned with the ideals of Scouting, as their actions routinely demonstrate.

Wow, is that for one month of billing? Surely not.

Gents, you are operating under a misguided assumption... "The mission of the Boy Scouts of America is to prepare young people to make ethical and moral choices over their lifetimes by instilling in them the values of the Scout Oath and Law." Vision "The Boy Scouts of America will prepare every eligible youth in America to become a responsible, participating citizen and leader who is guided by the Scout Oath and Law." Nowhere in the mission or vision statement does it say the professional corps, or national or council boards will subscribe to the values and ideals of Scouting. Our assumption is that it would be inherent that all would walk the talk, but my experience over a "career" of 43+ years as a Scout and Scouter says it just isn't so. And as this culture comes more and more to light, as it has in the national-level controversies of recent decades, and as it is in this bankruptcy process, BSA membership will dwindle. Character matters.

No ruffled feathers here, brother. I am heartened by your righteous indignation and want you to stay and keep giving us that perspective.

It does, but still leaves tremendous scars and sensitivity. One minute at a time, brother...one minute at a time... Don't know you, but my heart goes out to you. Not much solace, I know, but sometimes just knowing you are not alone helps.

No.

I'd really like to see any empirical data that shows the 18-20 y.o. is more of a danger to Scouts. Without that, I believe the policy should say just one adult over 25 years (yes, 25 years old) to run an outing, with another adult over 18.

Frustrating. When we cannot get basic administrative tasks dealing with membership right, our confidence in the integrity of all other processes erodes. Best of luck as you wade through the mess. Have you spoken directly with your registrar?

Concur...I encourage them to shoot for the National Outdoor Awards. https://www.scouting.org/programs/scouts-bsa/advancement-and-awards/noa/ Eagle Scout has become too academic...all training, little to no experience.

Yeah, this is a judgement call...there is no definitive answer. Put it back on the Scout...ask him if he really considers this to have met the spirit of "mountain biking" rather that some legalistic definition (e.g., "I rode a mountain bike, so it must be "mountain biking") IMO, paved is definitely out for "mountain biking", and there are some well-groomed crushed stone trails in our area (rails-to-trails), that I would also not count as mountain biking. We do have a long, somewhat flat dirt trail with lots of mud, and a few ups and downs fortified with gravel to prevent erosion, and I have seen a number of Scouts fall in the thick mud and take spills coming down hills and trying to make a turn in gravel. They learn 😛 The requirements for that option speak of dealing with obstacles and proper technique for mountain biking over rocks, roots, and gravel...things you should not do with a road bike 😛

Awesome! I did not know you could do this! Thanks! In my.scouting (if you are Key 3 or a delegate) under the Roster, select the individual, then select Print, and from the pull down menu select Unit Advancement Details Report. This will generate a report which looks like a complete record. Here's a sample of mine....dates removed to protect identity 😜 Adult Award Veteran Award - 20 Years Adult Award DoD-USM Outstanding Volunteer Svc. Training Awards C51: Den Leader Training Award Training Awards C54: Cub Scouter Training Award Training Awards S41: Boy Scout Leader's Training Aw Adult Award Veteran Award - 20 Years Youth Award Historic Trails Award Training Awards D61: District Comm Scouter Tng Awd Adult Award Veteran Award - 30 Years Adult Award Unit Leader Award of Merit - SM Training Awards S40: Scoutmaster's Key

@NJScout1980, welcome! Thanks for your input, and I wish you the best in your endeavors. Agree with all you have said except one sentiment... baby and bathwater... The baby is Scouting. The bathwater is the BSA. We could throw out the bathwater and keep the baby. I do not advocate fully this yet, but do not see progress on the "reorganization" front...so await the final outcome of Chapter 11. I see no problem with Chapter 7. We can find our way without the BSA

If you wish to have this "on your record", then you will need to go thru the paperwork process. Did you know you each adult has an official awards record as well? If you are on good terms with your registrar, you should ask for your own record. Please be mindful of your registrar's time; I do not recommend you ask for this frivolously.

I believe the only way for that to occur would be to remove the money. Just about everything I have seen that is "wrong" with the organization stems from the consolidation, the pursuit, or the protection of money. Was BP on to something when he essentially asked for that? 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 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 your eyes open, in your turn, for worthy successors to who you can, with confidence, hand on the torch. Don't let it become a salaried organization: keep it a voluntary movement of patriotic service.The Movement has already, in the comparatively short period of its existence, established itself onto a wide and so strong a footing as to show most encouraging promise of what may be possible to it in the coming years. Its aim is to produce healthy, happy, helpful citizens, of both sexes, to eradicate the prevailing narrow self-interest; personal, political, sectarian and national, and to substitute for it a broader spirit of self-sacrifice and service in the cause of humanity; and thus to develop mutual goodwill and cooperation not only within our own country but abroad, between all countries. Experience shows that this consummation is no idle or fantastic dream, but is a practicable possibility - if we work for it; and it means, when attained, peace, prosperity and happiness for all. The "encouraging promise" lies in the fact that the hundreds of thousands of boys and girls who are learning our ideals today will be the fathers and mothers of millions in the near future, in whom they will in turn inculcate the same ideals - provided that these are really and unmistakably impressed upon them by the leaders of today.Therefore you, who are Scouters and Guiders, are not only doing a great work for your neighbor's children, but are also helping in practical fashion to bring to pass God's Kingdom of peace and goodwill upon earth. So, from my heart, I wish you God-speed in your effort.Baden-Powell

Sorry...terminology...should be orthotics versus orthopedics...lol

So, you're a late fall or early winter chicken? 😁😁😁

Your footwear is critically important. Do you currently need arch supports, or have a wide foot? I do, and use New Balance trail running shoes, as they accommodate my orthopedics. Next...crawl, walk, hike, backpack...I'm sure you are past the crawling. Do you walk a lot? If not, start there. Even on a treadmill, if necessary. Can you walk five miles at a good pace (you have to define this for yourself) with no problems? If yes, you are ready to do longer days hike. Carry Scout Essentials only, hit a local urban trail, and shoot for 10 miles. Recuperate, evaluate your footwear and gear, and do it again. And again. Then try a 15er in a day. Do those, and then we can talk backpacking and lightweight gear. Work up to it please. You ain't a spring chicken anymore 🤪🤪🤪