InquisitiveScouter

Ibuprofen is your friend. https://med.stanford.edu/news/all-news/2012/03/ibuprofen-decreases-likelihood-of-altitude-sickness-researchers-find.html

You are right on the money...and sometimes I think that is why we need the "creative destruction" of a Chapter 7.

Absolutely you can double count. Unless the requirements specifically say otherwise. Also, since the project was conservation related, he could use it to fulfill requirements for the Distinguished Conservation Service Award. https://www.scouting.org/outdoor-programs/conservation-and-environment/conservation-awards-and-recognitions/bsa-distinguished-conservation-service-award/

I took it as a joke. @qwazse?

Sounds wonderful! No bugs, fewer other campers, and a good chilly night to sleep 😜 Hope your other outing goes well...

Ours just went through yesterday. We have a charter until 31 Dec 2022! Now, I'll ask if our charter agreement has actually been signed for the year? (Since our unit has unilaterally handled the last four years doing this [coordinating all signatures on the document and delivering it to council], my sense is we will have to do it again this year...)

Our registrar is struggling with the "new" system. It was all supposed to be done electronically. But, in PA, the registrar must verify PA volunteer clearances are up to date for the entire adult roster before approving the recharter. However, the registrar cannot see the "future" roster until she approves it. Catch-22, so they had to go back to all the units and ask for a roster for rechartering, outside the electronic system.

And please, for the love of all that is Scouting, make him pack his own gear! You can go through the Scout Handbook checklist with him to guide him, but please make him pack it. And starting today, after school & homework, have him gather at least about a third of his stuff ... if he waits until the last minute (Friday after school) , there will be problems for both of you. Windy and chilly in your area this weekend. Lows in the high 20's. Hats, gloves, and layers are a must. Don't know if you two are used to those temps. Is his sleeping bag good for that? And a final trick...use a wide-mouth Nalgene filled with hot water as a hot water bottle in the bottom of the sleeping bag. He'll literally be a bug in a rug 😜 And congratulations, Dad (?)! Mine got his driver's license yesterday, and I bought him a celebratory milkshake (his favorite). Celebrate those milestones!! Have a short parent-son treat on Sunday when he returns home.

Still there... https://filestore.scouting.org/filestore/Merit_Badge_ReqandRes/Inventing.pdf?_gl=1*117uccl*_ga*MTI0MDc0MzQ4LjE2MzQ3Mjk1NDM.*_ga_20G0JHESG4*MTY0MTk2MjM4Ni4zOC4wLjE2NDE5NjIzODYuNjA.&_ga=2.102987464.995562393.1641576145-124074348.1634729543

They could call it Cubela's!! https://www.cabelas.com/shop/en#

Hey, if the Army wanted you to have a Scout unit, they'd have issued you one!! 😛 Keep up the good work. We all need you.

SMH

Oh no...all salary and benefits paid out of the funds from the local council. You can see this on any IRS Form 990 for your local council. If you need a link, post your council, and I'll try to put in here.

Or they have no liability, and stay in it to ride the gravy train of a $200K+ salary until the end...

Yup...I try to steer my Scouts towards the aquatics badges, shooting sports badges, climbing, and scuba. All of those are a blast. And lots of "doing."

Current day Summer Camps??

Must be "officially licensed" tattoos...LOL

How about tattooing them? https://www.boyscouttrail.com/blog/1358.asp Uh....no.

I think this misconception is part of the reason so many people are reluctant to be MBCs. The training slides from national have in the notes "In order to qualify as a merit badge counselor, prospective volunteers must have the education and skills needed to provide instruction and to evaluate performance. It is also important they are older than the Scouts and are able to set that positive example. This calls for both good rapport and good character. These are the only qualifications the BSA National Council places on merit badge counselors—regardless of the merit badge. Local councils, however, when approving counselors, may look for more, but they are not allowed to accept less." Link https://filestore.scouting.org/filestore/training/advancement/merit_badge_counselor/the_essentials.pptx And from G2A 7.0.1.4: "Council advancement committees have the responsibility to implement an approval procedure that assures merit badge counselors have the necessary skills and education to offer quality experiences in the badges they counsel. The intent is for Scouts to learn from those with an appropriate level of expertise." Key concepts here are "offer a quality experience" and "appropriate level of expertise" Although these phrases are vague, IMO, some use them to set the bar far too high for MBCs. For example, I am a counselor for Scuba Diving (I do hold an Advanced Open Water Diver cert.) , but I am not a Scuba Instructor. Now, BSA mandates "All phases of scuba instruction— classroom, pool, and open-water training—are limited to instructors trained and certified by one of the BSA’s recognized scuba agencies as found in the Guide to Safe Scouting." The distinction here is between Scuba Instruction and Scuba Merit Badge Counseling. These are two different things. (I had to have this discussion with our council person who approves MBCs.) If a Scout wants to earn Scuba MB, I connect them with a certified local dive shop to earn their certification, which is but one requirement of the MB. If they have their certification already, we go through the rest of the requirements and I sign off the badge. https://filestore.scouting.org/filestore/Merit_Badge_ReqandRes/Scuba_Diving.pdf?_gl=1*17mfszf*_ga*MTI0MDc0MzQ4LjE2MzQ3Mjk1NDM.*_ga_20G0JHESG4*MTY0MTY1MTkzNi4zNy4xLjE2NDE2NTMzNzUuNjA.&_ga=2.110476621.995562393.1641576145-124074348.1634729543

Lol, thanks! No, just a jack of all trades, master of none. And lots of different experiences in life, Scouting, and the military. Here are an average 23 that most Scouters could (or should be able to) do without specialized training or being a professional in some field: (NOTE to Scouters...if you cannot go through the requirements for any of these and be able to counsel a Scout, please consider "earning" these merit badges on your own. Yes, you could take at least one merit badge class at Summer Camp or elsewhere! You'll learn a LOT and have some fun, too. They'll make you a better Scouter.) 1. American Heritage 2. Art 3. Automotive Maintenance 4. Backpacking 5. Camping 6. Citizenship in the Community 7. Citizenship in the Nation 8. Citizenship in the World 9. Citizenship in Society 10. Communication 11. Cooking 12. Emergency Preparedness 13. Family Life 14. First Aid 15. Hiking 16. Home Repairs 17. Nature 18. Personal Fitness 19. Personal Management 20. Pets 21. Reading 22. Scholarship 23. Scouting Heritage

This was me as a youth... Scouting was my haven. I am deeply grateful for it and all those who helped me survive, youth and adult.

Here, I got the third degree when I submitted my application locally to counsel 60 merit badges. So, I submitted a spreadsheet listing qualifications and experience, including copies of my pertinent certifications. (About 15 pages worth of documentation, just to make the point.) All were approved 😜 And I am about to add another! (and maybe later the Cit in Society.) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z2OcbeGqbpU&ab_channel=Fledermaus1990 The average person could do at least 10 or so, comfortably.

The "proof" required totally depends on your local council or district, depending on who is approving MBC applications. There is good discussion and guidance in the Guide to Advancement 2021, starting on page 40 (Section 7) This is a good read, and recommend you take some time to digest it. https://filestore.scouting.org/filestore/pdf/33088.pdf

And the second photo of Bill Gates with Jeffrey Epstein was definitely faked...you were right to remove the post. But there are other real photos of the two together, just saying 😜

I care. There is no punishment I can think of that would fit the criminals who hurt you. And, BSA engaged in, and continues to engage in, despicable practices in dealing with this. There is no final healing for those of us who bear the psychological scars of abuse. We carry them always. I'm reminded of mine often, and you endured far worse than I, and live with yours daily, as well. I offer you my tearful empathy, and an admonition that we survivors can help prevent this from happening to others.