InquisitiveScouter

Yes, looks like a medal from a historic trail. What council is the Scout in? You can find what your local trails are here, then look up the medals on Google to ID it. https://tap.scouting.org/bsa-historic-trails-index/

“Hard times create strong men. Strong men create good times. Good times create weak men. And, weak men create hard times.” ― G. Michael Hopf, Those Who Remain Guess where we are now? 😜

Edited and removed...thanks! I conflated that with info from source which says BSA camps offering certified Trek Leaders as guides are certified by the state...and required by the camp. Not required for unit treks...sorry for the confusion.

Appalachian Trail... any section hike is good. No group limits, lots of in-town options, etc. Here is a good tool... https://nps.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=6298c848ba2a490588b7f6d25453e4e0 Numerous loops are available from state forests and parks trails all along the AT to make logistics easier. Adirondacks... multiple options. Crew sizes are limited in areas. Cranberry Lake 50 Trail (actually, a series of interconnected trails) is a good option. https://cranberrylake50.org/ This trail is a circuit, so parking and logistics is easier. It's a long way fro

We don't participate primarily because this is where we see some of the most egregious violations. It is bad enough at summer camp when the camp's adult leaders don't even follow the rules. Thunderstorms is one of the biggest issues. "Yes, I hear the thunder, but no, we aren't closing down the program areas... that storm is not going to come over us." SMH Here are the results of a similar incident... https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2006-jun-16-na-scouts16-story.html

@RememberSchiff, $25 from 1911 in today's dollars would be $727.87. https://www.in2013dollars.com/us/inflation/1911?amount=25 That's $17.33 per person per day. Pretty good! But with our advances in food production, storage, and logistics over the century, and changing it to a more "modern" list (we rarely cook with lard or butter anymore), I'd bet this cost would be much less (than $727.87) today. Thanks for sharing!

Registering in your state in part of the 501c3 non-profit establishment process. You are creating a corporation. The corporation is the legal entity which can own property and a bank account. The corporation becomes the sponsor for the unit. You will have to file several documents (for a fee, of course) to complete the process, but it is not overly complicated. I'll ask the legal eagles to weigh in, but I understand that the assets of the corporation can be at risk, but the assets of the "officers" of the corporation are not. If that were the case, wouldn't any and every national

There are quite a few...we could start a new thread on that 😜

Institution Head signs the Charter Agreement (Charter Organization Line) COR Signs CC Signs Last signature is a local council rep...our DE has signed in the past. http://www.scouting.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Annual-Charter-Agreement-Charter-Organizations-.pdf There is no order of signature, so anyone can sign first and then route in turn. Our council accepts electronic signatures and scanned copies, but you may want to check with your council to see if they want original signature document. Start by asking your DE what they prefer. Happy Scouting

Yes, exactly, and so we just used them "on our own." But, I have had Cubs camping at locations that did not meet the criteria ("Drinking water from an approved source is provided at convenient locations.") We brought our own, and deemed this to meet the criterion. The appraisal form specifically says "This site appraisal form is to be used by the local BSA council to evaluate pack overnight family camping locations. It should be kept on file in the council office for local unit reference and is periodically reviewed for accuracy." The three councils I dealt with had no forms "...on

Barry, not speaking for @yknot, but in my experience with three different councils for Cub camping, when I asked about council approval for Cub camping locations, I had to school them on the requirement for council approval. Then, they (usually the Council Camping Committee Staff Advisor) just told me to use the criteria on the form, and if it met them, we were approved (that is, the unit provides their own appraisal, even though this is prohibited.)

Another provision many councils do not support units for...

Don't think you will find one. Totally agree with anyone who sees vaguely written policies as a problem. And yes, G2SS and other policies are vague in many areas. You all realize the G2SS and many other BSA policies are written vaguely intentionally, right? It gives the BSA more legal wiggle room if things go wonky, or so I'm told by my lawyer friends. I pointed out many of these discrepancies to council and national reps, and this messenger has been shot multiple times.

OK, so the permission slip is NOT REQUIRED by BSA, except for flying activities. This is written right on the form itself. "The recommended use of this form is for the consent and approval for Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, Varsity Scouts, Venturers, and guests to participate in a trip, expedition, or activity. It is required for use with flying plans." https://filestore.scouting.org/filestore/pdf/19-673.pdf If your unit policies or your CO requires it (or even your council may dictate), then it is REQUIRED. Now, having previously had a law professor as our CC, I picked his brain

No. The reason is that your CO must approve all adult leaders. For example, since a CO may exclude unit leaders from serving their unit who do not meet with their own religious or sexual orientation standards, you cannot simply pull a leader from nearby troop. "Registration Requirements The chartered organization representative, or in their absence the executive officer of the chartered organization, must approve the registration of the unit’s adult leaders. Registration includes: Completion of application including criminal background check and mandatory Youth Protection

I meant overall for the entire camp...if you jack up the prices 150%, you can expect utilization to fall... (And it's only $17 a head if you have 12...) Our camp did the same thing several years ago...in addition to putting in electric and gas meters on each facility. You pay a rental fee up front, and an electricity and gas usage bill at the end based on the readings (with a little extra tacked on) Now, do you have any idea what it costs to purchase and install power and gas meters on 8 buildings? What do you think the payback time on that cost is? SMH So, instead, most

Exactly...we had two Scouts "team up" to do a local project like this at a place of worship. One did the benches and the other did the raised stage and rostrum. The projects were complementary and were done at separate times. One Scout (the stage and rostrum) won the ESSP of the Year locally... A few observations: 1) Wrong focus: It is not about the project!!! It's about the growth of the young person. Use any and all of these situations for growth and learning how to deal with setbacks and competition. Teach him to look for the win-win instead of the win-lose. See #2. 2)

Watch the utilization rate drop like a stone...

You can call your local Scout store and ask to order a neckerchief, woggle, and beads...cannot do it on line, as they are "restricted" items. Items 2213, 2173, and 2175 https://www.scoutshop.org/catalog/product/view/id/663/s/wood-badge-tartan-neckerchief-2213/ https://www.scoutshop.org/wood-badge-woggle-neckerchief-slide-2173.html https://filestore.scouting.org/filestore/pdf/33066/33066_Training_Awards_WEB.pdf?_gl=1*12ys5s*_ga*MTI0MDc0MzQ4LjE2MzQ3Mjk1NDM.*_ga_20G0JHESG4*MTYzNzM2ODk3My4xMS4wLjE2MzczNjg5NzMuNjA.

Fixed that for you 😜

"Coffee is gone" 😈👿😡

OK, understood...a few clarifications, maybe? It is "Minimize campfire impacts" not "Minimize campfires"...LNT does not discourage campfires, but promotes building in established fire rings, using dead and downed wood, letting your fire burn to complete ash, and only building it the size you need, etc. Respect Wildlife...spot on...especially the MB's...rank requirements have been changed to say pictures are an acceptable method of "collection"...I'd recommend all ranks and MB's align to pictures, and collections only with permission of land managers (geology, forestry, etc., where a

You said a mouthful!! But, burnt pancakes aren't a failure! You just learned a new way you shouldn't make them 😜

You can safely ignore down votes 😜 And I did not say we would create a non-profit scouting outfit...we would create a non-profit to support a unit for scouting... You can see plenty of these "booster" clubs in existence already... Like these... https://friendsoftroop368.wildapricot.org/ https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/friends-of-troop-78,233028430/ https://www.for284.org/ And, if BSA goes Ch 7, we'll keep right on scouting...

Yes and no. Yes, I am in favor of a Ch 7 for BSA. I believe we are to the point where we need a little "creative destruction." I also believe a Scouting Phoenix will rise from the ashes... No, the non-profit would exist to support only one local unit. That unit could be a Scouts BSA unit if there is no Ch 7, or it could be could be a unit in some unnamed Phoenix organization. BSA does not equal Scouting. I mentally separate the two...one is a corporation, the other is an fun activity (when done rightly). An analogy...if the US Tennis Association (a non-profit corporati