OaklandAndy

1 hour ago, yknot said:

That's a perception issue that the child sexual abuse history has obscured: public perceptions of overall competence and program safety is not great.  For example, this summer, some camps were desperately advertising for volunteers at their shooting ranges by stating 'no training needed, we'll train you'.  Did not instill confidence in the program overall no matter how good the RSO might have been. 

That depends on the geographic area I would think. My parents in my pack had no idea there was a lawsuit going on until I told them about it (I'm very transparent about things that go in in the scouting world). They didn't seem to care either since our program is pretty safe. It could be our small-town community feel though. 

Good District Executive's rarely stay. I like how our council relies heavily on volunteer input when it comes to decision-making. Very seldom do they make a decision without volunteer approval/input. As a volunteer, I'm on my 3rd DE in the short 5 years I've been doing this. I've also heard that some volunteers are the reason why DE's leave. They try to create a relationship, but instead get blamed when things go South and the council backs the volunteer instead of the DE. Playing devil's advocate, volunteering takes a lot of planning and some just show up and expect it to be done or wait until the last minute and the event is a disaster. Planning it out and watching it in action is all part of the fun! Plus, you can't beat the looks on the Scout's face when they achieve something spectacular. Being a DE is not easy, but neither is volunteering. 

Our council doesn't want to sponsor anyone because they don't want to have to keep track of their inventory and finances. Moreso, the relationship between the units and the council is a dreadful one and when I ask why, no one seems to have an answer. "That's the way it's always been"

8 hours ago, AwakeEnergyScouter said:

it's Siberia extreme.

I'm not sure any of the attendees from outside that area even thought about acclimating to the environment. Word is...temperatures differ around the world. 

7 hours ago, Better4itall said:

Surprise demands on volunteers. So I went to our District Roundtable tonight and the subject was school recruiting, sign up nights. And our district executive told us that he had been instructed by his boss to tell attendees that if a unit information form was not completed and turned in this evening that they would not be able to recruit at any schools with a deadline of tomorrow morning. Less than 1/4 of the district was present at the roundtable, and everyone there scurried to complete the damn form, but what was it all about? The poor DE could only say "this is how we know that you are ready to accept new members." and when pressed, he couldn't say anything more than "you need to have a program in place". What was this all about? Does this council not realize that that the volunteers they are threatening are the foundation of their organization? Let's see how quickly we can crush a once thriving movement for the advancement of character and values by subverting it to job preservation. Please pardon if this sounds  like a rant, but it is. 

It's amazing how the burden they put on volunteers is somehow justifiable to them. I understand they have a job to do and they are paid employees, but you would think paid employees would be more knowledgeable and show up to the events across the council in their respective districts. 

10 hours ago, Eagle94-A1 said:

No one is allowed. Pros won't even talk to the school system.

"On January 8, 2002, President George W. Bush signed the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001. Part of No Child Left Behind is the Boy Scouts of America Equal Access Act, Section 9525 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, as amended by Section 901 of the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (the Boy Scouts Act), which applies to public elementary and secondary schools, local educational agencies (LEAs), and State educational agencies (SEAs) that receive funds made available through the Department of Education. Under the Boy Scouts Act, which became effective on January 8, 2002, no such public school, LEA or SEA that provides an opportunity for one or more outside youth or community groups to meet on school premises or in school facilities before or after school hours shall deny equal access or a fair opportunity to meet to, or discriminate against, any group officially affiliated with the Boy Scouts of America, or any other youth group listed in Title 36 of the United States Code as a patriotic society.

OCR is charged with enforcing the Boy Scouts of America Equal Access Act. Complaints alleging violations of this law may be filed using the OCR online complaint form or by contacting the OCR office with authority to handle complaints where the institution or entity you are complaining about is located."

While this isn't a preferred method since it would cause a lot of tension between the professional and the school, this is something they can use. 

Also, I would think that all summer camps, like ours, hold daily SPL meetings throughout the week and that could provide more direction for that SPL. 

Either way, it's a great incentive for summer camps! 

I feel like I'm overthinking this. Considering the importance of the MB, I needed other's opinions. 

"First aid, WFA, CPR/AED must be taught by instructors currently trained by a nationally certified provider such as the American Red Cross, American Heart Association, Emergency Care and Safety Institute, or American Safety and Health Institute." - Guide to Safe Scouting

"CPR instruction, wherever it is required, must be taught by people currently trained as CPR instructors by a nationally certified provider, such as the American Red Cross, the Emergency Care and Safety Institute, or the American Heart Association. "- Guide to Advancement

So I interpret the G2SS as anyone who holds a CPR/AED card can teach the CPR portion in the First Aid MB, and in G2A I read it as they must be a CPR Instructor, not just someone who holds a card (such as a provider). Thoughts? 

14 hours ago, Haukehaien said:

The form is, as you have noted, entirely focused on firearm use. It is, however, still required according to the Shooting Sports Manual (Appendix 9, p. 179):

 

So, as I read it, to use private land as an archery range, we have to have our Chief RSO come and inspect it and certify it safe for firearms use. <facepalm>

But wait! On the next page, the range for an "Open Shoot" is defined as:
 

Hurray! No approval required!

And then in the next Appendix (The Instructional Archery Experience), we're back to having an NRA CRSO inspect our range and make sure it's good for firearms.

It would be nice if BSA was a) consistent, and b) aware of what they're doing. The form is obviously for firearms, and someone has decided that the same regulations must apply for all the shooting sports. As it stands, either you have to have your Council's CRSO come and waste a bunch of time inspecting an archery range that has nothing to do with his expertise, or you can't use private property ranges, without going outside the rules.

How utterly dumb.

After reading both the Archery Shooting experience and Instructional Shooting, I don't see anything about a CRSO needing to approve. I'm reading it as a Lvl 1 Archery Instructor approves the range. 

14 hours ago, MikeS72 said:

Is the unit a Troop or a Pack?

If it is a Pack the question is moot, as Cubs can only do shooting sports at district or council events.  (one of the big draws at Cub Day Camp)

It's a troop. 

Hey everyone! I'm looking at the "Private Property Approval for Shooting Sports by Units, Districts, and Councils" because a unit wants to conduct an archery event on private land. After looking at the form, it doesn't imply that Archery is part of this process. I know the "Permission to Enter Upon and Use Land" would be required though. Thoughts? 

Personally, I would let the council/district stick with their "standard" awards and have troops do things of that nature for their own members. For example, our packs/troops use a woodworking guy to make unique plaques for their own members. That way, there's no "hostility" across the district/council. To make it a little more special though, we will give that member their award at a district or council banquet. 

2 hours ago, fred8033 said:

MB pamphlets should be the fall back, but not the main path.

Creativity doesn't stop in Cub Scouts. 

On 7/1/2022 at 7:52 AM, qwazse said:

What does the merit badge pamphlet say?

That's what I'm trying to figure out. With the new exception, does that mean they only need to have 5 groups of 5 to qualify if their not adjusting? 

When it comes to shooting the 5 groups of 3 and now the exception of 5 groups of 5 if you're not adjusting and not using a scoring target, are those separate or if they score 5 groups of 5 count for qualification? I read it as separate, but I also see it as if they hit a group of 5 within the quarter, then they could hit three. Hopefully you can decipher that mess!

Are you a transplant from the Scoutbook BSA Forums too?

5 minutes ago, Scouterlockport said:

Because I know just keeping to tradition is no gonna work because it hasn't for the last 20 years

Tradition is one of the main reasons I stick around. Not to say that there isn't innovative ways to do things, but the foundation is strong and remains so. I don't have a scouting background, but it's the elders I sought out and learned from that enables me to pass on that tradition. 

12 minutes ago, InquisitiveScouter said:

Our council is a perfect example:

I believe my council runs the same way, however, with me never experiencing Scouting until I was an adult volunteer, I thought this was the way things were supposed to be. The way you describe it sounds much more exciting and fulfilling. 

37 minutes ago, fred8033 said:

The judgements will be very different in the moment ... versus a year later ... versus 25 years later. 

If everything that could be done was done at the time, that should release them from future liability. It's like knowing you can be sued at any moment in the future even though you're doing everything right today. God help us. 

And more revenue is the reason why most camps don't use this model anymore?

So you're telling me that Summer Camps used to be a place that troops would basically go camp out and work on merit badges for a week, all being patrol-led with MBC assistance?

38 minutes ago, qwazse said:

The issue is what schools are doing to screen out such teachers

Not trying to cause any opposition, but when did the public forget that people can be inherently evil. If an organization has done all they can do to put in safeguards and protect children and even employees, why should they be held responsible? There is no 100% guarantee that any organization can protect anyone from everything. Bad things happen. Now if any organization fails to put in those safeguards, then yes sue the heck out of them. Otherwise, individuals need to be  held for individual actions. If someone wants to do something illegal, then  they are going to do it no matter how many safeguards, screenings, trainings, seminars, etc., that you have. 

17 hours ago, T2Eagle said:

feedback on our camp's food was that they could do better providing healthier versions of what they served

After working in the Dining Hall last year, I asked basically the same question as your feedback suggested and was told that healthier options cost more money and took longer to prepare. So in the end, it's cheaper to buy unhealthy bulk food and all you have to do is throw it in the warmer to thaw out. So glad they asked me to take over Shooting Sports this year.