Crew21_Adv

VinceC and fellow Scouters, Good question! Just a comparison though. BSA has merit badges for Archery, Rifle Shooting and Shotgun Shooting. They have specific dangers, but applied and conducted safely. So why not Ax Throwing events, if it can be done safely? Scouting Forever and Venture On! Crew21 Adv

Eagle1982, Greetings! My troop quite often uses email communications. Our SPL and the PLs are roughly about 50/50 getting the correct word out to the families. If it is about food and video games, they are exactly detailed and accurate. If it is about the monthly program calendar, troop events, or advancement, their patrol (or parents) may not get the word at all. They are a good bunch of boys, but thank goodness they arent brain surgeons or rocket scientist. The adult leadership normally distributes all notices to the families. But similar to the parents, we work and a

Fellow Scouters, Greetings! After my initial response. I suddenly realized this is a revived posting from 2004. But here is a recent comment from the Insignia Guide and Scoutstuff.org regarding Venturing and the campaign hat. I had to look at this a little bit. The minor controversy over Venturers wearing the campaign hat. I have swapped out the pin device on my campaign hat a few times, as I've attended ceremonies in my Scout uniform and other times in my Venturing uniform. As part of the First Class Emphasis, the large standard metal pin, No. �00017, has been reinstat

printman31, Greetings! Are you asking for advice? If you should remove your sons from Scouting completely? My response is.... Totally removing youth from Scouting is an option, but I would make it the absolutely last and final option. What else would they do? Play youth sports where you may encounter sports parents which "Butt heads". Some other alternatives are community based recreational programs. Maybe less butting of heads, but you are paying big bucks to a community program to hire one minimum wage 19 y/o physical fitness college major to watch 50-60 other peo

SctDad, Here are a few things to consider. There are many pitfalls. Two specific pitfalls to be warned about. One being the amount of time to move around NSJ. The next is that day visitors may view exhibits, but are not suppose to be allowed into participant events. The sheer volume of people, NSJ attendees and guest makes moving around NSJ very, very slow (a bus ride around the entire campus was about three hours for maybe a 25 mile trip). Regarding the time it takes to move around NSJ. Some units attending NSJ have some logistic support (someone family or Scouter in th

I don't know anyone who would be brave enough to wear a Bobwhite patrol patch... Just joking.. Tami, Greetings! Our fellow Wood Badger and forum members have stated it correctly, and if you look in the Uniform Insignia Guide, that is pretty much what it states. Patrol Patches are for the youth Scouts, and sometimes Webelos. Like Neil had stated, before 2000, a learner had to bring two learner shirts with Troop 1 numeral(Red and White) and the patrol emblem sewed on to their Wood Badge course. Now, they are issued and still worn with nostalgia in mind.

Kittle and Fellow Scouters, I have heard little about Fast Tracks. Here, I'm offering my own thoughts from the little I've heard. But I believe as you ask this question, everyone should be aware, Fast Tracks is currently a national BSA test bed or pilot program within the Cub Scouts program. Like all other Scouting programs, some have been test bed for some time, before a nation wide roll out (like the Cub Scout Soccer program). Instead of using all the Packs within one Council, Fast Tracks is being offered to selected and eligible Packs throughout the BSA. So, not

Fellow Scouters, My Troop recognizes the Scouts the Trained patch at the end of TLT. For the Crew, we recognize the Venturers with the Trained patch at the end of Crew Officers Brief and Crew Officers Orienation. Regarding the Den Chief. In previous editions of the Den Chief Handbook, didn't the Den Chief handbook (before the Den Chief online training was announced) state, that the Den Chief may be trained by the Cubmaster, the Scoutmaster or attend Den Chief Training. I do not have my DC handbook with me right now. But I would still hold that to be a true statement, if i

ScubaDiver, Great! I imagine a few Scouters have used the Volcano or Volcano 2. But maybe not that many on this forum. A few Scouters I know always joke, its all about the gadgets. My wife and I have had a few fellow Scouters drool over one of our tents and some of our camping gear. But then we go to other camporees and see some of the other newest gear some fellow Scouters are carrying. (Then add it to our Christmas "Camping equipment" wish list) Sometimes at camporees, it is like being at trade show in Las Vegas. Scoutmasters are looking over other Troop's tents,

ScubaDiver, My Troop was just talking about these on Monday. And asking the same question you had stated. I saw a few demonstration models being used at "The Outdoor Adventure Place" during Jamboree. The Volcano and Volcano 2 appear to be pretty nice. Elevates the heat off the ground, and free standing. As well as directing the heat inwards towards a dutch oven (or a skillet may be placed on top). They seem to collapse just slightly, by placing the top hemisphere into the lower hemisphere of the oven. But like anything that burns wood, charcoal or cooking food on; cleaning may

clc, Greetings! You have already received some excellent advice. From attend training, to train the officers, to take them out to council and regional venturing events so they may enjoy Venturing. I would also add... To develope a Vision. (what the Crew will hear and learn as the attend training) Some short lived Crews only want to have fun, Venturing being nothing more than a social hangout. Other Crews may have extremely agressive leaders (rolling out of Boy Scouts or Girl Scout Seniors), and may be advancement oriented. A vision with a good blend of fun and a

Rythos, Greetings! I have found, read, discussed, and experienced, that during recruiting events and throughout Scouting, Boys come for one reason, parents come for another reason. Shortridge (and a few other posters) have a good statement. Boys come to Scouting because it is fun. That is were there friends are playing the Scouting game at. Sometimes there best friends. (Game with a purpose) Adults come to Scouting because of the educational experiences (the school of the outdoors) for their son. The National BSA research and marketing offices have found that m

oldsm, One evening retreat ceremony at Summer Camp a few years ago. We had one Troop, which had requested to conduct a flag retirement ceremony on the first day of camp. The camp was ready for a dignified ceremony. It was pretty good. But the Scoutmaster stood up infront of about 150 Scouts, and proudly proclaimed. As he emphasized certain words. "THE Boy Scouts of America is THE ONLY organization authorized BY CONGRESS to conduct a flag retirement ceremony". Quiet a few of the other leaders ears (and alertness) perked up. But no one wanted to correct him. (It w

Knight, I tried to look it up on google quickly, but no luck today. I have always been told that Raven was one of the original WB patrols (and still used at the Gilwell Training Center). I have not staffed a course with Ravens, but I have a few Scouting buddies who have attended and are Ravens. I have also known a few panthers (more taken from Jungle Book, rather than the original Wood Badge). Additional Patrols are usually used when a course is so full (and successfully recruited), that the Course Director and Course Advisor decide to go beyond the usual eight patrols. W

Adventurous, Greetings! While my "young and handsome" years a a few decades ago. My own story, I was not a Boy Scout, but an Explorer in my teen age years. I thoroughly enjoyed Explorers when I was a teen. When had about a 50/50 mixture of teenaged and college young adult girls and boys. We did have a few (young adult men) former Explorers and former Scouts return to the Post as Advisors after a few years. But the Post Advisor would counsel them on potential interest by the teenaged Explorer girls. The Post Advisor expected this may occur on occasion and the new associate

TnTScoutMomma, Greetings! I was pretty much in concurrence with your BOR. Until like ursus snorous roarus stated, the next BOR allowed a Tenderfoot Scout to pass without his handbook. One thing to consider. As much as the literature and handbooks are a baseline, no two Troops will be identical. Just hypothetical, but a Scout may be asked if he enjoys Scouting yes or no in one state. While on the other side of our country, a similar Scout may be grilled and performing skill after skill for a couple of hours to achieve the same rank. But at least, within a Scout's Troo

ASM59, Greetings! I don't have my manuals in front of me right now. But, I believe in some of the literature (which is agreed upon by a few national training committees) is that BSA does not want to place the cost of the staff onto the participant. So the cost for staff development weekends (which ever course), Train the Trainer and Trainer Development Conferences are routinely place upon the staffers (as well as those hosting the course). So yes.. In my dealing with quiet a few councils, and attending and staffing TDC a few times, it is normal to be requested a small amoun

kraut-60, This may not apply to everyone, or not all roundtables. I do think there should be a time allowed for announcements. It give everyone a baseline. All the units hear the same details at the same time. There is no variation. But what I have learned that fellow Scouters want from Roundtables are two things. Hands On and Take Aways. Not flyers and paper instructions, but something they can assemble, disassemble, or manipulate. A hands on Scouting skill that they may pass to fellow Scouters and the Scouts. Scouting Forever and Venture On! Crew21 Adv

WDL Mom, Greetings! Training records do get lost on occasions... Also Scouts and Scouters move across the US, and expect their record to follow them like an online banking account. In reality, most councils now use ScoutNet. Most all their Councils training and advancement records are on local council servers, and I believe duplicated and saved on national BSA servers. However records must be released between registrars. Similar to having a college transcript forwarded to another university across the U.S.; it is not automatic, but it is possible. Also, training

GaHillyBilly, Greetings! You have read some excellent testimony towards the Order of the Arrow. You have read some great statements about the vision and goals of the OA. Also, an Arrowman's first devotion should be with his troop, then the chapter and lodge. I think all of our forum members would praise you for concentrating on Scouting skills and program within your Troop. That is probably the paramount goal for all Scoutmasters. Don't build a bias against the OA, from only one perspective. See for yourself if OA is worth it. Please also allow the Lodge and Chapter

ASM59, Greetings! A good gift is an Eagle Item that they may wear. Or a 5 year membership into NESA. (If the parents or Troop does not already provide them.) An Eagle Scout neckerchief or Eagle bolo tie. Other items that may be found in a few shopping malls may be American Bald Eagle figurines. Anywhere between 10 dollars to a couple hundred. Scouting Forever and Venture On! Crew21 Adv

Fellow Scouters, We stow our Troop trailer in a gated and secured parking lot. I can empathize though. I have heard of Scout trailer being stolen, Scout huts being broken into and stolen from. (Our OA Chapter recently painted over the graffiti and our local camp long house). More recently with a Troop in my district lost their Troop flag and all the streamers during an international camporee. It was taken from within their site at night time. (some other Scouting unit, probably thought it hilarious to take a BSA flag as a souvenir) Specifically for trailers, it doesn't take

OGE and Fellow Scouters, Concur, the ESLP form requires a committee member, not the entire committee. Within my troop, we do ask all Life Scouts to present their project in front of the Troop Committee. This is not to slow their progress or to prevent them, but to assure they have covered all basis. We constantly have Scouts who have not thought thru safety, permits, equipment, we even had to ask a Life Scout about royalties and maturity ratings. We also negotiate calendar dates, since our Scouting calendar and personal calendars are pretty full, and the Service Project

Twocubdad, Greetings! I haven't broken out the OA Advisors manual. But I believe they only explain that a current OA member may wear the pocket flap patch of their lodge. (They do not go into specific detail about all the types of patches, and when the may be worn). After National OA publications, It is not until you get to the Lodge and Chapter bylaws that they place additional rules on commemorative flaps or special flaps. I myself, would be proud to wear a patch of events that I have attended or participated. It would be difficult to explain a patch on my shirt, which

gcook1, Greetings! I concur with the majority of our fellow forum members. Like in training, sometimes we move from the known into the unknown. Or find an anchor point that the Scouts can relate to, then demonstrate to them a new concept or practice. Frustrations and misunderstandings may allow us to imagine some angry concepts. Establishing personal character, morals, and values prevent us from acting on anger. I can honestly say, I have been disappointed by "back stabbers" at work. Peers that have placed their name on my work. Co-workers that have "mud-slinge