advancement lady

Here we go ~ this I like. All about the scouts ..... that is what scouting should be about.

1. Keep them safe.

2. Let them think out of the box.

3. Praise them along the way.

I am now excited again about the "secret" recognitions we do. Every COH, since I took over advancements, we always had something up our sleeve. I usually fly it by one adult in the troop, to make sure it won't offend anyone, and then spring it into action at our COH. Last summer camp our scouts took three camp events .... archery high score, best belly flop, and pier trick. I made them pocket certificates with their event and date listed and purchased small blue ribbons (from cub scout awards). Our belly flop kid laughed for a good 5 minutes ~ we just didn't tell anyone that he was the only one in the competition!!! They loved getting the extra attention.

Love it!!!!

The scouts are individuals and allowing small changes, i believe, is a good thing. As close to "proper class A" as possible, but fully visible from a distance. Great concept!!!!

Dean ~ WOW ..... it sounds like you maybe headed towards a silver lining.

When my oldest joined our troop we were also in a "take over". I was not part of it because I was so new to scouting. Basically, the old SM felt threatened by the man wanting to come in as the new SM. The boat was rocking for a couple of months, but it all worked out well. Now, that SM wants to step down, but we do not have anyone to fill that spot. Not sure if we'll make it!?!

Our old SM made a hefty donation to our scouting fund for quite a few years after the "take over". Feelings were hurt, but in the end all was well.

Thanks for the info.......

Everyone's input helped a lot. If I understood correctly ~ yes there are guidelines and regulations, but many troops and groups are straying!!

I asked because we have a very deserving scout in our troop. He needs to be recognized, but he would feel uncomfortable wearing a kerchief that is different from everyone else (too noticeable) I thought the epaulette would be more discrete, yet I know he would be proud to wear them.

He has participated in multiple trainings, but wants to keep his World Conservation patch on his right pocket because a number of scouts in our troop have also earned it. If scouts had knots for training, like the adult's have, this would be great. They are small and have a place to be worn.

We do a pancake breakfast because our charter organization does a spaghetti dinner where our troop helps out. They do bring in quite a bit of money, but I must agree with the others ..... donations is the key. We place the business's names on our place mats.

We have also done car washes, which are a hit or miss. Popcorn sales are way down by us because the prices became so steep and wreaths aren't a big seller either.

If you have any large community events by you, they sometimes will hire scouts for clean-up or set-up.

Another one is benefit nights from certain restaurants (mcdonalds, culvers) No start up costs there. You maybe able to use the money from a benefit night to start up your big dinner.

I saw there are a few forums that talk about the epaulettes. I was told there is no real regulation covering this by a district advancement chair who presented a troop with homemade camouflage ones. Now, I know camouflage is not to be used in scouts, so I am questioning the answer she gave me .....

This is what I think MAYBE true ~ 1. Scouts are red or the new green (Jambo has it's own)

2. Different levels have a color ~ districts, councils ETC.

So, my question is ~ Are there any regulations concerning what a scout can where? Are they allowed to wear homemade ones?

The majority of our troop has blank backs. I will keep my eye out for any rank advancements.

I like the back of my sons' sashes because they house their pop corn pins, some awards (like Totin', mile swim) and my older son's pins he collected at 2010 Jambo. It all looks neat and presentable for formal events.

Thanks for all the advice ~ a letter was sent and council did talk to my daughter for details. We were assured that the interviewer was going to be spoken to and retrained.

One of the girls in her troop received her gold collecting cans for the food pantry. That was it ~

BH ~ Thanks for the clarification. Apparently our scout shop "expert" was wrong!

Long and short of it~ I had my son's sash with me at the scout shop. He stopped me and said that my son would run into problems down the road because only merit badges are allowed to be placed on the sash. Good thing I didn't have him remove everything for his Eagle BOR.

Sounds like things are moving along pretty well. I know how frustrating it is, as a parent, when your scout is trying so hard (ready for inspection) and is dismissed (too busy). It is also difficult for one person to be in charge of so much (PL). It does sound like there is a need for flexibility (no you're not in uniform~ he was earlier) and a conversation with the scout master would be a good idea. Maybe your son should bring up his concerns with you in the meeting for support and clarification.

I think you did the right thing, intervening, and encouraging your son to try to resolve it himself with asking more than once.

Not really ~ I am in the education field and I was thinking about setting up training modules or "retraining" courses. I also had to look at the fact that I hold two jobs, have 4 teens, volunteer as advancements for my sons' troop, and 4 of us share one car! Not sure I could do a good job with it right now although, we never know what our future holds for us!!!!!

Technically the sash is only for merit badges! However, my son made it through his Eagle board of review with his scouting memorabilia on the back of his sash. The District Advancement even made a comment to him about how much she liked it!?!

I wish this was recent ~ it was March 2012. She was planning on doing the project over her spring break!!! As you can tell it really hit us hard. (I was in Girl Scouts from Brownies, no Daisy in those days!, until 21 with no breaks) When my girls began scouting I volunteered at summer camp. I was even part of a group that went to Canada for two weeks to visit with the Girl Guides!

She is in Venturing and has been to Colorado and on Wednesday leaves for a two day, sleeping on sandbars, canoe trip.

I think the part that bothers me the most was the fact that they also told her "not to rush it, you have all summer" ~ no she doesn't. She is a softball player (spring sport) and was in Show Choir. To add to that she had Prom, graduation and college testing. (tough for her since her dyslexia does not allow her to test well, so she needs to test multiple times)

Add the fact that such a small number of girls earn their gold, I believe every interviewer should focus on the young lady standing in front of them and not predetermine their decision before they even enter the room.

Everyone knows what an Eagle Scout is and I want to see everyone knowing what a Girl Scout Gold Award recipient is!!!!!

THANK YOU ALL!!!

I hear what you are saying and yes she will eventually move forward with her project, but she is now too old for the gold award. Plus, her heart was really broken by the one interviewer. Her project was for teens because she felt that teens were known to be strong and in the "best" years of their lives. She wanted to make blankets, just for teens, who were hospitalized at Ronald McDonald Houses to let them know someone really does care. The interviewer told her that her troop could finish off her project in one night and that it wasn't sustainable because they wear out!?!. (I beg to differ) If a teen received a blanket, that gave them comfort while away from home, if they became well they would do the same for someone else. If the teen did not make it home, their parents would have a personal item to wrap in at home if they needed the comfort.

Unfortunately, one of my daughter's dear friends ended up on death's door and at 18 is now the proud owner of a pace maker.(possible heart transplant within 10 years) After visiting her in the hospital and holding her hand, because Liz was too weak to keep her eyes opened, my daughter told me (in the car on the way home) that she just witnessed first hand the purpose of her Gold project. A couple of days later she said she was no longer going to go for her Gold.

I just want interviewers to be aware of what they say and do. EMPOWER

Our troop is a scout lead troop and I am extremely disappointed. I have two scouts, in two separate patrols, and have yet to receive a phone call from their patrol leaders about anything!!!

As a result ~ we have had ZERO campouts in 2012 (this includes our week long summer camp) The whole troop has just fallen apart and I do not see it continuing after 2012.

My son was SPL for 2011 and his ASPL is now the SPL. As an adult, I supported my son 100%, but I did have to step in from time to time to help guide him. Although he wasn't the best SPL, they camped, worked on skills, earned many badges and awards. Overall a great year! And his Eagle project pulled in every scout family except one. Our current SPL's Eagle project only had 6 scouts!?!

Our current SPL's mother believes a scout run troop means 100% scout. As a result, nothing good is happening. She keeps making comments like, I have told him to call!

Long and short of it is this ~ in my opinion, a scout run troop is 90% scout and 10% adult intervention. They are still children with little, if any, experience. It is our job to help them succeed and learn from their mistakes. Maybe a campout may not have enough food, but they are not going to starve. Don't wait for them to make the major mistakes (zero campouts). Let them learn from the small ones (short two slices of bread).

After the first campout was cancelled an adult should have stepped in and said "What happened?" You know the answer would have been "I don't know". This is the first year our troop misses summer camp and quality troop!

I need to get this topic out there ..... my daughter's interview was so devastating that she is not going to earn her gold. They (really only one of them) made the interview about how great her daughter's project was and told my daughter that she needed to not be in such a hurry to do hers!?! As a result, the 20 plus hours she had already put into the planning and signature process will now not help teens in need.

Please, if you are an interviewer, make it about the young lady who stands before you and nothing else. My daughter was dressed up and excited about her proposal. I received a text at work saying they said no. It was predetermined because her 6:00 interview spot ended at 6:11. In those few minutes she learned about "how great the interviewer's daughter's project was." My daughter cried for two days. I wrote my local council and they bent over backwards to try to undo the damage that was done. I thought everything was fine until my daughter announced "I am not doing my gold." My heart still hurts for her.

Since her interview her brother received Eagle and her other brother will be doing his project shortly. We are not new to scouting, but let's give these ladies some respect. It is our job to guide, not boast or discourage.

So, if you are interviewing ask questions and guide the scout. Offer suggestions or ask the right questions to get them to be empowered. Let's get the number of girls earning their gold to SOAR!

The more I read about the do's and don't's about what patch goes where, the more I believe this is stupid! Let's just let the boys be boy scouts.

I know nothing of an accident, but my heart (and prayers) go out to the scout families.

The "tragedies" I have heard about which involve scouts (either lost or hurt) all seem to tell the same story about scouts stepping up and keeping a confident head about them. This gives me, as a parent, great comfort sending my boys (and daughter) away on their outdoor adventures.

I just spent sometime looking over the STEM award. I agree it looks interesting and I see a place for it in scouting. I am curious to see the "finished" product ~ are they pins, badges, linked together, separate ETC?

My son has had his fill of Merit Badges (16 years old and Eagle with enough badges for 4 palms, but needs to do the time!) He is up for something different and currently has 7 scout awards. I am hoping that STEM sparks his interest to work on more scout related activities. Although he has NOA Aquatics, he has zero interest in going for the camping segment because he would need to earn cooking or pioneering.

Does anyone know why scouts cannot earn knots? I know they have the religious knot, but why are the knots reserved for adults? The scout recognition patches seem to get bigger and bigger with each new concept that is introduced. Maybe knots are the way to go?!?

Any thoughts?

Love this one because I have some answers!!!!! My son recently earned the Aquatics segment. He was able to count his mile swim from '07. He also could count any time he spent on the water (or in it) which included his summer camp's battle on the lakes. Since he is also in Venturing and attended 2010 Jamboree, he had a lot of "water time" in. And yes BSA Kayaking was included in his water time!

We filled out the form, had his Scoutmaster sign it, took it to our local council ..... they take it from there (MAKE A COPY). Because it comes under the "National" section ~ it can only be entered by council, same as Eagle and the Palms.

My son has no desire to pursue anymore merit badges, so this maybe the only segment he earns (missing cooking to get Camping Segment), but this may change when he actually receives the award. (Fall COH)

Hope this helped!!!

I can not thank all of you enough for justifying my question. At least I know "I am NOT off my rocker" and that my motivation for an answer was in the right place. If I am not able to get the "standard" NYLT patch, the scout will be fine. He mentioned to his mother that he isn't really sure where he would put it anyway! He seems to be most proud of his World Conservation patch and wants to keep it exactly where it is ~ displayed proudly on his right pocket!!!!

Sorry I caused such a fuss!?! The reason I felt it was important to try to locate the NYLT patch, for one of the scouts in our troop, was because I feel the patches are important. Not for the recognition as much as for the memories. Not many scouts, in our troop, are photographers or even remember to take a few shots and these patches are the reminders, for them, of their scouting careers.

Is there a standard NYLT patch (the blue & red square) or is it based on individual councils? I have a scout (not mine) who has gone to the training for the past two years, but never received the actual universal NYLT patch. He has multiple certificates and three council level patches. Is there a difference?

When I finally found the patch I was looking for, it said it could only be ordered through the council with the proper paperwork!?!

I agree with you both ..... there are some patches that should have a standard placement, but the extra "important to the scout" should have a spot to be displayed. I just never realized that the right pocket was pretty much ~ up for grabs.

Thank You both ~ I get it now and can help out our troop!!!! Too many patches ~ Too little time!?!