david_w_rahfeldt

I think this is a remarkably simple issue that everyone, from our BSA Legal Dept to non-scouting public is making way too complex ... often in an effort to use the issues involved as a forum for their preferences and politics. No surprise there, eh - welcome to America - land of opportunists - oops ... I mean opportunity ... rofl ... OK this is simple. Our constitution states clearly that religious discrimination is not allowed. "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech,

In general, the best way to do scouting is to remember it always has to BE FUN and SIMPLE ... every activity needs to result in SUCCESS and has to be FUN ... KISMIF is a good acrynomn to remember ... KEEP IT SIMPLE - MAKE IT FUN I might add to that that as a program director, scoutmaster, trainer ... or any of the true planning and leadership roles ... your goal is to slip in INCREMENTAL and CONTINUOUS successes and achievements ... and provide reminders of SCOUT VALUES ... in choices as you engage the kids to take control and self actualize increasingly ... consistent with their inc

Several good ideas have been presented ... HOWEVER .... With regard to the SCA (Society for Creative Anachronisms) ... folks who run around in randomly self-made body armour and swords (made from everything from chain to garbage cans) ... one needs to be careful ... these are mostly more robust kids and young adults who are college students ... and who often have pretty much free for all group "combat" fights in parks and woods ... and it is NOT unusual for folks to come away bruised and the occassional more serious injury is not unknown when some of the home made combat gear fails and in