walk in the woods

Well, that's the question. My DE said 5 was the minimum for an existing pack as well as a new pack. I asked the question two or three ways and got the same answer every time.

Thanks. We're turning our apps in next month even though the Council said not until September and at least 5. I guess if they cash the check we'll know it's ok.

Going over my DE's head to get stuff done, when he/she doesn't return calls or email, is just part of the job.

Thanks.

Chains of Command are funny things, they run two directions. I can't count the number of times a DE has directly contacted a Cub Master or Den Leader instead of working through the Commissioner or Committee Chair.

No a hobby is something I do when I have time. Scouting is something I make time for. However, your comment is consistent with the contempt I've felt from many professional scouters.

Not trying to troll here, just a question. At my last Commissioner's meeting our DE said the minimum number of girls a pack can register is 5. I pressed him a bit and he confirmed that if we don't have 5 girls to sign up then we have to sign up 0. Is that not what you're being told? Just curious if it's a council specific thing.

So why not apply the same principles to alcohol and tobacco and vaping and laser tag and ..... We know those things are going to occur so lets just help the scouts and leaders do it safely.

You're right of course, and I generally agree, particularly outside of scouting. But, that's not what the BSA has been selling for the last many years. They've been selling No Alcohol, No Sexual Activity. The Scouter Code of Conduct specifically states: And the G2SS threatens expulsion for drugs, alcohol or sexual activity. The problem here isn't really condoms or alcohol or girls in scouting. The problem is mealy-mouthed leadership in Irving trying to have it both ways. They give imperative directions when it suits them to keep the base inline, but ignore those directives when it's convenient so they can be one of the cool kids. Changes come in half-measure, I hope nobody notices, let's have a conversation, secret committees, invite only meetings, and secret videos. It's the antithesis of brave leadership based on principle.

There's a difference in a Scout and his/her parents making an informed decision about an event and its rules vs. the BSA endorsing a set of rules in contravention of its own policies. The G2SS very clearly says, No Alcohol, No Sexual Activity allowed at scout events. There's no asterisk. "WOSM made me do it" is weak tea.

Salary is consistent with what I was making when I got out of the Navy and college with similar work hours. Especially considering the possibility of an 80% pension! Sorry, no sympathy here.

But it is a zero sum game in its current incarnation. Ask the baker in CO or the florist in WA if their rights are being respected or if somebody else's moral code is being imposed on them. All laws enforce somebody's moral code, enforced by a gun.

Is it? We've had a few comments on this site over the years about how some places in Europe the boys and girls just pile into a common tent. If the argument to go co-ed is "the rest of the world does it" doesn't it follow that anything the rest of the world does should be acceptable here? E.g. condoms and alcohol at scout events?

Hmmm. Space blanket and battery pack. May have to upgrade my pack. TP is never to be discounted either!

What if Boy Scouts has turned off kids who would be great as Trailmen?

Does my backpack count? Flashlight, multi-tool, pen/pencil, lint brush, first aid kit, cpr kit, notebook, instructions for accessing some stuff at work, train schedules, small lighter (in case someone randomly offers me a cigar ), calculator, umbrella, glasses cleaner, lunch.

No offense gents but "need" is the language tyrants use to convince their subjects to voluntarily give up their natural rights. I don't "need" to carry a knife. I choose to carry one because I find it useful and it's within my rights so long as I'm not using it to hinder the rights of others. It is the government's obligation to justify restricting my rights and "other people do bad things with a knife" isn't sufficient. It's not BP that's rolling over in his grave, it's John Locke.

From the linked above: "Knives should be considered as a tool and treated as such. Those who are going to use them should get training for their use, as you would for a saw or an axe. Knives are an offensive weapon so great care should be taken when dealing with them. " Well, Offensive Weapon is a bit of a redundancy. Almost everything I own could be turned into an "offensive weapon." Hammers, drills, broom sticks, my belt or shoe laces, the keys on my keyring, a thrown cell phone or rock, a cricket bat or ball. Hell, I have a big pointy fork (assault fork?) I use for turning meat on the grill.......Sigh. Sorry Skip, it's not common sense, it's nonsense on steroids.

Well, only if the parent is a BSA swimmer and proficient in the craft. Pg 16: For activity afloat, those not classified as a swimmer are limited to multiperson craft during outings or float trips on calm water with little likelihood of capsizing or falling overboard. They may operate a fixed-seat rowboat or pedal boat accompanied by a buddy who is a swimmer. They may paddle or ride in a canoe or other paddle craft with an adult swimmer skilled in that craft as a buddy. They may ride as part of a group on a motorboat or sailboat operated by a skilled adult.

@Jameson76s answer, "Depends," is probably the right answer. For reference, my Jambo troop had 36 scouts, 3 leaders (standard was 4:36 leaders to boys). We managed fine. 8:30 feels like to high a ratio with no other information.

I suppose the short answer is "pick one and live with the consequences." In 2000 the BSA picked one, took it all the way to SCOTUS, and won. The consequences were shaming in the media, law suits, and open council defiance. As a result, in 2013 the BSA picked a new morality. More outrage from the left, Trail Life USA was formed. Two years later they picked another new morality. The left cheered, consternation from the largest CO. Two years later they picked yet another new morality. Consequence, largest CO is making its exit. Next year? Who knows?

Didn't the Knights transfer all their charters to local parishes a couple years back?

It's been a long time since I lived in Idaho Falls but I suspect the 80% of scouts might likely mirror the general population of the area. Quick check: https://www.bestplaces.net/religion/metro/idaho/idaho_falls claims just over 62% of the population of Idaho Falls is LDS and only slightly less in Pocatello (https://www.bestplaces.net/religion/metro/idaho/pocatello) maybe due to the University's influence. If LDS families are only slightly larger than the average eastern Idaho family it's not out of line to guess the numbers are inline with the 80% quoted.

Well, the point of Family Scouting was to make it convenient for families to participate. If you're son is going to a troop 30 minutes away, and the pack meets the same night, so you could easily get both kids in the program, and focus your energies on the kids in those programs, then make the move. You'll burn yourself to a crisp trying to save a pack with disinterested parents.

I always find the UK/US comparisons a bit dicey. I know you're looking at per capita, but, I think that creates a serious averaging error. The UK is about the size (physically and population wise) as the BSA's NE Region. Creating a program for a smaller mostly homogeneous population (whether Old England or New England) is a very different problem than creating a single program for a nation that is more diverse on many facets. I think if we really wanted to compare US scouting to Europe, then the better comparison would be US:EU. That's a bit harder to do no doubt since there is at least one WOSM affiliated scout group in each nation. I'd argue scouting in the US is in many ways a fundamentally different problem than scouting in the UK.