walk in the woods

Contradictions suggest we need to check our assumptions. Maybe the problem is that we expect children and adults to sign up to a movement for life. Maybe the problem is we put too much emphasis on boy-led and patrol method. Maybe the problem is we're trying to dictate too much structure onto a diverse population. Maybe the problem is we have too many old guys trying to push an old program onto new kids. Once our assumptions are properly aligned to reality, and only then, can we make rational decisions on how to make the program work. The tricky part is trying to figure out how to do that

In our district the scout requests the recommendation and sends/gives the recommender the review forms with a SASE addressed to the SM or Eagle package coordinator. The latter keeps the letters and turns them into the council, unopened, with the application and project workbook. We tell the scouts to put some sort of code on the back of the SASE so they know who has returned and for what category. The district BoR members bring the package with them to the BoR where the letters are opened and reviewed by the board. The letters go back with the BoR members.

We've done a ceremony similar to the one @ mentions. We've also done a ceremony where the scouts unfolded the flags and displayed them before the assembly as an "inspection" before the flag was retired. When we do the full flag retirements we used adults/older scouts to handle placing the flags into the fire because they'd sometimes catch the thermals. Edit: "They" being the flags and not the scouts. Just saying.

Charter Fee (Now Unit Liability Insurance Fee) went up to $40 a couple years back. About the same time as the membership fee increase I believe.

Will you council let you charter/recharter with just 2 scouts? You may not get a choice. As to your question. I think it depends on outcomes. I generally love small-unit scouting. But, with two scouts you're at your minimum for outings. If you start having to cancel outings because one of the boys can't make it or chooses not to make it then it's time to call it quits. If you get 100% attendance to outings, have the second leader, have the willpower, and the boys are getting good program, then continue as long as everyone is happy.

http://blog.scoutingmagazine.org/2015/08/21/scout-neckerchiefs-now-approved-wear-nonuniform-clothing/

Not really council relations but not really program. Maybe should be issues and politics. Mods feel free to move. http://www.scouting.org/filestore/mission/pdf/VOS_ExecutiveSummary_Spring2015.pdf

Insert lame joke about "arms" here....nyuk nyuk.

I stopped reading at Coast Guard !

I was always taught that military commands have two parts (Forward-March, About-Face, ToTheRear-March, Hand-Salute, LeftOblique-March), the first part being the command and the second part marking the execution of the first. I was a Navy guy but I think the guys with rifles use Present-Arms and Order-Arms to start and end a salute or some such thing like that. So for a salute, with no rifle, ready-two sounds better than ready-go or ready-drop (that a boot camp thing ) !

Food Network bringing back the red beret and garters!!!!!! http://www.foodnetwork.com/shows/cutthroat-kitchen/on-set-in-the-woods-go-behind-the-scenes-of-camp-cutthroat.html

I suspect it was part of the deal in 2013 and is just making its way into the requirements now.

We used an outfitter in 2012 and upgraded from the aluminum to the we-no-nah's. It was around 10#/canoe as I recall. All the older boys and adults could heft one up on their shoulders without assistance. I'm not sure we could have said the same thing for the aluminum canoes. Some of the boys weren't as good about wet-footing as others but the canoes held up well.

But smaller than the number of people who attended the National Jamboree, no?

You know your parents better than any of us but we all know that people respond to incentives. Sometimes the response though is to simply walk away. Regardless of what you do, some people will walk. Just be prepared for that reality.

If only the BSA had a large camp somewhere they could use for gatherings like this.

And Spartans isn't a cultural appropriation?

Or they elect for Bernie!

Clearly you have not fully embraced the zeitgeist of the perpetual beta! Besides, dev/qa servers cost money and time and effort.

I rode this one to China once. We didn't go through Beaumont though.

An article and paper about parenting and the overreach of DCFS in my home state, https://www.illinoispolicy.org/4-reforms-to-prevent-abuse-of-discretion-in-child-welfare-system/. From the paper: Yeah, yeah, I know we've hashed this through before but I'm posting again because the linked paper also includes this (which I was unaware of): That suggests in Illinois anyway, an unsupervised 13 year old could result in neglect charges being brought against the parents. In one of the neglect cases the authors cited the youth were 11 years old. So a 13 year old Patrol Leader leading a g

I guess I'd have to understand what you mean by "one way." In general I don't think the same techniques that work in Chicago would ever work in my rural community. One size fits all gets us overly restrictive GTSS regulations that limit squirt guns to ranges where the participants wear eye protection. Maybe the answer is fewer restrictions and more trust for the leaders on the ground?

Also need to drop the 10 Commandments tablets from the bottom!

Regardless of their motivation, the folks that founded TLUSA have moved on. Why are BSA members still talking about them? Is it going to change anything? Even if you think they are totally hypocritical does that change the situation on the ground for the BSA? Why do you care? The BSA has now finished the process started in 2013. The people and organizations who leave as a result will have their own motivations and reasons. They may or may not join TLUSA or another organization. No amount of handwringing as to the whys or wherefores is going to change that either. Ultimately, th

The one's we frequented had flushies and showers in the main RV campground but pit toilets in the group campgrounds.