dg98adams

I have served the District Advancement Comm. several years (primarily dealing with Merit Badge Counselors), and as a Merit Badge Counselor for some specific Merit Badges for the District.

I always get questions regarding the policy on relatives wanting to be a counselor for Scouts. Often the Scout office refers these Adults to me.

There is some really good resources for New Counselors which answers these questions.... and I will answer what ? they have and provide links or in-person training as needed, but what I think is an important factor that may get overlooked is "no more, no less"....

When I asked a potential MBC what they think this means, and I get a blank stare I know I need to explain the "do, discuss, write, explain, etc... words used in the MB requirements, explicitly until they get the point.

I also may hit on Adult Association as an important element of Merit Badges. Too much of a known adult, or relatives (or unit adults), won't fully serve the Scout.

But there are counselors with unique experiences or collections of skills/education that make "using the same MB for all Scouts" richer, but are still held to the same requirements (relationship/skills/education or not), and they may either be related or within the unit.

I have counseled my son (and usually several more Scouts) in areas like Shooting sports, swimming, cycling, electronics, and Life saving.

I also think the MB counselor process is not a one-time only process. MB Counselors have to have current YPT (2 years), stay registered with the district, and periodically when re-upping correct/provide up to date contact info.

The SM or designated Unit Merit Badge Advancement co-coordinator should review the list by the District (note approving Merit Badge Counselors is a District process) and encourage Scouts to select from a variety of Counselors as well as recommend several counselors for the Scout to contact for any badge the Scout is interested in.

You know when you are a die-hard scout when you pay $7 at Walmart for 20 Tennis balls so you can have a cool black mesh bag they came in for your mess kit, 12x14" Perfect....

I did use the tennis balls for Troop leader training.

Never seen a patch like that for BSA uniform.... Maybe a Venturing Scout because they have the option of a unique uniform, but not traditional Boy Scout.

The other could be on the right pocket - temp patch location.(This message has been edited by dg98adams)

Sounds like you have it covered....

Just depends on how comfortable you are.

Me, I would use every opportunity if you have to do something to show a Webelos Scout how to do it. The volley Ball belt loop might really be something you can drop if getting camp set up and the meal done takes longer than you planned.

Sometimes food burns

Sometimes it rains

Sometimes Scouts new to overnights get home sick

Sometimes it's enough just to get them out to camp and have a campfire.

Have you had the WDL Outdoor skill training (really just scratches the surface, but you get the basics)?

Are you comfortable camping?

Are all your adults on the same page?

Yes, to the new app with current Youth protection certificate. Keep your tainting records accurate. Might as well plan on Webelos Outdoor skills class.

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This is the way it happens in Cub Scouts, if you have an anchor leader who gets the program sometimes they stay.

Sometimes there's a place for them to move to with a 2nd or 3rd child to bounce to...

The changeover in Cub Scouts from rank to rank then loss of the CM is the ONLY consistent fact you can count on.

The Pack needs to constantly have a plan for someone to step up.

I always told my new Cub Leaders, your first and last job is to find and train your replacements.

I have seen the CM/SM's kid in several units either be an excellent example (first to show up last to leave) of a Scout or the Scout is ALWAYS involved in whatever behavior problem going on. Often the Scout should have been booted long ago but because his parent is the CM/SM it gets swept under the rug.

Phrases like "boys will be boys" or "we handle things when they happen, so we don't need to let the Committee know", or "we don't keep track of the issues like this" even though any other Scout would have been long gone..

Sometimes the leader is so free with his time and works well with with other Scouts/Parents he continues in position regardless of the child's behavior.

Sometimes the leadership has been so consolidated in the leaders family, no change appears possible to impose. That's why those units either no longer recruit or loose Scouts/Leaders in mass.

They become a one-person show.

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No literature I know of on WHO can wear it....because a Council Shoulder patch, no matter what it is made for... is just a Council Patch.

I agree Den Chiefs are not really high on the list of most boy Scouts because it IS a lot more work.

To add a carrot, you can use the Den chief Award to provide more frame work for the Boy Scout considering the role.

Not surprisingly a older brother can be a good candidate for DC... as it is a big time investment... but the DL, CM. WDL. SM can use this award to more define the role. Keep in mind the Troop POR is NOT a year-long job.... so the Scout is making a commitment to earn the cords.

Den Chief Service Award (cords the boy Scout wears on a shoulder)

SEE DEN CHIEF HANDBOOK (33211)

Before you begin work on this service award, discuss with your Den Leader and either your Scoutmaster, Varsity Coach, Venturing Adviser, or Cubmaster the role and importance of the Den Chief.

Serve the pack faithfully for 1 full year.

Attend a den chief training (if available within year of service) OR be trained by the assistant Cubmaster and den leader.

Know the purposes of Cub Scouting.

Help Cub Scouts achieve the purposes of Cub Scouting.

Be the activities assistant in den meetings. (lead five songs, five stunts or skits, five games, five sports activities)

Set a good example by attitude and uniforming.(for a minimum of six months)

Be a friend to the boys in the den.

Take part in weekly meetings. (for a minimum of six months)

Assist the den at the monthly pack program.(at least three times)

Meet as needed with the adult members of the den, pack or troop.

Complete FOUR of these projects:

Serve as a staff member of a Cub Scout special event, such as a Scouting show, bicycle rodeo, etc.

Serve as a staff member of a Cub Scout Day camp or resident camp.

Advance one rank.

Assist in recruiting three new Cub Scouts.

Assist three Cub Scouts to become Webelos Scouts.

Assist three Webelos Scouts to join a troop.

Help to plan and carry out a joint pack-troop activity.

Recommend to your Scoutmaster, Varsity Scout Coach, or Venturing Adviser another Boy Scout,Varsity Scout, or Venturer to be a den chief.

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I have seen similar things, and understand the exasperation of "getting a Scout to camp" or when Scouts choose sports, cars, or girls.

I have come round to this:

Scouting, while cheaper than seasonal sports does not come without $ or effort. Any Parent/Scout who does not understand this or is unwilling to provide 1 or the other won't be around long.

Nothing given away is ever valued.

I withhold my $ until I see some effort but give my time freely.

Serve the Scouts that are involved and active....

You don't deal with Coaches/Band Directors (Both my Scout Children March/Jazz/Pep/Ensemble), you deal with Scouts... Scout functions are not exclusive and never this OVER that ... it's up to the Scout to figure out how to make it work with your help.

I'd drop this scout a call once Football season is over, and let him know he's welcome back anytime...

This one was not hugely funny, but is often brought up around our Troops evening camp fire.

The Scout in question was the grub master/cook working on his 2nd class cooking requirements.... and did a pretty good job from breakfast thru lunch for his Patrol.

As an ASM in the Troop (and this young scouts previous CM a couple years prior), I was aware, over the book I was reading next to the campfire, of his prep/cooking. I knew his menu, as he had it approved by the PL the week before (and I saw a copy).

He was all out, dutch oven pre-heated & oiled, then dropped in dough for rolls, chicken wings on an adjustable metal grid (I made it 2 years ago) over the bed of wood coals he had prepared (cook fire requirement) .... hmm, I seem to had seen him clean potatoes and wrapping them in foil when I sat down..... still have not seen them by the fire.... he adds a cook pot of baked beans on the fire grid, turns the chicken and adds some sauce.... aha, I see the foiled potatoes STILL by his prep area.... he adds another cook pot of corn from a can.... sits down to tend the coals.... the foiled potatoes are still sitting by the prep area.....

He has gotten all this done by himself (no kibitzing from anyone), and I'll easily admit his Patrol has the best dinner of the weekend (even without the baked potatoes).....

So, finally I looked over the edge of my book and asked, "looks good, you planning on baked potatoes too?"

He answers, "sure, they only take 6 minutes at home"......

I ask, "In a microwave?

He says, "Yeah".

I returned to my book.... he glances back at the potatoes....., shrugs and picks them and arranges them around the wood coals....

His Patrol showed up at 6:30pm and ate their fill, except for the baked potatoes... he just said he put them on late.

I think the Adults finally got around to cooking around dark and hour or so later, and the potatoes were finally done... but no one in the Scouts Patrol was hungry anymore.

By then the phrase, "it takes 6 minutes at home", will be forever heard when someone asks if the potatoes are done.

I signed off his cooking/fire requirements on Monday with full endorsement by his Patrol.

You might even have a case of a TG/Trainer even being told by an ASM to get the stoves out... they might assume the "training" was outside the normal camping/Patrol distribution...

I think the only mis-step you might have made would have been owning up to "recovering" the items left out. What wopuld have happened if they were really stolen/lost?

To drive it home you could have a officer, who is "a friend" to the Troop, come by and "investigate it", on the side.

I think I would have alloted a pro-rated cost to replace the items (payble to the Troop). Presented the bill to the Patrol leader to deal with and see where that went.

Or just keep "picking up" after the Patrols.........

I believe no one ever posted there is a rule that you COULD not serve on a POR, we were only trying to let you know it's potentially not in the units or your best interest as that Units UC to do so. In fact, I think the general tone was to let you know who could serve so a suitable replacement could be found.

Will it blow up in your face, probably not.

Will the Scout be irreparably damaged because you served on his BOR, probably not. Most BOR's are "check marks and handshakes".

Will someone from the District spank you with a noodle, probably not.

Will you take the advise of possibly more experienced Unit Commissioners, also probably not, it appears.

Your primary role as a UC is to be a "friend to the unit", and if you define that Unit, to serve a temporary BOR member, then feel free.

Be for-warned, things that are "one time only" or "temporary" have a way of becoming "we have always done it that way" when related to the volunteer-run process that is local Scouting.

I wish you nothing but the best, and hope you continue to serve the "Unit" as best you can for as long as they will have you.

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I'm a UC too for multiple levels (Cub/Troop/Crew), and as a "friend" of the unit I would not sit on any advancement related board for those units.

I would however, see what I could do to help train/recruit Comm. members and parents within the unit to get up to speed on staffing a BOR.

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Cruel, no.... but I think you will have a better impact by handing out recognition at the Campout campfire or Sunday morning. could still be icecream or the like.

More importantly, are you the SM? Did the CC/COR tell you to stop?

Have your son ask the SPL who is the NSP TG.

It's possible the TG is not coming to meeting or needing to be filled. Summer Camp is coming up, and maybe elections?

T#8 - Know your patrol name, give the patrol yell, and describe your patrol flag.

We encourage Patrol Identity, and use the yell for things like "who goes first" is the loudest, or a way to bring that Patrol back from an activity... sometimes the Patrol puts the yell right on the flag, or use it to start a Patrol Corner session.

I'd like to see more Patrol identity in the Troop meeting.

Especially useful for new Scouts introduced to the Patrol that did not "cross over" with the rest.

Memorial Day Parade, be sure to afix a black ribbon to the flag's staff!

The black ribbon signifies a fixed flag (Troop flag pole) is at "Half-staff"

I have a ribbon in my Scout stuff just for that... Gonna get a few more for the parade this weekend.

Technically June 1 is the promotion date of tiger, wolf, bear to the next rank as far as Scoutnet goes..... But if an advancement report gets turned in over the summer the local Scout office will usually accept it.

When I was CM I only accepted electives needed to advance rank after the last day of School. Otherwise I directed Cubs to work on the next rank.

Here is a link for MB stats.

http://meritbadge.org/wiki/index.php/Merit_Badges_Earned

Latest is 2007

Down to 10k last year for Sports.

Bugling, American Business and fishing are under 1000.

Note: we had several in our council for bugling the last couple year each year.

Shoulda, woulda, coulda is not in the requirements. Neither are the words self-check-for-rescue, it's a life skill, just not the only aquatic life skill you can learn.

I mean Gunny by your defination, they should start the test in clothes, shoes, socks, PFD, 1 hand on a paddle, and the other holding a fishing rod..... now you have a real rescue check!

Just like everything else BSA word-smithed to death, it "is" what it "isn't" regardless of personal interpretation.

Can you jump in and swim (forward motion in a strong manner 3 laps then a resting backstroke lap) in water over your head with 1 deep water turn and then float. It doesn't say how long to float, but you just can't stand up when done swimming (deep water) and I wil let you know when you have floated enough. This is the portion related to exhaustion (really just tired) to demonstrate floating when tired.

I consider this a "discussion-around-the-campfire" topic, so please do not take my comments to impune anyone elses ability, just by pulling a chair up to the coals and offering my opinion.(This message has been edited by dg98adams)

You District/Council Advancement chair shares those stats with us (Unit Commissioners) every year... I believe those stats are something you could ask for. by district easily enough.

I think the Sports MB is oft earned by Scouts heavily involved in scholastic sports or summer leagues (baseball, soccer, etc...).

Mostly because they ALREADY are giving up some Camping Outings.

I think the dock/boat example (can't swim without mask/goggles) is weak, since they HAVE a PFD on panic or not swimming is going to be on top of the water anyways....but in a pool or lake just for a swim test? Come on?

A Camp aquatics director actually said that goggles or masks can't be used for the BSA swim check? What about nose plugs, swim caps or "$100+ speed suits? Ridiculous.

As a YMCA Lifeguard/BSA Lifeguard, I would draw the line anywhere on a Scout using items that specifically enhance arm/leg propulsion, natural flotation, natural breathing (snorkels, fins, paddles, water wings although it's not "written") for the Swim check.

Besides the PH in the Camp pool is never good for my own eyes, and I always use goggles.

If you are using some tracking software that includes belt loops and pins, she may be wanting to have some kind of record beyond the award.

But there are multiple options for awards/recognitions, and it's reasonable for a DL to email in the req. used to complete the award, but not completely necessary.

All the person does who requests the awards from council is to submit an advancement report (online or printed in person) which lists the Scouts name, date, and belt loop/pin/rank/etc earned.

Surevy Monkey is pretty easy to use, if you have a pool of email addresses.

When I was CM I did like Turtle suggested since the "Old Guard said the same thing....

Put out info on Summer Activities (especially if you have free council activities) , let those who wanted to come, come, and not worry about who showed up.

Know what, some did show up.... and had fun.

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