dkurtenbach

"Advancement at this level is subtle." No it isn't. There is nothing subtle about a checklist of things to do followed by the award of a badge.

"Advancement at this level is subtle." No it isn't. There is nothing subtle about a checklist of things to do followed by the award of a badge.

bnelon44 wrote: "But all of us, me included, if we suggest changes we need to be able to defend them based upon the Aims of Scouting." Well, unless we think the Aims of Scouting need to be changed. Dan Kurtenbach Fairfax, VA

It is pretty much irrelevant what the Guide to Advancement has to say about proficiency or mastery of skills or retention of knowledge or that a badge represents what a Scout is able to do. Irrelevant because those concepts do not appear in the rank requirements. That is significant for two reasons: One, while pretty much everyone (Scouts, unit leaders, and parents) has the rank requirements in front of them and can refer to them at any time, very few of these people -- the ones for whom rank advancement really matters -- will know that the Guide to Advancement even exists. It do

Four of the old-style tan shirts: One with Cub Scout insignia I haven't worn in at least twelve years; two fully loaded with knots and insignia that were my mainstay in troop and district roles from about 1999 to about 2009 (and probably will never wear again); and one "new" one purchased just before the Centennial version came out, with nothing sewn on and never worn. One Centennial-style (smokes pocket) supplex nylon shirt, sleeve insignia (including Rocking Chair Patrol patch), universal patch, green Boy Scout shoulder loops, cloth name tag, and hanging OA temporary patch. This is my

Yes, it is now possible to complete the firebuilding requirement indoors in a classroom setting -- just bring in some tinder, kindling, and fuel. But even that wouldn't be necessary. To "demonstrate" how to build a fire, a Scout could use fake firewood made from styrofoam and construction paper (maintained in the troop gear so lots of Scouts can use it), or could use a model (made from modelling clay, perhaps), diagrams on poster board, or a PowerPoint presentation. And then it is one short step to finding a YouTube video on how to build a fire, and showing that. Now that's entertainme

SeattlePioneer wrote: "Is there a virtual fire building website? Maybe you could teach fire building without a match by rubbing two virtual sticks together." We already have that -- Second Class requirement 3f: "In an approved place and at an approved time, demonstrate how to build a fire and set up a lightweight stove. Note: Lighting the fire is not required." Dan Kurtenbach Fairfax, VA

In response to my comment on requirements being written as largely "one and done," bnelon44 wrote: "Except for some exceptions (e.g., camp gaget using lashings), haven't Boy Scout requirements have always been that way?" In my experience, without researching the issue, yes -- they have always been that way. So, if the requirements have always been written that way, where did the notion come from that a rank represents what a Scout is capable of doing, that is, that a rank indicates that a Scout has continuing competency in the skills learned to earn that rank? Was that ever actually tru

JMHawkins wrote: "[First Class First Year emphasis] removes the opportunity from the Scout to learn about setting and managing his own goals. If they adults are force-marking hims through the ranks, he never learns how to prioritize and manage his own advancement." When I was SM, one of the things I used to emphasize to visiting parents was that in our troop, a Scout advanced at his own pace, and it was up to him to find someone to sign off requirements. We weren't going to be leading them by the nose through advancement, and we weren't going to be checking their books regularly and tel

I would suggest that it is not the Guide to Advancement that needs to be changed. Most adult leaders in units will never have heard of the Guide to Advancement, much less have read it. What really matters is how the actual advancement requirements are written. The requirements are what the Scouts see and act on, what the leaders see and act on, and what the parents see (and demand action on). This is particularly significant in regard to the issue of skill proficiency versus "one-and-done." If "the badge represents what the Scout is capable of doing, not a reward for what he has

Musings . . . What if your lodge has an ugly pocket flap? So if I'm out at a ceremony at an Ordeal weekend, or at a Camporee as part of the OA contingent directing traffic, and I'm wearing my tan uniform shirt, but it's cold, am I barred from wearing my sash over my jacket? Maybe the Switchback pants were designed with an "internal" belt so you can't hang OA sashes on them. If the only folks who can wear the OA sash with anything other than the uniform shirt are Elangomats, and BSA says the uniform is for indoor and ceremonial activities and that other appropriate clothing

Oh, I think much of the thrust of this discussion has been about whether the guidelines for sash wear make sense, or should be changed in order to accomplish certain goals.

Just a clarification: There is a difference between "stock" designs offered by companies such as Patchtown and ClassB and "custom" designs purchased from such companies. The "stock" designs are already programmed into the patch-making equipment, so the company has no further "development" costs. These stock designs are shown on the websites and can be purchased for fairly reasonable prices. For example, Patchtown offers stock designs for $2.29 each, no minimum, and ClassB sells their stock designs for $2.99 each, no minium, with discounts for quantity ($2.49 each for 8 or more). "Cu

With rental trailers, yes, there is sometimes a "well, let's see what we can do" atmosphere. I once had to take a slightly larger open trailer than I had reserved because that store didn't have one when they thought they did, and I once had to take a different trailer than had been set aside for me because the lights didn't work on that one. But those were only minor inconveniences. And I know some folks who had a difficult time finding a usable trailer in a very rural area -- the rental locations that existed in area towns were not exactly well-stocked. Dan Kurtenbach Fairfax, VA

Service requirements teach youth that (a) service is one half of a transaction -- he or she does service, and in return gets something of value (such as rank advancement or school credit); and (b) you only need to do service up to the amount of the requirement, because that is all you're getting paid for (and save any additional service until you need it for the next rank or credit next semester). The Scout spirit requirement is a broader application of that same principle ("To complete this requirement, give me examples of how you have been Trustworthy, Loyal, Helpful, and Friendly in your d

What are your council camps used for when not being used for summer camp? And more specifically: (1) Do units use them for weekend camping and activities? Why or why not? (2) Do outside/non-Scouting organizations use them for activities or events? Dan Kurtenbach Fairfax, VA

The "Joining Requirements" as we have them now may be vestiges of a notion of a trial period or "apprenticeship" before being accepted into the Scouting brotherhood. Here's how the 7th edition of the Boy Scout Handbook (late 60s/early 70s) describes it: "Meeting the Tenderfoot Tests. Simply coming to a troop meeting and getting in with your future pals won't make you a Boy Scout overnight. There are rules you must follow and skills you must learn to be a full-fledged Scout. These rules and skills are spelled out in the Tenderfoot tests . . . "Study the Tenderfoot tests carefully

If the idea is to keep the same general structure rather than make wholesale changes . . . Here are my thoughts on requirements 1 through 9. Deletions in [brackets], additions _underlined_. 1. Present yourself to your leader, properly dressed, before going on an overnight camping trip. Show the camping gear you will use. Show the right way to pack and carry it. _Campout dates:_______________ _ 2. Spend at least one night on a patrol or troop campout. Sleep in a tent you have helped pitch. _Campout dates:_______________ _ [3.] _3a._ On [the] _a_ campout, assist in preparing_,_

The requirements for the Tenderfoot should be . . . FIRST, get rid of the Joining Requirements and "Scout" as a non-rank rank. Acceptance of the application form and fees should be sufficient to officially be a Boy Scout. SECOND, stamp out the practice of putting multiple separate rank requirements into a single numbered requirement. For example, the two sentences of TF requrement 3 would be separated into two requirements. ("On the campout, assist in preparing and cooking one of your patrol's meals. Tell why it is important for each patrol member to share in meal preparation and

I went online to check. At least for my location, there was a page with a pickup location zip code, pick up date, and next to that a "Time Needed" dropdown list that gave options from 1 hour to 14 days. Some locations may not offer a multi-day option. For my location, a 5x8 cargo (enclosed) trailer or a 5x8 utility (open) trailer are $18.95 per day, or $56.85 for a 3 day rental. (There are smaller and larger trailers as well.) Add $8 per day for the optional insurance on the trailer and contents, it comes to $80.85 before tax. If you have 12 people on the trip, that works out to $6.7

In our area, Scouting in the LDS church works much like the Group concept: boys are in the troop through age 13; 14-15 year olds in Varsity Teams; 16-17 year olds in Venturing Crews. Automatic transition. The Group concept could be done now by a strong Chartered Organization with a high interest in the Scouting program and in being thrifty with its resources -- financial, material, and human. You'd want one joint Committee (each Committee Member multiple-registered), one bank account and one Treasurer, joint fundraisers, one calendar, and one pool of equipment and supplies. You'd want

We're in a very sports-oriented suburban area, so there are always youth who have games, on top of the ordinary scheduling conflicts families can have. To help with that, we started doing about half of our weekend campouts as "3-Part" activities. Part 1 -- the Friday night campout, at a nearby (less than 1/2 hour) park or campground. Meet after supper, go out, set up, have a campfire, enjoy the evening, get up and cook breakfast. Part 2 -- about 9 AM, depart the camp or park for a day adventure, such as climbing, battlefield visit, hike, etc. Part 3 -- return to the camp or park aro

"But the troop that got the most activity and thus the most recruits was the troop that year after year set up a rubber band shooting range and gave away cheap prizes." And this goes right to the heart of the main argument in favor of "troop shopping" -- that it is about Webelos Scouts finding the troop that is the "best fit" for them. In a competitive "troop shopping" environment, troops are going to act rationally in order to succeed in the competition. That means doing what will attract new Scouts to the troop, even if what brings them in the door has nothing to do with the troop

"Thank god I am nearly done with Cub scouting." You know, even after two boys going completely through the Cub Scouting program with only a one-year overlap, and serving as a DL, ACM, CC, and de facto CM for a while, I never really felt burnt out from Cub Scouting, and was even Cub Scout RT Commissioner for several months before I dropped that to become Scoutmaster. But six or seven years later, I stepped in to help my old pack, which was near death (they survived). And I planned and ran a few of the pack meetings to show them how it was done -- their pack meetings before had been essen

Yes, I have a _personal_ bias against troop trailers, but I also know that good troops use them well and efficiently and without falling into the trap of the trailer moving from "convenience" to "necessity" and without the trailer pulling the troop away from going "light" and engaging in more adventurous programs. Correct -- There is no right and wrong about trailer use generally; it is about the troop's program overall and how they use the trailer in that program. Heck, I was a Scout in a small rural troop that had an old small school bus for transport -- repainted tan with a big BSA logo p