Eagle92

I still have my tan shorts and red polo. Just wish I had my maroon Venture Crew one from that period.

Sailing, That's one of the "challenges" of Sea Scouting today, all of the "piratetical costumes" that were allowed during the Sea Exploring era of the 1960s onwards. Kinda hard to get uniformity when A) you allowed almost anything to go as an uniform, and B) when you did start pushing one set of standards, based upon the traditional uniform, you did away with some of the core traditions, i.e. "bugs" on covers, unit numbers, insignia on the working uniforms etc.

TAHAWK, I must respectfully disagree. I've have seen the terms Field Uniform, Activity Uniform, Dress Uniform, and also Camp Uniform in official BSA publications. Field Uniform = the standard uniform to your program. Activity Uniform = the standrad uniform, minus the official shirt and wearing a Scouting t-shirt, polo, or activity shirt instead. Both of those terms are in the current BSHB and have a description. Also BSA did have a separate activity uniform in the 1990s consisting of tan shorts, and a colored polo specific to Boy Scouts in a troop (red), Varsity Scouts (tan), and Boy Scouts in a venture crew, now called a venture patrol (maroon). It wasn't popular and i don't see national repeating that mistake. Dress uniform is described in the Insignia Guide and worn mostly by pros. Now BSA literture has described a "Camp Uniform" as the Cub Scout Day Camp or Resident Camp t-shirt only. And belt, socks, or pants/shorts can be worn. Only place I ever saw that one described is in the NCS book for CSDC and ResCamp directors. Only time that is suppose to be worn is at those events. Now I aint touching Sea Scout uniforms as there are 3 differnt types for both youth and adults

I like the idea of gift cards for resteraunts, as they are ont he road alot. I know the only time I really ate in was breakfast and on weekends when I was not working. And even then sometimes I ate breakfast on the road. Now I have no problems with a pro getting one of the various training awards. I do admit I have mixed emotions on the DAM and SB. One one hand I see where it can be seen as favortism and what not for a retired or former pro to receive an award. But five years does seem like a long time. Anyway, the retired pro did eventually get the Silver Beaver. Don't know about the DAM though.

Well for Star he needed the following: #3 Earn 6 merit badges, including 4 from the required list for Eagle.* And for Life he needed the following: Earn 5 more merit badges (so that you have 11 in all), including any 3 more from the required list for Eagle. So 11 down, including 7 Eagle Required, 10 to go, including 5 eagle required. As 2Cub has asked, Why the hurry? What fun is he having at camp? I hate to say it, but folks are so focused on gettin the MBs they forget the realy purpose of summer camp: Having fun.

I was told that professionals and former pros are not eligible for either the District Award of Merit or the Silver Beaver for 5 years after they leave the profession. That came up at a staff meeting b/c we had one retired pro still involved, and we had to wait to nominate him.

Quality District Award is one that DEs can get, as well as district level volunteers, but most don't know about it. Chief Scout Executive's Winners' Circle is the one for meeting mid year membership goals. It's something nice. I got a desk clock back in the day. FOS Achiever is another, but that is done on a regional basis. I got 2 shirts and a hanging clothes bag. I would say Vigil is a shoe in if you are a lodge staff advisor, but if memory serves that ain't a problem for ya.

Zip off the switchbacks and Bob's your uncle, you got shorts. Or buy the BSA uniform Shorts/ swimsuit. Glad national brought back knee socks.

I know that my 3 bead friend was a CM when he went through WB21C, and one or two of his ticket items related to Venturing. And make sure you complete ALL of the training needed for whatever position you register in. If he would have registered for WB21C as an ASM, he would have needed IOLS. But since he was a CM, that wasn't needed.

I'm partial to the Timberlines b/c that is what I have , although an older model.

Check your email

A few things. 1) Visit as many troops as possible, and go on several trips if need be. Trust me my first troop didn't fit me, and I went a 2nd one that fit like a glove. 2) A troop meeting is "organized chaos," and in my experience it has been a rude awakening to parents, especially those who have been CS leaders and are use to taking charge. Parents can have a hard time sitting back and letting the PLs and SPL handle things. ESPECIALLY FORMER CS LEADERS! (Caps for emphasis, not shouting or showing any bias as I currently a CS leader) After serving in a CSleader role for a year, IO'm glad I was able to get away 2 times now with Scouts and just remember how it will be in a few years, when I can do my " Al Bundy" impersonation on camping trips 3)The ideal part to play if you decide to be a leader is what I call the "Al Bundy" approach to being a leader: sitting in you camp chair, drinking coffee, and when asked by a scout a question answering "have you asked your PL?" 3b) The ideal part to play if you decide to remain just a parentIs similar to the "Al Bundy" approach to being a leader: sitting in you camp chair, drinking coffee, and when asked by your son a question answering "have you asked your PL?" 4) Your son can expect some great fun ahead. He will be camping more, hopefully at least once per month, perfecting skills, and gaining independence and confidence. It will be interesting at first since he will need to make the transition form adults being in charge to youth being in charge, but Scouts handle that better than the parents IMHO. Good luck.

Provide as much information as possible. Each lodge does things a little differently, and have different procedures. One lodge I was in wanted a lot of details, and I advised all units to fill out the form as completely as possible. Heck even add sheets if necessary. And then one lodge had the chapter advisers approve the adults, so if you were a known scouter, an incomplete form may still be approved. But I strongly recommend filling it out as completely as possible, making sure to put that all areas she may be able to help with. PM me if need be.

I personally like my Eureka that is over 12 years old. Here are my opinions/advice. 1) Whatever size tent the manufacturer says it is, divide by 2 and that is how many it can fit with gear. Trust me on that one. 2) If you can get a vestibule for storing gear outside your tent, GET IT. Since my Eureka is so old now, I've been told it will be a challenge to get one that fits properly.

Only problem I have with the long sleeve is that the Swiss tabs are at or below my elbows.

My thoughts. 1)NJ did give some good reasons for the demise. 2) As someone who, unfortunately, was involved in some of the bickering, I can tell you that some of the "discussions" were rather heated and unscoutlike. Sometimes it got to levels where Mods from national DID have to get involved in. 3) Another challenge was that there were virtually no limits and organization in referenfe to groups. I knwo there were at least 2 International Scouting groups covering identical info, several Eagle Scout groups, etc etc. there was a multiple groups ont eh same topic, and that made keepign up with things challenging. 4) The search engine was horrible. And this is from someone who uses search engines on a daily basis and can make most dance to his fingertips.

Different units have different protocols. Some have very set traditions that the scouts don't want to break. Some have the tradition that the Eagle and his family plan a ECOH on their own. And some will only do 1 ECOH for everyone per year. Some will have it as a separate COH, some will have it at the end of a COH, and some have it at their CO's Sunday's services (which can get VERY packed for that one service). Don't think there is a right or wrong answer to how to have an Eagle Award presented. Oh except for maybe no FOS presentations

Something I learned in my education courses back in the day was that you need to use the teaching method that best suits the students. If EDGE works for someone, great! But Scouts must "BE PREPARED" to use other methods of instruction to teach skills that EDGE won't work with.

Yep there are literally 100s of uses for a properly sized necker. I have used my old troop's necker in a first aid situation, and while everything turned out OK for the injured party, I did cry when my necker was returned to me with GBB's signature gone.

My understanding is that WEMT is a EMT-B upgrade.

SSS, Don't you mean 35-36"? I think the 30" neckers are the ODL ones that are useless. An aside. If you do have a properly sized necker, and you do get it autographed by a scouting legend, say Green Bar Bill, DO NOT WEAR THAT NECKER ANYMORE, AND SURELY DO NOT USE IT FOR FIRST AID!!!!!! Trust me on that one

ROTFLMAO gotta remember that one. although after my Den worked on Marbles Belt loop, I'm thinking a 3-4' circle. As to ECOHs, They have been around longer than 20 years. I was a brand new CS when two cousin's got theirs, and a Webelos when the third cousin got his. So it's not a new phenomenon. Can some ECOHs go overboard, absolutely. I've heard of, and seen some duesies. But on the opposite end, I don't think just handing someone the certificate and presentation kit is also correct either. Seen that one too.

Well since it suppose to be for non-scouters, I don't think there will be one. I do like this question on this site about the new award, and can't wait to see the answer: Over the years Ive seen many non-scouters presented with the Silver Buffalo. Does that mean that going forward well see these people receive the North Star Award instead?? http://blog.scoutingmagazine.org/2011/04/07/the-boy-scouts-of-americas-new-north-star-award-a-silver-beaver-for-non-scouters/#comments

Yep the Axis did have their adherents here in the USA, and their propaganda was shown. What I like was that we took THEIR propaganda and used it against them when one of the great Hollywood directors, sorry mind drawing blanks now, took their film, and spliced it with US activities and had John Wayne, or maybe another HW star of the time I believe narrate it. I believe it was called WHY WE FIGHT

My understanding is that like WB21C which invites all leaders; Boy Scout, Sea Scout, Cub Scout, and Venturer, so too does NYLT allow any Boy Scout, Sea Scout, and Venturer to attend 17 and under. 18 and older the Sea Scout and Venturer should take WB21C (another reason why my gut reaction was they are identical). BUT be advised that Sea Scouts still have their specialized training courses: Sea Scout Advance Leader (SeAL) Training for ALL Sea Scouts, Sea Bagde and Sea Badge Underway for all officers (leaders). Sea Scouts probably still have their own advance specialized training because A) We are the smallest program and tend to be overlooked by everyone, pros and vols alike, B) few outside of the Sea Scout community truly understand the program, and therefore leave things alone, and C) Sea Scouts tend to hold on to traditions a lot longer, and while SEAL did come out during the Sea Explorer period, (SEAL Training orignally stood for Sea EXPLORER Advance Leader training) it was very popular and was absorbed into the traditions, and D) long time Sea Scout leaders re crusty old fogeys who adhere to traditions and complain even more loudly than pre-WB21C WBers as evidenced by all the threads on the changes to the Sea Scout uniform when they came out a few years back, and how most ships ignored them and kept the traditions, i.e. "bugs" on hats, unit numbers, etc. I'm one of the crusty old fogeys and have my old ship's "blue-white dress" uniform still in the closet despite it not being the current official uniform.