evmori

Agreed acco! And I also agree with not counting altar service!

Actually, it's important a Scout earn each rank & retain what they have learned. If it takes 2 years for a Scout to earn 1st Class & he retains what he has learned, excellent! Our job (among others) is to make sure the opportunity to learn & advance is available! If a Scout advances to 1st Class in 18 months & retains nothing, what is the point? We don't need more programs. We need to improve on the one we already have! Ed Mori Troop 1 1 Peter 4:10

What's your point, Bob? If a unit has an active program & offers advancement opportunities, why even bother with FCE? There is no need! And if a unit doesn't have an active program & doesn't offer advancement opportunities, there is more wrong that FCE can help with. Ed Mori Troop 1 1 Peter 4:10

I'm with Barry. What is the point of FCE? To offer new Scouts the ability to advance! Doesn't the existing Boy Scout program have this already? Why do we need another program that is designed to do what the existing program already does? It would be better to focus on the existing programs & make them better. What's the rush! Ed Mori Troop 1 1 Peter 4:10

acco, If a Scout does a service project then gets SM approval? Seems backward to me. What if the SM doesn't approve it? Ed Mori Troop 1 1 Peter 4:10

So if FCE seems to be hard to understand why continue using it? Why not reinforce and improve the existing programs instead of one that seems to be tough to understand by the masses? I still don't see the rush! A boy is in Boy Scout for about 7 years and we want to jam him through 1/2 of the ranks in 1/7th of the time he is in Scouting? And we wonder why they retain less! Ed Mori Troop 1 1 Peter 4:10

Eamonn, Yeah it was on 22. Eddie Edwards has been a big BSA supporter. It was supported by GPC. I've been going to early church (there by 7 AM) so I haven't noticed if it was still on. It was a decent show. They might have run out of ideas. Ed Mori Troop 1 1 Peter 4:10

OGE, If a Troop has an active program then the opportunity for advancement already exists therefore eliminating the need for FCE. Why not reinforce the existing program instead of creating a new one? That is actually my point. Someone did post (might have been another forum) National had statistics to support FCE/FCFY. And if memory serves, the statistics were never posted. Ed Mori Troop 1 1 Peter 4:10

Yes. And if I was working with another Scout I would see if there was a way to incorporate both the Scout's needs together. Ed Mori Troop 1 1 Peter 4:10

What's the rush? Why should Scouts earn 1st Class in 12-18 months? National states the ones who do stick with the program longer. Where's the proof? Are there any statistics to back up this claim? Or is this just another tool for leaders to use? Ed Mori Troop 1 1 Peter 4:10

A two hour BOR for Life? I've had major surgery that was shorter. There is no reason a BOR for Life should last two hours. Bob is accurate in his post. Ed Mori Troop 1 1 Peter 4:10

Merlyn & WHEELER will have to on when I'm on vacation! We could have Name That Uniform Part Stump the Rule Book Stupid Advancement Chair Tricks Ed Mori Troop 1 1 Peter 4:10

I'll be the one with the "Untrainable" patch on! There use to be (and might still be ) a locally produced show in Pittsburgh titled "Scouting Today". It was on Sunday morning at 8 AM (I think). It wasn't bad. The show was broken into 3 sections - Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts & Exploring. They had Packs & Troops on doing stuff & had Explorer Posts talking about what their Post did. Ed Mori Troop 1 1 Peter 4:10

I'm with OGE on this one. Depending on the project, the materials are usually donated or the Scout or his family cover the cost. Ed Mori Troop 1 1 Peter 4:10

Is anyone noticing a disturbing trend among our youth in this thread? Violence, prone to anger, lashing out, lack of respect. This is scary! Ed Mori Troop 1 1 Peter 4:10

Eamonn & Unc, Congrats! I like the idea of the * Ed Mori Troop 1 1 Peter 4:10

The summer camp my Troop attends only offers a few required MB's. We have never restricted the Scouts from earning them. As a matter of fact, most of the Scouts in our Troop have earned Swimming & Environmental Science at summer camp. I really don't see the point for restricting what MB's a Scout can work on at summer camp. Ed Mori Troop 1 1 Peter 4:10

I would agree with bbng. There is no number of projects listed or who they must be done for. If a Scout spends 6 hours working at the local blood bank & has the SM approval, then he has completed the requirement. From your post, goodkidsmom, it sound like the SM is taking his "approval" a little too far. Ed Mori Troop 1 1 Peter 4:10

uz2bnowl, Sounds like things went well. Keep Scouting! Ed Mori Troop 1 1 Peter 4:10

Semper, You are a card! I was laughing so hard I ...... well you get the idea!

EagleInKY, I feel the same way you do about statistics. I work with numbers all day, too! I really want to see if anyone knows if there are actual numbers to back up the claim! Ed Mori Troop 1 1 Peter 4:10

Follow what LPC_Thumper posted. I would also take proof of merit badges earned on the application (blue cards, council advancement copies) in case they have no record of the badge being earned. We have had this happen a few times. Ed Mori Troop 1 1 Peter 4:10

Who's playing? Having the adults act as a patrol can be a great teaching method for new adults in the troop & can also be a great example for the boys. I don't think there is anything in the BSA manuals that states "Adult patrols serve no purpose therefore should not be used." And I don't think there is anything in the BSA manuals that states "Adult patrols serve a purpose and should be used." But if the BSA didn't think the adults should function in patrols they probably wouldn't place adults in patrols to train them. Ed Mori Troop 1 1 Peter 4:10

Well, so much for this thread . . . Name calling can do that!

Dutch oven cooking! Now that's good eating!