fgoodwin

NAACP, Scouts join forces http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/bal-md.scouts30jul30,0,4681856.story http://tinyurl.com/6ywhmc Initiative seeks to help urban youths excel By Kelly Brewington | Sun reporter July 30, 2008 Elijah E. Cummings' South Baltimore Cub Scout pack was so poor that members shopped for uniforms at secondhand stores, made their own patches and shared a single manual. And when their den mother needed rope for an activity, she cut pieces of clothesline for the boys to share. Today, youths growing up in similarly rough city neighborhoods think joining the Scouts is too expensive and, even worse, uncool, said Cummings, now a Baltimore-area congressman. A new partnership between the Maryland NAACP and the Baltimore-area council of the Boy Scouts of America hopes to change that perception, encouraging youngsters from some of the city's toughest areas to excel in the Scouts. "This is not about money, this is about time," Cummings said yesterday during an announcement at the Boy Scouts' Baltimore headquarters, as two dozen uniformed Scouts stood at attention behind him. Cummings said he plans to help raise the estimated $10,000 to fund the initiative. "Sadly, in our communities today, people look at Scouting and think it's something corny," he said. "But its not. It's preparing them to be men." Called the First Class Camp, the program aims to attract 150 boys and girls from the city's poorest neighborhoods and pair them with mentors. The youths will engage in activities in the Boy Scouts and in the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People and sport Scout badges bearing both emblems. NAACP leaders said they hope the programcan be duplicated nationwide. "Today, we are faced with an awesome task to make sure our youth escape crime and violence," said Gerald G. Stansbury, president of the NAACP's Maryland state conference. "We need to draw our young men away from gangs and the street." The program is a response, in part, to a Father's Day mobilization effort this year, in which fathers, sons and activists urged black men to rebuild and restore their communities. The meeting, "A Call to Action," made a plea for hundreds of tutors, volunteers and role models. But convincing inner-city kids that the Scouts is worth their time could prove difficult, supporters acknowledged. "Growing up in today's world, kids see folks on the corner with tennis shoes worth $150," Cummings said. "They live in a country where they expect instant gratification. It's similar to kids who get teased for being smart. So imagine a kid seeing another in a Boy Scouts uniform. That's not cool to them." The Boy Scouts have tried for years to combat that image, said Ron McKinney, the Boy Scouts' Baltimore field director. More than a decade ago, the council tried to start a Cub Scout pack at the city's struggling Murphy Homes. It failed. "What we have to do is instead of speaking Scout lingo, we have to let them know that a merit badge is nothing but life skills," McKinney said. "Parents, too, they don't always get it. We have to re-educate and allow them to understand the whole experience." Daryl Jones, an Anne Arundel County councilman who was on hand for the announcement, said the NAACP's involvement could help engender community trust. "In some schools of thought, Scouting is something seen as a county thing, a suburban thing, as opposed to an urban experience, when it can be all of the above," said Jones, who became the first black Cub Scout in his Glen Burnie pack 37 years ago. "I think having the NAACP involved in Scouting will hopefully begin to crack those barriers and demystify the Scouting experience." Not all youths need such motivation. William Blake, 10, and his brother, James Blake, 13, of Northeast Baltimore, roll their eyes at kids who tease them for being Scouts. "If they think it, then they are wrong about what it's all about," said William, who stood beside Cummings wearing a broad smile as the congressman offered his remarks. "It's cool because there are Scouts all around the world. In Japan, everywhere." "I guess you could say it's like family," said Jordan Peace, 11, a fellow member of Troop 133. -- kelly.brewington@baltsun.com

Unfair Demands On Boy Scouts http://www.theday.com/re.aspx?re=33a46ad1-5d62-4201-98b5-dd7602900835 By The Day Published on 7/29/2008 We are at a loss to understand why the state Department of Transportation wants to give East Lyme Boy Scout troops such a hard time over doing a good deed. For 25 years on Labor Day weekend the Scouts have served coffee and doughnuts around the clock to weary drivers at the weigh stations on Interstate 95 in Waterford. Drivers get a needed break. The Scouts take pride in providing a service. Donations collected help the Boy Scouts and other local groups. Who could object? Unfortunately, the bureaucrats at the DOT, that's who. After a quarter century without incident, the DOT now decides it is too dangerous for the Boy Scouts to stay at the weigh station overnight - even though the Scouts are well off the road, the area is well lighted and at least two adult leaders are always present. The DOT demands that the Scouts break camp by 9 p.m. and not return until 6 a.m. In other words, the department does not want them there when drivers are tired and could use a coffee. The Boy Scouts say the requirement to take everything down each night is unreasonable and undermines the intended service. Scout leaders have announced that unless the DOT lifts the overnight ban, the tradition will sadly end. This is ridiculous. Someone at the DOT needs to act reasonably and allow the 24-hour service.

I've been to PTC twice, and fully intend to go again, schedule and finances permitting. I've actively encouraged others to go -- but I'm with everyone else -- enough is enough! The whole knot thing is getting ridiculous. I thought we were supposed to be in this for the boys? Not so I can have a uniform chest that makes me look like a Latin American dictator!

Welcome to the forums, firequencher! I'm not sure what you mean when you write: "I can not find anything on the training requirments for the Webelo class." The training requirements are in the OLS-WL syllabus. Didn't the previous training chair have a copy of that syllabus? If so, he or she should've turned it over to you. If they didn't have a copy, then your DE or District Chairman should get you one.

One of my pet peeves is that SMs use "Scout Spirit" as the catch-all requirement to hold a boy back from advancement if the SM (or Committee Chair, Advancement Chair, etc.) can't think of a more specific reason. A boy could be a model citizen at home, school and church, but miss a few troop meetings, and watch out! Since attendance requirements are a no-no now, the SM will simply say a boy's absence means he is not demonstrating Scout Spirit. The problem with that, of course, is that the intent of Scout Spirit is that the boy live by the Scout Oath and law in his everyday life. The SM responds, "well troop meetings and troop campouts ARE a part of the boy's everyday life!" I don't think that comports with the intent of the requirement, but you'll never get most SMs to agree with that. They LOVE the power that comes from the fact that they can hold a boy back with virtually no documentation at all by claiming lack of Scout Spirit. And how can anyone (least of all the Scout) contest so subjective an opinion?

Also remind your parents that event scheduling and planning happens at the committee meeting (if the event is for the entire pack) or den meeting (parent break-out session, if planning a den event). All parents are welcome to attend the committee meeting And of course, those who drop-off their sons for the weekly den meeting will miss out on the parent break-out, so they need to stay, as often as they can (understanding that at least one Tiger parent must attend every Tiger den meeting with their son).

Yeah, what eagledad said! Rule No. 1: Pack Meetings s/b fun for the boys. Rule no. 2: If you do or say anything that doesn't support rule no. 1, you need to rethink it. I've been a TDL and CC for one pack, WDL for another, and UC for five more, and my experience has been that when adults take over the meeting, the boys get bored, start to fidget and you quickly lose their attention. The best pack meetings have adults kinda "managing" things, but let the boys do the talking (skits, songs, run-ons, what we did this month, etc.). Take no more than a few minutes at the end for announcements, and always point the parents to a written schedule of events in a pack newsletter, website, etc. Answer questions after the meeting, or invite parents to come to the committee meeting.

Neil: most of the Scouts who wanted to be a DC were recruited by their former Pack; many still had siblings and parents involved in their old pack. In addition to the popularity of the job, our ex-SM held the view that the DC job wasn't a direct benefit to the troop; he preferred that boys take PORs that benefited the troop (which is why he hasn't appointed an OA rep in years). Again, we decided some of the troop policies were questionable, so we left. In fairness to the SM, some of the PORs were going unfilled which needed somebody (e.g., QM), so the SM was trying to direct Scouts to PORs that were really needed, instead of those (e.g., DC) that were "nice to have" but not essential (in his view).

My son (currently a Life Scout) served as a den chief for two years, and loved every minute of it. But like gwd-scouter said, his ex-SM at first discouraged him from doing it. The job has become so popular that the SM unilaterally changed the requirement so that Scouts had to be Star working on Life to serve as a DC (i.e., First Class Scouts who needed a POR to make Star weren't allowed to serve as a DC). That's one of the reasons we are no longer in that troop . . .

Its been a while since I was a TDL (2000-2001), but don't the den meetings still rotate through the various adult partners?

Bob and John: Thanx for the clarification. The boys in our troop will continue to plan and run the troop COHs, with the full blessing and support of the SM and Troop Committee. They'll be glad to know that they are indeed following the BSA program.

When I ordered my BSA-TX plates, I was not yet affiliated with a unit, and it turns out that's a good thing, because my units have changed several times over the years. So I decided to put my WB course number on it, and Scouters who've been through WB here recognize it immediately: SR-552!

I agree an SM and SPL might want to counsel a young man who wishes to hold the same POR for Star, Life and Eagle. But as Bob said, there is no requirement that the POR for each rank be different -- making it so would be a disallowed addition to the requirements.

Bob and John, if a young man wants to earn Eagle, he must complete (among other things) the requirements for the Communications MB. One of those requirements is that he develop a written plan for a COH (or troop campfire), get it approved by the PLC, then MC the COH (or campfire). Are you saying that a troop that follows this procedure for the COH, as spelled out in the Advancement Guide and Communications MB pamphlet, is not following the BSA program?

I understand that young Gonzo1 asked parent Gonzo1 to post the question, but seeing as how adult association is one of the methods, and its his MB after all, not the parent's, I should think young Gonzo1 would be better served by asking his MB counselor the question.(This message has been edited by fgoodwin)

Kid's Essay Contest: Osprey Packs Sprint Series Kid's Reading and Writing Contest Osprey is seeking great writing that highlights kid's very best adventures with a pack and demonstrates an understanding of the Principles of Leave No Trace - a key component in preserving our wild places. We are a proud partner of Leave No Trace and you'll find their seven principles screened inside all our packs WRITING GUIDELINES You must be 6 -16 years of age to enter. NO GROWN-UPS! In 250-500 words, tell us about a place you have hiked or backpacked that was especially memorable for you. Why is it special to you? Did you have a special encounter with an animal? Mother Nature? Was the area threatened? Was it well taken care of? Last but NOT least, pick one of the Leave No Trace principles and tell us how you applied it to your adventure. You are also welcome (but not required) to include a photo of yourself. WHAT DO I GET IF I WIN?! Your choice of any one Osprey backpack from the following series: Argon & Xenon Series - Backpacking, Men's and Women's Deluxe Custom Fit Aether & Ariel Series - Backpacking, Men's and Women's Lightweight Custom Fit Sprint Series - Backpacking, Kid's Deluxe Custom fit Atmos & Aura Series - Backpacking, Men's and Women's Fit, Ventilated Kestrel Series - Backpacking and Day Hiking, torso adjustable fit Stratos Series - Backpacking and Day Hiking, Ventilated Send your entry to sprintcontest@ospreypacks.com with the subject "Reading and Writing". You'll be notified within 30 days if you are a winner. The contest is open until we get every kid out there hiking and leaving no trace!

From the May-June, 2006 issue of "Scouting" Magazine, letters: Saluting in uniform Q: In addition to the official Class A Scout uniform, the BSA also has a Class B uniformofficial Scout pants or shorts with a troop or camp T-shirt. My question regards protocol during flag ceremonies: Should a Scout use the Scout salute while in a Class B uniform or place his right hand over his heart? Christopher Dillon Assistant Scoutmaster, Troop 24 Bloomsburg, Pa. A: First, when referring to uniforms, Class A and Class B are military terms that are not used in the BSA. The correct Scouting terms for the two versions of the uniform are "official uniform" and "activity uniform." Although less formal, the activity uniform is still considered an official uniform, and therefore it is appropriate for boys to use the Scout salute while wearing it during a flag ceremony.

Be prepared for a cooler official Boy Scout uniform http://tinyurl.com/5lm7pz 10:33 PM CDT on Friday, July 4, 2008 By MARIA HALKIAS / The Dallas Morning News Gone are the Christmas green and red socks with a killer seam across your toes, pants that even your mother quietly questions, the bright red loops on your shoulders and a hat that screams hit me. The Boy Scouts are getting a new look a new toned-down Class A uniform made of forest green and khaki high-performance fabrics, similar to what they'd pick out at REI or Dick's Sporting Goods. (And guys, the new baseball cap green all the way around with a single Scout emblem, a fleur-de-lis, monochromatically embroidered you'll want to wear everywhere). [excerpted]

I'm surprised nobody's posted this: ==== Saluting in uniform http://www.scoutingmagazine.org/issues/0605/d-lett.html Q: In addition to the official Class A Scout uniform, the BSA also has a Class B uniformofficial Scout pants or shorts with a troop or camp T-shirt. My question regards protocol during flag ceremonies: Should a Scout use the Scout salute while in a Class B uniform or place his right hand over his heart? A: First, when referring to uniforms, Class A and Class B are military terms that are not used in the BSA. The correct Scouting terms for the two versions of the uniform are "official uniform" and "activity uniform." Although less formal, the activity uniform is still considered an official uniform, and therefore it is appropriate for boys to use the Scout salute while wearing it during a flag ceremony.(emphasis added)

Mr. Boyce writes of Richard Louv's "Last Child in the Woods"Interestingly and oddly, the book does not acknowledge the existence of scouting, except in passim. This is a glaring omission, since now there are organizations trying to get kids outside who have never done this before. . . when instead, scouting could be more easily promoted.Louv does mention Scouting, and not in a flattering way. I don't have the book handy, but I recall he said something very similar to the quote from a 2005 interview:An Interview with Richard Louv: About Nature-Deficit Disorderhttp://www.ednews.org/articles/419/1/An-Interview-with-Richard-Louv-About-Nature-Deficit-Disorder/Page1.htmlhttp://tinyurl.com/4f348aBy Michael F. Shaughnessy Senior Columnist EducationNews.orgPublished 09/28/2005Q: The Boy Scouts seem to be the last bastion of refuge- taking children out to show them the stars, the sky, the moon, the clouds, and the beauty of a sunset. How can we encourage parents to share these experiences with their children? A: Good parents are doing their best, but information about the value of nature experience to child development has not been widely available. Indeed, there are many parents out there who have deliberately or intuitively exposed their kids to nature, but without the proof of how important that is. I hope Last Child in the Woods will make them feel very good about what they did or what they're doing. But the wider societal message often unwittingly teaches children to avoid nature. This powerful, negative message is even codified into the regulatory structures of many of our neighborhoods. In a sense, this criminalizes natural play. That may seem an extreme statement, until you add up all the neighborhood covenants and government regulations -- many of them well-intentioned -- that put nature off-limits. This is only one example of how the everyday message is delivered. And, by the way, the Boy Scouts, I believe, have drifted too far from an emphasis on nature itself. I would like to see them, and other similar organizations, reclaim more of that territoryThat last statement about sums up how Mr. Louv feels about Scouting. Although Louv does not embrace Scouting, Scouting certainly has embraced Louv and his ideas; see the article in the May, 2006 issue of Scouting Magazine:The Wonder of the Woods: What Are Our Children Missing?By Mary Jacobshttp://www.scoutingmagazine.org/issues/0605/a-wndr.html

I can only speak for my own experience, but I've never seen an Eagle at his ECOH who didn't thank his parents (especially his dad) for "helping" him to complete his Eagle (usually meaning Dad had to kick his b*tt more than a few times to get things done). I know there are rare individuals who are self-motivated to complete all the Eagle requirements themselves w/o dad "encouraging" or reminding him, but I've seen darn few of those boys. So, to you guys who think Boy Scouts means the parents should recede into the background: if that were truly the case, we'd see far fewer Eagles . . .

The following story involves the horrific murder of a toddler by a grown man, but at least bystanders tried to intervene to help the poor little boy: http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_9599903

I know I'm getting old when I get peeved everytime one adult corrects another on the proper use of "Venturing", "Venturer", etc. ad nauseam . . .

I'm a former Cub Scout range officer for both archery and BBs. I've never served in the military (outside of a three-year stint in the Texas State Guard), and I've carried a firearm, nor do I own one. I have the utmost respect for our men and women in uniform. But I draw the line at those who criticize volunteer range officers because they don't run the range the way its run in the military. I know you guys (and gals ) know more about weapons than I do, but I've been trained in how BSA wants it done, and that's how I do it. I cover all the safety requirements, all the commands for the range, etc. I certainly don't need any current or former military second-guessing everything I say or do. A better way to help is to step up, put your knowledge to use and VOLUNTEER to run an archery or BB range.

The fact that you can buy a gun w/o giving an SSN is nice, but what your gun dealer requires has no bearing on what BSA requires. Heck to get a CPA, you have to give a finger print; at least BSA isn't requiring that. I went online yesterday and completed the form giving permission to do a background check and I gave my SSN. I know there's a slight risk, but I'm willing to accept that risk to stay in the program. If you're not, well its been nice knowing you . . .