GernBlansten

Brent, I don't think I would shy away from the topic in the BOR, but I don't think it is our responsibility nor business to investigate the validity of the allegations outside the BOR. If faced with the situation, I would ask the accused scout about it in the BOR and probe his side of the story. That might lead to questions of morality, responsibility and maturity. His answers and his answers alone would effect my decision, not my own independent investigation or the allegations laid upon the scout. I think some of you might be surprised at how scoutlike he might respond.

Just to throw a twist in the situation, had the lad married the mother change the scenario? Which is the bigger sin? The fornication, the shacking up, or the little baby? Or hypothetically, if two 16 year olds legally marry (14 in Kansas I think) and have a baby, does that warrant removing the boy from scouting or at least attaining Eagle? If its ok for scouts to marry and procreate, should troops setup child care during meetings?

I get the distinct feeling that those who reject the theory of GW are so vehement because of their disapproval of the messenger. Had the GW movement been backed by someone with the last name like Robertson or Dobson instead of Gore, folks would probably line up on opposite sides of the debate. You are of course right, it is politics, on both sides of the debate.

Yeah, I know the type. Anything under a 500 thread count on the sheets is roughing it. Poor kid. He really could use scouting. Tell pa to loose some of the weight so he can participate. It would do both him and his son a world of good. Drop hints on gastric bypass procedures. Yeah, I know its not nice, but obese people effect their families as much or more than their own health.

Anyway to get mom to go on a campout or two? Perhaps she just doesn't know what happens on them and little eye opener will loosen the apron strings a bit.

Oh the fun we could have rooting out immorality... BOR: Now, are you a homosexual? Scout: You mean like flaming? Or part time? BOR: Well, it's a question we have to ask of all our scouts. Scout: No, I'm not homosexual, but I am *willing to learn*. BOR: I'll just put that as a 'no'.

Your welcome, uz2bnowl. One question, are you really leaving your church because of a sermon on Creation Care?

uz2bnowl, You sound like a very reasonable and thoughtful person. ;-)

People who live and play in temperate climates will be the last to see the effects of climate changes. Those of us who travel the fringes see the most evidence. High mountain glaciers receding, permafrost no longer permanent, ice shelves cleaving. Most climatologist are in agreement. Who am I to challenge them? LNT, A scout is thrifty, all play into us becoming like Teddy Roosevelt. What part of conserve do conservatives not get?

I would change the structure of BSA to allow membership have a vote in policy matters. Currently, from my understanding only, COs have a vote but most COs do not exercise it, giving councils/National a free hand to do whatever they please. Change the arrangement so that councils/National report to the membership. Currently the LDS church has the most units chartered but do not have the majority of membership. I think this is a misrepresentation of the majority if BSA is gauging policy on the most chairs at the table.

The current uniform is cartoonish and dated. Adopt a new uniform that uses modern outdoor materials, is practical and doesn't stick out like an ad for Geek Squad. Get rid of all recognition patches on the uniform, both youth and adult. Save the unit numbers, council and BSA logo. That's it. Everyone looks the same. (You know, Uniform!). If you want to strut your achievements, use another device. Drop the DRP, already other threads beating this to death. Put age limits on rank advancement. That will help stop the bickering over "paper" Eagles and the raised eyebrows about advancing too quickly. Backpacking should not only be mandatory, it should be the core of the outdoor method. I can't believe you can become an Eagle scout and never put on a backpack.

I went through the ordeal with my son also. Ours was tied to summer camp. We got tapped out on a wednesday evening, hiked around in the dark until O'dark thirty. Did our work day Thursday at the camp, ceremony that night and late dinner/reception at the dining hall. Hiked back to our troop emcampment and passed out. Finished out summer camp with the troop. Our region is heavily LDS. I think even on the weekend conclave Cony party ordeals, they finish up saturday evening so everyone can get home in deference to their faith. Nobody stays until Sunday unless they make arrangements.

Dittos, no tents on our ordeals. go to the home improvement giant corporate box store and get a thick plastic sheet roll. the kind used to protect stuff when you paint. cut it a little longer than your bag and 2.5 times wider. Then fold in half and duct tape the seam. If weather is good, use it as a ground cloth. If it rains/snows, slide inside. The thicker it is, the longer it will last. It ain't perfect, but you will only need it one night and its supposed to be an ordeal.

Scoutldr, you hit the nail on the head. Our kids don't know how to self entertain. 150+ cable channels, video games, adult led sports keep these kids entertained from dawn to dusk with little initiative on their own part. In my youth, a house was just a place to sleep in, on school nights. We just had a spring snow storm that took out power for 2 days. I just giggled when the kids expected me to keep them entertained. By the end of the outtage, they figured out some of what has been lost. Of course, once power was restored, they fell back into their old lifestyles. Maybe the Amish have something there. Blake: Our troop offers bi-annual JLT. All PORs must attend. They have fun, but it doesn't spark the fire. We follow up with them, but they consistantly fall short of our expectations. I thought we had built an environment to give every scout the opportunity to excel as a leader. I must be wrong because none are taking advantage of it. I think its time for someone else to give it their best shot.

The newest, youngest scouts seem to be the most dedicated. As they grow older, or perhaps its just because more is expected of them, they wander from the program and the responsibilities to run one. Sure a few shine and take the ball, but the majority of them, IMHO, are there because mom and dad dropped them off. We strive for boy led, but I'm afraid, if you don't have a couple of go-getters, you will become adult led just to survive. We are lacking on the go-getter metric right now. Perhaps its just my enthusiasm I had when I went through training is waining too. Perhaps its just getting to me that its so much work just to get the boys to take some initiative to plan a simple campout. Perhaps its watching them fail when they don't follow through with their commitments that takes the wind out of my sails. On the 4th anniversity as an adult leader, I'm feeling as though its all for naught. I'll keep showing up and driving my son to meetings and outings until he gets his Eagle, then leave it up to him to continue. I've got plenty other things to keep me busy.

My brother was one of these go getters. Back in the mid 60s, he charged through the BSA ranks, ultimately getting his Eagle at 13.5 years. My parents didn't push him, I know, they didn't push me either. He did it entirely on his own initiative. After his Eagle, he got active in OA and moved up to Brotherhood. By 15 he was pretty much done with Boy Scouts. Back then they had the Drum and Bugle Corps and he got active with them through HS. His drive was apparent throughout his life. Graduated HS a year early, undergraduate in 3 years. Masters in 1.5. Was the youngest CPA in our state's history. Became a full partner in his multinational firm by 30. Retired at 50 a multi-millionaire. Since retirement he has earned another masters in theology and is now working on his doctorate in international business. So looking back on his style and accomplishments, do you think him getting his Eagle at 13.5 was extraordinary or due to a flawed program?

Standing at the back of the meeting room, I'm scanning our scouts and trying to measure how dedicated each are to the program. The way I measured it was whether I thought the scout would be here if mom/dad didn't make them come. When I got to last scout, my total was about 10% were really dedicated to the program and wanted to be there. The rest, well, lets just say that scouting is just another activity and they could take it or leave it. I'm not saying their parents drag them to the meetings and outtings, but if left to their own initiatives, they wouldn't go. My own son was pretty gungho his first years as a boy scout, but now in his 3rd year, if I don't put my uniform on on meeting nights and tell him the car leaves in 5, he wouldn't care. I don't have to drag him kicking and screaming, he just wouldn't care if we missed it. Is my impression warped? Or is this just the way young teenagers are nowadays?

My son has Type 1 diabetes. Our first year with the troop, I slept with my son because if he has a problem, I've have to deal with it quickly. Damn the patrol method. You see, stress, cold, exercise, diet all play a factor in keeping him alive. With experience, I became confident he could make it through the night without me waking every 15 minutes to see if he was still breathing. 3 years later, I still set my tent up near his and inform his tent mates about what to look for. I still wake up every 15 minutes wondering if he is still breathing. But I realize, he needs to be one of the boys too. Every morning when his tent flap opens and I see him wiping the sleep from his eyes, a warm feeling overcomes me because he was just one of the scouts.

Pack, our Philmont crew is planning on climbing Pikes Peak (14,110ft) again next month as a prep hike. This time we will be taking 2 days instead of 10 hours. I'm looking forward to it. 4th time to climb it for me. First time for my son. Last month we hiked to the bottom of the Grand Canyon, 20 mile RT, 4,000ft gain. We are gonna be in awesome shape for Philmont in July, eh?

I've done a couple 20+ mile hikes. Those are tough. Hardest was a 10 hour 26 mile RT up Pikes Peak with a 8,000ft gain. I was 19 years old then. Couldn't do that at 44 now. Heck, anything over 15 miles is pretty tough. I've also done a 100 miler on a mountain bike in about 10 hours. Never again. Swimming MB clearly is the easy button.

Last summer at Camp Ben Delatur, we were given the bear talk. They provided bear proof boxes to store smellies in. One night I awoke to the sound of the ranger's shotgun, followed by the huffing of a scared bear as it ran through our camp. He was ripping apart the door to the commissary. The next day, while everyone was out and about, a scoutmaster's tent was ransacked by a bear. Seems he had lent it out and the person who borrowed it ate in it. Just the remnants of the crumbs from the previous campout was enough to attract Yogi. Also heard a story of a scout at Philmont who when opening a hot chocolate packet, blew into it, blowing chocolate all over his face. I guess he didn't clean up properly because he awoke that night to a bear licking his face. They had to put that bear down.

Yeah, we live 3 hours north of Philmont. So going there is about a tank of gas. Split that with 4 scouts and its almost reasonable.

I doubt the story. Scouts would never use a bowline to tie up bigfoot. I think a timberhitch would be more appropriate.

Our council has Merit Badge Universities. Each district holds their own but scouts of other districts are welcome to attend. Usually at a high school or LDS ward. Our unit has a tradition to travel to Hayes Kansas every year to a giant MBU. I don't like them. My son has never attended one. He has earned most of his badges at summer camp. I guess for non-Eagle badges, they are OK. Complaints I hear from scouts and parents are that they are poorly organized or the counselor is lousy. Lost/incomplete records are also an issue. Lowes and Home Depot are now offering MBs at their stores on weekends for plumbing, carpentry, etc. A few of our scouts have taken advantage of it and seem happy with the results.

During our return trip from the Grand Canyon this spring, while towing our tiny troop trailer full of backpacks, and a truck full of sleeping scouts through Monument Valley, got to thinking about a slogan to put on it. It hit me. "Creating lifelong memories, one adventure at a time."