andrews

Do the camping nights have to be "recent?" I would think you would be ok as long as your nights were as a boy scout youth, assuming you still fit in the "youth" category. Brad

The problem is that in today's society if you open your arms to one, you get the other. I really have no desire to dig into people's private lives either, but if I found out our Scoutmaster was having an affair either he or my boys would be leaving soon. Brad

I am finally trying to get all the paperwork for my Webelos Den Leader knot and I notice it requires Outdoor Webelos Leader training. Somehow I missed that during my tenure. My question is if the old Scoutmaster Fundamentals would be considered equivalent, or am I going to have to find an OWL course to be able to finish up my knot? Brad

sctmom, A note that "choosing something" doesn't meant he choice is easy or totally conscious. Many of those drawn into such a lifestyle were influenced by an older boy/man to follow that path. Many things influence a boy's sexual identity, especially at the age they are in Boy Scouts. Recent studies of children raised in homosexual households show that they do have a higher (even if slightly) likelihood of becoming homosexual themselves. This was suppressed for years, but now is coming out since homosexuality is much more acceptable today and the researchers don't feel the same need to hide the results. There is hope for your friend if he truly wanted to change, though the path is very difficult. Brad

Take some fabric paint and paint the flaming arrow silver? Brad

Thanks for the clarification. It seemed to me rather unfair to adults in that aspect. We had a couple who managed to stay in our smaller troop just long enough to get their OA nominations, and then left. Since they were the only ones eligible at the time, they made it in. They probably would not have done so in a larger troop. I wonder if that ratio should be lower, like 25 per adult, since the goal is to encourage adults to be involved, with the end goal of encouraging the youth to be involved. Brad

Sure, many people hide disfunction, and have for years. That doesn't mean it must become publically acceptable. While "hidden sin" does eventually come out, it is the "in your face" stuff today that bothers me the most. We are not taught mere acceptance of people anymore, but the requirement to accept and validate behavior. If this wall comes down, how soon until we start having "sensitivity training sessions" in the many adult (and boy) training programs? As to women: It has been a big shift mentally for me, since when I was a scout (later 1970s) I don't recall ever seeing a woman in scouting. However I still remain convinced that a woman can never truly teach a boy how to be a man. The male influence in scouts was a major benefit for me as my father was not very active in my life at the time. This is not to say women shouldn't be leaders in scouts, I am encouraging my wife to do all she can. And if no one else steps forward, training a boy in scout skills and values is the best that can come out of a bad situation. Of course any women involved should be treated fairly and equitably, regardless of what their role is. Brad

I am not sure if either of you were speaking to this, but they changed things (recently?) so that all the boys up for election could possibly be elected, not just the half it used to be. You would still have to get half the people to vote for you of course, which might be harder in a large troop, though I also think it possible someone could get in easier if people just start checking names. Brad

You didn't mention ceremonies. Our local OA usually performs Arrow of Light/crossover ceremonies in our area.(Longhorn Council, Fort Worth, Texas area) They do also meet at the same time and place as our district's Roundtable. Brad

I would agree that all who want to change the BSA's policy in this area are not hostile to the Scouts, but many of the activists who make this an issue would love nothing better than to kill the Scouts. If it survived in a water-downed version, they wouldn't mind, but that would be effectively killing it. We never got active in Girl Scouts with my girls because the PC influence is so strong there. If that happens for Scouts, I would probably change my focus elsewhere. On the note of other "imoral" leaders: They should all not be allowed to be Scoutmasters/leaders. Certainly we need to not get into a witch hunt, but neither should we ignore heterosexual imorallity or cursing. Either is inconsistent with the Scout law. Brad

Yes, you can get selected as an adult. You still have to meet the camping requirement. Each troop can select one adult each year they have at least one youth who is elected. The guidelines say the adult's selection is not supposed to be a reward for the adult, but should rather serve to encourage the youth to be involved with the OA and such. I was originally selected by the troop committee, but we were told my camping had to be as a Boy Scout leader and without my time as a Webelos leader I didn't have enough for the original tapout. I then was nominated by the district and got selected at summer camp. Politics can play a bit of a role in this, though hopefully the focus is on getting the boys involved. The camping requirements do narrow the field, but only having one per year can make it harder. Brad

If someone from national had attended, they would have been bushwacked. A minority of people in many areas are trying to change things in their own image. Why doesn't the article list the backgrounds of the participants? I suspect they will succeed at some point, and end up killing Scouts, for I believe that to be their true intent. Brad

I got my Eagle and three palms as a youth, but somehow missed out on OA as well. I did just about everything else. I asked my former Scoutmaster why OA never came up when talking to him about what I had been doing recently a while back (starting a troop among other things), and he said it was just because the troop never got into OA stuff much. I did finally become a member as an adult. Hopefully I can accomplish something in there, possible with my own sons as well. As to the Eagle COH question: Certainly! I took a class on ceremonies and COH this weekend and that exact question came up, and it was pointed out that you can have the Eagle COH whenever you want. As pointed out elsewhere here, you can also make it pretty much how you (and your parents) want it. Brad

One dangerous idea I saw early in this thread (it just came to my attention) is the idea that if it is ok in society it should be ok in Scouts. That is very dangerous, and if truly followed would make the Scout Oath and Law meaningless, subject to every whim of society. Certainly our views of some things may change, but backing off and claiming that hard and fast views were only held "in the dark ages" is very dangerous. Unfortunately, I see it a great deal in our society, and also in Scouts. On this topic, it should be noted that "shacking up" makes it more likely you will get divorced down the line, hardly a good thing to put in front of boys. (Though they almost certainly have it in front of them one way or another.) Brad

We have them here in Longhorn Council in the Fort Worth, Texas area. They have done it at both the district spring camporee and summer camp (for those who missed the camporee) for the couple of years I have been an adult in scouts. Brad

In case it wasn't clear, "G2SS" is referring to the Guide to Safe Scouting, a pub that covers what was posted above. Brad

The Camping MB requires: 8c. Cook for your patrol a trail meal requiring the use of a lightweight stove. That is what I was looking for. Brad

I am already working with the DE for the area. He has been very helpful, though our contact has been limited so far. Brad

Thanks for the ideas! I will print them out and keep them for the next boys I work with on the badge. Brad

Good ideas, though it would be a bit hard to cook some of them on a lightweight stove. Though I can see the boys tring to cook the peanut butter/tortilla combo. Brad

Another MB question: In the Hiking MB, the participants are supposed to plan each hike before taking it. What do you think that entails? If you follow a pre-planned route, is that enough planning? Is bringing the proper gear and the general location to hike ok even if the exact route won't be known until you get to the ranger station? I am the counselor in this case, and I lean toward this interpretation, but I would like to get comments in case I am missing something. Brad

I am a counselor for it, though not for my own sons who are currently do it. Their experiences have prompted my question. Brad

Thanks for the clarification. We don't want to restrict membership, it is planned as a community outreach after all. I was more concerned with having the committee "hijacked" by some who weren't as tied to the church. I don't see this as a big problem/likelihood, but I am just trying to cover the bases. Brad

One of theCamping merit badge requirements is to prepare a trail meal on a light weight stove while on a campout. What exactly is a trail meal? Is Ramen noodles enough? Does it need to be more elaborate? It seems to me that anything, even if quite basic, that could be packed in easily would qualify. Thoughts? Brad

I suspect that I would probably be the COR, except that you cannot be the Scoutmaster and the COR at the same time. As it is, my wife will probably end up being both the COR and the Comittee Chair. I don't have a problem with this since if we weren't starting the troop we would probably end up being leaders of something within the church. It will be quite tied to the church's ministry. I have already discussed most of this with him, though I plan on sitting down in a few weeks with him and going over all the details. I wanted to make sure I wasn't missing anything important. How open must a troop be to leadership in the committee that is outside the church? I don't see us wanting to scare anyone off, but your note above about the pastor possibly being required to resolve board disputes raises the question. For example, could a hindu take over the board, or can the church say, "this is our spiritual focus?" Obviously Scouting is very flexible in the areas of how participants worship God, but how much does this have to control a specific troop? I have talked this over with the pastor BTW, but I would like more information to make sure we "do what is right." Brad