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To those advising NYLT courses this year, how are you planning to address the issue of Lance Armstrong appearing in the videos?

Anyone seen this Facebook page? https://www.facebook.com/scoutrevolution?sk=timeline Do you think it blurs the line too much between Scouting and the military, or do you think it is what we need to capture kid's interest?

Since the BSA mission statement includes "...prepare young people to make ethical and moral choices over their lifetimes by instilling in them the values of the Scout Oath and Law." it might make sense if all of the young people were using the same Oath and Law. I can see advantages to a One Oath system and, while I might miss the Cub Scout Promise I think I will get over it.

By the way BDPT00, I think "its" without an apostrophe is the possessive use, "it's" with the apostrophe is for a contraction (it is). http://www.wikihow.com/Use-Its-and-It's - I believe emb021 is correct in his usage.

What happens if a Council, with the Scout Executive and training committee's permission, decide to call their NYLT course something other than "National Youth Leadership Training" and also decide not to apply for bead recognition for their adult staff (I don't think I can refer to them as "Wood Badge Beads" any longer, because you can get third and fourth beads without staffing a Wood Badge course). People are saying that it is "not allowed" but I have never heard the consequences.

"This is what the current syllabus calls for, so its not an option for councils to run in any other way." If it is done a different way, how is it stopped? What if it is approved by the Council Training Committee and Scout Executive?

Ten pages of replies regarding the wearing of the Eagle patch by adults, no replies to a question of evaluating how our national organization supports our training of youth leaders. Interesting. I cannot evaluate the new NYLT as our Council has not run it yet.

Rather than just having a conversation about why the Troop has lost his interest, I think it would be important to discuss the nature of servant leadership (which, as an NYLT staffer should not be a new concept) and why calling attention to oneself rather than focusing your attention on those you are leading (and you don't have to hold a leadership position to be a leader) is not the most effective method. Surprised and disappointed that an NYLT program would encourage something like this.

http://www.scribd.com/doc/50223094/NYLT-2011-Syllabus

BDPT, "Course Director" is the new term as part of the 2011 syllabus' efforts to make NYLT program neutral. There is no NYLT Scoutmaster any more.

I wear my mentor pin on my neckerchief - right under the slide. I keep meaning to make a neckerchief slide that has a place for mentor or dad pins...need to get around to that someday. Shows off the pin very nicely and, to the best of my knowledge, doesn't violate the insignia guide.

If they do not, are there any guidelines on who should reside within the District? Chair, Commissioner, Head of the nominating committee? Thanks.

My printed copy of the 2009-2010 insignia guide shows a space between the US flag and the patrol patch. The online insignia guide found here http://www.scouting.org/scoutsource/Media/InsigniaGuide/06.aspx shows the patrol patch touching the flag. The printed guide calls the spot for the patrol patch "Position 2" but does not say exactly what position 2 is defined as (unless I am missing it). It also shows the patrol patch touching the flag when worn with a Webelos uniform. I am guessing the boy scout version is spaced to leave room for the honor patrol stars. Is that the amount of space that should be left between the patrol patch and the US flag? (So that if you have a ring of honor patrol stars around the patrol patch the top star would touch the US flag?) What if there is no way you will earn the honor patrol award (for example, as part of a Jamboree contingent?) Should that space still be left when wearing the patrol patch on a boy scout uniform?

I think the free software found here is one of the best for learning the code. http://www.g4fon.net/CW%20Trainer.htm

Have any of you participated in a week long Wood Badge course? How did the patrol projects work? What was done to accommodate the shorter amount of time to prepare, and the lack of access to materials? Were materials provided? If so, what were they? Were there other aspects of the week long course that were a challenge to you, and if so what ideas do you have to improve the experience?

Has anyone heard any more about this patch? I saw in in our Scout Shop and the clerk told me it was for the "founding members" of any unit, both youth and adult, but had no idea where it went on the uniform. I would hope that someone who had the ability to get this patch into the system had some idea of where on the uniform it goes, and can't understand why that isn't being communicated.

OGE said "EDGE doesn't hold up as well as there isn't much demonstration in explaining what the scout law means" I think that setting the example is the Demonstrate portion of teaching the Scout Law. As far as comparing Trainer's EDGE to the Trainer Development Conference, I find EDGE more applicable and less of a time waster. I never was much for all the Pinewood Derby stuff as a part of a training session for trainers.

Well Beavah, thanks for your comments. From them I deduce that you believe me to be unimaginative, inexperienced and unwise. I respectfully disagree. There is a middle ground between 90 minute game night that makes my son want to quit the Troop and turning a Troop meeting into a schoolhouse lecture. Of course, the "wise adult" who thinks up an awesome game is not interfering with a boy led Troop, while an adult (the Scoutmaster in my opinion) who coaches the Senior Patrol Leader that expectations of planning engaging, active meetings that teach skills, are fun, and retain Scouts is overstepping her bounds. I didn't say that the adults planned or dictated what the activities were, just that it is not unreasonable for adults to communicate to the youth leadership when a meeting plan is not meeting the expectations of the Troop. Every time a new generation of Scouts reached the "older Scout" position (typically 9th grade in my experience) we have had to have "the talk" where they are reminded that their Scouting experience was made better by the efforts of older Scouts, and now they are the "older Scouts" and owe the same effort and energy that they got from the generation before them. This isn't interfering with a boy led Troop - this is teaching, coaching and mentoring a new generation of boys to realize the they are now the ones responsible for making the Troop run. Beavah, I know little of your experience as a Scoutmaster and Scouter. I can only form my opinions based upon what you write. The most noticeable thing about your writing is your use of what I can only interpert as a "Southern dialect" and the annoying use of filler words...eh? As a native Southerner I find this somewhat insulting, but I will give you the benefit of the doubt and assume that you either have served or are currently serving as a capable, caring, committed Scoutmaster who provides the guidance to allow boys to run an effective program. Please give me the same courtesy.

Allowing youth leaders to make decisions does not absolve the adult volunteers from staying engaged, coaching the youth leaders, and, most importantly in my opinion, SETTING AND ENFORCING HIGH EXPECTATIONS. If the Patrol Leader's Council decides that every meeting should be ten minutes of lecture followed by an hour and twenty minutes of game playing, I don't think it is counter to the program for the adults to let the Patrol Leader's Council know that the expectations of the Troop are that there be more program, more patrol level activities, more hands-on stuff, etc. Every Senior Patrol Leader has their own personality, and some need nudging more than others. I have seen many adult volunteers shrug their shoulders and say "well, it's a boy run Troop" as an excuse to sit in their chair while boys lose interest and quit. I like Mark Ray's quote that Troops should be "boy run, but not boy run into the ground."

Anthony, I suggest you try the pants on if possible. The cotton/canvas pants fit me differently than the nylon ones and I find the cotton/canvas ones more comfortable. I live in a cooler part of the country and in the summer wear the pants as shorts so the coolness of the nylon is not as important to me as it may be to some.

"And texting to their friend in the next tent will be a good way to keep them from having to get to know their own tentmate. Another good thing they can do is sit in the shade somewhere and plug into a ballgame." - BDPT00 Perhaps. But they may also be texting their buddies back home about what a great time they are having at the Jamboree, and about how much fun they get from being in Scouting. Once upon a time we didn't have flashlights, propane stoves, nylon tents or GPS. Introducing any of these things didn't ruin Scouting. We will have to figure out how to integrate cell phones into our program in a way that will not cause harm but also recognizes that this is a technology that is here to stay and won't go away because we may be stuck in the past. I am going to the Jamboree with an open mind. If a Scout in my Troop is sitting in his tent all day, not interacting with his peers, not getting the benefits of the Jamboree, I think it is my job as Scoutmaster to work with the SPL and other Troop leadership to counsel the Scout and help him get involved. Sitting in my chair complaining about how spoiled the kids of today are with their cell phones will not solve the problem. Assuming that there is no middle ground in the great cell phone debate does nothing to further our movement. Come August we will all know a lot more about how this has worked out. I am optimistic that it will be fine.

As a Troop Scoutmaster this year, here is what I told our boys regarding cellphones: They can be used in the tents. Not to be carried around during the day. They are brought at the Scout's own risk. If they are seen being used outside of the tent, I confiscate, but if the phone is damaged it is still at the Scout's risk. (I will take precautions to prevent damage). Not having been told that there will be charging facilities for Scouts' phones, I told our Troop that there will not be a way to charge their phone...when the battery is dead it is done until they get home. All of the above will be overruled by any policy from our Council Contingent, but as of now I have not been given a Council policy regarding electronics. I have the same policy for iPods. No other electronics besides cameras are allowed, and cameras can be taken anywhere by the Scouts, again at their own risk. And no "but my cell phone is my camera" excuses.

No, NYLT does not qualify youth for the Trained patch. The Troop Leader Training, run by the Scoutmaster and Senior Patrol Leader, is the course that is intended to fulfill this requirement. There is a Troop Leader Training syllabus available that includes job description cards for each position. The material is, in my opinion, a little sparse, but this forces the Scoutmaster and SPL to work together to plan more of the session.

BDPT00, I will take a stab at answering your question regarding some ways to present third and fourth beads to NYLT volunteers. These are just my ideas, I have not had the opportunity to see a bead presentation to NYLT volunteers yet. - While I like to see Wood Badge beadings done with youth present, so that they can see that training is important to the adults involved in their unit, and to inspire them to become trained, I am concerned that presenting beads to NYLT adults with the youth staff present could be awkward since there is not an equivalent award for the youth staff. Therefore I think it should be done with an audience of other NYLT adult volunteers. - I think it should be done after the course is complete. - I think the presenter of the fourth bead should be the overall NYLT coordinator or course director. If there is not a position like this in the council, I would suggest the council training committee chair. - The presenter of the third bead should be the NYLT course Scoutmaster, if that person has four beads. If not, the overall course director. If there is no such position, the training committee chair. - I would suggest holding a special event, such as a post-course campfire, as a venue for the presentations. Those are my ideas (at least currently). I would also be interested in hearing what others think.

I believe there are two issues here that should be addressed separately. First, I personally think that NYLT recognition should be unique from Wood Badge recognition, and should include youth staff. If the Boy Scouts of America decides that beads are the adult recognition for NYLT (and I believe we are talking about 3rd and 4th beads, not getting beads if you have never completed a Wood Badge ticket) then that is thier decision. There are many BSA decisions that I personally do not agree with, but rather than disregard them I believe we should work to change them. The second issue and the one that I find more bothersome is the comparison being made to the "effort" or "worthiness" of an adult volunteer staffing Wood Badge vs. NYLT. As someone who has had the opportunity to serve on multiple NYLT courses, as well as on a Wood Badge staff, I firmly reject the notion that NYLT is a cake walk compared to Wood Badge. In my experience the time committment was greater, the need to stay focused throughout the entire course (which was a solid week compared to the majority of weekend format Wood Badge courses)and the challenges of working with youth compared to adults (ever had an adult participant suffering from homesickness? How about behavior issues - I like to say that if there is a behavior problem at NYLT we call the Scoutmaster and parents, if there is a behavior problem at Wood Badge we call the sheriff!) makes NYLT staffing just as much work, requires as much or more experience with scouting and dedication to the true purpose of the course as Wood Badge does. If in your experience you found NYLT staffing to be easy then perhaps you should ask yourself if you were expending the effort that is truly required to do a quality job. Agree or disagree with the decision to award beads to NYLT adults. Agree or disagree with the decision to "ban" local course names. But please do not insinuate that NYLT adult volunteers are somehow less "worthy" than Wood Badge volunteers.