perdidochas

APL isn't a POR for advancement.

Having read the article in a Pennsylvania paper, it seems that a week or so before this announcement, the Outdoor Adventures group (part of the student recreation department of Penn State), just increased their fees. They do similar trips to what the University Outing club did, but at much higher prices and led by University employees. IMHO, the employees of the University Adventure department encouraged this move. After all, the students have to be safer with the University employees along vs. just student leaders.

Big difference between a $0.19 patch and a $30 shirt or $8 socks.

We encourage it. Probably 50% use it.

I've never seen a Nalgene break, except for the cap. My oldest son has had one for about 5 years, and has used it at school, for lacrosse, car camping, backpacking, and has been to Northern Tier and Sea base with it. He wants to break it, so he's rough with it, but has only succeeded in destroying a couple of caps. He thinks (rightly or wrongly) that nalgene will replace his water bottle and give him a t-shirt if he destroys it. (the t-shirt is a myth)

I like the CamelBak Chute (has a rugged but easy to drink out of top), but it won't keep the water cold. I used one this summer in Utah, and didn't like it for hot weather hiking. It's great when it's not too hot out. Camelbak makes a insulated version of the Chute for under $25. I've seen a insulated Chute imitation at walmart for $15.

If keeping cold is an issue, go to Wal-mart, and you can find a variety of double-walled stainless water bottles to keep the water cold. They have a 40-ozer that is about $15.

BSA online courses are free. Interesting that you comment on this without the basic knowledge of the online courses. That's a different issue.

So you are saying that if a Tenderfoot is running around the campsite with his open pocketknife, after being warned several times about it, should be able to retain his knife? Common sense to me tells me he should get it confiscated, and have it returned to his parent at the end of the campout. Not saying the SM or SPL should keep the knife permanently, but that for the safety of all it should be temporarily taken away.

No, I bought them a few years ago (when I was Advancement person), and they are $.19 The 8-count sheet is $1.24. Most rank type patches at the Scout Shop are about $2.

No, a Totin' chit literally costs $.19. https://www.scoutshop.org/totin-chip-pocket-certificate-single-34397.html

Cutting a corner is the equivalent of getting a traffic ticket. It's a warning. I don't see what's so wrong about it. Are you also against taking away knife privileges from a Scout who demonstrates unsafe knife/axe/saw behavior after being warned, say 4 times? A card can be easily replaced, a scar won't heal. I'd rather give the Scouts a visible reminder to be safe with knives in a benign form with a corner cut, than with a scar that either they or a fellow Scout gets from being unsafe with knives.

Scars from knife wounds also are permanent. Also, for the tablet misusage, cut corners from the cyber-chip.

I view the corner cutting as being similar to getting "points" on a driver's license. When you get to a certain number of points, you lose your license.

I pretty much agree.

In terms of the totin' chip, if that were the interpretation, troops should start stamping the cards, property of Troop xxx. How in the world is that hazing? IMHO, it's kindness to offer to give somebody back something that is lost.

If you pass the test, you've learned it (or already knew it).

I wish that YPT would do that. It has to do with the decision of the course designers. Some courses allow you to just take the test, with the importance being the knowledge of the subject matter. Other courses require you to sit through the whole thing before taking the test, with both exposure to the material as well as knowledge of the material being important. I'm in the instructional design field, and both are valid ways for courses to operate. It just depends on what the reason for the course is. Personally, I think for a one time course, the best design is exposure to the material as well as the test, but it's a matter of taste. (I also think that for recurring courses, that just taking a test is a good thing, unless the content has appreciably changed). Short answer, it's probably what BSA (or the course designer) intended. I would argue that passing the test means it is earned. Now, if the test didn't have to be passed, it wouldn't have to be earned.

I stand corrected.

IMHO, best choice is Troop D. Troop B would be a good alternative. I would actually have my son visit all of the troops before making a choice.

A speeding ticket isn't even a crime, much less a felony.

BSA loses in the court of public opinion, no matter what the outcome is.

In Scouts there is a difference between parents and Mom's boyfriend. The standards are different. Me, too. It's not personal, IMHO. I think the way he treated you would be the way any mother's boyfriend should be treated, felony or not. IMHO, felony possession isn't simple. It's major. Yup. I agree. We have a lot of youth protection rules, and they distinguish between parents and mom's boyfriend. It may be old-fashioned, but it's the rules. In terms of who you have at your meetings, it can be scary, especially in terms of Tiger Cubs. When I was in tiger cubs, we had one Tiger who was usually brought by his grandmother (dad was in the restaurant business, mom was across town with her boyfriend or husband (I never met her), but sometimes by his dad. Once the Tiger's uncle brought him. A couple of weeks later, I looked at the sex offenders in the local area. Sure enough, the Tiger's uncle was on the list (and it was for a sex crime on an under 12 year old). I immediately told the CM, and thankfully, the uncle never showed up again.

I think it was appropriate for him not to be alone with children. He's not a parent, nor a leader. I wouldn't care if he's a felon or not, simply speaking. The only people that should be at BSA campouts are registered leaders and parents/guardians. Anybody else should be escorted. It's not discrimination, it's child safety. Some Troops/packs do vet every parent who attends a function. They require all parents to fill out a leader form, and check them all out. It's a requirement for joining the Troop/Pack.

Make her bring the warm jacket, but leave her to make her own decisions. When she complains, tell her that was her choice. How old are guides?