perdidochas

It's their vacation, too. Also, some of them may be required to do work online, and need the better connectivity.

Just a little aside--let your Scout go on events/campouts/outings without you sometimes. Scouts need that. I was a committee member when my boys were T-21, and I went on most (not all) of their campouts, primarily because we were low on leaders willing to camp. I let them go on their own because they need that for their independence.

I don't think they have a good Scoutmaster if the above is going on. I'd find another troop for my son and his compadres. Kids like the above are not Scouts, they just pretend to be.

Well, I thought the purpose of BSA was to prepare our Scouts to be adults.

Well, we allowed them for a while, when our older scouts were more responsible. Now, we've gone back to no electronics on campout besides in the car.

He's got at least 6 years. He has to do it, not you. He has to plan it, not you. First, just support him in having fun camping. If he doesn't have fun camping, getting his Eagle will be like pulling teeth. My oldest son got his Eagle and he was in orchestra and played football. My main advice is for you to let him have fun, and support him, not nag him or do it for him.

Most of the Scouts in our Troop who are past Star agree. (we have a longstanding rule that they have to get to Star Scout before tenting alone (I'd change it to First Class, but they haven't asked me)).

Well, still being able to tell the difference between 10 different species of warblers is a feat. Anyway, based on my years of working with T21 Scouts, that isn't a real problem.

Well, IMHO, if a boy can tell the difference between ten types of Chickadees, he's probably pretty aware of nature. I'd count it. There is no "diversity" rule listed--you are adding to requirements. Also, being a birder, finding ten different species of a single type of bird is much harder than finding ten different species of birds, mammals, reptiles, fish, and mollusks.

I was a 2 year Tenderfoot, and I tell parents and Scouts that. Personally, I have found that Life for Life Scouters are the best Scout leaders for motivating Scouts.

Our council emails out forms to the references (they used to snailmail it out), and asks the references to snailmail directly to the Scoutmaster, who brings the sealed envelopes to the EBOR.

Depends on the local conditions, in terms of the flood plain. Watch the weather, and it's not a problem, at least in the Southeast. I wouldn't make those recommendations for the Southwest.

My sons can do all of the above except change the brakes on a truck (they are third generation non-mechanics). They can jumpstart a car, though. I've found that through my time in Scouts as a parent, that a lot of the "requirements" from Tiger Cub on are things that we had already been doing with our sons. The way I see it, if the parents are teaching it at home, it's a piece of cake for the boys to do it in Scouts.

I'm with Tampa Turtle--I'd be ok if it was a replacement for Family Life, for example.

What's wrong with the Cooking merit badge?

When you are camping in a flood plain, and the flood plain is over 200 feet wide, it can be a pain.

Well, not speaking about the technicalities of LNT, but practically speaking, I wouldn't worry about the urine. The NPS suggests that people in Zion National Park urinate in the river at the "Narrows" area (and pack out any solids). I'd use a bucket for solid waste primarily. Maybe something like this. http://www.academy.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product_10151_10051_1587882_-1?gclid=CNrkmO3csNMCFYg6gQodyosCWg&kwid=productads-adid%5E105318825438-device%5Ec-plaid%5E250381679598-sku%5E103047653-adType%5EPLA And use some of the "blue stuff" which is some kind of chemical used in RVs.

I think it's a reflection of modern society, but I don't remember kids being as afraid of grand-daddy long legs as they are today. We used to play with them.

I think it's inappropriate. I'm glad the now Eagle answered it well.

I read an article on that. Basically the conclusion I took from it is that a shoelace knot is best when it's a double-slipped square knot versus a double-slipped granny knot. It's easy to tell the difference on a tied shoe. If a proper square knot is the basis of it, the loops lie parallel to the strands of the knot. If a granny knot is the basis of it, the loops are perpendicular. I tend to tie a granny on my left shoe, and a square on my right shoe. The best solution to a shoelace knot not coming undone, of course, is the double knot.

I disagree. The adults are to set an example for the youth. The youth don't necessarily know what appropriate behavior for adults is in this situation. This is an issue for the adults to deal with, not the youth. The CC, COR, IH and DE need to know what's going on, and need to do something about it. Whether that is expel one or both from the troop, counseling them on the inappropriateness of their situation, etc. This is a church chartered group. The church who chartered them needs to decide what appropriate behavior is, along with YPT guidelines.

Sharing a tent is inappropriate. The COR, IH and DE need to know about it.

If put onto the BSA internet advancement, it should be immediately. The question is when did your Advancement Committte person or SM submit the Advancement report to the BSA internet advancement.

I agree totally about setting up a swim test. Before a kayaking trip, we had several boys who were new to the Troop (before their first summer camp) that hadn't taken a swim test. The SPL (and the ASMs) had a swim test for them before things began.

First, I have no problem with Scouts earning most MBs when below First Class. I actually think it would be an ideal time to start Cooking, as it's an involved badge that takes a lot of time. That said, if I knew a Scout wasn't ready physically or emotionally for working on a badge, I wouldn't agree to be his MBC for that badge. For example, if I were a Climbing MBC, and a boy in the troop was 5' tall, 300 lbs and weak physically, I wouldn't agree to be his counselor. There is no requirement that an MBC be a particular boy's counselor. Volunteers can't be forced.