perdidochas

Sounds like a great idea to me, but I can't imagine that it will be required for all outings in 2016.

Well, the rules say "On one campout." Sounds to me like the patrols need to change in order to fit that requirement.

The problem is that Scouts, to some degree HAS TO COMPETE with sports. Sports and Scouts both require time and money. So there is some competition there. In terms of discipline, I would argue that Scouts is a much better source of discipline training than sports (and my boys have been involved in both). In terms of that, all sports does is teach them to be mindful of the authority of the adults so that they don't get yelled at or have to run laps. We do need to market on the outdoors and on boy leadership. That's the only true thing we have that is pretty unique. I also agree with you that cubs is too long. I also think that the GTSS is too restrictive at the Cub Scout level. Cubs are allowed to do almost nothing exciting. I do think starting at about third grade would be good. At that age, a lot of the kids have already tried sports, and have given up on them. The problem with our 4 1/2 year cub program, is that we get a lot of parents that 1) think they have to be in cubs to be Boy Scouts, and 2) think that they have missed out too much if they don't join as Tigers.

Well, indirectly, it does. Backyard adventure (or more specifically local adventure) can lead boys to become Scouts. If they aren't Scouts, there is no way they are going to Jamboree....

The other side to it, is that if the Troop is a Catholic troop, the Catholic boys (and leaders) are obligated to go to Mass (Duty to God for the Catholic boys). He may be trying to get them there for Mass. Luckily, we have a Catholic Church locally that has a 7 pm Sunday night Mass.

I thought that your son had his copy of the BC's? if so, he should be set. If I were you, I'd bring him to the Council with those cards, and ask if they can record them in the advancement database for you. The signed scout portion of the Blue Card is all he needs for proof of completion.

If your son is a Life Scout, there is no need to complete all of the Merit Badges before the project. In fact, I recommend most of our Life Scouts to get started on the Eagle Project ASAP (and I'm the Life to Eagle Coordinator for my troop). I've noticed that when the Eagle Project is complete, a lot of boys can see the light at the end of the tunnel, and will put their merit badge work on high gear.

Not sure if you multiply it, or if it's a exponential function.

Working with Advancement almost forces you to be OCD.

You can order them online. http://www.scoutstuff.org/merit-badge-application-card-100-pack.html#.VgBtrZevExc

Does your son have his portion of the BC? That is what is needed? Your son's portion is the official one. It has the Merit badge name, date of completion and both adults' signatures. EBORs and the council should accept that as the legal part of the BC. I would explain that to your SM. If your SM refuses to take the part of the card that HE signed as unit leader, then take the card to the Council, and have his records updated.

I do agree with that. Our troop is a welcoming one. We don't mind if a Scout only comes to one meeting a month, provided they want to keep coming. The other part to that is, of course, the one meeting a monther isn't going to advance or be in leadership.

Well, we do require that committment, but we are more flexible about it. Coaches (or band directors) don't like letting kids out of their sport/activity to do Scouts. We allow the opposite (and as a band/sports parent, I am happy of that). We allow scouts to take off of scouts for a couple of months and come back, or come to a meeting an hour late after another activity. We do require a committment, but we don't have a rigid schedule, so to get that First Class Scout rank might take Joe the Athlete three years, but only takes John the Scout two years. Sports doesn't allow that, for the most part.

After seeing sports and Scouts, I don't see anything really character-based or even teamwork based being taught to kids in sports (and my sons played soccer their elementary years, both were in middle school sports, and the oldest in high school sports). I don't see much being taught besides how to play the sport (and yes, that does involve teamwork, but it's not led by the kids, it's led by adults shouting at them).

Blue Card is for troop use. It does make record keeping easier, IMHO.

Did your son keep his part of the card? Or did the Counselor keep his part of the card? Either should be proof to fill out a new complete card. The card is in three parts: Counselor, Troop and Scout. When completed, the counselor should keep his part. Then, the Scout should keep his, and only turn in the Troop part to the Troop. Do that in the future. http://meritbadge.org/wiki/index.php/Merit_Badge_Application I say this as a former Advancement chair, current MBC/ASM. When I started as advancement chair, the scouts just gave me the three part form. I would immediately give them their copy. Almost no counselors had their copies. I keep mine, because it saves the boys in cases like this.

The problem is that there are no trees on gravel bars.

The problem is that most of the former seasonal sports are becoming almost year round.

My son is in swim. His swim suits cost as much as scout pants (could have gotten cheaper swim suits, but ran out of time due to his being out of town for various scout activities most of the summer). Also, when the kids wear the scout pants as much as our troop does, the cost doesn't seem so high.

Well, that's the difference between rec soccer and travel soccer. My boys played rec soccer from pre-K until about 7th grade. They were also active in Cubs and both are Eagle Scouts. Travel soccer isn't for creating well rounded individuals, it's for creating soccer players. Scouts creates well rounded individuals.

I'm a side sleeper in a bed. No problem in a hammock with back sleeping.

First, I do think this is commercial, and not just commentary. Second, I will answer the questions because I'm a hammock evangelist. 1. Yes, when I was having back problems it was the only way I could camp. Is also great in the summer around here. 2. I have a 60" x 126" tableclothfactory.com hammock with dutchware straps. I have tried a 90"x132" tableclothfactor.com hammock. It was a bit more comfortable, but much harder to get out of, so I use the smaller one. 3. Hammock camping. Never have to sleep with a root under my back.

For a beautiful campground close to Chatanooga (maybe an hour out of your way round trip), go to Cloudland Canyon in Rising Fawn, GA. It's in the corner of GA that you pass through on I-59 between Tennessee and Alabama.

My general observation is that a paddleboard is more for the equivalent of day hiking. Can't carry much, but it's fun to do. On flat water, it's a much better perspective for wildlife viewing, especially if the water is fairly clear. Eyes at almost 6' above water have a much better vantage point than eyes at 3' above the water, and if the water is clear, you can see a lot more under the water than in a kayak. It's a better workout than a kayak. The strange thing is that, at least for me, the part of my body worked hardest on a paddleboard is my ankles--due to the balancing, and the fact that all the power to move the board goes through the whole body and ends up at the feet.

My response: I will talk to your Scout about this, on his request.