perdidochas

First, whether or not the CC is there wouldn't matter to me. The SM is the only leader that has to be at an ECOH, IMHO. Sometimes things will conflict on a given day. Talk to the Eagle and his parents, and find out how critical it is to him that most of the troop be there. The thing about refusing to reschedule a BOR is just crappy, IMHO. So what happens now? He's stuck at Tenderfoot until next month? We schedule BORs whenever we can get enough committee members and parents.

I basically agree. The actions we can take are local. In my troop, I did think that we didn't emphasize the outdoors enough. I got together with like-minded leaders, and we stepped it up a notch. We almost doubled the size of the troop as part of that--and interestingly, our number of crossovers per year has been fairly low. We attract a few older scouts from less active troops, and we have managed to keep attrition down. We've always been a heavy camping troop (pretty much 11 campouts a year). How we'ved changed it is variety, and more adventurous activities--we used to talk about backpacking, now we do it; we have gone caving; we have snorkeled with the manatees, etc.

I'm a religious person, but I think the lady is a kook. If that were said to me, I wouldn't worry about it, and I'd tell my sons the same.

Advancement is fun stuff, or to be more precise, the majority of the T-2-1 requirements are fun stuff.

Then have your boy bring it up to the SPL and the PLC. If that doesn't work, to the Scoutmaster. The other thing is first year scouts should be working on T-2-1 advancement, not merit badges. The other thing is, it might be a patrol thing. Our troop has patrol meetings as part of our troop meetings. We have had patrols that chose to play games, while others worked on merit badges. Was this typical of the Troop when you visited?

I haven't, but a guy I worked with did.

Well, because of people like my brother who are 6'4 and 240. He needs an XXL and meets BMI standards.

I resemble the picture above, albeit with less bling (I have the minimum patches necessary). I am a volunteer, because the troop needs me. If we had more fit younger males willing to lead, I would gladly step down. The younger fit males are too busy worrying about working out, instead of volunteering.....

Well, we could be forced to enter records into Scoutbook before buying advancement patches......

We finally have gotten our records in TroopWebHost in the shape we need them (after moving from Troopmaster). I hope we aren't forced to Scoutbooks. I can't take another move of that much data.

Well, interactive multimedia is the future of education, maybe not the implementation of the current MB books. I'd really like to see this for the Citizenship badges rather than for the ones they are actually doing.

I think they should do these for all Eagle required badges, especially the Citizenship series. That said, I need to actually look at one to see if the implementation is adequate. The idea is great, though. It's the future of education.

You can use the Audubon app to focus on birds in your state only. I like the audubon app for birds. Not so fond of the other versions.

I wish that when the decision was made a few years ago, that local option would have been the choice. We already allow the local option for almost everything else in terms of BSA leaders, why not this?

I simply go with the Scout Handbook. I would go with the Scout with the Goldfinch. In fact, I allow scouts to write out a list of what they see (similar to a birder's list).

Well, the 1958/1959 requirements say: Find & identify evidence of 6 different kinds of wild mammals, birds, reptiles, or fish. Explain how plant life & wildlife live together The 1965 requirements say: Identify poisonous plants. Find & identify evidence of 10 different kinds of wild mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish, or insects. Explain how this wildlife depends on plants. In 1990, they were changed to current form. However, they were possibly changed in the Skill Awards from 1972-1988. I agree that it's arbitrary, but outside of coastal people, it's kind of hard to see the sponges, etc. I'm guessing that insects may have made the 10 too easy to get. I know I can probably find 10 kinds of insects in 10 minutes.

Time requirement isn't listed, so of course it can't be limited (for the rank requirement, not the game. game rules are up to you). We usually tend to do it in about two outings, if casually looking, one, if actively looking (i.e. hunting or searching for them).

Insects aren't on the list in 2nd class requirements. Has to be bird, mammal, reptiles, fish or mollusks.

it says 10 kinds of wild animals, for the requirement.

I think of kind as species. It has to be a bird, mammal, reptile, fish or mollusk. As Moz said, sounds, visual id, scat. I would add nests, tracks, shells, any other trace (like pine cones that have been eaten down by squirrels).

Well, we are transitioning from troop method to patrol method. Right now, for the most part the SM is still doing all of that. However, we are increasingly getting the boys to do it--with Troop Webhost, it's very easy to send email to whoever in the troop you want to send it to. (from one person to everybody)

Not a cash donation, but we do donate labor.

Personally, as a Den leader, I never chose my sons for any type of award/honor that was up to me to choose. It was unfair to them, but there is no way to do that without seeming unfair to the other boys. Now, if it were asking them to do a task, and I know that due to skills/height/strength, etc. that my sons were some of the few that could do the task, they got chosen.

Well, I think that most encounter that in everyday life enough. I don't think we should introduce it to them purposefully, but when we see it happen, just run with it as a teachable moment.

I agree. Not sure the committee members would like it as much, though....