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How long are you running these lanterns? Between sunset and lights out? Are you using the lanterns near the stove? Heat-sensitive parts may be a consideration. (The one good thing about the propane stems is the lantern stays in one place.) Do the boys like having that much gear to lug around? Or, do they want to transition to operating much leaner?

Good show BD. (Re: your boys. Not your attitude towards naive cub parents.) Maybe I should spend time applying what I learned from the forums. And less time reading and replying. Now for the hard part: training your replacement.

IMxian13, welcome! 1) The Charter Organization often sets the tone for these things. Every smoker is different, and often your COR is willing to work with what he or she has. If the fella is willing to step out of the room, and put out his cig when a boy wants to talk to him, I wouldn't sweat the uniform. 2) Although I'm glad for the many friends and family who are still with me as a result of grueling oncology research funded in part by it, the raciness of the campaigns can be perplexing. I try to remind myself that I worship "The Full Breasted One", and someone could take issue with adoration of El Shaddai. People are complex. I guess I've been better off by hearing from folks about how I might have offended them. Especially if a young person was made uncomfortable. Sometimes I apologize outright, other times I ask the youth if they can understand why acting one way in one situation might be a trade of between different points in the scout law. I suspect this ASM (and probably the PL) would want a chance to let your son know they respect his view while at the same time, they made a compromise for complex reasons.

One more suggestion: he might have trouble remembering a string of words. But he might remember when things are out of place. So ask him one or two things like "Is a scout greedy?" And see if his brain has made some sort of connection. Then let him know that you plan on letting him get by without having him recite the points in order like you do with the other boys. If he's okay with it, proceed as you've planned.

ABSOLuTELyy!!! (Yes I'd be shouting if it wouldn't scare the dog.) you've got the right idea on time limits and such. But, understand that at some point you'll have to let the boys in on the act. Maybe one month you could visit a den and teach them how to put on a show or make their own puppets. Or they could right a script for a skit, and you and your puppet would be an actor. Have fun. If you ever post a public video, share the link!

Well, a friend of my family (TBI 70 years ago) can't say our names. He called me "hey". He calls Son #2 "Bey" (ever since he met him as a baby); and my wife, "Ma." Speech is a factor, but also he just can't draw on the words for things. He has to recycle the one' she learned in childhood, to describe his life experience. Every brain is different. That said, you never will know if this is the equivalent of the pull-up problem ("Scout can't do pull-ups" "Has he tried for a month?" "Yes." "Every day he hung from a bar and give it a go for five minutes?" "Well no, because he can't do them." :< ) unless the boy challenges his brain daily for an extended period of time.

Clearly, moderators, you had the "button" on the wrong thread.

Opa!!! If you like black licorice, you'll be fine with Ouzo. Too fine, maybe.

Oh, you mean the password that I can never remember? I think it roughly translates to "brotherly love". But like you said, there are resources that you could check to correct me on that one. But the point is for a boy to learn that the "big secret" that he's been working hard to attain is what he should aspire to do on a daily basis. We've had boys ask in detail about the goings on of O/A. Our ASM who is most involved in the lodge had no problem sharing with them most details. But, reserving a little mystery isn't a problem. Most boys are content to know their buddies can look forward to meager rations, service, and silence for a day. All politics is local.

KMcV, Welcome to the forums ... where battered old scouters like KDD and myself opine from the cheap seats. I would suggest that your responses have a pattern of applauding everyone who agrees with your idea of how a den should run and dismissing everyone who finds the $40/month outlay reasonable at face value. But, I also announce for varsity soccer games and hear a lot of chatter -- especially from private school parents who gripe about the entrance fees of our home field while their fields are rough-hewn, often unlit, poorly graded and barely lined -- and the concession booth (tent really) doesn't serve any coffee (let alone a decent brew: strong and hot) . Maybe they're being good citizens by running things on a shoe string and making do where they can. Their players come up strong and good as ours - so I've learned not to judge. When visiting their pitches, I try to buy their raffles and what goods from the concession as I can stand to eat. But, from my seat at the home booth, between plays I'll heap high praise on our school's athletic department, the boosters who run the concession making sure there's a decent hot meal and home-made desserts, and anyone else who makes the evening capture a little grandeur for the sport ... even if my wallet is lighter for the gate fee and a tray of baklava for the senior night concession. At least they know to put the coffee on when I show up. Find out what you're paying for. If you don't like the programs and materials that the DL plans to invest your $$ in, spinning off another Den is a good idea. However, if you do like his/her ideas, partner in. Maybe in lieu of dues, you have some materials or backstage opportunities that you can exchange for a month's fee. Just try to accept that scouting is not a one-size-fits-all affair.

Every boy is as different as are the troops they are in. Same for every lodge. But I would lay 1st blame on your troop's O/A members. They took responsibility for a task, and failed to execute it perfectly. Now, just 'cause they messed up doesn't mean they're bad scouts. If their election means anything, they are just good scouts who didn't read instructions. (Not being used to a seasoned SM breathing down their necks may have been a contributing factor.) So, the SM should ask them to make it up to your son by offering a special camp-out. Maybe one to suit his geeky game proclivities. If I were lodge chief (and I never was, so this is me just pretending I'd be that mature of a teen), and I heard that something like this happened, I would call the boy or meet him at his troop meeting. Then I'd let him know that I was very sorry that about the fiasco, let him know that scouting is fun, O/A is worth the effort, and he should put himself up for election next year and every year afterword until elected. And, leave him my phone #, and ask him to call me when he makes Star! I would definitely let the lodge advisor know what a mess this was. And I would ask him to relay it to the chief. Even if an SM is not in O/A, he needs to be accorded ample respect to aid the lodge in properly delivering candidates. That includes carefully explaining how the call-out will be administered. There are no secrets in scouting, so the SM has a right to understand what's going on. P.S. - st0, I total get the tired and mildly hypothermic guard student experience. You know what's awesome? It has to be re-upped in two years!

By "many years" you mean one? The questions are specifically referring to field uniforms (known to some by the unofficial name “Class Aâ€Â) and not activity uniforms (“Class Bâ€Â). The term "field" is used to distinguish from "dress" uniform (i.e., the blue blazer, etc ...). THAT's what's missing from SSScout's list.

Well, the handbook used to be sufficiently simple. Then there were inspection sheets that let a boy know how far off standard he was. Then someone got the bright idea that that patches could be piled on like decals on an Indy car (as long as the belt isn't used as a sash rack ), which meant the bishops of our order had to either add pages to each handbook or create an insignia guide for the priests of the order. These priests would convey their knowledge via special dispensations (a.k.a., EDGE). Flying in the face of the gradual scale put forth on inspection sheets, some put forth the "Wear it right, or don't wear it at all." heresy. To be even "better uniformed," some troops published modified inspection sheets with greater penalty for missing items (e.g. 15% for pants, instead of the Nationally published 10%). The boys, who were never taught "reference" as the first step in mastering any skill, were none the wiser. So, instead of pondering how to get youth to hike and camp independently, our self-appointed priests attempt to exact penance beyond the measure for each uniforming offense.

Not sure about power to judge. In a sense we've always had that. Some have used more wisely than others. Bet we being "required to ask" at every SMC. I can't put my finger on why I want National to butt out on my conversations. Maybe it's because I've seen how divisive folks can be, and can imagine an otherwise decent SM being run out on a rail because his SMC's don't conform to this new standard.

Passover? Eid El Aida? ... I'd only be bothered if I wasn't invited. A lesser god? ... I'd be obliged to abstain. But I wouldn't think any less of the scout for doing his duty. Same for the other spiritual exercises you mentioned. This has nothing to do with interpreting BSA policy, but rather my Christian obligation to give due honor to the unconverted. It's a play from Lewis's book, who imagined the Almighty declaring "all the service thou hast done to Tash, I accept as service done to me" ... "no service which is vile can be done to me, and none which is not vile can be done to him."

Chances are SM has already made the measure of the man. If you know the ASM well enough to talk to him, you could ask if the COR ever questioned him of the DUI. (It should have been on the application.) Or you could ask the COR what he thought of the DUI.

Depends on how patient and determined the boy is. You could push the paperwork through the council advancement chair. That requires approval of the boys physician, the boy's parents, and the boy himself. That last one is what you want to work with. Deep down the boy may not want to be excused from requirements. Explain to the boy that nobody is in a hurry for him to make rank. This isn't school. If he wants to take a couple of years to earn tenderfoot before filing for a waiver, that's absolutely fine. He can work on any of the First Class skills he wants and master the motor ones (knots, first-aid, navigation, etc ...). Likewise, nothing stops him from earning a few craft/action MBs. Then over the next couple of years, promise to try different tricks to see if he can repeat Oath and Law on his own. Lots of times, when people talk about what a boy can our cannot do, they have a 12 month time frame. We in scouting have a 7 year time frame. Have the parents talk to the boy's teaching aids about the possibility of him being able to repeat things from memory in the long term. Just like it's okay for a boy to take four years to swim test. It's okay (and in this case, possibly just as rewarding) to take just as long to remember a few words.

Insignia guide "simplified"?

Is his self God? Maybe if he builds a rock so big he can't move it!

It's generally a good policy to hold yourselves to the same standard overseas as you do at home. Seabase Bahamas is a good example. Youth are not to drink alcohol. Neither are adults while supervising them. I know of crews where adults would take it in rotation for those who wanted to stop at a bar. When we went, our adults simply committed to non-alcoholic beverages the whole time. No problem. At the end of the day I never grudged anyone in my crew a cigar if they were over 18. But, they were to be discrete about it. Likewise, if an adult wanted to get a drink I wouldn't have been bothered. But I think our little adventure was better for nobody having imbibed.