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My state mandates YPT for every youth-facing organization. So, that does not make BSA distinctive. Fortunately, the state accepts BSA's training for mandatory reporters at face value, so we all don't have to take the state's training. In the sense that BSA's program could prepare adults for volunteering in other youth organizations, I guess that's a unique service. Two decades ago, it was implied that patrols would have the best YP when they weren't with adults. I suppose that perception discounted the risk of bullying. I have a friend who defended a scout who was bullied by other scouts on BSA property in the 80s. So, it makes sense that striving for a bully-free organization is a priority. I don't think there's a good way of knowing if these more stringent YP policies reduce the actual risk. I think there's some hope that it reduces the organization's liability.

Imagining a young @Eagledad and his Flaming Arrows floating up to the boardwalk intersection, idling the engine, and showting: "Hey, ladies! Throw your tanks on this here hover craft of ours, and we'll get you to that dive site in sixty seconds flat! "

Am I looking at this crooked, or are youth basically underwriting the background checks for their merit badge counselors?

I have a low bar: If a clique is robbing liquor stores to buy drugs, it's bad. If a clique is lofting a projectile to land loudly yet harmlessly on the SM's tent ... not so bad.

With us, it has nothing to do with more or less donations. It has to do with when our food bank (which is managed by our CO) really needs it. So typically our pack collects in the fall; our troop, in the spring. That usually syncs up well with Thanksgiving/Easter times when families would like to be able to put a little more on the table. I don't know what you mean by "biggest". Some councils cover a wider area. Some have more members. Some food banks have more clients. So, we can talk about items/pounds per member, items/pounds per square mile, or items/pounds per persons or households served. There might be a numbers wonk who keeps track of stuff, but we're dealing with a voluntary reporting system. I doubt we'll ever have comparable stats across the country.

@ParkMan, a great outdoor program involves inculcating a vision of the pinnacle scouting experience of hiking and camping independently with your mates. National policies directly impact my ability to offer that. Treading the graveled paths of SBR or any other HA base with minders around every corner is not a pinnacle scouting experience. It's nice, and inspiring. But it only translates into something meaningful if you can do what the Portugese scout we invited for dinner told us she does with her patrol back home. (I.e., they pick a place, let her SM and their parents know where they will go, arrange transportation, go, and report back upon their return.) I can't blame BSA for moving in ways that fend off litigation. But it means that their priority is in ensuring that the promise of scouting in every corner of this nation is delivered outside of the BSA.

Twice this week (once on in person and once online), I heard from leaders, that when they started, they took all the online training and still didn't know how to be a tiger DL! We have a thread from a scouter who is trying to outline "how to start a unit" and is doing it from Troop experience. It seems like we got into the habit of thinking the tail should wag the dog. It's a far cry from "Get the boys together, read the book, pick the next chapter, do what it says."

For fits and giggles I looked at some recent venturing packets for area gatherings ... max was 8 pages and that included the roster crews were to turn in.

Sorry I wasn't there. I never lament the lack of beer. But, I would have definitely lamented the lack of 1919!

If I were you, I would keep it simple and interactive. Use the nicest part of the building. Set up only a couple of dozen chairs so everyone is nice and close. The 12-points candles are nice, but practice lighting them well in advance. If attendance is solid, you could have each of your scouts light a candle and present two points. Same with the color guard. If you haven't done so already, teach the PL how to advance to the front with the scouts who aren't color-guard, wait for the scouts to be seated, welcome everyone, then command the colorguard to advance. She would do the same thing in the middle only in reverse. Scripts are nice, but I think you might want to take advantage of this being a small group: As you give awards, you might ask each scout to present one thing that they enjoyed doing so far. If they have a favorite scouting song, maybe they should sing it, or teach the audience to sing it. One of the scouts might have shown herself to be a good story-teller. Then, there's your SM minute. And I think nobody has a script for your situation! I think the best thing you could do is to tell the scouts that they might tenderfeet (or 2nd or 1st class) now, but soon they will have new scouts looking up to them. Even if they have not earned the patch, they will be expected to be first class scouts. Exactly how you get that message across depends on your audience, who you know better than we do. Congratulations for making it this far. Have fun!

When he was about that age, I once told Son #1 that if he kept throwing a tantrum, I'd take his litter sister to the Steeler game instead of him (his uncle had given me a pair of tickets) ... and I did. I'm not sure I ever told that story to my scouts. I wouldn't want them up at night wondering how they got stuck with the cruel adult leader.

Please note that we have denoted all uniform police to insignia dorks. Use that term in all future posts.

I rarely pack a tent. I'm content with a tarp for myself. Some of my scouts and their buddies have followed suit. I've tried setting up one for my dog, but he'd still rather bed down under a corner of mine. We set up dining flys on occasion, but often times we find it to be unnecessary. The tarp is more useful as a groundcloth while stargazing.

The CDC site does not say anything against applying soap first causing regurgitation. It's specific advice is against "... “painting” the tick with nail polish or petroleum jelly, or using heat ...". But, it also says apply soap afterword. Remember, that low pH is the best bacteria killer available. The supposed effectiveness of q-tip is in its ability to catch the beasts legs which, because of the soap, no longer have a grip on the skin. But, the main advice is that time is of the essence. Truth is, the tick is already regurgitated while feeding. The longer you wait, the more backwash seeps out the end of its "straw." So while you all are getting your devices, I'm grabbing that bug by the abdomen and pulling it off of my hide with the first thing I find (and that's usually my fingers). When dealing with someone else, I see the point of using tweezers and cleaning with soap (while wearing a pair of the non-latex gloves from your kit)! But, if I were to think of it on the spot, I'm more likely to find that tick-picker before I find any other tool or soap.

Taking a 1st Aid Course now. The EMT and nurse teaching it swears by q-tips dipped in dishwashing liquid for tick removal.

@FireStone, sorry to say I can't help you. I've used online sites for religious terms in ASL, but not scouting. However, you might want to call around to agencies that serve hearing impaired. Your local hospital or county courthouse could be a good start. Round here, I would call the school for the deaf. Sometimes they can send a volunteer. They might even know a few scouts in your area who sign ASL. It's definitely more fun to learn from someone who uses it as a first language.

Didn't realize it at the time, but we spawned a Sooner! She's a great hiking buddy! There's one.

A neighbor kid of mine collected handbooks and did just that. I'd see him and his "patrol" on some trails in our community's park. @Sentinel947, your church's and mine ... someplace between here and Hogtown. The coffee will be strong and hot.

Nobody ever claimed that we Yanks were masters of the English language!

Confession from Junior Leadership Training: I had a choice between letting my uniform be "altered" or losing British Bulldog to a bunch of city boys. I took the win on the field*, the loss on inspection, and an irate Momma when I got home! *Quite literally, I was on the field gripping ground for dear life, half my shirt was in some scout's hands.

You know what would change recognition value? NESA recognizing girls who earned Gold Award. But, then again, they wouldn't recognize venturers who earned BSA's highest award for them ... and that one has an Eagle on it!

Given that the best scout I ever knew aged out at 2nd class, I will say, that I cared ... First class scouts are the best!

Happy Birthday!

Thanks. Look forward to the point-by-point comparisons! (USSCouts does a pretty good job of that, as long as you're not red-green colorblind.)

Most of my older venturers compared the last cost increase to the cost of a night camping with a decent dinner and breakfast. They concluded they could do just as well without the BSA.