qwazse

Welcome to the forums! It sounds like an awesome costume. However, if the shirt isn't already ripped, I'd discourage it. We all know scout families who can't afford a decent one. The issue of trademark infringement is a little more nebulous. It's not like she's making a movie for profit, is she? Beyond legalities, is she likely to offend? Well, probably, especially if the shirt came from a neighborhood thrift shop and she knocks on the door of someone who recognizes the scout who used to wear the shirt from the insignia. I would encourage her to build a uniform from bottom up. A generic shirt would be easier to find, and it's not hard to make fabric ink patches. Those could fit the theme better. E.g.: Scouts ZSA, Junior Assistant Zombmaster, Undead Scout Rank, National Zomberee, etc ... But, a scout -- even a zombie scout -- is friendly. So, to do it right, she needs to produce something to give to each neighbor she visits -- like neckerchiefs of brains that says something like "In appreciation for your thoughtful support! You're delicious!" Your scout has a month to do this up right. Explain your concerns, but encourage her to stay positive and do things in a way that reflects scout spirit.

I find older scouts want to sit with the adults after the campfire and sort out life. I also find that older scouts naturally begin to fold inspirational messages into their campfire closing.

Any chance, was the group Saltworks Theatre? A friend founded it and since moved on to more trivial activities on and off Broadway. He still tries to line up time to perform for school groups. As for scouting, we need to remember that most of our activities (getting food on he table, navigating, service projects, bedding down in a strange environment, swimming, boating -- all the while forestalling death) on a weekend campout are quite serious. So that they successfully build community, we demand a lot from our scouts in terms of courtesy and cheerfulness. Work hard, play hard, sleep well, and in the midst of that the SM gives a minute designed to provoke thought, and maybe the chaplain and chaplains aide hold a scout's own service. That's the basic formula. So if a PL/SPL comes with a skit or song that adds inspiration to the campfire we welcome it. It might give the SM a break! But we don't require it.

We do make clear (usually in an aside meeting with the parents while the Webelos are doing activities with the boys) that we leave patrol assignments up to the boys. We try to keep cross-overs together for a couple months while a troop guide shows them in basics and we get them to attend a couple of campouts. During this time they may elect a PL and demonstrate that they are a cohesive patrol. But, just as often, a few of them tell us that they think they would like to be in an established patrol. Based on their wishes and the observation of the TG, the PLC decides how to configure things. I also make clear that I have seen none of this impact advancement. In fact, a patrol of crossovers who stick together often do not advance as quickly because the scouts aren't drawn into some of the physical challenges as quickly. Simple personal example: I wasn't much into fitness, but the scout who recruited me (a neighbor) was two years older and had an exersize bar in a doorway at his house. He made sure when I stopped his house, I tried a few pull ups, then he figured out where at my house I could practice. I went from 0 to 10 in a month! Another older scout taught me how to connect a bat with a baseball! All of my friends my age were too busy racing away from me to make that happen. In fact, most of them found themselves too busy for scouts at all! I then point out to parents that the scouts who I've seen quit throughout our district -- not just our troop -- have typically been the ones who were pushed on an advancement track and got fed up. Nobody likes to be a part in a factory. I remind everyone that becoming a First Class scout is hard. Our goal is to get every scout that far in 1 to 5 years! But, none of that will convince a parent. The only thing that may is the SPL or/and JASMs introducing themselves personally to each Webelos' parent, and the PLs, DCs, Guides, and Instructors personally teaching their scout a skill. This will get the observant, advancement-centered, mom thinking, "I wonder if my son/daughter could be assigned to that scout's patrol?"

If she wants to sew it on, have her think about what would have the neatest appearance, teach her to thread that needle and have her stitch it on.

The habit would be at least tolerable if the DL put some effort into the kids. Neglect is the worse sin here. I'd get in touch with the parent who stepped up. Ask him/her to take more training.

Well! If I didn't already commit to choose between two other scouting events that weekend, I'd fly across the country to camp in a scouter's back woods! Travel time depends on the maturity of your youth. My venturers would ride 6 hours for a weekend. But, for young scouts who have a lot of training on their list, the closer to home the better.

I've emphasized it with our scouts because our CO is religious and most of the scouts' parents are religious. There's usually one scout in every patrol who won't mind offering a blessing in his own words.

To the OP: I'd say we intensely focus on not bullying: friendly, courteous, kind and opposing bullies: brave, clean, and reverent Adults most certainly set the tone with this. But, importantly, we assert positive action. It's not enough to stop being an oppressor. Nor is it enough to identify someone as such. We are truly "obsessed" about bringing up youth who rise above the fray.

Now, why didn't anybody post a flyer about this at Jambo? Oh, that's right, no bulletin boards. Thanks! I will seriously consider this. As a first step, here's an official page https://www.scouting.org/international/recognitions/ and the links to the application with accurate URLs to the newsletters.

Service hours for rank advancement strike me as largely a joke. But there they are. I think MoP is less about the service and more about becoming more intentional as you go through life. In this decade, the award has synced up with Project 2030 SDGs -- an initiative which, if Citizenship in the World merit badge were really about world citizenship, our scouts would learn. If you have your scouts work through WOSMs MoP materials, it gets them a perspective how a small amount of service at home means a lot of service world-wide. The point of the ring patch? Well, I suspect it's to make up for removing the requirements for the crest!

Don't feel so overwhelmed. Every World Scout Jamboree participants got one. Evidently teaching Brits that you can make tea with a little cold water and sunshine and no milk counts as a BIG project. A patrol who assembles a simple-minded bench for a community development group may very well qualify. The How to Become a Messenger of Peace Guide breaks it down in simple terms for youth. Bring it to a meeting and challenge your scouts to see if anyone would want to go for it. There are probably some really good ideas rolling around in some of those heads. Honestly, it takes very little to confound presidents and popes. Note to self: I need to talk to that scout who, with his classmates, made a "welcome guide" for new immigrants to our neighborhood. The mayor of a neighboring town then invited him and his buddies to distribute them personally during a naturalization ceremony.

I'm fine with Scout Me In. For not being behind it, I'm seeing signs with that slogan in front of a few COs. But, you aren't going to get much more than that unless some generous donor purchases TV spots for their council. In any case, "Scout Me In" is still the BSA ad campaign. "Face the Challenge" is the Jambo slogan. Which, I think is a terrible slogan. By now everyone knows that a reclaimed strip mine is tough to walk around in, and the only challenge is ambient temperature showers and long lines at the big zip. I would have preferred an image of a couple of scouts shaking hands at the top of a climbing wall and a saying like, "On the Brink of New Friendship!" Or, some scouts hanging on to a raft, "In the Drink with New Friends!" The fact remains that the most exciting thing at Jamborees is the excitement the scouts bring. And that excitement hinges on scouts from different parts of the country showing brotherly love for one another. If BSA does not market that, it won't sell.

It could, once again, be emblematic of the two organizations unwilling to "play nice." That's not to say that volunteers wouldn't still arrange to acquire the awards for any GS who voices interest in them. But, any public mention of that possibility would rankle some exec on either side of this posturing. There's only so much that you can learn from web pages.

Note to Self: Talk to the new SPL and ASPL on how important it is that they introduce themselves to parents when Webelos visit.

These things usually get started by citizens who form trail associations to ensure that their favorite walk-about is preserved for posterity. Sometimes the awards pre-date the association sometimes it's the other way around. Sometimes the association fades and a larger organization takes up the mantle. Unless someone from NBOF council replies here, your best bet is to make some phone calls to their HQ and ask if anyone has historical documentation of the award. Ask if the medals are serialized. If so, there might be a press release for when the first medal was given. I'm wondering if the NBOF makes these awards available to GS/USA troops as well.

You mention space. But that's only three dimensions. Sounds like you need to work the fourth dimension: times. The way our pack worked it was dens had the center (a small church basement) twice a month. Each den would have a different time slot. (E.g., Tigers 1st and 3rd Tuesdays, Wolfes 2nd and 4th Tuesdays, Bears 1st and 3rd Wednesdays, etc ...). Our Webelos met at parents; homes because by then they had built friendships, plus they needed backyards for practicing campsite set up, launching rockets, relays, etc ... Then the pack would meet on one evening a month for awards and announcements. There might be just a couple of evenings or Saturdays year where the pack would gather for special activities (e.g., holiday game night, pinewood derby, Blue & Gold banquet). So ... talk to your community center, find out how many time slots they can give you. The bottom line for parents: either they step up or promise weekly flowers and chocolate to the folks who do. Frankly, it may be that unregistered parents have to kick in a little extra in dues for the parents who do register. P.S. - The pack has continued to grow, so now they use the new primary center down the road for meetings.

I did the math with a scout earning Life and he has 5 months until turning 18. It was a little discouraging because he said he wanted to earn Eagle, but he really wasn't paying attention to deadlines -- especially because he counted on summer camp to earn badges that would have been better earned with a counselor. So, I encouraged him to stay positive and still lean in to scouting. I told him to think about the badges he'd wished he'd earned and go for it. Along those lines, what awards might you suggest to a scout whose remaining tenure precludes rank advancement?

No doubt signing on to scouting has become a logistical nightmare. Someone skilled at easing thousands of new members through that gauntlet would be worth their weight in scout executives! However, the title is wrong. It should be Membership Concierge. But, IMHO that's not what discourages new members. What discourages them is this delusion that the best scouts are the ones who make the highest rank. Don't get me wrong, the cubs who achieve the rank for their grade or the scouts who make 1st Class Rank and beyond are awesome fellows. But the truly best scouts are the ones who get out and scout for other youth to join their ranks. So, if it's numbers one cares about, then promoting the recruiter strip above all other achievements in scouting is the way to go! Down with NESA! Up with NSRA (national scout recruiter association)!

Things a scouter wishes he could unsee: that wild-hungry look in the eyes of too-reliant-on-ramen scouts when you pull out a spare bag of oatmeal and peanut butter on day 3 of the hike.

Those bookends basically sum up what it feels like to be a scout on patrol!

@TazDevil22, not sure where you got that from the article that I shared. I read the opposite. What Mike is describing in http://www.scoutinsignia.com/tmppatch.htm under "Exceptions" are insignia that are not necessarily designed for the right pocket, but may be worn there. The bottom line: But, if in doubt, give your local Scout Executive a call. I'm pretty sure that your question will be a refreshing change of pace!

I'd love to see such temporary insignia on your right pocket! Especially if it's relevant for how you'd likely be serving scouts at an event. But, just so you know you're not alone in asking, and you are worthy of a knowledgeable reply let's give a nod to Mike Walton:

GS/USA's membership has been declining. I don't know when they made their last census. TL/USA has reportedly been gaining members, as has AHG. But I don't think their census is a matter of public record.

Since the title is "scouting" and not BSA, the answer is no. Scouting is at least as old as Moses (literally). There will be a need for scouts as long as there are civilizations seeking their place in an otherwise harsh world. And that pool of scouts will come from the world's youth. As long as there a books available that describe how to be a scout, youth will learn to scout. The only question is how many and through whom? Will BSA hold its claim as the largest scouting organization in the US? That depends on a number of forces beyond its control.