Beavah

Wow, Beavah. Making your own merit badge, nice. You turnin' into a hippy radical on us in your later years? Yah, da prior thread and packsaddle's comment got me thinkin' that this would be an interestin' thread to share. As close as I can tell, one of the signs of a really fun, fully-fledged Boy Scout Troop is when the boys and adults start makin' up their own awards. Fun stuff, usually, though there's a real charm when it gets beyond the fun stuff and becomes "real" to the lads. That's where Order of the Arrow and other honor societies like Mic-O-Say came from eh? Polar Bear patches and honor medals too. Yah, and Merit Badges often enough. Just regular scouts and scouters makin' stuff up to recognize or honor achievements within their ranks. And for some reason, the ones that mean the most to the boys are often home-grown. So, this is a thread for sharin' your troop's (or pack's, crew's, ship's, or team's) home-grown awards, badges, and recognitions, both humorous and serious. District and Council folks can share home-grown district and council awards, or home-grown awards they've seen in units in their area. Folks who want to object to havin' any awards or badges in addition to da BSA's formally recognized national awards, or want to comment on how such unauthorized googaws cannot be worn on the official uniform are politely asked to start their own spinoff thread to talk about da rest of us heathen. Beavah

Yah, you're doomed, eh? There is somethin' pleasant about "checkin' in" on folks doin' work with kids and the outdoors when takin' a break from whatever silliness is happenin' to us at work, eh? And honestly, da best Scouters I know are always thinkin' about it and comin' up with ideas and having great insights about how to reach a particular kid when they're steppin' out of the shower. So consider it a virtue, eh? And a blessing. It's a great gift to have a chance to do somethin' you love for and with others, somethin' that you can really engage in with joy and deep interest. Yah, that's it. Of course, every junkie comes up with his/her justifications. Beavah

Yet "in the field" doesn't exist in the requirement anywhere. So when we get rid of the non-existent sentence, it opens up other possibilities. The obvious possibility is "yes, a Scout can identify a local poisonous plant by photo". Yah, well that's a novel interpretation. I reckon it doesn't say "in the field" on dozens of other requirements that are just as obviously in the field requirements. I suppose lads can sleep in a tent they've pitched on a "campout" in mom's basement for that requirement, eh? I'm with npr1488. There's a big difference between a photo and the live plant. It's very easy to memorize the photo and still not be able to recognize the live plant when yeh step in it. And what are the Rules & Regulations we all promised to uphold? Boy Scout badges are awarded only for proficiency in outdoor skills, not for readin' about outdoor skills in a book. No subtractin' from the requirements. A lad who goes camping needs to be able to recognize and avoid and treat for exposure to the poisonous plants he's goin' to encounter in the field. Gettin' a badge a few months later won't hurt a lad. Gettin' a nasty case of poison plantlife could land a boy in the hospital. Do what's right, not what's expedient. If it's winter, teach the boys to recognize the vine. Maybe that way come summer they won't accidentally throw one into da campfire. Beavah

Yah, it fits more with older scout / Venturing programs, eh? Wild caves are very fragile environments. Kids can be hard on 'em. That (plus the difficulty in evacuating a lad who breaks an ankle jumpin' around in a cave) is why the BSA limits wild cavin' to age 14 and up. That havin' been said, your local NSS grotto is likely to have a few fellows who do outreach and know of safe caves to take kids into (safe for the cave, at least!). And there's nuthin' stopping you from coming up with the requirements and offerin' your own merit-badge-like award. I knew a few troops doin' their own SCUBA MB before it became an official badge this year, usin' the patches available from Streamwood. Beavah

Yah, may just be me, but I've always felt First Aid (if done well) is both a bit too much and too bookish for the first year at camp. Finish First Class, then worry about First Aid in year 2. I think the first year, what yeh want is fun and success more than anything, eh? So if the lad is a good swimmer, by all means knock off swimming MB. If the lad is a non-swimmer then don't push it, eh? Just encourage fun in the water. Other ones are any low-hanging fruit MB, simple crafts, etc. Just enough so the boy learns the system and gets a successful completion of one badge under his belt. There's so much else that's goin' on with first year boys in terms of adjusting to the troop, older boys, findin' a place socially, figurin' out the basics of camping, cooking his first meal, cleaning his first pot, etc. That's plenty! Don't add to it with some merit badge pressure. Beavah

Yah, TheScout, a tree is known by its fruit, eh? Look at the reaction your dogmatic and strident approach is havin' in others. That's hardening hearts, not opening 'em. Turning people from God, not toward. We are accountable for such acts, and every word we speak. Me personally, I think it's very hard to find many wars that were started or perpetuated solely for religious reasons. Far more often any claimed religious basis was a veneer coverin' the root causes which were economic and sociopolitical. At the same time, it's very easy to find heroes amidst the darkness. From Schindler and Theresa of Calcutta to the quiet, generous folks who support most charitable works in the U.S. and overseas. And in overwhelming majority, indeed almost without exception, those quiet and courageous heroes believe in a Higher Power outside of themselves and greater than their nation or tribe or ethnicity. Yeh don't give up your wealth or lay down your life for somethin' unless yeh see it as an extension of yourself (family/tribe/nation) or as somethin' greater. Let's not belittle those who respond to a higher call, eh? They're the world's heroes. Religious have started more schools and more hospitals and more charitable endeavors than any government. We still wear monks robes at university graduations in honor of their founding institutes of higher learning and preserving knowledge through the dark ages. TheScout's religion by itself is responsible for the care of nearly a third of the AIDS victims in Africa. And on and on... Beavah (This message has been edited by Beavah)

Yah, one way yeh can do it is just be honest, eh? "Going to play video games is an interestin' idea, but I'll be honest - I'm goin' to have a hard time getting any adults to support that. If we're goin' to give up a day with our family we want it to be for somethin' really cool like whitewater rafting (for real, not virtual)! Don't use us for stuff yeh can do on your own or with your family. That's boring! Use us for stuff yeh otherwise wouldn't be able to do." Da other thing that yeh have to be aware of is that kids by and large are a conservative and uncreative lot. Just like adults, eh? They tend to only think of what they know, and tend to only choose things they know they're already good at. And what they know and are good at are da things yeh mention, eh? If yeh want to expand their horizons a bit, take a small group of PLC lads to "explore" some new activity as a day trip or weekend trip. Go sailin' with a Ship. Go Mountain Bikin'. Whatever. Give them some experience they can feel and taste, eh? Sure as shootin', they'll bring that idea back to the PLC as their own. Yeh can also do things like send 'em a brochure about something cool in the mail (kids never get mail of their own) to "seed" ideas. Beavah

Perhaps us Bad Parents can just have a knot. I suggest a rainbow one. Nah, it's got to have a pitchfork for Lucifer Packsaddle. Wait 'til Mrs. Beavah learns she's been bakin' cookies for the devil!

Yah, depends a little bit, eh? I agree with Rule of 4, but this is at best sidecountry, not backcountry. There's ways to be safe with three or even with one. As someone who solo hikes and solo paddles a fair bit, I can attest to that. As to da SM being the "bad cop." Yep. Absolutely. For the boys and for the adults. The SM settin' the standards is what allows the ASMs and especially the Patrol Leaders to be the good cops. That's an enormous gift to the Patrol Leaders which really makes the system work. Beavah

Moreover, any Scouter who conveys to a youth - either directly or indirectly - that he believes that his religion is better than that of the youth is worse than a "bad parent", he is guilty of committing emotional abuse on a juvenile. Yah, I reckon you're overstatin' the case, Trevorum. By the time they hit their teen years in Scouting, the youth are perfectly aware of adult eccentricities and foibles, eh? I don't think it's reasonable to expect a scientist not to share his interest and love of science with the boys, and I don't think it's reasonable to expect a Christian not to in some ways share their love of Christ. The more fundamental Christian kids aren't goin' to be harmed by knowing their Scoutmaster believes in evolution, nor are the wiccan kids going to be harmed by knowing their Scoutmaster believes in Christ. That's how the lads eventually make their own choice, eh? By knowing what is out there that they're choosing between. And anyone who's ever been a parent knows that our power to "indoctrinate" is pretty limited when it comes to teenagers. We provide a foundation, perhaps, but da choice is always theirs. Providin' a foundation isn't "abuse". It's being a caring adult. When someone tells me I'm goin' to hell because I'm not their particular flavor of Christian, I just thank 'em for caring enough to let me know. Then I advise 'em that in their ministry they should consider followin' the example and instructions of the Lord, eh? Rather than confrontation and admonishment, when yeh come to preach, greet the person: Peace be with you! Beavah Beavah

Yah, I think the point has been made, eh? Nowhere does Jesus establish an "office" with monarchical "succession" to "interpret his work or the scriptures" and then establish it because Peter was there last (why not the first church Peter founded?). No reading of the scriptures could possibly come to the conclusion that that's how God works in the world. And certainly not so a childless man can pass judgment excluding the mother from the sacraments of Christ for makin' the hard decision to save the life of her innocent 9-year-old girl. Shepherds and carpenters and prophets and fishermen challenging the authority of the earthly are where we find the true hand of God. You know. In compassion and love. Happily, the Catholic Church's teachings are far more subtle and intelligent than all that. While I still disagree with 'em and think that bishop in Brazil is an imbecile who will answer to his Lord one day, the Catholic notion of Church as I understand it really is far more Christian than you portray. The real authorities have rarely been da popes. They've been the poor faithful. Francis, and Thomas, and Theresa, and Ignatius and their lot. If there has been any small wisdom at all from those who have occupied the Roman See it has been not to stand too long in the way when God really spoke infallibly through his Church. Or at least to come around kickin' and screamin' eventually. Your homework is to read Gaudium et Spes. Beavah

Yah, ScoutmasterBradley, have yeh looked around at what other camps are doin'? Most Camp Directors in neighboring councils are only a phone call away, and they tend to be helpful, pragmatic fellows. I wouldn't reinvent the wheel here, especially if you and the other members of your working group haven't been volunteers on camp staff recently. I also would be heavily involvin' the youth, eh? There are lots of ways for you to get into trouble and do more harm than good. Remember, those young men and women work for less than minimum wage and more than legally acceptable hours in a not-particularly-comfortable environment out of love for Scouting. It's very easy for some well-intentioned folks to alienate them. Seen it happen. Seen it nearly destroy camps, because it's pretty easy for 'em to walk away. What your group is doin' should be done with respect, and caution, and sensitivity. And perhaps incrementally, especially if you're expectin' 'em to buy uniform parts themselves on top of everything else. Now personally, I like da camps where either all staff are registered as a crew and go green shirts, or where all staff are viewed as workin' the Boy Scouting program and are in khaki (even the young ladies b/c they're serving as paid staff in a Boy Scouting program). Seems more uniform. I don't get into fighting pants wars, at camp it's tougher than the dickens to keep a pair of official pants clean, and the kids can't afford too many multiples. Be happy with somethin' reasonable. I definitely don't get into fighting patch wars. All of your best counselors will find something special at camp which makes its way onto the uniform. Take such additions as a sign that you're doin' the camp experience right. Beavah

Can you please site a BSA reference for this rule? I can not remember ever seeing this. Yah, yeh probably can't remember seein' it because it doesn't exist.

Pope's don't choose their successors. Yah, but didn't you say "Peter passed his special authority down to others" ? If Peter didn't choose his successor, how did he pass his authority down after he was dead and gone? And then we still have that pesky "get up and walk!" problem. The Church still needs an Earthly head. Why? Is God so limited that he cannot achieve our salvation without the help of a human princeling / avatar/ pharaoh here on earth? I always thought that Jesus was enough. And didn't the Lord himself say to the apostles including Peter "Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them." - Matthew 18:19. Sure sounds like Jesus wasn't trustin' the power of special commission to any one apostle, eh? It needed two or three. And if yeh read anything of the gospels, the Lord sure didn't make Peter infallible. And are yeh truly making the claim that all da popes have been so inspired by the Spirit that they must end up with St. Peter in heaven? Yes. Yah, then why has your church been so remiss that it has not canonized all of the popes as saints, eh? In fact, it seems that quite a few of 'em haven't merited that recognition. Indeed, only 2 in the last 750 years have become canonically recognized for their holiness. That Dante was a smart fellow and an honest poet, eh? Peter was the Bishop of Rome. Yah, Peter was also the bishop of Antioch and Alexandria, eh? That's why they're called Petrine Sees. And the notion of da Roman episcopate bein' universal came from da declaration of a Roman Emperor around 600AD. I suppose he was also given keys and a special commission by the Holy Spirit? You're a bright lad. Doesn't all that dogmatic assertion seem a bit far fetched to yeh? Perhaps the truth, if it is there, is more subtle and nuanced and Godly than some silly notion of earthly and human authority. I don't reckon that the Roman Catholic Church itself really believes things in quite the light that you claim, eh? Beavah

I guess as parents (maybe some are with me on this) I have a vision for my kids and I help guide them in areas that I feel they need help in. I think our troop is so young (mostly 11,12,13) that they are not receiving the guidance they need from our adult leaders. Yah, that says a world of things to me. One of the things boys need help with these days is learning how to learn and grow and negotiate obstacles without adult help and guidance. Eleven, twelve and thirteen aren't really that young in the grand scheme of things. Historically youth of that age would be out in an apprenticeship earning their keep . I'm only bein' partly facetious, eh? If you travel internationally, one of the things that's quite easy to notice is that kids that age by and large are more independent, less "bored" when not being actively entertained, and less crybabies than our American youth. Yah, and if yeh believe the numbers, better educated. Scoutin' is "old school" in that it doesn't buy into the notion that boys of that age need to be guided and helped all the time. Free play with a quiet purpose does wonders. There's no school like the old school! As for your 14-year-old, there are lots of opportunities for youth out there, eh? What's he interested in? Scoutin' isn't everything, but I really believe every youth should find something. Something that's their own, not their parents'. Somethin' they can really engage in and grow through and try out making decisions and choices. Scouting's great, but so are theater and band and the robot club. Yeh shouldn't select "his thing" any more than you should select his wife. Of course, yeh might find that he gets more into school extracurricular activities, where the professional staff will keep mom and dad much more at arms length than scouting. Beavah

1) How do the instructors know the scout has the Scoutmaster's approval to work on a badge? Yah, honestly, what percentage of SM's do yeh think really exercise that approval bit? My guess is 25% or less. By and large, it's not the reality most camps are dealin' with. And it's easily dealt with by the unit on their own when they get a report at the end of day 1 or 2 on what their kids have done so far. How does that work when continuing work with another councilor (or returning to camp the following year)? Much easier when returnin' to camp the following year, because it's in the system. No paper required (but kudos to you if you succeed in gettin' many of your kids to actually hold on to blue cards for that long! ). Works just as easily when workin' with another counselor back home. Just present the counselor with the camp's report form. If he/she has never seen one before, explain what it is and that that's how Camp WXYZ does "blue forms" these days. One official BSA form is as good as another. Beavah

Yah, awilson70. Cubs is fun, eh? Boy Scouts is different. I think there are probably two things goin' on here. One is that you're right, an old guard of scouters can be a stodgy, old-fashioned bunch. They've found somethin' that works well enough for them and that they like doin', so they keep doin' it. Yah, and sure, they might be part of that cadre of folks who carries a quiet prejudice against women in this particular corner of a man's world. I think yeh also need to entertain the notion that they're listenin' to yeh, but they have more experience in scouting at this level. In Boy Scouts the adults don't find more ways to make $$ or find new cool trips, that's somethin' that the boys do for themselves. We adults don't work with boys any more the way we did in cubs, we let older boys work with younger ones and step back a bit and advise. Good scout leaders in any troop would quite rightly reject some well-intentioned notions of moms on how to "improve" things, because our goal isn't to run better outings or more lucrative fundraisers. Our goal is to give boys some freedom to learn and grow and make their own choices. The proof is in the pudding, eh? "I keep bringing my kids back to this troop because of the fact they refuse to leave." Wow! I'm willin' to bet most of us would pay big bucks for our kids to say that about an educational opportunity. That's high praise, and a huge value to your sons. One area of their education and growth taken care of ! Turn your energy and great ideas to others. Sounds from afar like the program is doin' just fine. Relax, and let it work its magic. Your sons are growin' up, and they're goin' to keep gettin' more and more independent. That's a good thing, though they're not always as much fun as teenagers as they were when they were cubs! Beavah

When Jesus consecrated the Apostles with the Holy Orders he gave them the same power to pass it down. Through Apostolic Succession, Peter passed his special authority down to others, who continue, guided by the Holy Spirit to be the Head of the Church on Earth to this day. So you claim. I'm left wonderin' how Peter and all the rest passed their special authority down to others when they were already dead at the time their supposed successors were chosen. And I'm still wonderin' why Pope Benedict can't tell a crippled man to "get up and walk!" the way Peter did if his special authority was really passed down. Clearly Jesus meant there to be one Earthly head on the Church. Why would he want this to be only a temporary feature? It should exist for all time. Remember he gave Peter the keys so Hell can not prevail against us. Why would he want Hell to win after Peter's death? And here I thought you believed in the communion of saints, the resurrection of the body, and life everlastin'. Are yeh now saying that St. Peter is truly gone after his death? That prayin' to St. Peter for his help and intervention doesn't work? And are yeh truly making the claim that all da popes have been so inspired by the Spirit that they must end up with St. Peter in heaven, or are yeh agreeing with Dante that there are popes in hell? Which certainly wouldn't make 'em true successors to St. Peter, eh? Fact of course is there were initially five patriarchs ... in Rome, Constantinople, Alexandria, Antioch, and Jerusalem, three of which (Alexandria, Antioch, and Rome) were considered Sees of St. Peter. So I reckon honesty demands that we note from the earliest days of Christendom it was not at all clear that Jesus meant there to be only one human head, eh? More likely, we silly humans got that notion from the Empire, not from God. Beavah (This message has been edited by Beavah)

Yah, ScoutmasterBradley, seems like you have somethin' about your local camp stuck in your craw, eh? Generally speakin' camp staff follows the direction of the their employer, the council, in terms of dress code. And council scout executives are given some leeway in allowing variations in uniforming under some circumstances. Not somethin' to spend any time on as a unit scouter. Though I agree with yeh that green over olive looks pretty bad . Beavah

I think it is a good trait to admit when you do not know something. Yah, but only if yeh admit it before yeh start making definitive declarations, not after you've been asked to explain your declarations . I have no problem with the Lord grantin' Simon Peter the keys to the Kingdom, eh? He was quite a special fellow. What doesn't follow is that every other patriarch of Rome has da same gift. Peter also was able to order the lame to get up and walk in the Lord's name. Yeh seen that from anybody recently who has claimed to stand in da shoes of The Fisherman? I reckon many of the popes have been successors to Peter the way men like Commodus were successors to Marcus Aurelius, eh? Even Catholic authors like Dante Alighieri consign them to the inferno. Remember, the only people the Lord ever became angry with were the priests in the Rome of his day, eh? Beavah

The only hope for a dysfunctional committee and troop is if they get training. Yah, I'm all in favor of trainin', eh? I think it gives people the basic outline of the program. Maybe. If they're payin' attention, and if they already have some experience with the terms and how kids' programs are run. I'm even more in favor of self-study, eh? The BSA materials are pretty good. I buy every new book or pamphlet and read it cover to cover when it comes out (part of my job as a commish, eh? just sharin' materials here and there ). But I really do think we have to be a bit more circumspect about the reality and limits of training. The reality is that it's pretty spotty out there. As often as not, trainin' isn't presented all that well, and in some cases it really isn't written all that well. And the utility of training is fairly limited, eh? I've got to say that I've never, ever seen training fix a dysfunctional bunch of adults. Typically all they do is latch on to the sentence or two that supports their way of thinkin' and use it to holler at the other folks (like we haven't seen that at scouter.com, eh? ). I think what's probably true is that trainin' is only effective when yeh have relatively good adults who are gettin' along and who have very limited experience but want to do better. Beyond that, I think sharin' ideas with other scouters in other programs helps good people try to figure out what might help in their circumstance lots better than training does. Perhaps one of da things which is really missing in the BSA materials is "what to do when it ain't working." Our stuff is pretty polyanna sometimes. Nuthin' on misbehaving kids, nuthin' on misbehaving adults, no FAQ on all those hard practical questions that come up here a lot. Trainin' has a point and a purpose, but I reckon it's more like a starting point than a be-all and end-all. What say the group? Beavah

Well your view would matter . . . but you're not the successor to St. Peter as the head of the Church on Earth or guided by the Holy Ghost. Nah, you're right. I'm just a Christian of conscience who believes I can read the words of the Lord without havin' 'em interpreted for me by a special class of human. He was pretty clear, eh? Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. ... For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you." - Luke 6:37-38 Of course He went on after that with some additional words which seem apropos. B (This message has been edited by Beavah)

Yah, ScoutmasterBradley, yeh should know that blue cards have never been required official documentation from National's perspective, eh? They're just an optional form provided to help troops and councils if they want to use 'em. Lots of camps in lots of places have dispensed with blue cards in favor of multi-part forms and more recently digital stuff, eh? As far as I know the camps that use other kinds of recordkeepin' do quite well with it. Even get a lot of complements from units because it tends to be more reliable. Hard to tell overall, but I expect blue card use is slowly fadin'. Would be faster except that some folks think they're "official." Beavah

Yah, I'm with Eagledad. If the adults don't have a sense that the program for the boys is a priority over their personal or family play-time, then you're stuck. No program can develop the best kind of citizens without recognizing a duty to a higher cause. A savvy leader under da circumstances you describe would work to let the boys hike and camp on their own, while the adults had some fun out on their own without the boys. The advisor with his wife and son could have fun on their own without the boys. Just plan their own hike startin' from the same put in and let the boys go on their own. Beavah

What exactly are the "charges" against your son? And are they true? Assumin' they're not that big a deal since the troop didn't feel it necessary to do anything, I think if your lad is already near Eagle, yeh just encourage him! No point in gettin' involved in adult ego contests, and he's plenty old and mature enough to fight his own battles. Just be good parents, do your volunteer jobs and let your son have his space, eh? As others have mentioned, if there's some issue after the EBOR, there are appeal mechanisms. And then further scoutin' opportunities in Venturing . But I wouldn't assume problems before they happen, eh?