RememberSchiff

Found this on Orange County history website: The biggest single Scouting event ever to hit Orange County (CA) was the Third National Jamboree, held here in July 1953. Some 50,000 Scouts and Scouters from across the United States descended on the Irvine Ranch for seven days of fellowship and fun. ... The fee for the Jamboree was just $48 per boy, and yet they still turned a profit, and refunded each camper $13.50. The Irvine Company donated the site and some of the preparations, which helped keep the costs down, and lots of equipment was borrowed from the military... The Scouts ate a lot–like 1.6 million tons of food and drink, including 500,000 eggs, 150,000 donuts, 170,000 loaves of bread, 63,000 pies, 750,000 bottles of soft drinks, and 625,000 quarts of milk, plus tons and tons of ground beef, chicken, hot dogs, steak, and vegetables. All this and more created 1.5 tons of trash daily....Workers dug 4,500 latrines for the Jamboree, and after the event, eucalyptus trees were planted in many of the holes. So, if you see a mature eucalyptus tree in the Newport Center/Eastbluff/Big Canyon area, you now know what likely kickstarted its growth... The Jamboree finally came to an end on July 23. One last show was held in the big amphitheatre, with 90,000 people in attendance. “Auld Lang Syne” was the last song sung, and then the exodus began. Good summary of planning and activities along with photos and map at sources: https://www.ochistoryland.com/jamboree P.S. Found another source: https://www.newportbeachlivingmagazine.com/articles/blog-post-newport-beach-boy-scouts-jamboree-1953

As we saw through the pandemic, it was/is through the volunteers who carry the fire that scouting continues. Quoting A. J. Kierstead opinion from recent Concord (NH) Monitor "In moments like this I am unbelievably grateful for the decentralized nature of the scouting program. Councils, districts, and units hold the most responsibility for what the scout does when they show up to an event or meeting. Tips are given to help leaders navigate the extensive curriculum, but there are many online resources we rely on that expand upon that base... In my experience, councils, districts, and units are not a reflection of the nonsense we see at the national level. Scouting America will continue to be the corporate arm of one of the best citizenship and community building programs in the world. I will stay involved to make sure sanity is not lost in my little corner of the program, while hopefully raising the awareness of those who have not fully considered the implications of what this programming means." Well said.

Today there was a more detailed interview with photos by KSL. Shad Stevens is an Eagle Scouts: “I grew up in it. I was a very young Eagle Scout. It was my life as a young man. I got my Eagle Scout when I was 13 years old and then I served in Order of the Arrow and with other organizations, served on junior leadership training camps and a lot as a young man,” Stevens said. “Then after I got married and came back, I immediately became a scoutmaster and served in scouting for 20 years as a scout leader in one capacity or another.” “Last year and my wife and I went up and toured it and just immediately fell in love with what’s there and knew that this was our future,” Stevens said. Source link below. Note the maintenance and building restrictions on historical property mentioned. I suspect that was a factor in BSA not renewing lease. https://ksltv.com/648984/after-almost-100-years-camp-steiner-to-get-new-life-as-high-adventure-base-camp/

Offloading liability? As mentioned, the Hawaiian wrongful death was at a scout camp range. I have shot at more than a dozen "commercial ranges" in NH, ME, MA, PA, VA, NV. Their facilities, staff, clientele, firearms, and safety rules vary considerably. I do not know of any uniform safety or business certification for commercial ranges; it is the Wild West regarding calibers, actions, rent/bring. That said, "commercial ranges" usually have a Range Safety officer at the firing line. At local club ranges. often members are their own range safety officer. At those local clubs, Scout shooting activity would reserved the whole range and have their own trained RO's; insurance through the NRA. Commercial ranges make their money from instruction, equipment, sales but mostly from rentals firing their ammo. Odd we could take Cubs camping at only council-approved camps, but we apparently take Scouts to any "commercial range". What the ... IMHO, Councils should partner with local sportmens clubs. Regarding indoor ranges, I have shot at the same range where the Boston Marathon bomber practiced, along-side Philly gang-bangers in PA, and nutjobs firing full-auto in Vegas. Air filtration (lead) at indoor ranges was a concern except at one place. Scary, never been back to any of those places. I can only recommend one indoor range for Scouts but I am not sure they allow youth or reserve range time for outside groups. Commercial outdoor ranges are less common hereabouts - competition (local clubs and free state ranges), worry of a round getting away, noise, range vandalism, real estate costs. My $0.01 for rambling

Shad Stevens’ longtime dream has been to secure a property where youth can disconnect from society and reconnect with their lives. “The dream is that we have a mountain that is able to bring youth groups from all different types," he said. "Our mission is to play with purpose, or have adventure with purpose. So our dream is that we use the mountain to help inspire young people.” “That's my purpose. It's what I was built for. It's why I'm here," he said. "I see the unique issues our youth face in our society. And I see so much of the solution of what they're dealing with is to spend time away from it. And nowhere better to spend time than a camp like this.” Last year, he learned the Boy Scouts of America would not renew its U.S. Forest Service special use permit at Camp Steiner. The 93-year-old camp has deep roots in the Uinta Mountains and at 10,400 feet, was the second-highest Scout camp in the world according to BSA. He said it was considered the “Flagship Camp” of the Great Salt Lake Council and was always the first camp to fill up. The newly christened Sunrock High Adventure Base rests on the shores of Scout Lake. The property boasts staggering views of Bald Mountain, Reid’s Peak and Hayden Peak, with more than 30 lakes within a 10-mile radius... More at Source including audio and photos: https://www.kpcw.org/summit-county/2024-05-14/historic-boy-scout-camp-to-reopen-as-a-high-adventure-youth-camp-in-the-uintas

Lilliann ‘Lilly’ Markowitz has earned the Gold Award in Girl Scouts, Eagle Scout in Boy Scouts and Chief Petty Officer in Sea Cadets (US Navy program not Sea Scouts). She is believed to be the only "Chief Golden Eagle". More at source, impressive: https://themadisonrecord.com/2024/05/15/lilliann-markowitz-achieves-top-rank-in-girl-scouts-boy-scouts-and-sea-cadets/ Scout Salute, Well Done.

Another decision not mentioned in National Report, FleishmanHillard ($$$) which has previously worked with the BSA, was chosen as PR Agency of Record (AOR) in November 2023 with a focus on the rebrand. BSA Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) Michael Ramsey said his team is amplifying the organization’s message to reach youth and families across the country via national press releases and a social strategy that “leans hard into” Instagram and LinkedIn. “We have a lot of our leaders on LinkedIn,” said Ramsey. “But video is the backbone of a lot of the things we are doing. We are also looking at media outlets that target youth and families.” ... The team particularly wants to reach moms and make them aware of all the fun and adventure involved in scouting, such as camping, hiking, boating and earning badges, said Ramsey. Next February 8, a marketing campaign called Spring into Scouting will let older youth — children ages 11 to 18 — know about the opportunity to join scouting programs, Ramsey said More at Source: https://www.prweek.com/article/1872349/inside-boy-scouts-america-rebrand My advice, if you are a going to talk to CEO, CFO MOM, be prepared to reveal the True Cost of Scouting and parental time commitment. My $0.02,

May 11, 2024, Mississippi Valley Council : ADAMS COUNTY, Ill. - An ammunition shed at Saukenauk Scout Reservation’s shotgun range caught fire Thursday, destroying $8,000 of ammo. Mississippi Valley Council Scout Executive Ricci Dula said the shed, constructed as a Wood Badge project, was gutted leaving debris on the range. Only leaders and the reservation’s ranger were onsite at the time. “We’re still determining the cause of the fire,” Dula said. “Nobody was harmed or at any risk of being harmed. The Mendon Fire Department did an exemplary job; the fire could have been considerably worse. It was about 25 feet away from a propane tank and another structure.” (One report said the cause was burning trash. ) The fire also wiped out Camp Saukenauk’s supply of guns, some of which were used during the Sporting Clays for Scouts event on Wednesday... More at sources including video and photos: https://www.whig.com/news/fire-destroys-scout-reservation-s-ammo-shed/article_66b960ba-0f1f-11ef-a825-0f9c306f606e.html https://www.wgem.com/2024/05/11/camp-saukenauk-ammunition-building-destroyed-fire/

Agreed. I do not know the settlement of the wrongful death suit (August, 2023) against Aloha Council/BSA. Some random concerns I do not understand why "commercial ranges" are assumed safer than member-only sportsmen clubs (prohibited?) or more cooperative with an outside group program. This will likely end Council relationships with local, non-commercial sportsmen club which not only teach firearm safety and marksmanship but often host Klondike Derbies and scout fundraising events (turkey shoots, clay-breaking). The Marksman Experience at Bechtel will have to drop high-powered rifle after Sept 1. Long distance shooting, e.g. 1000 yards ends. .30-06 (center-fire) shooting at Philmont will end. Will Philmont Sportsman Adventure end? Unit shooting teams? Some members buy and use their own rifles for competitions. Back in the day, here he goes again, I bought and used my own rifle to earn Marksmanship Merit Badge. I still shoot my old Mossberg 340. I found no new rules regarding the secure (vault) storage of firearms and ammunition at camps or off-site. IMHO, hunter education and firearm instruction will be a safe and fun family activity outside of Scouting. My $0.02,

https://www.nrainstructors.org/search.aspx Note the Search at bottom For NRA FIRST Steps Pistol, BSA Only or Youth Only, All Available, I found no courses in 6 New England states. Course availability needs to be examined further. There are fewer NRA/BSA instructors and some courses have a limited demand.

2022 National Shooting Sports Manual (298 pages) www.scouting.org/outdoor-programs/Shooting-Sports IMHO, there should be separate manuals for Archery and Firearms. Regarding program name change "Range and Target Activities", will that include horseshoes, cornhole, beanbag toss, pumpkin chunking?

5/7/2024: 2023 Annual Report released. The Key 3 (President/CEO Roger Krone, National Chair Brad Tilden, National Commissioner Scott Sorrels) state We hope you will join us in this important work. Our nation, our communities and our future leaders need the values, grit, and leadership skills that Scouting instills. Your support is critical as our youth continue Scouting America. Includes membership numbers, no financial report. https://www.scouting.org/about/annual-report/year2023/ P.S. Short on content, but might this also be submitted late as the Report to the Nation?

Of course, a name change on 9/1/24. Effective September 1, 2024, Scouting’s Shooting Sports programs within all programs including Cub Scouting, Scouts BSA, Venturing and Sea Scouting will be referred to as Range and Target Activities. No non-commercial club ranges - nationally authorized camp property’s range(s) or at a commercial firearm range only. Venture sporting programs have taken a hit.. excerpt [9/1/2024 Shooting Sports Program Updates Effective September 1, 2024, Scouting’s Shooting Sports programs within all programs including Cub Scouting, Scouts BSA, Venturing and Sea Scouting will be referred to as Range and Target Activities. Note: As a reminder, the updated Cub Scout program effective June 1, 2024 includes elective adventures versus awards for Cub Scouts. These elective adventures can still only be offered at an accredited camp program (day camp, short-term camp, long-term camp) or a council organized one day event. For information on delivering these new elective adventures, please visit the shooting sports website. In addition, effective September 1, 2024, the following changes will affect the range and target activities within Scouts BSA, Venturing and Sea Scouting. All other current Scouting range and target activities policies as indicated in the National Shooting Sports Manual remain unchanged and must be followed. These changes will be reflected in the National Shooting Sports Manual on September 1, 2024 and will be updated periodically. Additional information regarding these changes can be found on the Shooting Sports FAQ website. Firearm programs may only take place on a nationally authorized camp property’s range(s) or at a commercial firearm range. This does not apply to district or council programs that utilize BB devices*, but applies to pellet rifles, airsoft (any type), rifles, pistols, shotguns, and muzzle loading rifles and shotguns. The use of personal firearms and personal ammunition is prohibited in all Scouting programs at nationally authorized camp properties. Personal firearms and personal ammunition may be used at a commercial firearm range, subject to restrictions regarding caliber, gauge, and action as described in the National Shooting Sports Manual and herein. At a minimum, all Scouts BSA troops, Venturing crews, and Sea Scout ships who provide unit-level sponsored/planned range and target activities must have at least one registered unit leader 21+ years of age take the Range Activity SAFEty online training. This trained adult leader must be present at the range. The training is recommended for all unit leaders in Scouts BSA, Venturing and Sea Scouting. Note this training does not replace the requirements for certified NRA firearms instructors and range safety officers. This training will be available beginning 9/1/2024. More at source: https://www.scouting.org/health-and-safety/gss/gss08/#a

From Newsweek "An online petition is calling for the Boy Scouts of America to reverse its planned name change...The name change, which is expected to go into effect on February 8, 2025—coinciding with the organization's 115th anniversary—sparked fierce backlash on social media." Sources: https://www.newsweek.com/boy-scouts-america-name-change-backlash-petition-1899301 https://www.change.org/p/save-boy-scouts

So far this appears to be the only direct, unfiltered presentation to us from NAM 2024. Thank you and Scout Salute to Scouter Selby (note Assistant Scoutmaster patch)

Definitions vary, but generally a sapling is defined as within a diameter (less than 4-5 inches) at a certain height (4.5ft) aka the diameter breast height (dbh) and not by the height of tree. Saplings can be quite tall (over 10ft) depending on species, sun exposure, and soil condition. Height of Tallest Saplings in 10 year old Appalachia Hardwood Clearcuts https://www.fs.usda.gov/ne/newtown_square/publications/research_papers/pdfs/scanned/OCR/ne_rp381.pdf

Canada wildfire destruction...and now an online tree planting fundraiser from Scouts Canada and Canada's Forest Trust Corporation (CFT) - $10 per tree with choice of tree and region but there's more... "Through a digital forest intelligence dashboard, Scouts and supporters will access custom impact data, such as the forest's location, age, species, estimated carbon storage, and a climate learning centre." https://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/launching-the-canadian-climate-challenge-join-scouts-canada-and-canada-s-forest-trust-corporation-in-planting-millions-of-trees-857451690.html https://scoutrees.ca/

sapling

Another random thought, it does explain why Jim Kirk was never a Boy Scout. https://y.yarn.co/193eb197-66ad-4b5c-843a-0519c7779c8b.mp4

"Sexual activity is prohibited in Scouting." https://www.scouting.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Understanding-and-Preventing-Youth-on-Youth-Abuse-Training-for-Camp-Directors-facilitators-Guide-2024.pdf https://www.scouting.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Understanding-and-Preventing-Youth-on-Youth-Abuse-Training-for-Camp-Staff-and-NYLT-Facilitators-Guide-2024.pdf

Here are some scouting organizations in the US that unlike the BSA serve all youth, even atheists. Navigators USA - "The Navigators USA alternative scouting program was created to include everyone, and to help each person develop their fullest potential without discrimination. We aim to establish a world without prejudice or ignorance, and to treat every person with respect, no matter their race, creed, lifestyle, or ability. Navigators USA Is A Welcoming & Secular Scouting Program" https://www.navigatorsusa.org Outdoor Service Guides (OSG) - Formerly Baden-Powell Service Organization. they changed their name too in 2021. "OSG believes that all people and all families should have an equal place in the scouting movement. We welcome scouts and their families as they come to us, and we will do our best to make scouting and its activities accessible to every child or adult who wishes to join. We welcome everyone, regardless of race, gender, sexual orientation, religion (or no religion), or other differentiating factors. We believe that scouting is for everybody. We welcome those who have scouted a long time and those who have never tried scouting before joining us." https://outdoorserviceguides.org/ Spiral Scouts https://www.spiralscouts.org/about_us Another $0.01,

I have found "duty to God" more of a stumbling block for potential members and their families than the name "Boy". “It (the rebranding) sends this really strong message to everyone in America that they can come to this program, they can bring their authentic self, they can be who they are and they will be welcomed here,” Krone said. Will atheists also be welcomed? Will the DRP be removed from the youth membership application (524-406)? Will the BSA Scout Oath (duty to God) and Law (A Scout is Reverent) be changed? What was learned from girls BSA membership pilot program from 5 years ago that will be applied to this pilot program? A lot of questions. Another $0.01,

A broader welcoming? a distraction? ... maybe a lifeboat for upcoming Supreme Court and bankruptcy decisions. Old brand sunsets, new brand rises. Remember the old 5 year plans with metrics (largely not met). Now we have 5 month plans developed from "surveys" with no metrics. How much will this cost? What youth membership numbers will we see by Feb, 2025. So is local option void? Patrol method? Does the Federal Charter for the BSA end? What restructuring will be done to improve efficiency and reduce costs? Could we start with completely new Bylaws? Will we see a return of past BIG corporate sponsors who left due to our past membership policies? My $0.01,

My sources boogied to get a close viewing spot for tonight's Starliner launch.

May 2, 2024: "ST. LOUIS – U.S. District Judge Rodney W. Sippel on Thursday sentenced a former Boy Scout volunteer to 22 years in prison for hiding cameras in bathrooms at a St. Francois County, Missouri scout camp. Judge Sippel also ordered David Lee Nelson to pay $55,000 in special assessments that will go to a fund for victims and prevention programs and $6,810 to pay for counseling for the victims in this case. After he gets out of prison, Nelson will be on supervised release for life, with special conditions that include a prohibition against any contact with minors without permission. Nelson hid two cameras in bathrooms at the S Bar F Scout Ranch in St. Francois County in July of 2021 while working there as a volunteer. Nelson hid the cameras in paper towel dispensers, positioning them so they would capture a shower stall and other portions of the bathroom. One camera was discovered when a scout leader and scouts were cleaning out one of the restroom stalls. A search uncovered another camera, and leaders then called the St. Francois County Sheriff’s Department. When questioned later by a sheriff’s deputy after being spotted near the bathrooms, Nelson lied and said he was looking for a cell phone charger that he’d left in the stall. During Thursday’s hearing, victims and their parents said Nelson was supposed to be protecting the scouts and was supposed to be someone children could trust. Nelson’s crimes, they said, have now left them unable to trust others. The victims also said they now experience fear and discomfort every time they try to use a public bathroom. " ... More at source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-edmo/pr/former-boy-scout-volunteer-sentenced-22-years-prison-hiding-cameras-camp-bathrooms