Scouter.

Now that I did not know about NJ visitors, but I can see as a paying participant how that would be fair. Thanks for posting that.

https://depts.washington.edu/critgame/wordpress/2011/01/boy-scouts-introduces-video-game-merit-badge/

BJS, I can appreciate the venting. That must have been very frustrating. On a personal note....I found a 2 year expired can of Squid in its own juice. I remember thinking..."The homeless are really going to eat this???" WOW. Anyways...I was accused recently of looking at things as the "glass is half full" and wanted to share something with you. (Please...no judgement intended...just sharing is all). Person 1 - That glass is half empty (Pessimist). Person 2 - That glass is half full. (Optimist) Person 3 - There's a glass of water (Realist) Person 4 - Thank's for the glass of water! (Opportunist) I have a house full of opportunist's always snitching dad's water (aka Lemonade) Happy Trails.... S. P.S. Thank you for your service as a UC.... you do make a difference!!!!

Rhol, My heart goes out to you with all the frustration you have been and are dealing with. Thank you for sharing with us. Note...these are more off the beaten path. Having made the decision not to go, I thought I might offer up a few alternatives....that you and your son might enjoy and still cost less. 1) Philmont Training Center - Great Courses for you, a great youth program for your son, a medical facility on property, if needed. Really a blast. I've been as a participant, a guest, and as a Philmont Base Staff member. A truly unbelievable opportunity. Cost? Totally affordable!!!!! 2) International Camps and Jamborees (Not the WJ) - Very affordable. You can find a list at Scout.org Other countries love to have BSA scouts come to their events. Many are heavily English speaking countries, but good if you speak a 2nd language like Spanish. (I will say Aruba was cool!) 3) Go to the Jamboree as a Visitor. You get to pretty much pick your own itinerary and do what you want. I'm sure the are some limitations and cost (no idea how much that costs). But you have the control of when to come or go. If you do that...book a room now :-) I am sure there are more. Those are just a few that come to mind that I have enjoyed. Happy trails.... S.

I happened to stumble across this little nugget: "In December of 1982, a gift was received by the National Council of the Boy Scouts of America which was destined to change the very nature of some of the exciting programs offered by the Florida Sea Base. The gift was an untouched, uninhabited island over 100 acres in size, surrounded by the crystal clear water off Big Pine Key in the lower Keys." I had no ideas that the BSA owned a 100 acre island in the. Florida keys. Cool, huh?

I live here. June > August are hot, humid, filled with gnats, Mosquitos, and horseflies. Regardless of that, Camp Lenoche is filled for the entire summer program The Encampment that is being slammed actually requires significant preparatory work before the event. The syllabus has the youth in no less than 40+ classroom hours working on their required merit badges. That is a lot of work. These Scouts are paying about $200 - $250 each for this intensive scholastic merit badge academy. The Scouts will be doing 3 full 3 1/2 hours of training a day...morning, afternoon, and evening. This course is no gimmee. It's a shame that it may be perceived as such, but the Council, Council Advancement Committee, and many scouters have invested much time, money, and effort in pursuit of providing the youth of our Council an excellent opportunity to work on some merit badges that are sometimes more challenging. Times are changing...and so is, the BSA. They are listening to what their members want. Is this a good thing? Listening to its members??? I imagine that would be viewed as a good thing. Peace.... S.

In regards to the patches that have to be sewn on the uniform, it would be nice to have some patches that are not so thick or undercoated with plastic that you have to use a carpet needle to get them on the uniform. My 12 year old son cannot get a needle threw them at all. I do not know how to use a sewing machine and prefer to maintain my own uniform. I honestly don't remember the patches being ths hard to sew on as a youth. My mom said - you earned it, you sew it on. (Many years later, I pretty much do all the sewing in the house). Just my 2 Peace ... S.

No joke. I'm not sure what else they would have sold me either. I've got a friend that is the International Rep for our council...I'll give it to him. I can't wear it. But someone was right...you can buy it from your local scout shop.

...so I did. Thanks for pointing that out ever so kindly :-) And I appreciate the example you posted as well. Kindest regards, S.(This message has been edited by Scouter.)

Spoke with several unit scouters at camp out this weekend. They are both taking WB. One said in addition to the NC, Woggle, and beads, they are getting stuf for shoulder (not patrol patch), right, and left pockets. I did not want to burst their bubble, but other than: > NC > Woggle > Beads Is there any other uniform stuff from WB? (I don't count the Patrol Patch). Granted...I am not looking for more uniform insignia. Just kind of interested. Thanks

Welcome to the forum! It sounds like you have a busy troop, not to mention a family of enthusiastic scouts. Have a super day!

My sincere apologies at expressing my opinion. It was simply that. For that I apologize.(This message has been edited by Scouter.)

Not eastern seaboard? It's 300 miles it. I think it's stupid to have the NJ in the same place every year. National must agree or they would not hip hop the National Executive Meeting all over the country. For kids within your 60% or so range...they might be able to go, but kids on the west coast...not so affordable for them though. I know it's not going to change...I just think it sucks.

Ok...I have thought that Boy Scouts across the Us have been at a disadvantage since the BSA planted the National Jamboree at Fort A.P. Hill and never moved it. Now that the next and all future NJs will be at the summit (which is @ 300 front the Atlantic Ocean), I'm personally not a fan. Could the East coast use a high adventure base? Sure can. Do I understand the logistics and infrastructure needed to support a Jamboree. Sure can. Do I like the fact the a huge amount of scouts have to pay out a lot of money and travel quite a ways to get there (not to mention lots of other thoughts...) ? Nope I don't. Is it going to change? No. Not likely ever. Just ranting is all. I think it sucks to have a NJ site permanently located almost slack dab on the eastern seaboard.

Is there a BSA requirement that a merit badge cannot be done with other scouts (or maybe stated as in a ...herd)? Ummm...no. Is the a BSA ruling that a Council cannot do a multi-day merit badge training for youth with merit badges needed for Eagle Scout? Ummm...no. Is there a BSA issue with youth attending a Scouting Event in mid summer that is presented in a WB style? Ummm....no. Their activity is a Council endorsed activity by the Board Executive Council. Guess who is on their Council Executive Board...Tico Perez...BSA National Scout Commissioner. I'm thinking if it's ok by them...then the Boys are not doing anything wrong. Thanks and have a great day! Oh and... Take your negative attitudes somewhere else.

Correct me if I am wrong, but isn't a "Buff" ...a fancy "Doo Rag"? I can see the functionality, but am not ready to have a whole Troop of kids wearing it in 15 different ways. Does BSA sell them? If not, I'd have to make sure that we got similar "Buffs" so we didn't end up looking like some Rainbow themed Troop. Would I wear it...I kinda think so...but not with my uniform or unless the troop had a uniform selection of which color / style. Very interesting though. Thanks for posting. I think I'll have to go look for one.

EBay...Scout Knife Although BSA does not sell sheath knives now...they sure as heck have in the past. There are a boat load of the out their (Official BSA Sheath Knives) that are up for sale. Safe...that depends on a Scouts training (not to mention local rules and laws) but it does not appear that BSA has ruled against them (explicitly).

Just because someone "expresses" an opinion...doesn't mean you have to quote it back at them. It is simply an opinion. No need to be a jerk about it. I was, and am, expressing how it is a positive thing to try and get our Internet, computer game generation scouts tied into doing so e needed advancement towards getting their Eagle Scout. Want to Google something...try ..."Judgemental" Try that hat on for size :-)

Is WB a US only program or are their different "variations" based on the different countries? If you take WB at Gilwell...is that equivalent to a Bectel WB? Is the material for a Spanish language WB significantly different than an English language WB? (Regardless of US or not). I thought that WB was an International program. It originated at Gilwell in 1919 and has spread across the world.

This is an actual encampment...Scouts Honor. No idea how others feel there or here There is a link to it down at a Florida Concil (www.cfcbsa.org) - Central Florida Council I found it by accident and thought what a great way to accelerate some Eagle Scout advancement! Cool, huh?

In the business world, I have heard that a rejection rate of 90% is great with a success rate of 10%. However to a scout being told no 9 out of 10 times is very disheartening. After 60 tries and making 6 sales...it is hard to cheer up a boy that does not want to keep hearing..."Sorry...that is just a bit to much". We want our scouts to feel good about their fundraiser and believe they are delivering a product or service that is worthwhile. Popcorn just has not been it for us. It may work for others, but not everyone and it is obvious that not all councils subscribe to it either.

I forgot some of the best parts! > All areas are air conditioned > Youth will be staying in dormitory style bunk houses > All meals are cafeteria style with "teenage portions" There is hardly any reason at all to go outside for 6 days - doesn't that totally rock? Wow our prospective Eagle Scouts never had it better! We should have a huge Eagle crop this year! Way to go!!!

I've had mixed feelings on Popcorn sales for a while. I've done them...but trying to sell a $9 or $15 of popcorn is often a stretch. We quit. Now we do other things and are doing just fine. The boys enjoy the fund raisers and it does not stress them out. I guess I've never seen the "link" between Popcorn and Scouting.

What an innovative idea to try and get Scouts to Eagle Scout without having to impose undue outdoor activities! Very creative...

Having seen this post and knowing I was going to our local Scout Shop (Nationally run) ...I looked at ScoutStuff.org to see what items were restricted. With that info...I headed over to the Scout Shop to get what I needed...+ to see if they would sell a restricted item to me. Yes with no problem at all. I picked up a "International Representative" patch. They did ask me if I was one (no) and said I could not wear (I said I don't plan on it.) That said.... For $3.19 I purchased that patch. eBay is selling them for anywhere from about $30 - $90 So...did I do anything dishonest by requesting to buy it, admitting that is not my Council Position, and stating that I do not plan to wear it....? If I were to decide to sell that on eBay and BSA National sold it to be... ...where is the issue? Over the years I have acquired a variety of not easily acquired (and restricted items (via eBay and trading). If I decide to thin out my collection (or accumulation) am I breaking some law? It appears this is a touch subject, but if I can buy it, why can't I sell it? Confused as to what the big deal is.