ScoutNut

As far as I can tell this is not a BSA National award. It is a council/district specific award. Contact your local council for the specifics on this, and other local awards. As for adult awards, you can find many here - http://www.scouting.org/scoutsource/CubScouts/%7E/link.aspx?_id=F199DDD4F2164BDBAC9BED67EECA7918&_z=z http://www.scouting.org/scoutsource/Awards_Central.aspx (This message has been edited by Scoutnut)

Keep in mind that, for the most part, merit badges should be an individual activity. Troop merit badge classes should be few and far between. Also, Merit Badge Counselors should all be registered with, and approved by, your Council/District Advancement Committee.

First of all, there is no such thing as the "Scout rank". The Scout patch is simply a patch that denotes that you have met the Boy Scout joining requirements - not a rank. It does not matter what this Scout did, or did not do as a Cub Scout. He is not in Cub Scouts any longer. Cub Scout requirements are completed as Cub Scouts. Boy Scout requirements are completed as Boy Scouts. The Boy Scout joining requirements differ a bit from the requirements for a Cub Scout to earn AOL. One of the MAJOR tenets of BSA is that no one is allowed to add to, or subtract from, any BSA requirements. Boy Scout Joining Requirement #7 - "Understand and agree to live by the Scout Oath or Promise, Law, motto, and slogan, and the Outdoor Code." No more. No less. The Tenderfoot Rank Requirement #7 is - "Repeat from memory and explain in your own words the Scout Oath, Law, motto, and slogan." You might suggest to your Scoutmaster (SM) that in his SM conference he talk to this Scout about requirements for T-2-1.

>>"Turns 11 September of Web 2 year."

The cut off for Cub Scouts is the end of 5th grade or 11.5 years old - which ever is LATER. Your Scout is currently a 3rd grade Webelos Cub Scout. Next year he will be a 4th grade Webelos, with the rest of his his den in 5th grade, in a different school. Since he is in his Cub level by age, not grade, I will assume he started with these boys as a Tiger, in his first go-round of 1st grade, and simply stayed with his den. That means he has known, and worked with, these boys for 4 years. If he stays where he is, next year when he is a 4th grade Webelos, while he might not see his den mates every day in school, he will still see/work with them in den meetings and at Pack meetings. He will also be crossing to Boy Scouts with his den. If he decides to hold back, and stay with his 3rd grade schoolroom buddies, that would mean his Webelos program would be 2.5 years long. That is a long time for a program that is supposed to be 18 months. He might get bored re-doing activities/badges he has already completed. Yes, he can do other activities, but what will he be doing during den meetings? While the rest of the den is doing stuff he did a year ago, will he be working independently, on his own stuff, in a corner of the room? What happens when the den then starts to do the stuff he has now done on his own? He is still the "odd man out", and not fully participating as a member of the den. One option would be to make him permanent Denner, and have him assist the boys with things he has already done. I would also suggest mixing in optional activities that would be new to all of the boys, including this Scout. This, to me, seems like it would be a lot of extra work for the den leadership team, and hold a big risk of burnout for the Scout. However, the bottomline decision is up to this Scout and his family. What would the benefits be to him of staying a Webelos for an extra year? How bored will he get with the Webelos program? Is he mature enough to handle crossing to Boy Scouts with his current den? Is he looking forward to becoming a Boy Scout? Or is he planning on quitting after Cub Scouts and simply wants one more year with his school mates?

>>"I was just looking at them to get an idea and I printed out several different ones that I could show the boys to help them when THEY make up THIER schedule with the help and guidance of THIER troop guide.">"QUESTION: If one or more boys, or even all change their minds, could YOU still follow the plan but just slow it down. Instead of it being a 12 month ( or so ) plan, could YOU stretch it out longer ..say 2 or even 3 years and just advance one rank at a time?"

>>"So, if they change their mind, could you still use the FYFC line up, just slow down the rate at which it is achieved or should you dump it completely and just concentrate on one rank at a time as they are outlined in the checkoff section in the hand book."

>>"Wife and I took our new dog (who is now almost 14) backpacking in Arkansas, thinking that she'd be content to sleep in the vestibule of our small sierra designs tent. She wasn't and ended up in the tent with big feet and long legs pushing all night."

Tiger Leaders - Personally I think having an experienced leader take on the Tiger den is a GREAT idea! You have someone experienced in leading, Cub Scouts, and the Pack, so you don't get newbies running in the opposite direction afraid they will be asked to be leader, or a brand new leader with no clue what they are doing. Ask ONE of the Webelos leaders to change and take on the Tiger den, and the other Webelos den leader to pick a new assistant Webelos leader from the den families.

>>"Here's the problem: his cards have been signed by the MB counselors, who were themselves basically fill-ins rather than registered for the MB's."

Wow, worst experience? After many years, and many tents, I have floated, froze, woke up to a tent on my face from snow/rain/hail/tornado, dealt with wandering critters, and more. Never stopped me camping, and they did provide many nights of campfire stories. Perhaps my two worst experiences were camping in an area to close to a road, and to close to train crossings. Kept up most of both nights by big truck traffic, and looooong train whistles.

>>"We are a small town with 1 school and the Towns on both Sides have their own packs. As well as my church has their own pack already."

I am a big fan of ScoutManage.

Just a note - It no longer seems to be required to attach a completed YP training certificate with a new adult application. At least National seems to have rolled back their requirement. Your council might do things differently.

Any contact with the parents to inform them of emergencies, or substantial changes, during a trip should be thru the at-home contact person for the trip. If the parents have questions about a trip they should contact the at-home contact person. Having every parent (or even just one) calling the trip leader for updates constantly is just unproductive. As is expecting the trip leader to call every parent every time there is any change to the trip. The leader would spend more time on the phone than actually "leading" the youth on the trip.

5year - While belt loops are required for some Webelos Activity Badges, the only Badge that is required for a Webelos to earn, that requires the earning of a belt loop, is Citizen. All others are optional Badges, or optional requirements. Ann - "No one needs TWO BL's for any activity, if you ask me. RE-EARN, ~yes~. Re-receive? No. IMHO." While I agree with you, that is a call that is entirely up to the Pack. Some Pack's will purchase and award any and all belt loops that a Cub earns, even duplicates. Others draw the line at duplicates. Others will only pay for a specific number of loops per year (does not matter if it is a duplicate from a prior year). Still others make the parents pay for all optional awards, including belt loops.

I would always question anything that sounds fishy. Reference material is only as good as the source of the material. If that source is a single person who is creating the material then it is highly questionable. Heck, I can copy some logos, and letterhead off the 'net, and put together a "notice" from the IRS that taxes have been rolled back 50% across the board. Does not make it true. 'Fish, I would encourage your CC friend to contact the other council's Council Training Chair and register a complaint. I would also touch base with your DE and make sure the other council is notified about the bad info being taught at their training. You don't know if it is just one trainer gone wild, or someone at the council offices, but what you DO know is that YOUR leaders are attending these trainings, and being taught bogus info that could potentially harm their programs. The problem with the availability of Outdoor Leader Skills for Webelos Leaders is the same as with BALOO when it was introduced. BALOO was not required, then it was not followed up on, no actual enforcement. So volunteers were not signing up for a day long training. We had to cancel 3 trainings due to lack of participants. Once BSA made it required, and put it on the Tour Permit, then we started getting folks at training. Webelos Outdoor is the same. We have had some success at getting the few Webelos leaders who are interested trained by combining it, in part, with IOLS. It gives us the total number of participants needed to make the training financially viable, and helps consolidate the number of trainers needed.

The Webelos program specifically states that any belt loops uses to fulfill Webelos requirements MUST be earned (or re-earned) AS A WEBELOS Cub Scout. That said, the Citizenship belt loop is the only one REQUIRED for any Webelos Activity Pin. All other belt loops are only 1 of multiple options. As for reporting requirements as being done as a Webelos when they were really done earlier, that does not sit well with me. Not presenting a good role model of honesty to your Scout and setting a bad precedent for later. What happens if he decides that camping he did in 2nd grade should be used for his Camping Merit Badge in 7th grade? Why is it OK for this but not for that? Some councils seem to have decided they will get more "bang for their buck" if they include "rising" 4th graders in their Spring Webelos camping programs.

Cub Scout programs are created to be age/grade appropriate. There is no way your Scout can register as a Bear Cub Scout unless he meets the age/grade requirements of 9 years old and/or 3rd grade. I suggest you talk to your Committee Chair (CC) and plan a recruiting push. You stated that you only recruit out of one school, and the 1st grade has not responded well. Recruiting for the Wolf level is very different. There is no longer a requirement that a parent attend everything with their child. This alone causes some who by-pass Tigers to join as a Wolf. Invite all eligible boys and their families to a recruiting event or two. Have the lone Tiger invite his buddies. We generally invite new families to our last Pack meeting of the year. The families get to see a fancy graduation ceremony, and get to know the Pack a bit. We also hand out fliers at registration day in early August, and invite all interested families to our Pack picnic the weekend before school starts. Make sure that families understand that while family involvement is still a big part of Cub Scouting, parents are not required to attend den meetings for Wolf-Webelos Scouts. Push the positives of the program. Sell the heck out of it. Think bigger than just the school. Advertise your recruiting events in the community section of your local paper. Put fliers up in local churches, and libraries. Some stores have public bulletin boards where they allow community groups to post things.

Well, I suppose, if you wanted to shell out $200, take apart the piece, and pry off the one Eagle badge you are after, more power to you. Somehow, I doubt there will be many Eagles who go that route.

There are no BSA flag "regulations". There is only the US Flag Code. What exactly do you mean by "draped"?

>>"a higher-up volunteer leadership position.">"We have decided to wait until he returns and then address this with the appropriate scouting management/leaders."

Yep, there are some merit badges that require a MBC to be older than 18. However, there are many that do not. None allow a MBC younger than 18. Which is why I noted - Merit Badge Counselors must be AT LEAST 18 years old. Hopefully (fingers crossed!), the local Advancement Committee that approves the MBC application is checking the Counselor requirements for the specific merit badges listed on the application.

>>"The first night was spent at the male leader's home with just him as chaperone of the boys and girls.">"The first night there was only the one male chaperone and they all stayed in the same room with him.">"When my husband called the leader to ask questions, he immediately handed the phone to my son.">"talk to the Crew's committee chairman or the charter org. rep."

Merit Badge Counselors must be at least 18 years old. Merit Badge Counselors do not have to pay BSA registration fees. They do however, have to fill in an Adult Application (so the council can process the background check), and take Youth Protection training. From the BSA National web site - "To serve as a merit badge counselor, an individual must complete and return this adult registration form. The Adult Application is valid for one year only and must be renewed annually. To register as a merit badge counselor, mark the box labeled "Council/district position" in the upper right-hand block with "merit badge counselor." Fill in the "Position Code" with code "42," and fill in the "Position (Description)" with "merit badge counselor."" The Adult Application should be attached to the Merit Badge Counselor Information/Application, and turned into your local council. I would not worry about the whole "dual registration" thing. Camp Staff Venturing Crews are usually created for the sole purpose of allowing 18-20 year olds to volunteer as camp staff, and are usually only temporary things.