ScoutNut

Belt loops are NOT restricted items. There is no need for them to be included on the advancement form. It sounds like you have a Council, not National, owned shop. The next time you are in the Shop ask to speak to the Shop Manager about their procedures. You might also consider getting a Pack Management system. They are a BIG help in many different ways.

What does the current Academic and Sports Guide say? There is usually information and resource tips on the back of each requirement page.

On the "secret files", from the BSA response on the link I posted - "The BSA keeps a record of individuals who are not eligible for BSA membership, as would any other responsible membership organization. These individuals have had their BSA memberships revoked for any number of reasons or have been evaluated on a prior occasion and have been determined to be ineligible for membership. While these files are confidential, they are not secret and are just one of the ways we help ensure a safe and healthy experience for our Scouts." This explanation sounds reasonable to me. This is a "nuisance" lawsuit that is trying for spectacular press clips to help it out.

YAHOO!! It appears to be working again! Sort of anyway. The posts from the 19th are back, but none of the ones from the 20th. Of course, the only things you could read of those when they DID show up was their title!

BSA's response - http://www.scouting.org/News/Oregon.aspx

Yes, the policy is to use the new requirements. However nowhere does BSA REQUIRE that a new Handbook be purchased.

bearshank wrote - "Our SM recently had to start working most weekends and could not, at moments notice (he's military) go on a camp out." This implies that give enough advance notice the SM COULD get a weekend off. Also, if the SM will now be unable to attend most/all of the Troop campouts, I suggest the CC and COR find some folks, and get them registered and trained, who CAN attend.

What we will usually do is to make a copy of the new requirements for everyone. They then simply put it in their Handbook. Some staple/tape the sheet in, others do not.

As long as you have one registered adult, and one adult over 21, and all of the training requirements listed on the Tour Permit are met for the activities that will be done, the requirements, per BSA, have been met. My question would be, did the PLC request this campout to help the Scouts under 1st Class, or was this all the idea of the CC? If the PLC did not request this campout, why didn't they? What kind of annual program planning does your Troop do? At this point in the year, most Troops have added new Scouts. Why was there no campout scheduled on the Troop calendar (so that the SM could plan to have time off for it)? I have no real problem with Committee Members taking the Scouts camping, as long as they know the program. I do, however, have a problem with the fact that this seems to be so last minute, and there also seems to be no Scout input into this whole thing. From your previous posts I can not tell if you are a Committee Member or the SM (you appear to be both). It also appears that there are many issues with this Troop. The SM might want to have a discussion with the Troop's Charter Partner on BSA policy, what their vision for the Troop is, and the best way to accomplish it.

If he was injured - no. If he was not injured - yes. He could be telling the truth, or he could be trying to shock. Call his parents and have them come over after the meeting for a talk. They need to know what he said, and they need to know immediately.

Look in your BALOO training packet. There are a number of activity ideas in the handouts. What kind of facilities are available at the campground? In the area around the campground? Make use of those facilities available to you.

I have not ran any of the rivers up by St Ignace. I have mostly done WI, and IL. I did a Google search for "canoe rental St Ignace" and came up with a good number. If you put in the river name you should find someone for that specific river. Call around and ask questions of a number of places. Another idea is to call the campground you will be using and ask them. They will be the most familiar with the outfits in the area. Have fun!

Uniforms - NOT UP TO YOU - Weather they wear blue or tan, and when/if they move into tan, is (per BSA) an INDIVIDUAL FAMILY decision. Advancement - A 2 or 3 HOUR meeting each month to work on Activity Badges, and Webelos rank requirements?!? Why not just kick the boys out now! BSA recommends working on ONE(1) Activity Badge per month. What exactly are you pushing your boys for? Holding 3 - 1 hour den meetings per month (den meetings do NOT have to be at regular meeting place/time, can also include outings), there should be no problem having most/all of your boys earn their Webelos rank badge by February of their 4th grade year. Den Chiefs - You seem to be under the illusion that Den Chiefs appear at the snap of your fingers. The BOY SCOUTS have to AGREE to take on the responsibility of being a Den Chief. The Scoutmaster can NOT FORCE THEM! It is THEIR CHOICE. This is not a popular POR. As a matter of fact it is one of the hardest, and LEAST popular. These boys must take an all day training, attend an extra meeting per week, work with den leaders who treat them like tall Cub Scouts who are there to be their own personal gofers, and lots, lots, more. These are SCOUTS, learning leadership, not widgets interchangeable every 6 months. As you have been told before - TAKE WEBELOS LEADER SPECIFIC TRAINING - BEFORE - you start making all of these plans. There is still at least 2.5 months of the BEAR year left. Work with the boys in the BEAR program NOW. Get trained and figure out Webelos then.

The Religious Emblem Medals are not the sturdiest things under the sun. They tend to fall apart rather easily if they get banged, and bounced, around. If your Scout wishes to wear the Religious Medals he has earned, since the medal is from the religious organization, the most appropriate time would be at a Scout Sunday celebration.

BSA does not forbid Merit Badges being earned in a group. However, because it is not the optimal way, they do not encourage it either. This is what the BSA National Executive Board, in the Advancement Committee Policies and Procedures book, has to say - "To the fullest extent possible, the merit badge counseling relationship is a counselorScout arrangement in which the boy is not only judged on his performance of the requirements, but receives maximum benefit from the knowledge, skill, character, and personal interest of his counselor. Group instruction and orientation are encouraged where special facilities and expert personnel make this most practical, or when Scouts are dependent on only a few counselors for assistance. However, this group experience should be followed by attention to each individual candidates projects and his ability to fulfill all requirements." As others have said, Merit Badge classes should definitely NOT be the focus of every Troop meeting. You stated that in Troop B, Scouts can opt out of the MB classes. If they do, what are they doing during the Troop meeting while everyone else is in MB class? Do they simply not attend the meeting? Are they engaged in other Scouting activities (learning required scout skills such as knots)? Are they sitting around or playing games?

BSA has no "rule" about when to go to the Webelos Den Emblem. It is up to the individual den. However, as the others have said, doing it at the start of their Webelos trail gives them something to get excited about. It helps to bring it home to them that they are in a brand new program, and not just the same old stuff they had for the last few years. Per the BSA Insignia Guide, den leaders may wear wear den numbers. The Webelos Den Emblem replaces their den numbers, so the Webelos den leader may wear it also.

Councils regularly advertise their Wood Badge Courses to all registered leaders. There is no need for any type of "invitation". The more the merrier. And, the more registering for the course, the better the chance that the course will not get canceled because of low enrollment.

You need to keep in mind that while Webelos are transitioning to Boy Scouts, they are not there yet. Webelos are still Cub Scouts and all of the Cub policies apply to them.

As stated earlier, BALOO is NOT REQUIRED by NATIONAL in order to do Webelos DEN (Cub Scouts do not have patrols) camping. Also, NATIONAL strongly suggests, Webelos Outdoor Training, but does NOT REQUIRE it in order to do Webelos den camping. So, per NATIONAL requirements, you really are not REQUIRED to have any type of outdoor training to take your Webelos den camping. Notice I keep stressing NATIONAL. In many cases councils have added requirements. There are some that DO require either BALOO, and/or Webelos Outdoor training. Check with your local council. The Cub Scout Leader Book, and the G2SS, both state that Webelos camping should still be parent/son camping. However, exceptions can be made, but EACH Webelos must be under the supervision of a "parent approved adult". From the BSA Cub Scout Leader Book on who attends a Webelos Den Overnight Campout - "If a parent or guardian cannot attend, the boys family should make arrangements for one of the other parents or another adult relative or friend to be a substitute at the campout. It is essential that each Webelos Scout is under the supervision of an adult and that every adult has a share of the responsibility for the campout."

I have also heard, that because of everything, National is considering extending the period in which they can be earned.

Wouldn't it be easier to rent the canoes from an outfit that deals with the river you will be canoeing? That way you don't need trailers. They put you in and take you out.

We do have armories too, although I am not sure if they can help with an overnight stay. I would recommend contacting each one separately to ask. The 404th Chemical Brigade on Calumet Ave in Chicago, is directly south of the Shedd Aquarium, the Field Museum, the Adler Planetarium, and Soldier Field. http://www.il.ngb.army.mil/Army/UnitWeb/404chem/default.htm The 1244th Transportation Company, is further West in North Riverside. However there is easy access to the expressway, and it is only about 20 minutes to the Museum Campus on the lakefront. http://www.il.ngb.army.mil/Army/UnitWeb/1244TC/default.htm (This message has been edited by Scoutnut)

I take it you are a Scout group? Camp Sullivan, a Cook County Forest Preserve youth organization campground, might work for you. The cost is reasonable. They are heated cabins, and have their own kitchen facilities. Not bad at all. The only thing is that they have metal bunk beds with no mattresses. Some folks recommend using cardboard under a closed cell pad under your sleeping bag. Personally, I prefer to set up my gear on the floor, or use my own camp cot. The bunks make great shelves! http://www.fpdcc.com/tier3.php?content_id=57

Friday night - Snack of crackers, sausage, cheese, & fruit w/juice/water/cocoa Saturday breakfast - Includes fruit, milk, and coffee/tea - 1) DO eggs with hash browns, peppers, onions, cheese, and sausage, plus fruit, milk, coffee/tea 2) Scrambled eggs boiled in a bag. Add your own innerds. 3) Pancakes w/sausages 4) Breakfast Burritos - Plain eggs scrambled, have separate addons (salsa, peppers, cheese, sausage), flour tortillas Saturday Lunch - Includes fruit & bug juice - 1) Tacos in a bag - Individual taco chip bags, seasoned ground beef, refried beans (for Veggies in the group), shredded lettuce, cheese, salsa. 2) Hot dogs, chips, salad 3) Sandwiches & chips 4) Mixed Up Soup - Everyone brings 1 or 2 cans of any kind of NON cream soup. Saturday Dinner - Includes salad, fruit, bug juice, coffee/tea - 1) Stew w/rolls or rye bread 2) Spaghetti w/meat sauce, or with plain sauce, or with meatballs on the side 3) Boneless chicken breasts BBQ, or seasoned, with stuffing 4) Hot dogs/Sausages/Burgers 5) Chili w/corn bread 6) Foil dinner Saturday Dessert - 1) Cookies 2) Baked apples 3) DO Dump cake 4) Baked banana boats 5) S'mores Sunday Breakfast - Includes fruit, milk, and coffee/tea - 1) Cold cereal 2) Bagels and cream cheese As others have said, a lot depends on what kind of cooking facilities you have. Are your fire areas large, or small? How many camp stoves? How many dutch ovens? Indoor stove? Portable grills? What you eat, when, is also determined by your schedule, how much time you have, where you will be, etc. We do big breakfasts on Saturday because we are waiting for people to arrive, and don't start our activities real early. We do quickie, no cook breakfasts on Sunday because folks are getting their gear together. If we are out and about at lunch, we will often have sandwiches at a picnic area near where we are at. If we are back at camp, and are going to be staying for a while, we will have a more involved lunch. To spread the cost either charge everyone sufficient to cover, and then assign different families (usually den leaders) to bring different things. Or don't charge for food but have every family bring some assigned food stuffs. Hit the off brand cheap-o stores (Aldi is great), or the warehouse ones (Sam's), and buy sale stuff. Avoid name brands, and big name grocery stores. The boys don't need, and won't appreciate, all beef kosher deli dogs. Have 99% of the prep work, and pre-cooking, done at home. It is a lot easier to pull out a zip lock bag of browned, seasoned ground beef, and just dump it in a big pot to heat. Same goes for anything to be cut up or grated. Just a note on fruit, bananas get banged up EASY, and then no one will eat them. Apples and oranges work well.

Many Troops have only one working patrol. Granted they are usually smaller than 20 Scouts, but still, only 1 patrol. Since there is only one patrol in your son's Troop, all Troop outings are also patrol outings. Please don't take out your frustration with the SM on the boys. Rather than trying to sink the ship to demonstrate a point, why not work WITH the boys to help them have as good of an experience as they can. Or find a different Troop that both you and your son can be happy working with.