Sentinel947

The part you didn't copy explains, "The 20 days and 20 nights must be at a designated Scouting activity or event. You may use a week of long-term camp toward this requirement. If the camp provides a tent that has already been pitched, you need not pitch your own tent." Sentinel947

We're all human, we all make mistakes, either because of ignorance, or ego. I know I've "adjusted" requirements for a Scout when I was first starting out as MBC 4 years ago. I was wrong. I didn't know better. That being said, that doesn't invalidate what I'm about to say. Krampus and others are in the right as a matter of BSA policy. The reason is simple, the BSA wants Scouts to get exposure to a variety of camping experiences, not just resident summer camp. ​​Generally requirements have a purpose, changing requirements distorts the purpose of a requirement. While we are trying to help Scouts, we shouldn't change requirements. (Special needs Scouts are the exception, and we get help from our Council to handle that.) ​Skeptic has good intentions, but is changing the requirements. I'm not a fan of this. While Skeptic does not, other folks out there change requirements to feed ego and bully kids. The other extreme is well meaning parents who want to eliminate every difficulty for their kid to advance. I think there are plenty of opportunities to be flexible with our Scouts and how we play the game of scouting. I'm a big advocate for not treating every kid the same. But requirements are supposed to be the consistent to how they are written. Obviously, the quality of what is accepted SHOULD vary based on the Scout. Ex. I'd expect more in a Communications MB speech from a 16 year old than I would for a 12 year old. ​A scout that is very shy, V's a social butterfly. The challenge with merit badges is adhering to how things are written, in the case of nights camping for camping merit badge, versus requirements that are more vaguely written, like the 5 minute speech for Communications. Just my thoughts, take ​them for what you will, Sentinel947 ​

I think CambridgeSkip gives us an indication of the future... It won't be bad. I believe there should be seperate organizations for Boys and Girls. They generally go to schools where they are together, and have plenty of other co-ed activities. Having a Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts gives each a place to develop and be themselves without the pressure to impress the opposite gender. That being said, I think the BSA's going in the directions of being co-ed, and that it'll be fine. ​​​

My fat thumb down voted you. Meant to up vote

Nothing stops them from doing similar activities as Girl Scouts except a lack of institutional support. I'm ok with girls in the BSA as long as units have the choice. I'll always think there's benefit to boys and girls only units. Also, if we start taking girls, we should drop the word Boy from our name.....

That's a mess.... Officially, Scouts elect their PLs. They elect an SPL. SPL appoints all other necessary positions under the guidance of the Scoutmaster... Getting out of theory land.... Patrols elect PLs. Then my scouts sign up for the positions they want. The Scouts vote. Takes maybe 45 minutes if any of the Scouts want to give Speeches.

That was a weird month. I was alot more productive I think....

NRA already used his gun quote in some online memes. On his facebook page MR clarified that while he supports the Second Amendment, he is not an NRA member.

Volunteer to help. Make friends with the adults involved. Take Training. Seek to educate. At the end of the day, those of us (like myself) who are not the SM or the CC have to assist the SM and the CC in delivering the program. Sometimes that requires us to make a gut check as to whether we can really support the kind of program they want to run.

Whatever you do is fine. You've met one now, I removed my Life Patch after my EBOR, and before I had my Eagle ceremony I aged out and became an Adult Volunteer. Therefore, when I had my Eagle COH, I did not have a rank patch on and had a blank pocket.

(Disclaimer!!! I don't speak for all boys, or my region, or 22 year old ASMs. The following are my observations and should not be seen as some national groundswell of anything...) The BSA uses the term "youth" led because we have female venturers.. not because the BSA is planning some overnight stealth change to co-ed Boy Scouting. Society changes. Baden Powell created a male only youth organization, while his Wife started the Girl Guides because the assumption at the time was that Boys wouldn't be caught dead doing things girls were doing. I have no statistically evidence for this, but that dynamic is not as strong anymore, partially due to society putting less emphasis on traditional gender roles. When I talk with my Scouts, (not that my little slice of suburban Ohio represents anything) I don't ever hear a groundswell of "You know what would make our Troop better? Having girls." I think this forum MASSIVELY blows this issue out of proportion. My experience in Scouting and Camp Staff puts me in the middle of the two sides here. (Not that it speaks to some broader all encompassing experience.) I'm comfortable with the status quo BSA being all male Scouts with female venturers. However, I'm aware that for many girls, they want that same outdoor adventure we promise to boys. Often the Girl Scouts or the American Heritage girls can't provide that adventure for them. While I will say that the dynamics of the camp staff were different with girls on staff than they would be with just guys, I don't think that different dynamic was a bad one. I became a believer that the "sky is falling" folks don't have much to stand on. I do take exception that if the BSA becomes Co-Ed, especially a mandatory co-ed, then the girls still have organizations to be girl only, but Boys wouldn't have that same option. So I'm willing to get behind a Troop Level Co-Ed. The BSA still has to evaluate whether by fixing an issue for girls(they can't get what they want from the GSUSA or the AHG) they we don't throw out a program that has worked quite well for millions of Boys. The BSA should make this change because we can teach both boys and girls to be excellent adults and leaders for tomorrow, not because the BSA needs bigger numbers or because the GSUSA or the AHG can't get their outdoor skills together. As a personal rant: We all need to avoid the fallacy of assuming our local conditions are the be all end all. In a county as big and diverse as the US, this is a flawed assumption. Anybody's claims to be speaking for all of America should seriously evaluate if they have the data to back up such a big assertion. This applies to the "gay issue", the "girl issue", the "god issue" the "WoodBadge is awesome/sucks" issue, the "NYLT is great/useless issue", the "Knots show experience/banana republic generalship issue." I'm stepping off the soap box now. Thanks for reading folks, Sentinel947

Yea. I've learned over the years to not take program knowledge basics for granted.

Patrol Method: A group of friends. They elect a leader. Leader represents them to the PLC. A big aspect of the patrol method is that the Scouts make decisions and lead themselves. The Scoutmaster is a mentor, not a drill sergeant or a sports team coach. He doesn't lead.

Camp I worked at in my Council is definitely not a patrol method camp. My Troop does our best to inject the patrol method into things while at that camp, but structurally the camp doesn't work the patrol method as well as it could.

Our Councils NYLT is very good. Patrol method, No dining hall crap. Scouts cook all their meals by patrols. compete as patrols. I was actually disappointed that Wood Badge didn't have more Patrol cooking. My biggest complaint with BSA training: Courses vary WILDLY based on who's conducting them.

Then Wood Badge isn't very useful then is it?

Those electronic communication rules also create some hilariously stupid scenarios if your aged out Scouts hang around as Adult volunteers in the program.

Thanks for giving me a little more culture in my life.

I am too. I've had largely positive interactions with the professional folks in my Council and District. A few exceptions here and there, but by and large they've treated us well. I think I speak for alot of members here when I say that I'm frustrated with National. Whether they are shooting themselves in the foot with PR debacles, putting out confusing training syllabuses, or pushing fringe programs and neglecting their bread and butter, those of us on the front lines of the movement look at these decisions and wonder if those resources could be better spent supporting us in more visible and concrete ways. What does my $24 a year pay for anyways? Heck, I'm not even paying to spend time with my son, since I don't have any kids, I'm paying to volunteer with other people's kids! Sentinel947

I found the current Wood Badge somewhat useful. Now granted, I've been to NYLT. I've spent many years in Scouting and have done my best to learn about the program. Wood Badge didn't have a lot of new concepts to teach me. In my mind CC Specifics and SM Specifics are your Unit leader training. Wood Badge is only useful if your Scouts go to NYLT and the unit is committed to doing things the right way. Otherwise, both courses as they are a waste of time. Wood Badge should teach us the skills our Scouts learn at NYLT so that we can coach them in their leadership.

I'd say my Scouts get these experiences. I know yours do JoeBob. To be honest I don't worry about National. A CellarDweller once said that all Scouting was local. I 100% agree with him.

I'd wear a campaign hat, but I'm too thrifty (read, cheap) to purchase one.

I'd be careful with that assumption. People who have a bad experience with something are always louder than people who are happy and satisfied. That doesn't mean people who had a bad experience aren't justified in that feeling. "I thought about having my kid be a boy scout, but my friends kid didn't really like Cub Scouts, so I'm glad we didn't waste countless hours of torture." Right or naw?

Welcome! Feel free to jump right in!

Finally being post 8. Unless the word go is required.