Sentinel947

I hope you aren't putting words in my mouth. I've made no such comments about liberals, or conservatives for that matter.

Welcome back!

I think on things like fires in tents or alcohol, we use our rules and they use theirs. Pretty simple eh? Rick hits it on the head.

I'm less concerned with gay marriage as a religious rights issue, and more concerned with Houston subpoenaing pastors that the city disagrees with.

I can't take credit for it. Koolaidman sent it to me. Give him the credit! =P

Sorry, we love to bombard people with information. One of the things I love about Scouting is the resources available. I love being able to sit, read, challenge what I think I know, get new perspective. As for the second paragraph I quoted, can you explain that? I read your other posts and don't quite get what you meant by that. In regards to your original post. Scouting is Boy led, Adult guided/coached/advised/trained.(pick your buzzword) Being boy led his a continuum, not a light switch. Where your unit falls on the continuum depends on where the Scouts are at in their experience and training. A mature patrol/troop gets latitude and freedoms that would be irresponsible to give to a brand new, inexperienced group of Scouts. Another good resource here: http://www.troop414bsa.org/Documents...ided_Troop.pdf I found it useful in my own battles to bring my troop back to a more boy led patrol method approach. So far, so good. Yours in Scouting, Sentinel947

Another update. This Wednesday the SPL and ASPL are going to sit down with the PLC and discuss the changes they would like to make. They seem really excited and I hope the patrol leaders will be similarly enthusiastic about this.

It's important to note that alot of Scout leaders do not take woodbadge, so scoutings current programmatic weaknesses cannot be laid on woodbadge.

I grew up with the Oscar De la Renta uniform. I never felt like it made me look less like a boy. Now with the centennial uniform, I don't feel like less of a man. I love the old school army like uniforms, but I'm perfectly happy with the uniform as it is now. It's not what a man wears that makes him a man. Its what is inside that counts.

Working the Patrol Method by Four Eagle Scouts. Picked it up after it was recommended to me. Loved it and it's helped me with my units transition to the patrol method.

I liked the ODLR uniform, but outgrew it as I got older and the centennial uniform was all that was avaliable. Arrowman, do you use computers or smartphones? Those are powered by rare earth minerals that were probably mined by child slave labor in Africa. At some point in our days something we use, consume or purchase was probably made on the backs of some pretty bad human rights abuses somewhere in the world.

Dinner. Chicken foil meals. Rice, vegetables, chicken, and some sort of soup, cream of mushroom works well add water, then wrap in foil. Place in coals, self cooks on the coals. Tastes fine and the cubs can easily assist in assembling the meals.

As an Eagle myself, I constantly tell anybody who will stand and listen that the value of Eagle is what the Scout puts into earning Eagle. The requirements are there to get the Scout to stay in the program, and the program run properly is what helps a scout form proper values and ethics.The requirements alone do not build character. I would ABSOLUTELY bring this up to the Scoutmaster. The Scoutmaster cannot take the merit badge away, but he needs to sit down and have an attitude adjustment chat with the cheater-Scout. That Scout is missing the whole point of Scouting, and the Scoutmaster should reach out to this Scout who is so blatantly mocking the values of Scouting. As for your son, he's going to have crisis's of faith in his religion, his family, his country. Imperfect organizations and imperfect people tend to do that. Help your son realize what the value of Scouting is to him, and he should worry about that. Eagle is the natural extension of a good scouting experience. As a merit badge counselor for one of the more widely cheated on Merit Badges (Personal Fitness 12 week requirement anybody?) it can be difficult to evaluate and catch cheating. Especially with teenage boys struggling to follow directions anyways..... This is why I no longer volunteer at Merit Badge Challenges/Universities. It's too easy for Scouts to slip through the cracks, and I don't like the classroom style anyways. Take my opinion for what it's worth. Good luck to your son and his Scouting journey and welcome to Scouter.com

Yea I think that's one place where being so young is an advantage instead of a liability. I've been in their shoes only a few years ago. And if the patrol method is going well, it should be a bunch of little storms. =)

Sat down and chatted with the SPL and ASPL tonight. Tried my hardest to ask questions, get them to start thinking about things. They agreed to talk to the PLC next month about the Patrol Method and the changes they want to make. I'm going to keep talking to them the next few weeks and guide them through the process. Even though they've been to NYLT, that doesn't teach them How to transition a troop to the patrol method, so they are a little reliant on me to guide them. I've become the point adult to help them. I know the SPL's and the PLC can come up with answers to some of the issues that need addressing. Things are sailing smoothly right now, and the first storm will be a challenge. I know they can handle it. Sentinel947

I apologize for assuming that was directed at me. I don't have issues with gay leaders at my current CO, which is a more open Lutheran church that would probably accept them anyways. If I was a leader for a more conservative CO, like a Catholic or Baptist CO, then I'd be sabotaging the church's youth ministry by hiding gay leaders that the CO wouldn't want. It's a tough situation.

My comments where very specifically about the Catholic Church. Please don't put words in my mouth that I didn't say.

Beginning to, but don't expect some radical overthrow of the status quo. At the most, there will be a shift in tone, but not in doctrine. Some of the language may change (and should) "Intrinsically Disordered" has always made me cringe a bit. The church is always going to hold that marriage is one man and one woman. It might not condemn gay marriage or premarital sex as strongly as it has in the past, but it won't condone those things either. I think even some of the more conservative Catholics are open to having a more friendly open tone, but are afraid of being misinterpreted by certain corners of the media. As for the government, a combination of the voters and the Courts will make gay marriage legal in all 50 states. KDD: Didn't a genetic father get held for financial support in Kansas? http://www.foxnews.com/health/2014/0...hild-support/? Sentinel947

Your troops bylaws, regardless of when they were written, are wrong. Your job as the Scoutmaster is to handle the program, and that includes the SPL. If a committee member thinks they can do things better, I'd invite them to swap positions.

Great opportunity there to use the Patrol Method! Your Troops Patrols should be deciding what activities they want to do in the broader context of a Troop "Camping" Trip.

Just talked to the Committee. There was some healthy skepticism but with the Scoutmaster and CC on board, it was already a done deal. Now the difficult and truly messy part begins. Getting off the forums, off the blogs, out of the books, and into the real world to put this sucker in action! Can you tell I'm just a wee bit excited? Sentinel947

I was on track for an ROTC scholarship without a STEM major. Then I got sick. I think BPs fear is that STEM will replace the outdoors. When integrated properly into what Scouts do STEM can be a powerful way to reach more kids

http://blog.scoutingmagazine.org/2014/10/21/oscar-de-la-renta-designer-boy-scout-uniform-worn-millions-dies-82/ Not sure if It was most appropriate under uniforms or Scouting history. Settled for the forum that is read more.

I did!!!!

SWScouter, good catch.