skeptic

Those that refuse to face the future, will simply recede into the past. STEM has parts that can take the scouts outdoors. Science is still based on nature and its myriad natural functions, many of which can only be truly experienced in the field. Instead of constantly crying how "outing" is being taken out of scouting, try announcing how STEM is being taken along with "outing", and moving forward. There is really no reason for all the "chicken little" blather, except that some REFUSE to see that half full glass, but focus instead on it being half empty. Go out and find minerals and field test them for identity. Go out on flower hikes and use modern technology to help determine their variation and so on. Go on an animal hike and snap photos of them in their natural habitats and take pics of footprints and so on. Go on a landform hike and identify them in their natural state. Then take the raw data back to the STEM labs and improve the overall knowledge. Or, get the lab rats to build you a retro time machine and go back and live in the past where everything was so much simpler.

Calico pretty much covered it. There is a Little Scouts hard back with jacket from 1944 made up of the original magazine work. It shows up fairly often on eBay. The actual comic books also show up, but not nearly as often. Great fun though.

At least you did not sing "the bear song" then.

This is exactly what was bound to happen when the files were thrown open to everybody. This legal group is nothing more than a predator itself, preying on "possible" victims dredged out of the documents. Throw a wide enough net, and you will catch something. It does not matter to them that the organization did a far better job than most back then. The BSA is simply seen as a deep pocket target.

You also had at least two other Boy Scout groups at that time, including one that was very militarily slanted.

Part of being a leader and counselor is to be aware of special issues and needs. Obviously, if the scout or parent is not forthcoming, problems can arise. A frank discussion with the boy's leader and parents on how to deal with the challenges is the proper route. But, there are unfortuneately people that simply think legal bullying is the only good response, and that everyone should simply know their child is "special". The worst part of these cases is that the child generally never learns to properly cope and then becomes a severely challenged adult in time. But, volunteers are not required to be phycologists or counselors for severe emotional and physical disorders. And, it is unfair to expect otherwise, especially if the family does not make it known directly. Hopefully the COR and council will back the leaders should it go too far.

How long until our favorite "no BSA in schools" chimes in??

Does anyone know where we would go to fix discrepancies in training reports. If you look at my training report from the link on MyScouting it shows almost everything, other than Philmont courses. The early leader courses, which were taken ions back show on this report, but with a 1911 date; that seems to be the dates for earlier training in positions. But, on the Dashboard training lists, I am noted as still needing a bunch of training, even though it is shown in the noted report. How do we fix this?

But, there is no law against the holder supporting your particular group.

Actually, no watch can be guaranteed waterproof, and the terminology is no longer legally used in the U.S. and most other countries. It is pressure tested only, and is resistent to that depth as long as all the seals are in good condition and no cracks in the crystal. Years ago, about 1973, I was a trainee for Zales in Riverside, the county with the Salton Sea in it. We had a customer return a watch because he said it leaked while he was fishing on the Salton Sea. But the watch only had the mimimum pressure test of 3 atm, and the Salton Sea is well below sea level. So, it leaked. We did refund it, but explained he needed a better tested watch should he plan on going there again. While in the industry, had number of times where people could not understand why their watch leaked when they pulled a stem under water, or pushed buttons that were not meant to be used under water. Also had instances of condensation when people left them on dashes or hot seats. Interesting to me, but probably too much useless info.

Gee, wonder if I can get one directly from California DMV; or is that another area of the PC pols here?

So, are the scouts going to be billed for the cost of the investigations? While there is always room for doubt, it certainly does not weigh well on the side of the scout group based on the info we have been given. The real issue of course is the actual "accuser(s) not being allowed to be interviewed. Goes to show how easily things can get grown way out of proportion as to what may have actually occurred. Simply seems a poor reflection on this particular group, at least to me.

http://www.aol.com/article/2014/08/15/texas-gov-rick-perry-indicted-for-coercion-for-veto-threat/20947859/?icid=maing-grid7%7Cmain5%7Cdl1%7Csec1_lnk2%26pLid%3D516226

:rolleyes: sigh :rolleyes:

Stosh. They specifically note that the hats were found at a very good price through a friendly supplier, and they have to be First Class to wear them. Secondly, the flag you seem to be referring to is the original Navy Jack, and a historical flag. This photo has a number of flags, some of which may very well be other historical flags. Using historical flags is not defamation of the standard. Would it be better if they all were in perfect uniform, including pants? Maybe, but certainly better neat and clean than full uniforms that look like they were slept in and with neckerchiefs improperly rolled and crooked. Uniforming is a method; it is NOT, nor ever has been, required.

Help, police:mad: http://blog.scoutingmagazine.org/2014/08/08/troop-501/

Love the emblem; should make it into a full sized t-shirt design too. Learned long ago to be careful what you say, especially to an adolescent. Was at a camp one summer, and I kept seeing the infamous Tote-n-Chit patch on the OA designated pocket. When I saw it on an older scout one day, who was wearing a Star patch and an arrow dangle, I asked him (I guess sarcastically looking back, though thought it was tongue in cheek) where the lodge was located. He of course gave me the blank look, so when I explained the error, he informed me that is where his leader told him to put it and so it was staying there. After suggesting he review the insignia guide, I wished him well and forgot about it. That evening, a very red faced leader from the boy's unit found me at dinner and lambasted me about it. So, I have tried to not be even jokingly a UP except in my own unit. But, as noted, some things you may occasionally look past. In 1985, I put my 1960 Jambo patch next to the 1985 patch when I was a leader. Only had one comment, other than that is cool the entire time at jambo. Also have my two mentor pins on my left pocket flap; it is an honor. Not sure if I had more if I would keep them there though.

Anybody else note that as soon as this sad event became pretty much a non Scout "blame game" the media dropped it? Does not surprise me, but certainly shows again their bias. At least that is how I see it.

If you look at the larger version by clicking original it appears they added some form of platform in front for the first row to sit on. The boy on the left of the photo seems to have a second class pin on his hat, though it could be first class with the top faded into the photo. The one on the far right does look as if he is in the early style uniform. But, this being an obviously posed photo, the group probably tried to look as good as they could, and most probably had little if any uniform parts. Early photos in my collection gleaned from 15 years searching the web seem to mostly have boys with a neckerchief, a hat, a shirt, then maybe pants with lace sides; and pretty much in that order. The leg wear in the photo is fairly common in those from that era, whether a scout group or simply boys. I find it fun that they all have ties on except the two in obvious uniform who neither have neckerchiefs. Those of us that have the historical interest beyond the superficial likely could spend a lot of time discussing old photos if we were together. We would try to identify units if not obvious like this one, and look for sleeve insignia. It is too bad so many of the photos are faded and small; but they continue to be fascinating to me.

None; the uniform is only a tool and NOT required. Never has been. Of course KDD is just making fun:rolleyes:

Back to the misconception issue. Early camps predominately had camp cooks and some kind of mass feeding. But until the post WWII period, they also seldom had troop attendance per se, but rather individuals going, then grouped in some manner for activities. Some units did go with a group, but it was not necessary. Patrol and/or unit cooking came into general use after the war, but many camps still had group eating, or both. Now, in much of the country west of the Rockies there are fire restrictions with which to deal, so camps have had to add group dining in case they lost the in site cooking ability. That then has led to some simply going to the dining hall, as fewer and fewer wanted to deal with patrol cooking, or it was cancelled too often with fire issues. It also has limited locations to build any fires at all. We were not even allowed gas stoves in camp, though lanterns were okay. Another issue now to be dealt with is the health department. Food storage and sanitation issues related to site cooking also can be a stumbling block today. The last couple of camps we attended with patrol cooking available, or sometimes part of at least one or two meals, the distribution of food and such was another challenge. If your unit cooks in its normal program consistently, missing the summer camp week is not really that much of problem. But, if all the hurdles are overcome, and it is available, it should be seriously considered by the scouts. But the dining hall or other mass feeding has its own issues. If the camp gets a rep of poor food, it can kill its attendance for years, even if they fix the problem. That goes for any program area too. Our local camp is already hampered by size to some extent, but the drought dried up the reservoir two summers ago, and the lack of boating hurt us this year especially. Last year, it occurred too late to lose campers, as it went dry in mid June. But we knew it was not coming back this summer. Hopefully we will see the forecast El Nino happen and we will have a small pond at least next summer.

Once again, we have what seems to me to be two incidents. First was the apparent photo and camera confiscation. This then led to the search, and it led to the alledged gun pointing episode. So, unless they have video of both events, it is incomplete. But over reaction on the part of government agents is not uncommon. I watched it happen returning from Jambo in 2010. A scout forgot to take his knife from his pocket and store it in checked luggage. Not only did they put him through the entire routine, but they held up the entire troop that was traveling with him, and chastised the leaders loudly and publicly. For their part, I was impressed with the scouts' response to the incident, considering how overbearing the agent was. At the same time, the scouts and scouters involved need to make sure they are not "embellishing" a bit in their moment of celebrity. BSA does not need more negative PR that would result from excitable stretching of the facts.

After over two years of dealing with a recalcitrant scout that refuses to get up much of the time, and finds way not help with activities that he feels are boring or not centered on him, I appear to have reached the limit. He went to summer camp for the first time, and before we left, his family and he assured me that he would cooperate. Since he has "improved a little", we took him, hoping the longer period would help get him into the flow. It backfired, and he got worse. He missed flags three mornings, his stewarding job twice in the AM, and on Saturday, while all the rest were 90% ready to load and leave before breakfast, he refused to get up and dress. I finally lost it and dragged his sleeping bag off of him and out of the tent, which finally got him moving, but of course with attitude. (yes, I had another adult with me). His actions made us late home by over an hour, but during the week they also made other scouts have to do some of his group work. He has a lot of home issues, and came into the troop at 11 via the help of a "Big Brother". We have tried to give him leeway, and he shows flashes of possibility, then reverts again. He is now 14, and the rest of the scouts also have started avoiding him, even when he is not acting out. While I need to deal with it, I just hate giving a boy an ultimatum; but it is unfair to the rest of the scouts and to the other leaders, who lost patience long ago. Thoughts on how to handle please.

Just another one of those questions to rattle cages. Of course they would. The charter has nothing to do with their survival.