TAHAWK

While someone who is not a registered Merit Badge Counselor may assist in instruction and coaching, only a registered Merit badge Counselor is allowed by BSA rules to determine if a candidate has passed any requirement or to sign the Blue Card. This rule is systematically violated by many council camps, and BSA has admitted that they know it is going on. Other than reminding the paid Scouters and volunteers about the rules, BSA's only action to reduce the frequency of this disgrace is to, effective 2015, allow a unit leader to treat the MB as not earned if he or she determines that it was not possible for the candidate to have actually earned the badge. That would be the inevitable conclusion if the "counselor" was not a registered Merit Badge Counselor. That would also be the inevitable conclusion if staffing levels did not provide adequate time to allow each candidate to be individuality tested on each requirement as is absolutely required with no exceptions. If you have concern about the integrity of Scouting, you might ask if the "counselors" scheduled to handle Merit badge sessions at camp are in fact registered Merit Badge Counselors and how the camp plans to have each candidate individually tested on each requirement. You might then refuse to allow you Scouts to "take" a Merit Badge from a staffer who is not a registered Merit Badge Counselor for the respective Merit Badge or where staffing does not allow individual testing on each requirement for that Merit Badge. Given that the paid Scouters responsible for sham Merit Badge programs are intentionally violating the rules and that BSA is not using its power to remove them from employment by disqualifying them from holding paid positions, it would seem to be on the volunteers to effect change where needed.

"No council, committee, district, unit, or individual has the authority to add to, or subtract from, advancement requirements. There are limited exceptions relating only to youth members with special needs. For details see section 10, “'Advancement for Members With Special Needs.'†"Earning merit badges should be Scout initiated, Scout researched, and Scout learned. It should be hands-on and interactive, and should not be modeled after a typical school classroom setting. Instead, it is meant to be an active program so enticing to young men that they will want to take responsibility for their own full participation." "The sort of hands-on interactive experience described here, with personal coaching and guidance, is hardly ever achieved in any setting except when one counselor works directly with one Scout and his buddy, or with a very small group. Thus, this small-scale approach is the recommended best practice for merit badge instruction and requirement fulfillment. Units, districts, and councils should focus on providing the most direct merit badge experiences possible. Large group and Web-based instruction, while perhaps efficient, do not measure up in terms of the desired outcomes with regard to learning and positive association with adults." "There must be attention to each individual’s projects and his fulfillment of all requirements. We must know that every Scout—actually and personally—completed them. If, for example, a requirement uses words like “show,†“demonstrate,†or “discuss,†then every Scout must do that. It is unacceptable to award badges on the basis of sitting in classrooms watching demonstrations, or remaining silent during discussions." "7.0.4.7 Limited Recourse for Unearned Merit Badges From time to time, it may be discovered that merit badges could not actually have been earned. For example, a Scout who returns from summer camp or a merit badge fair with signed blue cards for an extraordinary number of badges could raise concerns. If, after consulting with those involved in the merit badge program—such as an event coordinator, the camp director, or a merit badge counselor—it becomes plainly evident that a youth could not have actually and personally fulfilled requirements as written, then the limited recourse outlined below is available. It may result in a decision that some or all of the requirements for a badge could not have been fulfilled, and thus, that the badge was not actually earned. After such a consultation, the unit leader, in a positive environment similar to that of a unit leader conference, discusses with the Scout the circumstances under which a merit badge in question was approved. A parent or an assistant unit leader should attend as an observer. The young man shall not be retested on the requirements, but a conversation with him can reveal if he was present at the class and actually and personally fulfilled all the requirements. Such a discussion could cover who taught a class, what sort of activities took place, where and when they occurred, how testing was done, what the Scout might have brought home from the class, and other similar process-oriented details. In most cases, with a fair and friendly approach, a young man who did not complete the requirements will admit it. Short of this, however, if it remains clear under the circumstances that some or all of the requirements could not have been met, then the merit badge is not reported or awarded, and does not count toward advancement. The unit leader then offers the name of at least one other merit badge counselor through whom any incomplete requirements may be finished. Note that in this case a merit badge is not “taken away†because, although signed off, it was never actually earned." Boy Scouts Of America, National Council, Guide to Advancement 2015.

Ah yes, "I'm OK. You're not." How enlightened.

"]United States ex rel. Gerald Mayo v. Satan and His Staff, 54 F.R.D. 282 (W.D.Pa. 1971) 'WEBER, District Judge. Plaintiff, alleging jurisdiction under 18 U.S.C. § 241, 28 U.S.C. § 1343, and 42 U.S.C. § 1983 prays for leave to file a complaint for violation of his civil rights in forma pauperis. He alleges that Satan has on numerous occasions caused plaintiff misery and unwarranted threats, against the will of plaintiff, that Satan has placed deliberate obstacles in his path and has caused plaintiff’s downfall. Plaintiff alleges that by reason of these acts Satan has deprived him of his constitutional rights.'" Anyone can, and probably has, been sued for anything. Can there be consequences? Yes, but not often enough or severe enough to stop the filing of baseless suits. The telephone company in Ohio was once sued for $30,000,000.00 for interrupting telephone service to a customer for thirteen seconds, (A house was being moved down the street pursuant to a municipal permit and the wires to the customer [Yes, that long ago.] were disconnected and reconnected to an alternative route in order to allow the house to be moved. A Catholic Order sold house to the new owner moving it, and they were also defendants.) The trial judge refused to dismiss any defendants from the case.)

Never heard of such a thing. In my last troop, we did use "tickets" written by the leaders at the annual Troop Operation Workshop to set goals that they wished to reach in the year that they were planning. SM would review with them in SMC at mid-point and year's end. Current troop has pages of "bylaws" imposed by the SM with penalties specified. Takes almost a half hour to read them. Gloom! Just sucks the air right out of the room. (Looking for a new troop to join. Five years of beating my head against the wall is enough - and no fun.)

Seventh "rank"

The Official Scout Neckerchief was made larger in 2010 (IIRC), and is currently officially 49.5" x 35" x 35". That is, it is half of a 35" square neckerchief folded into a triangle - larger as a triangle than any official BSA neckerchief has ever been.. (It was a 32" square until 1932, and a 30" square thereafter.) I have measured three of my troop's neckerchiefs and they are, in fact, 51- 53" across the long edge and 35" across short edge. I am 6'2" and it reaches my belly button. The material is 50/50 cotton/polyester.

I have no idea, but I suspect there was some push for BSA to change. I have read posts arguing that the neckerchief, world-wide, is THE symbol of Scouting. I noticed one troop at summer camp with "Class B" of a troop T-shirt and the troop neckerchief. Looked fine to me, and one could pick out those Scouts across the widest field in camp.

Speaking of Scouting, our first, non-delegable, responsibility as Scouters is to do what can be done to insure the safety of the youth. Youth may act as a force-multiplier, but it is all on us. Getting a waiver does not satisfy that responsibility even were it legally possible to do so. Legally, minors cannot contract. Parents cannot contract for minors without court approval (hence the requirement for court approval of settlements in cases of injury to minors) . Parents cannot effectively consent for their children to engage in harmful activities. Indeed, it is a crime in most states for them willingly allow their children to do so. (Which makes me wonder about high school football.) You can only do what you can do. Maybe "scared straight" tactics will work. I've seen some pretty gory examples such as tops of ears missing.

I am not sure that it has been noted, but the current version of the Guide to Awards and Insignia authorizes wearing the troop neckerchief with clothing other than the uniform when the wearer is engaged in a Scouting activity. Wearing the neckerchief other than as part of the uniform was previously specifically prohibited. This change brings B.S.A. into line with most other Scouting associations. The neckerchief rules remain otherwise as opaque as ever.

Paper forms are not particularly conservation-minded.

The BoR is as much about the unit and its program as it is about the Scout.

Camped in a canyon with a Ranger present. "Heavy rain." 4:30 AM the flash flood arrived, sweeping away several Scouts. One was found dead a mile away. Per the only statistical studies that I can find, about 25% of all wilderness deaths are from drowning. Edited by Packsaddle: I have merged TAHAWK's thread into this pre-existing one on the same topic. Mostly I did this to see how the 'merge' function works but it was good opportunity to try it out.

It is an endless source of wonder to me that parents could think that teaching their son to, essentially, cheat is good preparation for life in general. Politics? Maybe.

The issue for me would be, "Did he do the work?" The Blue Card should have had the MBC's telephone number. He's the one to answer my question, not the other SM. If the work was done, the SM is to sign.

The Scouts in my first troop in Santa Ana thought that "adventure" was doing our own summer camp every other year. It took a lot of planning and human resources, but the troop was huge and had access to all the gear needed. Twice we backpacked in to our summer camp site. Merit badges were earned, but not in the numbers expected today. It was what the Scouts wanted to do. Jump forward twenty-five years, and my old troop in Cleveland Heights decided on the same pattern. (This was in addition to a high adventure trip for the older Scouts.)

As a Scout may begin any MB before any conversation with his unit [adult] leader, I don't see much problem with you first issue. . He needs a BOR with the unit in which he is registered per Guide to Advancement. The more interesting issue is alluded to by Twocub. I would regard the "sign-offs" by personnel from the other troop - the one that is not the Scout's unit - as evidence much like a letter from a park ranger as evidence verifying that something was done. Hopefully I would use good judgment and remember that this is Scouting and why we have advancement. If I decided that there was some issue about whether the Scout was properly tested, he can be tested. According to BP, it's about effort and trust is the basis of our morale training. I wonder what the head adult in the other troop thought was going on.

Modeling -- demonstrating -- is fine, but it seems to me that learning should begin with a clear statement of what makes up the Patrol Method. The new basic training syllabus is some improvement in that it describes some elements of the method - but only some. It could and should be better. The Patrol Method remains somewhat "misplaced." Failing teaching Scouting's Most Important Method at the basic training level, where it should be taught, it should be taught at Wood Badge. Instead, we have more modeling, and that defective. Watch adults making all the decisions in a very "troop method" process and conclude .?????

Just paper. I hope to scan it but need to buy a scanner.

WB 1 intended to teach Scoutcraft through First Class. I have the syllabus. Not surprisingly, in practice the teaching went beyond First Class skills. Perhaps that is why, famously, the "learners" got so little sleep. BSA should support outdoor training in Scoutcraft beyond First Class, but there is no rule or regulation that stops volunteers from getting such courses together. Which "prior" version covered "expenses, sources of income, CO relationship, etc"? There have been three versions with lesser changes in each over time.

http://congressionalaward.org/about-us/

"Obviously, no ready-made program can fit the needs and interests of every troop. Then to, it is important that the Scouts themselves, through their Patrol Leaders plan their own program. All this notebook can do is to offer suggestions. Beyond that, it's up to the Troop Leaders. . . . [T]he program itself should be Scout planned. Many ideas of course originate with the Scoutmaster. But it should be the Troop Leaders' Staff which develops ideas into a workable program." Scoutmaster's Program Notebook, For leaders of Troops, Tribes and Neighborhood Patrols, Boy Scouts of America, at pp 3-4 (1946) I cannot find a single other place where BSA refers to a "Troop Leaders' Staff." "Lone Scouts who lived near each other could form a local 'tribe,', while others could form a "mail tribe" and communicate by post. Tribes could join together to form 'wigwams.' Tribes elected officers such as chief (president, initially called captain), sachem (vice-president), scribe (secretary) and wampum-bearer (treasurer). By October 1916, the LSA reported 133,000 members. By popular demand, a uniform was created in 1917 and the Lone Scout Supply Company was formed." Wicki "NEIGHBORHOOD PATROL: a small neighborhood group of from 2 to 8 Scouts may be organized as a 'Neighborhood Patrol." A Neighborhood Patrol requires no sponsorship. Three fathers in the community must approve the Scoutmaster. Meetings are held in homes or other suitable places as often as the membership desires to meet." Boy's Life, June, 1938, at p. 27.

It appears that since 1948, BSA has had an agreement with NRA regarding operating shooting sports programs, inclusive of awards. The current BSA National Shooting Sports Manual was written by the NRA. http://www.scouting.org/filestore/Outdoor%20Program/pdf/30931_WB.pdf The program includes the awards for various levels of proficiency earned through he Winchester/NRA Marksmanship Qualification Program. These awards, starting with the Pro-Marksman patch, have been worn on the uniform as long as I have been in Scouting, including my me. I can find no specific reference to wearing of the patch or medals from BSA, however councils are authorized to authorize the wearing of such awards and councils sponsor the award program at their summer camps, including the council camp where I volunteer and the camp where my troop is going in July. The program seems to be open to anyone ("Qualification courses of fire are open to everyone–men and women, adults and youth. "youth organizations,") including "Boy Scout troops, Royal Ranger outposts, American Legion posts, JROTC units, 4-H clubs, FFA chapters, commercial summer camps and U.S. Jaycee chapters." The awards are obtained from NRA.

BSA says that the general rule is that non-BSA awards are not worn with the uniform. It lists exceptions to the general rule. I can't find the Congressional Award Program medals listed as an exception. So I have asked. I'm for it and I hope for a favorable reply. Heck, I'd be somewhat pleased with any reply.

"The religious emblems programs are programs created by the various religious groups to encourage youth to grow stronger in their faith. The religious groups—not the Boy Scouts of America—have created the religious emblems programs themselves. The Boy Scouts of America has approved of these programs and allows the recognition to be worn on the official uniform, but each religious organization develops and administers its own program." "The religious emblems programs should be presented to youth members and their families as an optional program for them to complete through their religious organization." "How do I order the recognition items? Each religious program has its own emblem. Follow the instructions in your recognition guidelines because the emblems come from different places and require submission of different information. These emblems will not be available in your local council!"