DuctTape

see if your district (or council) training chair is willing to do the Troop Committee training in person with all of you. Much better experience than the computer modules, at least in my experience.

I think we all did.

the electoral college system would be the PLC electing the SPL.

@qwazse is spot on. When one looks at the monthly outings a patrol could be doing all along with increased challenges along the way, the training is ebedded. A patrol cannot just be plop campers for 3 years with one&done advancement and expect to be able to plan an execute an advanced high adventure trip. I view all adventure on a growth continuum. When the adventure takes one step further out from their comfort zone, it is "high adventure" for them. Too often the high adventure trips must be guided because as qwazse points out, the training part was skipped. I am disheartened by this, as there are many steps which are fun to get to the next level.

Guided trips for sure. However most public lands are available to use for free. The only costs are food/gas. Much cheaper than summer camp for same duration of time. If you are interested, I regularly adventure in many of the locations much less than 10 hours from you. I am happy to help you plan a high adventure type trip for your patrol.

Most areas where high adventure would take place have group size limits. The Adirondacks for example puts a hard limit at 9. The Whites is 10. And the USFS recommends 10 or less even where not required. The first LNT principle suggests smaller groups as group size exponentially increases impact.

I haven't done one of the online modules in a while and perhaps I am confusing the BSA modules with the ones I must do for my employer... I seem to recall that a wrong answer will just tell you the correct one and why, so I am not sure that skipping the entire "instructional" portion is sufficient if it is impossible to fail the competency quiz. Like I said, I could be conflating two different systems, and likely am.

As a suggestion, not sure if it possible in your area though... We regularly use woods attached to a farmer's field for patrol campouts. Great way for a scout to make calls to get permission, and set up service projects, etc... Also some town/county/state parks allow scouts to camp in conjunction with a service project, like "park cleanup" in areas not typically used for camping. Some outside of the box thinking which might spur other ideas which could work in your area.

While I agree with Utah, I don't think it is a good idea for the BSA to start weighing in on legislation, pending legislation, or any other political speech. Not to mention it is against BSA's own rules to do so I believe.

I have always found it odd that very few troops have as part of their culture each patrol member presenting themselves properly prepared for an outing except for the one and done requirement. I shouldn't be surprised since almost all of the requirements are what should be happening all the time and get signed off just whenever instead of the "let's do this requirement now, and then never do it again" culture I see in most troops. A patrol doing scouting will be doing almost all of the requirements on a regular basis including "present yourself to your patrol leader, prepared for an overnight camping trip", just as a matter of course. If not, then is the PL taking care of his boys by not ensuring they are prepared?

I have been camping in a hammock almost exclusively now for about 10 years. IMO it is just another piece of gear which is slightly different from the rest. I don't think it needs a separate class in how to use one anymore than any other piece of gear. Choosing a proper location, setting up, insulation, etc... all are slightly different for using a bombproof tent, a floorless shelter, a tarp, bivy sack, hammock, or cowboy camping. Not sure why hammocks are separated from the rest as so unique that they require a separate class. I abhor the idea of a class presented by adults for a troop meeting in general. my 2 cents.

from a different perspective, at least some of the general public sees "being a boy scout" as a person who makes ethical decisions.

The major point here for me (setting aside the criminal record for a moment) is that this is your boyfriend. He is not a parent, step-parent, legal guardian, or registered adult leader. For this reason alone he should not attend a cub function unless invited by the cubmaster and only within his /her parameters. I think you might be focusing too much on the criminal record piece and missing this important facet.

Exactly!

Genealogy. While the majority of the requirements can be done by the scout "before" the session, I feel the scout gets zero benefit of the research techniques, software, interview questions, etc... I as the counselor have to offer.

I received an invitation to be mB counselor for a neighboring district's mB college. They specifically stated that the scouts were to be able to complete the badges in a 3-hour seminar. I politely declined and gave my reason as "Three hours is not nearly enough time to provide to the scouts to complete the requirements as written. Secondly, this format and time limit denies the scouts the opportunity to truly benefit from the adult association method and to really engage in the mB itself."

If one does "walk out" for those reasons, I would encourage that those reasons be communicated to the persons in charge.

Wilderness Survival; the experience of trying out the different techniques to learn was great. But the best part was how the counselor tested us, we actually went on a 2 day trip and used the skills and knowledge. As we demonstrated a skill he would sign it on the blue card. If we needed to discuss, he would ask us questions as we were doing it. He was skilled enough to go through all of the requirements with each of us without us realizing he was doing it. It was only looking at the experience after the fact that I came to the realization. He gave us back our signed blue card and paper with a comment/note about each requirement. I still remember for one he wrote, "cool shelter. great use of surroundings".

One of the problems is the BSA *does* just hand out mBs just for showing up at mb colleges and summer camps.

The problem with the "all things that smell" is that all things smell, the bears sense of smell is very acute. Scented or unscented soap makes no difference, people smell, their clothes smell, their pack smells. A curious bear will investigate. Most will not as they are lazy and except for human habituated bears scared of humans. There are many "we are told to..." regarding bears. Most are crap as you experienced. Since you mentioned BWCA, a well known and respected guide of many years who has published much provides some insight into bears... https://www.cliffcanoe.com/bear-proofing-your-camp

A bear's sense of smell is so powerful, they know where the humans are without any soap or other smells. When camping in an established campsite, especially at a park the bears already know the site. They will visit if it is on their route, soap and other smells wont make increase it.

"The mission of the Boy Scouts of America is to prepare young people to make ethical and moral choices over their lifetimes by instilling in them the values of the Scout Oath and Law." is the official mission and the Scout Motto is of course "Be Prepared". The BSA website needlessly muddies up the mission with all that corporate gobbletygook. And often the motto is focused on having some piece of gear, or knowing some skill. I often looked at the motto in concert with the oath and the bsa, mission. To Be Prepared is to be willing and able to make that ethical decision as is one's duty as promised in the scouth oath. Many years later I found out that was exactly what BP meant. He wrote in Scouting for Boys (I paraphrase due to memory issues) that to be prepared is to be in a state of mental and physical readiness to do your duty.

Agree with Barry. Also most of the T-Fc skills can be attained just by doing scouting stuff itself.

I cannot recall any time in the past when most of a patrol attended an event. There were always conflicts. A patrol can still be a patrol with two guys. IMO that is better than ad hoc, plus it allows for the addition of a patrol member whose conflict was eliminated at the last minute.

Fred's response nails the BSA mission. Good job.