Eagle94-A1

Depending upon where the Scouts are at in their career, I may or may not suggest new books for my scouts. My son, since he is currently Tenderfoot ( waiting on 2nd Class BOR this month ) and will be 12 when the new books come out, I'm buying. For the 14 yo star who is almost Life, I would print out thr new requirements. As for teaching stuff, they put a lot of stuff online as supplements, I'd use thsoe

The purpose is for the Cubs to learn. One of the best methods of learning is doing. Why else would the books discuss how to do things under the requirements?

In regards to "ringer meetings," I admit I thought the SWAT team was AWESOME! Who doesn't like putting on kevlar and a crowd control shield, looking and hearing about the 40mm grenade launcher that they have for smoke grenades, or the unit's sniper who uses both a rifle and a BB gun ( taking out lights and breaking glass.) But in retrospect it may have been over the top. FUN, but over the top. Now the "wilderness survival" ringer meeting I can see as valid. We went over skills they would need for the upcoming camp out with us. Only thing we did differently than a standard meeting was more one-on-one teaching. The Boy Scouts would be working on the skills and practicing in the meetings before the Cubs showed up. We would then buddy up with the Cubs, and work with them.

I admit, my troop growing up had "ringer" meetings for when we knew Webelos were coming. First 2 years with a feeder pack we would have the SWAT team come out for a visit. It worked the first year, and we did it again the 2nd year. However, after the SWAT team visit, and before the Webelos overniter, we found out the nite before that our gear was destroyed. We adapted and turned the overniter into a "wilderness survival" camp out. Webelos ate it up. Scouts had fun too, and it became an annual event. So much fun that we had ASMs in college driving in to attend. After the first "wilderness survival" weekend, our "ringer" meeting was knots, pioneering, and shelter building. Skills they would need for their overniter. Prior to having a feeder pack, we were a "word of mouth" troop. So we had to be prepared to work with invidivuals visiting. Heck that was how I got involved with them. Cousin was having an ECOH, and as a Webelos, they put me right in with a patrol, gave me small part in the ceremony ( thank you index cards ) and I felt very accepted. While I did join the troop the rest of my den was joining, after 6 months, I transfered. same thing happened when I visited them with an interest in joining; they buddied me up with someone and placed me in a patrol.

The night my oldest son visited the second troop, and we gave advance warning too, some would politely say "organized chaos," others would say a "charley foxtrot." It was during the summer, so not as many Scouts were around. SPL was a last minute no-show, and didn't inform anyone until 5 minutes before showtime. ASPL was out of town, and only the SM had the agenda. Meeting was run by the next senior scout. He did his best to run a good show, but was not prepared and didn't know the material. After talking to the SM, he adapted to the situation, and did something that was needed to be done, and he could do. Really impressed me that a 12 year old could take over unexpectedly and adapt to the situation. Also impressed my son. He had a great time, and that was the troop he joined.

IMHO this is a huge disservice. The planning involved in an Eagle project IS ( emphasis) paret of the overall project, and can be just as time consuming. Purpose of the project is showing leadership, and that includes the planning and prep.

Polaris, I didn't do N Tier, but 1 64 mile trip in LaDomain, Quebec, and a second 50+ trip in Fl. I'll answer your question, but also want to add some stuff. 1) START CANOEING NOW!!!!!! I cannot emphasis this enough. practice doing emergency scenarios, portaging, do games that involve skills, 2) we too had a mix of ages and abilities. We used aluminum canoes. Only challenge we had was during portages. Solution, older guys carried canoes, younger guys carried gear.

True that. I admit I'm a little embarrassed that I needed help. I know I would have been OK, using all my training and expereince to slowly get to shore. But seeing the 2nd lifeguard made life so much easier.

"A Troop should be able to easily fit an individual Webelo into their meeting. A den is a different story." If a troop cannot do that, there is a problem. Troops should be able to handle any walk ins.

Winning the lottery would be a heck of a lot less painful. No wonder folks do not want to help each otehr out.

I just reread my post, and made me realize that I sound like one of those folks who is sue happy. Hoping if I expand it sounds more accurate. Someone at work told me I should sue the person who dislocated my shoulder. I asked "why," and they said ' for dislocating your shoulder." I that's when I told the, they followed everything by the book and the rescue. Why would anyone sue someone who got them out of a bad situation?

Don't remind me. I had someone say I should sue the guy who dislocated my shoulder. I asked why, he did everything as we were taught in our class (Aquatics Supervision Safe Swim) last year. On a positive note, I turned in the incident report, and they sent me the paperwork automatically.

Incident report is filed and I got info on the accident insurance my council has. Any words of wisdom? I know this is going to be one of those school years!

Unexpected/short noticed visits are a great idea. Both troops my son visited had about 3-4 days notice. Best feel is a camp out with them. That is when your son can really see them in action, and your son can see if the troop is for him or not.

My thoughts. 1) Scouts should eb asking the bulk of the questions. Yes us old fogewy parents have to know things too, but the boys need to ask. 2) Some of the questions I would suggest the Scouts to ask other scouts are the following; A. Who picks the PLs and SPL? B. How often do you camp? C. What type of camp outs you go on? D. Who decides on the camp outs? E. How much do they generally cost? F. What type of gear I need to have? G. Are there any plans for High Adventure? H Can I camp with you guys before joining? 3) Parents need to ask the above questions too, and compare answers ( you may be surprised) Plus the following: DO YOU YOU FUNDRAISE? ( emphasis). Now some folks have challenges with "Troop Shopping," and I honestly understand where he is coming from, and his concerns. And yes, all things being equal, you should support your CO's troop. But that is not always the case. Sometimes you visit a troop, and they do not use the Patrol Method properly. Their camp outs are multistage disasters with folks not doing what they are suppose to do, taking care of equipment, or even making messes. Kinda sad when a first year Webelos can say, " ...this isn't how a troop is suppose to work." Also remember that if you do join a troop and it doesn't meet your son's needs, he can switch.

13th edition comes out in January 2016, yep 4 months away. I WOULD NOT BUY ANY BSHBs AT THIS TIME! (emphasis).

Pray, keep in contact, keep inviting him to activties. LET HIM KNOW YOU AND TH E OTHER LEADERS CARE! ( caps for emphais)

WOW. I know even some in the OA do not know of the long history the OA has had with some nations in helping to preserve culture, language, arts, etc. Some folks involved mat not be involved in the OA anymore, but if you ask them how they got their start, they will tell you the OA. As for OA regalia being more historically "authentic" than today's NA regalia, most good ceremony teams focus on one specific period, and do their research. native culture is not dead or stagnant, but alive and vibrant. It is ever changing, and best reflected in the Powwow styles. As for Ms. Silva, maybe I should introduce her to some of my archaeology, anthropology, and ethno-historian friends who developed their interest in Native American culture from... .... doing ceremonies and dance while youth in the OA.

instant gratification in Scouting is a relatively new thing on the Boy Scout side, I remember having COHs 3 times a year to give out rank, mbs, etc CS had the immediate recognition kits when i was a cub

Qwasze, I do not know why they wouldn't accept his word. I mention the "what I saw" comment because I was asked by the SM to describe what I saw when he was working with the two new Scouts in the old troop and my son while we were visiting. Now I am assuming, and you know what can happen when you assume , that A) because it was for Life and the troops I've been with usually have adults verifying requirements at that stage, and B) he had just moved to the new troop and they new leaders didn't really know him since he was in the troop two, maybe three months tops, they wanted my opinion on the matter since I knew the Scout better than they did.

Fred, Specifically Requirement 6, using the E.D.G.E. to teach specific Scout skills was not "completed." He joined the troop prior to 2009 when that was added to the Life requirements. His original troop was using the requirements in the book that he joined with. Yes he taught Scouts skills, he even taught my son using E.D.G.E. when we visited the troop. But his old troop neither informed him of the new requirement nor signed him off. And what I saw him teach were different skills than the ones in the requirement. (don't ask how I got involved ). Since he never taught with his new troop in the 3 or 4 months he was with them, (he was not an instructor and scheduled to teach) the troop's leadership couldn't sign off in time for a BOR. So E.D.G.E. is what kept him from getting a Life BOR in time for him to get Eagle Since he became Life at 17 years, 7 months, he could not meet the 6 months in POR requirement with out an extension.

Fred, In regards to harm and not using current requirements, it depends. We had one troop that didn't give a rip about changes in requirements, except Eagle. Whatever requirements were in the book the Scout started with, that is what they used for T-2-1-S-L. Apparently they were doing it like that for years and no one outside the troop knew. BUT that caused a problem when that troop folded, joining Trails Life, and one Scout was going for Life. His new troop followed the rules, and discovered that he didn't do one of the "new" Life requirements, because he didn't know about it as his old troop didn't tell him. Major problem as he was on a very tight deadline to get Eagle. This is the guy whose old troop stopped working on BSA advancement when they decided to leave and join the new program when it came out. He was 17 years, 6 months when he was scheduled by his new troop for the SMC and BOR when the mistake was discovered. He wasn't able to have his Life BOR until 17 years, 7 months. THANKFULLY the appeal for an extension was granted, and he had an extra month to meet the leadership position requirement. Everythign else was done prior to 18 except the EBOR. He's currently an ASM still, and an OA chapter officer.

Your husband will be doing a grave disservice to the Cubs if he "double dips" on the requirements. Scouting is designed to allow Scouts to learn new life skills, and repetition is one way of learning. Especially for those uncomfortable doing stuff. It gets them involved, builds their confidence, and they grew from the experiences. One of the best things about being a leader is watching these kids grow. This is especially true when you've watched the kids since Tigers. One of my Scouts sicne he was a Tiger is asking me for a letter of recomendation for the junior national honor society. He's not the same little boy I first met many years ago. When I talk to job shadowers applicants, it's funny that I can tell who has had some Scouting expereince, and who hasn't. Most of the kids have mom, dad, or even grandparents contact me for the info and scheduling. Even college students do that (inlcuding one who was trying to get into med school!) 9/10ths of the time, the ones who do the contacting and paperwork are usually Scouts or were in JROTC. They've had some responsibility and are executing it. Also various policy books over the years specifically stated that double dipping, UNLESS SPECIFICALLY MENTIONED AS ALLOWED(emphasis, more on that in a minute), is prohibited. And usually it's dealing with long term stuff that needs to be accumulated like nights camping can count towards the rank, Camping MB, OA, etc. Doing skits doesn't fall into that category.

In most of the troops I've been in, the Scouts have been the ones who have been doing the teaching, so that isn't new for me. However, I do see the challenge with getting a young troop up to snuff because that is the situation I'm in with my son's troop; less than 5 are First Class or above, everyone else is Scout or Tenderfoot. Folks I think will have hte biggest challenge will be the LDS troops since their 11 year old Scouts do not meet with the 12 and 13 year old Scouts, and at 14 they go Varsity or Venturing.

Don't know why the Sea Scouts and Venturers would be interested in it since the Ranger Award was the reason this award was created. Boy Scout and Varsity Scout leaders in some areas were upset about only Sea Scouts and Venturers being able to earn Ranger, so national created this one. In my son's troop, it's not promoted. Then again, we are not advancement oriented, but program oriented. We have only gotten "First Class" oriented because of Philmont.