Eagle94-A1

Eternal rest grant unto her, oh Lord. and may perpetual light shine upon her. May she rest in peace. Amen.

In regards to the original topic, the Webelos Badge required adventures can be used as electives for the new Webelos working on AOL since he didn't get a chance to use them for the Webelos Badge. IMHO, I would use the analogy of the Boy Scout MBs required Eagle. If a Scout has both Emergency Prep MB and Lifesaving MB, only one can be used as a required MB, the other can be used as an elective. In regards to AOL is now just another rank, I hate to say it but I agree. Although you never needed to have the Wolf and Bear Badges, and Tiger Cub when it became fully integrated into Cub Scouts in the mid-late 1990s, to get AOL in my day, You still needed Bobcat and Webelos in order to get AOL. I do not know how the Cubs feel, but I know a lot of leaders do not like it. However if the Cubs' reaction to a brand new Scout getting AOL in a year is anything like what happened when one of my Scouts crossed over 6 months ahead of his den at the end of May because he was 10.5 and had met all the other requirements, it will be one of confusion, puzzlement, and anger.

BSA no longer sells them, at least according to scoutstuff.org . I really miss those kits as they were perfect for patrols.

With my troop, we use second hand pots and pans that make storage "interesting." Only one patrol has nesting pots and pans, and that's because it's backpacking gear found in chuckbox at a garage sale. How much are you looking to spend? What type of camping do you do? How good is your quartermaster? This may be a good t\thing for him to work on. I say that becasue my old troop needed new tents one time, and the QM spent about a month doing research, making calls, talking to friends, etc. He found the ideal tent and place to get it at the best price. Went up thru the chain of command, and when it got to the troop committee's treasurer, he decided to buy a different tent because it was on sale. 6 of the 8 tents broke on the first camp out, and the last 2 broke on the next.

Bradne, #1 WELCOME TO DA FORUMS! #2 Unfortunately not every council has an individual in their council to put on the course, let alone charge it at cost. I wish my council offered the course. #3 THANK YOU FOR OFFERING THAT COURSE AT COST!!!!!!!!!!!!! If the process to get a WFA course approved and conducted is anything like doing AHA courses, it is a pain to set up.

You may need a Manslater!

Exibar, I think the issues a lot of us old fogies have is that the first aid training in the past WAS more along the lines of wilderness first aid and not what is taught in a standard first aid class today. Trust me, I would not use the AHA Heartsaver First Aid video to teach the merit badge. It needs to be more hands on, and more relevant to an outdoor environment. In that respect from approx 1972 to 1989, EVERY Boy Scout had the necessary First Aid skills for HA since First Aid MB was required for First Class Scout in that time period. Also, the requirement for WFA for HA is a relatively new requirement in BSA's history, and some see it as a way of CYA. Other factors that affect folks view on WFA as mentioned are costs, availablity, and the need to use outside agencies for this requirement. If this was a course offered at a summer camp, or regularly by councils, great. But How many councils do? It reminds me of the LNT trainer POR a few years back that required the Scout to go through a LNT Trainer course. Minimum age BSA put on the POR was 14, but some courses you had to be 16, and some you had to be 18!

Middle son is in a similar situation, i.e. a late birthday. He realized under the new program that he could skip Webelos and go directly to AOL and get into the troop in time for summer camp. He changed his mind when he found out that he would not be joining the patrol his current Boy Scout friends were in, but a different NSP. And his buddies in the Webelos would also be in a different NSP when they moved up. Thankfully he's sticking with his friends.

What part of the country? Sounds like mine. While not in a B.A.L.O.O. course, a comment from a new ASM, "Man, Scouting is cramping my camping. I haven't been backpacking in 4 months (due to the monthly troop camp outs). "

Everybody is spot on IMHO. My oldest was one of those 5 year old Tigers due to his birthday. And yes it gets tricky when it's time to Cross Over. My son was age 10 years 3 months and X days old when he Crossed Over.

From http://www.scouting.org/scoutsource/BoyScouts/GuideforMeritBadgeCounselors/MBCounselorGuide.aspx As a merit badge counselor, your mission is to join fun with learning. You are both a teacher and mentor as the Scout works on a merit badge and learns by doing. Your hands-on involvement could inspire a Scout to develop a lifelong hobby, pursue a particular career, or become an independent, self-supporting adult. [Emphasis added] Me personally it depends on the Scout. Some Scouts take to topics like fish to water. In those cases I mentor, maybe a little teaching is done, and verify they did the work. Indian Lore and the Citizenships tend to be like that more than others I counsel. Sometimes teaching is more involved, a lot more involved. Lifesaving, Canoeing, Wilderness Survival tend to be those MBs And sometimes it's a mix of both. First Aid, especially when changes occur (FYI expect changes in CPR and First Aid techniques next year). Is my best example.

STOP THE PRESSES! In looking for the syllabus online, I found this link which shows that OWL can be done in conjunction with IOLS or as a 12 hour standalone course http://www.scouting.org/filestore/training/pdf/511-336.pdf

Exactly. I got the red and maroon polo shirts while I worked for supply. I would wear the 1997 activity uniform to school, then show up at work and put on the tan field uniform shirt The tan shorts were actually a gift from one of my Eagles. he worked at a local army surplus store that was a BSA distributor. He got the shorts for me as a thank gift so that Icould "complete your [uniform] collection."

Have heard about this happening, seen it, and my own son was a victim of this, The difference in my son's case was that while the MBC was extremely knowledgeable, he used old, out of date requirements, and focused on specific "fun" requirements and completing ignored the time consuming ones. But everyone passed. As a leader, once signed off, he earned it. As his dad, we had a nice long discussion on it. May have been wrong, but we used the version of requirements that the MBC used, several years out of date, and had him complete the missing MB requirements. He didn't go to the MBU this past spring again. Last time I taught Indian Lore at the event, I had some negative reviews because I gave out partials. Also had a Scout who was upset he would be getting a partial, and expressed by being a smart aleck. Eventually he stopped when he asked ' which is more dangerous Rugby or Lacross?" My response, 'while Rugby is a thug sport played by gentlemen, no one ever died from playing and losing in Rugby unlike Lacross or one of it's many versions of it."

The nuances are not that difficult. Just need a little more time. I've found folks would rather spend a little more time on 1 weekend getting both OWL and IOLS completed, than have to take up 2 weekends doing essentially the same course over again.

Ok here is the link to the first SM Specifc Syllabus. http://www.scouting.org/filestore/training/pdf/34879.pdf

Another BSA Scource Scoutmaster and Assistant Scoutmaster Specific Training Syllabus copyright 2005 and 2010 Printing found here http://www.scouting.org/filestore/training/pdf/34879.pdf on page 150 states : "The parts of a field uniform are these:" then goes on to decsribe the tan and green uniform. Same page also states "The parts of the activity uniform are these:" and goes on to describe a t-shirt or other activity shirt, and green shorts, socks, and Scout belt. Current Scoutmaster Position Specific Syllabus, found here http://www.scouting.org/filestore/training/pdf/511-213_WB.pdfon page 5 states: Faculty Uniforms The course faculty members should set a good example as trainers and representatives of the local council. Accordingly, they are expected to wear the complete and correct Scouting field uniform appropriate to their Scouting positions during the course. (emphasis added) Hope this helps.

BSA has major issues with consistency in their literature. This is one example. The SCOUTING MAGAZINE article is another example. A third example is the current discussion of a facebook page regarding the SUMMERTIME AWARD. Current BSA program year is Sept. to Aug. Yet Cubs move to the next level and begin worming on new rank June 1st. This inconsistancy has started multipple debates on the SUMMERTIME AWARD. But the best example of BSA's inconsistancy is venture/Venturing. From Aug. 1989 to Aug. 1998, a venture crew was what you called your older Scout patrol, were called Venture Scouts, and had their own additional awards they could earn in the Varsity/Venture Letter and the assorted pins. Then BSA decided to call tradional Exploring ''Venturing'' when it split, its units ''crews'' and its Member ''Venturers''. It was mentioned to the nat. Venturing dir. The use of similar terms, and. the confusion it would, and continues 17 years later, to cause.

I've read some districts will combine the two so that the common materials are together, then split off into IOLS and WeLOT. I've seen it done where the course did IOLS then kept the Cub leaders a little long to talk about some of the differences. Anyone remember when national was going to combine to the courses?

WHO TOLD HIM HE NEEDS TO TAKE WFA?!?!?!?!?! (emphasis, ok shouting in shock!) My troop's Philmont expedition has an EMT going who went to Philmont 2 or 3 years ago, and his EMT cert allowed him to meet the WFA requirement when he went. Has this changed?

Remember there are options when yoour son looks for troops.

Sorry to hear about your son's troop. I know how it hurts when folks you worked with and looked up to folks who don't come to an ECOH that you invited them to. One of my cousin's is an Eagle. He got the invitation and said he would be there. I gave him two parts in the ceremony to perform. A few weeks before the ceremony, He backs out. Why? Because I am taking 1 course at his old university's arch rival. Luckily, one of my old SPL's was able to make it. He said he would try to get leave to make it, but no guarantees. He got leave and showed up. In addition to the very small part I put in the script for him in case he did make it, he got all of my cousin's parts. I must say putting him on the spot to talk about me led to a great roasting of me. He was SPL when I first became a PL, and he had to do a LOT of mentoring. I think my old SPL showing up was a heck of a lot better than having my cousin there.

Issue with the GTSS IMHO is that it is written by health and safety folks who are either using laws that reality should not apply to BSA ( remember when that little red wagon rule came out, it was based upon Department of Labor laws for business), or are heavily influenced by lawyers and our society's excessive demand for lawsuits. Heck I was even told to sue someone who helped me out when I was injured on the beach.

As a former DE who was contacted about a similar and asked my SE how to deal with it, I can tell you that "it is a unit problem." Good luck.

1) forgot to welcome you to the forums. 2) Love the VF-1J armoured Veritech that is your avatar.