Eagle94-A1

I wish more SMs were like you. I had an election team talk about the commitments and the service the OA does. Also asked who did not want to be on the ballot. About 2/3 of the eligible Scouts declined. SM was furious at me for allowing the election team to talk about commitments, and allow the eligible Scouts to take their name off the ballot.

I wish my camp had 1/2 that number. But my days of running CSDC are over.

This is an extremely sensative matter and a unit leader will NOT get much information, if any, from the council. In one instance of a volunteer being placed in the Ineligible Volunteer File while I was a DE, I wasn't informed of any of the matter. Heck I found out the guy was reinstated temorarily per a court order when the guy showed up to round table, and I called the SE per policy. That's how close the info is played to the vest. HOWEVER, if memory serves, the COR and/or IH does have the right to contact the SE, and speak with the SE directly on the matter.

Every unit does things differently. For some units, the troops does everything, in others it's a family matter. Some troops only have 1 ECOH per year, and make a big deal of it ( one troop chartered helicopter rides for their Eagles prior to the ceremony). Other units every time their is an Eagle, a special COH is done. And some units do it in conjunction with a regularly scheduled COH. While I personally would not have 2 separate ECOHs, I would have 2 receptions to celebrate: one east coast and one west coast. Also whichever troop did the EBOR, that's where I would have the COH.

Eagle77, No problem! And I agree, there needs to be more free time at some camps for shooting sports, boating, etc. Heck I remember being talked into doing one of the handicraft MBs by my Indian Lore MBC in my free time. I enjoyed it. All, One thing I heard about, and visited the camp out of season, was 3 troops that had a campground and ran their own weeklong summer camp. I don;t know all the details, but I do know that for every so many Scouts you brought, you had to bring so many MBCs As for paper pushing MBs, One thing I have forbid my son from doing, and I strongly recommend other Scouts not to do, is take paperpushing MBs. But I've been told that after X number of years going to camp, that's all that is really available for the older ones to do. I don;t recall b/c after I did HA, I had a job.

No, I don't consider partials "failure" and that is why I used quotations marks in the original. However I have encountered some parents, and a few Scouters, who would view my son's time at camp as a waste since he didn't bring home and MBs. And one leader even used the "failure" term. Like you I want them to have fun and learn. I want to give them the freedom to do things, make mistakes, and grow physcially, mentally, and morally.

Maybe it's me, but this past summer I limited the scouts to no more than 5 MBs, with none after dinner except Climbing ( only time MBC could get there). Camp we went to offers 6 classes before dinner, and only Climbing after dinner. Night time is activities AS IT SHOULD BE! ( emphasis, OK maybe a little shouting from the soapbox ) They kids need some down town. And I strongly suggested that they take the last period of the day off since that was when free swim and the waterslide was available. No arguments there. As for not suggesting parttials, things I think they cannot complete, etc sometimes "failure" is a life lesson. My son took 4 MBs, didn't earn a single one. NOT ONE (emphasis again). Wasn't angry or upset, and don't think I wasted my money or his time either. He learned a lot, but more importantly HAD FUN! He even surprised me by looking out for the new Scouts. Best part for me was watching him grow up and take responsibility.

I think it's ironic that we need a bowstring for a my wife's bow, and I find out here that my son, who took archery at camp this summer, can make one. He knows we need a bowstring, but it wasn't until I just asked him if he could make one (after reading Rick's post) that he said he could. Going to put him to work.

I know as a Cub Scout leader, 3 years as TCDL, 2 as a Wolf DL and 1 as a Bear DL, I'm burnt out. I admit each son got a little less out of it since they've done it before as a sibling, but overall it has been their experience. But I know my middle son is chomping at the bit to be a Boy Scout, and he just moved up to Webelos. One factor is that he has 3 friends in Boy Scouts already. Another is that he has a late birthday, and will be 10.5 by the end of May next year. He's already stated he is skipping working on the Webelos rank, and wants everything he works on to be applied to Arrow of Light so that he can Cross Over and go to Boy Scout summer camp next year. And the way the new program works, he can do that.

Scouting.org's search engine is the most useless search engine I've ever used. And in my job, I use a bunch. I've found using google is easier, faster, and more accurate.

http://www.scoutstuff.org/media/content/docs/pdfs/6590UnifTowerPrcChgesFNL.pdf is the PDF with items and what not. Guide to Awards and Insignia link to Venturing section. http://www.scouting.org/filestore/pdf/Venturing_Insignia.pdf

A lot has to do with various laws and ordinances. I remember about 17 years ago, I left the All Hands conferene in Nashville early to avoid getting stuck there due to a hurricane. I was lucky as I got onthe last plane out of Nashville to home. When I got to my apartment, I had a message that the OA chapter was being called up to be part of the emergency response team and to set up and man the local evacuation shelter. Yep the OA did the work. For whatever reason, that stopped when I came back to the area 5 years later. I think they put an age requirement on doing the job, but I honestly do not know. I do know that some organizations that use volunteers, both locally and nationally, have put a minimum age of 16 in order to volunteer. Mostly due to legal issues.

Is it me, but is the automatic link from myscouting.org to my.scouting.org really messed up and useless? A former volunteer, who is an info specialist, had some issues trying to do YPT. She can make most databases dance on her fingertips, but not BSA's.

The way it is suppose to work is the following: If they had not earned their Webelos Badge by May 31, 2015, then they are suppose to use the new program to earn the AOL. New Cubs, heck even old Cubs who didn't meet the deadline, do NOT (emphasis) need to earn Webelos Badge in order to eaqrn the AOL. Me personally, if they started under the old program, even if they didn't earn the Webelos Badge by the May 31st deadline, I'd still have them finish it under the old requirements, and keep them working on AOL under the old ones. Why buy a new book they will use for only 5 - 8 Months? Also as my son pointed out, since the Webelos Badge is no longer needed to get AOL, if you got a 10 year old 4th grader, and I will, then he can go directly to working on the AOL badge. My middle son plans on doing that, and I cannot think of a rational reason why to hold him back.

August 1, 1989 to be exact. I remember riding on a bus in Canada being told about the change and how a lot fo folks who had not earned it yet were ticked off. heck a few of us who did have it were ticked off. Leaders made it up to use by issuing the Canadian version, which had a velvet background, to us. EDITED: The reason it's not earned is WOSM wants one emblem to show the worldwide brotherhood of Scouting, and the world crest was it. All members; Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, Varsity Scouts, Venturers, and nowSea Scouts (for whatever reason the 2012 manual still does not include it, but hte New Century Uniform does).

If memory serves, it was 1972 and the Improved Scout Program. That was when neckerchief could be worn under an open collar, or not at all. Don't know when they shrunk the neckers to Cub Scout size either.

They are still earning pins to be worn on the Webelos Tri-Colors. I'm betting the editors got confused with the lower Cub Scout ranks, and kept calling them loops since that is what Tigers, Wolves, and Bears are calling it. On a slightly different tack, what are LDS units doing in regards to the Adventures; are you skipping Webelos and going directly to Arrow of Light, or are you making them earn both ranks in a year? Se my question on this page for more details. http://scouter.com/index.php/topic/27105-new-cub-scout-program/

Interesting situation came up tonite as a result of the new program. My middle son has a late birthday, and will turn 10 this year. Since he will meet the " six months since turning 10" requirement for the AOLby the end of the school year, he now has a goal of earning his Arrow of Light by May so he can " go to summer camp...." He knows that the Webelos badge is no longer required for AOL, and instead of working on the Webelos Badge, he wants to start working on AOL instead. For example, for both the Webelos Badge, and Arrow of Light Badge, both have a Duty to God requirement that gives you the option of earning your religious award, or if you already have it, doing certain other requirements. he said he wants to earn his religious award, but put it towards the Arrow of Light, and not Webelos. Your thoughts on the situation? i told him it's possible to do both in a year. Also what are LDS units doing? Are you guys skipping Webelos Badge and going directly to AOL, or are you having them earn both still?

Last time I put together ITOLs, I wanted the best people I knew teaching the basic skills. I had some buddies who needed to take ITOLs to be "trained' that had the knowledge, skill, and abilities to teach, so I put them on staff. The scouter who served on summer camp, been to Philmont 2 times, is a geocacher and does orienteering as a hobby, yep taught orienteering. The three beader who was "untrained" becasue he never had the time to take ITOLs ( he went through WB as a Cubmaster) and can not only outcook anyone I know, but also gives me a run for firebuilding ( I'm still better than him ) yep taught those skills. The scouter who served on summer camp staff as a youth, was a combat medic, and is an EMT, yep taught first aid. The participant who was active duty Navy and knew his seamanship knots, yep he helped teach knots. The only time I EVER discourage sharing experiences and knowledge is when the course is starting to run over. Then it's time for the"parking lot meeting after the meeting."

Back when I worked for supply, I had to wear them. They are a pain. Don't have them on the uniform now.

Another reason for me to hate "Family Night."

Guess I shouldn't be a trainer. Last time I did "Train the Trainer" was back in 1994 when I was on JLT staff, and it was part of the staff training. Never taken Trainer's E.D.G.E. before Guess my minor in secondary education don't count. Guess my job as a teacher-counselor for a "Hoods in da Woods" organization doesn't count. Guess my old PT job of teaching college history doesn't count. Guess my current FT job of working an an education department teaching CPR and how to deal with out of control people doesn't count. Guess my two times at NCS don't count much And I guess the past 30+ years of teaching various courses to adults counts. Looks like our brand new district training chair, who just became a Boy Scout leader in June will need to find someone else to work with him on training.

I was the one that did the enrolling in classes on the computer system the camp we went to uses. They have only 1 time slot for open swim, and I suggested that everyone take off that period so that they can cool down. One of the Scouts wasn't game for that. he wanted the period immediately after lunch free because the showers were easily avilable and he could take an afternoon nap. More power to him.

Home made bolos and/or Turk's heads if they wear neckers.

I agree 110% I am getting strange looks when I tell folks my son didn't earn a single MB this past summer camp. All partials. Folks think I wasted money sending him to camp. Funny thing is I'm really proud of how he acted. He was assigned by the SPL as "Acting ASPL" whenever the ASPL was out of camp due to baseball. He looked after the first year Scouts, even helping one homesick Scout out. Did I mention he's 11 and this is only his second summer at camp? "Train 'em. Trust 'em. LET THEM LEAD!" As for advancement being secondary, my troop is slowly turning into advancement oriented. Reason being we got a Philmont crew that our older Scouts are going on, but they need to be First Class. Out of the entire group going, only 3 are First Class or higher. Rest are Scout or Tenderfoot.