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and I am aware this is closing the barn door after the horses are gone but the topic got me thinking... For my son I scan all his MB cards, blue cards, key pages in his handbook (rank pages, camping & service logs) as a back up to his card book, troop and council records into a computer file. I also do this for my portion of the blue card I keep as a MB counselor. Figure I can always produce this as proof of completion if all the normal record keeping fails/

I do intend to bring it up with council--I imagine too late for this iteration. I would hate to assume, but I guess there is too much inertia/$$$/etc tied up in the status quo. Many of the badges I mentioned have a bunch of prereqs. They are offering Personal Fitness and Personal Management--come with your 12 week logs filled out. So basically all that is left are the "classroom" type stuff. Again I didn't want to reignite the MB day debate--just point out I think NESA is missing the boat with this event, we should be pushing these boys to be outside. I think this is what makes Scouts what it is and sets it apart form other activities. If it isn't for everybody then so be it. Get the waterfront issues. I know that isn't a simple one. But with enough prior planning...(and I know I am setting myself up to be part of the solution...) My main point was the whole event should outside focused based on time of year and location. The council does a U of Scouting in Jan (we are Midwest so it is most definitely not great outside weather then) at a local HS so all the inside focused activities is appropriate. Just seems a shame or wasted opportunity to me.

don't want to completely rehash the MB day argument I see both sides and can see some value for some badges if done right. However, I just gots to vent about our council's upcoming NESA day event. It will be in May, so nice weather. It will be held at one of the council campgrounds so perfect opportunity to do outdoor related badges, even if they cant be completed. Why, for the love of Baden-Powell would the council offer Programming and Digital Technology? Really, come to a camp and spend the day inside on a computer! Or all 3 Citizenships for that matter. Law? Disabilities Awareness? I would argue over half the openings are what I would call classroom/inside badges. A camp in May should be nothing but outside badges. I get council is limited by what they can get folks to teach, but if you cant do the event appropriately then don't have it. Facility has a stocked lake, but no Fishing. None of the water related badges (canoeing, rowing, etc) anyway rant over. very therapeutic thanks.

and it's cool the focus is on the project (which sounds pretty great) not that he is the youngest person ever or did it before 13

last year my son crossed over w/ the rest of his den and several others (16 total) to a good troop. However they really didn't know what to do with all those boys and it took a long time to get them all thru Scout and on the journey to 1C. It also was chaotic on getting the new boys integrated with the basics of the Troop (like uniform practices, troop meeting flow, how to advance, MB/blue card procedures, who were the Scout leaders, who were the adult leaders). Basically, the new guys were put into 2 patrols and left to fend for themselves. we got it together thru campouts, summer camp, working with the senior scouts and that incoming class is moving right along. fast fwd to this crossover season. I was determined not to have that repeated. We had a very strong outreach program to several local packs and again have 16 incoming webelos! But this year we have plans in place for the Scout leaders to take the new boys aside and work with them on Scout their first meeting and have them earn their Rank at the next meeting. We have been successful with all our new boys so far. They are really fired up and feel like Scouts a whole lot sooner than last year and this has built the bridge with the current Troop members as well as giving them a great chance to lead. With a little guidance (like goals, not how to) the Scout leaders are dedicating March's meetings to teaching these new boys Flags, uniforms, meeting procedures, advancement procedures, MB procedures, etc so they aren't flailing at the admin or basics. Then they will work with them on TFoot and beyond--again those who need to teach get to and those who need to get trained get that and these new boys really become accepted Troop members and skilled Scouts much faster than last year anyway, while I had the idea it was total support from my fellow ASM's, CC, and the SM. Really the credit goes to the SPL. Basically we presented the idea and goal to him and he and his PL team have made it happen.

I would disagree. If you read about the campaigns (for ex Adams v. Jefferson in 1802) of the 1800s you might find today's politicians would be considered pikers by the standards of indecency displayed. Shoot we fought a civil war, cant get much more divided than that.

we don't do them during meetings. we meet formally from 7-8 or so. from 6-7 it is generally accepted that is the time to come in and get advancements signed off, or work one on one with Troop MB counselors. Every now and again we will run a MB in that period. I did Personal Fitness. I did some classroom stuff for the more "book learnin" parts, made them come back over the 12 weeks to individually do the demo/performance items, and met every 2 weeks for the group to go over to the track and do the periodic progress checks. I felt for that badge it made it fun as well as motivational for the boys to work on it together to some degree (the mile runs, exercises). We have run some non eagle required that way, like bringing in a horsemanship expert to cover the "textbook" items before we went out on a day trip to some stables. I agree with the value and need for the boys to reach out to adult counselors and go thru the process. I also think a few of these group MBs can be alright as well--certainly not all, or a majority, and some it just isn't appropriate

I get the dilemma. Shoot, it isn't really a dilemma. it is wrong. I didn't understand why someone ostensibly came here for guidance when they clearly knew what they wanted to do, then spent 6 pages arguing their position.

I guess I don't understand this thread--or more specifically why it was started. I am not taking a side in this issue, just commenting on the conversation. The original poster states he is coming here for guidance and opinions and then argues against all opinions contrary to the one he clearly already held. Now if this thread was to solidify his belief or help him confirm to himself he is right then ok. I have enjoyed the conversation but it is 6 pages of "it's wrong" or "not that bad" and the OP seems to already have a clear idea of what he thinks should be done, a clear willingness to do it, and not much use for anything counter to those ideas.

your troop could create an annual award for a Scout or Adult who best demonstrates his values or actions. or if your troop has a campground or activity area (for ex we frequently use a local rec area our charter org owns) you could erect a memorial or name something after him

12 hours. wow. I got steamed the last time when the parents were 20 min late because they waited until we called we when we returned and then hit traffic. I would probably demand the next activity his parent has to come along or he cant come. But as said before I would hate to hose the kid because his parents are doofuses (understanding stuff happens, but 12 hours?)

When I was my son's DL I decided I didn't really want to "teach" the religious requirements. I was prepared to do so but personally I thought those were best completed by each family within their faith tradition and choice. Don't know if I had any atheists (I doubt it, probably more agnostic or just not a lot of thought altogether but I digress) but I know I had a gamut from regular church attenders, strong in their chosen faith, to folks who probably were not so. I just didn't see this as the forum to make folks uncomfortable so I gave the parents a choice. I spelled out the requirements, said if you tell e you completed as a family I will take it as complete, otherwise I would conduct a meeting to accomplish w/in my faith and traditions (not signing up for a comparative religions course). My families took care of the requirements themselves which I felt was more than acceptable, particularly for Cub Scuts

Our troop didn't have a bugler. My son plays trumpet and thought it would be fun to try. He also wanted to earn the MB since it is one of the originals and his Eagle Uncle encouraged him (he got his trumpet instructor to sign up as a counselor). Also, he needed a PoR to advance to Star and he could do Bugler now (he is APL and next in line for PL) Met with SM and SPL to see if they wanted a bugler and if he could try. He spent a month working on Taps, Assembly, and Reveille to feel confident enough to play in public. Played Reveille and Taps at a recent campout. No Doc Severensen but the other boys thought it was cool and all the Adults loved it which gave him a boost since he s his own worst critic. Now he does Assembly just before every meeting starts. It is chaos with all the boys running around, or conferences going, etc and he plays and they all drop what they are doing and line up for flags. Fun to watch. Again, not a pro. he cant get the real high notes but he is a good enough musician (a few ears of piano) where he figured out how too drop an octave and at least play the song. Anyway, a long story about one kid but my point is it is nice having a bugler. The bugler benefits, the Troop benefits. The kids and adults all like it.