AVTech

I was never happy with the CyberChip curriculum. Something that is required for 2 Ranks and as a requirement for several Merit Badges should be something that can be taught in a Ptrol or Troop setting. My work environment requires a much higher than normal knowledge base in cyber security, so I am eager to see what BSA comes up with as a replacement program. I have tended to share some of my working knowledge as additional information during a session that we had used as preparation for new Scouts to earn their CyberChip right after crossover from Cubs.

Double-dipping on cooking has never been allowed. Separate cooking for Rank, then for Cooking and Camping Merit Badges. I agree that Cooking is a bad Merit Badge to take at camp, especially if your Scout's Troop has a good in-house MBC for it, along with a few experienced Scouts who are great camp cooks.

At our camp, the Medical Staff hold ALL medications for ALL Scouts. Prescriptions MUST be in their original containers. OTC medications MUST be in their original sealed packaging. All medications MUST match what is on the BSA Health Record. If the Scout uses an asthma inhaler or any number of self-injectible meds (EpiPen, Insulin, etc.), they can carry one, and a second must be turned in to the Medical Staff. Adults may hold their own medications, but they must be stored safely (locked in footlocker, for instance). For other trips, an adult is designated to hold and dispense all medications. As for "contraband" items, I have found over the years that very few Scouts can keep said item to themselves, and someone will turn them in- the usual offense is phone posession. I have been a Scout leader in many capacities for a long time, and I have never had occasion to search a Scout's footlocker at camp, or even to enter a Scout tent unless there was a medical emergency. That has happened exactly once, and I had another adult and the Scout's tent-mate with me, and most of the Troop standing around outside the open flaps.

As someone who was not elected to the Order as a youth, I have to say that much of what I witnessed at my Ordeal (this past August), was lost on a good number of the youth assembled there. That also goes for some of the Elangomats who thought little of having conversations with many of the Ordeal candidates, despite the rules that had been clearly spelled out for all of us. I am going to hazard a guess that other than showing up for their Brotherhood weekend, most of them will seldom feel any sense of obligation to the Order (pun intended). For me, the weekend was amazing, and was capped off by a Bald Eagle circling the amphitheater where we had our closing ceremony. As a Scoutmaster, I have always taken my responsibility as gatekeeper to the few things that I am allowed to control seriously. I can counsel against a Scout starting 12 Merit Badges at a time, but I can't stop them. I can (and have) removed a Patrol Leader from office, after multiple SMCs didn't alter his behavior towards his Patrol (it was at their request, after the consulted with the SPL on multiple occasions). The Order is supposed to be an honor society, comprised of Scouts who live and breathe the Oath and Law. If a Scout who otherwise qualifies for membership based on Rank and camping nights doesn't have the strength of character and the maturity to understand the Obligation of the Order, I will have that conversation with him (or her), and if necessary, with the angry parents.

Not arguing that point at all. But at the very least, the DAC asks for the paperwork to be dropped off, and doesn't schedule a pre-review review. Most Eagle candidates around here are old enough to drive, so it is on them, not mom and dad.

Requiring that is adding to the requirements, and is not allowed. They can offer it as a service. In our District, once you have all your paperwork done, you submit everything to the District Advancement Chair. They double check that all the details are correct, then send an invitation to sit for the next scheduled EBoR session.

We run our Troop as a nut-free zone. Scouts carry 1 EpiPen, a leader carries the 2nd. We have trainers on hand (one comes with each package of EpiPens), and we have trained EVERY SCOUT how to administer each type.

In our town, every student from grade 6-10 has an iPad, and 11-12 have Chromebooks. The school system uses Google Apps as a platform, so they are all better at this than the adults are.

We use Excel spreadsheets to track partials for things that Troopmaster, Scoutbook, etc aren't good at. For example: the multiple rides in Cycling Merit Badge Req. 7Ab and 7Bc. The Scouts have no place to track these rides. We keep them on a Google Drive for ready access, but as the MBC for that badge, it is most helpful for me, so I can "nudge" the Scouts that are close to finishing up.

Actually, #2 answers my question. The thing that I was tripping over was the number of activities, other than meetings, that a Scout could possibly participate in while still in 5th grade, which is when most Scouts crossover from Cubs.

The curriculum is based on grade, so a 5th grader would likely be using the Cub curriculum, regardless of program. That is why I am asking how a 5th grader is working on Star.

Please explain how a 5th grader is working on Star? That doesn't seem right...

Easy is, of course, a relative term. For the motivated Scout, earning Eagle Scout at a young age isn't a big deal (as long as their leaders can keep the helicopters at bay). My son earned his Eagle at 16.5. He is the first Scout in our Troop to not wait until 17.99 in over 4 years.

In my daughter's case, this isn't a joke. She desperately wants an outdoor program, but the moms in our upper-middle class town just don't do "that sort of thing". So I am stepping up to give her the same opportunities as her now Eagle Scout brother has had.

The info I got was that internally, the linked Troops would have either BT or GT in front of the number.