Thunderbird

Some suggestions / recommendations: Try to get at least one adult leader / parent from every den to take BALOO training. What about putting the families in charge of their own meals? Or putting each den in charge of a different meal? Or each den contributes something to one particular meal (Saturday dinner, for example). This would also help with the Scouts' rank advancement (Bear Picnic Basket, Cast Iron Chef, etc.). Is there someone on the committee who could help by taking charge of the equipment? Den Chiefs could help with games and activities.

If you already have an account at my.scouting.org, then you should log in to Scoutbook using the same username and password. You might need to go to: My Dashboard -> Administration -> My Account -> Switch SSO Profile to add your BSA member number to link your my.scouting.org and Scoutbook accounts together (if they aren't already linked). Is your son's unit using Scoutbook?

OK, the things that come to mind to me off the top of my head are: Second Class #1a. "Since joining Scouts BSA, participate in five separate troop/patrol activities, at least three of which must be held outdoors. Of the outdoor activities, at least two must include overnight camping. These activities do not include troop or patrol meetings. On campouts, spend the night in a tent that you pitch or other structure that you help erect, such as a lean-to, snow cave, or tepee." First Class #1a. (very similar to SC #1a.) "Since joining Scouts BSA, participate in 10 separate troop/patrol activities, at least six of which must be held outdoors. Of the outdoor activities, at least three must include overnight camping. These activities do not include troop or patrol meetings. On campouts, spend the night in a tent that you pitch or other structure that you help erect, such as a lean-to, snow cave, or tepee." If these are considered troop or patrol hikes, then I think that they could count as "activities" towards SC and FC 1a. This would be at the discretion of the Scoutmaster or Scoutmaster's designee (person authorized to sign off on these requirements). National Outdoor Badge for Hiking #4 "Complete 100 miles of hiking, backpacking, snowshoeing, or cross country skiing under the auspices of the Boy Scouts of America, including miles hiked as part of requirements 2 and 3." And Bryan on Scouting has an article on: Interpreting ‘under the auspices’ in National Outdoor Awards requirements which says: "If it’s part of a Scout’s work on merit badges like Hiking, Camping, Swimming, Cycling, Wilderness Survival, etc., it counts." Hope this helps some!

Count them as a hiking activity for what purpose?

Yes, I would think so. All meetings and activities need to have 2 registered adult leaders age 21+ now. Other adults being present would not meet the 2-deep leadership requirement unless they are also registered adult leaders with the BSA age 21+.

Messengers of Peace patch for sure. A project like this would definitely fit in the environmental dimension category.

So like a scavenger hunt using smartphones / cameras? Sounds like fun!

What did you use as the "treasure"?

@The Latin Scot You were properly registered, and you were active. You should definitely wear service stars for those two years. The question is what color backing should you wear for those years. On the one hand, you were registered as a Venturer. As that was your primary (and only) registration, then you could wear the 2 year star with red backing. On the other hand, it sounds like your crew was mostly playing basketball and continuing the Boy Scout program (with maybe some Varsity stuff mixed in?). It sounds like a judgement call to me. I would probably just roll everything up into a single star with blue backing.

The two packs I was with (in two different councils) did not - their first digit was a "0". Maybe councils can set up their own rules with unit numbers? I can see how it could be helpful to have a different digit for different unit types, although it would be just as easy to use a unit type field in the database.

This is why I prefer to leave the individual requirement dates blank or use the real dates that match the Handbook. The BSA is only looking at overall dates of completion - not the dates of individual requirements (except merit badges). You can also choose to use Internet Advancement 2.0, which only records completions - not individual requirements.

You can just mark things as completed overall in Scoutbook. If Scouts / parents want to track completions of requirements / sub-requirements to match, they can put the dates in themselves. I prefer having dates that match or no dates at all for individual requirements, rather than putting in the date of the BOR for everything, but YMMV. One advantage to having dates that match in Scoutbook, is that Scoutbook could be used as a backup in case a Scout's Handbook gets lost or damaged. In Troopmaster, you can just put in the BOR date, and it will mark all of the uncompleted requirements (no date entered) for that rank as "Complete".

I don't know all of the details, but I would look here for guidance: Guide to Advancement: The Merit Badge Program:

Guide to Safe Scouting online: Prohibited Activities

You can have a troop with only 2 paid youth members, if you get permission from your Scout Executive. That's what the Registration Guidebook of the BSA says, anyway.

As long as the Scoutmaster is registered and approved as a Merit Badge Counselor (position code 42) for the particular merit badge(s), then there is no problem. Guide to Advancement section 7.0.1.1 Qualifications of Counselors. There seem to be a lot of folks who think that Scoutmasters are automatically MBCs and can sign off on any merit badge. But Scoutmasters have to be approved as MBCs by the council / district, and they have to be approved for particular merit badges.

OK, I see now.

But MBC is a free (no fee) position?

I hear you. My understanding is that you have to fill out a separate form, because it's a separate position and because it's approved by different people. The Chartered Org. Rep. approves Scoutmasters, but someone at the district / council level (usually District / Council Advancement Chair or District Executive) approves merit badge counselors. As for renewals, each council seems to do its own thing. Some councils will automatically renew MBCs as long as YPT is current (and the new disclosure and authorization form is on file). Some councils want an updated list of merit badges each year. Other councils might want something else as some kind of affirmation from the MBC that he or she wants to continue counseling. I would recommend asking your council what they want. Is your council requiring a BSA adult application each year? That seems a bit overkill, IMO.

It depends on whether or not your council has uploaded its MBC list to Scoutbook. If the council has not uploaded the list, then units can add MBCs like they add other unit leaders (ASMs, Committee Member, Unit Scouter Reserve, etc.). Technically, MBC is not a unit-level position, but for councils that have not yet added their MBC list, then MBCs have to be attached to a unit in Scoutbook in order to show up. Units should only add MBCs if they know that they are approved.

@mrkstvns Have you looked to see if you can change your listing preference in Scoutbook? You should be able to get there by going to: My Account -> My Positions. Click on "Merit Badge Counselor" and you should be able to change your listing preference. However, if you can't change it, you might have to contact your Council Admin for Scoutbook and ask them to change it for you.

I think this council is saying that MB counselors can no longer limit themselves to just their own troop or district - not that you have to take on every Scout who might come your way. MBCs can change their availability in Scoutbook if they think they do not have the time to take on more Scouts.

That's where I'd like to be! 🌞

Does anybody know if Scoutlander.com is having problems? I am unable to renew a unit subscription, and when I try to e-mail their support, I get an e-mail back saying that their mailbox is full.

@swilliams Does your son still want to be Bugler? The SPL can appoint more than one Bugler, if he wants to.