mrjohns2

They are still good resources. We don't keep them up to date due to the frequent changes. They could cost less if the pages weren't all color.

Also

There is value in seeing “the wider world of Scouts” outside of one’s troop. I wouldn’t trade my memories as a Scout or an adult at camp for a reduction in cost.

Some camps (at least Owasippe and maybe another) I have heard of have a camp / campsite for this. It is hard work, but, nothing stopping you.

For sure. Plus merit badges and a general program that supports the general BSA program. Girl Scout camps are in the $385-$485 range here. Same for Y camps etc.

While not official, Mike Walton's page is very good. It isn't clear to me if this strip should be removed after a Scout turns 18. "Brownsea" Strip (scoutinsignia.com) Also from here: SCOUTER Forum

Does anyone have recommended brands and brand lines within brands? Or brands / brand lines to avoid?

Actually $60, but there are shorts on sale for $23.

There were 5 (?) items to consider. That was one. The others that were also voted down included moving the rank requirement to star, going back to the "vote only for 1/2", something to do with the honor society name, and one other I don't recall.

Page 11 of current Guide to Awards and Insignia “Jackets and Their Insignia Multicolored jackets are available for optional wear by youth members and adult leaders. The universal emblem should be worn on the left pocket or, in case of a jacket without chest pockets, in the same area. The Philmont bull emblem is especially designed for the red wool jac-shirt to be sewn on the left side above the pocket. On all jackets, Philmont Scout Ranch, Philmont Training Center, or high-adventure base emblems may be worn centered on the right pocket or in the same relative position if there is no pocket. The Order of the Arrow has adopted the jac-shirt as its official jacket, and members may wear the 6-inch national Order of the Arrow patch centered on the back. The large Philmont, NESA, jamboree, National Camping School, and international participant emblems are approved to be worn on the back of the jacket. Only one such emblem may be worn at a time.”

As a person on the opposite of the fundamentalist church spectrum, it will be hard for me to buy into co-ed troops.

I do. We haven't had any. If we did, we would a) figure it out or b) be in the same spot everyone is. If the webelos crossed over in December, we would hold elections on 3/31. That would give them 4-5 campouts with the unit since our webelos camp once in the fall, once in December, and then each month after cross over. So, it would be a non-issue. Making sure to note that if a Scout doesn't know the Scout that could be elected, they can choose to not vote. Their non-vote is then not in the denominator and doesn't count as no.

I just saw an ~85 year old scouter who was wearing his tiny oval eagle badge. I gave him a pass with no entry into the infraction log book. He is a great guy and I don’t mind him wearing it.

Our lodge does elections from 1/1-3/31. We just make sure to do them as late as possible, but before the Webelos cross over. So, for us, about 3/1.

This is a great idea. Our council just went to a "modern" one from our old drab'ish one. They also increased the size beyond the standard to the new "standard extra-large". Ugh. They also made 10 with different boarders for districts and camps and commissioners. Not what we need. Very very good compromise.

We had a great week at Bear Paw Scout Camp in Mountain, WI. This was our 4th summer for our girl troop. We were really hitting on all cylinders. We had 12 out of 15 Scouts attend (2 just joined, so, really 12 out of 13). We invited some provisional Scouts that have joined us in the past. We hit 18 in the campsite. Just awesome to see a real troop. Far from the 6 scouts we went with in 2019. The camp had a very poor staff in 2019. Starting in 2020, even with the pandemic, they have really set their sights on excellence. While not perfect, they did a great job. Even better than anything I experienced, I got to see my oldest daughter really meld into a real camp staffer. She was only a CIT, but Scoutmaster reviews raved about her work on the range. I had told her that she shouldn't expect to be able to spend the whole time at the range. Shows what I know. I guess most of the other CITs don't like the rigor of the range. So, they made her a whole summer range CIT. I even overheard a couple of Scoutmasters talking about her when walking behind them on the way to the dining hall. Wow, talk about a proud father moment. @CburkhardtThanks for steering us to more happy moments.

I had always assumed these were not nice enough to be a destination and only a good idea if you had a Scout there that week. Having done it 7 years, you must really find it great. What is the program? Or is it just great to be there? Do you only stay in the "family camp" or do you wonder into the main Scout camps?

I think people should follow the Guide to Awards and Insignia. Then the uniforms will be, uh, uniform. I won't confront the person, no, so I'm not so bent out of shape to tell them what to do if I see it. I do notice it and note it in my mental infraction book logbook.

I actually like that idea. A very active scout could do that in 2 years, 3 for a moderately active scout. I could see 40 including 2 summer camps or 40 including 1.

How would anyone else really know without camping with them for 15 nights? Their worthiness was determined by their peers.

Yes, those who over bling with mentor pins. 😜

Hazing is a poor choice of words. One of the reasons why is that the lodge isn't the one that chose the Scout. The Scout's peers are the ones that deemed the Scout worthy for induction. Who is the lodge to say otherwise?

Well, it would force them to be very active, but since our troop camps each month, you could do it i one year. We have 1 campout that is 1 day, so for us a Scout could get 21 and 5 in a year.

I think that may be one of the issues that is really hurting the OA. That is up to the candidate if they want to go through the ordeal. It should be up to the Scouts to determine who amongst them is worthy.

If one wears their uniform properly, it really isn’t over done. What is clearly overdone are the adults with all of the mentor pins on the collar or the scouts with the tied knots on their epaulets. Ugh. Or the wood badgers with patrol patches, and fake Wood badge knot and giant critter patch. Ugh. Overdone.