InquisitiveScouter

Agreed. I think BSA was hoist by its own petard on this one. The focus of Summer Camp is, generally, the merit badge program. This is a mistake, because it turned the focus to Advancement. And then, to do it on the cheap, camps hire 15 & 16 year olds to teach MBs, when this inherently violates the "spirit" of what the MB program is about. (This is where you can go down the rabbit hole of the responsibilities of unit leaders and "actual" merit badge counselors as well...) Summer Camp is a "pay your fee, get your degree." operation. On the whole, we have a huge integrity problem when it comes to Summer Camps and the Merit Badge program. Parents, Scouts staffs, unit leaders, paid professionals, National... all complicit. This is one of our biggest "dirty little secrets." I used to work with Scouts after camp to go through their MBs and ask them how they completed the requirements. Many, many times, I got the answer "Oh, we didn't do that one." or "My counselor said we didn't have to do that." or some such response. After working with Scouts to correct, I filed quite a few of these: https://filestore.scouting.org/filestore/pdf/512-800_WB.pdf Know what became of them? Nothing... ignored

They know who the "academic" or "paper" Eagle Scouts are, too. "If the minimums weren't good enough, they wouldn't be the minimums." I do not like that way of doing business, but the world is full of folks who accept that currency.

One of the primary reasons the organization is failing, IMO.

Nor will it... always remember the warped view that the paid staff of the organization take of you: you are expendable, and the image of the council/national/brand must be protected. (Even if they are in the wrong of the situation, and you are in the right...integrity doesn't matter)

LO Repeat after me... Summer Camp at the Summit https://www.summitbsa.org/scout-camp/

LOL... that seemed to be their interpretation. But, correlation is not causation...

And many are still in the grace period. They will not renew, and have not dropped off the rosters yet.

Rovers

For those folks, I listen, and then hand them this official Troop complaint form... https://filestore.scouting.org/filestore/pdf/524-501.pdf

I think BSA should drop the age limit. This deadline causes so much unneeded frustration for families and Scouts, and a rush to get it done, cutting corners, and detracting from the experience. If we want to create a great outdoor experience, we do not need to overlay the pressure of doing it for an award you are going run out of time getting. This would also help integrate Scouts with different needs (I do not like the phrase "special needs") who need more time to complete things.

Don't think most would survive the scrutiny...

This is deeply troubling, and indicative of a snowplow parent who does not understand Scouting. Good luck with the parent's education 😜

If you have any old membership cards, that would help. Or, just fill out the application from memory. For those at the 25 year mark or over, they'll get sent to national for checking their records (hence the history questions on the form) If you do have any old records, you could scan and attach with the form, but I do not know if they'll be used. Also, call your registrar to ask for advice. When I finally got around to this task, our registrar told me this: File for the 20-year award first. (This one will have your first joining date as a youth, through the next 20 years, so ending about 5 to 10 years ago, depending on your longevity...) Since this one is only done at the local level, the registrar is the validator. Once the 20-year award is established in your record, then file for your current level, as they will go to national. This gives the folks at national less checking to do (on your first 20 years of status), and, perhaps, makes it more likely they'll process them quickly due to the reduced effort. Do not file multiples.... a 25-year and then a 30-year, etc. Just file for the highest one (over the 20 you did with council) that you qualify for. Again, check with your registrar for best advice. Then, set a reminder on your calendar for filing for your next one. (I'm hitting 40-year veteran status in Jan 2027. 😱) Happy Hunting!

@MattR Nice to have you around the campfire Thanks for serving as a Moderator! The BSA will limp along until it perishes from self-inflicted wounds or radically transforms. The former is more likely than the latter. Scouting will always be a thing. It was a thing even before it was called Scouting... young people having adventures together and learning how to get along in their own little "citizenship" laboratory. Societal ills will increase to a point where adults will realize we need to help young people learn how to replace us. And then there will be a revival. Take your grandkids camping, and do your own version of Scouting. Adventures, skills, and teamwork with grandpa sound like great fun. Enjoy the hikes 😜 And post a picture!

Just read all of Aren's articles. Love that guy! I'd venture a guess to say he (at the least) visits Scouter.com to help flesh out ideas and articles.