InquisitiveScouter

We make it clear that this monkey is on the Scout's back. That is, the Scout is responsible for completing and tracking his own advancement. If he wants to mark something complete in Scoutbook, fine. He must then go to any youth who is approved to sign off, or to the assigned Assistant Scoutmaster for his Patrol, to get things signed in his Scout Handbook. Once the Handbook is signed, he notifies the ASM, who then marks completions in Scoutbook. The Handbook is primary. Scoutbook is a back up (for when the Scout loses his Handbook 😜 ) We even have our Scouts contact our Advancement Chair to request scheduling their Boards of Review. Pro tip: We use a highlighter to mark things in the Handbook when they are approved in Scoutbook. That way, at a glance at the Scout's Handbook, we can tell if he is shepherding his own advancement.

Quite a leap there, partner... Answering the question about US institutions in general, per the post above...

Soros' group and the US Justice System: https://www.politico.com/story/2016/08/george-soros-criminal-justice-reform-227519 Media bias dividing US social cohesion by hyping incidents (particularly those claiming racial causes): https://apnews.com/article/poll-misinformation-polarization-coronavirus-media-d56a25fd8dfd9abe1389b56d7e82b873 Destruction of military readiness through attempts to revise policies about gender, sexual orientation, sex changes, etc., https://www.heritage.org/defense/commentary/military-readiness-takes-back-seat-wokeness-the-pentagon Finding "by whom" is sometimes difficult. But you can see the erosion everywhere. Can you not? In many cases, the attack is not directed at destruction of the system, but rather to change it to fit a group's hobby horse of an agenda... with the unintended consequence that the institution begins to crumble, as in our military.

Just Google 'BSA "rape culture"' and you'll get lots of results.

@AwakeEnergyScouter, you see this confusion everywhere. There is a common misconception that our "core product" is Eagle Scouts. Ask parents what they want for their child out of Scouts, BSA... you'll get this answer most of the time. Our core product is actually parsed out here: "The Scouting program has specific objectives, commonly referred to as the “Aims of Scouting.” They are character development, leadership development, citizenship training, and personal fitness." https://troopleader.scouting.org/scoutings-aims-and-methods/ [Or, in my words, we are about making youth into "physically, financially, and spiritually fit citizen-leaders who have the character needed make moral and ethical decisions."] The adventure outdoors is just the "laboratory environment" where we meet these objectives. But that laboratory is a crucial part of the overall experiment. Although we advertise "Scouts BSA is the traditional Scouting experience where boys and girls can have their share of adventure in the great outdoors." https://www.scouting.org/programs/scouts-bsa/ So, the real problem you come across is a lack of clarity on exactly what it is we are trying to do, and a lack of communication to the real target audience (parents, not kids) of what it is we are trying to "sell" them. Then we have a problem with delivering on whatever promises we have made, or whatever promises we are perceived to have made, both to parents and to Scouts. Which is why the great majority finish their Eagle rank and disappear. My grade overall, on how we do collectively as an organization is a C-. For a myriad of reasons. All IMO, of course.

Bingo.

I love the dirt-smudged hands and faces in that video, @AwakeEnergyScouter!!! I tell people, IF you want real adventure and Scouting, you need to step outside your (flush-toilet and hot shower) comfort zone 😜 , and accept some risk to get a greater reward. A saying I love, and use in an SM minute from time to time is, "A ship in harbor is safe, but that’s not what ships are built for."

We are no longer the Knights who say "Ni!" We are now the Knights who say, "Ecki, ecki ecki, ecki, pakang, zum-boing!!" C'mon people, we put this change out years ago! See time mark 0:18 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RZvsGdJP3ng&ab_channel=KennyFerry Now, go find a herring!

Sorry, I cannot answer that, as I have never had occasion to see a 911 bounce back message. So, I do not know if it is the same as other message delivery fails... Might vary by carrier and phone type as well (Android vs I-phone, etc.)

In case you did not know... A text message requires much less signal connectivity (strength and duration) than a call, or to load up some data. Some 911 call centers accept text messages. Your mileage WILL vary 😜 The Federal Communications Commission REQUIRES all carriers to notify you with a "bounce back" message if your text to 911 does not go through. https://www.fcc.gov/consumers/guides/what-you-need-know-about-text-911 If it does not go through to 911, next try sending a text to your designated support person back home. (Yes, you need to recruit someone to fill this role as part of your trek plan. Usually a spouse or loved one who will contact authorities if you need assistance or are overdue.) Finally, in your trek planning, one of the questions you can ask the Search and Rescue agency responsible for your location (yes, you should know who that is, too!) if they accept texts. Happy trekking!

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^this

Most people never experience what you are referring to in your post. They will forever remain "In Search of Scouting." I just finished a 6-day river trek, with 10 Scouts and three other adults, in two crews. All Scouts earned their 50-miler award (the 10 hours of service is actually the most difficult part...) The older Scouts also did the Kodiak Leadership Challenge. Each night, we camped on an island in the river. A few had pit toilets. Even then, Scouts preferred to dig and use their own catholes. 😛 We brought a good deal of fresh water, but for meals (since we had to boil it anyway) we boiled water from the river. In two weeks, we will do a 5-day backpacking trek, where the Scouts will go through the Leave No Trace Trainer curriculum. Only one night will we camp in an established campground. The rest will be pristine sites where they must put into practice what they are learning. And both of these trips will cost less than half the Council Summer Camp fee. These are "The pinnacle of Scouting experiences..." https://filestore.scouting.org/filestore/pdf/Passport_to_HighAdventure_34245(16).pdf Enjoy!

If I may offer a kind suggestion: For your own mental health, please stop posting. P.S. As you also find this forum to be distressing, I have gone back and removed my downvote. Be well.

If you go into the wilderness... (I now define "wilderness" as no cell signal, LOL), consider purchasing one for your crew. At around $400, they are getting more affordable. Recommended reading for your edification: https://www.sarsat.noaa.gov/emergency-406-beacons/ One example: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07PPJGFKK Register your device, if you get one!!

We did our own Summer Camp in 2020 (COVID). 31 Scouts in 6 Patrols; 11 adults. Scouts did shopping in three stages for the week, for cooking requirements thru First Class, or Cooking merit badge, whichever they needed. Each Patrol had an SPL/ASPL or adult guest for each meal. (Rotated for each meal.) We had great fun just doing activities... tubing, fishing, canoeing, swimming, exploring, etc. Scouts said one of the things they enjoyed the most was time to just hang out with the other members of their Patrol. (Each had their own campsite.) We offered Wilderness Survival, Mammal Study, Environmental Science, and Fishing. Older Scouts taught Totin' Chip and Firem'n Chit to our First Year Scouts. I then guided some older Scouts through Paul Bunyan. Also offered CPR/AED training. They had great fun while accomplishing so much during that trip. The adults were amazed at how we could pull this off ourselves, with minimal planning and effort. And we did it for $238.20 a head. Our biggest expense was for renting the entire campground for the week. (We had the place entirely to ourselves.) "A week of camp life is worth six months of theoretical teaching in the meeting room." Yet, when offered to do it again, the PLC declined. The majority would rather go to a Summer Camp where all the work is done for you (planning, scheduling, setting up camp, shopping, cooking, and dishes, etc.), and you are given a bunch of badges for sitting around a picnic table listening to someone talk. Our modern council-run Summer Camps are not the ideal unit experience. They are not "A week of camp life..."; they are a rustic "country-club" experience. IMO, of course...

They could really make this easier on themselves. Adults! Come volunteer at the Jamboree! You'll need to bring your own camping gear (size limits on the tent), but we will feed you. Your fee will be to sponsor a Scout from your council to attend the Jamboree as well. Yes, this could be your own Scout! I would have done that... would you?

Yes. Yes, they did.

My intuition says something is just not right here... And the whole exchange is rather... weird. I am choosing not to engage further. Over and out.

Kleenex? No... You got a negative reply from me for your post: "Well, this conversation appears to be unnecessary as the questionable replies appear to no longer exist which is kind of telling in and of itself. Good day to all." You got people who did not see eye-to-eye with you on an issue that we have only one side of the story on... I certainly did not understand what your message meant... "questionable replies appear to no longer exist..." But then you become condescending and dismissive with "...which is kind of telling in and of itself. Good day to all." That is why I gave you a negative. Please put a more positive expression in your tone. You catch more flies with honey...

mene, mene, tekel, upharsin

Blame Canada! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bOR38552MJA&ab_channel=Movieclips

Follow the money...

Additional background: https://www.bloomberglaw.com/external/document/X42S2V68000000/bankruptcy-professional-perspective-constitutionality-of-non-con https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/4777 Wonder why this bill died in Congress??

Welcome to Boy Scouts of America!

My observations over the years: Turnover of DE's is extremely high. In general, those that take the role out of a passion for Scouting, helping youth, and program in the outdoors are rapidly disabused of those notions under the whip of money and membership, often being asked to depart from the values of the Scout Oath and Scout Law. So, many, many leave after a short time. Those that remain (there are exceptions!!!) are often not the type of person we would want in that role... And the long production line of poor leadership and deficiencies in executive development begins. The product is people who hang on in horrible, unethical work environments long enough to get vested in a pension program, and potentially get on the "SE Gravy Train" of an inflated executive salary, if they can work the system and get hired into that position in a council somewhere. And their primary goal is preservation of that system, which has rewarded them for their perseverance. Again, I have met some wonderful counter-examples. But, on the collected whole, I think my assessment, although negative, is accurate. And I love to hear about those successful counter-examples, so fire away! (They are what give me "a fool's hope") https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y0S_MebzyzQ&ab_channel=Ejdamm