InquisitiveScouter

For large Troops (with younger Scouts who advance quickly) it is simply a matter of bandwidth. It us perfectly acceptable to delegate SM confrences.

@DuctTape for National Commissioner! Spot on... To help you, your Scout Handbook has a pretty good checklist in the Hiking Section (Brown colored textblock fore edge... did you know your Scout Handbook was color-coded??) After you read that and gather your gear, go a bit further and check out your Fieldbook, Fifth Editon, Chapter 2, Gearing Up... then follow that with Chapter 18, Cold-Weather Adventuring. If you don't have a Fieldbook, please get one for your edification. https://www.scoutshop.org/2014-bsa-fieldbook-perfect-bound-614985.html (LOL!!! My spell check just tried to correct that to "deification"...well, that too, if you have half of the adventures in the Fieldbook!!!) We just got back today from camping in the nor-easter (yes, we camped out this weekend in eastern PA), and used it as a cold-weather training camp. Official low last night was 8F. Wind sustained at 22 mph, with gusts up to about 40. That put us just outside the 30-minute frostbite window on the wind chill chart. (Refer to this chart for your "deification" https://www.weather.gov/safety/cold-wind-chill-chart ) Know where your conditions are going to put you. When we are going into 10 minute territory, FULL SKIN COVERAGE is mandatory!!! No exposed skin, anywhere.) We had around six inches of snow. And these conditions are nothing compared to what, I'm sure, @DuctTape is used to, but for us lowlanders, it is rare. I taught our Scouts how to build quinzees (see Fieldbook). They had a blast, and were comfortable and cozy inside at around 30F while the wind was howling outside with single digits. Here are some other cold-weather tips...especially if you are not used to working in cold weather... 1. Avoid overheating!!!! If you break a sweat, STOP! Take off your hat, open up all your layers, and cool off a bit. Damp clothing is hazardous to your health 2. EVERYTHING takes more time in the cold. Plan and set expectations accordingly! If your Scouts are moving so slowly that, by the time they finish breakfast and cleaning, it is time to start lunch, that's OK!!! They are learning... 3. If it is electric/electronic, and you think you need it, keep it warm! Flashlights, smartphones, GPS devices....keep them in a pocket next to your body. Cold temps severely degrade battery performance. 4. If your feet are cold, PUT A HAT ON!!! Lots of Scouts don't want to wear hats. Remember who you are dealing with, and gently correct this error of judgment. 5. Your "sleeping system" is of CRITCAL importance. Have a dedicated set of dry underlayer clothing, specifically for sleeping. DO NOT sleep in the clothes you have been running around in all day. See #1. Use two foam pads beneath you...much of your heat goes into the ground vs into the air. Double up your sleeping bags... do not invest in a 0 degree bag if you won't use it often. Using two sleeping bags rated at around 30, one nested into the other, will do the trick. WARNING! Never breathe inside your sleeping bag. It will put loads of moisture into your sleeping system. See #1. Add a fleece blanket in for extra comfort. Then do #6. 6. Bring two wide-mouth Nalgene-type bottles. Before bed time, boil water and fill your bottles. Put them in your sleeping bag (one at your feet, and one up around your torso) for a great night's rest. And, you'll have liquid water to drink during the night, and liquid water to use for hot drinks in the morning. Can't do much with a water bottle that is frozen solid... 7. Overcome whatever personal aversions you have, and learn to use a pee-bottle. I have a dedicated bottle to pee in, discretely, of course. It is well marked to avoid confusion!!! Put it some place it won't freeze...empty discretely in the morning. 8. FIGHT TO STAY DRY! If you can stay dry, you can stay warm. If you get damp or wet, and don't deal with it immediately, you will have problems. 9. Set an alarm and do a wellness check at about 2 AM. With another adult go around to each Scout, wake them, and ask if their fingers, toes, and nose are warm. If not, take corrective action immediately using all the tips above. I file this in the "due diligence" column. In the best of worlds, I'd like to have the SPL do this, but if a Scout is having issues with the cold and hypothermia, the SPL ain't gonna take the hit...you are. That's enough for now....lots of other tips and tricks available for cold weather. If you have an appetite for more, post... P.S. I slept under the stars this weekend in those conditions. Loved it....

This^^^^

No, not a reasonable assessment. Any act of service would fit the bill, as long as the Scout tells "...how it related to doing your duty to God." For example, if the Scout (and parent or spiritual leader) sees picking up trash not only as a community service, but as an act of stewardship that is also his duty to God, then giddyup... Service in a group can fit that bill also. I believe it is written that way to give the ultimate approval to parent or spiritual leader, because you, in no way, are to define those matters for the Scout. A Scout's duty to God is solely up to him, his parents, and his religious leaders.

For us, too! In previous years, our charter was not posted until late Feb or early Mar. Refreshing progress with adoption of on line tools 😎

Nope...but haven't asked either. Anytime I ask anything about council finances, it is viewed as aggressive and sinister, which it is not. When you ask me for money (donations), I want to know it is being spent well and rightly. If you hide everything from me, you don't get my money.

Yes, but it is quite the pain. The refund has to come from national, and that takes a little more time and effort. Any work you put into making your roster right before submission to national helps you and your registrar...and believe me, they appreciate it immensely.

Glad it worked out... btw, this procedure is not consistent across councils. If/when you move to a new one, get to know your registrar!!!

Youth Protection policies do not protect youth. People who follow YP policies are the ones who protect youth. Are the existing YP policies sufficient, IF FOLLOWED? Yes, I believe so. The real issue here is culture, enforcement, transparent reporting, and a lack of swift, severe public consequences. 1. Culture. There is still a mindset in our society (less so in Scouting) of "don't say anything", or "don't get involved." Although, this has changed for the better over the decades. We must define the YP culture we want, and then figure out ways to change attitudes to match the desired culture. 2. Enforcement. There is a major gap in our enforcement, and it lies with parents. Most parents don't or won't take YP training to learn about the policies in place, and ask or participate in enforcement. (See #1.) ANy time I am not on an outing, I ask my son about the trip, and gently pry for info on YP measures followed. I know a lot of parents pencil whip the YP review with their Scout for rank advancement... 3. Transparent Reporting. BSA is horrible at this. When I asked my SE why we don't see more BSA wide statistics on accidents and child abuse, he told me BSA will never report it for fear of liability. (See #1) I think, maybe, if they reported actual numbers and case circumstances, parents would say Scouting is not safe, and their death spiral would continue. Much like the area of council finances, the professionals see that ignorance of the masses is one of their best assets. 4. Swift Severe Public Consequences. Bring pack the pillory in the public square, rotten fruit, tar and feathering, whatever you want... Currently, unless you know where to look and actively go looking (sex offender registry), the issue is pretty much off of everyone's radar. Anytime there is a case in Scouting, everyone goes quiet, and there is just gossip, rumors, whispering, and, unfortunately, inflated lies. Few people know what happened and what part of our policies were violated, and in what circumstances. A giant black hole... Someone gets convicted (I believe in due process)? Lay it bare and have discussions at places like University of Scouting, Roundtables, Council Events, Council Newsletters, etc., about why it occurred and where vigilance was lacking... I believe this can be done in a way which respects the victim(s). No, I do not want to re-live my trauma, either, so tell me how you'd approach this??

Moved to the YP thread...

Just write that in an email to your registrar. They should have no problem removing the departing Scout. Follow up with a phone call if the registrar needs more info. Same thing happened to us...after Christmas break and return to school, a Scout decided he did not wish to continue. Registrar took the change, no problem. No charge...

What rank is she?

And it requires a round lashing...

OK, so, from the description, they could use their imagination to come up with something like this 1. Use the three six foot poles to build the tripod, with a tripod lashing. The top of the tripod is the fulcrum. 2. Using the two eight foot poles, make the boom with round lashings. 3. Attach the two cross braces (blue) with square or Mark II lashings. All these lashings are in the Scout Handbook. Tie a piece of sturdy rope at the end to attach to the object to be moved. Orient the tripod and the cross braces for maximum stability while moving the 25 lbs object. Please see if your Scouts can come up with this solution on their own. Get all the materials together, tell them the problem as stated above, and see what they come up with. Part of this problem seems to be imagining and creating a solution. Woodbridge is about an hour away from us, so I'll pass on the visit. The diagram above is relatively easy to construct. Practice. P.S. If you put the boom on top of the tripod, the upper part of the tripod staves might interfere with the movement of the boom. They are asking for only five feet, so that is a relatively small movement. Anyway, have the Scouts figure it out. You could put the boom below the tripod lashing and use the cross braces as the fulcrum. Trial and error... And I think this is fitting for my 1000th post!!! Thanks for the opportunity😝

1. Scout Handbook Woods Tools section has an OK discussion of lashings. The illustrations are inferior, and you have to parse out the meaning from each of the instructions. 2. The Pioneering Merit Badge pamphlet. 1993 version (1998 printing, if you can find it.) Here's a site https://scoutpioneering.com/older-pioneering-merit-badge-pamphlet/ 3. Practice. You tube videos might help. But, you'll find, there is the right way, the wrong way, and the Scout way 😜 4. Even if they do not have the confidence or ability, do not skip the town. Use their time there to go and ask for a demonstration. In humility, say exactly what you have said..."We don't know how to do this, and we do not have anyone with the experience to teach us. Would you please show us how to do it, so we can learn?" 5. Would you please post a description of what the Derby officials are asking for? 6. Where are you in NJ? If close, I might be able to attend one of your meetings to help. My 999th post!!! So long, triple digits!! 😜

This is why I am a stickler for paperwork and following all points of BSA policies for activities... I shake my every every year, especially at summer camps, at how many adults just blow off safety provisions... Thunder? Yeah, I heard it, but it sounds really far away, we can continue our activity (smh) Jimmy is a Beginner? That's OK, he can get in the canoe with Johnny the swimmer, who is not an adult (smh) Canoe Trek? Naw, they don't need the three hours of instruction or demonstrate proficiency and recover from a capsize (smh) Class II rapids? Naw, we don't need helmets (smh) Scuba? No, we don't need to get the Scuba agency medical formed signed by a doctor...the BSA Annual Health and Medical Record is good enough (smh) and on and on and on...

Yes, the only thing I think would bring it to a full stop is a Cease and Desist Letter from council...then you are officially no longer under the auspices. I totally agree with you: never let the adult side of things hold a Scout back from advancement...

Nope, no signed Annual Charter Agreement. I'll run one around for signatures, just so our CO is covered. This is the document that binds the BSA to cover the CO with insurance. So, do your registrars issue you a unit charter without having this form completed? http://www.scouting.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Annual-Charter-Agreement-Charter-Organizations-.pdf Ours has for the past five years... Hmmmm

You are most welcome! Want deeper knowledge? Read section 4.2.3.6 starting on page 24... https://filestore.scouting.org/filestore/pdf/33088.pdf

Ibuprofen is your friend. https://med.stanford.edu/news/all-news/2012/03/ibuprofen-decreases-likelihood-of-altitude-sickness-researchers-find.html

You are right on the money...and sometimes I think that is why we need the "creative destruction" of a Chapter 7.

Absolutely you can double count. Unless the requirements specifically say otherwise. Also, since the project was conservation related, he could use it to fulfill requirements for the Distinguished Conservation Service Award. https://www.scouting.org/outdoor-programs/conservation-and-environment/conservation-awards-and-recognitions/bsa-distinguished-conservation-service-award/

I took it as a joke. @qwazse?

Sounds wonderful! No bugs, fewer other campers, and a good chilly night to sleep 😜 Hope your other outing goes well...

Ours just went through yesterday. We have a charter until 31 Dec 2022! Now, I'll ask if our charter agreement has actually been signed for the year? (Since our unit has unilaterally handled the last four years doing this [coordinating all signatures on the document and delivering it to council], my sense is we will have to do it again this year...)