InquisitiveScouter

You tell a boy this, and they are like, "Yeah right, where's the exit??"

I thought judo was allowed, too...when did they take that out??

Silly...can't even have a mock sword (light saber) fight with pool noodles?? I see this in the pool at Summer Camp every year... G2A Prohibited Activities: 14. Activities where participants strike at each other, including martial arts, boxing, combat games, gladiator games, and reenactment activities such as live action role-playing games (LARP) and Society for Creative Anachronism (SCA) activities (exception: tai chi) https://www.scouting.org/health-and-safety/gss/gss07/#b

Sorry to hear that. It is tough to balance. I struggle with same, and find myself often in the same territory you describe... Thank you for all your efforts. I hope your kids will see the enormous amount of positive impact you are sure to have had, and realize that some of their sacrifice contributed to that positive impact on others' lives.

You can shoot paintball at non-human targets... G2SS: "Activities where participants shoot or throw objects at each other, such as rock-throwing, paintball, laser or archery tag, sock fights, or dodgeball" Q: Can Scouts, Venturers and Sea Scouts shoot paintball or airsoft guns? A: Scouts, Venturers and Sea Scouts may shoot paintball guns and airsoft guns at targets only; they may not shoot at each other or at any form of a human silhouette target. https://www.scouting.org/outdoor-programs/shooting-sports/shooting-faq/

I am Connor MacLeod of the Clan MacLeod. I was born in 1518 in the village of Glenfinnan on the shores of Loch Shiel. And I am immortal. 😮 https://clanmacleod.org/

@qwazse, yes, that is certainly a reason. But why allow it in Cub Scouts? Ages 7 to 13 are the most vulnerable to sexual abuse. https://victimsofcrime.org/child-sexual-abuse-statistics/ https://www.acf.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/documents/cb/cm2019_4.pdf https://americanspcc.org/child-abuse-statistics/#:~:text=411%2C969 victims (60.8%) are,2.3%) are psychologically maltreated.

All the above??

That...membership = money

For about 50% of our Scouts it is. About 25% of parents hang around and talk, but don't contribute. The other 20-25% are the ones who are really helping, mentoring, teaching, driving, camping, etc. Pareto principle at work... or More like Price's Law https://dariusforoux.com/prices-law/

Well, duh!! It is more interesting for them. Unless very well executed, the Scout program, with the wide range of age groups, tends to focus more on the needs of younger Scouts. I posit that is a drag for the older ones. I know our older Scouts absolutely LOVE IT when we do program events for them only.

@RichardB, your request has only been up for 36 hours...give it time... Also, would you mind elaborating a bit?? What is the task and commitment required, please? And what role do you play, if you can share...I think you work with Health and Safety at National, right? Finally, please let me know if you will vet folks through their council. If so, I'm out... not on good terms here... for asking a LOT of the same questions and not accepting unacceptable answers But if you want someone to shoot straight, not beat around the bushes, and will really help you with issues, I might be one of your lackeys

Membership and money over all else...

We are saying the same thing... By age cohort, I simply mean first year Scouts who are in the age group of 10.5 to 11 years old.

I think a pervasive malady at National (and many Councils) is simply not understanding who their primary customers are: Adult Volunteers! Without them, you don't have youth membership, YP, program, or anything else...

@CynicalScouter, I have had many questions, also. One particular question was regarding 72 hour rule and MBCs (whether they were "registered leaders" or not, and what was the difference if our CO approved them to camp with us.) I asked our DE (when we had one), who did not have the answer. Asked a more senior DE, and the FD, who had different answers (one of them was "blow it off" ). Asked the SE, who said ask National. Asked DE friends and another SE in separate council...another different answer! When I asked National, the YP person said right out, that I was trying to circumvent National's membership policies, and that I should just ask my SE, and that they questioned the leadership of our council. He also included the SE in the email. I thought it was really nasty, and I called him out on it. Later, our SE used some very unScoutlike language to describe the National person. LOL In this particular case, it seemed to be about the money... not YP or Program

I believe about half of the Scouts we see enter at 10.5 to 11 years old (and their parents) are not really psychologically ready for the shift towards more personal responsibility and less parent involvement. Over the years I have seen attrition in that age cohort of about a fourth, at most. If they make it through the first year , their retention rate thereafter is high...over 90%.

No worries... I think the "policy" is not well thought out, nor articulated, much like the no co-ed thing or co-ed buddy pairs... When you do a Webelos recruiting day, for example, isn't that program for a separate unit if packs other than your CO's show??

Don't tell your council "Chartering organizations are not authorized to plan, promote, or deliver programs for units outside of their charter." https://www.scouting.org/coronavirus/covid-19-faq/

And carts (wagons) are back!

Yeah, that one has me scratching my head... I did say "some" sensible changes

BSA just released updated tool guidelines...finally, some sensible changes... https://filestore.scouting.org/filestore/healthsafety/pdf/680-028.pdf?utm_source=scoutingwire&utm_campaign=swvolunteer3172021&utm_medium=email&utm_content=

Here's something interesting to peruse...it's the YMCA insurance questionnaire the Great American Insurance Group uses to begin the underwriting process. https://www.greatamericaninsurancegroup.com/docs/default-source/specialty-human-services/ymca-questionnaire.pdf?sfvrsn=c4f943b1_6 Take note under abuse/molestation coverage.... "Is your organization Praesidium Certified?" Never heard of this with BSA... https://website.praesidiuminc.com/wp/ Probably best posted under YP thread...sorry moved here by RS

Don't groups (like councils), by law, have to have insurance to conduct activities? https://www.greatamericaninsurancegroup.com/for-businesses/subproducts-details/specialty-human-services/organizations-we-serve/youth-services

I'll check with a buddy who helps with the local youth soccer travel team... it seems, whenever I talk to him, that another kid on the squad has a concussion. Their accident and health insurance premiums must be high. But you don't really need accident and health... BSA is only a supplementary in that regard anyway, unless you are a military dependent. (Then they are primary.) It's the liability you need. And, I'd bet, if you present good documentation and transparency that you are exercising due diligence, the liability premiums may be reduced. Again, I'd have to talk with the underwriter... This site says $29 to $47 per month, depending on some variables. So, at $5 per youth per annum, with 50 Scouts, we are paying $20.83 per month already, thru council/national. https://generalliabilityinsure.com/small-business/youth-groups-insurance.html#:~:text=How Much Does Youth Group,offered%2C claims history and more. Finally, your home and assets are always at risk with "gross negligence". Of course, there are elements of proof for that. A personal injury lawyer advised me an umbrella policy is always wise http://www.fcomi.org/uploads/3/3/7/4/3374831/volunteer_protection_act.pdf