InquisitiveScouter

And I can see the good Lord smiling on the undertakings of others and justly rewarding their efforts.

Except, in this case, the subjects (us), left to fend for themselves, go on happily scouting because there are no "marauders" after us. The marauders then launch maritime salvage operations and learn to deep sea dive (extended legal actions against local councils?)

LOL, my daughter's Crew did not recharter this year. They sent the form to my wife to fill out. She asked me what to do. I said, "Are you a current registered member of the BSA?" "No." "Here, let me open the garbage can for you."

Every unit has its own culture... In the Air Force, every headquarters has a Standardization and Evaluation section. All flight crewmembers must take periodic "checkrides" to ensure adherence to flight and safety standards. No current checkride? You are grounded. When you take a checkride, there is a write up of your performance. If any areas are substandard, there is prescribed corrective action which must be followed. I believe the Commissioner Corps was supposed to perform this sort of function. But, I have never seen any forcing function for units to comply with all of the BSA standards out there. It is totally up to the goodwill and integrity of the volunteers to ensure compliance. So, some units begin doing things that are outright forbidden; adults with alcohol on trips, fireworks, inappropriate adult supervision, hazing, ignoring safety standards for aquatics activities, etc.) Basically, if something happens, then the adults get sued for negligence or something else. In most cases, I have heard of BSA offering settlements for cases. Anyone have real stories to share of adults being held to account? Here's a case of a lightning death: https://www.poconorecord.com/article/20060609/NEWS/606090357 https://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:Bsrk6zqXN68J:https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2006-jun-16-na-scouts16-story.html+&cd=2&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us And another lightning: https://etvnews.com/rayborn-boy-scouts-reach-settlement-in-wrongful-death-suit/ And a fall (ongoing case??): https://www.opb.org/news/article/corvallis-mother-sues-boy-scouts-of-america-for-sons-death-during-camping-trip/

Unfortunately, this is my experience as well...

If you want to increase your knowledge and skills, check in at your local Scout camp this summer and complete two courses: Aquatics Supervision: Swimming and Water Rescue - a day or two Aquatics Supervision: Paddle Craft Safety - a day or two Next level is BSA Lifeguard... takes a week at a Summer Camp, if offered Next level is go to National Camp School, Aquatics Director program. Week long intensive course... Lifeguard cert required before starting...

All online... You will need to do Safe Swim Defense and Safety Afloat. On my.scouting Training, they are under "Expanded Learning" "Program Safety" While you are there, recommend you go ahead and complete Hazardous Weather training. Then, please read and comply with applicable sections of Guide to Safe Scouting "Aquatics Safety" section. https://www.scouting.org/health-and-safety/gss/gss02/ Three biggest gotchas: 1. Anyone not classified as a Swimmer must be in a boat with an adult classified as Swimmer. 2. Cub Scouts may not do boating on moving water. 3. Participants must wear a life jacket for all afloat activities, including tubing. Have a blast!!

No need for a PM... The Scout Strong awards were retired on 31 Dec 2020. My guess is due to lack of popularity... But, as with any retired award, you may give them out as long as you can find a source for the patches. They are still for sale... https://www.scoutshop.org/nsearch/?q=ScoutStrong These will probably show in Scoutbook for several more years, but that's a guess. I pitched these to our Patrol Leaders Council for program, and they were, "No, thanks!" There is so much other program material to do... As you are picking a program for Lions and Tigers (and Bears, oh, my!! Sorry...that slipped), you'd have to really work to put it on their level. If you choose to do one, recommend the Healthy Unit Award option... Happy Hunting

BTW, busts are anything where someone just talks or reads from a book... "A boy is not a sitting-down animal." BP

Absolutely! The adults with our Troop have just as much fun as the Scouts! Who doesn't love crossing the monkey bridge, fishing, swimming in the river, or acting silly at a campfire? Gotta be a Scout at heart

Is this one of the main reasons National chooses who the SE's are? To protect their "reversionary interests"? And before you say National doesn't choose...they choose the small pool from whom the SE comes, so, in effect, they choose.

That is the nature of war It is always a different one than what you wanted...the enemy has a vote

- Local wildlife rehabilitation center (if they allow visitors, this is an awesome trip where young Scouts get to see native wildlife.) - Planetarium - Anything with dinosaurs...I mean, anything! - Local "commercial" cave - Local quarry - A farm (with animals, big machines, and something they can pick and eat) - Playing in a mud puddle!!! (You know you'd love it, too. )

No, when they go to prison, the inmates usually take justice into their hands. Child molesters are the lowest in the prison pecking order...and a target for everyone else.

I'll take 4. All the above.

In your nomination, describe how the candidate demonstrates leadership in service. "...who serves his fellows, is, of all his fellows, greatest!" In the Wimachtendienk, Amangiechsin

Mike Rowe?

The best part of Scouting is some of the people you meet. The worst part of Scouting is some of the other people you meet.

Scouting is not your priority. Stepping away from it is OK. How is your spiritual life? How is your family dynamic? How is your financial health? How is your physical health? (Although, Scouting can help with the last one ) These questions are rhetorical...please do not answer them here. But, if you are really not where you want to be with these, they will also affect your Scouting experience. So, a little attention to these areas of life can help. As @CynicalScouter said, counseling is a positive thing. Talking with someone, exploring what motivates you and why you are experiencing this low spot, and finding ways to cope with the stresses that bring you back to "center" will go a long way to making extra-curricular things like Scouting more enjoyable. You are fighting the same battle we all deal with a various times... and you can find a way through.

Gents, young people (you included, when you were young) have a need for risk and an element of danger, if for nothing more than to find out what the boundaries are... This is primary territory for scouting. If you have time, two good articles....shocking statistic about "roaming distance" btw https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/oct/14/risk-essential-childhood-children-danger https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2010/aug/16/childre-nature-outside-play-health

@fred8033, no, not "ignoring". But there are non-emergency medical conditions which would require an "exception to policy". Two examples...a sleepwalker, and a Scout with disabilities which made him unable to grasp and open zippers on sleeping bags, tents, backpacks, pants, etc,, and to not be able to take care of personal hygiene adequately. In both cases, before the event, the unit made a written request to the SE, who concurred and informed National (who might have vetoed?). Both cases were approved with two stipulations: 1) those adults may not be counted towards required supervision for the rest of the unit, and 2) the exception would terminate if the Scout's condition improved to where the exception was no longer required. We did have an issue where, based on SM judgment, we had a parent tent with Scout. It was Scout's first night with the Troop. Parent (committee member) was camping with adults, in separate location and tent. Unit was in bear country. Another mischievous Scout thought it would be funny to act like a bear and scare the bejeezus (technical term) out of the first nighter... Well, the first nighter was absolutely terrified (bejeezus meter definitely on on zero). The only way he was going to stay was if the parent slept in the tent with him. SM made the call to do it, but one night only...if first nighter "needed" this the second night, they would go home. Parent was not one of the supervising adults. Second night was fine. Scout slept alone. Agreed. I usually reason with the parents along these lines: 1) We understand your Scout is afraid, but he will be fine. This isn't our first rodeo. And yes, your Scout is unique. (just like everybody else, but we don't say that out loud) 2) A Scout is brave. In order to be brave, you MUST have fear. Without fear, there is no bravery. This is a key point Scouts must learn. 99 times out of 100, when you ask a new Scout what is means to be brave, he says it means "to not be afraid". Nothing could be further from the truth... 3) He needs to face this challenge to grow, and he will receive loads of encouragement and support. 4) If you tent with him, the other Scouts WILL think this odd, and we will have to work harder at "perception" management and watch how the others interact with your Scout. Please save them this potential pain and embarrassment. 5) If you tent with your Scout, it WILL be detrimental to other Scouts whose parents could not attend, and this can be a cause for resentment towards your Scout. 6) If you do not believe your Scout can handle sleeping without you, then perhaps he is not ready for the program. Yeah, that was a huge foul on the part of the ASM, for not informing the adult leaders who were supervising. Chastisement definitely in order.

The latter...

I call this the "one person poops his pants and then everybody has to wear a diaper" rule!

And why Scouts cannot climb trees any more. 🤪😒😬

Best protection from bears is to put food in someone else's tent Kidding!!!