InquisitiveScouter

Sorry, not the case...if you have a legitimate question, and you know your SE/local staff isn't giving a coherent answer, and you email National, it will bite you right in the keister. National views you as being solely under the authority of your local SE. So, when you conduct events in surrounding councils, you still fall under the interpretation of rules/policies as issued by your local SE, not the hosting council...unless that council is MORE restrictive. If you point out the disconnect, you get skewered. They shoot the messenger... I have experienced this personally. And I know others who also have... I will welcome them and offer them coffee, but the conversation will be guarded and carefully worded. Dare I even say evasive...too much scar tissue here, brothers

This is my perception of how this works in many Troops. Most of the time, a new parent (probably one who was a DL) takes on ASM, and continues the Cub Scout model...this is not good... For us, we assign an ASM (who knows how to back off), and let the TG show them the ropes from Crossover (Feb/March) through their first few camping trips, PLCs, and a Summer Camp. Once the NSP "gets the program," usually around August/September, we have the TG back off and let the NSP operate independently. In October, they have their first Patrol-only camping trip (scheduled in two weeks, hooray!!). We assign new parent ASM's to an older Patrol, so that Patrol can teach them how Scouting is done Sadly, most parents don't want to deal with other people's kids...they want to "do Scouting" only with their own kid. I haven't really found a way to change that thinking, yet...other than exposure over time to what real Scouting is, and trying to set the example...

I do appreciate the fact that BSA announced they will not recognize a "First to Earn." Even so, there is a good deal of the "She is the First!!" syndrome this going around...here, and in articles I have seen. BSA cannot control what the media writes. My daughter has delayed a bit, for various reasons...she might make the Inaugural Class cut-off date, but we don't care about that. As long as she gets it, that's all that matters to her. She is at college now, and with all the Covid-19 restrictions, she has some extra time for merit badge work via Zoom. And she is one of the best Scouts I have seen Really knows her stuff, and prides herself on diligence and skill (versus appearance and fluff) and will most likely finish her Venturing Ranger award (🤞)!!! Congressional Award Gold Medal in 2018, Summit in 2019. Hope you don't mind a proud Dad bragging on his daughter! When she finishes Eagle, I will feel like Master Yoda... "We are what they grow beyond. That is the true burden of all masters."

Not yet...but that is the goal/vision...currently, we do camp less frequently as a Troop so the Patrols can camp more as a Patrol. We are currently at one Patrol camping event per quarter. It is usually the adult support that is the limiting factor. The older Scouts really enjoy this, as they get a break from "supervisory" duties and get a chance to just hang out with their buddies. It seems to refresh them so they are more engaged on the Troop camping trips when the younger Patrols (yes, we use age-based patrols) need their guidance.

I hate "one and done." It is a cancer eating away at the outdoor program... for the youth and the adults... Our long-standing Troop policy (since before we joined) was that Scouts over First Class could sign off requirements up to First Class. When reviewing some Scouts recently, we discovered widespread pencil-whipping of requirements by a few older Scouts. I questioned them individually, and they admitted it. All had been signing off one or more requirements that they had no current working knowledge of...first aid, navigation, woods tools and knots, etc... So, moratorium on that policy. But the damage was done...it has taken time to rebuild some basic skills into the "corporate knowledge". The results are beginning to show...small things...knots tied correctly on tents, tarps, and lashings...Scouts actually bringing their Scout essentials on an outing...Scouts studying their Handbooks because they know that is what they will be tested on...dishes are cleaned (nearly) after every meal...Patrols actually have Patrol flags, yells, and a group identity/esprit de corps...and adults learning the skills because, for the interim, only they are signing off requirements. And, the most common refrain at camp from adults is now "Did you ask your Patrol Leader?" (You have to train the adults, too!!!) I am trying to get them back to the point where the vision is realized...Scouts teaching Scouts, and signing them off...a work in progress... Anybody else out there look into this closely and find something different??

@TMcL you are on target...effects of almost any conservation initiative can be expanded to a planet level... "common to more than one country" is fluff to make it more "World Conservation"-y Flip the question...what conservation projects' affects could not be extended to be common to more than one country?? I can't think of any. Perhaps the purpose of this is to get the Scout to see small local efforts as having a far-reaching impact. (Think globally, act locally?)

The cycle of abuse...

♦ Q: If my camp is cancelled, can my unit get together with other units and have our own camp? No. Chartering organizations play an important role in the program and activities for their chartered units. Chartering organizations promote well-planned unit program for the units they charter and encourage their units to have active outdoor unit programs. Chartering organizations are not authorized to plan, promote, or deliver programs for units outside of their charter. It is the role of the council to plan long-term or resident camps and the role of councils or districts to plan camporees and other outings during the year that give youth an opportunity to test their knowledge and skills in competitive events with other troops and/or patrols. When units with different chartered organizations do activities together, this becomes a district or council event and requires council approval. In fact, some states require such activities to be licensed. Should your troop, crew or ship decide to do a long-term camping program for their own unit (Cub Scouts units are prohibited from this activity) please note that the Scouter Code of Conduct and relevant program safety and training requirements are still in place, e.g., Safe Swim Defense, Hazardous Weather, Wilderness First Aid, etc. https://www.scouting.org/coronavirus/covid-19-faq/ As this is not printed anywhere I can find other than in FAQ (can anyone please help?) I'd say get forgiveness vs. permission... I think they may have written this with full knowledge they'd be implementing their NCAP policy... Another aside...if both CO's agree, and provide leadership for their own units, I say "Giddyup!"

Although, they will only be disbanding the corporation known as the Boy Scouts of America. Scouting is a movement that must be intellectually separated from the BSA. Scouting will go on, and I intend to be one who keeps it going, with or without the BSA. Hence my moniker...

Good point...

Except the lawyers...

Ahhh...re-read, please...a) BSA national, b) local council, c) chartering org... Units are not mentioned, as they are not legal entities...

Units are never legal entities...that is the purpose of the chartering organization. But I know you knew that! You could incorporate a unit, but it would not really be part of the BSA. The legal entity you created could charter a BSA unit that would have the exact same membership as the incorporated entity. But, the entity must have principal officers and a board which can, potentially, be held liable for actions of the corporation.

A great resource... https://tap.scouting.org/ Check it out

Save your money, book a week on the Chesapeake, DelMarVa Council: http://www.delmarvacouncil.org/high-adventure-opportunities/high-adventure-sailing-on-the-chesapeake/9297#Registration Save even more money...eliminate the middle man of the council, and book directly with the company: https://www.experiencesail.com/ You'll have to plan for and bring your own meals...but they will give you guidance on that...

Isn't it always about the money??

Wonder what drove this? https://www.scouting.org/outdoor-programs/trail-to-adventure/the-highlights-of-short-term-camp-an-interview-with-the-ncap-chairman/

The market provides...

Yes, but any licensed provider could do it. They just have to enter their info, just as on the BSA form. And yes, people cheat. We have had parents fake Part C's before, and called them on it, discretely of course.

What is that??

Agreed...and they have already done it. But download the form, then get it filled out/signed, then uploaded again is horrible. Even the government has figured this one out...the FAA has an online "secure" medical clearance website called MedXpress. https://medxpress.faa.gov/medxpress/ https://www.faa.gov/pilots/safety/pilotsafetybrochures/media/medxpress.pdf Aviators and air traffic controllers (in the works) create an account, and put in all their medical info before their provider visit. At the visit, the provider logs in to complete some additional data and "clear" the pilot to fly. Bada bing, bada boom...you have an FAA Medical Certificate and are flying in/managing our national airspace. With standardized data, you can easily pull an "caution" report for your outing. Print out forms if you are going someplace with no access... The hurdle here is cost (of course) and to get parents on board for A&B, and providers on board for Part C, with accounts to log in and provide data and clearance. But, with (from 2019 Annual Report) 2.1M youth and 800K adult volunteers, plus outing visitors (yes, all participants must have the form) that could possibly be the largest medical database in existence. Possible, but highly improbable this would ever come to be...

Ever hear of Price's Law?? https://dariusforoux.com/prices-law/ 50% of the work is done by the square root of the total number of people who participate in the work.

Wow! No wonder there is a high turn over rate...I wouldn't do any of that...nor ask the DE to do it. Our previous DE, when he first came in, pulled me aside and asked what is the one thing our district needed to focus on. I told him we need Commissioners. I think we have two...and I don't even know who ours currently is... And we currently have no DE. I twist our CC's arm to come camping with us...a lot!!

Will you move here and be our CC, please?? (with no pay ) concur