OaklandAndy

My guess is that National always puts the cart before the horse. I've noticed that since I started volunteering in 2017. It happens frequently that now it's the new norm.

My issue is that they advertised it as a "winter camping experience"...and while I understand the risk, there is also preparation that goes into it and if a family couldn't prepare for the cold, I would think that common sense would tell them to come for the day and not the overnighter. Either way, for those units/families do did prepare (money spent on gear/food), there wasn't even an option to stay overnight. Small marines...that's a stretch. But I understand the exaggeration.

That's what I was thinking too...besides outright "laziness", which seems to be more common. I took our 4/5 graders out a couple years ago for a overnight winter campout on a weekend where it was snowing and got below freezing and they had a blast. To be honest though, I thought they were all going to tell their parents that they wanted to leave because of the cold, but they didn't and really accomplished a lot that weekend. I was hoping this event would have a similar effect, however, this council disappoints once again. They may have their hands tied, but why offer it in the first place? The weather conditions could not have been better for this time of year. No wind, cold yes, but no rain either. I often think about scouting in other areas where it stays predominately "too hot" or "too cold" and wonder if units are striking the whole camping experience just because of the weather conditions. I wouldn't think so, but with @skepticcomment about CYA, are we going to see more of it?

Our council recently held a winter camping experience for our Webelos/AOLs this past weekend. It's a patrol-led event with "frosty" fun. 2 nights before the event, an email was sent out saying that the overnight portion is cancelled due to the temperature (forecast was a low of 17 degrees). I wanted to get your thoughts on this as I feel that the overnight portion should not have been cancelled due to weather. Units who properly prepared for this should've of been able to handle the cold weather, not to mention the money that was already spent to have the proper gear and meals. I think that the option to camp overnight could've been switched to optional for those units who did not prepare adequately. What are your thoughts? What other information did I not consider to justify the decision by the council?

I finished mine last fall, one of the better trainings that I've been to so far. Volunteering dynamics became a LOT easier once I networked with other leaders and focused in on what I needed to do to be a better leader for our scouts, volunteers, and parents.

I've got a buddy who is looking for an old Boy Scout axe with the logo on it. Seeing how many of you have been involved way longer than I have. where can I find one for him? I thought it would make a pretty cool Christmas present. Thanks!

Patrol, my bad. Dang military slang is still hard to get rid of after all these years.

Completely agree. It's a big deal for the little ones. We "solved" this issue by letting them pick out their squad patch (dragon, moose, etc.) and come up with a creative name. It seems to be working as we retain most of our older kids who've been in the program for 3+years at that point.

Well that's just funky. You are correct, only the COR can hold 2 positions within a unit. Being a UC does not automatically make you a committee member by any virtue. They can be an ASM or CommMem, but not both, at least not on paper. If they are wearing multiple hats and fulfilling different roles, that's one thing, but still only 1 position on paper. At least that's my understanding. If it becomes an issue, that would be something your CC and COR to discuss.

What makes an area/community eligible to participate in the ScoutReach program? I'm sure there is some type of income cap for the area, county, or something like that. All I find online is brochures about participating, but no set requirements outside leadership requirements and charter stuff.

100% worth it. I taught Rifle/Shotgun during summer camp for 2 years, with some other events outside of camp, and the look on their faces when it "clicks" is satisfying EVERY.SINGLE.TIME. Feed the bureaucracy their paperwork so you, and the scouts, can reap the rewards.

I haven't looked at the SSM in awhile, but I know as of last year, you don't even need an RSO to run a range during summer camps. Outside summer camps, yes. During...no. Hmm.

We are pretty remote. They paid a couple hundred thousand to run fiber optic under/above ground for about 3 miles. But I guess we're not that remote if we were able to get it. Just expensive!

Our camp upgraded it's wifi to help leaders who need to work. While it's only accessible from "base camp" and not at the campsites, it seems that the password gets leaked to the scouts and they end up sitting all over the place. It turned into an "encampment" and it was disturbing. Resolving one situation created another one.

Totally agree! We actually work with the local multicultural community center in town. We are starting our first, hopefully not last, pack yard sale with all proceeds going to the center to help support their after-school and summer programs. In turn, hopefully we have enough exposure to recruit some of those youth that go to the center. If not, oh well. That was never the aim anyways.