Double Eagle

I would say yes on these as a hiking activity. If the scout doesn't complete the MB, they were still conducted under the auspices of the BSA. After the first couple of hikes some scouts may drop out, but the experience remains. Record it. This made me think about wheel-chair bound scouts and how they would earn the hiking MB. I would say if they "rolled" (not under electric power) the entire hikes, they meet the intent of the badge. I would challenge any "nay-sayer" to try a wheel-chair hike the normal distance for the MB.

As an owner of the red and OD jackets, I have to add the OD were around from 2003-2009. This tends to be my activity jacket more than anything else. I'm still not a fan of the printed BSA logo on the pocket. My red one is more of a non-outing garment. My Philmont bull is on the red along with the pre-MGM OA patch. I just leave the OD one as it came. They are ok for most temperate areas, but when cold weather (under 35ish degrees), the practical layering comes into play. Also, when temps are above 65, time to stash them.

I've had units set up a hotwheel track and a bucket of cars to race for siblings that always wanted to be involved. This track keeps them from being around the real track, messing with derby cars, and helps with boredom. The loops and turns always seem to keep the pre-lions and lions busy.

Like qwazse says above, in my adventures in world scouting in 4 countries, slides are just as common and worn close to the neck. The loose friendship know seems like a popular jamboree thing lately. I even saw a scouter last weekend wearing two world jamboree neckerchiefs, British and US versions. Either way, I'm glad to see the neckerchief back in any style. I just tend to like it neat and orderly around town and scuffed up in the field.

The 2019 Guide to Awards and insignia version (page 13) says: "when engaged in scouting activities, members may wear the neckerchief with appropriate nonuniform clothing to identify them as scouts". So, looks like the we will see more worn like those world jamboree photos.

The 2019 world jamboree really got some BSA folks spun up. Most participants wore t-shirts with a neckerchief tied at the bottom, loose fitting without a slide. BSA frowns on wearing the neckerchief with anything except the field uniform (class A if you will). Maybe we will just go with this as an infraction. I'm one that leans on having a neckerchief available for its many uses as well as a scout staff/stave. The only thing I would have to mention is wood badgers should not wear their neckerchief as this manner. They have beads approved but look goofy with a T-shirt. May be double standard, but we can't be correct all the time.

This is going to get a lot of comments, I'm sure. I will try to be brief. Not writing off the special needs folks, but there may be some units nearby that may be a special needs troop that is prepared, trained, and ready to assist these scouts. There are also a couple of options you have if you keep them in the troop. You can have a senior scout or assistant SM assist each of the special scouts as a mentor or troop guide. I wouldn't be too quick to restructure the two patrols as it only compound the issue and scouts blame it on the special scouts. I've seen troops have a "challenged" outing where each scout was assigned a disability and went with it all outing. The parents had to read into this as to why and approve what their scout was going to use. It helped scouts and the troop with special need awareness. We even had activities like wheelchair basketball and one handed knot tying. Too bad you couldn't offer to have a special needs patrol for your district and take in others. I bet they could come up with cool patrol names.

Academy sports has good versions for $25. Nylon, zip off legs and comes in scouted green.

National doesn't choose numbers, that is on the unit. May need the lowest level to ponder this question.

Great that a scout is taking interest in your troop. As for your question about letting the other SM know, I think it is up to the scout to decide that. As the scout may be looking at other troops, not just yours, their decision to shop is theirs. If the scouts' current unit is not "delivering the promise", than I can see the reason for shopping for a new unit. If the scout decides to change units, I would encourage the scout to let the old SM and CC know why. It may be for a really good reason like competing night activities, family is in the other unit, closer to home, or just likes the new unit's program better. The scout should be "brave" enough to leave without burning a bridge.

A precursor to the pinewood derby could be a "hotwheel" derby where each scout brings in a hotwheel car and races it or just uses a track. Many households have hotwheels and tracks, so set up and use is pretty easy and less time consuming.

So that group of directors or such is the generation that will give away a BSA treasure. What a shame. So much for the Norman Rockwell painting of Philmont. Soon the yellow KOA signs will be bordering Raton and Cimmaron. And Michigan was selling off camps this summer. Better get your virtual headsets and prepare for "Camp-ins" as we lose our treasured camps.

So this is turning into a cold weather camping tip thread...ok. I was lucky enough to do most of my youth camping in the winter. A few things changed since then. A dirty dozen of tips. 1. Don't leave anything outside you don't want covered with overnight snow. It makes a heck of a time finding it. 2. The hot water bottle in the sleeping bag is a must. The dirty "water" bottle in a tent is a must. 3. Not sure how you will manage this one. Check "snow flowers" to check hydration of scouts and tell who is drinking and those holding out. 4. Most parkas have inner chest pockets for a reason, use them to deter freezing. 5. Keep scouts from kneeling on hot coals while maintaining their fire ( usually a big smoldering mass). 6. Check for frostbite and frostbite often. 7. KP is the best job in winter, there is always warm water to enjoy. 8. No cotton clothing during the day or while sleeping. 9. Scouts will do almost anything to keep warm, stress no candles/candle lanterns, flames, or liquid fuels. No bare skin fuel handling. 10. Avoid getting anything wet as it will soon be an icicle. 11. Stress warm fluids like soup, broth, or hot chocolate. Never run out of it. 12. Retention cords (used to be called dummy cords) are great with knives, compasses, and things that may fall in the snow and not be found until spring.

I've seen bikes in summer camps since about 2002. Helmets were always an essential. One great story is how one of my late scouts was going fast, hit a rootball and tumbled downhill right into the first aid merit badge class. He turned into a crash test dummy and practical exercise. One thing our current camp decided is no bike riding at night. If you have a bike during hours of darkness, you have to walk it. See previous paragraph for reason, compounded at night.

And this is for DesertRat77, Did my time near Colon and JOTC as well as Ft Clayton in Panama. The Panama Canal Council was great. Machetes and the occasional black palm thorn through any glove or in a leg. Not to mention, NEVER SLEEP ON THE GROUND!!!

Since it was brought up, I'm a knife nut. I usually have a few on me and even a machete when camping. With that said, the council-owned property rules in writing say no sheath knives. I'm ok with that as long as can bring my machete. The down side of sheath knives is the weak pleather sheath worn in the front with a "western 628" type in it. As a paratrooper we had our jumpmaster knives on our legs without stabbing ourselves. Just a quality sheath worn the right way to be safe. And, machetes still rock!

Exactly what 69RR said. I see woodbadge snobs, just like uniform police. In our council, woodbadge will cost $250 each and some just don't have it in them right now. Then there are the WBers working their ticket and should get support from the wogglers. WB is good for the person when the time is right and they are ready. No one should be pushed, ridiculed or looked at for whether WB or not. Then there are the staff (3 beaders), and 4 beaders that have hierarchy. Just use the program as you need it. I wear my beads often, but the woggle and WB neckerchief less often. But, I still have to support my patrol critters...now that is just Darwinism as nature dictates.

As an scout with a frayed neckerchief and faded pack, I watch new scout adults on campouts and cringe at some things. The one thing I try to suggest politely is state the desired act, not what you want changed. Example: I heard a lot of adults yell "stop running" versus "walk or slow down". It is a small thing, but those young minds process much differently than mine. I have to stress what I want them to do rather than what not to do. Kind of like homework options: What homework do you want to do first rather than the adult choosing.

Value everyone for their uniqueness. As everyone is cut from different cloth, find the best, not worse, about a person. I don't need more just like me, I need others to show me ways out of my-box thinking. After many personality tests over the years and finding what type I am (more than just introvert or extrovert), I need and like to see other types' ways and thoughts. Our diversity is our strongest link or nothing would ever change. Like I tell scouters with challenging units...some are kings and queens, and some are 2s and 3s. The 2s and 3s are usually wild.

Which goes to a look at the troop chaplain and chaplains aide roles. Too often, the plain old Phimont grace is used even though no one knows what raiment is. We would be in lot of trouble without raiment. In the bible belt of the south, I've only heard a free-form, or "in your own way, by your own beliefs" we now have a minute for a blessing.

As we ease into the new scout year with new scouts and dens, I'm not seeing many den or patrol flags. At one time we used to make patrol flags around the time we selected our patrol names. I've visited a few cub packs and don't see any den flags, if there are any, they are the ones provided by the scout shop. Has the patrol and den flag concept moved on a back burner or died all together? I've also encouraged the adult patrol/den to create there flag too. In woodbadge, we had one that was awesome and very well protected from other critters experiencing jealousy.

Interesting company the BSHB has. I have to review my version tonight to see just what would be dangerous. I'm hoping it was banned due to the survival and camping tips. When I used to visit narcotic-dependent patients, I used to give them a BSHB and a bible. I told them they were the two book I would want if I only had two. I used to carry a few BSHBs when I did international scouting too. A scout is thrifty and I would only trade them. I was probably selfish when it came to trading, but I always thought I made the better deal.

As I'm seeing other posts and reading about camps closing across may councils, LDS separating, negative BSA legal commercials during prime time TV, and price increases, I have to question what is going on with marketing, protecting the scouting legacy, and whether scouting is on the downslope. Long gone is the public support of scouting like Waite Phillips donating Philmont to the BSA. We need some of our wealthy folks in or out of social media circles to save camps too. My beloved Silver Trails Scout Reservation in the thumb of Michigan just announced a buyer for that camp. Crossroads of American Council is doing the same with one of theirs. Most scouts will never attend a national jamboree or high adventure base, but will spend their first summer camp at a local camp and carry those memories forever. I only wish the wealthy could see the value of our program and help protect it. The last greatest marketing push came from "are you tougher than a Boy Scout in 2013. Hard to think its been that long. Most of my scouts from that year watched every episode and even put some adults through our own unit competitions. We had quite a membership increase in my units in 2013/2014. I wish Scouts BSA could get the same positive attention rather than watching useless reality match-making shows and crazy wife shows in cities. I guess they have their place, but I can't find anything useful in them. Wide-world of Sports and American Sportsman would be great about now. The prices just keep climbing and it shows. Whatever the reasons: protection lawsuits, china-made scout knives, uniforms you don't want to trash on campouts, but for indoors scouting, or scout shop Osprey backpacks that cost you fortune, or just paying for big camps and programs, the cost is driving away all, but well-off families. We get asked to sell popcorn (which I hate doing), and raise scouting member numbers only to see lawsuits and sticker shock around the BSA. I don't know how low income unit areas manage to pay $6 for a raingutter sailboat with two tiny pieces of balsa, $6 neckerchief slides and $15 books and hats. Rant over. Please share your ideas whether you agree or disagree.

There are a few hacks people use for thermacell replacements. Some spray regular bug spray and even permethrin on the exhausted scent pads and reuse them. There is also the dangerous backyard butane refilling of the fuel cell that no scout should attempt. There are two alternatives to the small butane fuel: a ""thermacell backpacker repeller" butane fuel canister (8oz or 16oz) some of us use with our tiny pocket stoves, or thermacell "radius zone" now as a rechargeable USB type fuel source.

To keep this on a lighter side, I had to laugh when they mentioned the meth items found in the trailer. I can just imagine the discussion when a troop/patrol quartermaster handed out a bong while digging out cooking gear. A new parent would flip and need CPR. And unknowing scouts would say Mr Scouter fell over after seeing a flower vase. Funny! Glad they got it back and neighbors could ID it by the markings on the side.