I'm in my 4th year as Cubmaster. Got this email yesterday, 2 days after our first meeting for the year. I love doing it, but it's stuff like this that leaves a bad impression on people who willingly volunteer their time and effort. I love the events, not the legal and political issues that are related to it.

I guess this is what happens when two large organizations are coming out of years-long bankruptcy restructurings. Seems like the diocese doesn't want to be the charter organization, which I didn't even know they were, in favor of a more facility use based agreement. Both organizations doing CYA while the volunteers and scouts suffer. Hopefully, no one else has to deal with this and it gets resolved quickly.

ETA: luckily, I don't need a meeting space for the next 3 months or so as we already had planned events and camping that are off school grounds.

If a scout is being cyber-bullied by scouts from other councils, which council would a report go to, the scout's home council or the offender's home council?

What if it is a situation where one kid began to be bullied at a National Camp (say Philmont) during a cross-council activity, but that bullying has continued in the aftermath and involves multiple offenders?

Im a patrol leader and i have a problem there is this newness kid in our troop (he has been in the troop for like 8 months) and he already frist class and I know that people can really be on top of things and get ranks quickly but the reason I think he's lying about his rank advancements is he just not that kinda of person he's mean, snappy and doesn't do what leaders tell him to do also he claims that he's a patrol leader when he's not another reason why i think hes lying about his rank advancements his he only passes stuff of on one of are older scout master who believes everyone one (like only sometimes he asks for proof) and that's the only adult he ask to pass him off so I dont know what to do if I should speak up or just stay silent

Requirement 6d says, “While on a trail hike or backpacking trip, prepare and serve two meals and a snack from the menu planned for this requirement. At least one of those meals must be cooked over a fire, or an approved trail stove.”

Have merit badge counselors here bent the definitions a bit to allow cooking that was travel-based but not necessarily on a trail hike or backpacking trip? For instance, a canoe trip isn’t by definition either of those options. But on a canoe trip you aren’t car camping and bringing along the whole camp kitchen with perishable food in coolers. You’re cooking with a “backpacking-style” stove or fire and you’re bringing dry or non-perishable food items along. You’re effectively doing what you would be doing on a hike, you’re just not walking on a trail and instead are paddling in a boat.

Reason I ask is because the way it is written, it seems to be testing a scout’s ability to hike first, and then cook on that hike. Rather than a testing a scout’s ability to cook using lightweight methods, with food that won’t spoil at air temperatures, and doing that while being mobile. I would think the latter is what the merit badge really should be looking for and is the spirit of what the Cooking merit badge should be. I know the GTA says requirements must have been completed by the scout, exactly as written.

But would a counselor consider a canoe trip, or other similar non-hiking trip where scouts are mobile like biking or rafting, to meet the qualifications of a “trail hike”? Interested to see if people have ever run into a similar situation.

UPDATE:
Thanks for the replies everyone. Seems like a mixed bag of thoughts here. Some say yes, others say no way, some say take a short hike on the trip to get it to qualify.

To better clarify my question, I'm talking about situations where the scout carries the food, water, lightweight stove, fuel with them on the trip in a bag/backpack while they're mobile on their canoe/bike/etc. trip. Think of a situation like the Northern Tier canoe treks. Not talking about bringing along big multi-burner stoves. Not talking about using a stove that was already at the place we're going. Not talking about fresh food that needs to be chilled.

For our Troops next summer camp, we are looking to do a big trip for the first time for our unit. The camper are looking at is Owasippe!

Does anyone have any experience with this camp, looks like a grand adventure! And for those who have done “bigger” trips with your units, what are some ways you prepare and prep for that kind of trip? This would be the first summer camp more than 1 star away for the unit.

If you are a leader, this was posted this weekend by Scouting America. You might be able to find a good discount on gear that you need! https://www.scouting.org/trail-to-adventure-blog/the-guide-to-pro-deals-for-volunteers-and-camp-staff/

Hi all. I am about to age out (~1 month) and am trying to register with a Venturing Crew so I can continue to be on NYLT staff. Upon entering my User ID on the beascout.org site, it says “This youth can’t be registered with this unit right now.” I know dual registration is fully allowed so I’m confused as to why I can’t register.

I honestly don’t know what kind of feedback I’m looking for... I’m having significant doubts that my 15 year old will be able to pass the swim test (beginner or otherwise). He has had a water phobia since he was little (I want to say it’s related to his autism, but it could be just a phobia in and of itself) and only recently has expressed a desire to learn how to swim.

He’s currently a Tenderfoot. He wants to rank up so he can go to NYLT, then NAYLE at Philmont next summer (this is the troop’s plan after they had a great experience doing unit adventure camp at Philmont in June). Fantastic! Signed him up for lessons immediately and he’s doing amazing in the shallow. Never in my life did I think I’d see him put his head underwater, let alone swim.

At his last lesson, the swim instructor tried to get him to take the next step of swimming in the deep and he had a panic attack. Completely froze and then was down on himself the rest of the evening (and upset at the instructor for pushing him).

He’s already frustrated that he’s one of the oldest in his troop but is still a low rank (the troop we joined straight out of Cub Scouts was not a good fit, and he only rejoined a new troop a year ago). I just want him to continue to have fun and challenge himself in new ways.

Have any other parents/SMs dealt with similar issues? Any suggestions on how to motivate him to challenge that fear? Thanks for reading.

Does anyone have an experience with this site they can offer? Positive or negative?

We are considering a 2 night trip to one of these and plan to add a historic hike as part of the activity.

It would be great to hear about any experiences or suggestions from other troops who have done this.

Thank you in advance!

Having trouble thinking of ideas

I'm aspiring to be an eagle scout from the Philippines and I'm currently answering worksheets for it, however one requirement involving WOSM from said worksheet is that I send atleast six letters & receive 3 replies back (can be electronic/digital letters) to a scout whom is from a great distance

If it is alright, I'd like to ask whether it be possible to find a fellow scout here who is willing to volunteer in exchanging letters with me. Thanks!

How does your troop handle Eagle Court of Honor?

Do you have a standard program?
Do you have a set schedule (once a year or semester)?
Who takes lead in organizing it, the parents or troop?
Is there anything prohibiting a troop from awarding the eagle rank the same way we do life and other ranks?

For our troop the parent takes lead with guidance and help from the troop. We don’t have a set schedule, usually when scouts are ready. For the first time I have a parent who does not want to participate in organizing but has some high expectations. I don’t mind pushing back but I’m reconsidering how we run ECOHs in our troop.

Have any of you been able to use your CO’s tax exempt status to save sales tax when purchasing gear? I’m about to buy $1,500 of climbing gear for our troop and saving the sales tax would allow us to get at least one more harness/helmet setup. Our CO has provided us with a letter which our scouts use when buying groceries for campouts etc but I’m not aware of any gear stores recognizing it. I’d like to buy from our local REI ideally.

My scout sold $18,200 in popcorn last year and earned a $3,350 gift card. This year, to make the same amount he will now have to sell $25,000 in popcorn.

For Cubs last year, 500 points got them $10. Now, they have to sell $600 in popcorn before they hit the first payment threshold. So $600/2500 points is now $25 and that is the new minimum. Last year 2500 points was $100.

I need help on this. I’m a life scout working in Eagle, and I’m getting my CoH guest list ready, and my family thinks I should invite my aunts and uncles and my little cousins, but I don’t want a bit CoH, other than my troop i only have 14 people, and that’s all the people in my personal life that I want. does anyone have advice on what to do? and should i invite the aunts uncles and little cousins? I don’t know if I’m being unscoutlike with this, and I’m confused with this because I love my family and theyre important to me, but if there’s too many people in a room and they all want to talk to me, I get overwhelmed

At summer camp this year our leaders really embraced the adult merit badge program, earning most or all of the available badges. I’d like to get them something to display the badges. Could be something to wear with the uniform (sorry uniform police) or hang on a wall or ?? I’m open to suggestions. Thanks!

I haven't worn my uniform at all since turning 18 because I moved away for school and wasn't in town to go to any events for my troop. I'm back home now though and my old scoutmaster had just invited me to an Eagle COH tomorrow afternoon. I believe the proper thing to do would be remove the patch since I'm over the age of eighteen (21 currently) but because I'm only going to wear it one day and then probably not again for a good while should I remove it and just wear my Eagle pin or would it be acceptable to just keep it on for now?

It looks so cool, just got it this Wednesday

For context, I will be asking Lowes and Home Depot if they would be willing to give me a discount on my eagle project and I am a part of Dan Beard Council.