another BSA campout........

[Brentbba]

Fast Eddy, congrats on your son. Sitting in on Eagle Boards is one of the best parts of being a Scout leader. For years you think those knuckle-heads aren't learning anything, then out of the blue you realize how much they've really taken to heart.

Brent, as a Scoutmaster of an LDS troop here in AZ, I can't stick up for the motorhome crowd, there is no excuse for that. I have done both outdoor leader training with overnight backpacking, and Woodbadge. Lack of training is a constant battle with the LDS troops due to leader turnover, as is small troop size and some other quirky things they do. But they sponsor a large number of troops, and back the Scouts when popular "PC" sentiment puts the Scouts out of favor.

I've been involved in Scout leadership for most of the last 15 years. We go on about 10 camps per year, and have Camporee this weekend.

Couldn't agree more with your comments about sitting on Eagle Boards. It's amazing to remember a little kid from the beginning to the bright, articulate young man sitting in front of you during those boards.

Kudos to you for being involved for so many years. 10 years here and retired now. I do miss the monthly campouts our troop does. Very, very active.

FAST EDDY - How'd your son do? Do we have another Eable scout in our ranks?

 

[Dunbar]

Pack campout this weekend then Webelos Woods 2 weeks later. I am CubMaster for another year until my boys cross over. I have been District Day Camp Director for 2 and working on my final run.

I am ready to be ASM or Quartermaster or something for a while and let someone else run the show. I have been really looking forward to my twins getting into the Troop. Both my brothers and I got Eagle when we each turned 15. One now has a Silver Beaver and is still active in the Sam Houston Area Council. (I could not post that last sentence in Chat.)

 

[dufferman]

Our Pack had our spring family camp and graduation at Broad Creek Memorial Boy Scout Reservation in MD. We had over 50 people camp. My son advance to Sr. Webelos and I will be Cub Master for his last year. We are going back for summer resident camp in July. Camping is my son's favorite part of scouting.

 

[Josh N]

After 20+ years in scouting this is what I know. The Mormon Church DOES NOT run scouting. They have an agreement with the BSA for special exceptions to the overall program to meet their religious needs and within the context of BSA policy as a whole still answer to the national organization.

The BSA has always maintained it is a religious based organization and promotes faith across the board via the scout law, but no particular brand of. There are provisions for scouts who also profess no religion to make Eagle.

In certain locations the predominant number of scout troops are Mormon because of the number of churches (i.e. - Utah, Hawaii, etc).

Muslim and Orthodox Jewish Churches also have special policy exceptions.

Non-religious organizations also promote, support and sponsor troops like VFW and American Legion posts, Isaac Walton League Chapters, local Red Cross Chapters, Volunteer Fire Departments, etc.

None of the troops regardless of sponsorship are allowed to discriminate and in places where the majority of troops are religious based there are plenty of boys who are not members of those sponsoring churches.

Needless to say however, every troop has its own "flavor" and they all follow national policy.

 

[skidplate]

Some of my best early memories are of the scout meetings and campouts. Our troop was run through the school dist. This was back when schools were still teaching " good citizenship" and self reliance. I remember making our own packframes, learning how to catch, clean and cook fish on an open campfire, and make snares to catch small game. Back then, the scouts would pair up, each carrying a shelter half. The tents back then were war surplus heavy canvas with steel stakes and no floor. I remember one campout when it rained and me and my buddy channeled the rain water between our sleeping bags. We still laugh about our adventures when we get together. The troop also helped each scout go through the hunter safety program if they wanted, so we could get our hunting license. This was in kalifornia, if you can believe that! My my, things have changed.

 

[stocksail]

Toy4xfun - I applaud you and the other fathers for participating in Boy Scouts. As this country's values are eroded, it creates a misalignment between the "new" common social values and the values taught or enforced by scouting which hurts enrollment and retention. I am in a family of Eagles and we are all better men for it.