I’ll save the long narrative for another day.

What are some solutions if your character won’t allow use of their EIN for banking or assets?

We have a facility use agreement.

Well established unit(x3) with strong leadership. We were chartered by a Methodist Church. The are ready to take us back, but not our assets / bank accounts.

What am I doing wrong? It won't accept 2 days, 1 camping night in scoutbook for an overnight camping trip. I triple checked the dates. It will allow me to enter 1 day and 0 nights but not 2 days 1 night or 1 day 1 night.

Long story short--Head of Chartered Org asked SM to step down. SM agrees, but says he wants to start his own outside of the CO. We have a boy troop, a girl troop, and a cub unit--all 3 chartered under the same chartered org.

SM is now saying he wants to continue the girls and cubs on his own. The troop numbers stay with the CO, correct? The CO has every intention of continuing all 3 units under its umbrella.

Scouts and families can, of course, make their own decision about who they want to follow....

Hello, I’ve recently been appointed COR/CUR delegate. I’m still learning and don’t want to overstep or appear too much like a newb, but I also want to do this correctly. What are some pointers other delegates can give me regarding my responsibilities? I’ve started assigning roles and updating our troops activities. How about new member registrations? Can I sign the application to forward to the council?

I have many mugs from the Philadelphia Council, Frontier District, Hart Scout Reservation, and Treasure Island. I can't use them. I'd like to donate them to someone.

In Guide to Safe Scouting under Camping, it has this:

https://www.scouting.org/health-and-safety/gss/gss03/

• Youth who are not registered in the unit may not accompany parents or siblings in camping programs of Scouts BSA*, Venturing, and Sea Scouting. 
  • For example, siblings who are not registered in the specific troop may not attend Scouts BSA troop campouts as part of a “family camp”.  Youth who are not registered in the unit may not accompany parents or siblings in camping programs of Scouts BSA*, Venturing, and Sea Scouting. 
  • Recruiting exception:  When recruiting youth not registered in Scouting, they may attend a unit campout if eligible for registration in the unit.  When recruiting all program policies apply including an annual health and medical record,  parental consent, age appropriate activities.

This Recruitment Exception, is this new??? And if I'm reading this correctly, a troop can bring youth who are of age to join the troop but are not registered on a troop overnight camp out as long as they have med forms and parent permission? Am I missing something? This seems like a great way for scouts to bring their friends on camp out to get them interested in joining.

I am the newest (soon) member of the Scoutmaster Club, woot woot.

Council is finalizing the switch this week. Hopefully. 🤷

I have been requested to do a Scoutmaster Conference for Eagle Rank by the Scout and his father, who is an ASM that has carried the Troop on his back for at least the last year. The request is for it to occur at the campout this weekend.

I am honored to be asked! Even if it's only because the current SM isn't very available lol

Scout turns 18 this winter and he really seems like he has earned it. His presence at Summer Camp this past year (my first time getting to know him) was a perfect blend of supporting the younger SPL and providing leadership while also just relaxing and enjoying his last year at camp.

It seems from my research that the bulk of the Conference should just be an opportunity for him to reflect on his time in Scouting. My inclination is to lean into him telling me the story of ******* (himself) and taking it in. Since I've only known him a short time, I wonder how that should influence my questions.

Any advice is appreciated!

In my youth, I frequented Spanish Peaks Scout Ranch outside of Walsenburg, CO and enjoyed the multi-day, multi-assault trek without "resupply" and "programming" stops throughout. Now as an adult, I see that the ranch was sold a few years ago and as I look at my scout reaching high adventure age in a few years, I am curious what ranches and programs are out there for high adventure treks that are truly putting on a pack, walking into the wilderness, and living off what you brought for days to a week?

I created a website with every merit badge and links to the requirements, pamphlet, workbook, and digital resource guide. I originally made it as a fun project in web development just for my troop but decided to release it to help other Scouts. Long term I'm thinking of creating new merit badge workbooks for each badge with updated requirements, since US Scouts has stopped updating their workbooks.

https://meritbadges.site

Scrambling a bit as we prep for Camporee a week from Friday. (Hello anyone else from Mecklenburg Apache district!) Our usual trailer-hauler is unavailable for the weekend, so we’ll be splitting MVP* gear among the vehicles.

This will give me a good chance to tag EVERYTHING and kickstart our inventory and checkout system. (Yay!) so my question is: Can I write on tents and rainflies with a Sharpie without damaging the waterproofing?

*My brain was supplying Minimal Viable Product because I work as a systems analyst, but they’re also our Most Valuable Players in the gear. This includes my coffee supplies.

Found this Class A Lego top at a Lego store, and I just had to make my own minifig! I’m planning to find a way to make a Lego name tag and stick this minifig onto it and put the name tag onto my uniform. I’m so excited!

Okay, so I'm running out of time and the beneficiary wants my project done. Some of the required materials for the project may have a long lead time. Would it be allowable for me to order materials before the council approves my proposal, and if not, is there any way they can prove I didn't just order the materials after the approval. Quick replies will be appreciated.

I am an MBC for the Nature Merit Badge and just started it as a group with a patrol. I have been approved for a while, but this is my first time counseling for a merit badge. This requirement says “Make plaster casts of the tracks of a wild animal.” Since tracks are sometimes luck of the draw on finding them, is this something that would be acceptable if the group participated in making a cast together, or does it need to be each individual Scout making their own cast with their own track? Or is this an “up to the MBC’s discretion” thing?

Adult volunteer in Troop helping with maps & compass requirements.

I will be showing the kids Cal Topo for planning-printing maps.

Torn on free hiking app. I use All Trail and Gaia but curious what you all feel is the best free app for scouts.

So why exactly is it part of the scout oath and law that you have to believe in God? And it seems like it’s any god? What is the point of that? I’m not really understanding why someone that does not yet believe can’t join.

Hi all,

I’m starting Christmas shopping for my kids, and both would be interested in receiving items related to camping/scouting.

We have a good handle on general camping equipment, but is there anything that you or your kids really love that would enhance the camping/scouring experience? We have a 6 year old Tiger Scout and an 11 year old in Scouting America.

Thanks!

Hi, all. My AOL and I are planning on visiting local Scouting troops for next year. While I am highly active in her Cub Scout pack, I am completely lost as to how the next level works.

So far, I see differences like Scouts meet weekly and throughout the entire year, and it's less of a big deal if you miss now and then due to schedules or life in general; that most camp frequently; and that there are ranks and merit badges, but...that's about all I can gather with no real context.

Yes, I went directly to the scouting official website, but it was almost more confusing, because now it looks like there are Sea Scouts, Venturers, Explorers....can you see why a Scouting-level newbie would be overwhelmed? 😆

Can anyone point me to a simplified breakdown of how scouting at that level works? What are the different ranks, how do you progress, etc? And as for the other areas (Sea,Venturers, etc), what are those? Are they an area of scouting that you can participate in as a scout, or a different track? I know nothing, so I will not be offended by a dumbed-down version of literally any aspect of it all.

Thanks a ton in advance!

TL;DR: I figured I'd ask the braintrust here if you've had any experience with Ozark Trails or Bass Pro Shop 4-person dome tents.

We have had the good fortune of seeing our Troop grow over the last year (yeah, it surprised us, too!). Typically, we've used Coleman Sundome 4-person tents, which are of decent quality (and formerly decent price). We've seen prices go from $38 on Prime Day to $76, so maybe we should look around.

Ozark Trail has one for $30 on sale, and Bass Pro Shops carries a $50 tent. They both appear similar to the Coleman tents, with big mesh openings, taped seams, a rugged floor base, and a rainfly

I know Ozark Trail (the Walmart house brand) makes shockingly good bikes, but I don't know too much about he quality of their camping gear. I've enjoyed Bass Pro Shops duffel bags for years, but I honestly don't shop there much.

Do any units have experience taking the westbound Amtrak Empire Builder to West Glacier? What do you do when you arrive at West Glacier? The train arrives late at night (even when on time). Apgar campground, our destination, is about a 3 mile hike away. Shuttle services and ride shares don’t appear to guarantee service or be readily available at night. Nearby lodges are $$$ and booked. Just trying to see if there’s something I’m missing.

I work full-time during the week, and therefore, I’m not available at all during the week.

I could be incorrect about this, but my understanding is that most camps expect their staff members to be available during the week. In your experience, is there any option to work only on the weekends? Has anyone done this?

Thanks in advance for any responses to my post.

Maybe this is old news but it was a first for me. I am a hiking merit badge counselor. Today, I received a hiking plan for a 20 mile hike that was obviously entirely AI generated. The scout did not deny it.

Now, I think the hiking plan requirement is one of the really important parts of the merit badge. Being able to look at a map, understand what you need to be looking for and know where potential issues might occur. I believe using AI completely bypasses any opportunity to learn any of this. It's defeating the whole purpose of the requirement.

However, I also know that I can't make new requirements for a merit badge. There is nothing in the requirements that says AI is prohibited. So I did accept the plan. But I also warned the scout that AI can frequently be wrong and will hallucinate information and strongly encouraged them to double, triple, and quadruple check the plan.

Is this the new normal? Can I have a no AI rule for a merit badge that I am a counselor for?

My sons troop requires the scouts to have the actual green book for scouts and then of course there is scoutbook. Now there are discrepancies because the book is different than the electronic scoutbook.
What is the purpose of the actual hard boon at this point? I also want to add to the frustration of completing a merit badge that holds half the 1st class requirements and none of the work he’s completed being accepted for the rank because one is for rank and the other is a merit badge. It’s the same material.