Y’all have inundated me with questions about “How’s our July 9^th Eagle Scout candidate doing?” and the news, I’m happy to report to you, is excellent!  Here’s a letter from the Scoutmaster of his former troop…

Yes, I promise to let you know what happens!

Terrific questions!  Here's what the U.S. Flag Code has to say:

"During rendition of the national anthem when the flag is displayed, all present except those in uniform should stand at attention facing the flag with the right hand over the heart. Men not in uniform should remove their headdress with their right hand and hold it at the left shoulder, the hand being over the heart. Persons in uniform should render the military salute at the first note of the anthem and retain this position until the last note. When the flag is not displayed, those present should face toward the music and act in the same manner they would if the flag were displayed there."

So there's your answer: Scouts keep their caps on and employ the three-finger (or two-finger if they're Cub Scouts/Cub Scout leaders) salute – Right hand to brim of cap.

For more good information on flag-and-anthem etiquette and protocols, go to:

http://www.usflag.org/uscode36.html#171

Well, you do have an interesting problem here, mostly because you created your own monster! How?  Simple: You forgot about, or decided to disregard, pages 12 and 13 in the Boy Scout Handbook—You somehow got the notion in your head that you can play fast and loose with the Boy Scout uniform.  There's one uniform, Sir, and it's on page 12.  But by allowing "your" alternatives, you opened the door to ANY alternative, and this Scout is challenging you.  He's saying, in effect, OK, you broke the rules and that's OK, so how are you gonna "ding" me when I'm doing nothing more than what you've already done?  And guess what... He's RIGHT!

So now what?  Well, for starters, neither lecturing nor begging nor attempting to "reason" with this Scout will accomplish doodley-squat. Your one and only hope is positive reinforcement.  Start by giving treats to all Scouts who show up in full uniform, and ignore the others.  Treats can be snacks or small candy bars, special privileges, and so on.  Then, in a couple of weeks, kick things up a notch by rewarding only patrols that have every one of its members in full uniform (if one Scout in a patrol is missing something, no reward for anyone).  Keep at it and never "make an example" of a Scout who isn’t fully uniformed.

Oh, yeah, one more thing... Get EVERY ADULT in full uniform first, or this’ll never work and you'll all look like your tongues are hinged at both ends.

Hi Andy,

This one's a no-brainer... Instead of driving yourself nuts, just ask the person who told you this baloney to show you where it's written, and point out to him or her that until this happens, you're not buying it!  (And you shouldn't buy it, by the way, because it is baloney!)

Your troop has itself one very dangerous loose cannon!  The only good news here is that this is a troop-level problem and has not escalated outside of or beyond the troop.  It absolutely must be kept that way.

To digress for just a moment, but importantly, Commissioners have exceptional people skills coupled with a solid understanding of the Scouting program as a whole, including its aims, goals, methods, and key policies.  By these standards alone, this woman is absolutely not Commissioner material.  Don’t try to put out a brush fire by igniting an entire forest.

We can’t save a parent from bull-headed mis-use of the Scouting program and we can’t save offspring from their own parent.  What she’s doing to her own sons is unconscionable, but they are, after all, her own sons.  Our job is to prevent her from damaging the Scouting experiences of other youth.  We do this by never, ever sending any other Scout to her for a merit badge; by never, ever letting her run another merit badge "class" for the troop (merit badge classes as part of troop meetings isn't part of the Troop Meeting Plan, anyway!); by never, ever giving her an important or boy-related position on the troop committee; and by never, ever endorsing her (even by silence) for any volunteer Scouting position outside of the troop.  All of this can be done in a non-confrontational manner, by simply telling her (should she offer to do something) that right now everything's OK but if things change you'll contact her, and then making sure that you never do.

My heart goes out to those sons of hers, whom she’s likely permanently damaging.

It’s a BSA policy, conforming to the BSA's Charter from Congress, that Scouts don’t wear clothing in imitation of military garb.  Whether it's "sportsman's apparel" or "Army surplus clothing" is irrelevant.  Scouts, by this 97-year-old BSA policy, don't wear Sam Brown belts, don't wear helmets, don't carry rifles (even the imitation kind), and don't wear camouflage. The foundational policy is found in the BSA book, BSA Insignia Guide.  It's also highly visible in the Boy Scout Handbook: Find me any photograph or drawing, in any handbook dating back to the very first one, that shows a Scout wearing camouflage.  You won't.  End of story.  Plus, if you turn to pages 12 and 13 in the handbook, you'll see plainly how a Scout is to be dressed. 

Now let's take this one step further... People who wear camouflage for practical purposes (as against "making fashion statements") are of a single type: They kill.  Soldiers wear camouflage so that they can better kill the enemy.  Hunters wear camouflage so that they can better kill the quarry.  BOY SCOUTS DON'T KILL, OR EVEN PRACTICE KILLING, ANYTHING.  (Even Fishing merit badge can be completed without ever personally killing a fish!)  While I personally have utmost respect for both hunters and our military, I will steadfastly advise anyone who has a mind to wear camouflage clothing or gear to do this anytime they like, but NOT IN SCOUTING.

To those who would demand that you show them anything further in writing, stop doing their bidding and reverse it: Demand of them that they find anything in writing by the BSA that states that camouflage is acceptable garb for a Boy Scout, with the understanding that until they do camo's are out.  End of story.

To those whose life just isn’t complete unless they’re wearing camo’s: Go find a para-military group to play out your fantasy.  Stay away from Scouts.

Good question... That's their Scoutmaster's call (type of service needs to be approved by the Scoutmaster, and this is always better done beforehand).  I can tell you this, however: If I were their Scoutmaster, I'd observe to them that this is part of what they signed on for when the became Den Chiefs...that being a Den Chief sometimes involves more than helping out at den and pack meetings!  And of course I'd encourage them to do this and have fun while they're at it!

My hat's off to you for considering becoming a Scoutmaster!  I was an "inner city" Scout myself (although at the time we didn't know we were "underprivileged"!) and there's tremendous and lasting value to youth in this sort of situation when Scouting's available!

To get started, the very first thing to do is insist on help! Yes, you do have the right to expect support, in the form of a committee of equally dedicated parents who are willing to show up and roll up their sleeves. Keeping a troop afloat isn't—it can't be!—a one-man job.  They need to understand and accept that if you're willing to give your time, energy, and resources to their sons, they must be willing to match your efforts or the deal's off.  Get this before you start.  If you don't, you're not likely to ever get it!

This troop, in addition to a Scoutmaster, needs a Troop Committee! The Troop Committee needs to have, at a minimum, (1) a chairperson, (2) someone to manage and track advancement, (3) a secretary/treasurer, and (4) someone to handle arrangements (finding places to go, getting tour permits, arranging parent transportation to outings and events, and so on).  Without these people in place and committed, you're going to wind up overburdened and headed for burn-out much too quickly!

You also need a Commissioner to help guide you!  Contact the GNY Council and find out who your Unit Commissioner (another volunteer like yourself, who provides direct service and support to Scouting units) is and if they don't know tell 'em you need one right away!  Don't take "we'll get back to you bye-and-bye" as an answer!

Next, pick up a copy (Scout Shop or online at www.scoutstuff.org) of the Scoutmaster Handbook (start reading it!) and get yourself a full uniform (get the necessary patches sewn on), and check out the Greater New York Council's website (there's a Staten Island section in it) and find out when training for Scoutmasters is running.  If there's nothing happening right away, check out the Northern New Jersey Council's website (they’re right across the Arthur Kill) and see what training they have coming up.  Next, get a Boy Scout Handbook and read it to learn what the BSA tells boys about the experience they're going to have as a Boy Scout—read the first couple of chapters, then jump around as your curiosity takes you. Also, pick up a copy of the BSA’s Guide To Safe Scouting and read it carefully (it's also available online).

The training courses you'll want to take are: New Leader Essentials, Scoutmaster Fundamentals, and Introduction to Outdoor Skills.  Simultaneously, insist that every parent registered on the committee, plus any other available parents, along with you take Youth Protection and Risk Zone training (these are one-shot deals—a couple hours each).

Then, sit down with the Scouts and, if necessary, help them get full uniforms, so that they look and feel like Scouts (this helps them act like Scouts and not just boys hangin' out).  Make sure you have two patrols of at least three Scouts each, and one Senior Patrol Leader.  Patrol Leaders and the Senior Patrol Leader are elected by the Scouts; not "assigned" by adults.

Now, here's the most important part (but you do have to do the other steps first): GO DO SOMETHING!  EVERY SCOUT!  IN UNIFORM!  Keep it simple at first.  A day hike, a visit to the Statue of Liberty, visiting a nearby Sea Scout ship (there are two in Linden, on the Arthur Kill, on the Jersey side), visiting Pouch Scout Camp...you get the idea.  On that trip, sit down with the Scouts and ask them what other kinds of things they'd like to do, then GO DO THEM!

Once you're underway, have an "open house" ("pot luck" food supplied by the parents) and each Scout invites at least one non-Scout friend! At the open house, DO STUFF, have GAMES, and be sure to pass out flyers telling the visitors and parents that they're welcome back!

(That's enough for now... We can stay in touch if you like; this doesn't have to be a "just one letter and that's it" situation!)

First, read my column #6 - November 2002.

I, also, was a Scout in the early 50's.  It wasn't easy to advance, then, and for every merit badge we wanted to earn we had to track down the counselor and then figure out how to get to him, because in that era no dad ever drove his kid anywhere!  We used bikes, public transportation, and our feet, instead!  Anyway, we had some guys who made it to Eagle, others to Life, a few more to Star, and most made it to First Class and that was about it.  But we all had pretty good times in Scouts, and some of us are still in touch 50 years later and we still remember our Scoutmaster and even our Patrol Leaders and Senior Patrol Leader!  I didn't grow up in a family with a lot of money, so I never got to Philmont as a Scout—I was 47 years old before I ever got to see the Tooth of Time from its summit!

But Scouting's not about being one rank or another; it's about having fun, challenging ourselves, learning new stuff, and—most of all—giving of ourselves to others (remember "Do a Good Turn Daily" and "Help other people at all times"?  I'll bet you do!).

You're definitely not "somehow inadequate" or even “unfinished” if you still have Scouting's ideals in your heart these many years later.  And now you have a unique opportunity: The chance to help boys and young men realize their personal goals, whether it be in rank, or taking a Philmont trek, or getting to a Jamboree, or whatever their personal vision for themselves happens to be.  If you have the time and desire, I'll bet there's a troop in your Memphis neighborhood that has some Scouts who could use a bit of guidance from a guy who's himself been a Scout!  You're in the Chickasaw Council, and their address is 171 South Hollywood Street, Memphis 38112.  The phone there is (901) 327-4193 and their web site is http://www.chickasawbsa.org

How about giving them a call, asking about a troop nearby, and then getting in touch with that troop and asking if they could use an "extra hand"?  And while you're at it, how about asking the council service center if they need any merit badge counselors for whatever your career was or hobbies happen to be?

Yes, a rank is perhaps important, but ultimately it's a piece of cloth and metal. But helping a boy to grow into the man he wants to be just might be the finest "reward" one might hope for in life!  A badge fills a shirt; helping our next generation fills the soul.  Consider it.

Those badges sound like fun!  Being phony-balonies, I'm not sure that they need any "official" requirements—Why not just ask the Scouts what they did and then put together some requirements of your own? "When in doubt, ask the Scout!"

You have my respect for discovering your troop’s error and taking steps to correct it.

Once a merit badge application ("blue card") or other document generally accepted by the local council has been signed by a duly authorized Merit Badge Counselor (registered with any council or a member of any BSA summer camp staff) IT'S A DONE DEAL.  The merit badge is earned and considered completed on the date the Merit Badge Counselor has given final sign-off.  There is never a board of review and certainly not any sort of inquisition or re-testing by anyone, because it's earned.  NO ONE supersedes the Merit Badge Counselor.  All of what I've just stated is BSA POLICY, which may be found in the BSA book, Advancement Policies and Procedures.

On language: The MBC is not "reporting" on a merit badge; his or her signature constitutes an official statement that the requirements of the merit badge have been completed satisfactorily.  Moreover, the purpose of the unit leader's signature on conclusion does not signify any sort of "final approval"—it merely means that completing of the merit badge has been duly recorded.

Once a rank or merit badge has been earned (whether formally presented or not) it absolutely cannot be revoked.  This is BSA policy.

Finally, if your troop's violations of proper procedures in this area have put this Scout's attainment of Eagle in jeopardy, you would be obligated at the very least to write a letter to the council advancement chair and committee admitting your errors and requesting an extension for the young man the troop’s impropriety has damaged.

Let's first understand that a policy is just that: a policy. It’s not a guide-line, recommendation, suggestion, or anything else that’s potentially equivocal.

It’s BSA policy that board of review members for all ranks except Eagle are to be members of the unit committee.  There are no provisions for "extenuating circumstances" because a unit cannot be chartered or re-chartered without having three unit committee members.  Thus, there is consistency across policies.  There is no further profitable discussion on this point and policy.

Neither unit leaders nor assistant unit leaders, relatives, or guardians may serve as members of a board of review.  This is also a BSA policy.

Occasionally, unit leaders and sometimes assistant leaders will appear before a board of review to introduce the Scout candidate for the rank at hand.  This doesn’t conflict with policy and is generally considered an acceptable practice.  Less occasionally, a unit leader or assistant unit leader will remain present at a board of review as an observer and to address any questions that may arise.  This, also does not conflict with BSA policy and because it is for the benefit of the Scout candidate it is generally considered an acceptable practice. 

Relatives, however, are another matter entirely.  Relatives are not to be present at a board of review, following the same philosophy that serves as the foundation for the practices of not permitting Eagle rank candidates to see the contents of any letters written to the board by his references and of destroying such letters immediately upon conclusion of the Eagle rank board of review.

There should be no confusion on your or anyone else's part on any of these points.  With regard to the last one, has any relative of a Scout ever asked (or insisted) to be present at a board of review?  No?  Then let's not engage in "What if..." scenarios.

Thanks for asking. These are important questions and their answers need to be broadcast.

About that "problem Scout," I'm assuming he's a patrol member and, as such, he should be being encouraged to carry his fair share by his Patrol Leader.  Is this happening, that is, is his Patrol Leader encouraging him to pitch in?  If so, and still nothing's happening, I'm sort of surprised that peer pressure in the form of his fellow patrol members hasn't kicked in.  Is he being given specific tasks to do, or just asked to help out along with everyone else?  If merely the latter, then his Patrol Leader needs to put him in charge of something specific and when he doesn't perform, then he doesn't get to do the fun stuff.  What is his rank?  If he's First Class or higher, then he might be counseled on the issue of how does he expect to advance further if his fellow Scouts prove unwilling to elect him to any position of leadership, based on their appraisal of his spirit of cooperation.  If, on the other hand, he's not yet First Class, then you might want to hold a Scoutmaster's Conference with him and ask him to tell you how he's living the points of the Scout Oath and Law every day and, when you get to obedient, helpful, help other people at all times, and such, ask him how he'd rate himself.  In other words, the more you can draw him out, instead of lecturing to him or "laying down the law," the better opportunity there is for him to self-correct.  But your main focus should be on the youth leader he is directly under, because it's this Scout who needs the most coaching on how to get the most from every Scout he's responsible for.  This is one of the ways we teach leaders to lead.

Great question, and one that's surrounded by myth and mystery. Here's the BSA's direct answer: NONE.  The Scoutmaster may provide records of Scouts' accomplishments in these areas to a duly registered Merit Badge Counselor, and may provide a duly registered Merit Badge Counselor with testimony confirming a Scout's having completed some requirements, but a Scoutmaster is absolutely not authorized to sign off on any merit badge or any merit badge requirements if he’s not a registered Counselor for that specific merit badge.

Scoutmasters aren’t supposed to be Merit Badge Counselors in the first place!  Doing so defeats literally 50% of the purpose of merit badges!

After earning the Bear badge and becoming Webelos Scouts, your boys will soon be wearing the Webelos Compass Points emblem suspended from the right pocket button, so that when it's time to remove and save the old P-T-R piece.

The red vests are for Webelos Scouts, too!  No reason why your boys can't continue to wear them, and continue to earn "extra" patches.

Merit Badge "partials" expire on a young man’s 18^th birthday and not before.  That said, I'd encourage your son to complete his summer camp merit badges while in summer camp, because the basic idea isn't to get a partial; it's to finish.

Philosophical conversations aside, I'm most concerned about that young man with the bong.  I do understand that possession of "paraphernalia" may or may not be a chargeable offense, depending on the jurisdiction. A bong is, after all, not an "illegal substance" in and of itself.  However, regardless of whether it is or isn't, I think the key may be that THIS YOUNG MAN NEEDS SCOUTING NOW MORE THAN EVER. 

How are we to inculcate in him the ideals of the Scout Oath and Law if we boot him out at the very moment he needs these the most?  How are we to make a difference in his life from now on if we kick him out, thereby guaranteeing that we'll not have further contact with him? 

Anybody—Scouts, Boys & Girls Clubs, the YMCA, religious groups, etc.—can "steer" a youth who has already got his or her moral and ethical compass pointed toward True North.  In fact, there's almost no work to be done at all!  But the YOUTH IN TROUBLE is the one who really needs us. THIS is where we truly roll up our sleeves.  I'm urging you to reconsider how a youth in or on the cusp of trouble should be handled. This is true "life-saving."

Yes, the BSA Lifeguard course is mostly practical, but there is a Final Examination (req. 5).  There is, however, no "book," akin to a merit badge pamphlet.  The objective, of course, should have been to assure that you COMPLETE all requirements (including the Final Examination), and I'm sorry this didn't happen for you, especially since this course requires 30 hours of instruction!  So let's not let this happen again. Buy the BSA booklet, BSA Lifeguard Counselor Guide (No.34536B), from your council's Scout Shop (they can order it for you if they don’t have it in stock).  In it, you'll find the exam with all the questions, and all the answers.  Use this information as your study guide, so that when you go for it this year, you nail it!

Your advancement chair, by telling folks that their sons "will never advance," is 180 degrees away from where she's supposed to be.  Only total blockheads do stuff like this.  The responsibility of the advancement chair is to encourage advancement, not play "judge and jury" and a road-block as well.  It's really hard to believe someone could be so utterly clueless... But, then, maybe it's not so hard!  On top of this, the committee chair and Scoutmaster are just as guilty by allowing this blockhead to continue.  She needs to be replaced, unless she's willing to instantly turn herself around and fly right. But this isn’t your battle.  Your challenge is simple: For the sake of your son, go find another troop.

No!  They absolutely, positively cannot make such a stipulation on merit badges and where/with whom they're earned.  The BSA considers all merit badges equal and, once earned, they all count toward ranks, as needed, regardless of where/with whom earned.  If they take a moment to read requirement 3 on the Eagle Scout Rank Application (which they can obtain easily at http://www.nesa.org/trail/index.html), they will see that there is no such stipulation there.  They do not have the authority to make such a stipulation because it is a BSA policy that no council, district, unit, or person has the authority to add to or subtract from any requirement for any rank or merit badge.

This, however, is not your battle.  The people who must stand up for you, and probably every other Scout in your council, are your troop advancement chair, troop committee chair, and Scoutmaster.

Here's the deal:  It’s correct that work can’t begin on a project until all pre-approval signatures are in place.  But there’s nothing in writing that stipulates that a Scout can't sound things out as he's developing his plan, and this would certainly include determining whether or not the recipient of his work will be providing the materials or the funds for same (assuming, of course, that the project is of a construction nature and not a service).  If, let's say, his plan is for a construction of some sort, or involves planting, or requires any sort of material, the best plan will be one that identifies where these materials or plants are going to come from, or how they're going to be acquired! 

Now you mentioned something else that's a little peculiar: You talked about the Scout having to "come before the board" for final approval of his Eagle project.  Are you serious on this point?  Is there, in effect, a "board of review" of some sort for approval of an Eagle project?  I hope not, because this sounds like an abuse of authority.

I wish you were pulling my leg, but I know you’re not.  So here’s the straight skinny on whether troops can arbitrarily override BSA national advancement standards and policies: No.  Absolutely not.  Not under any circumstances, or for any reason or rationale.

It is a further BSA policy that no person, unit, district, or council is permitted to impose the kind of stricture you describe.  This is BSA policy.  This cannot be done, should not be done, and if it has been done needs to be un-done and needs to go away immediately.

Everyone associated with the stricture you described to me needs to immediately read my column: "Are We Really That Smart"!  The also need to read the BSA publication, Advancement Guidelines-Policies and Procedures.

(The next letter’s from the same troop—different Scouter)

I sure hope you guys aren't still trying to make up your own "troop regulations", ‘cause YOU DON'T NEED 'EM! The BSA's done the work for you.  The BSA's policies are already in place, and any unit trying to write its own is more likely to violate an already existing BSA policy than create further clarity.  Besides, the last thing we need in Scouts is more rules!

That said, there are books on BSA rules and regulations and various policies that you can buy at your local council's Scout Shop.  But, the policies aren't necessarily accumulated all in one place, neatly, like the Ten Commandments were all on just two tablets!  So, why don't you pose your questions to me and let's see if I can help you with some answers, since I've already had to track down most of the stuff you're likely to ask about.

(Who writes again…)

No, I don't think they'll ever be published on the BSA website, and there's really no need since virtually everything you need to know is in the Boy Scout Handbook, Scoutmaster Handbook, Troop Committee Guidebook, and so on.  In these, the policies are written clearly, and in a reader-friendly way instead of in legal mumbo-jumbo.

Now, let's see if I can help out with your ten questions...

1- There's one policy:  "The Boy Scouts of America is a uniformed organization."  So, actually, any time a member of the BSA is engaged in a Scouting activity and is not in the uniform shown on page 12 of the Boy Scout Handbook or the alternate shown on page 13, or an authorized variation thereof (e.g., page 12 uniform but with official shorts and socks), he or she is in violation of a national policy.  Period. 

2-3- I have no clue as to what a "local policy" might be.  If it's anything along the lines of what your colleague wrote to me about a while back, then you guys with your "local policies" are...how shall I put this...full o' beans.  (Yeah, that works...)

4- Your concern, I'm guessing, is about how to avoid "double-dippng." That's easy here... Read the requirements for the Fifty-Miler.  If a Scout does something that's not stated as a requirement, then he can "use" it elsewhere with absolute impunity. 

5- Uh-oh, "mystery word" here!  What does "transgression" mean? And, while we're at it, what's a "NON-serious transgression"?  If you want a specific answer, then you need to ask a specific question.

6- Get popular.  Be a friend to all Scouts, pitch in and help even when you're not asked, you know the rest...  And, if you're not willing to do this, well, then you're outa luck.  No one "owes" you membership in the OA just like no one "owes" you an elected leadership position in the troop.  The best way to become what you wish to become is to act the way you would if you already were.

7- It's not a "merit badge policy" that says that all requirements are to be carried out as written.  It's the BSA's ADVANCEMENT POLICY that specifies this, and it applies to all requirements for all merit badges, all ranks, and all special, earnable recognitions (BSA Lifeguard, etc.), in short, for everything in the advancement category.  If you want to help Scouts who don't want to follow the rules of the game, do it by helping them understand that there are only two options: Do it as written and earn it, or don't and don't earn it.  End of story.

More, you folks seem to be missing the point on this issue.  Scouting teaches stuff without lecturing about it (that's why we avoid anything that begins to resemble "Scout school").  Scouting, without saying so, teaches boys and young men how to organize their thinking and write, present, give talks, carry on conversations with adults including adults they don't know, develop plans, conceive designs, research stuff, think creatively, and on and on.  I had a Scout whom I counseled a while ago for Communications merit badge tell me just the other day, "Andy, in our civics class each of us had give a brief talk on the day before's lesson, and I took what I learned with you, stood up—I was the only student who stood—looked 'em in the eye, spoke up, and sat down, and my teacher gave me a "B" for my thoughts but an "A++" for my delivery, which she averaged out to an "A"!  THIS, my Scouting friend, is what we're here to do, as Scouting volunteers!

8- I don't know what you mean by "allow."  All of the necessary policies are in the books I've previously mentioned.

9.  Yup: When you run out of material; then you go to a patch blanket.  Let's exercise some discretion here, OK?

10- Yup.  Me, for one.  Tom Brown, of "tracker" fame, for another. Most of the folks on the TV show, "Survivor."  And every single Scout in the troop I Scoutmastered a few years ago.  I think you're forgetting that the name of this merit badge is "Wilderness SURVIVAL."  It's not "Wilderness Survival with a Bic, Rambo knife, flashlight, cellphone, and four cans o' Spam."  Time to start watching “Man Versus Wild”! 

Again, you seem to be missing the point.  The point has less to do with survival skills per se and much more to do with instilling a sense of confidence and quiet self-reliance in the boys and young men we’re all here to serve, mentor, coach, and be a Big Brother to.

NetCommish Note:  That sense of confidence and self-reliance becomes a lifelong habit when successfully taught in Scouting.  Baden-Powell often called Scouting a game with a purpose and it is.  Too often we get caught up in details and trying to carve out rules where none are needed.  We need to step back and understand that we can do the most for the youth we serve by using the methods of Scouting to best advantage.  When Scouts master skills through the advancement program and outdoor adventures, Scouts will, aside from learning the particular skill, gain confidence and become more self-reliant if we provide them with the opportunity and if we first rely on youth leadership, we use the methods available like the Patrol Method,  and if we as adults serve more as counselor/coaches instead of as rule executioners.

The question about whether anyone has really started a fire by friction, shouldn't we get back to only material found in the wild, and why not just use today's technology focuses on the technique/technology, which is less important than the experience of the Scout in learning self-reliance.

But since you asked, the answer is that many Scouts today still learn fire-by-friction as part of their summer camp program.  At age 13 or 14, it is a pretty big challenge too.  Those of us who did this in our youth still remember it and what a wonderful feeling it was to finally succeed.  How-to information on this is located at http://usscouts.org/firebyfriction.asp where you'll find a picture of a real fire-by-friction set that was used some 36 years ago in my youth. 

While doing fire-by-friction is a wonderful challenge, it is not always possible for a Scout to use this technique.  In many backwoods areas, we are encouraging Scouts to follow Leave No Trace guidelines to preserve the wilderness areas they visit and reduce impact from camping.  In those areas the emphasis is on leaving the wilderness area as untouched as possible.  BSA fully supports this program and it also has changed requirements for some areas of advancement as a result.  That is why today for the Wilderness Survival Merit Badge, a Scout can use things that he has packed in as opposed to disturbing the area he is visiting by chopping down trees.  There is still a challenge factor, but at the same time another lesson about wilderness preservation.  More information on Leave No Trace is available at http://usscouts.org/usscouts/lnt/

Time for a jolt of Scout Spirit to wrap up for today…

So, what about “being active” in the troop?  No problem! He did much of that before his injury and during his recuperation, he was as active as he could be.  None of our troop’s adult leaders is so much as batting an eye about “active,”—not like those dunderheads in your column a couple of weeks ago!  (Jim Eager, ASM & Thunderbird District Advancement Chair)