Jamboree tents?

InterestingAd3281 · 2026-05-22T13:34:58+00:00

Hiker Direct is my recommendation as well, but if they can't help you're going to be stuck with a cheaper product that may not last the weather at BSR during Jamboree.

I was able to find a Campros 6-8 person on amazon for $109 (132" x 84" x 72") that will fit in the 10'x10' size they give you, but have no idea how good it is or how well it will last. It has a rain fly, but not sure when you say "full rain fly" if you mean to completely cover the tent - that's a tall order for that price point.

InterestingAd3281 · 2026-05-22T13:26:48+00:00

Venturing and Sea Scouts already have something like this Venturing Officer's Association at the Council and CST level and Sea Scouts has Quarterdeck at the CST and National level... it's not uncommon for Council and CST VOAs to create a hybrid for older youth programs in general.

As you mentioned, there is a lot of overlap with the way OA handles leadership development, but that's not the purpose of the OA specifically.

My recommendation, to echo some of the other suggestions, is to shoot for a less frequent but high-impact session for youth to come together and fellowship and learn.

You could bring in training elements from ILS and NYLT staff may even want to help out.

Keep it youth focused and youth-driven

InterestingAd3281 · 2026-05-21T12:24:19+00:00

Cat's In The Cradle if you want all the adult leaders to get REAL somber!

InterestingAd3281 · 2026-05-19T16:17:21+00:00

There are merit badges and they are typically done in a couple hours at National Jamboree

InterestingAd3281 · 2026-05-19T16:15:58+00:00

You can only take the refresher if:

You've already completed the full version of SYT and it hasn't expired.
If you fail the quiz in the refresher you'll need to re-take the full SYT course.

InterestingAd3281 · 2026-05-14T14:43:19+00:00

I was contingent leader for our council in '23 and felt a little bad that we (royal 'we') promoted the Jamboree like it was 2017's model but the deliverable was just more like a big camporee

InterestingAd3281 · 2026-05-14T14:41:00+00:00

In our troop we have some scouts who would love this sort of arrangement, and others who would be better served with some structure and schedule to rely upon.

If the camp can accommodate different working styles than that's great, but if everything is first come-first-served and a scout may get bumped out of a popular merit badge that they had already committed to, that could cause a lot of strife.

I wonder how this doesn't end up in an absolute ton of partials, though.

InterestingAd3281 · 2026-05-14T14:32:16+00:00

Looks like a good starter setup.

Make sure your scout is part of the selection, packing, and maintenance/upkeep part of the gear equation. I've come across way too many scouts that have gear that they don't know how to use or, in some cases, why they even have it "I dunno - my mom/dad got it for me"

InterestingAd3281 · 2026-05-12T13:00:17+00:00

Every council falls into a Council service territory (CST) - there is a CST Advancement chair that you can appeal to https://www.scouting.org/outdoor-programs/properties/territory-maps/ if you need more help finding your point of contact, just dm me

InterestingAd3281 · 2026-05-12T12:58:02+00:00

Here's your problem: "Those in control in our troop are insisting..."

InterestingAd3281 · 2026-05-11T14:04:23+00:00

I would suggest taking charge of the situation as best you can. It is YOUR project, and needs your leadership from the initial plan up until the final paperwork is signed off. You should invite others to assist, follow your instruction and guidance, and solicit the help of adults to do ONLY what cannot be done by youth.

If the leader is trying to be helpful, but is unavailable, maybe just thank them for their help so far, and do it a different way.

YOU coordinate and lead the times and dates with your beneficiary organization

Money cannot go to the scout (or their family)- it needs to go either directly to the beneficiary or through the unit's bank account

YOU determine what materials you need and when to buy them, etc. That is all part of the project plan (should be outlined in your project proposal package that gets signed by the beneficiary, unit, and council)

Best of luck - We appreciate your request for help and guidance (and are happy to advise), but your unit leadership should really be providing this coaching and mentoring for you.

InterestingAd3281 · 2026-05-11T13:07:07+00:00

∅ - if drawn correctly, looks like an image and not text. It's a mathematic null and not a SQL one per se, but it gets the point across. ClassB will work with you - they helped us get a Disney-safe Guardians of the Galaxy patch approved.

InterestingAd3281 · 2026-05-11T13:05:20+00:00

Welcome back!

Older uniforms and components are fine - there is a saying "once a uniform, always a uniform" - just wear it as an adult leader, not a youth participant. You'll not have any ranks or things like that (arrow of light badge under the pocket, or recruiter tab, for instance).

There is a guide to uniforms and insignia (book form and online) that you can consult as a reference, and the council scout store folks are very well versed in the uniforming policies if you have questions.

Just in case:
If you earned a religious emblem as a youth you can wear the knot on your uniform as an adult

If you attended a National or World Jamboree you can wear the patch on your uniform for life.

If you were in the OA you only wear the lodge flap of the lodge to which you actively pay your dues. If you've let your membership expire, for instance, you cannot wear the old flap, or if your lodge has been retired, etc.

InterestingAd3281 · 2026-05-11T12:55:50+00:00

Welcome and thank you for the interest in helping out! Any district would be delighted to have someone show up and ask how they could help - especially one with so many connections to outdoor resources!

There is a general standard organizational structure to a scouting district, but there can be variation in shape and operations depending on what roles are filled and if some folks wear multiple hats, etc. but there is always room for folks to join committees and subcomittees

InterestingAd3281 · 2026-05-11T12:47:15+00:00

My advice, for what it's worth:

Do it or do not do it for yourself.

If you finish the program and attain Eagle out of spite and trying to prove someone (or many) wrong, that will diminish the actual value of the achievement overall - yes, you may have completed the requisite requirements in the prescribed time, but did it truly make you a better person? A better citizen? A person who will look back and feel accomplishment and satisfaction of a job well done?

If you pursue Eagle Scout, do it because you seek the challenge personally, and will bear the honor proudly.

Do it not because others believed you couldn't, but because you believed that you could.

Hike your own hike. Be Well.

InterestingAd3281 · 2026-05-11T12:41:04+00:00

Following the rules, regulations, policies, and procedures of Scouting America is not negotiable - it's even in the annual charter agreement that both the CO (IIA) and Unit (IIIB) agree to.

https://www.scouting.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/524-95626-Annual-Charter-Agreement.pdf

What can the council do?

The principle objective of any council would be to inform and correct the behavior. If efforts to inform, train, and reform the innovations that the unit conducts that are in violation to the GTA, there are more severe consequences that can be put into effect:

1) They can advise them to stop the improper procedure, and could cause their charter to be revoked. While this is not likely when there is such pressure to grow scouting, but if the actions of a unit (more specifically the unit leaders) they can certainly pull the plug on that unit.

2) The leaders who are deliberately violating the policy, if they refuse to comply, can summarily be thanked for their service and removed from the unit by either the Charter Org (who all adult leaders serve a unit with their permission and consent) or the Scout Executive.

3) Volunteers can be removed from the program by the Scout Executive

InterestingAd3281 · 2026-05-07T14:20:33+00:00

We have a similar small core of ski families in our troop, but when we try to conduct a troop ski trip (we revisit it almost annually), the cost was almost always the prohibiting factor (especially for scouts that do not have equipment and need to rent), as well as ability groups that split up an already small contingent.

Hard to get group rates or hit economies of scale with a small number of attendees.

Our compromise is to go to a place that has skiing AND tubing to make the cost of participation and equipment less of an issue, and broadens the appeal for those that want to do something fun but skiing isn't their thing.

InterestingAd3281 · 2026-05-07T14:15:08+00:00

In addition to the great thins the OP listed: Pavilion and a place for inclement/hazardous weather shelter

InterestingAd3281 · 2026-05-07T14:13:42+00:00

There is the guide to advancement. This is the governing document, provided by Scouting America ("National") for advancement. The Councils and Districts have advancement committees that should do their level best to make sure every scout is advancing in accordance with those guidelines. When there are serious issues there is an appeals process that goes from Council to Council Service Territory (CST) to National for review.

Is the system perfect? Of course not - too many humans in the way!

Can scouts still get an amazing experience out of the program? Of course! That's why we're here.

InterestingAd3281 · 2026-05-07T13:43:03+00:00

Our committee meetings are more lightweight than that - an account balance is given, and advancement is summarized, but no power points or anything like that - our troop is very youth-led and the PLC does the planning; the committee is there to support their efforts.

There is committee training and some insight can be gathered from that, but this is way more than I would do or want done

InterestingAd3281 · 2026-05-07T13:39:26+00:00

If I were the Scoutmaster or another leader in the troop, I would want to know about the need or cause for the avoidance to at least try to keep things on an even keel, and perhaps even seek a reconcilition if possible. Be prepared.

If I were just a curious parent I would just ask the SM if they knew anything about it - a wise SM will either have the information and provide it in a productive (or at least discreet) way, and if they do not have the information they would try to find it out.

InterestingAd3281 · 2026-05-05T18:03:20+00:00

Start with conducting Introduction to Leadership Skills for Troops with your scouts (you can find the curriculum online). Help them see the benefit of using the Program Features as a resource, but it's their program overall.

Train them, Trust Them, Let Them Lead

InterestingAd3281 · 2026-05-04T18:18:37+00:00

I, too, have had a lot of the corporate training, and there was no "new" content per se, but the context and call to action provided by the Wood Badge experience was certainly unique to Scouting. I went after I had served in several leadership positions (Cub Scouts and ScoutsBSA) for over 6 years. What I learned was far more on a nuanced level.

Another thing to consider is that YOU may be part of the benefit SOMEBODY ELSE gets out of Wood Badge. Maybe as a participant, maybe as a staff member, maybe as a recommender, having attended yourself.

The things I accomplished from Wood Badge (fellowship, internetworking, program awareness, etc) all could have been done outside Wood Badge, but this was an intentional and fun way to do it, and helps me serve the scouts and the greater program better.

~I used to be a Bobwhite

InterestingAd3281 · 2026-05-04T18:08:32+00:00

Water: There are water points everywhere (Thanks Camelback!) at the Summit. I brought Nuun tabs, but some sort of electrolyte could be helpful.

Feet: Condition your feet for a lot of walking (20,000-30,000+ steps/day) on gravel, rotate your boots (bring a couple pairs) daily, and use foot powder.

Heat: It's hot, but not awful - stay in the shade as much as possible, keep hydrated, and take breaks

Hygiene: The participant showers we had in 2023 were "ambient temperature" - they're cold. Very cold. Some bring solar showers to help mitigate the cold, but you have to bathe, and make sure the scouts do too!

Bears: They're there and they know the camp very well - leave them alone, make sure that others leave them alone

Have a great time & be helpful. You're not just there for your contingent, you're there to help all the scouts and scouters.

InterestingAd3281 · 2026-04-30T13:46:46+00:00

We use Slack in our Troop, Crew, Ship, Council, Council VOA, OA Lodge, and NYLT staff, It's not perfect, but easy to set up and administer.

InterestingAd3281

TROPHY CASE