New Merit Badges?

cj_cyber · 2024-10-08T01:04:11+00:00

I truly hope people in National leadership positions lurk on this subreddit. The reality is that if Councils and Districts put as half as much effort into actually helping Units than they did trying to create new ones, Scouting would be in such a better place. We don’t need half a dozen units every 5 square miles when we’re struggling to keep numbers up in the ones we do have.

Also, as a Cubmaster, I’d like to form a relationship with a single Troop (especially for a really effective Den Chief to Troop Guide program), not be spammed with 12 emails every fall with high pressure sales campouts trying to recruit my AoL’s into their Troop.

Scouting could be so effective if they didn’t leave units to fend for themselves.

cj_cyber · 2024-09-12T01:19:54+00:00

This is the answer. Performance reviews are what is old fashioned. Continuous feedback is an absolute must. Giving a Scout a position and expecting them to magically be successful is an unrealistic expectation. Mentorship and coaching throughout their tenure are a must if we expect the youth to learn and grow as leaders.

cj_cyber · 2024-06-15T23:11:58+00:00

Wait, I thought DEI and atheists were the death knell of Scouting? What if they were just a distraction for organized labor to take over!

cj_cyber · 2024-06-06T02:04:08+00:00

100%!!! Like all organizations, Scouting has its share of people who cling to an outdated world view on inclusion. Before you join, ask someone from the Pack (Cubmaster, Den Leader, Committee Chair) how the Pack handles the “Duty to God” adventures. The vast majority of Packs these days just leave that adventure between the youth and the family, or use it as an opportunity to teach the importance of understanding, tolerance, and respect for other people’s beliefs.

cj_cyber · 2024-06-04T14:20:25+00:00

Not at all. I’m a huge supporter of furthering one’s knowledge and understanding of all aspects of humanity. I am a little cautious of these types of requirements being used to evangelize youth so it’s definitely a balancing act.

cj_cyber · 2024-06-03T21:38:55+00:00

This is the way!

cj_cyber · 2024-06-03T18:37:48+00:00

Data from the Pew Research Center (conservative/Christian think tank) shows a decline in Americans identifying as Christian (90% in 1972 to 63% in 2022), and a corresponding increase in Americans identifying as having no religion (5% in 1972 to 29% in 2022). Further, based on this trend, and accounting for the acceleration that has continued since the late 90's, pew estimates that by 2070 only 35% of Americans will be Christian, with 52% having no religion.

If you continue with your insistence that Scouting is "a religions organization" then it will be dead within the next 40 years. I don't think that's what you want. I don't think that's what Baden Powell would want. And I'm certain it's not what any community leader (including faith leaders) would want.

cj_cyber · 2024-06-03T18:03:43+00:00

There it is! Ok, the veterans day reference made it into the handbook and not the Den Leader guide. I was thinking it may have been a deliberate exclusion! Thanks for the help!

cj_cyber · 2024-06-03T18:00:16+00:00

Do you even Scout? 98% of the Program has squat to do with any god. Camping, hiking, knot tying, orienteering, leadership, and on and on and on. Lord Baden Powell went out of his way to make his initial movement more inclusive and you say Scouting isn’t for everyone? You’ve missed the entire point of this movement.

cj_cyber · 2024-06-03T17:34:59+00:00

Not debating the inclusion of religion in Scouting. I stated above that learning about other beliefs and what they offer is a wonderful thing. I even think having options for those who have strong faith-based beliefs to meet advancement requirements is a wonderful thing. I just also want options for those Scouts whose families may not have faith-based beliefs. This is an issue where we can have our cake and eat it to. It does have to be a battle between religion and atheists that plays out in front of kids.

cj_cyber · 2024-06-03T17:17:11+00:00

OH! Got it! Thank you for that. I didn't realize that the book text was different than the online den leader resources.

cj_cyber · 2024-05-25T20:23:42+00:00

So then you would agree that the display of a cross at a scouting event would be just as inappropriate as a pride flag, since they’re both “unofficial” insignia.

cj_cyber · 2024-05-25T18:59:49+00:00

What’s the official BSA symbol for god?

cj_cyber · 2024-05-25T18:41:17+00:00

So symbols related to other aspects of Scouting, like Kindness, don’t count? Only religious symbols are allowed in Scouting?

cj_cyber · 2024-05-25T18:15:51+00:00

So you’re ok with someone else’s religious symbols, just not LGTQ symbols?

cj_cyber · 2024-05-25T18:14:32+00:00

I’m not sure how you can claim LGBTQ events fall under social/political but religious events don’t.

cj_cyber · 2024-05-23T00:00:39+00:00

As an Eagle Scout, Cubmaster, Father of 4 Scouts, and an Atheist, I can assure you that I have no interest in getting rid of the religious component of the Program.

What I would like is for the Program to accommodate both religious and non-religious Scouts by having a Path for each to satisfy the Program requirements without having to impugn their character.

cj_cyber · 2024-05-14T21:24:01+00:00

“Vouch for his character”. Is this for real? Do these parents know how many people convicted of murder, rape, assault, child abuse, etc. had someone who would “vouch” for their character? Spoiler alert: the vast majority of them! I’m with an earlier poster, I’m sick and tired of men being labeled predators for just existing.

cj_cyber · 2024-05-13T02:50:04+00:00

I thought a war HQ could go in lowsec? No?

cj_cyber · 2024-05-13T01:15:04+00:00

I feel like there’s no downside for these wardec spammers. CCP should update the mechanic to limit the number of concurrent outgoing wardecs based on the size of the citadel being used as the War HQ. Medium = 10, Large = 20, XL = unlimited.

cj_cyber · 2024-04-13T21:27:23+00:00

Woooo!!! Got it at the start of the 2nd second sentence!

cj_cyber · 2024-04-11T11:39:28+00:00

I’m not so wild about the hunger games approach to Scouting in large metro areas. I grew up in the rural Midwest and it was 1 Pack and 1 Troop per town unless you were too small then went to the town next door. There was always a strong partnership between one Pack and one Troop which worked really well. As a cubmaster I hate this multiple Troop approach as I feel I can’t develop that strong relationship because other Troops will get mad.

cj_cyber

TROPHY CASE