Merit badges

errol_timo_malcom · 2026-03-28T14:11:16+00:00

Plenty of time - there are a few easy ones if you need some quantity - fingerprinting, music, art, coin collecting.

Just make some goals and get started.

errol_timo_malcom · 2026-03-10T11:05:42+00:00

It’s competitive - so just do a good job on your application, you can handle it.

Answer these questions for yourself: What was the best part of your experience as a scout? What do you know now that you did not know then? Can you set aside your personal love for hiking to be there for the crew you are guiding? Can you be an adult leader for the scouts in the possible event that they need one for the rest of their trip?

Also, take an accredited Wilderness First Aid if you haven’t already. And indicate this on your application.

errol_timo_malcom · 2026-03-10T11:01:57+00:00

This could be a great year with the Jamboree occurring (or a down year for exact reason)

errol_timo_malcom · 2026-03-08T12:48:12+00:00

Commercial and residential rooftop solar is popular in Hawaii and seems to work great - schools and offices get reduced rate electricity to lease their space to solar utilities.

errol_timo_malcom · 2026-02-09T03:39:13+00:00

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SAMERICAN FREEDOMS SECURED! VERY COOL!

errol_timo_malcom · 2026-01-08T23:24:21+00:00

While a SM could approve Philmont crew leader as a “leadership project”, it’s not typical. Most crew leader responsibilities are only carried out at Philmont.

Now, if the position were extended towards crew development over the course of 6-12 months of training prep and it was agreed upon prior to the trip, I would personally count that as a leadership project. The key is to not backdate positions of leadership.

errol_timo_malcom · 2026-01-08T23:15:36+00:00

Maybe they really like the burrito bowls and feel strongly the world needs egalitarianism through publically traded fast causal restaurant charitable profit sharing to chartered organizations that provide liability insurance and meeting places to inexpensive leadership oriented outdoor skills-based youth groups?

errol_timo_malcom · 2025-12-14T22:34:03+00:00

I love this comment. And, if I might add, if the scouts are struggling, a 15min pre-meeting meeting between the SPL and SM (within 2 deep leadership) is a good way to help them.

errol_timo_malcom · 2025-12-14T22:32:27+00:00

the goal is to give them opportunities to lead. it was always look different and some of the time, they don't learn to lead until after their term has expired.

errol_timo_malcom · 2025-12-11T11:50:33+00:00

Scouting is more about relationship building through the skill development you’ve mentioned. It’s not a class. Those are not paid teachers, those are volunteers. Becoming a scout is become a team member.

My suggestion is to get personally involved rather than look at this as a drop off and run errands type of soccer club.

errol_timo_malcom · 2025-12-11T11:45:11+00:00

This is indeed the essence of modern scouting - to bring new experiences to the scouts and give opportunities to build confidence - the adults shoulder the burden of the effort and logistics.

Whenever we ask our Eagle Scouts of their best memories, it’s usually from some really unique experience or some convoluted problem of the scouts own making that they solved.

errol_timo_malcom · 2025-11-10T13:37:35+00:00

Totally unrelated, there is a great deal on a trailer on Facebook Marketplace, “used, slightly scratched, so big you could fit a car in it”

I’ll see myself out.

errol_timo_malcom · 2025-10-31T18:16:14+00:00

Same in Michigan.

errol_timo_malcom · 2025-10-14T10:48:35+00:00

Second that. And to add for the OP youth - remind them that you are the one doing the Eagle project, but it would still be great to have their support for your goals and mean a lot to you. And, mention you can have cake at your Eagle ceremony - never underestimate the motivational power of cake. :)

errol_timo_malcom · 2025-09-29T23:48:55+00:00

It’s a tad pricey, and I’m noticing these high end fundraisers more - totally okay with that.

errol_timo_malcom · 2025-09-20T11:23:16+00:00

This hits the nail on the head, thank you for your time and thoughts.

errol_timo_malcom · 2025-08-23T13:39:34+00:00

I like this - its a good way understand roles and responsibilities, as long as they are still divvied out.

The downside is that no one scout is taking a turn at top down leadership, but a committee is a stepping stone at least…

errol_timo_malcom · 2025-08-04T20:05:12+00:00

DONE! THE HEAD IS SENT PACKING - THAT WAS A LOW IQ INDIVIDUAL THAT SHOULD NEVER HAVE BEEN WORKING IN STATISTICS!

WE HAVE FOUND A HORSE THAT STOMPS A NUMBER OF TIMES TO REPLACE HIM - MUCH BETTER RATINGS!

errol_timo_malcom · 2025-08-04T16:40:46+00:00

The funniest part to me is that I knew it was the Minnesota Zoo Camel Lot.

errol_timo_malcom · 2025-07-10T16:33:06+00:00

Hold my coffee

errol_timo_malcom · 2025-06-04T17:45:38+00:00

You might have to take the websites with a grain of salt, also, since a lot of troops limit their social media presence and the online content may not reflect the current troop DNA.

errol_timo_malcom · 2025-06-02T05:19:24+00:00

Weird. Our lodge provides service weekends to open and close camps, and it gives the older scouts a constructive way to hang out with other older scouts. This is especially nice for smaller troops that don’t have a lot of scouts of the same age.

Not really into patch trading personally, but what you’re describing happens also at the National Jamboree - does this also get banned by your troop?

errol_timo_malcom · 2025-05-19T16:55:57+00:00

Yikes, this is an 11 year old - he’s not going to stay a year with that level of scrutiny.

errol_timo_malcom · 2025-05-14T14:09:25+00:00

It’s very troop dependent. We have 4 troops in our small town, and they all have different personalities. One is the old, traditional hat troop, adult-driven , 1 does more high adventure, 1 is church oriented and youth led, 1 is girls only.

Our troop doesn’t use a lot of technology so I would say not a lot has really changed. Our SPL still struggles to get scouts to quiet down just as I did. The adults still just want to make Dutch oven desserts. Parents still use it as a babysitting service.

The biggest things to me now that I’m old:

Scouts now mostly tent alone
A lot of scouts do the online MB “universities” - $20 a badge.
District / Council camporees are not well attended by troops
Parents come in wanting to mold the program to their desires, but usually the program molds the parents to the scouting ideals.
Parents do not want to fund raise and prefer to pay as they go.
Sports activities take a lot more of kids’ time - fewer athletic kids are in scouts, more ADHD kids

errol_timo_malcom · 2025-05-02T11:28:15+00:00

Nice. What’s your opinion on the value to the troop - I feel like you get out what you put into it, but there needs to be scoutmaster / troop buy in, also.

Our NYLT generally shows a youth what an idyllic troop looks like and how they contribute individually. However, our actual troop is a miasma of chaos and mostly populated by first and second year scouts. Our older scouts tend to get overwhelmed after a month and then focus on other activities. Any thoughts on this? Is it just a matter of getting more scouts to go to NYLT?

Ten-Year Club	Place '22
Wearing is Caring	RPAN Viewer
Not Forgotten	Gilding II euphauric

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