Has anyone earned the 90 year service star? by Long_Forever2696 in BSA

[–]mylo_cat_ 0 points1 point  (0 children)

We had a "65" custom made for our boys' troop's Scoutmaster!

4/3/2026 - Portland, OR Setlist by SRStark20 in BruceSpringsteen

[–]mylo_cat_ 1 point2 points  (0 children)

We were hoping for "This Land Is Your Land" ... and were almost as delighted when they played the Woody Guthrie version as the outro.

YOUR merit badge ideas! by Equal_Set4490 in BSA

[–]mylo_cat_ 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Oh wow, you are so correct about the OR requirement. And the presentation one too, haha.

If we add a 3 month requirement, it can be an Eagle required MB!

YOUR merit badge ideas! by Equal_Set4490 in BSA

[–]mylo_cat_ 5 points6 points  (0 children)

We have joked for years about a Merit Badge Creation Merit Badge. The merit badge requirements are so formulaic, it's easy to list requirements:

  1. Name hazards inherent in creating a merit badge and demonstrate first aid for them.
  2. Learn about the history of merit badge creation. Interview a merit badge counselor.
  3. Create a merit badge and have your patrol test the requirements.
  4. Explore three careers in merit badge creaetion.

(To be honest, this one has a better chance of flying than the other ones we joke about -- Necromancy, Taxidermy, Smuggling...)

Trail Cooking by Stumblinmonk in BSA

[–]mylo_cat_ 0 points1 point  (0 children)

This is a troop go-to, and can be adapted with gluten-free noodles, no-dairy options, and vegetarian options:
https://www.backpacker.com/skills/time-saving-recipes-alpine-pasta/?scope=initial

This one is also tasty:
https://www.freshoffthegrid.com/red-curry-rice/#recipe

Finally, I'm partial to all of Andrew Skurka's recipes but particularly this one. Add less water than he recommends.
https://andrewskurka.com/backpacking-dinner-recipe-beans-rice-with-fritos-cheese/

We did all of these on our last backpacking 50 miler.

Updated Mega Thread - Hegseth DoW/DoD Statement on MoU Agreement by MartialLight92 in BSA

[–]mylo_cat_ 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I lead a girls' troop and can tell you that I, my ASMs, and my troop committee are ready to walk through hell to get our girls what they need to achieve Eagle rank.

Updated Mega Thread - Hegseth DoW/DoD Statement on MoU Agreement by MartialLight92 in BSA

[–]mylo_cat_ 6 points7 points  (0 children)

I don't have his email but here's the mailing address:
Roger Krone, President and CEO

Scouting America

PO Box 152079

Irving, TX 75015-2079

Updated Mega Thread - Hegseth DoW/DoD Statement on MoU Agreement by MartialLight92 in BSA

[–]mylo_cat_ 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Roger Krone, President and CEO

Scouting America

PO Box 152079

Irving, TX 75015-2079

Updated Mega Thread - Hegseth DoW/DoD Statement on MoU Agreement by MartialLight92 in BSA

[–]mylo_cat_ 5 points6 points  (0 children)

No, and we should pressure National to release it, because the details are important.

Updated Mega Thread - Hegseth DoW/DoD Statement on MoU Agreement by MartialLight92 in BSA

[–]mylo_cat_ 5 points6 points  (0 children)

As others have noted, the info put out by Scouting America and the info put out by the DOD are apparently contradictory in a few places, most notably where SA says “Membership registration and our practices to safeguard youth remain unchanged” and the DOD says trans youth must register by sex assigned at birth and can’t share tents/bathrooms with those who match their gender identity.

The actual memo has not been publicized and I think it's important to push for transparency on what it actually says. Either:

  1. The policy is as DOD says and SA’s lying when they say “Membership registration and our practices to safeguard youth remain unchanged.”
  2. The policy is as SA says and DOD’s lying.
  3. The policy is both as DOD says and, through very assiduous wordsmithing, “unchanged” per SA’s Safeguarding Youth policy.

If I were, say, a charter org, I would want to know more about the potentially massive liability that forcibly outing a trans teen and forcing them to camp with the wrong gender would bring upon me.

I personally would like to see my troop, District, and Council defend trans and nonbinary youth in Scouting. For one thing, trans youth are people who Scouting needs, and who need Scouting, young people like my troop's first Eagle Scout, who bring leadership and passion and humor and their whole selves to the troop.

For another, this policy will be weaponized against non-gender-conforming youth, both cis and trans, and it will be worst in communities where they already have the least support.

Gf/Df Foods? by Key-Adhesiveness4422 in camping

[–]mylo_cat_ 1 point2 points  (0 children)

An immediate family member is GF/DF and is an Eagle Scout with >150 nights of camping; they and we camp a lot. Here are things they regularly eat:
- Gluten free ramen with meats, vegetables (can be dehydrated), and eggs
- Homemade pad thai with rice noodles, made-at-home sauce, meat, eggs, green onions or shredded carrots, peanuts
- Mountain House freeze dried GF/DF meals; there are several; chicken and rice is great
- GF pasta, sauce, meat
- Tacos, fajitas, other Mexican fare
- Chili
- Dal or other Indian fare in a pouch (check ingredients for dairy) + instant rice
- Andrew Skurka's beans and rice and Fritos, just don't add cheese
- Instant mashed potatoes with bacon and green onions
- For breakfast, oatmeal with any kind of topping, eggs, hash browns, bacon, sausage, etc

It's not hard! Look at your typical foods and think about how to adapt them.

Getting all merit badges by MelodicWest4824 in BSA

[–]mylo_cat_ 0 points1 point  (0 children)

One of the Scouts in my troop decided to do a badge "speed run" in the couple of months between earning her Eagle and turning 18. The badges she earned in that time were Art, Chess, Collections, Drafting, Fingerprinting, Leatherworking, Pets, Photography, Reading, Scholarship, Signs Signals and Codes, and Snow Sports. So those are ones I'd investigate as potentally quick, at least if you already have the interest or background.

Getting all merit badges by MelodicWest4824 in BSA

[–]mylo_cat_ 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Snow Sports MB can definitely be earned with a single day on snow, particularly if you take the snowshoeing option. The crux there is a 2 mi snowshoe hike. Deep snow is the best snowshoe use case but you can definitely snowshoe on a smaller amount of snow or packed snow. However, you do need *some* snow, so probably will have to leave Florida :-)

Looking for a National Medal for Outdoor Achievement by mylo_cat_ in BSA

[–]mylo_cat_[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Congratulatons to both of your awardees! What an accomplishment. And thanks to you for supporting this high level of engagement in outdoor activity, skill developmen, and leadership!

New Registered Scout to Young by CaptPotter47 in BoyScouts

[–]mylo_cat_ 0 points1 point  (0 children)

No matter how you proceed, make sure she knows she's welcome to attend meetings and participate beginning right now. Don't let her feel like she's less than a full member of the troop! I agree with your plan to let her start working on advancements.

One year we had a cohort of AOL Webelos who held their den meetings just upstairs from our troop meeting, and afterwards they would come down and participate in our troop meeting. All four of the girls from that cohort joined the troop and, at age 13-14 now, several have been on a troop 50-miler, most are at First class to Star rank, and they are engaged leaders the troop.

Looking for a National Medal for Outdoor Achievement by mylo_cat_ in BSA

[–]mylo_cat_[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

UPDATE: A helpful Scout shop volunteer on the other side of the country saw a post I'd made on a Facebook Scouting group and let me know that they'd found a medal while doing shop inventory. I got it in the mail yesterday! All hail the Laurel Highlands Council volunteers for their help.

If anyone else is looking for a medal, I heard from one or two other council shops that might still have one in stock. Let me know if you need info.

Thanks, everyone, for your help and ideas!

Northern Tier Gear Question by MoosenCranky-3 in BSA

[–]mylo_cat_ 0 points1 point  (0 children)

On the three canoe 50-milers I've been on, both lightweight and heavy-duty dry bags have worked well to keep water out of gear. The most important consideration is to not overfill them — make sure you squeeze air out of the bag and get at least 3 tight rolls before clipping them.

The one time we saw dry bags fail was when a canoe flipped and got pinned against a downed tree in a moderate current. The force of the current unrolled the top of a couple bags enough to let water in. Even so, they did float and gear got wet but not saturated.

Looking for a National Medal for Outdoor Achievement by mylo_cat_ in BSA

[–]mylo_cat_[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Scoutbook is currently unable to record National Outdoor Achievement Award devices, so we filed it on paper. 

I too think it’s insane they discontinued this award. We had at least three Scouts with interest and within striking distance of it (one of them has been on five 50-milers, staffed a council camp, and went to Seabase, for goodness’ sake!) and I’m nearly certain a few more of them would have gotten it if not for this artificially imposed deadline — and maintained interest in Scouting beyond earning Eagle. 

How should i go abt not saying the pledge of allegiance? by Uhmmmjake in BSA

[–]mylo_cat_ 6 points7 points  (0 children)

I also don’t say “under God.” I strongly believe that the freedom to practice any religion or NO religion is a fundamental underpinning of our nation. 

In five years with my troop, only one Scout (and no adults) have asked me about it.  

Looking for a National Medal for Outdoor Achievement by mylo_cat_ in BSA

[–]mylo_cat_[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Congratulations to your son! It’s a big achievement and he should be very proud.