Boy Scout Badges !

I'm of two opinions on this.

On the one hand, this is really quite an accomplishment.

On the other, I get the feeling this 18 year old kid needs a girlfriend really bad.
 
That's the first thing I thought of when I heard that. The second was how many times has this been done before? Probably not too many.

I guess he helps make up for me. I got one badge and I think I was supposed to get another but never did. Tenderfoot all the way baby.

Chad
 
i think i got something like 67 badges... I hold the troop record in my small town... not to brag or anything ;)
 
I don't mean this to take away from his achievement. But Scouts has changed alot over the years. I was recently a guest instructor with the Scouts and was shocked to learn...

Fire Badge - they had to light a fire with 6 popsicle sticks and 3 matches.
Knot Badge - is earned by making the five basic knots.
Camp Craft Badge - they make a hiking staff.

They get badges for lighting a campstove, pitching a tent, and keeping a knife for 6months without cutting themselves. They can't camp overnight unless there is a permanent structure available and on the site.

They've basically been "wussy-fied" if you ask me.... as my Scout Leader friend would say... "Baden Powell is turning in his grave right now."

Rick
 
my goodness. It wasn't that way when I went through.

Still quite an accomplishment. I am not sure I have gone 6 months without cutting myself!
 
Magnussen said:
I don't mean this to take away from his achievement. But Scouts has changed alot over the years. I was recently a guest instructor with the Scouts and was shocked to learn...

Fire Badge - they had to light a fire with 6 popsicle sticks and 3 matches.
Knot Badge - is earned by making the five basic knots.
Camp Craft Badge - they make a hiking staff.

They get badges for lighting a campstove, pitching a tent, and keeping a knife for 6months without cutting themselves. They can't camp overnight unless there is a permanent structure available and on the site.

They've basically been "wussy-fied" if you ask me.... as my Scout Leader friend would say... "Baden Powell is turning in his grave right now."

Rick
Click to expand...

Sadly with the world turning to "PC" everything, this is how it is anymore. Everyone is so worried about anything and everything hurting a child. You know what? If they're not in grave danger, so what. When I was a kid, that's how you learned not to make dumb mistakes or choices. (Yes, I am a father on an 8 yr old boy with another child on the way)

At least a lot of the Boy Scout troops I've seen around here still get out and camp and hike and such. As far as a permanent structure, I know for a fact around here I've seen troops camping in area where there were none.
 
Magnussen said:
I don't mean this to take away from his achievement. But Scouts has changed alot over the years. I was recently a guest instructor with the Scouts and was shocked to learn...

Fire Badge - they had to light a fire with 6 popsicle sticks and 3 matches.
Knot Badge - is earned by making the five basic knots.
Camp Craft Badge - they make a hiking staff.

They get badges for lighting a campstove, pitching a tent, and keeping a knife for 6months without cutting themselves. They can't camp overnight unless there is a permanent structure available and on the site.

They've basically been "wussy-fied" if you ask me.... as my Scout Leader friend would say... "Baden Powell is turning in his grave right now."

Rick
Click to expand...


Magnuessen

So much in Boy Scouts today depends on the leadership. I am a assistant Scoutmaster with a local troop and I can say for my troop that what you stated above does not happen. We just recently went camping in December at Gettysburg Pa and the low temps were 12 degrees. We slept in tents and it was to be training for the "Freez-O-ree" in January. I would like there to be a stronger focus on woodcraft as I learned and continue to learn but things are different today. The Emergency Preparedness merit badge I taught last month brings new meaning today with hurricanes, terrorism and other issues on the horizon.
Are thing the same as when you or I were in scouts? The answer is obviously NO. But if you look at the averages I would bet that the percentage of Eagle scouts remains the same today as the day I made Eagle scout 20 years ago.
 
That is awesome, Trldad!!
My Scout Leader friend and I will be trying to get the "old skills" back into Scouts. I will be taking over the hikes at the local National Park soon and he is looking into Leadership Training for the 2 counties we span. The parents have alot to do with it... when they refuse to let there kids learn about knife use and safety because "its a weapon".... that makes me angry... does everything in your house come pre-cut or are you harbouring "weapons", too.
 
I harbor LOTS of weapons.:D
My sons all have their own knife collection and the oldest is only 11.:thumbup:
 
A bit off topic, but there was an interesting talk show on CBC radio about two weeks ago. The interviewee was a psychologist who was reporting rising trends in mental breakdowns of college students throughout North America. She attributed this in part to and used the exact words 'wussification of the nation'.

Basically parents are almost completely omitting free play and replacing it with structured activities. Parents are over concerned with performance evaluations in school and organized sports to the point that the child engages in activities simply to please their parents rather than for their own motivations.

She also indicated that free play and organized sports did not provide the same developmental benefits. Organized sports have great benefits, but the kid has to play by the rules. There are refs to ensure the rules are kept and conflicts are kept to a minimum. In free play the child makes rules up as they go, must engage and learn how to deal with conflict straight on and even discard or make up new rules up to cope with problems as they arise.

The merit badge debate sort of rekindled this thought. You know the parents which get all nosy and want to direct all activities of the kids, to the point that they want to change the rules for all the kids just so that said activity occurs to their liking.

Also I'm with Derick - I don't think I gone 6 mo without cutting myself in a decade now :)
 
I had a Boyscout manual from the 1940s. It really inspired me to spend a lot of time outdoors when I was a kid.
 
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