Guide To Advancement - HalfEagle.com

Mathematics Troop Program Feature

Mathematics Group Instruction Ideas for Meetings Skills Instruction Ideas for Meetings Game and Challenge Ideas Main Event Related Advancement and Awards More Troop Program Features FAQ The Introduction section of the Mathematics Troop Program... From Scouter Mom 6 months ago

Mentoring Troop Program Feature

Coaches and Mentors Group Instruction Ideas for Meetings Skills Instruction Ideas for Meetings Game and Challenge Ideas Main Event More Troop Program Features FAQ The Mentoring troop program feature for Scouts BSA is a valuable resource that... From Scouter Mom 7 months ago

What Is Scout Spirit?

Scout spirit is mentioned in several of the requirements for Boy Scout ranks. But what is Scout spirit and how does a Boy Scout go about demonstrating it? For the Boy Scout ranks of Tenderfoot, Second Class, First Class, Star, Life, and Eagle Scout... From Scouter Mom 6 years ago

Garden Ground adventures

Garden Ground Mountain has always been an oddity in West Virginia history. Formerly a large ridge, it was sheared down for coal mining in the early 20th century. Legend holds that coal miners used the rare flat land to grow vegetables for their... From Summit Blog 7 years ago

10 tremendous Scouting resolutions for the new year

Eat healthier, get more exercise and read more.Â We hearÂ about the same old resolutions New Year after New Year. So I asked Scouting magazine readers for their BSA-focusedÂ resolutions for the new year. Here areÂ 10 of my favorites. 1. Recruit more... From Aaron on Scouting Magazine 7 years ago

Issue 513 â" January 3, 2017

________________________________________ Hi Andy, Any tips for a dad going on a Philmont trek? I know my son will have no problem this summer; it's me I'm worried about! Unfortunately, so far I've taken "Be Prepared" to the extreme and I've wound... From Ask Andy 7 years ago

Issue 509 â" December 6, 2016

________________________________________ Hi Andy, About David Ball's question (your November 11th Issue) about adult support on outings, let me share something our Senior Patrol Leader and his ASPL did a couple of years agoÃ¢â¬Â¦ They were having... From Ask Andy 8 years ago

Answers to your questions about the Cub Scout modifications

The BSA announced this week that some Cub Scout adventure requirements that previously were mandatory will become optional, in a move intended to give Cub Scouters more control over their den program. On Facebook, on this blog and elsewhere, Cub... From Aaron on Scouting Magazine 8 years ago

Boy Led or Lord of the Flies?

I often have discussions with Scoutmasters about what constitutes a "Boy Led Troop". Â There seems to be a misunderstanding as to what that means and it is executed in different ways depending on the unit. Â But there is a right way to have youth... From The Scoutmaster Minute 8 years ago

Podcast 329 â" Merit Badges

There's always more questions about merit badgesÃ¢â¬Â¦ Ã¢â¬Â¦ then I have useful answers because the vast majority of problems with merit badges are structural rather than procedural. But I hate missing an opportunity for a good, old fashioned... From Scoutmaster Clarke Green 8 years ago

The Boy Scout board of review, a guide to getting started

At certain critical points in a Boy Scout'sÂ journey through the program, he's asked to stop and think. HeÂ looks backÂ on where he'sÂ been and looks ahead toÂ where he's going. We call it the board of review. The board of review is a chance for adults... From Aaron on Scouting Magazine 8 years ago

Issue 505 â" November 1, 2016

________________________________________ (Here are two letters that follow up on last week's troop "horror story"â¦) Hi Andy, Thanks for sharing the letter from "Puzzled & Confused" last week. Sometimes, when I think our troop is all messed up,... From Ask Andy 8 years ago

Lions and Tigers and Bears

Oh my, it's fun to have all three of those critters part of the Cub Scouting program now. The kindergarten Lion program seems to have been 'in the works' forever since our council has been piloting it for a few years now. Pretty much every pack has... From Scoutmaster Musings 8 years ago

Outdoor Ethics Training

These scouts are carefully screening food bits out of waste water before disposing of it. Are your scouts well versed in Outdoor Ethics? How would they dispose of this water and the food bits? I spent my weekend at scout camp on staff presenting a... From Scoutmaster Musings 8 years ago

Issue 501 â" October 8, 2016

________________________________________ The rumors of myâ¦ Well, you know the rest. Been traveling out of state and out of the country for the past several weeks. Back in the saddle now, so here we goâ¦ Dear Andy, Thank you for your commitment to... From Ask Andy 8 years ago

Step by step: How to be a merit badge counselor

TheÂ merit badge counselor is one of the coolest jobs in Scouting. These volunteers introduce Scouts toÂ a topicÂ about which they are passionate and knowledgable. At the very least, aÂ merit badge counselorÂ helpsÂ a young man earn a merit badge for his... From Aaron on Scouting Magazine 8 years ago

The Best Scouting Apps of 2016

It'sÂ 2016.Â The smartphone doesn't detract from the Scouting experience; it enhances it. Where in the past thereÂ was a debate over whether smartphone use is appropriate in Scouting, these days most Scouters seeÂ the devices like pocketknives... From Aaron on Scouting Magazine 8 years ago

Summer months count toward Scout advancement, whether a troop meets or not

Some troops take a break between summer camp and the resumption of school. That's fine, but what about those Scouts who are serving in a position of responsibility when this summer break occurs? Does their time still count even if their troop isn't... From Aaron on Scouting Magazine 8 years ago

Issue 499 â" August 30, 2016

________________________________________ In my previous column (Issue 498-August 16th) a parent had written about her son, a Life Scout, who was told that work on his project for Eagle "must have Scouts as helpers" and "a troop leader must be... From Ask Andy 8 years ago

Podcast 325 â" Email Answers

I hope you had a great summerÃ¢â¬Â¦ The picture for this week's podcast is one of my favorite campsites on Proulx lake in Ontario Canada's Algonquin Provincial Park. We tookÂ twenty people in three crews this year and had a great time. IÂ am glad to... From Scoutmaster Clarke Green 8 years ago

Issue 498 â" August 16, 2016

________________________________________ In my previous column (No. 497 â August 3rd), Jim Byers asked, "In Venturing and Sea Scouts, if you have a coed group on an overnight outing, you need both a male and a female adult leader. Okay so far, but... From Ask Andy 8 years ago

Issue 496 â" July 26, 2016

________________________________________ Hi Andy, We held a Tenderfoot board of review last night for one of our newest Scouts. We had two committee members present. I had sent out an email to the committee last week, right after I'd conferenced... From Ask Andy 8 years ago

Who can sign off on Boy Scout requirements?

It's a question everyÂ ScoutÂ will face: Once I finish requirements for merit badges and rank advancement, who signs off? Is itÂ the Scoutmaster? The merit badge counselor? MyÂ senior patrol leader? Mom or Dad? The answer isÂ all of the above. Or at... From Aaron on Scouting Magazine 8 years ago

Podcast 319 â" Scoutmaster Conferences & More

AreÂ Scoutmaster's Conferences a retest? Can assistant Scoutmasters do them? This week we'll catch up on listener email by answering these questions and more. When it comes to Scoutmaster conferences theyÂ areÂ explained unambiguously in teh Guide to... From Scoutmaster Clarke Green 8 years ago

Issue 488 â" May 24, 2016

________________________________________ Dear Andy, My thesis for "Doctorate of Commissioner Science" has just been approved; I've received my certificate and the "DCS" patch. But although I've asked, nobody seems to be sure about where it's worn... From Ask Andy 8 years ago

Issue 487 â" May 19, 2016

________________________________________ Some wag once said, "The good guys always finish last." Wrong! If you're a regular reader, you'll remember this letter from a Scout parent in my April 19th column (abbreviated here)â¦ Hi Andy, Out of the... From Ask Andy 8 years ago

Podcast 316 â" Scouting is Discovery

What hasÂ a Mesoamerican Step Pyramid got to do with this? Today I want to talk about leadership, but I want to see if I can get you to come along with me and really examine what this means in Scouting.Â Leadership in Scouting is based onÂ discovery... From Scoutmaster Clarke Green 8 years ago

First look: 'Troop Leader Guidebook' Vol. 2, designed for experienced Scouters

Once you've mastered the basics of Boy Scouting, it's time toÂ level up. That's the goal of Volume 2 of the Troop Leader Guidebook , the BSA's publication for experienced leaders that addresses topics like self-evaluation, succession planning,... From Aaron on Scouting Magazine 8 years ago

Issue 484 â" April 19, 2016

________________________________________ Hi Andy, I hope you can guide us! In just this past week, our Chartered Organization Representative ("CR") out of the blue started tearing apart our troop. First, he removed our Scoutmaster, replaced her... From Ask Andy 8 years ago

Issue 478 â" March 15, 2016

________________________________________ Dear Andy, I've noticed that the activities qualifying for certain segments of the National Outdoor Awards have been changing rather quickly, but a few BSA activities still seem to have been left out... From Ask Andy 8 years ago

13th Edition

The new 2016 13th Edition of the Boy Scout Handbook should be in the hands of every new scout joining your troop this year. The new edition made what I believe to be some nice improvements, along with just a couple things not so much. The... From Scoutmaster Musings 8 years ago

Issue 474 â" February 16, 2016

________________________________________ Dear Andy, One of our troop's Assistant Scoutmasters asked the Scouts to assist in filling in pot holes in the parking of our troop's Scout house. The Scouts are expecting to earn service hours credit for... From Ask Andy 8 years ago

Issue 467 â" December 29, 2015

________________________________________ Dear Andy, Last week (December 22 â Issue 466), in response to a 14 year-old Scout who's been getting into fights, with punching Scouts in the face, kicking them in the shins with steel-toed boots, and... From Ask Andy 9 years ago

Issue 465 â" December 15, 2015

________________________________________ A fine Scouting friend, and true gentleman, Kendall Brown, has "gone home." Thank you, Kendall. It was my honor to have known you. To your family, please accept my profound sympathy for... From Ask Andy 9 years ago

Issue 464 â" December 12, 2015

________________________________________ Dear Andy, I have a question about one of the Q&A's in your December 1st column about the relationship between chartered organizations and the Scouting units they sponsor. This is the reference point I'm... From Ask Andy 9 years ago

Issue 461 â" November 19, 2015

________________________________________ Dear Andy, I've searched your past issues, and couldn't find an answer to this question, so maybe I'm the firstâ¦ I recently returned from the first of our two Wood Badge weekends, at which we were all given... From Ask Andy 9 years ago

Issue 460 â" November 10, 2015

________________________________________ Here's more on the idea of parents tagging along on every possible Boy Scout outingâ¦ Hi Andy, "Amen" to discouraging continual parental accompaniment! Thanks for discouraging continual parental accompaniment... From Ask Andy 9 years ago

Issue 459 â" November 3, 2015

________________________________________ Dear Andy, I usually agree with most everything you have for us out here in the field, but I disagree on the point you made in your October 22 issue (No. 458), when you said, "One of the saddest things I... From Ask Andy 9 years ago

Scout Requirements and "Double Dipping"

Can a Scout fulfill more than one requirement with a single activity? The answer is alwaysÂ clearÂ after a careful reading of the Scout requirements and the directions inÂ Â the Guide to Advancement 2015Â Â Ã¢â¬â 4.2.3.6 Fulfilling More Than One... From Scoutmaster Clarke Green 9 years ago

Podcast 289 â" What is an Active Scout?

How do we decide if a Scout is an active Scout? There are very clear directions about how to determine if a Scout is an active Scout in the Guide to Advancement. Why, then, does this cause so many problems? Put on your choir robe and I'll do a... From Scoutmaster Clarke Green 9 years ago

Thoughts on Scout Requirements

Are you motivated and inspired by the Scout requirements? What about your Scouts? Are your fellow Scouters inspired to administer them by adopting anÂ encouraging, inspiring tone themselves? Can you smell the wood smoke and feel the warming glow of... From Scoutmaster Clarke Green 9 years ago

Issue 454 â" September 22, 2015

________________________________________ Here are some interesting updates on "World Scout Scarf (Neckerchief) Day" that I missed but my readers didn'tâ¦ Proof that being glib isn't nearly as important as being a good researcher! Hi Andy, In your... From Ask Andy 9 years ago

Issue 453 â" September 17, 2015

________________________________________ Dear Andy, For an upcoming District Awards annual dinner, some of us Scouters have come up with the idea of collecting $1,000 between us and recognizing our outgoing District Chair with a James E. West... From Ask Andy 9 years ago

A Scout's Duty to God

MembersÂ of the BSAÂ we are specifically asked to affirm the Declaration of Religious Principle Â Ã¢â¬â The Boy Scouts of America maintains that no member can grow into the best kind of citizen without recognizing an obligation to God. In the first... From Scoutmaster Clarke Green 9 years ago

Issue 449 â" August 19, 2015

________________________________________ Hi Andy, In your July 30th column (No. 448), about that Venturer in the Silicon Valley area, I almost get the feeling someone's looking for reason not to help this young man. Yes, 60 miles might sound like a... From Ask Andy 9 years ago

New Eagle Rank Requirements

New Life Rank Requirements

New Star Rank Requirements

Issue 447 â" July 17, 2015

________________________________________ Hi Andy, I have to point out your response about shooting sports targets isn't completely right. Starting on page 52 of the BSA NATIONAL SHOOTING SPORTS MANUAL, it says the following for Boy Scout and... From Ask Andy 9 years ago

New Scout Rank Requirements

Here's my comments on the new Scout Rank requirements that take effect on January 1, 2016. Exactly how the new requirements are phased in is explained in this PDF document Ã¢â¬âÂ Notes on Transitioning to the New Requirements . I found the new... From Scoutmaster Clarke Green 9 years ago

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