________________________________________ Dear Andy, I’ve heard that some troops are recruiting new members by inviting Scout-age boys to come on a campout. The idea is camping is where we shine, and boys who missed or dropped out of Cub Scouts can be hooked back in. Before I go ahead with this, I want to make sure […]

________________________________________ Hi Andy, There was, for years, a clear policy on alcohol: No alcohol when Scouts are present. It now seems to be gone; or else I just can’t find it. I tried the Scouter Code of Conduct: “I will not possess, distribute, transport, consume, or use any of the following items prohibited by law […]

________________________________________ Hi Andy, Long time ago, as an Assistant Scoutmaster then, I “taught” the Scout handshake to one of the troops I now serve as commissioner. Happily, they not only adopted it back then, but even today they execute it correctly, both youth and adult: When I visit the troop today, even the new Scouts […]

________________________________________ Hi Andy, There’s a rumor running around my council about a new program called “Virtual Scouting” that’s going to be introduced in late 2017. Do you happen to have any advance information on what this is all about? (Dylan Marshall, Happy Trails Council) Yes, this is in beta-testing right now and is expected to […]

Hi Andy, Any ideas or resources on recruiting for Venturing crews, especially female crew members and advisors? (Ed Millington, Teen Programs, Washington Crossing Council, NJ-PA) If we’re talking about increasing membership in existing crews, I think your best resource will be the current Venturers themselves. Consider visiting with crews to help them develop lists of […]

________________________________________ Hi Andy, I’ve been our troop’s advancement chair for the past several years. In this capacity, I’ve had to deal with long-standing concerns about our Committee Chair (“CC”) and Chartered Organization Representative (“CR”), and their deviations from BSA advancement standards and principles of Scouting. Here are a few of the challenges I’ve had… In […]

________________________________________ Hi Andy, Can a Life scout start working on his Eagle packet and project before he’s finished all his required merit badges. (Paul Horwitz) You betcha! In fact, he can begin working toward his Eagle project the morning after his Life board of review. There’s no stipulation on the order in which any Scout […]

________________________________________ Dear Andy, Can the Hunter Safety certification count for the Rifle Shooting merit badge requirements 2K and 2L? (Alison Sunderland) The very best answer to your question will be from a qualified and currently registered Rifle Shooting Merit Badge Counselor. Thanks, Andy. I found and spoke with a Merit Badge Counselor about this, and […]

________________________________________ Hi Andy, Our troop was having its regular weekly meeting and, while the other Scouts are busy with how to make a pizza in a Dutch oven, the Senior Patrol Leader and ASPL walked over to where we parents are sitting around yakking with one another. They got our attention and told us they […]

________________________________________ Dear Andy, One of the participants in our Wood Badge course asked for some advice with a particularly challenging Scout. This young man’s parents are regularly in and out of jail; he’s largely cared for by his grandparents. Apparently prone to ADHD, his need is to be the center of attention; he instigates other […]