________________________________________ Dear Andy, You recently answered a question about where the Doctorate of Commissioner Science patch could be worn. There is, in fact, a DCS “square knot” that can be worn on the uniform. It’s Item #18093 in Scoutstuff.org and the BSA Uniform Guide and it can be worn above the left pocket flap of […]

________________________________________ 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. Some say it’s a “temporary patch” for the right pocket. Others say I can put it above the right pocket […]

________________________________________ 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)… Hi Andy, Out of the blue, our troop’s Chartered Organization Representative started tearing apart our troop. First, he removed our Scoutmaster, and the […]

________________________________________ Dear Andy, I’m a new Boy Scout parent, trying to get familiar with the 2016 rank requirements. Can you help me with the requirements for camping to reach First Class? There seem to be a couple of opinions regarding the statement, “participate in 10 separate troop/patrol activities, six of which include overnight camping” (page […]

________________________________________ The term “Inner City” hadn’t been invented in the late 1940’s and through the 1950’s, when my neighborhood pals and I grew up in America’s third most densely populated city (bracketed by numbers one and two). This was likely a good thing, because it meant we had no idea we were supposed to be […]

________________________________________ 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 with one of his friends who was an Assistant Scoutmaster. When we parents and other adult troop volunteers protested against […]

________________________________________ Dear Scoutmasters, I’ve just received another letter inviting me to a court of honor for your troop’s newest Eagle Scout—the most recent in a string of several hundred in the past ten years alone. Your letter lauds this Scout’s service project and gives great detail of all the work done. Inevitably, however, and like […]

________________________________________ Dear Andy – My grandson has just completed his Eagle project and wants to place a commemorative sign at the location. When my two previous grandsons were completing their Eagle projects, I remember seeing Scout signs for this purpose; however, we can’t seem to locate them on the Scouting.org website. Your assistance in locating […]

________________________________________ “Boy Scouts” have been featured in just a few movies in the past 60 or so years. Back in 1953 we had “Mister Scoutmaster,” with Clifton Webb as his usual crusty self, but his role plays off a boy who’s a Cub Scout. Then there was “Follow Me Boys,” a pretty accurate and nicely […]

________________________________________ Dear Andy, Do we have to have at least one CPR-certified person if we’re taking a troop on an overnight camp-out? I can’t find any reference that says if it’s required or not. (Name & Council Withheld) It’s not required, but it’s sure a good idea if you have someone with this training. (If […]