________________________________________ I tried jeans. Just once. I thought, well, as a Commissioner visiting one of the troops I serve, maybe I should look like the Scoutmaster and his assistants, and most of the Scouts. Big mistake. The first comment when I walked into the troop meeting was, “Hey, Andy, you’re outa uniform!” This from a […]

________________________________________ 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 long distance, but in that area people often commute two or more hours by car […]

________________________________________ Hi Andy, I have a new “Andy’s Rule” for you, that I learned the hard way: “It’s easier to grow a spine than to have someone manually insert it.” (Jimmy Day) Amen, Brother! ========== Hi Andy, I joined Scouts as a volunteer when my sons joined because I always support my boys 100% in […]

________________________________________ 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 Varsity Scout Air Rifle, Rifle, and Archery; and Venturing and Sea Scout Rifle: “…are allowed to use tasteful and […]

________________________________________ Fast upon us is the Scout summer camp season. I’m already contemplating August-September and the phone calls that will begin then. You see, I’m a Merit Badge Counselor for five in the aquatic group. “It rained the day of my final swim test, and they canceled it.” “I flipped my canoe when I wasn’t […]

________________________________________ Hi Folks! I’ll be traveling for the next 13 days, so we’ll have to skip next week’s column. I’ll be back online the week of June 15th, so keep those letters comin’ in! Happy Scouting! (Just the other day, somebody asked me, “So, what do you do?” “I’m a writer,” I said. She replied […]

________________________________________ Hello Andy, I just read your Issue 443 (May 19th). BRAVO! That letter to you about a troop equipment trailer and insurance hit the nail on the head! We have a “troop shed” that requires no insurance of any kind. Each patrol has their own bin, where they keep their smaller gear and equipment […]

________________________________________ My previous column closed on a bullying scenario—something that seems to be in the news more and more these days. When I was a kid growing up, bullies were pretty easy to handle. You got a bunch of your neighborhood buddies together, confronted the jerk, and told him to cut it out “or else” […]

________________________________________ To my many Scouters, Scouts, parents, professionals, and other loyal readers, sincere thanks for your patience! These past few weeks have been jam-packed with all sorts of responsibilities—family, professional, and volunteer. As a result, this column is regrettably way off-schedule. But I’m working my best to get back to regular publishing, every Tuesday. So […]

________________________________________ Dear Andy, The last requirement for the Mile Swim patch reads as follows: “Swim 1 mile over a measured course that has been approved by the trained instructor who will supervise the swim.” Can you please clarify the meaning of this requirement? I’m asking because, at summer camp last year, we were led to […]