________________________________________ Hi Andy, Does a Scoutmaster appoint the Assistant Scoutmaster, or does the troop committee do this? Related to that, can a Scoutmaster refuse to accept a new ASM? (Jerry Kazanjian, UC, Old Colony Council, MA) Ultimately, of course, the head of the chartered organization, or designee, the Chartered Organization Representative, has final authority over […]

________________________________________ THIS JUST IN: SCOUTMASTERS ELIGIBLE FOR THE SENIOR PATROL LEADER POSITION—FOR LIFE! The BSA has just announced that Scoutmasters are eligible to appoint themselves Senior Patrol Leader, thus acknowledging the superior leadership that comes with age and experience. Concurrent with this acknowledgement, the Scoutmaster-as-Senior Patrol leader position can be held for life, instead of […]

________________________________________ Hi Andy, I’ll be going to camp this summer with my son and his troop. The camp offers the Mile Swim award. According to both the BSA’s “Scout Stuff” (www.scoutstuff.org) and “advancement” section of the U.S. Scouting Service Project (usssp.org) the Mile Swim is for both youth and adults. At scoutstuff.org, the Mile Swim […]

________________________________________ Hi Andy, We have a fifth grade boy who joined our pack last October. He’d like to earn his Arrow of Light award before crossing over to Boy Scouts. He’s just turned 11, and school gets out at the end of June. According to the Webelos Handbook, a boy has to be active in […]

________________________________________ We talk about “Scouts in Action”… How about a “Scouter in Action” in one of the least-probable locations on the planet!? Check out this video, sent to me by John Fox, of the Daniel Webster Council, NH. It’s the story of Keith Blackey, a veteran of the Vietnam War with a lifelong involvement in […]

________________________________________ Dear Andy, I’m supposedly a “hover” parent. I’m trying to learn not to be, even though my son’s considered on the immature side. He’s had a fear of the unknown since he was an infant, and it persists. Does this make him “immature”? I have to coax him in multiple ways to get him […]

________________________________________ Hi Andy, I’m our troop’s Committee Chair. We’re trying to put together a “handbook” for Scouts and parents. We’ve been told there’s one in existence, but none of us has ever seen it. We’re wondering if troops are allowed to set their own standards on requirements that don’t agree with BSA national standards. For […]

________________________________________ Dear Andy, I recently heard about the “American Heritage Award.” It states that Scouts helped in the curriculum and design of the medal and patch that can be earned. Is this medal authorized for wearing on the BSA uniform? (Bill McClain, District Advancement Chair, West Tennessee Council) The BSA does allow certain non-BSA recognitions […]

________________________________________ THE BADEN-POWELL INSTITUTE By the GREATER CLEVELAND COUNCIL-BSA SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 9th – 8 AM to 3 PM. Your choice of 45 SCOUTING TOPICS in 50-minute sessions. o Dutch oven cooking o Fly fishing for Dummies o Philmont from a Ranger’s perspective o Trail-building Eagle projects o Adding PIZZAZ to pack and den meetings o […]