Dear Andy, I’m Committee Chair for a Troop of about four dozen. Recently, a Scout and, separately, his parents, have expressed concerns to me about his advancement to First Class rank. I know the boy, and while he does have some physical challenges, he’s a good Scout; very intelligent and can quickly absorb materials and […]

Dear Andy, Our district recently appointed a training chair who, despite more than 20 years of involvement in Scouting, has never taken a single training course…for anything. One of the first courses he was responsible for was Den Chief Training. Shortly after that course, he bragged at a district committee meeting that although he’d never […]

Dear Andy, We have a newly elected ASPL in our Troop (we elect the ASPL for a six-month term, and then they become the next SPL for a six-month term) who, right after his swearing-in ceremony, informed us that he’ll be missing summer camp, our major troop fundraiser, and our troop’s annual community service project. […]

Dear Andy, Double-dipping’s a no-no, yes? I’m confused about the achievements and electives for Cub Scouts. Is it double-dipping for a creek clean-up as both Bear elective 15e and as an outdoor activity (5 or 6) or Leave No Trace 4 or the World Conservation Award req. 3? (Name and Council Withheld) This is Cub […]

Hi Andy, I’d like to give the mom from your April 20th column, with the Cub Scout son who’s a year off in school, some insight. My own son was in the same situation: by his age he could have joined Boy Scouts a year sooner. But he stayed with his den and pack and […]

April 1953, a brand-new Boy Scout, I walked for the first time into a troop meeting. I’d been a Cub Scout, earned my Webelos Badge (Arrow of Light, it’s called today), and had just turned 11 years old. I was taller than most boys my age, and more shy than most. Painfully shy, a characteristic […]

Keep your eyes peeled for the new Boy Scout Handbook-Centennial Edition, due out around the end of summer. This 2010 edition, according to author Robert Birkby, will focus on “the experience of Scouting,” rather than paralleling the Tenderfoot through First Class requirements, which was the theme of the 1998 book, or emphasize eco-friendliness—a new consideration […]

Let’s start out with a Philmont update… There are new requirements for trek crews both in Wilderness First Aid and in CPR training. Philmont is now requiring that at least one person in each crew (preferably two people—can be an advisor or a youth participant) have current certification in ARC Wilderness First Aid basic or […]

Dear Andy, Thanks for helping so many of us volunteers understand more about following the Scouting program as it’s intended! Back in March, you suggested the Troop Program Features booklets to a reader. In addition to being available from the Supply Division, they can also be viewed online at: www.scouting.org/BoyScouts/Resources/Troop%20Program%20Features%20Vol,-d-,%20I%20-%20III.aspx Thanks for all you do! […]

Lots of reader response to this year’s April Fools Day column! Thanks to all who took the time to write in – With a date-line advantage, here’s the first… Gidday Andy, I find myself in the position of having to write in and complain about your April 1st column! I sat down to read this, […]