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Every Scouter has been there. You’ve been there, and so have I.
Your fellow Scouter, a parent, or Scout has a question. You think you know the answer. After telling them what you think there’s a little shadow of doubt in your mind;”did I get that right?”.
That shadow grows, and you go looking for some resource that backs you up. You try the Scoutmaster Handbook, you look over your training notes (you do have training notes, don’t you?), but there’s no answer. A Google search later you’ve turned up three dozen forum posts, a website from 1997, two Troop Policy Manuals, and maybe even someone like me. One source says this, one source says that, and you are still not sure if you have it right or not.
Based on the email I receive about 95% of the arguments, divisions and bad feelings we experience in Scouting come from easily resolved misunderstandings about advancement, what Scouts are allowed to do, and how the uniform is worn.
When you have the answers conflicts, arguments and misunderstandings get resolved. These three “secret weapons” answer 95% of the questions! And they are free!
I regularly refer to these three publications (having them as searchable PDF files makes finding answers easy!). Every Scouter should have all three and know what is in each.
I use the term “weapon” advisedly. These are powerful resources, they have a potential for making things better, but they can be misused; these are not weapons to wield against people! We use them to eliminate the difficulties caused by ignorance , doubts, and misunderstanding.
Don’t use these resources destructively, use them wisely! For instance don’t take the Insignia guide and run around telling people how to wear their patches, wear yours properly and politely answer questions if asked. Share what you know, but always in the spirit of the Scout Oath and Law.
Guide to Awards and Insignia |
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| Download a PDF file of The Guide to Awards and Insignia Section 1
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Guide to Safe Scouting |
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| Download a PDF file of The Guide to Safe Scouting | |
The Guide to Advancement 2015 |
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| Download the Guide to Advancement 2013 |
The current edition of the Guide to Advancement is the official source for administering advancement in all Boy Scouts of America programs: Cub Scouting, Boy Scouting, Varsity Scouting, Venturing, and Sea Scouts. It replaces any previous BSA advancement manuals…
Amazingly enough, we have committee members who are also merit badge councilors who want to use the troop meeting for merit badge classes. I refer them to the guide to advancement where they say that some classes are ok, like in merit badge fairs, but they should not be the norm. Our debate in my troop is that the BSA does not come out and say, “No merit badge classes in troop meetings.” We have some large troops in town that do this, and they seem to spit out Eagle scouts regularly. In my debates, this means success. My understanding is that a merit badge is a private activity between the scout and the councilor, and is not a troop activity. And the document needs to be clearer on this. It reads as if everyone knows the merit badge program and understands its purposes and goals. Clark, could you do a show on this?
That’s a great idea, I will start putting it together.
Wonder why they decided to split up the Guide to Awards and Insignia in 4 pdfs?
I merged them into 1 doc using this on-line free web program: http://foxyutils.com/mergepdf/
Clarke, your link for Guide to Advancement took me to Guide to Safe Scouting.
Wow you all are fast!
I fixed the links, thanks for the head’s up from all of you!
Any idea when the new SM handbooks will be out? Earlier this year they said “late 2013”. Well, it’s getting pretty late in 2013. 🙂
I could not find any news on the new Leader Handbooks.