LDS Church and Scouting

[wuapinmon]

Meanwhile, a mission buddy of mine just pulled this off during his tenure.

[All-American]

Meanwhile, a mission buddy of mine just pulled this off during his tenure.

Of course, he lives in Idaho, so strictly speaking he is always camping.

[BigPiney]

Meanwhile, a mission buddy of mine just pulled this off during his tenure.

Fake award. 100 months of camping? What does that even mean? Went on a campout once a month over 100 months? Or did he really camp for over 3000 days?

[wuapinmon]

Fake award. 100 months of camping? What does that even mean? Went on a campout once a month over 100 months? Or did he really camp for over 3000 days?

They did a monthly campout for 100 straight months. Not an award, just a commemorative patch.

[Dwight Schr-ute]

Meanwhile, a mission buddy of mine just pulled this off during his tenure.

I lived in Kuna once for a spell. Was at a friend's parents house around lunch time and they invited us to stay. Lunch was a caldron of cobbled corn. It became an unspoken contest between the kid and his dad on who could produce the most gnawed on cobs. The dad managed 24. I can't imagine what his toilet looked like.


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[HuskyFreeNorthwest]

I lived in Kuna once for a spell. Was at a friend's parents house around lunch time and they invited us to stay. Lunch was a caldron of cobbled corn. It became an unspoken contest between the kid and his dad on who could produce the most gnawed on cobs. The dad managed 24. I can't imagine what his toilet looked like.


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Probably just looked like a regular toilet.

[wuapinmon]

Probably just looked like a regular toilet.

I believe he means the Jackson Pollack splatters caused by corn movement.

[Sleeping in EQ]

Is this the end of LDS-sponsored scouting? If someone isn't going to make Eagle by 14 are they pretty much done unless they find another troop?

[Jeff Lebowski]

Is this the end of LDS-sponsored scouting? If someone isn't going to make Eagle by 14 are they pretty much done unless they find another troop?

Beginning of the end I think. Surprised they didn't just do it in one step.

[Sleeping in EQ]

Beginning of the end I think. Surprised they didn't just do it in one step.

It feels like the beginning of the end.

I know that school sports, science competitions, robotics, uncommitted parents, and so on have been chipping away at LDS scouting for a long time, but I actually think that when it's run well, it's a great program for some boys.

I am glad that funding for YW and YM should be more even, but still.

[Jeff Lebowski]

It feels like the beginning of the end.

I know that school sports, science competitions, robotics, uncommitted parents, and so on have been chipping away at LDS scouting for a long time, but I actually think that when it's run well, it's a great program for some boys.

I am glad that funding for YW and YM should be more even, but still.

I have always claimed that scouting is a good thing, but it is not for everyone and it is crazy that the church outsources its young men's program to an external group like that. Someday we are going to look back and scratch our heads.

[Green Monstah]

It feels like the beginning of the end.

I know that school sports, science competitions, robotics, uncommitted parents, and so on have been chipping away at LDS scouting for a long time, but I actually think that when it's run well, it's a great program for some boys.

I am glad that funding for YW and YM should be more even, but still.

For those kids who are into it, I think they're better served in a non-LDS troop.

[myboynoah]

Is this the end of LDS-sponsored scouting? If someone isn't going to make Eagle by 14 are they pretty much done unless they find another troop?

Why can't they just continue to work on their advancement after 14? Most of it is merit badges and individual projects anyway after 1st class.

[creekster]

Why can't they just continue to work on their advancement after 14? Most of it is merit badges and individual projects anyway after 1st class.

They could, but is it likely? I have. Even in my current ward for over 22 years and I can only think of o e boy who had his eagle by the age of 14. If they don't make it by then, will moms care as much as they do now?

[Eddie]

Why can't they just continue to work on their advancement after 14? Most of it is merit badges and individual projects anyway after 1st class.

This is kind of how it's been working in my ward for the last 10+ years.

We have a relatively small YM's group.

Every other year we alternate between the 12-13 year-olds going to an organized camp and the 14+ kids doing some high adventure, and doing a combined self-organized camp for all of our boys.

For the self-organized camp, we typically have some merit badges that the older boys help teach. Some separate activities that they participate in while the younger boys are working on merit badges they either aren't interested in or already have, etc. Many of the activities they'll participate in even if they aren't working on an award. For example - if we're doing a long bike ride or hike, everyone comes. Whether they have/need the cycling/hiking merit badge or not.

Weeknight activities for kids 14+ rarely/never are focused on scouting stuff. Sometimes the whole group will go to the state capital, police dept, fire dept, etc, but even the older boys come. They're just as interested in seeing the police shooting range and museum of confiscated weapons, they can benefit from learning first aid and CPR even if they don't need a badge, and if anything a visit to the state capital and with an elected official becomes more meaningful as they get closer to voting age.

In all honesty - I'm not sure that this change will have a huge effect. They're still encouraging all kids to earn their Eagle - just do it by age 14. If the church starts saying that Eagle is a worthy goal for those who are interested, but it isn't for everyone - that's when you'll start seeing a big change.