The most important issue, and explained very well, is the upcoming change to the age requirements for Venturing. Currently, a kid must be 14 and an eighth-grade graduate to be eligible for Venturing. Starting May 1, 2010 a kid must be 14 or an eighth-grade graduate who is 13 years old. Given that all the interest in my Venture Crew is coming from sisters of guys in the troop who are just waiting to hit 14 years of age and middle school graduation this is very welcome news. In fact, one of them is already making plans to attend summer camp with the crew even though she’s only 13 right now because she’ll graduate eighth grade right after the new eligibility rules go into effect.

Here’s the link at the Boy Scouts of America website that discusses the change: http://www.scouting.org/scoutsource/Venturing/EligibilityChange.aspx

Effective May 1, 2010, the minimum age requirement will be changed to 14 years of age, or 13 years of age and completion of the eighth grade. The maximum age for participation remains under 21 years of age.

That link also has a list of Frequently Asked Questions. If you have any about the age change, click it and give it a gander.

There’s still a lot of other great stuff the moms discuss, like the awards program. It can be very confusing, but they do a great job of explaining it. If you’re doing something else on your computer or you’re doing something in the same room, turn on the show and give it a listen.

Great big hat tip to Doug over at A Scouter’s Journey who made it sound so appealing I went over and listened to the show even though I rarely drop in on podcasts.

On page 396 and 398, the use of Diagonal Lashing is a big change from the previous edition and the picture of diagonal lashing does not match the words. It now says a Diagonal Lashing should be used “to bind poles at an angle other than a right angle” but the picture shows a right angle. Previous, the Diagonal Lashing was to be used to bind poles that don’t touch, such as the crosspieces on the sides of a watchtower. Other online resources agree with the previous description.

Click on over to check out more insight.

According to recent Cub Scout Talk postings, the 2009-2010 Insignia Guide references the following new additions to the Cub Scout Academics and Sports Program:

1. Abilities Awareness (17861-Loop, 14700-Pin)
2. Family Travel (17862-Loop, 14701-Pin)
3. Good Manners (17863 – Loop, 14702-Pin)
4. Hiking (17865-Loop, 14707-Pin)
5. Hockey (17864-Loop, 14706-Pin)
6. Horseback Riding (17866 – Loop, 14708 Pin)
7. Pet Care (17869 – Loop, 14703-Pin
8. Photography (17870 – Loop, 14704-Pin)
9. Reading and Writing (17871-Loop, 14705-Pin)
10. Skateboarding (17867-Loop, 14709 – Pin)
11. Video Game (17868 – Loop, 14710-Pin)

The most intriguing of the new awards are probably those for skateboarding and video games.

Fine, but it will be video games hooked to a generator at the end of a 5 mile hike. That’ll learn ‘em.

GSUSA will be announcing our new online safety campaign with Microsoft. The name of this initiative is LMK (text-speak for “let me know”), and the program is designed to build girls as leaders in promoting online safety. Here’s are some answers to frequently asked questions:

What is LMK?
LMK (“let me know”) is an online safety campaign created in partnership with Girl Scouts of the USA and Microsoft. The campaign includes an interactive Web site for girls, as well as an e-newsletter and Web site for adults. Each month, an all-girl editorial board explores a different internet safety topic online and then shares what they learned in the e-newsletter, which is distributed to adults the following month.

What can girls expect to find on the girls’ Web site?
Girls can anticipate learning more about internet safety through a fun and interactive Web site which includes forums, video features, articles, quizzes, polls, games and a question & answer column from internet safety expert, Parry Aftab.

What about the adult components of the campaign?
The e-newsletter and adult site are designed to provide parents with timely guidance and also serve as a tool to help families have open and honest conversations about the dangers that lurk in cyberspace.

Why is LMK important?
With the escalating popularity, increasing access to the internet and online technologies, it is important for teens and parents to be aware of the dangers that exist in cyberspace. The LMK (“let me know”) campaign not only creates a space for internet safety experts and teen peer advisors, it also provides guidance about topics like cyberbullying and online sexual predators. The adult components of the campaign help teens to bridge the digital generation gap between themselves and their parents.

What is LMK teaching my kid that she doesn’t already know?
While many young people are aware of the issues of cyberbullying and online predators, not many people know how to keep themselves safe. The LMK campaign shows teenagers how to stay safe online by:

•Surprising girls with what they can learn about online safety;
•Inspiring girls to pass their learning on to their friends;
•Including their parents in a dialogue about online safety;
•Empowering girls to become thought leaders who advocate safe and responsible use of technology.
Why is the Girl Scouts partnering with Microsoft?
Girl Scouts of the USA is committed to helping today’s girls become tomorrow’s leaders. Thanks to the support of Microsoft, we are able to create a unique online learning experience for girls which furthers our mission of building girls of courage, confidence, and character, who make the world a better place.

Do you have to be a Girl Scout or a parent of a Girl Scout to participate?
No. LMK (“let me know”) is open to everyone, Girl Scouts and non-Girl Scouts alike, as well as any adult who wants to learn about internet safety.

I think I’ve heard that Boy Scouts will also be making cyberbullying a facet of their education program so you can get a jump start on this if you go to the Girl Scouts site. I’ve already added it as a link on the right under “Resources” or just click here.

The National Council has set up a BSA Innovation Engine to manage new ideas for the Scouting Program. You can see a video from Chief Scout Executive Bob Mazzuca that explains the concept, there is also a Frequently Asked Question section.

Currently the site is just open to employees of the Boy Scouts of America. According to the website, “In the future, the Innovation Engine will be expanded to include suggestions and comments from volunteers, Scouts and the communities we serve. We anticipate making the website functionality fully accessible to everyone no later than Jan. 1, 2009.”
…
If you could suggest an idea today, what would you suggest?

Dan lists a bunch of the ideas he has seen and lets us know that the way to get to the new site is through http://ideas.scouting.org/. With 52 topics under the “Technology” heading, this is clearly a place professional Scouters believe changes can be made. Click on over to Dan’s Scoutingnews.org and tell him what you would suggest. Maybe he knows somebody who can get your idea onto the BSA’s Innovation Engine.

The site has links to packs that are participating in the pilot project (wow that was a pile of p’s). Sounds like the Tiger program has been incorporated as a level like Wolves and Bears and now the Lions will kind of be what the old Tiger program was.

The following Merit Badges have requirement changes set for 2009:
- Architecture
- Auto Mechanics became “Automotive Maintenance”
- Cinematography
- Coin Collecting
- Collections
- Drafting
- Emergency Preparedness
- Engineering
- Farm Mechanics
- Indian Lore
- Insect Study
- Landscape Architecture
- Lifesaving
- Motorboating
- Painting
- Pottery
- Radio
- Swimming

The site also directs readers to the U.S. Scouting Service Project for line-by-line displays of the exact changes being made to each merit badge.

The TV ad I saw was from Dove, the soap people, who have a “real beauty” campaign that promotes their products with women who are all sizes and shapes to illustrate that beauty is not only the actresses and models presented in the media. They have a fund they contribute to that supports the Girl Scout Uniquely Me! program (although they’ve got the age only to 14. I wonder why).

I guess that fund is what keeps the cost of the booklets down to $6 or $7 each. There are different books for different age groups and an adult book on how to administer the program.

My troop tends to handle these types of issues during meetings and on campouts when we talk while relaxing at the end of the day. It’s awkward for an adult male leader (me) to be part of these discussions when things like puberty, menstruation, and the drama of which boys like which girls comes up, but hey look at that, I just remembered I’ve got to go get something out of my backpack far away in my tent. No, really, I just let the moms and girls handle that stuff and keep my ears perked to try to learn their approach. It can be disconcertingly direct.

In any event, the Girl Scouts knows that girls will be dealing with the issues of self-image and how to handle the relationships that seem so much a part of the growing-up experience. And once again, they’ve chosen a good partner to help get their message out.

Soccer and Scouting is a program to try to get Hispanic families involved in the Cub Scout program. It’s only aimed at first through fifth graders. Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, too, do not have the vibrant growth they had back in the 50’s and 60’s and the national organizations have been trying to figure out how to fix that. Boy Scouts of America noticed that the large number of Hispanic immigrants weren’t embracing the traditional Boy Scout program although, in my opinion, it largely mirrors the cultural values of loyalty, leadership, and self-reliance. Since soccer is favored by many Hispanic families, the Boy Scouts of America created the Soccer and Scouting program to try to bring them into the Boy Scout program.

After looking over the program at the national website, http://www.soccerandscouting.org/, I don’t see how it will ultimately be successful. The Soccer and Scouting program is only 12 weeks long. That’s to make it seem like a traditional sports program, I think. For $30 the boys get a soccer uniform and enrollment in Cub Scouts. The Pack still needs a charter and leaders to function. The boys have weekly meetings and soccer games, but are also given traditional Cub Scout activities to accomplish in order to earn their rank badges which are sewn on the sleeve of their soccer jerseys.

For a family that joined a soccer team, doing a bunch of non-soccer stuff doesn’t seem like it would be logical or appreciated. However, Boy Scouts of America seems to think this is a good idea as evidenced by an article in the Scouting magazine four years ago. Although the background information seems to imply that the Soccer Cub Scouts will get tickets and graduation ceremonies at Major League Soccer stadiums, I couldn’t find any references to that nor is Soccer and Scouting found anywhere in the MLS website, not even in the section describing their community outreach efforts. However, Soccer and Scouting lists the MLS as a partner in their program. I don’t know if the partnership ended or if MLS just stopped calling one day and hoped BSA would get the message.

The Boy Scouts of America seems to be continuing the program. Books are available in the Scout shop. Councils still have people in charge of the program. I just haven’t heard any news besides this Birmingham article. To be honest, I’m not wild about the program because it seems like it’s just a sneaky way to get the Cub Scout program into the Hispanic community. Also, there’s a major emphasis on Spanish-language activities as opposed to generic soccer stuff. Cultural programs are fine, our troop does an occasional Cinco de Mayo cook-off, but mainly we’re focused on the activities and the program of leadership and advancement. I’m just not sold on advertising soccer and sneaking in Cub Scouts as a good strategy. 

My son is about to achieve his Boy Scout Life rank. I’ve encouraged him to begin the process of completing his Eagle Project during the summer before he begins his senior year in high school. A couple of months should be plenty of time to do the project with 168 hours of free time each week. That’s just a dad’s opinion, I guess.

Our Boy Scout Roundtable Commissioner couldn’t figure out what the updates to the Eagle Workbook were, but I still wanted to pass along the information. Good luck getting to your Eagle rank.