Reply to Our Current Situation

Forum Index » College and University Discussion

Reply to "Our Current Situation - Not thrilled"

Subject:

Emoticons





More smilies

Text Color: Font: Close Marks

[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Eagle Scout is a very dated distinction. It doesn’t require anywhere near the mastery of skill that music, literary, sports or other competitive ECs require. It takes a time commitment to achieve it and the ability to impress a bunch of middle aged mediocre white men bestowing it.  It’s a predominantly a white, male, Christian thing in suburban and rural areas. It used to be a way for middle class white boys to break into more elite schools.

Scouts is a pretty bigoted organization so someone dedicating their youth to achieve distinction within this organization is someone who either agrees with the bigotry or is peachy fine ignoring it because they were told the distinction would help open doors for them. [/quote]

Tell me you know nothing about Scouts without saying “I know nothing about Scouts.”

So - to become an Eagle Scout a kid (boy or girl) does the following:

1.  Joins a BSA troop.  This can be done at any age from 11 to 17.  Though if you join in your later teens you will not have time to make it to the Eagle rank.
2.  Upon joining you learn some basic things and you are a “Scout”.
3.  The next rank is Tenderfoot.  To earn this rank a Scout needs to prep a backpack and tent for use on a camping trip and explain what you are bringing, and how it is used to a leader (explanations are typically an older Scout).  Participate in an overnight camping trip.  Sleep in a tent you pitched.  Tell how you followed the Scout Outdoor Code during the trip.  While on a camping cook you must assist in the preparation and cooking of a meal.  Demonstrate and explain why it is important to properly clean all cooking materials.  Demonstrate and explain when to use certain knots.  Demonstrate and explain the proper care of a knife, saw and ax.  Demonstrate and explain proper first aid for a specified listing of potential medical issues that could occur while camping and elsewhere.  Identify poisonous plants and explain how to treat exposure.  Assemble a first aid kit for yourself and explain when and how each item is to be used.  Explain the use of the buddy system while hiking and use it on a troop hike.  Explain what to do if you become lost on a hike.  Explain the rules for safe hiking during the day and during the night.  Record your best efforts in sit-ups, push ups, reach and 1 mile run.  Develop and follow a fitness improvement plan that runs at least 30 days.  Demonstrate and record your efforts again and note any improvements.  Demonstrate how to raise, lower and fold the Flag.  Participate in an approved service project.  Teach another Scout how to tie a square knot using the Scout teaching methods.  Have a Conference with troop leaders and explain how you tried to live the Scout requirements.

Congrats.  You are now a Tenderfoot.  The second of seven Scout ranks.

Let’s skip a head a bit.  Past Second Class.  Past First Class to earning Star Scout Rank.  Those requirements are:  Be a 1st Class Scout for at least 4 months (obviously can be much longer).  Earn 6 merit badges, 4 must be Eagle Required Badges (these are ones that are pretty common Scout activities).  Hold a troop leadership position for at least 4 months.  Do at least 6 hours of approved volunteer service work.  Complete the child abuse safety course, and cyber safety course.  Participate in a review conference.  Now you are a Star Scout.  Sounds simple.  However, let’s look at an Eagle Required Badge requirements.  There are 18 required merit badges to make Eagle rank.  The Cooking Merit Badge is one.  What does it require?

There are 7 parts to the Cooking Merit badge.  You can do them in any order.  They will take a fair amount of time to complete - several months typically.

Part 1:  Health and Safety.  Learn and be able to explain the common safety issues in cooking, and explain how to treat or address them.  This deals with cuts, burns, scalding, fire, how to use a fire extinguisher.  Learn and practice how to properly address allergic reactions and choking with yourself and others.  Learn and explain how types of food need to be safely stored and transported.  Review and explain common food allergies and how to learn of potential issues from food labels.  
Part 2:  Nutrition.  Learn and explain the food groups, serving sizes and calorie intact.  Track your calorie intake and activity for 5 days. Develop a healthy 1 day meal plan for yourself.  Learn and be able to discuss food nutrition terms and charts.  Explain carbohydrates, calories and serving sizes.  Discuss types of listed cooking methods, what pans and other equipment are used, what foods are cooked with each method.  Discuss and demonstrate the use of a camp stove.  Discuss the relative merits of camp stove cooking versus camp fire.

[/quote]

Sorry hit post way too early —

Describe how time management is used so meal components are created and a meal served at one time.

Part 4 Home Cooking - prepare menus for 3 days of 3 meals a day for you and at least one other.  Explain how these menus meet the nutritional requirements.  Explain what equipment is needed to prepare the meals.  Shop for and Prepare one breakfast, one lunch and one dinner from your list.  Review and discuss any errors and changes you would make.

Part 5 Camp Cooking.  Plan and prepare 5 meals including 1 breakfast, 1lunch and 1 dinner and 1 snack or dessert (and two more meals) for your patrol (5-8 kids). Explain how each meal meets RDA requirements.  Shop for and explain and demonstrate proper storage and handling of the food items.  Cook 3 meals on a camp stove.  Cook one meal over coals or with a Dutch oven.  Cook one meal on a camp fire using foil packets or skewers.  Explain and lead clean up after each meal in keeping with the Outdoor Code.

Part 6 Trail cooking.  Plan and prepare 1 full days meals and snacks for your patrol (5-8 kids and an adult) while trail hiking.  At least One meal must be done on a backpack stove.  Review and shop for all ingredients.  Explain the RDA and calorie requirements.  Demonstrate safe handling of the food and equipment.  Plan and Lead the distribution of carrying by pack the equipment and food.

Part 7 - Explore and discuss 3 careers on food handling and preparation.  Select one and research the education and training for the career and explain it to your badge counselor.

Do all that and the prior post stuff and you have qualified for your cooking merit badge.  Only at least 20 more to go.  (Plus all the non-badge rank advancement stuff) and, of course, the Eagle project.

[/quote]

Excellent post! Thank you! $20 an hour college reader please take note![/quote]

[b]I'm not sure you understand the role of applications. It's the students' job to explain the rigor of their experiences, academic or not, not the role of the application reader to discern it based on one line in the application. This applies whether the reader is paid $20/hour or is the head of admissions. I read applications from Eagle Scouts who did an excellent job of relating their experiences and what they learned. I also read applications from Eagle Scouts who mentioned it in a perfunctory manner. Would you have wanted me to rate them the same?[/quote][/b]

Guys I think you’re missing the point this poster has been making here for a while. 
If you are an Eagle Scout and are applying to college:
- take the time to highlight what you to believe to be your exemplary history of community service and leadership skills 
OR
- list the accomplishment as one of many, and spend the time highlighting other activities.

If you really want ES to count, find a way to make us care about what you care about. 
If the words aren’t flowing your participation in ES reads forced. Again, if you don’t really care, why should I?

Also, the nastiness about wages is truly disgusting. You can choose to be a better person. Start today. [/quote]

Options

	Disable HTML in this message
	Disable BB Code in this message
	Disable smilies in this message

Review message

Search Recent Topics Hottest Topics