A friend of yours called you last month and asked you to take on a new responsibility in Scouting. You said yes despite the fact that you are the busiest person you know. Being the conscientious person you are, you wanted to do a good job so you started asking a lot of questions about your new job.
Everything your friend said was very helpful and things have been going very well. However, last week you ran into a new problem. When you went to your friend, he said he ran into that problem once before but he never could figure out a good way to handle it. What do you do now?
In Scouting, your options are many. There is a wealth of information and experience available to help you. More than likely, your friend knows quite a few people he can refer you too. In addition, he probably knows where the local Scout Shop is located which is full of publications covering many topics, including information related to your area of responsibility. What he may not know is that the help you need may be as close as your computer.
Using your computer, you can hook into the information superhighway. The Internet is huge and contains libraries of information on just about everything, including Scouting. NetRoster (http://compass.scouter.com/Net_Roster/) listed 6,273 Scouting web sites in their database in May 1999. In the same month, the Infoseek search engine (http://infoseek.go.com/) showed that the phrase "Boy Scout" was mentioned in 47,573 web sites throughout the World Wide Web. Needless to say, these numbers show that there are many people who want to share what they know about Scouting with you and others like you.
However, this begs the question should you use this information in the first place. After all, haven't we all heard that information on the Internet can be unreliable? This is absolutely true, but then some of the information your friend gave you may not have been the best either. The reliability issue will be addressed many times in this document. In the mean time remember, Scouting is a common sense organization. If you use yours and take everything you read with a grain of salt, you should be okay.
Now that you know about this prodigious resource, where do you start looking? After all, the Internet is vast . . . and confusing. You don't want to spend all day looking for the answers you need. While you won't always be able to go straight to the information you're looking for, some of the Internet resources you'll discover within make excellent starting points for your research and they are identified as such.
The Internet is not only an information research tool but it can also be used to further your efforts in your Scouting position. Communication is always a very important aspect of any job. The Internet will never be as good as the hands-on service you can provide in person, but you can't always be there and the Internet is usually readily available. Many examples of the types of information that can be presented in this manner are included.
One last thing before you delve within. If you have never surfed the web before, you will probably want to read Appendix A before proceeding. In order to make this thesis useful to all Scouters, a primer on how to connect with and use the Internet is included. With a little preparation, even those of you who can only use your computer to balance your checkbook will be able to make use of this new resource.
II. Electronic Services and Information Available
You may be wondering just what kinds of information related to Scouting are available to you. Given the number of sites noted above and wide scope of interests of the authors of those sites, there is probably very little that is not provided over the Internet. This information is spread out across different types of electronic services such as web sites and newsgroups.
A. Web Sites
When most people think of the Internet they think of web pages and the World Wide Web. Web pages are a more recent technology. While the Internet got off the ground in the 1969, web pages were the result of the introduction of a new technology in 1992. This consisted of three parts: hypertext markup language (HTML) to create pages; the hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP) to transmit the pages; and client programs called web browsers to view the pages. On the other hand, electronic mail (e-mail), newsgroups, and telnet were a part of the original Internet structure of the seventies.
Finding Scouting web sites is easy. Just go to you favorite search engine and enter "Scouting." Unfortunately, finding resources that are useful and filled with reliable information is a lot harder. Only resources that have proved to be reliable over time are listed in this document.
1. Unit sites
Many units of the Boy Scouts of America now have web sites. The topics discussed on these sites range from observations about their unit, promotion of their program, and reviews of other areas of Scouting. These discussions often include tips to help other units with their programs. Unfortunately, many unit web sites are not maintained regularly and the information may often be out of date or simply stale.
One thing you should always keep in mind when visiting a unit web site is it may not have any official status. Volunteers started putting up web sites before the professionals realized what was happening. Most sites will mention whether or not they hold some official status within their program area.
Unofficial status does not indicate that the material contained within is unreliable or inappropriate. Well-maintained unofficial sites provide some of the best resources on the web. However, users should always be wary of unofficial sites until their reliability and dedication to Scouting is proven.
a. Local unit web sites
Most unit web sites start out as a way to promote the unit’s program. Information presented will include where and when they meet, who the sponsoring organization is, and how to join. Almost invariably, all sites will include links to other information sources, especially their district and council web sites.
Later on, information about troop activities is generally included, often in substantial detail. Many troops will also figure out that the web site is good for distributing useful internal information such as troop schedules and newsletters. Finally, some local units use their web page to share tips and tricks with other Scouts and Scouters.
b. District web sites
Instead of a promotional tool, most district web sites start out as a way to spread basic information about their district. This often includes district calendars and contact information for district leadership. A recent trend finds many sites including links to unit web pages within their district.
Promotion becomes a key ingredient as these sites grow. District web sites begin focusing on different aspects of the district program, especially training. Some sites also include sections on district camporees but very few seem to lend much space to the other three main programs within districts: advancement, commissioner service, and finances.
c. Council web sites
Council web sites vary greatly in their focus. Some provide just general promotional information about the Scouting program in their area. Others go into detail about many aspects of their job and what they can do for units in their area. Nearly all include fairly extensive contact information but most are still not very good at handling communication via e-mail.
There are also now many sites for council programs. These are usually separate from the main council sites. The first type to appear in large numbers were sites about summer camp programs but sites on the Order of the Arrow may now surpass them. Other council program sites available include mostly training programs such as Wood Badge and Scouting Universities. However, there are also new sites coming online every day about the many other Cub and Boy Scout programs and events offered at the council level.
d. National council web sites
The Boy Scouts of America’s main web site is at http://www.bsa.scouting.org/. This site started out as a promotional tool only and stayed that way for a long time. Lately, however, the site has begun showing its potential by including more useful information and even some tools to help out their visitors. As this site develops, it could become an excellent resource for all Scouts and Scouters.
In addition to the above site, there are a number of other official national web sites. Three examples include Sea Base’s AdventureNet (http://www.bsaseabase.org/), ScoutNet 2000 (http://www.sn2k.org/), and the Order of the Arrow (http://www.oa-bsa.org/). Each of these sites provides information about their programs. The first site provides extensive information on Sea Base, one of our National High Adventure Bases. The second site has information on the scope and expected impact of the ScoutNet 2000 program. The third site provides general information about the OA as well as specific information about the national conferences. There are nearly a dozen other sites such as these.
e. International web sites
While outside the program of the Boy Scouts of America, we can still learn a few things from official sites from other Scouting programs throughout the world. The make up of these sites vary greatly from program to program but all have the best interests of their members in mind. Here are a few examples of some official sites for other international Scouting organizations:
 | Girl Scouts of the U.S.A. (http://www.gsusa.org/) ; |
| ScoutBase UK (http://www.scoutbase.org.uk/) ; |
| Scouts Australia (http://www.scouts.asn.au/) ; |
| ScoutWeb South Africa (http://www.scouting.org.za/scouts) ; |
| Scout Association of Slovenia (http://www2.arnes.si/~ljzts1/) ; |
| and, of course, the World Scouting Association (http://www.scout.org/). |
You’ll just have to check these out and in some cases learn a new language.
2. Private sites set up in service to Scouting
This classification, by definition, includes only unofficial Scouting web sites. It also includes most of the best Scouting information on the Internet. This is a shining example of the ability of our Scouting volunteers.
Many Scouts and Scouters have decided to use the web as a way to help their fellow members. The result has been a bounty of useful information. Here are some of the best privately owned sites currently supporting Scouting.
The US Scouting Service Project (http://www.usscouts.org/) – This site is one of the oldest Scouting resources on the web. It originally went online in 1994 and is one of the largest and best resources available. If you can’t find it here it’s only because they haven’t thought of it yet.
The Pine Tree Web (http://www.pinetreeweb.com/) – Here you’ll find a great collection of Scouting stories. Many are by Robert Baden-Powell or about B-P. Many are historical in nature. Others are about training programs and their development. All are worth reading.
The NetWoods Virtual Campsite (http://www.isd.net/stobin/) - This is another site with a huge number of resources for Scouting.
The Merit Badge Resource Center (http://www.meritbadge.com/) - The focus on this site is Boy Scout Advancement. A substantial amount of information is provided to assist Boy Scouts, troop leaders, and merit badge counselors in all stages of the advancement process.
The Virtual Cub Leader’s Handbook (http://www.geocities.com/~pack215/) – This site helps Cub Scout Leaders "Deliver the Promise" to their Cub Scouts. It covers everything from new Bobcat’s to Blue and Gold banquets to Webelos Crossovers and more.
Boy Scout Troop 24 (http://www.emf.net/~troop24/t24.html) – Although this site is run by a unit, it has material well beyond the scope of normal unit sites. This one deserves some of your time and attention.
The NetCommish (http://members.aol.com/netcommish/) – Great resources for all Scouters but especially for Commissioners.
The MacScouter (http://www.macscouter.com/) – Another multi-resource site, the MacScouter is one of the older sites and was the first one to look good. It definitely makes a difference.
See
Appendix C for still more great Scouting sites run by dedicated volunteers.
3. Commercial sites set up in service to Scouting
Scouter's Compass (http://www.scouter.com/) – These people are the publishers of Scouter Magazine (formerly the Scouter's Journal). They used to host the USSSP site (above) and still have a huge amount of information available for the public. Even though they are a for-profit organization, the information on their web site is totally free.
B. FTP sites
All the materials available from other Internet services are slowly but surely moving to web sites. FTP sites are no exception. However, there are advantages to placing larger collections of information and resources on FTP servers. There are two reasons for this. First, most web browsers handle files on FTP servers just the same as files on HTTP servers. Second, surfers can use an FTP client to access the files instead of a web browser. FTP clients can download dozens of files with a single command.
WS_FTP is one of the best known FTP clients. It’s simple to install and easy to use. Best of all, the Lite Edition is free if used for nonbusiness purposes. For more information, go to (http://www.ipswitch.com/Support/ws_ftp_le_support.html).
There are no known FTP sites related to an official BSA program. Most of the FTP sites mentioned here are associated with a web site above. For more information, check the above descriptions.
USSSP (ftp://ftp1.scouter.com/usscouts/) – This FTP site contains so much information you could download for days and still not get it all. But don’t worry, they came up with a solution to this problem … They just put it all on a CD-ROM. Stop by their web site (http://www.usscouts.org/) for more information.
MeritBadge.com (http://www.meritbadge.com/files/) – The focus here is on documents and clip art associated with advancement. Free software for Boy Scout advancement tracking also available.
MacScouter (ftp://ftp.macscouter.com/) – Most of this site’s materials have been moved to the USSSP site but it still contains some useful materials. Some of the documents available here are unique and worthy of note.
Imp.ch (ftp://ftp.imp.ch/scouting/) – This site contains some materials that can’t be found at the other sites. It has been around for some time.
C. FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) can be a major resource. Many subjects are covered extensively in FAQs. Many subjects are not covered at all. Scouting is only covered moderately.
Generally speaking, the difference between a FAQ and a web page is the level of focus on a particular subject. FAQs tend to be much more focused and usually get straight to the meat of the subject. The idea behind a FAQ is to give the reader the information they really need before they know they need it.
The three sites listed here repeat each other a lot. The FAQs are written by a number of different authors but the same author often covers the same subject across different sites. So why list them all?
First of all, the most up to date information can end up on any site depending on which site each author prefers. Second, they each handle how the FAQs are published differently. The look and feel is very different from FAQ to FAQ and you may find that you prefer one style to another.
The sources used for information for these FAQs are newsgroups, e-mail lists, and the personal experiences of the authors. There are other FAQs out there but most aren’t as well maintained or as extensive. These are the addresses for the three FAQ sites.
http://www.cis.ohio-state.edu/hypertext/faq/usenet/scouting/top.html
http://www.faqs.org/faqs/scouting/
ftp://rtfm.mit.edu/pub/usenet/news.answers/scouting/
D. E-Mail
According to news reports, the number of e-mails sent over the Internet on a daily basis exceeds the number of letters sent through the Post Office by far. Considering the ease and quickness associated with e-mail, this is not surprising. While some things will always need to be handled with hard copies, electronic transmissions work fine for lots of everyday communications.
The simplest way to use e-mail for Scouting is the same way you use a letter – just exchange ideas, problems, and solutions with someone you know. But this is just the start. E-mail can be a huge resource if you take advantage of some of its related services, lists and newsgroups.
Lists and newsgroups are at the same time the most likely to be up to date and the most likely to be unreliable resources on the web. This is due to the diversity of knowledge, experience, and opinions available among their members. It is not hard to be sure you’re receiving the most up to date and reliable information. The key is to be patient.
Join some of these lists and be observant. You’ll note that some members will speak out haphazardly while others provide well thought out discussions. While all have something worth adding, you’ll get an idea of whose opinions are more reliable.
When you ask questions, allow time for multiple answers. If the first response is good enough, other members will probable leave it alone. It not, more members will throw in their two cents worth. Also, you’ll often be referred to Scouting publications. Obviously, answers found in Scouting books should always be worthwhile.
Mailing lists are different from newsgroups. With mailing lists, the e-mail messages written by the members are sent directly to the other members’ e-mail accounts. With newsgroups, the e-mail messages (called posts) are stored on a news server. One is really no better than the other but many users are highly opinionated on which they prefer. You’ll have to decide for yourself.
When using e-mail, you don’t get to see body language and misunderstandings are easy. Always keep in mind the golden rule of e-mail – "That which thou findest hateful to receive, sendest thou not unto others." The following rules called the ten commandments of e-mail will also help you be a better e-mail user:
Please keep in mind, some of these mailing lists have home pages and some don’t. If you see a web page address, instructions for joining the list will be found there. If you see an e-mail address, sending a blank message to most lists will usually result in an automatic reply that explains the proper way of joining. There are dozens of other mailing lists and newsgroups but these are some of the best.
1. List servers
Scouts-L (http://www.engr.tcu.edu/~eidson/scouts-l/swelcome.html) – Often referred to as the grandfather of them all (since 1990), Scouts-L is diamond among the other Internet gems. All different Scouting subjects are welcome here and they are discussed in a "Scouty" atmosphere. The archives from this list were a major resource used during the development of this thesis and can serve you just as well. Messages from this list are archived at http://archives.scouter.com/.
Arrow-L (ARROW-L-REQUEST@HOME.EASE.LSOFT.COM) – This mailing list discusses topics related to the Order of the Arrow. There is also a Brotherhood-L and a Vigil-L. Membership in these lists is restricted to Ordeal, Brotherhood, and Vigil members respectively. You will have to verify your membership before you will be allowed to join these lists.
Patch-L (LISTSERV@UBVM.CC.BUFFALO.EDU) – Patch trading is a pretty popular past time in Scouting. This list is for people who like to trade patches or for those who want to learn more about it.
WdBadge-L (listserv@american.edu) – This list is open to all Scouters but was created for people who have already attended or are currently attending Wood Badge. The discussion includes helpful tips and tricks for those currently working towards their Wood Badge as well as ideas on how to improve the program.
BP WebMasters (http://www.bowline.org/html/bpwebmasters.html) – If you’re considering creating a web page for your unit, this is a great resource. There are also advanced technical discussions that can be very interesting or ignored.
SeaScout-Net (http://www.sea.scouter.com/seascout-net/) – This is a discussion group for the members of Sea Scouting units.
2. USENET newsgroups
(news:rec.scouting.usa) - This newsgroup is for Scouts, Scouters, and all people interested in US Scouting programs. It is similar in scope to Scouts-L (above). This group discusses Scouting activities and provides a framework of support and encouragement for its members.
(news:rec.scouting.misc) - This newsgroup is for Scouts, Scouters, and all people interested in Scouting and Guiding worldwide. It is similar in scope to Scouts-L (above). This group discusses Scouting activities and provides a framework of support and encouragement for its members.
(news:rec.scouting.issues) – This newsgroup is for the discussion and explanation of worldwide, national or regional issues concerning national Scouting or Guiding organizations' policies, rules or regulations. The members of this group will sometimes engage in rather heated discussion. Anti-Scouting opinions are allowed. This newsgroup is not for the faint-hearted.
3. Chat rooms
a. Internet Relay Chat (IRC)
This is the most common way of chatting. IRC is a multi-user online chatting system that allows users to talk to other users all around the world. To use this service, you need an IRC program. mIRC is a nice, easy to use IRC client. You can download it from their web site (http://www.geocities.com/~mirc/) and use it free for thirty days. They also have some very good information on their site that will help you get started.
IRC users are identified by nicknames. These may only be up to 9 characters in length. If you pick the same nickname somebody else is already using, you’ll have to pick another one.
Each October Scouters use IRC to conduct what is known as Jamboree on the Internet (JOTI). The next Jamboree on the Internet will probably be carried at the same time as the Jamboree on the Air (JOTA - Ham Radio) in mid-October. The exact place and time is usually announced on the e-mail lists and newsgroups starting about a month in advance.
However, you can find out about JOTI much earlier by visiting ScoutLink (http://www.scoutlink.org/). This is also a good place for IRC beginners to go. By registering, you’ll have access to over a dozen ScoutLink servers worldwide. Their Scouting related chat rooms are more focused on Scouting and the chances of running into bad attitudes and bad language are reduced. They also list the dates of other upcoming chat events where you can be pretty sure someone will be there to chat with.
There are many different IRC servers. Most will allow you on with no problem – just pick one. To talk to others, you’ll have to join an existing channel or create a new channel. Some servers have very few channels running at one time while others have tens of thousands of channels.
Enter the command /LIST *scout* to find a channel on scouting. Wait until the server responds End of /LIST. Channels with the word Scout in them will be presented to you. Join one of these and start chatting. If you want to see all available channels, simply type in /LIST.
One of the most common ways to use IRC is to set up a meeting in advance. Sometimes these meetings are announced in newsgroups or on e-mail lists. You can also set up a chat between you and your friends. Remember, all those who want to chat with each other will have to know three things: the time (don’t forget time zones), the name of the server, and the name of the channel you want to use.
You can also have chats on channels with unique names that you create yourself. The channel name can usually be no more than twelve characters long. To create and join a channel your group has decided to call "troop" just enter /JOIN troop. If the channel doesn’t exist, the IRC server creates it. If one member of your group has already created it, you’ll simply join it.
b. Web based chat rooms
As with other services, the web is also trying to emulate chat rooms. One such service is WBS (http://chat.go.com/). It has a room called World Scouting. It can be found by clicking on Chat and then Hobbies & Interests. Web based chat rooms are much simpler but your choices are more limited.
Another web based chat room is offered by the Tesomas Boy Scout Camp (http://www.tesomas.com/chat/chat.cgi?logon). There’s also the Troop 94 Chat Room (http://mariposa.yosemite.net/t94/chat/bsachat.html).
A telnet chat site called Scout Talk (telnet://dryn.kharduin.net:1908) is also available. A good reason for using this particular site is the strong rules against bad language. It’s even supposed to have a language filter that removes the bad language.
c. Other client assisted ways to chat
Microsoft Chat (http://www.microsoft.com/) – This program may already be on your computer. No Scout related rooms when I’ve been on there but you may start a trend.
Excite PAL (http://www.excite.com/Info/pal/) – This program was the first program that seemed to be popular amongst Internet Scouters. You can run this the entire time you’re online and it sits in the background unobtrusively until someone wants to chat with you. Chatting is easy and you can switch back to whatever you were doing at any time.
AOL Instant Manager (http://www.aim.aol.com/) – If you use Netscape Navigator, this program is also probably on your computer. It’s use is very similar to the Excite PAL program above.
ICQ (http://wwp.icq.com/) – This program is relatively new but it is becoming extremely popular fast. This may be due to how easy it is to use. While services are similar to those of the other programs above, this program works automatically even if your connection is off and on (which includes all users who dial in to their ISP to go online). This relieves some of the nuisance related to the use of other programs of this type.
E. Other Types of Electronic Services
Telnet, Gopher, and other older types of electronic Internet services are slowly but surely being abandoned in favor of the World Wide Web. The Scouting related services that were available as little as two years ago are all but gone.
III. Is the Internet Good For Scouting?
A. Cons
1. Child safety
Is the Internet good for Scouting? This is an interesting question. There is an old saying that goes "Scouting is life – the rest is just details." This saying probably comes from the fact that Scouting is an entire universe of activities. Once someone enters, they become a part of a living, breathing group.
Well, the same can be said about the Internet. Unfortunately, the Internet doesn’t care as a whole about the people who join in. Little guidance is provided. It’s just there and what you choose to do while you’re there is up to you. This is where the main problem lies.
The Internet has suffered from a bad reputation because of all the nasty things that can be found there so easily. Unlike the red light districts in real cities, the red light districts on the Internet are just a few steps away. As long as you do your surfing in private, you don’t have to worry about someone catching you walking out of the local convenience store with the latest copy of Hustler Magazine. The usual social strictures that help prevent this type of activity in the real world don’t apply to the Internet.
In addition to the accessibility of inappropriate materials, there are also inappropriate activities. The Internet isn’t full of pedophiles but they are out there. Just as noted above, the anonymity of the Internet helps the pedophile remain outside common social strictures allowing them easier access to kids. After trust has been established, the offender will attempt to set up a face to face meeting.
This is unacceptable. Therefore, it is incumbent upon us to create an environment that helps prevent these types of activities. Here are some basic rules:
 | Put the computer in a public room in the home |
| Never give out personal information on line |
| Use some kind of parental control |
| Never agree to meet in person someone you met online without your parent’s permission |
| Never send anyone a picture of yourself without your parent’s permission |
These are simple but effective rules. The most important safeguard is where you put the computer. Placing it in the boy’s bedroom is just asking for trouble. You wouldn’t allow unlimited access to cable or satellite TV with adult channels, why would you allow it on the computer.
Filtering programs can also be used but don’t think of them as a replacement for rules and parental guidance. They can be bypassed and your kids may know more about computers than you do. For more important information on this subject, check Microsoft’s KidsSafe (http://www.microsoft.com/SAFEKIDS/default.htm).
2. Misinformation and disinformation
Another negative aspect often discussed about the Internet is lack of control over the content and opinions expressed. It’s quite true that a substantial amount of out of date and outright incorrect information exists on the web. This occurs for many reasons.
First, many people with the best of intention copy official BSA materials onto their web sites to share with other Scouts and Scouters. Some of them realize this is a commitment and they make sure the information remains up to date. Others don’t understand the need to keep these materials up to date and they let the information go stale.
Even though this is more obvious with official information, it applies to other types of information as well. For instance, some of the activities that Scouts used to do are no longer approved. If a troop had a page devoted to how they used paint ball to build Scout Spirit, they should make sure visitors are aware that paint ball is no longer allowed or remove the page.
Another not so common reason out of date information exists on the Internet has to do with who has final control of the content. For most, the obvious answer to the question "Who has final control of the content?" would be the author, but the true answer is the ISP. An incident occurred a few years ago where an author and his ISP had a difference of opinion over their service agreement. This went on for over a year. In the mean time, the information on the site became seriously out of date but the ISP refused to remove it or let the author have access to it.
Intentional disinformation is not very common. Few would want to take on the liability involved. However, unintentional disinformation occurs often.
It seems to occur more often in e-mail than on web sites. Luckily, incorrect e-mail done in a group format is usually corrected fairly rapidly. Because of this, the advice given in these forums is usually rather good and even the person who had the wrong idea tends to learn something. Unintentional disinformation placed on a web site may remain unchanged for quite some time.
B. Pros
This section is by necessity short. There is only positive aspect of the Internet – it is a resource, plain and simple. Only you can say how good a resource it is for you.
The World Wide Web is an excellent conduit for the storage and dissemination of information. Scouters who use the Internet to keep track of the Scouting universe are always prepared well in advance for the inevitable changes in the program. The also know places to find the information they need when problems crop up.
Both of Scouting’s premier training programs, JLT and Wood Badge, teach us the necessity of making use of all available resources. The Internet is full of Scouting resources – people, documents, and organizations. If we allow ourselves to be influenced away from this resource by the negatives mentioned above and in the press, we are doing a disservice to our programs and ourselves.
C. The Future
The Internet’s influence grows exponentially year after year. There is little doubt that as long as there is an Internet, Scouts will congregate there. There has been an effort by many members of the Scouting movement to make this a positive experience. As long as this continues, things can only get better. Here are some good examples of positive solutions and the impact the Internet could have.
The NetCommish's Advanced Commissioners' Online Training Course (http://members.aol.com/netcommish/nettraining.html) – Many commissioners may not have access to high level training. This course offers extensive information on serving as a commissioner. It also outlines resources available to help commissioners resolve problems. Then it provides the commissioner with problem scenarios to help them figure out how to put to use what they have learned.
Merit Badge Resource Links (http://www.meritbadge.com/mblinks.htm) – There is no question that some merit badges are more difficult to learn than others are and that many Scouts have a problem getting motivated. These pages make research in merit badge subjects easier.
The Boy Scouts of America Finance Support Division Guidance on Unit Finance - (http://www.fsd.org/unitfinance/default.asp). Scouting isn’t expensive but it’s not cheap either. Here you will find a complete guide for raising funds at the unit level. Not just policies but fund raising ideas as well.
IV. Conclusion
In the time since this project was started, the Internet has become normal. It’s no longer considered something that some people do but something nearly all people do. This document has been written to help you improve the way you and your Scouts make use of this valuable resource.
This by no means is a complete dissertation on Scouting and the Internet. With the shear volume of Scouting related sites and services out there, such an undertaking would be huge. And with the changes and additions that occur daily, this document would never be finished.
For more information on the Internet as a resource for Scouting, please check out the appendices. They contain dozens of useful web addresses and instructions on how to get started just in case you are a novice. With a little time and patience, you can find great ways to use the Internet to help improve your Scouting experience.
Comments, corrections, and questions should be sent by e-mail to: thesis@meritbadge.com
Last modified on Tuesday, June 29, 2004
