AR's new to Rangers and don't know the basics....

I posted a something similar in my "introduction". Sorry for the redundancy.

I am new to RR and so are all but 2 of the kids in our church. I have approx 8 DR's and 3 AR's.

I feel that the AR's do not have the foundation they would have had if they went through DR. Unfortunately if they want to advance within the AR track, they cannot do blue merits. Some of my guys don't know the basics like rope craft, fire craft, lashing, compass, etc. I feel that they should know this stuff.

Not sure how to go about it. Any suggestions?

Hi Edgar, see my answer here

https://rangerchat.forumotion.com/t472-edgar-santos-into-challanges#8006

We are questioning that very same thing with the FCF merits. Used to be requirements to be in FCF. Ropecraft, Firecraft, Compass, Toolcraft, Nature Study, Camping.

They recently changed the requirements so a boy could earn, Computer, Public Speaking, Band, Art, Dance and still qualify for FCF...we were shaking our heads and saying... you want to send a boy with no basic experience out into Frontiersman Camping Fellowship? That has many a leader questioning what are they thinking!

So use common sense and teach those boys and leaders the basics. It's good stuff and they like it.

Mark Jones

Yea and we thought they couldn't take camping out of a "camping fellowship". Major liability going in with no toolcraft certification or basic camp skills.

Yes we discussing this very issue this weekend with some National Staff. We are doing a work around to try and allow the new requirements and those of the past 2013 application.

I am thankful Doug Marsh has moved on. Hopefully we will get back to core things that made Rangers grow.

We can start with getting toolcraft requirements and basic camp craft fundementals back on the requirement list for going outside and camping...HELLO! Sometimes one word comes to my mind... it starts with a Idiot and includes a s at the end of it.
Credibility would be a nice thing to see come out of the new leadership.
Mark Jones

Its already bad enough with once done not repeating skills and you get in FCF but now its like what's the point of being a member or using applications if you just let anyone into FCF?

esantos8301 wrote:I posted a something similar in my "introduction". Sorry for the redundancy.

I am new to RR and so are all but 2 of the kids in our church. I have approx 8 DR's and 3 AR's.

I feel that the AR's do not have the foundation they would have had if they went through DR. Unfortunately if they want to advance within the AR track, they cannot do blue merits. Some of my guys don't know the basics like rope craft, fire craft, lashing, compass, etc. I feel that they should know this stuff.

Not sure how to go about it. Any suggestions?

We're in a similar boat (even after a couple years running) with boys who either started the program in ARs or deep into DRs and are now ARs. My answer? I don't care what the book says (right now). I'm trying to develop boys, have fun, and teach them my love for Jesus. If that is done using an AR Green Merit, then so be it. If that's using a DR Blue Merit, then SO BE IT!  To illustrate the point, after going through a few "hard core" merits with my boys (3 ARs and 1 ER), I decided to do a "fun" merit, so we started the DR "Darts" Merit this week and the boys loved it! Not only did I do it with my class, but we decided to combine the actual DRs with us for it this go around. We still do the Bible Merit separately because of subject content, but the activity went well!

Basically put, IMO, do what works for your outpost to succeed.

I am just starting with about the same thing you are. Back when i first started working with Rangers it was a new organization, we didn't have all of the written info thinking back  rangers was only a few years old when i started.

I started the new outpost with a brown merit, a green merit and last thursday our first meeting Ropecraft Wipping a rope. If they are going to camp they will need to know these things. Common Sense Rules!
Dave