Link in Travel Bug Description + Using them for Fundraising

[Bigwill1999]

So I have an idea for the Eagle Scout (Boy Scouts of America) service project I have to do, and I was wondering if I could use Travel Bugs as a form of fundraising for non-profit humanitarian organizations. What I would do is put a link in the Travel Bug description leading to a Fund Me site, where geocachers could choose to donate to a certain cause or a different cause of their choice. Would this be legal? I didn't find anything saying against it, and I wouldn't be forcing geocachers to donate, either. What do you think?

Edited May 27, 2016 by Bigwill1999

[+Team Taran]

I don't thing this is allowed by the site guidelines nor do I think it meets the guidelines for an Eagle Project. It seems to lack a leadership component and also would not be a lasting contribution to the community. It is also not practical given the attrition rate for travel bugs.

[+Isonzo Karst]

There are no site restrictions on TBs beyond the general terms of use.

As far as I know, you can use a TB page this way.

[+Manville Possum]

It's your TB, but linking it to a bum money site for the BSA would be a little strange.

[Bigwill1999]

It's your TB, but linking it to a bum money site for the BSA would be a little strange.

 

It would not be linked to anything that would support BSA, but to a charity such as red cross or other humanitarian non-profit organizations.

[Bigwill1999]

I don't thing this is allowed by the site guidelines nor do I think it meets the guidelines for an Eagle Project. It seems to lack a leadership component and also would not be a lasting contribution to the community. It is also not practical given the attrition rate for travel bugs.

 

What I am thinking is to get 10 travel bugs, and arrange with fellow Boy Scouts or other people to take them with them on their family vacations, so as to drop them off in caches far apart. The leadership involved would be arranging that, arranging with the beneficiary, and setting up the websites. In any case, if I raised, say, $500, it would be a lot better than cleaning church chairs or building benches (in my opinion, those things are waaaay overdone.)

[+Manville Possum]

I don't thing this is allowed by the site guidelines nor do I think it meets the guidelines for an Eagle Project. It seems to lack a leadership component and also would not be a lasting contribution to the community. It is also not practical given the attrition rate for travel bugs.

 

What I am thinking is to get 10 travel bugs, and arrange with fellow Boy Scouts or other people to take them with them on their family vacations, so as to drop them off in caches far apart. The leadership involved would be arranging that, arranging with the beneficiary, and setting up the websites. In any case, if I raised, say, $500, it would be a lot better than cleaning church chairs or building benches (in my opinion, those things are waaaay overdone.)

 

I think doing actual physical humanitarian work would be more Scout worthy and in the spirit of Scouting. I don't think you TB idea will get any donations.

[+Touchstone]

I don't thing this is allowed by the site guidelines nor do I think it meets the guidelines for an Eagle Project. It seems to lack a leadership component and also would not be a lasting contribution to the community. It is also not practical given the attrition rate for travel bugs.

 

What I am thinking is to get 10 travel bugs, and arrange with fellow Boy Scouts or other people to take them with them on their family vacations, so as to drop them off in caches far apart. The leadership involved would be arranging that, arranging with the beneficiary, and setting up the websites. In any case, if I raised, say, $500, it would be a lot better than cleaning church chairs or building benches (in my opinion, those things are waaaay overdone.)

Doesn't sound like the idea would fly with the guidance given in the Eagle Scout Project Workbook:

 

A project may not be a fundraiser. In other words, it may not be an effort that primarily collects money

, even for a

worthy charity. Fundraising is permitted only for securing materials and facilitating a project, and it may need to

be approved by your council. See “Eagle Scout Service Project Fundraising Application” on page 17.

 

Link for reference(pdf file):

 

http://www.unc.edu/~reida/Eagle/documents/512-927_fillable_Orange.pdf

[Bigwill1999]

I don't thing this is allowed by the site guidelines nor do I think it meets the guidelines for an Eagle Project. It seems to lack a leadership component and also would not be a lasting contribution to the community. It is also not practical given the attrition rate for travel bugs.

 

What I am thinking is to get 10 travel bugs, and arrange with fellow Boy Scouts or other people to take them with them on their family vacations, so as to drop them off in caches far apart. The leadership involved would be arranging that, arranging with the beneficiary, and setting up the websites. In any case, if I raised, say, $500, it would be a lot better than cleaning church chairs or building benches (in my opinion, those things are waaaay overdone.)

Doesn't sound like the idea would fly with the guidance given in the Eagle Scout Project Workbook:

 

A project may not be a fundraiser. In other words, it may not be an effort that primarily collects money

, even for a

worthy charity. Fundraising is permitted only for securing materials and facilitating a project, and it may need to

be approved by your council. See “Eagle Scout Service Project Fundraising Application” on page 17.

 

Link for reference(pdf file):

 

http://www.unc.edu/~reida/Eagle/documents/512-927_fillable_Orange.pdf

 

Good point. After consideration, though, I found a loophole: Use the TBs to primarily raise AWARENESS of the humanitarian organization, connected to a website meant to spread awareness with the addition of translation in multiple languages, which would require coordination with various bilinguals. The website would also include an OPTION for viewers to donate money. How does that sound?

[+niraD]

How is your proposed project going to demonstrate "giving leadership to others"? How is it going to benefit anyone?

 

And most importantly, why are you asking us, instead of asking your advisor/coach?

[Bigwill1999]

Nevermind, you guys answered my main question. Thanks for your help.

[+Manville Possum]

How is your proposed project going to demonstrate "giving leadership to others"? How is it going to benefit anyone?

 

And most importantly, why are you asking us, instead of asking your advisor/coach?

 

Scouting is not what it used to be when I was a kid with a compass. The smart phone has changed scouting.

 

And I agree with you niraD, any Scout group is only as good as it's Leadership, and that is where the questions should have been asked.

I've seen these BS project caches enough that I cringe at the thought of them. I don't see anything merit worthy of hiding and maintaining a geocache, especially those on the not official geocaching sites that will bend the guidelines for "project" caches.

 

That's just not the spirit of scouting as I remember it.