Eagle732

fred, are you saying that if they had a Whittling Chip in Cubs they should automatically get a Totin' Chip when they join the troop? I've heard of some troops granting a 6 month extension on the Whittling Chip when a Web joins their troop. How about using an ax? That's part of the Totin' Chip. I'm really not trying to "game" anyone. I just see boys joining my troop and their first priority is these two cards.

All in the effort to take the outing out of Scouting, again.

Each patrol chooses a grubmaster two weeks before a camp out and by then we know how many boys in each patrol are going. The GM has a budget of $13 per person to buy breakfast X2, lunch and dinner. He turns in his receipt for reimbursement. Transportation is .06 per mile if the camp is more than an hour away, otherwise no charge. Each driver is reimbursed at .06 per mile/per scout. Camp fee is divided equally. Add it all up and that's the cost for a camping trip, usually $20 to $30 per trip. Question, do you charge for leaders?

I guess that's what I'm trying to decide. I don't think a boy who is Scout rank and has one month in the troop should be handling an ax unsupervised. On the other hand a boy who chooses not to pursue advancement and is still a Tenderfoot after a year, maybe he's ready. I was a CM for 4 years, our Cubs were always closely supervised when using knives. I don't recall one injury during a den or pack meeting. For 10 years I assisted with the woodworking station at our Cub Scout Day Camp (over 700 Cubs). Cubs were closely supervised with one older Boy Scout overseeing no more than 5 Cub

Of course Totin' Chip is about more than just carrying a knife.

"It seems pretty silly to me to wait until second class on knives when boys have already been using them since being a Wolf cub." Brew, I think the difference is that as a Wolf boys are supervised when using knives. As a scout they are not. Sending a boy off with his patrol on a hike (no adults) with a pocket knife is different than having a Wolf using a knife at the Cub Scout Day Camp whittling station. Also it's not a long wait in our troop to make Second Class. Usually boys get there by summer camp, so maybe 4 or 5 months since joining. Kathy makes a good point about the car

I don't think the boys really care about a patch or card but they do want the right to use an ax, knife or matches. None of the boys ever carry the cards, most have probably lost them. A few wear the patches on their uniform, on the pocket flap (where it doesn't belong, until they get into OA). We cover everything in Second Class for both cards but some boys want to earn these right out of the gate, even before Tenderfoot. I think that's too soon and would rather them have a little time in the troop first. I think it would be easier for the leadership to know who is Second Class and ha

Some of this you can overlook as kid stuff and the results of being boy led. But some of it sounds like it more than that. You and your son have to decide whether it worth joining a troop like this. Mostly I guess it depends on what your son wants. I have to say that the troop I am SM of today was several years ago, very much like what you describe. My son liked the troop so he joined. During his first several meetings there were no adults in the meeting room, just scouts and it sounded like a riot going on in there. All the adults sat in another room talking, I mean no one ever went in

The no cook meal was a thorn? You must not have been feeding 'em Pop-tarts. That and Snickers Bars will get a troop down the trail in at top speed.

I think we cover all the bases for the Firem'n Chit and Totin' Chip.when we teach 2nd class.

And I thought my troop was bad Honestly some of this stuff is just typical boy led stuff that needs a little work. Some thoughts: "SM goes out of camp to get propane and missing supplies for the patrols" This is why we carry extra instant oatmeal, so nobody starves. Eat it cold or borrow a stove from another patrol. "instead of separating into patrols, .... the patrols are all mixed up" Yea, I'm big on the patrols sticking together. The SPL and I would have a discussion over this and some tents would be moving. "Long story short, both patrols were about 10 minutes late

Considering doing away with these two cards and allowing Scouts to use matches, knives etc. only when they reach Second Class. Reasons: Incentive to earn Second Class. Allowing boys to have a little more time in the troop and gain more maturity. One less thing to keep track of. Anyone else do this? Reasons for or against? (This message has been edited by Eagle732)

Philmont Guidebook, page 3; "Participants must be registered members of the BSA who will be 14 years of age OR completed 8th Grade and be at least 13 years of age prior to participation." Scouts don't go with my unit until they're 15.

We have 4 trailers which are insured. When stored at the COR's home they are under his insurance. When attached to a vehicle they are under the vehicle's insurance. When at a campground or when they don't come under the previous two situations they fall under the trailer's insurance. Not sure of the type of insurance but it's not expensive. Your insurance agent can get you the particulars.

Every year I take 11 and 12 year olds backpacking on the AT. For the new boys it's all about light weight packs and reasonable distances. I send home a list of exactly what they need to take backpacking, no more, no less. If they follow my instructions they will have a pack of about 20 pounds. We usually do no more than 11 or 12 miles on Sat. and maybe 4 or 5 on Sun. The only time we have problems is when boys don't follow my guidelines.

For those of you against the troop bus concept, do your units reimburse drivers for expenses? I know my unit has the same drivers every camping trip while the majority never drive. If the unit paid for a bus and the cost of running it then everyone shares in the expense.

I don't see anything wrong with a troop having a High Adventure trip once in a while where only the older boys go. We use to call that those Senior Patrol outings.(This message has been edited by Eagle732)

If my troop buys a bus can I put Maine tags on it to match the troop trailer?

" if a troop has a quality outdoors program they will have opportunities for many hiking trips through the entire year, at least once a month." Hiking is good but saying that a troop needs to hike at least once a month to have quality program is unrealistic. In reference to the 6 year old AT thru-hiker comment. Completing a thru-hike of the AT at any age is a far different animal than taking boys on a weekend hike. Most smart thru-hikers start slow and build up endurance, stamina and strength. You can't train for it. Basically hiking becomes your full time job and you ease into it o

Oh there's LOTS of places you can't set up a tent. I had a Hennessy Hammock that could be pitched as a tent with two trekking poles and a few stakes.(This message has been edited by Eagle732)

Maybe those running can do a little campaigning too. Hopefully in a little more Scout like fashion than the presidential candidates have been. Ask the SPL candidates if they would like to address the troop to explain why they should be SPL. Same for PLs talking to their patrols.

We did a backpacking trip on the Appalachian Trail last month and one of our younger boys had what must have been close to a 40 pound pack despite my instructions on lightweight backpacking. He was miserable, I doubt he'll ever go backpacking again. Pack weight less than 20% of body weight is the goal for boys. Me, I carry about 10 to 12% but I'm old Light weight sure does make hiking a lot more fun.

"When I was at Philmont, we hiked from dawn 'til noon each day. Stopped and rested, did the activities, etc, in the afternoon and hit the sack early. Basically it was a 1/2 backpack, 1/2 camping trip. We could have seen twice as much of Philmont if it had been a real backpack trip." I can sell boys on a 1/2 day hiking followed by a 1/2 day of activities like Philmont. I don't think I can sell them on all day hiking. If I could I'd take them on a 3 week hike on the John Muir trail. If you would have hiked all day at Philmont think of all the cool stuff you would have missed.(This message h

Interesting article here on on of the released "perversion files". http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/politics/blog/bs-md-bauman-boyscout-file-20121022,0,7849318.story Bob Bauman, a congressman from Maryland was charged with having sex with a 16 y.o. male congressional page which got him on the list. Bauman is admittedly gay. I remember when this went down but not any mention of BSA at the time. Interesting that when interviewed Bauman was surprised he was on the list and said he didn't blame BSA for being "overly cautious".

If you're just boiling water than 1 stove and pot per patrol is sufficient. Most meals take 1 to 1 1/2 cups of water per serving. Now if you're actually cooking food than you need more capacity. But with the the foods available today, (and not just the freeze dried stuff, there's plenty choices at the grocery store) there's no need to do anything but boil water. Too bad you can't make your own alcohol stoves. You could outfit your entire troop in stoves for nothing.