eagle77

Brent, Nice post. I don't think the politicians are the only ones to blame. The only way they were able to do this was because John Q Public put them in power to do it. Look at some of the turnouts at the polls. Too many people today do not take advantage of the power that they have in voting. These people need to spend some time in a country where the public has no say, has no rights. Then maybe they would actually appreciate what their vote means. Then there are those out there that really want the government in control of everything. I don't know which is scarier. Lifetime politicians n

Let's see, canoeing in the boundry waters, camping in the florida keys, going outdoors and showing the scouts (our future) how to enjoy it without destroying it. I wish more single men would get off there duffs and stop watching the boob tube and start caring about tomorrow. Because they are to closed minded to do it doesn't mean that I and others like me have to. Besides that it is a blast!!!

Great idea to tie it in with the Citzenship badges. Showing the boys or at least giving them idea of how the "system" works. Only thing is they may not like how slow the "system" works at times.

Let me just correct something. My father wasn't in the state prison, but he would have been if I told him about what happened he would have maimed or killed the guy for doing it.

SUPERR THANKS FOR ASKING, I think what offended me so much from the "creepy" or "evil" remark is the fact that I did have shall we say a bad expierence with the last of the 3 scoutmasters I had as a boy. Though he never really got the chance to do anything, I got out and walked home. I did not have at that time anywhere or one that I felt I could go to. If I would have taken this to my dad I would have been visiting him at the state prison. The reason I say this is he had a son in the troop and a daughter that was in my classes at school. So the idea that being a parent and leader as b

ScoutsMomSD, Dr Evil here. Oh I have the parts. Don't worry about that. I was just overly offended by your post. I also didn't feel that it belonged on this thread. But since you would like it here, okay. By your slim way of thinking I guess all coaches must have a son or daughter on their team in order to be good coaches. Have you been through an expierence that would have you make such a remark? Have you ever heard of the Eagle Charge, in which an Eagle Scout dedicates himself to giving back to scouting what scouting gave to him? I could care less where you stand on political votes,

Lem, If all life is to you is competition then so be it. Scouting isn't a santuary from competition it just isn't the primary goal of it. That is where sports comes in. If you are suggesting that all we should be doing as adults is teach how to compete and beat the other, I think that is real shallow. I am sure there may be camps or councils that offer certain competitions, but it just is.nt the primary goal. Though there are some things that can be learned from competing, is that all there is to life? Maybe all that you feel life is about beating out the competition. How about living with

Ga MillBilly, I agree LNT stinks of being way too far the other way. I can understand though why this would happen. A few years back while out on a trek at northern tier each crew is asked to clean up the site they stay in (if it needs it). You would not believe all the trash and garbage that our crew alone brought back. From what I could tell it didn't look like Boy Scouts had done it but just the general public going out there and destroying it. When I was a scout it was The Outdoor Code (which is still there) and project S.O.A.R. save our american resourses. How can we as scout le

Don't know if I would go that far. But you are right. Not sure if I'm sending the right message to the scouts. "It's okay to break the rules (law)". Kind of sends that me me type attitude that some have today. Do agree though it really kills the "Patrol Method" as Green Bar Bill taught me. Bill

I'm with Goldwinger, Heritage has got to be one of the best that I have been to in Pa. It offers two totally seperate camps, Freedom and Liberty. One has a mess hall and the other is troop commissary. I have been there twice and stayed both times at Liberty which is commissary. Very good staff too.

He's right the Cub scout motto is "Do your best", the boy scout oath is "On my honor I will do my best" Lem just isn't satified with doing your best. His opinion, I don't agree with the concept, but he is entitled to that. Lem what I meant in my last post was isn't what your doing kind of like somebody saying they could fix my engine in the car, but they have never seen an engine?I listen to all in or out of scouting. I just thought maybe you were new to it. Bill

JBlake, I don't run the troop by BSA guidelines all the time either. My point was more to the idea that the boys have the say, and variety helps to keep all happy. Never had an instance where any patrol older or younger wanted to do anything instead of what was discussed by the PLC and I have told them that I would have no problem supporting it either. The only hard thing is that I find it very difficult to push patrol activities. I do remember the good times on a patrol campout as a scout myself, alott of fun and learning. But today with all the legal issues out there it is very hard to d

Lem, I could care less whether you are in scouting or not. But how can you comment on a program you haven't done or are in.

Lem, I understand and I agree with a good amount of what you are saying. I just think that by doing this you would open up another can of worms. Look at some of the other posts on this forum. Activities, requirements, and other things seem to differ from one troop, council, camp, or patrol. Yet we all work out of the same handbook, merit badge pamphlet, etc. I am sorry but I guess Im stupid for only expecting the best out of my boys. There is nothing that I was ever told that said I had to be the best or excellent at everything I did. Strive to improve where I can, yes. But the best at eve

Lem, Let me see if I can get you to understand what I am saying. First off I never said that boys or girls cant learn from other activities. But you seem to come off with the idea the only way that they can have fun is to compete. Scouting already does have different types of competition in it already at Klondikes and certain Camporees. Our troop is even running a patrol contest right now, the prize is a special party and they will be the first patrol with the new tents we will be purchasing in the spring. This competition is based on advancement, attendance (activities and meetings), unifo

Lem, My statement of fun and learning was a generalization, if you would like I would have listed everything from the oath, law, motto, and slogan sorry. I did forget duty to God and Country. If you would have read my statement correctly you would have noticed a word there before activities. Competitive. In competitive activities there is a winner and a loser, scouting should be a win, win type of activity. The only competition is for the youths time with practice and games.

Lem you wrote. And I have to agree that rotund men and women have issues that they have not addressed. And they should get a handle on it if not for themselves, then for the idea of being a role model. Unless you think we want to send the message to our young men that scouting really doesnt take too seriously its program and its talk about physical fitness. I take it you are a gym guy. Let me ask you something. So if you are out of shape you are a poor role model? How about the gigantic role models that are on the front line of pro football teams, the big guys competing in the olympic

Phillyscout, I am from the old Philadelphia Council. While a scout (70's) TI was closed for what we were told was regrowth. What do you think was one of the major reasons for the merger with Valley Forge Council? Low membership in the city and the TI money pit. I did get to spend some weekends there though. Have you read the council's report? New enviromental rules among many others just don't make it feasible to keep the camp open. Many of the things that you mentioned like getting to your campsite, flushey's, etc. are what todays scout leaders are looking for. Many scout leaders today a

Good question. Over the years that I have been SM and ASM I have always been in charge of the summer camp program for the boys. Though I do offer the boys a selection of camps to go to, first I sit down with the ASM's and discuss the programs offered at area and out of area camps.Then the boys will have a meeting where we show them the different camps for the up coming year. I have found that the scouts are more open to programs that vary from merit badges offered to off site type of activities. Cost is also a major player. One year I was able to take the boys down to Piedmont, NC from Bucks C

One question. Why is that leader you know not you?

scoutingtexas, I am a SM and for a long while I was an ASM. One thing is I never forgot what my job was. As an ASM my job was to work with and support the SM. When the SM program was moving away from what the boys and what BSA says they should be doing, I sat down with him and talked about adjusting the program a bit. Mainly because scouts told me what they would really like to do. When he refused to even bend a little and give these boys a true scouting program, I decicded that I could no longer support his style of scouting. I told him and the other leaders that I was resigning and going

That is one loaded question jblake-47. I think one answer is maturing. Think of some of the things you did while growing up. Many that I did I stopped doing or lost interest in doing. I began to grow and as I grew I narrowed down the things that I really wanted to devote my time to. For me scouting was one thing that did not depend on being a jock or nerd, all I had to do was sit back have fun and learn. We are working and learning with boys that are maturing into young men and as they get older they too will begin to narrow down that field of likes and really likes list. The other thi

Hey GaHillBilly, I've been looking for a reason to step down as scoutmaster, I guess you have now given me an excuse. I don't know if the 30 or so boys in the troop I scoutmaster for would agree. I have been in scouting for over 28 years now and yes I have seen some of the scoutmasters that would fit into your #1 category. Myself included. But I have seen many more who are not in that category who are just as bad, if not worse. Putting labels such as you have is really some form of shall we say hazing. As a scoutmaster it is my job to train the SPL and provide a challenging yet learning ty

I think Dr Goodman would be turning in his grave if Cradle of Liberty Council kept dumping more money in to this camp. I am from the old Philadelphia council and spent many nights on TI. (when it was open)Even spent a few weekends on the northern island once called Eagle Island (I think that was the old explorer base). Do you really know how much money this council has thrown at TI? I think the good doctor would rather see that money used at the council's other camps where it could be used to make a better camping for more scouts. Any good scouter hates to see a scout camp go away. Especially

I think what bothers me even more is that 5 other troops thought nothing of it and took their troops to this ceremony too. I don't need no weather training, this is a common sense type thing. These parents are trusting you and other adults to make good firm decisions with their most prised pocession, their children. Time to really sit back and think about this. What would you do if it was just a troop camp out?