eagle90

Give them food! Nothing spurs interest more than free food. Grill some hot dogs, slice them up, put a toothpick in them and send your scouts out to distribute a free sample. Dale

Referring to my original post, after six emails and two snail mails, i finally received the scout's NESA package last month, ELEVEN MONTHS after the application was sent and our check was cashed. Better late than never, I suppose. Dale

A yes - the council golf tournament - Just got our announcement. Minimum is $3000.00 for a foursome!! Not for the average grass roots scouter!

AS someone who served as a Scoutmaster for over 40 years, let me tell you that feeling will never go away. I was just as nervous at the last campout I planned as the first. I don't think you would be a good SM if you weren't. Things always seem to work out. Good luck to you! Dale

Has anyone else been having problems with getting membership certificates and packets from the NESA? I sent a check for membership for a new Eagle Scout in June on this year, and as yet have not received anything. 6 Months!! Of course my check was cashed in early July. I have sent four emails now and have not received the courtesy of a reply. Yet I am receiving weekly emails and postcards asking me to subscribe to a new Eagle Scout Directory ( A blatant fund raiser). Maybe their efforts should be more toward daily business than these pseudo-scams.

Yes, the "Limo" as a 15 passenger van. If I recall they charged $75 per person total for both ways. Of course that was a number of years ago, so I'm sure the price has gone up. Dale

We flew into Fort Lauderdale and used a limo service (Emerald, if I remember correctly). They picked us up at the airport, drove us to Brinton, and then returned us to the airport at the end of the trip. No worries then about rentals, etc. Plus the driver gave us a geography and history lesson along the way!

We always use North Country Canoe Outfitters in Ely for our BWCA trips. Their owner, John, is a veteran scouter for years and treats scouts very well.

We have canoed on the Manistee River in northern Michigan through a private outfitter, and for a less strenuous High Adventure we have rented a houseboat and cruised on Lake Cumberland Kentucky for a week.

Yes, thanks for the fix! Dale

It is taking about 45 seconds or so to load the program and then 30-45 seconds between pages. Very frustrating. Dale

Pathway to Adventure Council (Chicago area) is selling Camp Lakota, a far west suburban short term camp. One of the reasons is "the sale will contribute to PTAC’s financial stability beyond the BSA’s bankruptcy and reorganization. The funds from the sale will be used to partially satisfy our council’s anticipated contribution to the victims settlement trust." SAD. Dale

I have done both adventures. For first time participants I would recommend the Keys Adventure, as it gives you an overviews of all available adventures. You get two days on Munson, and a day of snorkeling, deep sea fishing, sailing, and a day exploring historic Key West. Then you can chose what to do on a return trip in the future.

I remember one campout camped beside a creek with a little spring flowing off of it, probably two feet wide at mos. Our scouts must have spend two to three hours trying to dam up the creek with sticks, stones, etc. They finally formed a little pool and were so proud of their engineering feat. Then they dismantled it to get it back to natural. We couldn't have planned a better activity if we tried! Dale

One of the most difficult concepts Crossover parents have to adjust to is that not every moment of a campout has to be scheduled. We normally give our scouts a couple of hours of afternoon free time. Some will go out on their own for a hike, play whatever sport is in season at the time, play cards, sleep, Do homework(!),work on advancements,. or just hang out with friends. It also gives the adults some free time to relax. read, or do whatever they want. Scouts say it is the best part of the campouts and some of their best memories. And I agree with 69 Roadrunner. I am known for bei