eagle90

We had a similar problem a number of years ago. It seemed some of our older scouts were using the troop as a travel agency to book Summer Camp and High Adventure trips, and they were not seen at weekend campouts or troop meetings. The PLC at the time came up with a criteria of attending at least half of our troop meetings and 3 of our 8 weekend campouts. It did the trick, to where we didn't have the problem. This year we have had the beginnings of the problem again, so it is on the agenda for the first PLC meeting in August.

The website for the Merit Badge Cruise is www.meritbadgecruise.com It sounds like fun, but it is costly!

Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines is offering a "Merit Badge Cruise" next summer leaving from Port Canaveral and cruising thru the Bahamas, with merit badges offered for scouts. Do they have to wear PFD's while on board?

We just returned home from Lefeber Northwoods Camp in Laona, Wisconsin. It was one of the best weeks I have ever experienced at camp. We had 23 scouts (eleven first timers). We had almost perfect weather, with absolutely no rain, which is a miracle for northern Wisconsin in July! Our scouts did a great job, passed 57 merit badges, had 15 rank advancements and earned the Super Troop award. This is a patrol method camp, and all meals were well done and plentiful. Even our 12 adults at camp got along relatively well! Some of our leades actually got to get in a few rounds of golf during the week! Best of all, our scouts had FUN and on the 7 hour drive home, they were already talking about what they are going to do next year! Dale

Last summer one of our first year scouts took Basketry Merit Badge. In my 30+ years of going to Summer Camps, I have never seen a scout work harder or with more determination than that Scout. Admittedly, he wasn't very good at the skill, and it took a lot of time, but at the end of the week when he turned in his stool he made and passed the merit badge, I have never seen a prouder scout. He was beaming! Here is a boy who learned a new skill, met adversity, persevered, and succeeded. To me that is a very important lesson taught and learned. He may remember that stool later in life when he has a formidable task ahead of him in his life or career. Isn't that what we are trying to accomplish? Dale

Twice we have used Rivers Whitewater Rafting Resort for a week's trip. They do have day trips and also had many family groups there as well as scout troops. They were extremely professional, very safety conscious, and overall, generally very nice people. Facilities and equipment were top notch. You can get them at 1-800-TRY RIVERS or at www.riversresort.com

Our troop requires full uniform at breakfast and dinner, and for all camp wide programs (flags, campfires, etc.) During the day the scouts are free to wear anything they want, but most are in bathing suits, t-shirts, shorts or jeans. They don't have to be official scout shorts or scout t shirts. Let them have a little freedom. We are not the military!

Beautiful post Eamonn. AS Baden said in his post, when it ceases to be fun or I don't get the help I need, I will leave. Until then, let's keep the fun adn excitement going! And someone like you will not quit upon moving. One of your first calls will probably be to the local council offering your services. As I tell my veteran companions when they talk about quitting - "You didn't read the fine print - It's a lifetimne contract!" Dale

With all the complaints we are hearing about camp meals and dining halls, maybe its time to return to the good old fashioned PATROL METHOD and cook your own meals. What a unique idea!

Hi Scoutmom2 - Glad your son's trip was so good. We will be going down there in about a month or so. Any words of wisdom your son can give? We'd appreciate some tips from someone just there. Thanks!

kraut - I am chuckling at your pet peeve. I agree! We have 15 tents with all the tents, tent bag, pole bag, stake bag numbered. About 2 or 3 times a year we go thru them all and put them all together. One campout later, tent #6 has pole bag #12, stake bag #8, and is all in tent bag #4. How does this happen?? It's like they have a mind of their own and migrate in the trailer!

Hallelujah! The Commissioners Corps needs some younger people and some new blood. Although our present UC is outstanding, we have had some in the past who were so out of touch with boys and the times. They hadn't seen the inside of a tent in decades, and it was always "When I was a SM..." which was 25 years previous. Don't worry about your age or experience, Enthusiasm will win out. I was a SM at age 22 so I can understand your concern. Don't worry about it! Dale

I have made it a practice to give a membership in the National Eagle Scout Association along with the NESA neckerchief to all new eagles.

Fortantely our Summer Camp is almost 400 miles from home, so mom wouldn't be able to supply food 24/7. But I would tell her that is fine if she wants to supply McDonalds three times a day. Between scouts and adults there are 36 of us and if she suppies for one, she supplies for all. How big is her purse? We had one scout a few years ago who claimed he was a vegetarian (except he ate tacos and burgers). Everyone wanted to eat with his patrol on steak night! More for the rest of us!

AMEN! Well done Campcrafter!

I have had to call parents one time to send a scout home from Summer Camp. The Scout would do no work in his patrol, defiant, and causing morale to be at a low ebb. After 3 days one of my ASM's asked the scout if he wasn't happy and wanted to go home. The answer was "I don't give a f---." I asked if we should call his folks, I received a "I don't give a f--- about that either". Needless to say, I was on the phone ASAP, and mom made the 350 mile drive. Never did see the boy again. Sometimes you just have to do it. We now have a policy we pass out to parents and scouts before camp saying the following will get you sent home from camp immediately: Leaving camp property Alchohol - drugs Cigarettes - tobacco Theft - Vandalism Health or emotional problems Gross lack of co-operation Gross disrespect for leaders Never have had to use this policy since we established it. Dale

Please help with some sage advice please! Our troop has 3 patrols, and will have 3 patrols at Summer Camp. One of our regular PL's cannot attend camp due to school commitments. Our ASM's and myself have been evaluating the APL's, and at this time, due to age, maturity, knowledge, and leadership ability, none of them are really ready to step up to the responsibility of being a PL at Summer Camp. We do attend a Ptrol method camp, so there is a lot of PL responsibility. However, we do have one scout who is not a PL or APL, but shows more leadership ability, knowledge, and maturity than any of the others. The problem is he is only 12 years old, and has been in the troop for only one year. But he did get his First Class in that First year and is a real go-getter. He even gives his "advice" to the adult leaders, and is usually pretty right on. Should we bypass the present APL's and appoint my go-getter as PL for Summer Camp? Wonder how the APL's will feel, and how older scouts willwork with a 12 year old PL? Your words of wisdom would be appreciated! Thanks! Dale

CubsRgr8 - I see you are from Milwaukee. Milwaukee County Council runs one of the best Summer Camps I have ever attended - Lefeber Northwoods Camp in Laona, Wisonsin. We are out of council, but have attended LNC for the past 8 years, and are returning for number 9. Give them a call and ask about provisional troops. LNC is a Patrol Method camp, however, where troops cook their own meals. PM me if you want some more information.

We require permission slips to be turned in at our troop meeting on Wednesday, ten days before the event. I then tell the scouts they if they can get the permission slip to my house by FRIDAY, one week before the campout, they can still participate. I normally will NOT accept permission slips after that. If I get a call with a legitimate excuse, I will relent. I bet that if your troop is like ours, it is the same few families who are late EVERY time and no matter what you do these same families will always be the offenders.

We have had two instances recently where our intended canoe trips were cancelled by the outfitter due to high and fast water. Once was on the Buffalo River in Arkansas when they had 12" of rain the day before our arrival. Westark Council (Camp Orr) would not allow us on the river. A few years ago we had a trip scheduled on the Kankakee River in Illinois, and again due to fast river conditions the trip was cancelled. Disappointing? Yes, but we are all still safe and sound. Listen to your outfitters!

We have found that you can purchase blank neckerchiefs from National Supply or any of the companies you mentioned (in many colors and piping) and have them screen printed locally at a better price.

Congratulations to OJ and to you Eamonn. You both have much to be proud of. At least it is done and you can enjoy the occasion coming up. I just had a scout who turned 18 on Saturday. He completed 5 required merit badges in the last two weeks and finished his Eagle Project on Thursday! He stressed out his entire family, but accomplished the task! Talk about waiting till the last minute!

I'm home today packing for our weekend campout near Milwaukee. Also watching the weatherman tell me it will start raining tomorrow afternoon with "imbedded thunderstorms" Saturday night and Sunday. Oh joy! We did go thru a stretch a while ago where we went 2 1/2 years WITHOUT RAIN on a weekend camput, but the odds are evening out. Payback is a B----, they say! But I guess that's the pleasure of living in the midwest. Double checking my rain gear, talk to you all next week!

We do not figure in the cost of gas for weekend trips. We do not charge the dads to camp with us, figuring they are donating their time and their gas to the troop. We do reimburse drivers for Summer Camp (Almost 400 miles one way) and for High Adventure trips we drive to.

These cards are still available. We use them in our troop all the time. There is one for Tenderfoot thru First Class (BSA #33482B) and one for Star, Life, and Eagle (BSA #33430). One suggestion - buy twice what you normally think you will need. They invariably get lost or taken thru a spin in the washing machine!