eagle90

Our troop's former SPL who joined the Army (Airborne)upon graduation two years ago has just been informed he will be deployed in Kuwait for at least a six month period beginning next week. This really makes it hit close to home. Please keep him and all our men and women in your thoughts and prayers.

I too enthusiastically encourage the February crossover. In our case,it gives the new scouts 5 opportunities to camp with the troop before Summer Camp. This helps alleviate the homesickness problem, and also acclimates the boy to "Scout camping" instead of camping out of the car with mom and dad. It also gives the new scout (and parents) to get to know the leaders and vice versa.

In the same area as the Sommers base in the Boundary Waters are hundreds of outfitters who do a good job. We have used North Country Canoe Outfitters in Ely numerous times. It is run by John Schiefelbein, a veteran scouter. They do have excellent scout group packages and are very accomodating.

I was Jambo Scoutmaster in 1997. Our Council purchased Eureka Timberline Outfitters for our troops. They are durable, fold small, and are a good value. We used the standard BSA canvas dining flies.

Let me add my concern and well wishes to a valued Scouter. His name will be placed on our Prayer Concerns Board at our church.

We usually have our permission slips due back two weeks before the event. That way we can do advanced planning and if anyone did forget their slip they still have time to get it to my house in the next day or so.

Our permission slips are passed out at the end of our troop meeting directly to the scouts. If a scout is absent, I mail them a slip. They are collected at a subsequent troop meeting. Boys 11 and up should start to take some responsibility for themselves. If our troop newsletter happens to be coming out at the same time, the slip is put in the same envelope as the newsletter.

Just want to wish everyone at Scouter.Com a very Blessed Christmas and a Happy, Healthy, Prosperous Scouting year in 2003!

Aren't we losing sight of who we are here to serve? THE BOYS. Unless a piercing is a physical hazard, I see no problem. Its just like long hair, colored hair, earrings, etc. We are trying to reach as many boys as we can. Just maybe that boy with the piercing needs us and we can make a difference in his life. I would hate to lose a potential scout when he hears, "Well you can join but can't have (a piercing, long hair, tatoo....) By the way, the last two scout I presented their Eagle award to had earrings. And I presented it to them proudly. And the best SPL I ever had, had a pie

In 2004 our troop will be celebrating its 50th anniversary and we would like to plan some type of gala event. We have been kicking around a kind of high school reunion style dinner or other big event. Anyone have any experience with this sort of thing? We would like to contact as many ex scouts and scouters as possible. I know there are companies that do this sort of thing, but am a total neophyte at this. We do have over a year, but don't want to wait till the last minute and plan something haphazardly. Any help and suggestions and experiences would be appreciated. THANKS!

Sounds like you found Heaven on Earth. Isn't it nice and refreshing to see the program working like it should! I would also look at the adults - ARE THEY HAVING FUN? While it is a boy organization, the adults must enjoy it also. If the boys see the adults are enjoying Scouting, chances are they will too. In our troop the adults socialize quite a bit, with Committee BBQ's and Christmas parties, etc.

I would count the 5 nights aboard the boat but not the two nights in the dorm. Just my opinion for what it is worth.

Don't know what your budget is, but how about a small (AA) or (AAA) maglite flashlight. They always come in handy and you can never seem to have enough!

Yes, a Happy and Blessed Thanksgiving to all of my forum friends!

My question was also who is going to fund the background check. And how far is back is the check going? I can't see someone who has a drug or alchohol related offense in high school or college being denied a position 20 years later. I would really like to see the parameters they will be using. Can you see the lawsuits piling up?

A good camp staff is ACCOMMODATING. What I have found is that many camp directors and staffs do not view the campers as their "Customers" and they must be treated as such. A business wants their customers to return year after year, and a camp staff should be accommodating to insure that happens. A good staff will also see to the needs and "whims" of the adult leaders, for if the adults are unhappy, chances are the scouts will not return.

mk9750 - I was just trying to compose an answer on this topic when I read yours. It is exactly what was going thru my mind. WELL SAID!

I agree- the Cross-over Ceremony is just that - crossing over the bridge INTO Boy Scouts. As SM i stand at the end of the bridge and present my new Boy Scout with his Troop neckerchief. I'm not going to do that to someone who is not joining our troop. And I have participated in a ceremony with 2 other SM's as the Cubs decided to join 3 different troops. No problems!

AMEN! Chippewa. Well Said!

We've heard the same complaint - "The meetings are boring". So a few years ago we started assigning each one of our PLC members (PL's SPL, ASPL, JASM's)a meeting to plan from start to finish. We tell them to use any resources they have - patrol members, parents (who may have an interesting hobby or vocation), MB counselors, books, the Internet, etc. Just make it be 45 minutes long, scout related, and KEEP IT ACTIVE - no lectures! They have come up with some great plans and some bummers, but that's part of learning too. They really seem to enjoy out doing their fellow scouts. Of course

We also have enough tents to go around. Eureka Timberline Outfitters too. We also have a supply of the six man Eureka Timberlines for the adults to use (so we CAN stand up!). Our scouts use troop tents except for our Family Campout. The campsite really looks sharp when all the tents are uniform.

For your information on paid positions, our Council's Scout Executive is a female, having been on the job for a good number of years nd does an admirable job.

I would consult with the parents of these scouts and verify the vegetarian status and check on what the exact restrictions are. We had a scout who claimed to be a vegetarian and we made concessions for him for most of the week until it was Beef Taco Nite, and did he wolf them down! A selective vegetarian is what he was! We should have checked before hand.

I agree with Rooster. Our PLC has picked two MB's to work on during the year, usually one required and one "fun" one per year. The scouts still have to call the counselor, set up an appointment, and finish all the requirements on their own after the 2 or 3 classes we hold during meetings. I can't see where this is hurting our program in any way.

This may be blasphemous to some, but in I have canoed the Boundary Waters numerous times, and would recommend checking some of the private outfitters instead of Somers. I have used both, and the equipment, food, and services provided by the private outfitters was worth the few additional dollars per day. North Country Canoe Outfitters in Ely is owned by a life long scouter originally from the Chicago area and provides excellent scout packages. He is an Eagle Scout and Silver Beaver, so he knows the program. If you've never been there, this is some of the finest canoeing waters in