eagle90

We have changed our policy from an outright ban to allowing our scouts to use their phones for "Scout-related" activities such as referencing requirements, looking up a tree or animal sighting, taking pictures,  looking at a star chart, etc.   If we find them texting, gaming, twittering, etc. we confiscate the phones till the end of the event, be it a campout or troop meeting.  Seems to be working fairly well.  We did have to request that the adults be a little discreet with their use.

Dale

I agree - Let's not overthink these requirements.  Most of the scouts doing them are 10 1/2-11-12 years old, NOT botany or zoology majors in college. 

Let's get our scouts out into the woods camping and hiking instead of wasting their time on crap like this!

Dale

Who would actually WANT a 9-year old in their troop?  My older scouts don't even like associating with the 11-year olds, let alone a nine year old.  I can see a LOT of home-sickness at campouts and summer camp.  Don't rush things! 

For those of us in the upper Midwest, 40's at night on a campout would, in some cases, be a godsend!  We have spent many a night in 20's and 30's.  There are a lots of good suggestions here though.

Our former church had an AA group meeting there, and those people were the nicest, kindest, most generous people.  They were very appreciative of the meeting space and always helped out when they could.  They would make donations on Christmas and Easter and even show up on work days.

One of the questions in the workbook is something like "What changes did you make in your project from the start to finish?"  I would have the scout  tell the story about the aborted project and the change to the new, successful project.

Yes, Mashmaster we signed up for about 8 different dates and still were shut out.  Very frustrating.

Though we have missed the Sea Base lottery for nine years, we have always had an alternative High Adventure trip every year.  Boundary Waters numerous times, Whitewater Rafting in WV, Laguna Station on South Padre Island, The  Chisholm Trail Adventure, Canoeing the Manistee in Michigan, Apostle Islands Kayaking, Great Lakes Sailing, etc.  BTW, we do NOT use the  BSA bases in the Boundary Waters or West Virginia.  The private outfitters do a great job catering the scout groups and tend to have better equipment and facilities. 

We are totally bummed out here.  For the 9th straight year, we have NOT received a spot at Sea Base.  Thank God we are not betting the farm on this lottery.  We would all be homeless! I am beginning to wonder if the lottery is the best way to go.  I wonder if it could be adjusted so that troops who do not get a spot one year had an advantage in the lottery the following year.   I know units that have gotten a spot 4 years in a row.  Any ideas?  Just doesn't seem fair.  Now to disappoint my scouts again, but start planning a different adventure for 2018.

Dale

We use Eureka Timberline OUTFITTERS.  The Outfitters, as was stated, has better quality zippers, double seams, a thicker floor.  We have some that are 20+ years old and still in good shape. 

I heard a rumor at our district banquet that Tour Plans have been eliminated.  I didn't think much of iut, but I went to myscouting.org to fill one out, and it is no longer listed under Legacy Tools.  Anyone else hear anything about this? RichardB?

Dale

Back in college in the early 70's I actually had to take a one hour class on how to use a slide rule!  This was just on the edge of the computer era.

While at an indoor campout this last weekend, I wrote out some instructions for patrol leaders.  Two of them (both high school juniors) could not read the notes because it was in cursive and not printed!  Unbelievable.  They aid they were never taught how to write, just print.

Dale

In an Okpik class two of my assistants are taking, the instructor told them that hand warmers are not allowed in the BSA since they can explode and people have died!

I'm looking for a recommendation on rechargeable LED lanterns.  Brand. how many lumens, price, how long will they last one a charge.  We are looking to move away from propane (expensive, noisy, etc.)  Thanks in advance for the help!

Dale

T2Eagle -  Yes, that's what is says in the book, but in reality, how many CORs and chartering orgs really pick the unit's leaders?  I've never seen it yet in 40+ years.  We are lucky if they remember they sponsor a scout group and give us a place to meet.  Most units I have seen do their own recruiting and filling positions.  This seems like  a job for the Unit Commissioner.

Dale

In our troop, the troop supplies a cake and punch.  Any other refreshments are the responsibilities of the families.  We also supply an Eagle neckerchief.

Our council supplies the Eagle Kit

Dale

Eagle94-A1 - Right on the money.  Excellent post.

Dale

If you are in the midwest, The Boundary Waters is a very economical trip, besides being challenging and beautiful.

Sometimes after a week or ten day high adventure trip, it is nice to check in to a motel with a soft bed, hot shower, and air conditioning!  We give our scouts a warning = no noise, stay in your rooms, no pay per view, etc. and they have been really good.  We try to have the adults room in between the scout's rooms tho!

Dale

Two of our scouts are on staff at Sommers.  Thankfully, they are both fine.

For our Committee Chairman we took a collection and donated 12 kayaks to our Summer Camp in his memory.  We will consider something for our ASM also.

I just found out my dear friend and Assistant Scoutmaster, Allen Baum, has passed away after a courageous 15 month battle with brain cancer at 59 years old.  Allen was a 25 year veteran, ASM, eagle mentor and coach,  spent 15 weeks at our summer camp, a mainstay on weekend campouts, and raised three Eagle sons.Even through his illness he rarely missed a troop meeting.  Tears are flowing.

This is the second Troop leader we have lost to cancer in 4 months, as our Committee Chairman, Mark Camasta died in March of esophageal cancer, also at 59.  It's been a rough year.  We leave for camp on Saturday, and I hope a week in the North Woods of Wisconsin will buoy our spirits.

Dale

We had one scout do a project at the local high school, fencing off a garden area next to the football stadium.  Nice project.  However two years later they remodeled the stadium and tore down the garden!  Easy come, easy go.