Eagledad

I guess I have worked with enough of these scouts and their families to not see a problem in your situation. If the mother needs your help with her son, she will approach you. If the other parents have some concern, they will approach you. More than once I have approached the parents of scouts who act a little different to walk away from the discussion feeling like the fool because they didnt think it was any of my business. When a critical situation arises and you need the help of the family, that will then be the time to approach them. But as far as I can see, the scenario you described doesnt warrant it yet. I used to have the exact same situation you described with new Tigers and I handled them about the same as you did with your scout. Boys of that age are still toddlers and they just dont have the maturity yet to stay seated for 15 minutes strait. Anyway, a few years later I was talking to the wife of a scoutmaster friend and she told me her husband got involved in scouting because he liked how interacted with those Tiger cubs at the pack meetings. I didnt ask how that could have motivated him to become a scouter because I dont take complements well, but as others have said, I think your role model of how you interact with these scouts is the best way to show scouting at its best. My advice is simply keep up the great work with this scouting stuff and dont seek out more than is really needed in these situations. Barry

Well done Buffalo Skipper. Our troop also worked to teach light weight back packing to all the scouts. You seem to have taken it to an even high level, but I can say that technology has improved a lot even in the last 10 years. Our troop is a backpacking troop and except for the tents, the scouts use the same light weight backpacking equipment on our mounthly campouts as they do on their high adventure trips. One of the struggles for a new scouts is the investment in the equipment. Many families cant come up with the money for good backpacking equipment. So we spent a lot of time researching and watching for sales. Non cotton moisture repelling clothing is pretty common now even at Walmart. But 20 years ago that was expensive and hard to find. So when Campmor and REI had big sales we jumped on them. And we even found discounts stores now and then. Our crews looked pretty rag tagged on treks. But the big challenge was the sleeping bags and backpacks. Its nice to hear that a 20 degree bag can be had for $70 today, even if it isnt the best quality. That same back was $120. But the big thing was backpacks. Since we were a backpacking troop, our new scouts had to learn quickly how to use them. That sounds easy, but in reality learning to properly pack a pack takes practice. Plus the added problem of growth spirts most scout go through between age 12 and 14 also limits the investment of packs. So we develop the routine of suggesting new scouts get either the Jansport or Kelty entry level packs that cost us around $70. We found that packed properly, a scout could carry up 4500 ci of gear at pretty heavy weights. Those packs were external frame packs with lots of pockets, hooks and loops, which made it easier for a entry level person to pack their gear all over it. We had many of those packs make it through Philmont. About the time the scout added 30lbs and 6 inches in height, they had the experience to jump over to internal frame packs which require good packing skills. And, it was typical for a used starter pack to be on display at a Troop meeting with a for sale sign. I watched my first son's Jansport go on three Philmont treks on three different scouts. What Buffalo Skipper knows is that his scouts are at a different level of Backpacking than most of the Troops and crews they meet. Our crews are always amazed with crews taking off the first morning for the Philmont trails in their brand new look a like gear and 50lb plus packs. They just shake their heads and WHY? There is a lot of personal skills that will develop from camping out of a pack. Boys have to learn how to plan a head, organize and work as a team to get their personal pack light as possible. Its hard to be a slob and pack for a 7 day packpacking trip in the wilderness. Just understanding and knowing how to dress requires a scout to make smart decisions. Scouting for me as an adult is all about developing character and I found that living out of a backpack is a very positive and intense character developing approach. I love this scouting stuff. Barry

I tried a hammock for sleeping and found that I have the same complaints as packsaddle. Still, I take one everywhere (except Philmont) because I like resting off the ground after a long day of activities, expecially backpacking and canoeing. While I used one during the day after canoeing in Canada, I can't imagine using one at night with the Canadian dive bombing mosquitoes. Barry

>>I love it when our old SM does the "pack shake out" before a long hike with the new boys. I am amazed at what some boys think they "have to have" just in case.

>>10 years from now I hope my son will have aged out an active scout, with whatever rank he gets, and he and his troop-mates will remember Scouts as fondly as I did. We'll see.

Yes, Trev shows one letter that is pro gay role models, but how many does National see with the opposite view? OGE is right, follow the money. National will not change until the monetary risk is minimal. Barry

>>What you want to avoid is getting a pack that is so large you get tempted to fill it!

>>The difference is that then the 5 min SM minute was a 30 minute campfire where the SM told a story to the Scouts. The meeting plan back then was 2 hours

>>I think this discussion has become hysterically funny with SP and Barry defending the Republican party and giving them credit for being the only ones trying to fix this economice mess we are in, as well as blaming the liberals for this crisis.

Last year the Republicans made the biggest gains of a single party since the 1940s. What has changed in the last year for the results to be any different next year, OWS? The Tea Party movement really is a grass roots originated that is focused and simple. Tea Party folks, and folks who unknowing agree with the Tea party platform, are quietly waiting to make their protest heard November 2012. Barry

>>The uniform remains optional, as a scout is and should be a scout whether he is wearing the uniform or not.

>>Personally, I wear a full uniform but none of my Den Leaders so far have followed that example.

>>I had a feeling that would get spun off...I regret ever bringing it up...

The uniform subject comes up often, not so much at the Cub level, but age doesnt really matter for the justification anyway. As I was reading how this leader is struggling to get the whole pack of cubs to wear the uniform, I have to ask why. Why is wearing the uniform so important for an 8 year old boy? Why is it important for a 14 year old boy? What personal quality do they get from wearing the uniform that boys who arent in the BSA don't get? One thing I learned as a coach, guide, leader, role model, mentor and scout leader for these young men is; if we adults dont have a good reason for wearing the uniform, the scouts will struggle to meet our expectations. So, why is wearing the uniform so important? I love this scouting stuff. Barry

I am getting old, the only thing I understood there was the 15 passenger vans. Anything new on throwing horse shoes? Barry

We had the similar situation where we were getting a lot of scouts 14 and older transferring in from other troops and almost all the scouts transferring in from out of state. When I asked council about it, they said it was the DE. You have to look at it from the professional's perspective, they want to put families in units where they will stay a while. Warning: when you get a reputation of a successful program, you will eventually be recruited to a lower position in district or even council to spread the wealth. Barry

There are lots of references on how we should judge, but you can just back to the scripture in mathew you refereced. Barry

>>The point is it is not your place or my place or anyone elses place to pass judgement on any other group of people.

>>I think that passage I quoted speaks for itself, and it is not just about hypocrisy.

>>The biggest problem I see with what you propose is the BSA's current focus on NSPs and other 'age appropriate" patrols.

>>"Judge not lest ye be judged" -a Bible quote for you that blows apart the theory in your last post> IMO scouters are hardly in any position to judge other scouters as to their lifestyle,

More focus on Patrol Meetings and less on the Troop meetings. I could see it becoming one Troop meeting a month with two or three patrol meetings a month. Barry

>>my Christian Bible tells me that I am a sinner too and that all men are brothers under God.

The uniform as the great equalizer is one of the main qualities I teach scouts. I once had a scout do his on personal poll and he agreed, he couldnt tell rich from poor in our troop. He could tell mood though by how the scouts wore it, which is what I teach adults to look for when scouts dont seem focused on scouting. More often than not, a change in how a scout wears his uniform means something is going on at home or school. Barry

>>Christians who sit back and judge everybody and find a million faults and openly state them - but never look for the first good quality