Eagledad

>>He was appointed by the old Scoutmaster as a JASM, but that is causing some members of the Troop Committee heartburn. (The old Scoutmaster left abruptly. We have a new Scoutmaster who is still getting up on the learning curve.)

Have you'll looked at Triumphs lately? I've a got a friend who took me to look at the new Rocket Tour he is thinking of trading for. Very nice bike, big and fast. But all their bikes have a romantic old school flair about them. I do remember the BSAs. Havn't seen one in a long time. Of course I haven't seen a Datsun Roadster like I had in high school in several years either. le Voyageur, did you get the zeros wrong? 75000 in one year? Very impressive. I drive 60 miles round trip to work each day and can't rack up that kind of mileage. Barry

I'm riding a Harley Road King Classic. Had a bunch of bikes when I was younger but took a break to raise kids and do scouting stuff. Now two of the three are on their own and I wanted to get back on the road. I have lived on HW66 most all my life and still do. So while this part of Oklahoma is flat, the riding is good. Barry

>>I grimace when a scout leader says "my scouts are not ready or able to do activities on there own." What they do not realize is that what they are saying is "the adult leaders of our troop have not seen to the development of the scouts we are supposed to be serving".

>>I truly believe that some are so intent on not liking what the scouting program is that they do not actually take the time to read posts that support the program methods.

>>You format your post using the "Format this post" link below the Your Message on the left side of the message input screen. << WOW! That is really cool. Thanks John. Barry

Great Scouting All >>It isnt an either or- Just more Its ME than Bob White.

Great Friday All >>I would think that this issue would be the #1 goal of every leadership program.

>>I think a good compromise........

>>I dunno. That sounds to me like youth lead the program, eh? In fact, I'm not sure we could find a place in the SM Handbook that suggests otherwise.

Very few knots are practiced by the average person today. Even scouting is getting to be a tougher place to practice knots in this bungycord/velcro society. But teaching skills is not the vision of the BSA. The vision of scouting is to help boys guide their lives into becoming men who make moral decisions based from the oath and law. We do that by building the confidence to attack and overcome obstacles. All adults do is start them in these habits by giving them skills that in first glance look difficult or even a little scary. Even in the square knot the scout practices to set a goal, pursue

So, how doe's tying knots and lashings build character? Barry

Sunny Skies all >>I am in a bit of a quandry over this issue.

>>Yah, just to be clear, I haven't posted anything on this thread yet, eh?

>>For the most part I'd agree with Beavah's list of pros and cons, except for the bit about longevity.

>>Yeah Webelos is broken, just look at how many scouts drop-out during the Web years. The excitement is elsewhere.

>>Is this typical at many camps? Just curious to know whether I ought to be concerned or not, what do you think?

Great day all Aw to be your son. Getting backpacking equipment was always wonderful experience for me. My dad wasnt all that active with my scouting, but I we spent a lot of time together finding gear for my first backpacking campout in Colorado. I suggest external frame packs for the younger scouts. As John said, your son is going to be growing and external frames adjust easier to growing scouts. They are also easier to pack, unpack and adjust on the trail if needed. They can take a lot of punishment and are little cooler to wear in the summer. New scouts like to just throw things in

Beautiful Weekend All >>Contacting Barry off-line in hopes of stemming further problems. BW>Thank you gentlemen.

Great Camping All >>I usually have a raft of questions I have stored away so as to keep the conversation going and the boy taking. Otherwise it is designed more for the boy's reflection rather than information gathering on my part.

Beautiful Saturday All This really sounds great Gwd. I always look forward to your post. I would like to throw out one thing. I think our culture today is struggling with personal one to one communication with each other. We dont seem to know our neighbors as well and our youth mainly stay in touch through all the latest in technology gadgets. Because one of our Aims is citizenship, I look at Scouting for Food and other opportunities for scouts to personally meet the folks in the community. Not only that, in a time when Scouting needs to put its best face forward, the community needs

>>Your answering for me isn't going to work.

Happpy Friday aall Sorry about the accidental unfinished post, fat fingers? Lets try it again. >> Barry, I have no idea how you come up with your conclusions about what Bob posted. He never said he was developing the Venture Crew to take ALL the 14 y/o and older Scouts. Please tell me how YOU arrived at that conclusion.

>> Barry, I have no idea how you come up with your conclusions about what Bob posted. He never said he was developing the Venture Crew to take ALL the 14 y/o and older Scouts. Please tell me how YOU arrived at that conclusion.

>> No Barry, we can't let it go there,