Eagledad

OK! Took a little longer than I thought. Two moments? JBKHIKER answered the question, but here is a little more from Calvin, SM in Texas. Tell him to e-mail the Philmont camping department and ask for a Kanik brochure. The brouchures for the 2004-05 Kanik program have been available for about a month. The e-mail address is: camping@philmontscoutranch.org I've been on three Kanik adventures, including one during our Spring Break in March. The best one was in 2000 as we had more snow that year than in '02 & '04. He can read about (and view a slide show) our 20

HI All It's time for an adult meeting and you have to be frank about the damage it is causing. You can't make a person feel guilt, it has to come from them. So put it to them, explain how their personal agenda is hurting the agenda of the other 20 or 30 scouts and you need their help or the troop will suffer. I'm one that doesnt care much for the BSA's present Venturing Patrol idea. It tends to divide a troop more than it helps hold on to older scouts. I have always like the idea of a temporary Venture Patrols. Patrols that only exist for that one outing. The idea requires at least t

OK, good question. I know of several troops in our area that go, but I've not done it myself. So I don't know who to ask. I do have a friend I will contact. One moment please. Barry

I've heard some good things about the Texas camps and Philmont has a good Winter program as well. Barry

I should have explained, if you don't do the lock in, which for our guys is something specail for the PLC, this JLT only takes about three hours max including the hour for teambuilding and PIZZA! Good question. Barry

Hi All We do exactly this after each election. We found experienced scouts don't need full JLT training every six months. Instead all they need is some information about their specific job. Here is our agenda. 1. 20 min on the Troop leadership structure from the Chartering organization down to the Patrol Leaders. 2. 30 min on each youth leader job description and the expectations of each Youth Leadership position on the PLC. 3. 10 min Scoutmaster explaining the Aims and Methods of Scouting. Usually this is where the PLCs job and the adults job. 4. 60 min for each

>>He never acts on his homosexuality and is otherwise a model scout. His friend violates the confidence and everyone finds out. Throw him out?

Happy Scouting All OK, there lots of fun stuff to comment on, but I pick boleta first because he seemed off track. >>You guys continue to amaze me. First, the bible has nothing to do with duty to God, reverence and the BSA. This organization includes Buddhism, Hinduism and Zoroastrianism.>. So if we are going to have a discussion about these topics and try to keep it relevant to BSA, stop bringing your own version of Christian morality into it.

>>As for boys in tents, if that were really the concern the policy would not be limited to those who are "openly" gay.

Hmm OK. Take a roll of duct tape like silver-shark mentioned. It can be used for many things, but we went through a lot with two pairs of boots soles coming off the boots. It's perfect to plug holes in canoes and dry sacks, especially if the canoes are kevlar. And, I believe it's better than mole skin in preventing blisters. As for water. The locals will tell you to canoe out in the lake about 100' and get your water there. It's clean, safe and taste very good. I'm not saying don't use your water filters, but we have never had a problem. I would suggest taking extra deet. You m

Hi hotdesk OK, just to start, leave the cotton socks and take three pairs of hiking socks with three pair of sock liners. No cotton because they will never dry and that will ruin your feet. More than backpacking, I think the liners are important because your feet will be wet while canoeing and portaging. You will need more fishing equipment, more lures, jigs and worms. Playing cards. Book? Explain the food to me. Are you taking your own food or is it provided by an outfitter? How many in your crew. Barry

>>that he agreed to... that played into his strengths... and he STILL refuses to help out?" will turn that PL right around and have him looking for a better way to motivate.

>>He has tried to teach leadership and has tried to give guidance, but like I said the scout simply doesn't take it and goes toward more immature things like beating the scout with a chair.

>>I do wonder if he was just in over his head and these outbursts were just him allowing a lot of built up frustration erupt and spew out?

Hi All >>I tell our boys, that they don't want me involved, because chances are, someone is going home early, and won't be attending again soon. Once this has happened, it is up to the Troop Committee to decide if this boy has a furture in the Troop or not.

>>HOWEVER, neither tattoos or piercings are a big enough issue for me to make a problem for a boy over. For those in my sphere of influence, I attempt to explain (sometimes often) that there isn't enough value in such ornamentation to make it worth the hassle, but if I can't be successful convincing him, it's a dead issue. It's not my place to allow metal or ink displayed in what I consider a silly manner to effect how I treat a boy.

Hi All >>My son with his Army Surplus supplies got to visit the foot doctor when we returned. His boots shrunk and then fell apart.>Be prepared to be wet and dirty, you are going to be both.

Great post Thumper. I willing to bet todays lunch that your troop is considered a very boy run troop. We have a similer story with a scout that left his big brothers troop because he also wasn't considered "Boy Scout Material". Our troop has aquired several such scouts in the last decade. The mother of one once asked why her son was accepted here and not in some of the other troops. I believe boy run programs naturally encourage each scout to grow as and individual and the adults guide the whole of the program each scout at a time. The scouts become more excepting of each others differen

Hi All My Oklahoma BSA plate on my convertible is personalize to, get this, "EGLEDAD". Barry

Good Morning All >>Summer Camp still seems to be a Merit Badge mill. Even with the new syllabi created for camp, the staff seemed reluctant to use them. And, heaven-forbid they need to "fail" a scout.

Happy Days All OK, we had a great JLTC last week and I still high from it. >>As for Boy Scouts RT, I believe you hit it on the head. SMs feel like they know it all.

I will look at that. We are so used to camp staffs driving to camp that this G2SS didn't cross our mind. Not sure a council event wouldn't be considered reginal. Hmmm I think EagleInKy and Laurie have good suggestions but I willmake sure Council doesn't already have the forms. Like I said, he kind of caught us off guard with this although we get a lot of 17 year olds. Barry

How do you think we learned it happened? He told his buddy he was leaving. Yes there were adults around watching the pool area. The scouts had to set that up from the safe swim training we gave them. I don't know how he got out of the pool area, but the parking lot is only 50 feet away. Barry

>>Sounds like some policy revisions...

Happy Friday All Our Council is in the middle of our Summer JLTC course. I got a call last night about 10:30 from my JLTC Course Director checking to see if I saw anyone leave camp when I was visiting earlier in the evening. One of our 35 participants drove to camp. While this is unusual, we didn't really think much of it until he just up and left during the freetime swim. The course director called me back a few minutes later to explain that the parents knew their son was leaving camp for the evening to go to a party. Would have been nice if somebody told us the plans. The dad promised h