Eagledad

>>Second, I would not allow the game playing (Magic, cards, etc.) until after the last merit badge session.

Hi all Dsteeles words are golden, read his post several times. I like summer camp for new scouts because it is really their first experience learning independence. The only rules that I asked our SPL to strickly enforce were to always have a buddy and let your PL know where you are at. Other than that, this is your place to learn, play, adventure and grow. Let me ask, why are you worried about down time? What do you think down time is? One persons passion to fish is another to watch the clouds. Encourage the older scouts to work with the younger ones on advancment, but as dsteele poi

Wow Sharon, I just read your last post. I think your Troop choose their SM wisely. I love this Scouting stuff. Barry

>>When a Scout is told to police the area around his tent and says, "No" is that the same as when a Scout is told to like the SPL's boots and says, "No"?

>>My question, in this long diatribe, is HOW do you train the parents to allow the SM to handle the situation when it arises at a troop function/event? HOW do you teach the boys the Golden Rule when the parents of said boys have no conscience? HOW do I teach the boys hazing is wrong--and not a joke?

Good Scouting Morning All When a boy says no, that is when the line has been drawn. The Philmont staff was showing there frustration this year because back country staffs can nolonger require the trash being dropped off to be condenced to very small sizes. They were told that such a request was on the verge of hazing. Of course it's alway someone who has gone too far the forces such a change. Apparently some staff were intertained by tearing the small bundles appart and ordering the crews to start over. Scouting Cheers Barry

Hi Dan We've been to Quetico twice and love it. I hope you get a boat ride to Hook Island, that is fun also and it sure helps you get a good start. Be sure and say hi to Canadan Ranger for us. She is interesting to say the least. Mark explained how we also select crew leaders. Usually its the guy who pushed the idea of the trek in the first place. In your case if one hasn't been selected, I usually ask a scout who I think is capable, but needs leadership experience. He needs to understand the responsibility and the pressure that goes along with it. It can be a long week for someone

>>My frustration last night had more to do with parents blaming ADD or ADHD for their childs behavior.

>>you are not doing this boy or his family a favor by sweeping it under the rug. I guarantee you, his outburst/plea for attention will be louder and possibly more dangerous the next time.

Hi Mark It's been a little while, but my understanding is that 16 is the only BSA restriction which you can find on the tour permit. Any other restriction is a unit restriction. Our Troop has a 21 rule which prevented my 20 year old son from driving to Philmont this year. I think your son is legal at 16 and above to take anyone as far as the BSA is concerned. Check you personal insurance. Barry

Hi Laurie Our guys have been trained to expect their favorite meal, usually ribs for our older son, and Chineese for the younger son. And sleep as long as they want the next day. I have been trained to expect other things, but this is about the boys. Hope to hear some great stories. You must be a wonderful mom. Barry

>>So,until FOG either changes his behavior (which I do not expect), or until Terry and the other board operators choose to rid us of FOG again (as they did when he violated the board rules before), I see no need to continue to feed him on this board.

>>I wish our council still did the WRC the way they do in your council. Unfortantly our council built this really nice Cub Camp next to the Boy Scout camp and now the WRC program has been trashed.

My daughters pillow. We worked out a deal a few years ago where I would take something of hers so she could feel included on troop on campouts. It started as a Snow White pillow. Now its just little flowers. I love this scouting stuff. Barry

Hi All I have experience on all sides of this subject. First, I agree the ideal number is about eight, give or take. As the CM of a pack of 100 scouts, I was always dealing with numbers. I had one group in which my younger son was part of, a soccer team of 12 boys who all wanted to be in the same den. From the experiences of other large dens, I pretty much insisted on a split. The parents of this group are pretty close and I found two that would each take a den with the help of the other parents. The parents and boys were still not happy about the split, so I told them if it didnt w

Hi smaster101 I have worked with a few scouts like you desribe and the responses from the other adults here are very good. I can only add that I look for some outside interest that these guys enjoy and try to find or make up a troop job where they can apply that interest. I had one scout who absolutly hated scouts but was forced to come because his father had dreams of Eagle. After several months of struggling with this scout, I found he was a computer geek and asked him to work with our Web Page. From that time on he looked forward to attending every PLC meeting until he moved away a yea

Hi sctmom This is the best place to recruit cubs. I was brought in a few years ago to train our packs the importance of recuiting at open house. You are getting the ideas to attract the scout which brings the parents. That's when you grab them and ask if they are part of the Cub Scout experience. Tell them the virtues of the program and get their information. I teach the leaders to have a information sheet ready to fill out. You want to get every family's address, cub age, phone number and one little box for you to check if the adults could be leaders. You need to ask the question if they

>>I'd agree that the NSP practice is one that should be particular to the needs and size of the troop. It works in some circumstances, in others it might not.

Hi All Just for the record, I got my pack down to 28 lbs. before water, crew gear and food. I think I did a pretty good job of getting down to only what I needed except I did take a camp chair, 20 ounces, a book to read which I didn't and a note pad for a log, which I didn't do very well. I did take Two pair of socks, three liners, two shorts and shirts. One pair of long pants which were my rain pants. One pair of polypro top and bottoms, and a fleese pullover. So what did I not use out of all the gear, well as I said, the book and note pad and the polypro top and bottom. But that i

>>My point is just because it's in the text, does not mean it should work? But Since you have the responsibility to deliver the BSA scouting program shouldn't you make an attempt to know, understand, and use the program you were given to deliver?

Hey Mike Where are you stopping thru the first night? Anywhere near OKC? Boundary Waters is one of our favorite treks. Using an outfitter are ya? Must be using kevlar. Barry

>>It's the scouting program. It works, but only when you use it all. You cannot change the recipe and get the same meal. I see so many troops go back and forth trying different things to solve their problems. Their problem is they don't follow the program.

>>We truly have some exceptional, caring, older scouts in our troop, and are very fortunate to have a way to retain them with the VP program.

>>I am always amazed by SM who tell of the numbers of boys they lose to gasoline and girls, and yet when asked if they use the venture patrol they invariable say no. Even more interesting is the number who say they dislike it so much that they never tried it.

>>He's now in the uncomfortable position of having to direct the activities of an older/higher-ranking Scout. Can they do it? Sure. Will the older Scout submit to his authority? Yeah.