EagleG

How do you go about promoting optional awards like the National Summertime Award, Outdoor Activity Award, Leave No Trace, etc.?

I am a relatively new leader (

who are the kids and who are the adults here?

I fired off an email to the Alumni address right after my last post. To date, still no response, and no fix to the site. I will continue to watch, I guess.

We decided on making "Trail" mix. As the FOS presentation is going on, den-by-den the boys will come up to each station (M&M's, Cheerios, Capn Crunch, Popcorn) and take a scoop.

Thanks for all the thought-starters. When I first posted this, I was not even thinking about food. Great way to keep the hands busy AND the mouth quiet for a little bit (without using/eating playdoh)

Thanks all

At the last roundtable, I had a few people echo the sentiments here, that I should reactivate my membership.

So I am now a dues-paying member of the Pachsegink Lodge #246 and was given my flap!

Playdoh AND ice cream? How can I guarantee they eat the right thing!?!

I am looking for a pack activity for cub scouts. We are having a FOS presentation, and was looking for something for the scouts to do during that time that might quietly keep them occupied at their tables for about 10-15 minutes.

Would love to hear your ideas. Is this even possible?

Took the family on vacation recently to the Grand Canyon and N. Arizona. While researching some of the parks we would visit, I found this program on the NPS site. My son had fun completing it (Cub Scout -Wolf). Thought I would pass it along.

http://www.nps.gov/fosc/forkids/loader.cfm?csModule=security/getfile&pageid=165372

duh... better option than moaning about it, right?

Just sent the email off. I'll post any updates.

I wanted to send one of the new BSA e-cards recently, but there seems to be a glaring issue that has not been resolved.

http://www.scoutingfriends.org/site/apps/ka/ecard/choosecard.asp?c=ekLPK7MOIpG&b=709289

There is no box for me to enter a personalized message!! It says I can add text, but doesn't give me a space to do it anywhere.

I have used two different browsers, just to ensure it's not a technology issue. Same in both.

Anyone have any experience or have heard from others how these tents are? I am in the market for a 2-man, but know nothing about these tents.

http://www.scoutstuff.org/BSASupply/SearchPage.aspx?page=LIST&free_text|=clearmid&answers_per_page=15&SRC=HP&ET_CID=HP_CampingSale_03152011

oops.. don't know how I got this into the OA thread. This can be closed. Sorry about that.

Anyone have any experience or have heard from others how these tents are? I am in the market for a 2-man, but know nothing about these tents.

http://www.scoutstuff.org/BSASupply/SearchPage.aspx?page=LIST&free_text|=clearmid&answers_per_page=15&SRC=HP&ET_CID=HP_CampingSale_03152011

One of the things I came across that made me think about OA membership was that our Lodge does a Cub Scout crossover ceremony. Our Pack has never done it (it has only been available since 2007), but I think I might take a peek and see if we can incorporate it in future years.

To go with the when-to-wear-the-sash question, would an OA crossover ceremony at a B&G be considered an OA event?

I became an Ordeal member in the late 80's, but let my membership lapse (along with BSA) when I went away to college.

Now, my son is in Scouts and I have become a new Scouter. I am interested in activating my OA membership, but I won't able to be "active" much at all with the Lodge, with my focus being on the Pack.

Interested in hearing everyone's perspective. Is it worth it to reactivate my membership now or wait until my son moves into Boy Scouts?

Where is the Committee Chair in all of this? I thought they are the only one that can set up and preside over a "pack" committee meeting.

Also, I think (though I am still a newbie) that the chartered organization is ultimately responsible for the approval and placement of unit leaders. Have you reached out to the rep?

I know the change happened a few years after I aged out of Scouts (1991), but what was the reasoning for taking out the color of the Boy Scout rank patches? I thought it looked better, and was definitely easier to identify a Scout from a distance. Beige is boring!

So much for that warm up...

the den meets at a school. The night janitors are usually there when we meet. Maybe if the weather does not get better, we could go around and help them out.

My son just started in Cub Scouts this year as well, and within 2 months I was asked to become Asst. Cubmaster, too (Once they found out I earned Eagle, they came quick! Not much time to shake off 20 years of rust )

So as a new Scouter, and with only one other Eagle Scout in the Pack (whom I am still getting to know), this site has been a great reference for someone getting back into the game.

Of course, one of the first questions is always, "when should I wear my medal?"

I agree with BS24. Eagle is probably the most recognizable icon that non-Scouters relate to. They may not know anything about Scouts, but they know what an Eagle Scout is, or at least what one is supposed to be. Why not take every opportunity you can to promote Scouting? Why keep this particular medal in a box and only wear it with other Eagles at an ECOH? Use it to it's full potential!

My son's den is going to present colors and lead the Pledge of Allegiance at our village council meeting coming up; I plan on wearing my medal there. A civic event where we are able to promote our Pack to the local government and our community - seems like an ideal opportunity.

Our B&G banquet is at the end of February, and our Wolf den is on track to receive their Wolf badge at the banquet.

There is one requirement, though, that poses a problem - requirement 7d picking up litter in the neighborhood. We have had snow cover for awhile now with dangerously cold temperatures. I don't see a thaw in our future, either.

Any suggestions on an acceptable substitute?