erksh

any thoughts?

Most of the stuff I find Googling is rather type-cast. Funny would be fine, but not at the expense of perpetuating stereo-types.

The boys are going to spend the next few meetings working on the Native American electives and learning about the tribes that settled our area.I would like to be able to use their crafts/musical instruments/costumes/bows?etc. in the B&G skit so they can showcase them.

Help!

Please, PLEASE do some research into your state's child passanger safety laws.

Seat belts should NEVER be shared.

As for booster seats, most state's laws have not caught up with recognized risks and therefore, even if you are compliant with the law, you may be putting a child at risk.

Most kids, even those who weigh over 40 lbs, really need to be in a booster seat in order to properly position the belt over the hip bones.

You are not really "big enough" for an adult belt until you can sit properly with your feet on the floor and the belt on your chest (not neck).

Further, lap belt-only seating positions (middle seats) ARE VERY DANGEROUS. A child secured by only a lapbelt will jackknife over that belt in a crash and could sustain serious internal injury.

From my state's website:

IS YOUR CHILD READY RIDE WITHOUT A BOOSTER SEAT?

Take this 5-step test to find out.

Remember - By Law - Children 4 to under 8 years of age are required to use a booster seat.

1. When the child sits all the way back against the vehicle seat back does his/her knees bend comfortably at the edge of the vehicle seat?

2. Does the shoulder belt cross between the childs neck and arm?

3. Does the lap belt cross the childs body as low as possible? Does it cross the childs thighs?

4. Is the child able to sit comfortably in this position for the length of the trip?

5. Is the child 8 years of age or older?

If the answer to any of these questions is:

NO- Then your child needs to remain in a booster seat in order to ride safely in the vehicle.

YES- Then your child is ready to graduate from the booster seat to a lap and shoulder belt.

95 PERCENT OF CHILDREN WHO ARE BETWEEN 4 TO 8 ARE RIDING AT RISK

There are two types of booster seats to use depending on your vehicle and your childs weight

High-back Belt-Positioning Booster

If your vehicle's seat back is lower than your child's ears, use this seat to PROTECT your child's head and neck. Some booster seats have a harness system for children under 40 pounds. The harness is removed at 40 pounds and then used as a belt-positioning booster.

Backless Booster Seat

If your vehicle's seat back is higher than your child's ears, use this seat.

Prices for booster seats range from $20 - $65.

* Vehicles must be equipped with lap/shoulder belts in order to use a booster seat.

Yep.

I have a boy in my den who worked on his book all summer long.

He'll be a Wolf in a couple of weeks and will get six Arrow Points awarded that day as well.

My father has mentioned that his childhood church was very against his participation in Scouts because of the uniform.

I can't remember the exact demonitation ...but it was Christian-based.

Something about the uniform reflecting alliegence to something other than God.

We have the Taurus model from ALPS (via ScoutDirect) in both the 5 person outfiter version as well as a lighter 2-man Aluminum pole model.

Love 'em.

Further, we have two of their air matresses, which are comparable to Thermarest products.

Very nice people -- spoke to them over the phone when ordering our stuff.

Two thumbs up!

UPDATE!

As of our Leader Meeting last night, the den will be split.

My CC and CM are handling the meeting next week. I, thankfully, will not be a part of it (the actual split and choosing a new leader).

It is being presented as a Pack Comittee decision in order to be in compliance with the program.

What a relief!

I am sure that it will be UGLY though. These parents DON'T want this.

Thanks for the good advice and the warm welcome!

Oh, I love you guys! You're so empowering!

I agree, this is not good for my son. HE would be done with his Wolf badge right now if not for all of the attention I spread elsewhere.

To clarify, I was not their Tiger Leader last year. Our Unit commisioner was. I am brand spankin' new -- NLE and Cub specific next month as well at University of Scouting.

So I have yet to recieve the training that will inform me as to exactly how far I have been pushed, lol!

So far, our meetings have been very productive for the boys in that the kids who never get book credit are completing a lot of Achievements in den, but I know it isn't what it could or should be.

Keep telling me to put my foot down -- I like it!

I know -- 20 is a classroom, not a den.

We had roughly a dozen (give or take an undecided) back from Tigers.

Then Round-up brought us eight new sign ups, several stragglers ponied up dues, etc. and BOOM -- 20 kids.

I am fairly irritated, actually.

The problem with this particular group of parents is that they started of on the wrong foot in Tigers.

We came to the den in JAnuary of last year as Tigers and the "guest DL" was still handling meetings alone with no parent participation.

No push has been made to make these parent perform -- they were handed a "freebie" last year and now expect the same this year. The CC had several "visits" and meetings but no one ever said "in order for the program to continue for your boys, you have to find a way to lead your boys."

We have a parent meeting scheduled into our den meetings (during snack, den chiefs handle the boys -- thank HEAVEN for Eagle Scouts!) and I brought up the fact that we need to be THREE dens. Well, you would have thought I suggested killing off 2/3 of the little buggers! The eye-rolling and the "not-this-again" sighs.

Everyone is pushing me to DELEGATE, DELEGATE -- which is a WONDERFUL idea. I NEED to delegate at least half of these boys to another parent, lol! They refuse to hear it.

I spent the summer planning our year, I really need very little help in planning anything more. I have a schedule of activies, materials nearly all prepared and pre-bagged in my basement. Den meetings are a matter of packing the Rubbermaid and typing up the night's agenda.

I have a parent who help with books who has said she will ADL when the dens get under 12 kids. I have a parent working of coordinating paperwork/communication.

We have two den chiefs. There IS another DL, but the office was pretty much forced upon him and he doen't function -- he will run whatever you push him at DURING a meeting, but cannot be counted on to plan, make calls, arrange supplies, etc. But he's a body in a uniform.

I put out a parent letter a month since July, informing them of their responsibilities for the summer, keeping them abreast of activities, arranging a den Yahoo group.

We have a list of two parent volunteers per meeting completed and I come to meetings with an outline of the night's events for them to follow. At our last meeting, our 2nd parent helper didn't show, my outline was tossed aside and every one else who stayed balled up in a knot chit chatting while boys needed hands on help.

I have begged these parents to sit down with their kids and help them focus (note that we have three special needs boys as well) and it is too much work for them -- den is social hour.

When you talk of splitting, the fingers start pointing. Apparently, everything would be okay if I would just "unclench." These folks don't want to hear that this number of children in one group is just NOT appropriate to the program and we HAVE to split.

They all want "jobs" from me when the only thing we need is either a den split (or three, lol) or for them to realize that this is NOT their time to chat and get down and focus on your child! With 20, I can't help everyone and I can run child-specific activity or pace anything to accomodate ANY need.

Plus, we have boys who are nearly done with their Wolf trail (went to camp, worked all summer, parents actually read the parent material provided, earning belt loops too) grouped with brand new boys who haven't even earned Bobcat and "old" recruits whose parents STILL haven't gotten the hang of the fact that they have to complete activities the book AND THEN turn it in. I am actually still getting blank books from last year's parent -- they don't even flip through them. They don't care!

What we NEED is for parents to cowboy up. They want to split the den into what amounts to Patrols, still meeting together.

I can't see that that will lead to anything but more chaos.

And I don't have the authority with these people to split the den. If it doesn't happen by December, however, I will just have to stop having meetings.

to do my duty to God and the 20 little boys currently in one wolf den under me...

Hey folks!

I am a new DL of an obviously swollen Wolf den with exceedingly hesitant (lazy?!) parent participation.

We are plugging along (two den meetings under our belt already!), working on the issue with my UC and CC, so we shall see how much longer I have to herd rather than lead.

I am very interested in hanging around and absorbing info from other sources, especially that which may prevent my early burn-out!