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DEC Launches "Conservationist for Kids" New York State has launched a new nature magazine for kids, filled with photos, articles and tips on activities designed to encourage children to reconnect with the outdoors and the natural world. Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Pete Grannis said, "In a world full of iPods, Xboxes and 500-channel digital cable, our youngsters are spending more and more time indoors on the couch, disconnected from the natural world. Conservationist for Kids gives children across the state a reason to venture outside, offering fu

Philly's cold shoulder http://washingtontimes.com/article/20080122/EDITORIAL/843614516/1013 http://tinyurl.com/3c6ant By Hans Zeiger January 22, 2008 The youth of Philadelphia are in danger. There are as many as 3,900 homeless families in Philadelphia. Only about half of Philadelphia ninth-graders graduate from high school within four years, and last year's state standardized math and reading tests came back to 11th graders in Philadelphia public schools with 70 percent of scores below proficient. In 2006, 1,030 young Philadelphians between the ages of 7 and 24 were shot; 1

John, I'm not surprised you got that response. I've never taught JLT, so I haven't invested as much time or energy in that course as your friend has. Of course he's gonna stick with what he knows -- if something you spent so much time learning and perfecting was made obsolete overnite, how would you feel about the new toy? I have taught TLT 5-6 tmes over the last three years. Each time, at the completion, I ask the boys who've been through both JLT and TLT which they prefer. Invariably, the boys with knowledge of both prefer TLT over JLT. To me, that's the acid test of the worth

FYI: a Cub Scouter named Mike Newman from Fort Smith, AR has an interesting blog: Awesome Cub Scouting His first entry is from Jan 16: "Big 7 Cub Scout Retention Tips"

What to show at the border as of Jan. 31 http://tinyurl.com/28ae7a By The Associated Press Thu Jan 17, 5:25 PM ET To cross the U.S.-Canadian border, a driver's license alone won't cut it anymore. Starting Jan. 31, you will need to have a passport or similarly secure document, or a combination of two other documents. Single document option: U.S. or Canadian passport. U.S. passcard (these won't be available until spring). So-called "trusted traveler card," which includes NEXUS, SENTRI or FAST cards (These are typically used only by people who cross the border

OGE: "Laser" was removed; I don't believe "laser tag" was ever in the G2SS.

Actually, "lasers" were formerly included in the G2SS list of unauthorized activities. That ban was recently lifted. Here's a post just today from SCOUTS-L (reposted with permission): ==== Date: Fri, 18 Jan 2008 11:55:12 -0500 Sender: Scouts-L Youth Group List From: wendie howland Subject: The last word on lasertag All, I asked National RM for a definitive reading on this. Got the following: > "... (we have modified the online) Guide to Safe Scouting and > removed the word "lasers" from the unauthorized activities. The > Risk Management Adv

I may have told this story before, but its relevant to the "young Scout vs. winter camping" debate (even though its about Cub Scouts). As a Tiger, my son was looking forward to his very first campout with the Cub Scout Pack (this was in Maryland, in the fall of 2000). Because it was a pack campout, our whole family went (me, the wife, my teen-age daughter and my 7-yo son). It was "car camping" so we could take as much or as little as we wanted. Its a good thing we overpacked. As it turned out, that weekend was the first sub-freezing weekend of the fall. What started out as a nice

What he said . . .

Pappy, welcome to the Forums.

As the OP, I just want to clarify that it wasn't my intent to start a flame war re: underage drinking OR underage driving. I just thought it was sad that this law, although well-intentioned, has the unfortunate (and unforeseen) consequence of derailing a worthwhile service, which happened to be provided by a school-sponsored Venturing Crew. You may return to your regularly scheduled flaming . . .

Our troop does not use the NSP, but we do assign an ASM who is responsible for the new boys during their first year in the troop. He is responsible for seeing that new boys advance and that they are getting the opportunities for skills instruction, testing & sign-off in their patrols. Its not his job to ensure that every new Scout makes it to FC in the FY -- only that they get the opportunity (via scheduled monthly campouts, skills instruction at troop meetings, etc.) to advance in a year. After the first year, the boys are treated like all the other boys in the troop, and the n

Girl Scout saved her father's life http://www.star-telegram.com/news/story/412480.html Posted on Wed, Jan. 16, 2008 By JESSAMY BROWN Star-Telegram Staff Writer GRAPEVINE -- Peyton Nairon said it was the "buddy system" that helped her save her father's life. When her father was in danger of drowning last summer at a California beach, Peyton, 12, initiated a rescue. Her quick actions earned her a Girl Scout Medal of Honor, the second-highest award bestowed by the New York-based Girl Scouts of the USA. Members of Peyton's troop and other supporters gathered this mont

Beavah: I think I agree with some of the others. If you want a FCFY program, just ask for it -- no need to post a bunch of complicating assumptions. Our troop has a FCFY program -- we manage to get most of our boys through it successfully, but we don't always get 100%. We usually camp once a month, but we've rarely (I think 2-3 times in 30+ years) cancel an outing due to weather. But we would never hold to an outstanding if safety of the Scouts was at risk. We don't use the NSP (but I think we should). I don't understand what you're getting at with #8 -- we don't use the patrol m

Welcome back, Bob.

To all you web gurus out there: So what's the difference between java server pages (current setup) vs. active server pages (new setup)? Will we as users really notice any difference, other than breaking any deep-links we may have?

I wear a red, long-sleeved moc-turtleneck under my short-sleeved Scoutshirt when the temps drop. I also have a red jac-shirt. The undershirt has a gold FDL on the collar, but its a generic FDL, not the BSA variety. I bought it at the NCAC Scout Shop about five years ago and just assumed it was official. I've not seen another since I bought it (and a matching blue one for when I'm doing cold-weather Cub stuff).

Teen safety program now illegal http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-saferides_12jan12,0,884117.story http://tinyurl.com/2mlxpt State curfew puts brakes on students' late-night rides home By Tara Malone Tribune staff reporter 6:33 AM CST, January 12, 2008 A program that for nearly 15 years offered North Shore teenagers a safe ride home on weekend nights has been forced to hang up its car keys, grounded by a new set of laws intended to keep teen drivers safe. Illinois' sweeping overhaul of teen driving laws, which took effect Jan. 1, moved the weekend curfew fo

I guess its asking too much for my Council to join the 20th century, let alone the 21st! Our council's "bi-monthly" newsletter was issued ONCE over the last two years. Given their low-regard for timely information flow, I think getting my council to follow National's lead and update its website is hopeless.

CubScoutJo writes:I am considering telling the scouts that the first one who gets his written plan to me will be the one that gets to do requirement 8 for this CoH.Be careful; the requirements don't provide for receipt of a written plan by either the MBC or the SM; its enough for the Scout to WRITE a script, after getting his plan approved by the PLC. Nowhere does it say the MBC or SM must receive (or approve) the plan (or script) before conducting the COH (or campfire).

I'm an ASM in one of those troops where the adults run everything, all the while claiming that it is "boy-led". Of course, the adults run the COHs. As MB counselor for Communications, it is obvious to me that BSA thinks boys can and should run COHs. Communications MB requirement #8 requires a boy to develop a written plan for a troop COH (or troop campfire), get it approved by the PLC, then act as MC for the COH (or campfire). When I mention this requirement to our adults, I get a blank stare in return; to them, having the boys do the monthly campfire is enough. The adults have "a

In the three years I've been an ASM in my son's troop, none of the boys (as far as I know) have brought this up. This sounds like another thing that adults wring their hands over that the boys don't seem to worry about . . .

To the parent who thinks the Scouts Own is a waste of time: Remind them that the first duty in the Scout Oath is "Duty to God", and that the twelfth point of the Scout Law is that "A Scout is Reverent". The duty and law are there for a reason -- and we should not forget the faith componenet of Scouting. I applaud what you are doing with your troop. I encourage you to get the Chaplain Aide more involved in planning and leading the Scouts Own Sunday service. "Never do a job a boy can do"

I haven't gotten my issue yet, but I'd never hold up a photo in "Scouting" (or Boy's Life, for that matter) as an example for others to follow re: proper uniforming. The sources for proper uniforming are the various boy & leader handbooks, the uniform inspection sheets, and the Insignia Guide. Anything else is unofficial and not worth wasting a lot of hot air on, in my opinion . . .

War on 'Merry Christmas'? http://access.aikenstandard.com/archive_detail.php?archiveFile=./pubfiles/aik/archive/2007/December/09/site-localnews/143446.xml&start=0&numPer=20&keyword=Haley+Hughes&sectionSearch=&begindate=1%2F1%2F2002&enddate=12%2F31%2F2007&authorSearch=&IncludeStories=1&pubsection=&page=&IncludePages=&IncludeImages=&mode=allwords&archive_pubname=Aiken+Standard%0A%09%09%09 http://tinyurl.com/262vx4 Date December 09, 2007 By HALEY HUGHES Staff writer What would you say if someone wished you a "Merry Chr