ForTheBoys

I agree that National will probably not provide any rules or guidelines for implementing the policy change. So I ask all of you, what do you plan to do come Jan 1st? Will it be "business as usual"? Will you hold a meeting for all parents to inform them of the change? Will you use a Scoutmaster Minute to inform the boys? For me personally I wasn't actually aware of the membership policy when my son and I first joined Cub Scouting 5 years ago. I learned about it after the 2 year project that maintained the previous decisions, but that was only due to my involvement at the Roundtables.

That is awesome! Glad to see the requirements were not watered down. Wish I was in good enough shape to pass. It looks like a great challenge to bring to my son's Troop. They have some motivated young men that might find this interesting.

Great ticket idea! I'll be interested in hearing about your final result. I had started a simple spreadsheet but the word document might be better. If I had the time & skills a database is probably best. Oh well, as long as I capture key items to pass on to the next leader. Good luck! FTB I used to be a Buffalo.

Do you ever write up an After Action Report after a campout? I'm a new Cubmaster and I'm thinking it would be good to record items like good directions (Google maps doesn't always have the best directions), actual state of facilities (ex - the facility states they have picnic tables, but they were few and far between, water source was close to campsite A3, etc.) I know I can come up with some other items to record, but if I don't have to re-invent a wheel... I searched for a pre-printed log book but haven't had any luck so far. Any help or suggestions would be appreciated. FTB

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My Pack is looking for a new photo sharing website so I'll bring back this thread from 2 years ago (otherwise known as a lifetime on the internet:-). We have been using Snapfish which works well for viewing the photos and has a good price (free). But it costs money for a parent to download an image of their son. We want to move to a site that allows parents to download for free, even if that means we need to move to a site that the Pack pays for. We also use ScoutLander as the primary Pack website, but I've never really liked it for photo hosting. Suggestions? Are the Photo Bucke

This year my AOL Den is trying something new. The boys are making neckerchief slides for all of the other Dens as a way of saying "Thank You" to the Pack. Since they are the "Cobra" Den they are making snake slides. This is also completing one of the last requirements for the Artist Activity Badge.

Hi Stosh - I don't understand your point on "resurrect the old belt-loop program". My Pack and District have been actively teaching and awarding belt-loops and the associated pins ever since my son joined 4 years ago. Was there a different program years ago? Thanks, FTB

Thank you everyone, those are some very constructive ideas. I will set up a time outside of the Den meeting if he is interested. And I like the idea of talking to other WDL's and/or Troops to see if anyone else is working of FA activities. I'll also remind him & his parents that he can bridge later. I hope he chooses to complete this last requirement for AOL. He and my son were the first 2 boys in the Tiger den years ago. Unfortunately he and his parents still follow the Tiger Cub idea that mom or dad need to be at every event. I've offered to pick him up for Den meetings as I d

Thank you everyone, those are some very constructive ideas. I will set up a time outside of the Den meeting if he is interested. And I like the idea of talking to other WDL's and/or Troops to see if anyone else is working of FA activities. I'll also remind him & his parents that he can bridge later. I hope he chooses to complete this last requirement for AOL. He and my son were the first 2 boys in the Tiger den years ago. Unfortunately he and his parents still follow the Tiger Cub idea that mom or dad need to be at every event. I've offered to pick him up for Den meetings as I d

Thank you everyone, those are some very constructive ideas. I will set up a time outside of the Den meeting if he is interested. And I like the idea of talking to other WDL's and/or Troops to see if anyone else is working of FA activities. I'll also remind him & his parents that he can bridge later. I hope he chooses to complete this last requirement for AOL. He and my son were the first 2 boys in the Tiger den years ago. Unfortunately he and his parents still follow the Tiger Cub idea that mom or dad need to be at every event. I've offered to pick him up for Den meetings as I d

I have an AOL Den of 11 boys working on their final requirements for AOL and getting ready to bridge in March. One of the boys has missed all of the Den meetings where we worked on the Readyman Activity Badge. Most of the boys had earned it at Resident camp either last summer or the year before, but there were 4 who still needed it, hence the Den meetings to cover/review it. The one stand out chose not to go to camp either summer. Now we're 1 month away from Blue & Gold and 9 of the 11 will definitely receive their AOL. (One boy joined this school year and his goal was his Webel

I think Roundtables can be just like our units. You will get out of it what you put into it. I don't have any experience with the Boy Scout RT, but I am a Cub Scout RT Comm. I consider myself very fortunate to have a staff of 5 experienced Scouters helping me run the program. Our monthly RT meeting has an average attendance of 20 to 25 people from the 24 Packs in our District. We try to keep the topics informative and timely. Tonight we are holding breakout sessions to cover Day Camp planning, Pinewood Derby planning, Bobcat Award ideas (held over from last month), internet advanceme

I would have been more impressed if the President had actually used his own money to buy the popcorn vice having someone else buy it.

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Hi ghermanno, as a fellow RT Commissioner, I understand your challenge. One suggestion would be to use your next meeting to ask those 4-6 people what keeps them coming, what would make others come back, etc. Basically they could be a pseudo staff for that meeting (and maybe longer). I think I have it easier as a Cub Scout RTC since I see new faces all the time and I can repeat the program for the new Tiger Den Leaders. But I still want the old timers coming back to share their experiences with the newbies. I advertize what we will cover in our District mailer and in a direct email sent to

Hi Ohanadad, good question - thank you for asking. I am a Cub Scout RT Commissioner and I have been guilty of making small purchases out of pocket. We like to use the Cub Scout posters (Law of the Pack, Motto, etc) as part of the RT opening and then give the posters to a first time attender. We also do random drawings and occasionally hold craft teaching classes (leather work, making AOL arrows, etc.) I'm always asking the DE for anything for the drawings and have occasionally scored some great items like left over shirts or water bottles from recent functions. Last year he found 2 fleece

Hi ScoutWolf, I agree with BDPT00 on going with an open mind. That worked well for me when I went last year. Pre-conceived notions can lead to disappointment if the instructors turn out to be only human :-) As far as learning Spanish, I too considered it until I was reminded that my time in the Pack will eventually end. If I have learned the language but no other Pack Leaders buy into the learning, or I can't recruit other bi-lingual parents, what happens when I leave? I could get more into it, but then I would spoil your fun! Enjoy the time with other Scouters. Adult camping ca

Has anyone seen any mention of the Learning For Life program in any of the BSA articles covering the policy on homosexuals? It seems to me that National has missed an opportunity to say that BSA does have a program that is all inclusive. I'm not nearly as familiar with that program as I am with the traditional programs, and I'm guessing the general public knows even less. What do you think, is the Learning For Life a good program for the BSA? Is it just a farce to appease the critics or is it a viable option for those who disagree with the policy for Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts?

Last night we incorporated an idea I heard mentioned here. We included 3 younger brothers in the bridging ceremony. These boys will all be in first grade next Fall. They have been around the Pack with their older brothers and were very excited to cross the bridge to receive their Tiger neckerchiefs and slides. (And their parents received the membership applications!) The smiles on their faces are what keeps me doing this great activity. FTB

Hi Rob, as I understand it, the boys can keep on working on their rank requirements all the way up until the last day of school. If they complete everything by that day then I would present the Rank patch to them as soon as practical after that (ex. summer time pool party, etc.) As to including them in the ceremony - absolutely. Even if a boy doesn't earn his Tiger Rank by the end of school, he can still be in the Wolf Den and is eligible to wear the Wolf neckerchief on the day after the end of school. FTB