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funscout

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Everything posted by funscout

  1. Before I joined this forum, I had no idea that people with liberal ideas (see, I didn't "label" anyone!) would even WANT to be involved with scouting. I'm pleased to see that there are many of them who can overlook some of their ideals, in order to allow their boys to experience the wonderful program of scouting. I know, too, that we can't generalize political views simply based on where people live. My brother (an Eagle scout) lives in California and works for Stanford University. He is very well liked by his co-workers despite his conservative, Christian beliefs. A few of his co-w
  2. Although I'm not overweight, I don't exercise as much as I should. So, I made sure to get back into the habit of exercising well before Klondike Derby. I never would have made it up and down all those snowy, wooded hills otherwise! One of our leaders, who is by far the most overweight of the bunch, is also one of the strongest! I can barely keep up with him on hikes, and he's always at the head of the group when we go cycling. He exercises regularly, and is physically strong, but the weight just doesn't come off.
  3. Perhaps it's time that we all step back and simply pray about this topic.
  4. Prairie Scouter, Again, I apologize that my (in my mind) innocent greeting to a fellow conservative was taken as a slam against liberals. That was not at all my intention. One of my best friends is a liberal. We disagree on MANY things, but still get along. We can tease and joke about some political things, but there are some topics we know it's not worth discussing, since we are so far apart in our thinking. I try to live a life the way God wants me to, and try to set a good example for my kids. As a human, though, I make mistakes every day. I guess you all witnessed one of th
  5. Sorry, I didn't mean to take this post in a different direction. I thought I was just saying "hello" to someone who thinks like I do. I'm sorry if I offended anyone. That was not my purpose.
  6. I'm just curious... In scouting organizations that do allow females and homosexuals, how do they handle sleeping arrangements? Since homosexuals are attracted to other boys, they couldn't bunk with a boy, but it's also not appropriate for them to bunk with a girl. So, do you just make sure each of the kids has their own tent and no one bunks together? On another note, I'm thankful BSA sticks to their guns and maintains separate sleeping quarters for males and females. My brother in California kept his daughter home from a girl scout camp out when he discovered the female leader was
  7. My 12 year old son is shy at school and in church youth group, both of which are co-ed. He is not shy in Boy Scouts, where he doesn't need to worry what the girls think of him, because there are no girls! As a child, I wouldn't have wanted boys in my girl scout troop. I, too, was shy at church and school, but felt very comfortable in a girls-only organization. I don't think it's harmful to have some female leaders, but I certainly wouldn't want my son's troop to only have female leaders. Are there any like that out there? I agree that the boys need good adult male role models. But
  8. My son's patrol chose to drill into their sled's runners, in order to place upright poles. Then they used a skinny drill bit (I'm a Mom, I don't know the official names!)to drill into the sides of the runners. They poked twine into the side holes in order to be able to lash around the upright poles. I was really impressed! I never would have thought to do that. Their sled held up really well while others who also used lashings only, didn't do so well, since they lashed around the bottom of their runners. We also were very fortunate that after a month of no snow, we got 4 inches of snow t
  9. About 15 years ago I read a study that stated that our thinking and reasoning skills aren't fully developed until approximately age 25. Unfortunately, I didn't keep a copy so I can't quote the author/researcher. I would have guessed the age to be closer to 30, but then it's probably earlier for some and later for others. I know I would not have been ready to be on my own at age 18. After college and grad. school, I still didn't feel like an adult at age 23, when I started my first teaching job.
  10. I just read this for the first time, and I am so sorry for your loss. My prayers go out to Derrick's family and all of his scout family. One of our scouts lost his father last year and it was so touching to see his fellow troop members show up to the funeral in their scout uniforms. I know it meant a lot to the boy and his whole family.
  11. To fGoodwin: Our cubmaster did get trained and really does a good job in most areas, but for some reason he practically reads the whole newsletter at our Pack meetings. I guess I should have spoken up and told him that we can all read the announcements, he doesn't have to read them to us! His son is crossing over to boy scouts this year, so I'll be sure to suggest to the new cubmaster that he doesn't need to announce things that we can read for ourselves. In our cubmaster's defense, he gave us 3 years when no one else would step up and he always had fun games planned that kept the boys
  12. Lisabob, Excellent idea to get Webelos 2 leaders thinking about cold weather camping training. When my older son was a Web.2, we asked a Boy Scout leader to come to one of our den meetings to teach the boys about cold weather camping. This definitely helped make my son's first boy scout camp out in March (Chilly still in Illinois)a success. Boys who had come from a different Pack did not fare as well. Our troop always does an informational meeting about cold weather camping before the new scouts camp, but this information is easier for young boys to take in if it's in a small, familia
  13. Some of our leaders encourage their dens to all get their badge of rank at the B&G since many boys will have grandparents or other relatives attending who don't normally come to a Pack meeting. I encourage my boys to get their badge done by a certain month (but not necessarily Feb.), so we can have a more impressive ceremony and feel like a cohesive group, but I certainly don't require it. When the boys know that everyone else is trying to get done by the deadline, they usually try to finish at the same time. I would never make a boy wait for the rest of the den to catch up, however.
  14. Thanks for all the comments and ideas. If anyone else has alternate words or songs, I'd love to hear them. No, the boys do not do the announcement song anywhere else but at Pack meetings. I agree this is pretty rude for any age, but especially for us to be encouraging our cubs to do it. I don't know when the tradition was started in our Pack, but it's been going for more than 7 years. I think the purpose was to keep the boys interested in the meeting, since announcements in general are kind of boring for kids. It also helps them get some "wiggles" out as they do some hand motio
  15. Our council calls the OWL training "WOLF" which stands for Webelos Outdoor Leader Fundamentals. It's confusing, though, because it sounds at first like it is a training for Wolf leaders. Our BALOO is for all cub leaders, and at least one leader must hold this qualification when doing outdoor activiites as a Pack, such as an all Pack campout. WOLF should be taken at the end of the Leader's Bear year, or the beginning of Web. 1. This is required if a Web. leader wants to take the Webelos on a campout, but also has lots of helpful info. for Webelos in general.
  16. I'm curious to see others' take on this. Our pack has traditionally used a song that the cubs sing whenever they hear the word "announcements". I don't care for the words in the song, but the kids love it and it is a tradition. Can I get some opinions from you guys? Some in our pack want to continue the tradition, others want to get rid of it. Here are the words: Announcements, announcements, announcements! What a terrible way to die, a terrible way to die, a terrible way to die, a terrible way to die. Announcements, announcements, announcements! We sold our cow, moo....
  17. I hope I made myself clear that I am not against Homosexuals, I am against the acting out of homosexuality. As a Christian, I can not believe any other way. I understand that many in our world believe differently than me, and we just to have to agree to disagree. One point to ponder, though, if we're talking morals, here: I had the opportunity to hear Peter Marshall speak a few years ago. He's the grandson of the woman who was the inspiration for the book and T.V. show "Christy." He pointed out that no civilization that accepted adultery, abortion and homosexuality as normal has ever
  18. I hope BOY scouts can remain just that, scouting for BOYS. I am really impressed at how my 12 year old son is maturing by being around the older boys in his troop. With girls along, the older boys wouldn't have much time for the younger boy scouts. If sisters of boy scouts think the boys are having more fun, then they need to talk to their girl scout leaders about doing some of the same things. A friend of mine leads her daughter's girl scout troop and they do just as much "fun" stuff as her son does in boy scouts.
  19. Personally, I think 3 den meetings a month, plus one pack meeting, is the way to go. Our Tiger and Wolf leaders, however, only want to meet for one den meeting a month. Those of us who are more experienced told them that they would have trouble getting much done with only one den meeting a month, but they felt that many of their boys would drop out if asked to meet more often. It's not the boys, but the parents who prefer to meet less often. With my Webelos, I have changed from having 3 one-hour den meetings a month, to having 2 ninety minute den meetings a month. We meet one Tues. a
  20. Wow, I didn't realize there were Packs that actually had committee members who weren't also leaders! Must be nice! In the 7 years that my family has been involved with our Pack, most leaders have had to take on a second position. Our comm. meetings include the CM, ACM, CC, at least one DL from each den, and the Treasurer. Unfortunately, no has been willing to be CC, so I have been a DL and CC for 4 years, now. I agree, that I can't do all I should as CC. Since I don't work outside the home, Cub Scouts has become a part-time unpaid job for me. I must admit I am getting burned out. My yo
  21. Most of us involved in scouting are religious, since there is a God component in scouts. Those of us who are Judeo-Christian know that the Bible says that it is wrong to ACT on homosexual impulses. This means that even if people are born "that way," they are not to act on their impulses. I've had a question for some time and wonder if anybody has an answer. IF homosexuality is genetic, then is there any research done on a way to prevent it? Other disabilities have tons of research trying to prevent the problem. Why not help prevent people from being born with something that will caus
  22. Our daycamp was $45 last year, which was a hardship for some of our scouts. We encouraged certain families to apply for a "campership" which enabled their boys to attend. We also remind the scouts to try to sell a lot of popcorn in order to have money to use towards Day Camp. Last summer was my son's favorite of the three he's attended. In previous years, the first day of camp was always BORING. Each den attended archery and BBs, but had to listen to a safety lecture for the whole session. We had some boys drop out and not attend the rest of the week. Last year, the boys got to do a
  23. I never realized youger scouts could earn the Whittling Chip card. I'm sure our Pack will still encourage parents to wait till their boy is at least a Bear. Many of our parents choose to wait till their boys are Webelos. My older son was responsible, so we let him earn his Whittling chip card as a Bear. Our younger son is a different story! We made him wait till he was in Webelos and he had to prove some responsibility before we allowed him to earn it. This was a great motivator for him to improve his behavior! Personally, I wish the boys had to be at least 10, but that's just me.
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