Fuzzy Bear

Thorns, Roses, and all in between We moved again. We still have things in boxes from several moves before. I am not always sure where things are located. Our house did sell for a nice price. We were able to find another house that was beyond our means but my wife put together a package and now it is all ours. We enjoyed a great early Christmas with our in-laws here. I painted our last house inside and out. It took a long time and there were some unexpected difficulties. I usually find painting enjoyable. It is an activity that I find relief in and little outside interfer

I have been a Scoutmaster, a Camp Director, a teacher, and a counselor, all working with youth and adults. Many that I have worked with were troubled young people in different, difficult situations. Most knew how to use bad language and how to be disrespectful. I don't allow either for good reason. If a young person persists with bad behavior, then they will have me, their parents, the committee, etc., involved until they are willing to carry the bad behavior behind my back or back to the street. Likewise, if a person changes, then they have me and everyone I can find to be behind t

A few years ago at Philmont, a young Scout fell from the side of a cliff overlooking one of the lakes. I was standing across the lake gazing at the beauty. They didn't shut down the camp, the area or stop the hiking. To this day, I cannot get the agonized scream of the Scoutmaster out of my head that followed. I don't have an answer about safety. The BSA tries. FB

After a few years of complaints from Webelos Scouts, the CM decided to build his own bridge at a local camp. The Scouts usually laughed at the small one-step bridge the Pack had and wondered about what they had been told about bridging. We were given permission from the local professionals to build one. The area selected had a small stream/rut in the ground and our bridge was about 12 feet across. The bridge was arched and somewhat rustic. We didn't use any plans but it came out just fine. It was sturdy enough and has lasted several years. It took four adults about two days to build, us

Lilly looked good in her unifrom as the others tore at the fabric of her trustworthiness. She almost won honestly or lost dishonestly, I'm not sure which. I knew a Scout leader that would either not wear his Scout uniform when he went to meetings or wear an overcoat with his uniform. He liked to stop off and belt down one or two on the way home. It makes it easier to answer questions when you look the part. It's hard living a thinnly disguised double life. I wouldn't recommend it to anyone. I guess Lilly would have won if she had taken her uniform off and tried coconuts and

When something like this could most likely have been avoided and appears so unnecessary, there is no explanation. For the family and those that loved him, there are no words. The hurt goes so deep that nothing will remove the agony that remains. FB

I agree that training is necessary. You can also share leadership through discovery. Start with a Scoutmaster's Minute, I realize you are not the SM. The SM's Minute is like a guiding star but even an ASM can give one, with permission. It might go something like this, "Guys, look at the Scout Badge. At the bottom are the words, Be Prepared. It also represents the founders initials, Baden Powell, BP. He did this on purpose as a little joke but he was also serious. The words are written on the scroll in the shape of a smile. When you are prepared for just who knows what; you

A wrong can be made right only if it prevents the individual or persons directly or indirectly involved from injury. This is a measure to be carefully considered, unless the situation is an emergency and calls for immediate action. Good behavior is sometimes not easily defined but we generally know it. FB

The first time I visited the Philmont Training Center, I was treated with the theme of a Scout is friendly. I guess it was a feeling that we are alike in many ways or that we share similar experiences or we attempt to be, or maybe, we are just friendly. One evening in camp, I went to take a shower and returned four hours later. I found myself going from one conversation to the next as I went down the lane. I was invited in to almost every conversation from any part of the country as if I had membership and tenure with each group. They never questioned my reason for being there and n

I only know you through your messages. I wish you happiness on your birth and life and it sounds like your retirement into something else. Fuzzy Bear

I believe that the Cub Scout program is excellent and that boys will respond. A few years ago, I tried an experiment. There was a Cubmaster that lead all activities of the meetings. This meant that the boys were not very involved. I took pictures of the Scouts sitting on the tables and watching during three different meetings. The CM was a very nice person and did a pretty good job overall. I convinced him that we should use the Cub Scout Program Helps for the next few meetings to relieve him of the burden of doing it all, so, he let some of the dens do different parts of the pro

I am not sure about your question but let me review just in case I am missing what you are saying. The PL's Handbook is already scripted for you and your PL's in general. The Program Helps are scripted step by step for each meeting for every month specifically. BL usually has articles that go along with the theme. The BSHB has articles that will help with some, if not all of the information. The BSFB has other articles that lend more information, if needed. There are even merit badge books that have a wealth of information on all kinds of subjects for program. The district roundtable

One weekend, we had planned a camping trip about 5 miles from town on a large farm. It was an interesting area because there was a medium sized hill that had been reputed as being the hideout/lookout for a bandit during the cowboy days. The bandit and his gang had hidden the stolen gold somewhere on the hill, was captured and later died in prison. Of course, the money was never found. This left quite an adventure for our guys. Everyone climbed all over the area, looking for caves or other suspected places for the loot. The decision was made that each patrol would camp at a place of t

We were at Summer Camp with a load of new 11 year olds several years ago. I don't remember the patrol configurations or if we were ever very successful with anything when confronted with such a problem. I am sure that none of us confessed knowing the right way to put these new Scouts to the business of Scouting but we did our best. One evening, I came into camp and found a young man keeping one or our Scout leaders busy. The Scout was sick or throwing a fit but it appeared to me as a bad case of home sickness. I stepped in and tried my hand for a while with the cure and was successf

Our Scout troop had a family campout each year, usually at a lake with boats, plenty of food, hiking, games, and a campfire with skits and songs. It was one of the most exciting trips that we went on, except the other 11. Since our rule was to engage, at least one family member in one event or one adult position, we had family in all phases of our program. Scout meetings were kept active and we relied on parents to assist in parts of those programs where needed. We had related family members involved which expanded the places we could camp and also in completing many projects the Scouts th

I would like to try my hand at answering the question, "Why do people collect stuff?". I grew up in a household that was fairly simple and straight forward. Everything was clean and well arranged. I don't fault my parents in the least for the environment they created because my Dad was an engineer and my Mother was a professional homemaker with only one family as a customer. My Dad built his own heating and air conditioning and plumbing company over the years and to his eventual disappointment, he hired me to crawl around in attics to install duct work and to dig ditches for sewer lines.

I know that this does not fit the question at hand but then we are talking and this may be a related subject, so. I was driving down an old country road a few years ago in North Central Texas. I noticed a few old buildings off the road. I drove back around to look a them again. It had the look of an old Scout camp or a deserted Army camp. I tried to see if there were any people near but I couldn't find anyone. I then made a decision to take a closer look. I parked off the road and walked back with my camera. I spent about an hour taking pictures. I took outside, inside and inside to o

Registering for and doing more than one job is common in much of what I know about Scouting. I still have printouts of rosters that show such things. Sometimes it is an obsession to help beyond one's normal grasp. Some people have even been known to go beyond the proverbial three mile limit and not be heard from again. Sometimes a DE is simply trying to meet quota. It might be that the Grand Dame was attempting to teach such a lesson or caution those who may be prone to swim out too far. It might be that she only has one job and is paying too close attention to the details that a two

I want to caution you away from making a determination of destination based on a close call on a rule. I have worked in both programs and I can recommend both of them to you. I agree with using the Summer Camp problem as a good rule to slow the pace. Moreover, the Webelos program is first rate and the boys will not be shorted at all by staying a little longer. It sounds like you are a good leader and have provided a good program. Boys respond well to what you have done, now and in the future. One more recommendation, that can't be helped. Find a camp or an area with a small

If you have a specific year or decade or an article, I might be able to cross index it. The role of honor for heroes, if it exists, most likely is out of the seventies. Give me some clues. I have collected Boys Life for several years. I buy, sell and trade as any normal patch collector does. Since my collection is varied (i.e.,within some rational limit) Scouting items, I cross trade. I try to specialize in Scouting books, especialy fiction (Scouting approved generally). If your interested, lets throw down the virtual trading blanket and look at some Scouting stuff. FB

I want to recommend three good things: Every individual Scout in your troop should know that you care that they are activly engaged in learning the Scout Law/Ideals. Every Scout should hear you speak during your Minute, that is, you at your best, doing your best, to reach out for the best. Visit the most difficult Scouts in their home to speak with them and their parents about the Scout program. This visit will reset your compass when trying to assist. We do not have all of the answers but we can let them know that there is a place of substance with people that care. FB

Follow Me Boys- best Scout movie ever. Have you ever seen the Last Boy Scout? I bet it is a blow 'em up and has little to do with Scouting as we know it. FB

OK, Since nobody is willing to offer an answer, I'll give it a try. Leather kits are expensive, yes. At one day camp a few years ago, we used leather left over from Scout camp. The reason nobody had used the leather was because it was thick enough to make people wonder about it's origin. The tools, which are also expensive were borrowed from the Scout camp. I had assisted with the camp that summer, so I had an inside track. I personally vouched for the safe return of the tools. The leather was simply given to me because it was close to being unfit for use but it was great for stamping l

I realize that tradition allows boys to imagine all kinds of things about the past history of a troop/patrol and that is certainly a good idea. It is also neat to have ready made flags and patrol patches, so that boys can jump right in and not worry about those particular problems. When I was a Scout I was in the Lion patrol. We had the official patrol patch and the flag. We won the Honor Patrol flag on several occasions and were well respected. Other patrols followed our example and began to win the Honor Patrol flag. We had ribbons that we had won and had started a good history f

Salute, hand over the heart, full uniform, part uniform; these young boys will want to show respect for their country and for the brave people that have fought, voted, and died to give them the best place on earth to live. The red is for the blood and there has been plenty of it, the white is for their bravey and the blue is for the sky and the constellation of stars over us all that believe in democracy. I am not trying to say that there is not a proper way to show respect but when a young man knows the reason that he is showing respect then it may only be the hair on the back of his