GKlose

We pay for Troopmaster and also website space...a few months ago, someone posted a link to a guy that seems to be linking the two together. A Troopmaster-like database application along with online space and access, for about the price of Troopmaster alone, as I recall. I remember thinking that if we weren't already tied into both we'd probably consider it as an alternative.

Stosh -- I get what you're saying, but at the same time, you pulled apart my response, quoted and responded to it (making some assumptions that just plain aren't true) and then interspersed it with quotes from other sources, leading one to believe the quotes were related. That's just plain misleading... First of all, back to my original statement -- "I like JFL's idea" (of having the SM counsel the SPL, and then the SPL counsel the PLC). You're assuming I meant adult-led in this circumstance and it isn't what I was implying at all. The question is, how does the SM counsel the SPL, and wha

Our troop has been in a situation where there was no PLC for at least a year, possibly more. Adult-led, advancement-oriented, the whole bit. Outings were in the same place every year, roughly six outings a year, and the same 16% (give or take) attended. A funny thing happened too: an entire Webelos den joined one spring, and by November, they had decided to split off and form their own troop, which had monthly outings in varying places. There's a whole lot more to the story (and I've told bits and pieces in other threads), but I won't drop a bomb here. Personally, I like JFL's idea -

RS -- funny you should mention that. The main reason why I decided to take ARC first aid, WFA and ARC CPR/AED (this one through work), was because the last time I had a first aid course was on a speed-pass through First Aid MB at summer camp when I was 12. I realized that I don't know squat about first aid, and that I should remedy that.

I don't necessarily get warm fuzzies that the national program committee is reviewing the first aid merit badge requirements on a periodic basis, or at least as often as it should, but I do know that Red Cross does review their curricula and protocols often, and I would hope that in the best case the BSA would do the same thing. I'm pretty comfortable with T, 2C and 1C ranks and their graduated sets of first aid requirements, but I also think there is some room for either improvement, or expansion, in first aid merit badge, or at least in an extension of it. For example, make sure at

I don't want this to come across as gloating, but I'm down 25 since 8/1, with about 17 to go to hit the high-end of the high adventure range. Our summer camp uses that same guideline for backcountry trips, and this last year I wouldn't have been eligible to go on one. Weight loss is a strange and wonderful, and sometimes elusive, thing. Feels great when it works out right.

In our district and council (who mandated common standards across districts), projects are reviewed by the district advancement committee. Prior to these common standards, in our prior district (and independent of the other districts in the council), one district advancement committee member would have reviewed the project and given approval for the project. This is just the way our council has been trending, and recently posted the guidelines on the web: http://www.yccbsa.org/advancement/Eagle/index.htm I just noticed that looking at the project workbook (not the application!), ther

Bart -- that's a perfect use for a trucker's hitch (which is a very useful knot, especially for stringing a *very* tight ridge line for a tarp). I didn't really know the knot a year ago -- But after a dad who went on a canoe trip saw the outfitter use a trucker's hitch, he asked what it was. The dad asked me if I knew it, and I didn't, so I learned it. I can't explain it too well here, but I found a YouTube video on tarps to be really useful in learning it (the tarp-stringer runs a tight ridge line using the trucker's hitch, then uses prussicks to secure the tarp to the ridge line).

This is kind of related to an ongoing discussion I've been having with the rest of the adult leadership of our troop -- we don't reinforce scout skills. For example, the clove hitch...what is it used for? Starting certain lashings, for one thing. If your scouts aren't lashing things, then they aren't reinforcing the clove hitch. Lashing things (useful camp devices!) is fun. The one that drives me up the wall is this one: the taut line hitch. I can tie it one-handed, because it is easy to tie one with one handing keeping the tension off a line headed to a tarp, while you use the other

One of my fondest memories from my old troop, in the early 70s, is that we'd sometimes do a night hike. One place in particular, a state park, we'd be there every spring to go caving. Friday night, after arriving and setting up camp, we'd go on a night hike. The rules were simple, our SM asked to minimize talking and to not use flashlights. Sure enough, after a little while, our eyes would adjust (and maybe this trip was always timed so that we went when the moon was bright) and we didn't need to talk. The hike wasn't long -- maybe a couple of miles -- but it would end at a huge natural bridge

Some of my best ideas as a Scouter have come from my memories with his troop. :-) As far as I'm concerned, I still consider him my Scoutmaster, and he's been a great help in recent years, via email conversations. One thing I did recently was to organize a weekend patrol leader training course, which I did with RJ about 35 years ago. And no, unfortunately, I aged out about a year before his first trip to Seabase. He started the troop in '69, I think, and I joined in '71. I had such a great time. Want a note of irony: in two weeks, I'm going to be doing the cooking demo for OWL. :-)

Not only DCI, but there are community marching bands, community concert and jazz bands, and at one time, at least, there were VFW (or AmVets, or American Legion) drum and bugle corps. Here in the northeast, we still see fife and drum corps at parades. So, yes, I think there are rec leagues and rec league bands. Some random thoughts: I didn't march in college, but my HS experience was pretty rigorous. It wasn't required to march, but it was certainly expected. I would guess that a regular (school day) band grade suffered if you didn't march. I can't recall how many games there were pe

My favorite is the Purple Gorilla story, but I would guess that most Scouters know it, or at least heard it in their youth.

My WB21C patrol consisted of one district training chair, one Scoutmaster, two Assistant Scoutmasters, and one Cub Den Leader. The Den Leader had no prior experience with scouts other than his one year of leading a Wolf Den. He admitted he was a little lost, at first, because he didn't really understand the patrol concept. I think that as we went along, he understood more and more, and gained much more interest in what is coming along after his son moves to a Scout troop. That is, provided his son stays interested. But it sounds like he comes from a strong pack, and that he'll continue as

One of my WB patrol-mates is a district training chair, and has been so for quite awhile. I've since volunteered a couple of times to assist her with some events, and what I've found is interesting. She has an "operation" in place. She has training people she trusts, and are highly experienced. They are people she trusts and she can count on. Although I don't see everything behind the scenes, I think she spends a good portion organizing what is going on, not actually doing things herself. For example, I attended her "Trainer's EDGE" workshop (6 hours over two evenings), and she only prese

I'd like to thank everyone for their feedback so far -- but I have another question: problems with small steel pins used as stakes are obvious. But what about fiberglass versus aluminum tent poles (standard dome type of tent)? Are there issues with one type versus the others? As far as expected conditions, I don't really have a guess. We're not as far north as Maine, but winter weather is unpredictable. Rarely below zero, but routinely between zero and 30F mid-winter. Snowfall? Sometimes heavy, during nor'easters, but in some of those snow emergency situations, I could see outings being c

Mr. Beaver -- "award" was your choice of words in this circumstance, not mine. My statement stands on it's own: a committee withholding something rightfully earned, especially for arbitrary and artificial reasons, is most certainly punitive. In this particular case, I see it as a penalty (withholding credit for a night of camping) on Scouts because of the actions (SM not trained in IOLS), and arbitrary rules (SM has to be trained for a Scout's outing to "count"), of others (the committee's policy, not BSA policy). I'm not sure why you think a troop committee trumps everyone else (BSA, SM

By the way -- Last year, at a different summer camp, the dining hall steward was extremely helpful with the vegetarian (and the camp is completely peanut-free, using "sun butter" for the default). This year, with patrol cooking, the commissary staff couldn't have been nicer. I checked allergens on labels several times, because they do a lot of bulk-food repackaging. They also were able to supply us a steady stream of plain bagels, which the dairy-egg allergy Scout can eat. He can't, however, eat the cinnamon raisin bagel they supplied one morning. They didn't know, but it was an easy

We've got this situation right now, with a new Scout. Interesting, though -- his dad tells me that he doesn't eat anything new unless his mom is there to approve it, and when I talked to her, his mom wasn't real informative (to questions like "does he have problems being nearby peanuts, like some kids on airplanes?"). His dad thinks he needs to learn it on his own. My concern is a little more practical -- this last summer at camp, patrol cooking, we had a strict vegetarian and a severe dairy-egg allergy; both subsist on peanut butter at camp, and we pretty much had to consider two sets of

"And not receiving an award is not punishment." That's twice you've said this, and I'm not buying it. Witholding a rightfully-earned award, especially due to arbitrary and artificial reasons, most certainly is punitive. Guy

Fall '77, I think, I had the privilege of watching an OSU marching band rehearsal, both the indoors and outdoors portions. If I recall correctly, wasn't there a sign above the door that said "TBDBITL"? One surprise for me, after having just watched a jazz ensemble rehearsal, was that Tom Battenberg, the jazz program faculty/chair (and trumpeter), was also in the marching band. I think it's also pretty amazing to see their present audition guidelines, which you can find online. There are physical standards to get into the band and they are pretty rigorous. Guy

Anyone with firsthand experience at the Philmont Leadership Challenge (http://www.philmontleadershipchallenge.org/)? If so, I'd like to hear more about it. Thanks, Guy

For those of you that live in cold weather climes, what do you do about 4-season tents? Our troop (here in the northeast) is mostly equipped with 3-season tents, and I think it is somewhat of an impediment to winter camping. thanks, Guy

Nice work, 'fish...after going through 3 different packs, I've seen differing levels of dysfunction. It's nice to see and hear about a pack that does it right, as it is a reminder that the program really does work.

Our troop is a "shirt-only" troop (and it bugs me). When scoutstuff.org was blowing out older uniform styles last year (and I got some real bargains), I sent a link out to everyone in the troop. Not a single family jumped on the opportunity. Not even the kids that had outgrown their Webelos-era tan shirt, which were bursting at the seams. Not a single adult leader bought uniform pants (let alone short, socks, or hat). I bought a second uniform, and switchbacks, and even a couple of activity shirts, which I think were awesome this year at summer camp when we had a week of 95+ days. I don't