GKlose

"I do not think they would like him to bring his silver trumpet on a campout" Understood, and it makes sense -- but :-) With many young musicians, serious ones most likely, they have two instruments. One that they use for marching band season, and one that's used for concert band. The marching band one that sees all the action on muddy football fields is sometimes the student-model instrument they played in elementary and middle school. The concert band instrument is sometimes a "step-up" or pro-level model instrument, and, at least in my case, virtually never sees use during marchin

A budget bugle can be found for $20 to $40, maybe even less. I'm a brass player, and I've seen them sold by my favorite online source, Woodwind/Brasswind. But -- a trumpet is a bugle (in the "harmonic series" sense). It just has some added valves. And although I'm not a Drum and Bugle Corps expert, the bugles they use have valves too (with some kind of limitation I don't understand). So, the bottom line is that all bugles calls can be played on a trumpet or cornet (open; or with a valve combination depressed, in a different key). There is a single pamphlet for both Music and Bug

First of all, thanks to everyone for the practical advice -- I've been looking for a tent as well, and this information really helps (especially the pointers to discounted stuff). Twocubdad: I've been eyeballing the Pinnacle/Apex tents, but as I recall, it has a strange fly system, where one side of the tent isn't covered. To me, that says the nylon on that side is coated, and I would expect problems with condensation. Have you found that to be the case? I'm up in the northeast, and I must have really saturated breath because I am regularly plagued by condensation drips (even on uncoated

One of my brothers was a real fan of mixed metaphors, so in his honor I want to add: Yes, the squeaky wheel does get the oil, but one washes the other, and then it's as easy as falling off a log. We can always burn that bridge when we come to it. (or something like that) Guy :-)

I guess I have a slightly (only slightly!) different opinion than most...a new, crossed-over scout is 10-1/2 or older. Are all 10-1/2 to 11 year olds at the same maturity level? No, of course not. But who's to say that moving on to an older age range activity, like Boy Scouts, is not exactly what they need? From my point of view, it is important to crossover new scouts early enough that they can get a few nights of camping under their belt, along with several patrol and troop meetings, before summer camp. If a troop is actively discouraging young scouts at summer camp (as ScoutNut describ

I've been told, but I don't know this history personally (I can't recall if it was a year or two when I was a Webelos, circa 1970), that the Webelos program went from one year to two years, and is now in its present state, where the second year is optimized to finish by the standard Blue and Gold banquet time in February. In fact, the second year does have a much greater emphasis on connecting with a Boy Scout troop (visit a meeting, have an SM conference, visit a Boy Scout outdoor activity, etc). One of the problems, as I see it, is that some Cub Scout packs treat the Blue and Gold banqu

Hmmm, I don't really have a recommendation, per se, because with 15 you probably have a full spectrum of kids. But, in my case, we did things slightly differently than what is "normal". My son, a 4th grader who turned 10 in September, started Webelos with a small group of 4 total. We could sense that he was losing interest in Cub Scouts, so we asked him if he was willing to do the work in order to finish Arrow of Light by this spring. He said yes, and he is finishing up the last activity badge right now. He did quite a few things with another den (a 2nd-year Webelos group) as well as thin

My family has been involved with three different packs, and all three had a single CC/CM running the show (and yes, I know that's not proper!). I'm not sure how the chartering paperwork handled it... Of course, if I were recommending to someone to start a pack, or to look for a pack to join, I'd suggest looking for one with a strong committee in place. In any case, I would think it would make sense that CC and CM training be two sides of the same coin, so that they could each see that they have specific roles and responsibilities.

I understand the sentiment (and I'm part of the district committee, along with being active in a troop). In general, I think our unit has very little contact with the district other than the advancement committee, at EBoR time, and the activities committee, for district activities. For the last couple of years, we haven't even had a UC -- now someone new is assigned, and it's like there's a little confusion of "who's assisting who". I see both sides from the district committee view, but at the unit level I'm getting a sense of "just who exactly is this guy, and why do we need him?"

I was doing a similar search about a year ago -- and I was specifically looking for one with a hydration bladder, and clips to hold the hose. On the larger side, about 2000 cu in, and a good waist belt and sternum strap. I too was frustrated after using ill-fitting daypacks for years, with inadequate waist belts. Needed a longer torso and a larger waist belt, in general. So I settled on a CamelBak Alpine Explorer, which I bought from Campmor: http://www.campmor.com/outdoor/gear/Product___67739 The Kelty Redwing was my second choice, but I was looking for something a bit smaller:

No, Stosh, "raised waffles" have nothing to do with thickness. It has to do with leavening. They are also called "yeast waffles" or sometimes "overnight waffles". They are sublime. The perfect waffle batter for the perfect waffle. Much better than anything descended from pancake batter or leavened with baking powder or soda. Honestly. I stake my reputation as a Certified Foodie on it. Here's an example recipe (but not the one I use -- I don't have that one memorized): http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Raised-Waffles-40050 Guy

I don't know if this will help, but I suggested to the troop committee having what I called an "eScribe" to take care of the troop website. I had grand designs on this kid also assisting the "feeder pack" with developing their own website, and also adding us to the CO website, but that part hasn't happened yet.

LisaNJ -- your experience is not unlike my experience; and I think you're handling it the best way you can. After having been in the program for several years now, I can tell that there is quite a high percentage of parents that expect their sons to get badges whether they have 100% participation or not. At every step along the way, there is a certain portion of stuff that is supposed to be done at home. You can only ask so many times for parents to do that stuff with their Cubs. Then there are a certain percentage of parents that will go ahead and sign their kids off anyway. Saw thi

Stosh, pancakes and waffles are two different food items! Just because both are maple syrup delivery vehicles, it doesn't place them in the same category. (for the record, waffle batter typically has more fat in it, which helps them become crispier -- but for really sublime waffles, one has to look for a "raised waffle" recipe, which isn't anything like a pancake batter) Guy

"I guess if a new boy is entering into a boy-led unit that the first contact is by the one who is really running the show. That's a message my boys want to show the new boys from the git-go." I think that's really admirable. I started another thread about my experiences at a Webelos open house last night. I had one small role to play in it, which was to take parents aside (so they wouldn't hover), and talk to them about our program. Ideally, I would have loved for one of the older scouts to do that while I sat behind him and offered assistance when necessary. Officially, our tro

Just some observations from our Webelos open house, which was held last night. About welcome kits: I'd put together some folders, and when I was talking to parents of prospective "crossovers" I showed them the folders and let them look at pages. But I'd asked if rather than handing them over at that moment if I could present the folder to their sons. I did just that, and in almost every case the scout immediately handed the folder over to his parent. My wife had suggested I add a page to the folder that included information about uniforms and equipment. She specifically said "I'm go

Last year, when my older son was going through the transition process, I ran into the full gamut of crossovers. Our pack uses a set script, which they've probably used for several years in a row (after hearing it twice, I'd like to help switch that up this year). At the same time, I heard an SM say "the crossover ceremony is ours -- we handle it". Although I don't know for sure, since my son didn't choose that troop, my assumption is that their feeder pack takes care of an AoL ceremony while they do a separate crossover.

We've moved twice, so three packs total. I've found that all packs are different. An adjacent town has well-organized, well-funded and active packs. I think it pays to look around a bit. In our town, packs are tied to schools, more or less. I've heard the "but I thought we were supposed to join pack XX" line, but it's not true. You can join any pack you want (although the DE does get a little peeved if you decide to attend a unit in a different district!). Guy

With all due respect, I know the BSA Swimmer test (I did it myself more than a few times, even as an adult). When I'm doing something like prepping an 11-yr-old like him, I don't usually quote chapter and verse from the manual. I gave him the basics. "See, no need to worry..." is the general idea. He didn't fail because of my prepping (in a simplistic manner)!

Hey Barry -- I should have been more clear, and I think my response to Lisabob may have helped at least a little. As they rotated down to the waterfront on "induction day" :-), he did jump in the water for his swim test. From what I understand, the lifeguard/proctor asked him to try several different strokes that he didn't recognize by name: sidestroke, breaststroke, elementary backstroke. When my son said that he couldn't do any of those, the guy had him get out and called out "non-swimmer" to the guy filling in tags. I had prepped my son beforehand ("you're going to jump in, then s

"Hey Guy, just a question. Did the summer camp have a lake or a pool? I know some kids who are good swimmers but just don't like the mucky feel of the bottom of a lake (some lakes), or the fact that they might be unable to see the bottom if it isn't real clear water, or the idea of "swimming with the fishes" either. Could that have been the case?" Hey Lisabob - I missed your question until just now. It was a lake. I've never noticed that sort of propensity before in my son -- we have a town pond that he has been in ever since he was very little, and muck and squishiness has never see

Boomerscout: Drum major is the correct term. Earlier in this thread, I drew a parallel between SPL/PL and how marching bands are organized (or at least how they used to be organized when I was marching -- SPL/PL is not unlike drum majors, section leaders and squad leaders -- these are "on the field" participants that have real roles and responsibilities), but it was buried in a ton of verbiage. As far as the Saturday meeting idea goes, there would be conflicts in our area because that's when the bulk of non-school youth sports happens -- I'd always thought that Sunday afternoons woul

AnaMaria, I agree, but at the same time, I'd rather have the crossover be a surprise -- I'm counting on the idea that most of these Webelos parents aren't going to put too much thought into the transition prior to the crossover ceremony (and this is judging from our own Pack parents -- they're all fairly "last minute" kind of people). In fact, I'm guessing that not many of them will realize that their new AoL-ers will be immediately able to come to troop meetings, camp with the troop, and get set for summer camp in July. I don't think the reality will have set in yet. Part of that comes f

Our pack has used a local "function hall" in the past, and this year is moving to a country club. The roughly $18/head cost is built into the annual dues (the pack doesn't really fundraise), and parents/siblings pay another $18/head added. The good news is that parental pressure at least got the banquet moved away from the function hall that had been used in the past. They were marginal at best. I don't really care for this formula at all, and I'm glad this year is our last year.

Stosh -- that's cool. Are there any good online sources of these kinds of things? (I would assume military surplus) Thanks, Guy