Gonzo1

Eamonn makes a good case for patrol cooking camps whether he intended to or not. A council trying to raise a $1,000,000 for a chow hall! Maybe it's just me, but $1,000,000 for a chow hall to feed about 1,000 people for the summer doesn't seem worth it. What's the "life expectancy" of a chow hall? 25, maybe 30 years. $1,000,000 / 25 years = $40,000 per year. This doesn't account for interest and doesn't account for other uses like training and meeting. I'm sure training and meetings could be held in some less expensive building. A troop could attend a patrol cooking camp, scouts could cook all meals and still, if the scout had any initiative could earn 5 or 6 merit badges, plus do the mile swim. When I was a boy, my troop went to the same patrol cooking camp every year, Camp Freeland Leslie for 2 weeks each summer. One year in particular, I had so much fun, when I got home, I found another troop in town that was going the next week, so I went for 3 weeks. It wasn't that I earned a bazillion badges (I didn't), I just had fun, and I earned SOME badges.

I like Backpacker magazine, I also like Scouting and Boy's Life. It's too bad there aren't more articles like those in Backpacker in Scouter and Boy's Life. Maybe some cross talk could happen, that is, Boy's Life and Scouting put some of their stuff in Backpacker and vice-versa.

I got to thinking about this. It's kinda like asking a teacher to accept a book report THIS YEAR when he did it and got an acceptable grade LAST YEAR. (See teacher, I did this report and got an A last year, can I have an A again this year?) Sorry, the scout must do them as a webelos, then again as a candidate for tenderfoot.

The new unit organizer would have to follow the steps outlined in this link: http://www.boyscouttrail.com/square-knots.asp#boyce

LongHaul, Not adding requirement. I can't find my old handbook right this second, but I recall having to earn a MB for T'foot. I chose to earn Firemanship. It was 1973 or 1974.

Local1400, I'm sure I'd enjoy the dinner, driving a gazillion miles from Georgia to Hew Hampshire, well, I'm not so sure. I know there are pro's and con's to Mess Halls and patrol cooking. Personally, I'd rather see the patrols working together, SPL leading and the boys can still have fun, earn some badges. I wouldn't mind trading the CSP though, send me a PM with contact info, etc, yada yada...... We'll trade.

First of all, why are we so bothered by "heating our tents"? Secondly, know you limits. I know my profile here says "Gainesville, GA" so what could the southerner know about cold weather camping. I grew up 20 miles west of Chicago. So, have a quality bag, good rating to zero degrees, quality tent, a foam pad, one or two space blankets and keep your poncho handy. Lay out the pad, then a space blanket on it to reflect your body heat back toward you, then your bag, use a second space blanket and / or a poncho on top of that to keep body heat in. I hope this helps.

I agree with jblake47, give the scout the patch first, the card / certificate later. SSScout, I had to earn at least one merit badge for Tenderfoot. I never heard of not being allowed to work on MB's until First Class.

Venividi, What? I know I haven't been active with OA for a while, a long while, but soing OA ordeal at summer camp? I know it's probably better in the OA thread, but shouldn't OA ordeals be done over OA weekends? More than just sleeping under the stars, more about inward reflection, service, etc. Now that's factory scouting! MB's, wilderness survival I can see and OA all at once, Whew, why plan another weekend, just keep cramming it in.

In any language, it's the same. 6 ranks: T, 2, 1, S, L, E. 7 years to complete them. (ages 11 through 17) It's not a race.

I like council camps that offer a wide range of merit badges that can be completed at camp or be finished soon afterward. I completely disagree with using mess halls for meals. Patrol cooking at summer camp can be done, it works well and if a scout has some initiative, he can still earn a few badges, have some fun and be a better scout too.

BrandonR, Welcome, It seems like you have a great challenge ahead of you. Have your parents volunteered? Also, talk to a couple of the parents of boys you like and know. Maybe they can help. Good luck, I hope this works out. Gonzo1

Oldman, Welcome to the forum I must agree with Ed and Lisa on this. A boy isn't a Boy Scout until he crosses and completes the application. Then he can work toward Tenderfoot, not before.

I don't want this to be taken the wrong way, but what about the parents? ScoutDad, you said the parents don't speak Mandarin, Maybe communicating with the new mom and dad is more pressing now than Scouts. Scouts is great, but if he can communicate, maybe some immediate lauguage training is in order.

Bolo, you said: I wear my uniform to EVERY scouting event. Last year at our District Banquet, I decided to wear, uhummm, a rather short dress. A parent came up to me and said, "Oh, you have legs!" This shouldn't have been a problem, unless you're a man. (wink)

I don't think it's bad, I just think it's unnecessary. There are many opportunities to re-train. sit in on YPT, New Leader Essentials, IOLS, Position specific training, etc. Wanna meet new people? Become a commissioner, staff a camp-o-ree, etc.

A parent once complained to the DE "Mr. Gonzo1 makes my son set up his tent in the dark." I told the parent that their son could use a flashlight if he had one. Had another parent ask me "Do you still go camping if it's going to rain?" I said "of course" She asked again "Even if it's a 100% chance of rain?" I asked her if her son packed his poncho and said "yes" Amazing.

A parent once complained to the DE "Mr. Gonzo1 makes my son set up his tent in the dark." I told the parent that their son could use a flashlight if he had one.

Kisabob, I agree with local1400. Get him the book and have him work it off. Maybe he can push a mower or shovel snow, depending on where you live. Gonzo

gwd, I like the idea of having an older scout review with the candidate before the SM conference. It's not adding to a requirement and it's not prohibited. Makes sense. Gonzo

Wow, the way Edith Bunker could belt out a tune, I didn't actually know all the words until Aquila calva posted them hear. I had no idea that Glenn Miller was even mentioned in the song.

Eamonn, Hang in there! I hope 2007 is better for all of us! Gonzo1

If you're going to be near Ashville, NC, try Sliding Rock. It's a moss (I think) covered boulder in the middle of a cool river. You walk out carefully, sit down and slide down the river on your keister into a cool pool below. Fun. G

Pack, You are in rare form this evening! Your last couple of posts have caused me to laugh so hard I hurt! A/C has been installed. We went aboard in June, had a great time, my son was under the A/C vent and froze all night, so I had to give up my gear and I used a poncho instead, it worked. The whole experience was great, and I would go back again.

Krippe, Once on board, you won't feel any motion. The ship may sway a teeny, tiny bit, not worth writing home about. The ship is way cool. The hangar bay has been converted to an aircraft showroom museum. A snack bar is at one end, a theatre at the other. Folks can take self guided tours around. They give a saftey briefing so everyone knows where to go and not go. Everyone sleeps in one of the berthing compartments. Beds are called "racks" and is literally a rack with a thin foam pad. All should bring a sleeping bag, sheets and blanket will be OK except for the poor guy on the top rack near the AC vent. He'll be cold. There ar no lockers. Just close your bag and everything should be OK. The only people allowed to sleep onboard are scout type groups. The head is youth/adult combined. not much privacy for anyone. Use the shower shoes, you don't know who's been there before. Food was surprisingly OK, not huge portions, but adequate. You'll want a candy bar or something later. Coffee is the Navy way! Hot, strong and black. (cream and sugar available) You will be able to also tour a Coast Guard cutter, Navy destroyer, WW-II Navy sub. All of it was nice. The boat ride to Ft. Sumter leaves from same the pier.