gsdad

jblake- indeed, I am looking forward to it. desertrat- The lodge flap was the toughest. I was inducted into, and an Lodge office of Unami 1 as a youth and made many lasting friendships there. I was looking forward to the time my son was inducted to gift him my original flap. I still have my original sash, so he will still get that if/when he takes his ordeal.

As stated in previous threads I am a new Tiger Den Leader this year. Since I now live in a neighboring Concil, in lieu of stripping my old uniform of the CSP, Lodge Flap, numerals, etc... I opted to buy a new uniform shirt. As I was sewing on the new patches last night I felt like a traitor. The irony is the original Pack that is I found is in my old Council and is a few miles closer to home but doesn't serve my son's school. Oh well, time to start my son's Scouting journey, and continue mine. Change is good right?

My CIT year we were put in a cabin for Pre-camp. I suspect this was due to overcrowding in the staff area, and also a bonding exercise. Once camp began we were dispersed among the paid staff in the staff area. We were treated as "real" staff. We rotated program areas weekly. The one thing stressed was if our troop was attending summer camp, we were to be part of the troop that week, the only exception being we could use the staff showers and toilets if we wished. There will always be good natured ribbing, like being called Staff Helpers In Training. But all in all it was a great experience. I was hired for the commissary crew two weeks into the summer so I didn't have the full experience.

Not only do I think enrollment would increase, I think membership retainment would improve. Think about, what is the bigest distraction for boys? It's simple, girls. I attended the funeral of a Scouting friend yesterday. He was still active on Camp Staff and many of the current staff were present for the service. After seeing all the young women currently working on staff, I remarked to a friend I would have probably worked on staff longer had there been girls on staff. To be fair we did have a 45yo married mother of seven as our Health Officer.

I worked with Steve at Treasure Island in the late 80's. He lived for Scouting. Taken from Unami Lodge Website: Were shocked and saddened to report that Steve Ranjo, our Council Vice President for Program, and Assistant Camp Director at Resica Falls Scout Reservation, was tragically killed in a car accident Saturday evening. According to press reports, Steve, age 40, and his father, Leo Ranjo, age 88, were traveling to Huntington, West Virginia, to visit an ill family member, when two teenage boys from Baltimore, returning from freshman orientation at University of Charleston, crossed the grass median strip on Interstate 79 in West Virginia and struck them head-on. All four were killed on impact. Steve, a Life Scout from Troop 499 in the old Philenape District, rose from clerk to Camp Director at Treasure Island. As a youth, Steve served as the Lodge Chief of Unami Lodge, a Section Chief, received the Vigil Honor and Founders Award, and later served as the Lodge Adviser. For the past several years, Steve has served as the Assistant Camp Director and Business Manager of Resica Falls Scout Reservation. Steve spent over 20 years serving on camp staff, mentoring hundreds of others. In 2011, Steve was selected to serve as our councils Vice President of Program.

Our troop leaders made sure to round us daily for showers. If someone wasn't showering the other scouts knew it and rode him for it. This would probably be considered hazing today. One year on Camp Staff we had a guy who hadn't showered by Thursday of pre-camp(set up week). He ended up in the river with a brush and #10 can of all purpose cleaner. His hygeiene improved afterwards.

My first camping experience was as a privisonal Cub camper for summer camp. It was incredible. So much so, I remember the CIT who served a our Den Chief, and the volunteers who were the Cubmasters for the week.

qwase- my wife, and daughters have that shirt. I only have a Girls Go Green sweatshirt which I wear with pride. I should actually change my screen name since my girls are out of GS and I will soon be DL for my son's Tiger Den. 2cub- I'd have to agree, the Grand Floridian afternoon tea is a must.

Why not just take a motor home to camp? With all the talk about kids' being lazy, I think setting up an in-site shower to avoid the long walk is a bit ironic. Where does the waste water go?

My troop growing up had a used uniform closet for the families who couldn't afford a new uniform. But we were required to be in full uniform for weekly meeting, leaving for camp, or just about any other function unless otherwise noted.

I have noticed people site cost as one reason kids don't have uniforms. I just bought two almost brand new Cub Scout shirts (2) neckers, and (2) slides from Ebay for $13 shipped. I have also found nearly new looking pants, shirts, shorts, etc... on there. As I re-enter Scouting as a Tiger Den leader I want to be sure I have more than one presentable uniform. Since I still have my old long sleeve shirt and pants I plan on picking up a spare on Ebay.

As a Scout I had a summer and winter troop inform shirt with all associated numerals and patrol patches. I also had three short sleeve shirts with only CSP, US flag, rank, and Lodge flap for working on camp staff which I used for Lodge events too. I think I had about 6 pairs of shorts since we wore uniform shorts, socks, and staff T-shirt as a work uniform. I regret donating all but one long sleeve shirt and pants.

As a Scout I had a summer and winter troop inform shirt with all associated numerals and patrol patches. I also had three short sleeve shirts with only CSP, US flag, rank, and Lodge flap for working on camp staff which I used for Lodge events too. I think I had about 6 pairs of shorts since we wore uniform shorts, socks, and staff T-shirt as a work uniform. I regret donating all but one long sleeve shirt and pants.

My boyhood troop was Scout led but we had to submit a menu to ensure we had all bases covered on camput meals. We were required to have a meat an vegetable at dinner, and were encouraged to cook a hot breakfast including meat. No instant foods, i.e. oatmeal, mashed potatoes, stuffing, etc... During warmer weather we could do cold cereal for breakfast. Hot dogs and hamburgers were lunch foods. When I helped with my daughters' GS troop the kids, and other leaders(99% women) were amazed how much one could cook at camp. Somehow I became the unofficial cooking instructor/supervisor.

I am still scratching my head as to why you would want your still active 11yo to be part of this troop, and why you are fighting so hard to be part of a group that doesn't want you there. Clothes and shoes are made in different sizes because one size does not fit all. Packs, troops, sports teams, and other social groups are the same way. The two best things you can do are: 1) Find another troop for your son 2) Step away for a bit. There has to be more to your life than Scouting. I am not trying to be mean. Look within yourself and find out what void you are trying to fill with Scouting.

The letter is funnier for me since we had an ASM Webb in our troop, and is now SM of his son's troop.

I can answer the question about youth sports. The answer is yes. I serve on the board of the softball league for which my daughter plays, I also coach. Our league, and those around us lose girls every year. Some blame it on more activities being available, lazy parents, or the internet. I can tell you we struggle to new coaches. Parents would rather drop their kids off, or just sit and watch instead of helping while one coach tries to wrangle a dozen 14yo girls. Every year I ask "where are the parents?" Not just "where are the adult men?" Assuming only men can fill the roles of leader/mentor/coach is as offensive as assuming women make better parents.

I'd be interested in reading the other version of the story. You should have found another troop long ago. Your husband also needs a gut check. Nobody, Marine or not, puts their hands on my wife.

If the A in you screen name stands for Africa, that would be appropriate. So, while we are dismantling the Indian Lore aspect of the OA, should we discontinue giving the use of the HOW as in HOW! HOW!?

Wow, using fake Indian lore is racist, but calling real Native Americans red-skinned is not? My late grandmother who was born on a reservation in South Dakota thought it was fine. Then again maybe her Sioux blood didn't care if we insulted the Delaware people, or it was the white side of her brain talking. I remember Unami making the switch from stereotypical Indian costumes to historically correct costumes for ceremonies and dance teams in the late 80's.

Was there anyone taking pictures of the event? If so, check for any pictures of the car. It looks to me like she is trying to scam a windshield.

I took the plunge and called the CM last night. He is going to forward the application. I completed YPT online too. As to the uniform, is it acceptable to wear a Lodge Flap?

Punish all three patrols, or none. We had a similar incident in my troop as a kid. We used charcoal stoves that slid into the back of out patrol boxes. We also had two similar stoves we would set up for KP duty. One of our adult leaders instructed scouts to take another patrol's stove with hot coals once they were finished cooking because he forgot to heat coals for cleaning stoves. The problem was he didn't tell the patrol, nor did the scouts who took the stove. Since the patrol was using a Dutch Oven for breakfast the next morning they paid no mind and figured it was cleaned and stowed the night before. Fast forward to a week before the next camping trip and the patrol was told they didn't take care of their equipment had to figure out a way to cook. Seeing as the patrol was made up of mostly First Class, Star, and Life Scouts we had no problem with foil, Dutch Oven, and even a cardboard bnox oven and feasted that weekend.

My uniform is over 20 years old, but it fits. I'll just need to change the CSP and numerals on the sleeve. My son is FIRED UP! To say the least. He seems to think I can take him and his soon to be Pack, and I quote "camping and hunting and shooting and fishing and bike riding and teach them to make fires." I have a call into the Cubmaster to get the ball rolling. Thanks for the encouragement, not that I had much choice.

Thanks for the replies. I fully intended on letting him join and getting involved as a leader, I still have a uniform that fits too. It's not the time or the volunteering, I coach my other childrens' teams, and helped my daughters' GS troop. I was heavily involved in Scouting as youth, i.e. OA lodge treasurer, camp staff, etc... I was more worried about the parents in a "too many cooks spoil the broth" type way.