Gunny2862

I'm going to provisionally agree with Major-Dad. If the parents are interested in the child's development, and are looking at the child's personality in placing the carrots(and sticks) they are putting out to guide them. Then I will agree with what he has said.(Nice touch with the argument about showing some responsibility in completing this program before being allowed to operate a vehicle in public - I completely agree with this approach for SOME Scouts) If it is a parental ego thing, and the children are just being forced to do things so the parents can say they did their jobs but the development of the child isn't truly central to the parents goal, then I have to disagree. Unfortunately I've met one set of these Parents and their minimum standard Eagles already - and in the one case we've created an excellent set of "Lawyer" Scouts who can chapter and verse the minimums of any requirement but have NO Scout Spirit that I have been able to detect. Fortunately, for me, I had no part in their Scouting Journey to Eagle and haven't seen either of them at a more than one meeting, activity or outing since the younger ones Eagle CoH. For my take, it is up to the parents on what carrots and sticks they give or withhold. I would prefer that the Scout rose to whatever Scout rank they did because they wanted to. Not for ANY privilege it grants them after the Eagle Ceremony. College grants,scholarships,loans, entrance, Military rank advancement, Car License, Parental Cash award, regardless. In the interest of disclosure, and parental solidarity, all of the age group around(including) my son has had the license as carrot/stick laid out as a possibility if the parents are not satisfied with their efforts - not attainments in Scouting. In the case of my son we will be looking at his educational status, what additional activities he is doing outside of Scouting, currently Football, Wrestling, and he says Track this upcoming semester, in addition to Orchestra. If the kid has too much on their plate it's not fair to tie something as big as a license to any one achievement.

What part of throwing the problem to the joining Scoutmaster is courteous or kind to him? What part of it is kind to the Scout who won't be awarded his AOL? In what way is it helpful to the Scouts or his parents? How is fudging the requirements by anybody Trustworthy? I'd love to join them but, aren't I constrained to 11 year olds, and 10 year olds with an AOL? Look, if the parents won't follow this rule then they'll most likely constantly be on my back to shortcut the rest of the program too. Which could destroy it for everyone else. I wouldn't take them in the situation described - although I would take them as soon as the younger Scout had his time in. For my understanding of the rules he doesn't have to wait a year and a motivated Scout with motivated parents Could catch up. It would mean that you would might want to do an additional AOL ceremony for him, we'd do a Crossover for One,out of the normal time frame, but I understand that not everyone will. Ask the joining SM he might be willing to do it the way I would.

Actually, factions of the ultra-light backpacking crowd think that an umbrella is an excellent multifunction piece of backwoods gear. As for me..., "I'm siiinging in the rain, I'm singing in the rain." Without an umbrella.

First, that unless they are registering, and going to training, and then functioning as Assistant Scoutmasters that they need to meet someplace other than where the Scouts are trying to integrate into the troop. This is so the new Scouts CAN integrate into the Troop rather than possibly continuing in Cub scout habits of leaning on Mom and Dad. Secondly, get the new parents training in Committee activities and how the Troop functions. Give them the terminology that you and Scouting use and that they may not have been exposed to. Give them the web addresses to the online training and encourage them to at least look at it. They don't take long and if you have online access at and during your meeting place and time can be completed during the Scout meetings. Thirdly, NOW is the time to build your Committee, flesh out any open positions you may have had, give help to any Committee members who were struggling and build your Assistant Scoutmaster pool, you'll need them for outings and transportation with this many new boys. Congratulations, you've successfully recruited the boys!, now recruit their parents!

Consider discussing mentorship relationships between your Life and Star scouts and the new First years. The first years think it is really cool when an older Scout will hang out with them. You should discuss your expectations of the older Scouts with them and It also gives additional actual leadership time to the older Scouts. Also recruit as many of the new adults as possible into ASM positions to ensure the new Scouts don't have lots of dead time when they are ready to test on their new skills.

I know, it's heretical. But I did everything I could to avoid wearing that Wooly Pully. I am a fan of the five button sweater mentioned above. And while I don't think you could pay the Scouts to wear a Beret, I'd wear one in red, black or green with a Standard emblem pin. Tan shows dirt and sweat to easily.

As a Scoutmaster, I have made a leather arrowhead cutout with the Scout Emblem, Webelos name, date of Crossover, the Troop and Pack #s all hand stamped by me and an AOL for those boys who have earned it. And a leather thong punched thru a corner and tied with a joining knot. Once you buy the stamps, it only costs about 1.75 and about 10- 15, minutes per boy. We also give handbooks, red loops, a troop t-shirt, a bolo tie, and a pen to all crossovers. But we do require the registration or transfer fees to be paid prior to the crossover ceremony - if they cross to us they have tended to show up to meetings (so far).

When I became the Scoutmaster I just went ahead and moved... INTO A VAN DOWN BY THE RIVER! and yes, I'm enjoying my Gov't cheese, thank you. I think most people are wearing it over the top of the pocket because it is easier to sew there. Not that it is right, but probably one person in the area sewed it on and it "became" the right(wrong) place to have it. Original question I think you should go ahead and keep it for the reasons stated above.

Going back to an earlier response. If you can't support him on this,(however he wants to do it) What else does the poor guy have to put up with?

If your range officers can't answer this question I would be interested in knowing what their qualification to be your range officer is.

pixiewife, I am not sure about the others but I was tracking true on this one. And to me it looks like they all were too. Edited " We normally meet from 7:00PM to 8:30 PM on Monday nights. After the "meeting" he would like for him and the SPL to have a time of discussion and reflection. No more than ten minutes. This would also require another adult to be there because of the "No one on one" rule." the above is what the SM wants to do ?Here's where the confusion comes in, it's an alternate scenario he will carry out if he can't have ten minutes after them main meeting "In lieu of this he has been asked by some of the other leaders to shorten the regular "meeting" ten minutes, dismiss the boys and then have his meeting with the SPL there by technically keeping the time (7:00 to 8:30 PM). I'm saying let the SM do this the way he wants to - using 10 minutes after the meeting.

If I have offended anyone, I apologize. Back to the thread, Physical cleanliness is important but I'm not going to be wearing anyone out about handwashing unless they are cooking or leaving a "biffy". I'm not going to discuss the merits of showers with anyone who doesn't stink, unless they are obviously avoiding the showers at camp. Or are an adult who is sharing my tent - one of us is going to shower or move. But, I do think that the merits of a clean, for lack of a universally agreeable construct..., "soul" is part of what we are discussing when we say that a Scout is clean in their personal habits. It isn't just brushing your teeth and washing you hands.

I looked at the link, which didn't work. But looked and found the "BSA Pants with XGO Mesh Bag" for 31.99. The item description wasn't clear but I called the number at the bottom of the page and talked to a staffer who said that that item is intended to be a base layer under Switchbacks. Not a replacement item for them. They may alter the description. The XGO website does say that their "Level I" items can be worn as an outer layer but with the crotch seam shown the way that it is you won't be seeing me wearing them like that unless you are sharing my tent.

And following the current train wreck diversion of the thread. Is truth universal? If so, then there is only one truth for all. If not, it's all subjective and the free for all ensues.

I'd love to only be there for just 10 minutes over the allotted time. We planned our meetings to go an hour due to some wasted time issues in the past. Now I've got the some of the boys(and parents) who work me another 45 minutes before we all leave, Support him!

Wow, Pappy! Considering there was a smiley face at the end of acco40's statement don't you think you are being rather harsh?

I just presumed you were referring to lessons learned from, whom I also supposed was, your honorable Scoutmaster, Mr Kelly. I now presume I mistook that, too.

I concur with the intent you seem to be stating. However, to stay dirty when the availability of being clean is there seems antithetical to me. It's not as healthy to be dirty when you can be clean. Now I've also been out where I hadn't had anything more than a handi-wipe bath for more than three weeks, So, it's not just cleanliness of the body for cleanlinesses sake. But boy, was I rotten when I got out of the fjords on the trip I'm thinking of.

Good try, but Wicking was the operative word. I knew about the "Activity" shirt. But, Thank you.

GW, the Cotton BDU's ARE as tough as nails, it's true. But they are also a royal wonder at holding perspiration in. And when worn loosely, as intended, in many but not all climates provide a micro climate around the wearer that is better than what is outside. But for high sweat factor activities, they blow for multi-day wear. They absorb and hold the sweat, they do NOT dry quickly, they necessitate carrying extra sets (so you can cycle through into at least dry if not clean sets)or understanding that you WILL be rotten/nasty and uncomfortable after as few days as the first day. If hiking/backpacking in warmer climates they tend to induce crotch rot and chaffing due to the lack of evaporation. I love my Switchbacks, but think they could be a little more durable - however mine aren't showing any worse wear at the moment than a set of BDU's would if exposed to the same set of circumstances. I would like to see a BSA Activity shirt that had some wicking characteristics, until then we are wearing some form of wicking shirt under a Troop t-shirt when hiking or doing high-sweat factor activities.

It doesn't even have to be backpacking - even on our trailer camps. Unless it's a designed relax weekend - we just keep them moving from one activity to the next and they eat everything planned for the weekend - only the emergency box is safe and it usually gets one or two items raided out of it.

Reporting back since the thread has reopened... Well, I finally met the gentleman who was our UC at the time I joined the unit. He has since moved onward and upward to a DC position. What was interesting was that he insisted that he had met me two months before I knew there were Troops in the area, at a Camporee I hadn't attended and had welcomed me to the team then... Neat fellow but... No replacement for him that I have found yet...

So far our Troop Flag, depending on location and weather the National Ensign, and occasionally a Lantern have been our Gateway. I'd like to get kind of a Troop Guidon to take on hikes for backwoods campsites - even though there are those that say even that violates LNT principles. But since we aren't wearing Camouflage... I think I agree about the idea that a Gateway, if any, should be an on-site found materials affair and that at Summer Camp and Jamborees is probably not anything I'm concerned about for LNT (as long as it's disassembled)- It's almost certain that there are bigger fish to fry for either of those events. While I encourage camp gadgets we haven't branched out into these yet, but if I see one more Pot Rack I'm going to hurl/spew, etc. I do see how a large lashing project could build teamwork, but would tend to favor a "useful" project like a low, lashing or rope, bridge rather than what I'm thinking of when I think Gateway. For what I'm visioning I don't see enough work in a gateway to provide the team building experience. I, am not going to be building a prefab gateway anytime soon. If one of the Scouts does - it's not to big a burden - and it's intended for the "Trailer" camps then it might even get used. But I don't see that happening without encouragement - which isn't going to be forthcoming anytime soon.

I looked at your link. Our Scouts who use this pack tend to either have the bar over their head or in the middle of the space between the head and shoulders, it doesn't tend to hit them in the neck there. We have these as loaners for the Scouts who haven't bought their own packs yet or whose packs have had catastrophic failures on HA trips. The bar coming into contact with their head tends to get a backpack put on the Christmas/Birthday list. They are "fairly" rugged and ours have stood up to a lot of use. Here is what one reviewer of this pack had to say - http://www.trailspace.com/gear/jansport/scout/

We also have a Council wide Webelos Woods program(but it's not OA here) every year in the late summer early fall at our Council Main Camp. Last year we "hosted" for two large Packs - each one larger than our Troop.Check with your Council to see if there is something similar for your Pack for next year. But if you have Webelos who need to camp - and might be looking for a Troop - ours would consider having a special overnighter (since you only need one night). Lots of Troops would probably be willing to do what it took to help you out in this issue. If you have an associated Troop and they aren't helping you it might be time for a cup of coffee with their SM. If you'll put up a general location - one of us might even PM you to set one up. I'm in SW Missouri.