gwd-scouter

Yeah, I guess the first post could make it seem like routine maintenance. Here's a bit more information. Existing main pathway is large pieces of concrete embedded in the ground. No real definition to it. I suppose at some point in time they looked nice and were even, but no longer. There was no real plan when putting them down, just a way for visitors to get from point A to point B without getting their feet wet/muddy. My son's project is to dig up all the concrete, even up and regrade the area and then lay down bricks for the pathway - wide sidewalk really, wide enough for wheelch

Oh rats, I feel like a 13-year-old that's been told he can't go see an R rated movie. Who cares what the movie is about, it's restricted so it has to be good.

A long time ago our adult leaders decided to have the boys do a show and sell at Walmart. It was difficult to get the older guys to do it. The problem for some was that they had to wear their uniforms and were afraid all their non-scouting friends would see them (everyone goes to Walmart on Saturday, right?). The other problem is that they thought it seemed to much like the Girls Scouts selling cookies. The sale went pretty well, but our Troop has never done a show and sell again. I do know that the Packs/Troops that have the same CO usually do Scouting for Food together and get many

Hooray. Younger son had his ESSP approved and will begin the work next weekend. We have an historic railroad museum in town with a lovely and expansive garden in back. Lot's of pathways through the garden. All are in need of repair. The main path to the trains is what he is working on. Digging up the old and replacing with brick. He's been planning this for about three months, meeting with the museum director and then with the museum board members. Has his folks lined up and ready to start. He's also working on finishing his fitness program for Personal Fitness, scheduled to finish first

Thanks folks for your responses. When I step down as SM, I don't think I will stay on as ASM. Much like when I stepped down as Cubmaster long ago, it was best to let the new CM take charge without worrying about my lingering shadow. Not a big headed comment mind you, just that I did the job for five years. I would consider becoming the Committee Chair. I'd like that. Perhaps a Unit Commissioner - goodness knows our District is in dire need of commissioners and we have a good supply of Packs and Troops that need help. Not sure I could give up Scouting for good, but do think the time i

I am dismayed at the 'contracts' our children and parents must sign these days in order to remind them that they are expected to behave properly. Statements regarding behavior for school, field trips, Scouts, they're everywhere. Seems to me these contracts mean nothing to the children and are meant more for those parents that insist their child can't do anything wrong, for those parents that feel any discipline put on their child by another adult is inappropriate. Sadly I think these types of behavior contracts have gained popularity over the years because adults supervising other people

Eagle92 - you know your wife is addicted to scouting when she is HAPPY to get a cub scout leader uniform for her birthday. Several years ago husband gave me a buck knife for my birthday. One Christmas, he gave me a backpack. Funny, it seems I remember precisely when I received those gifts, but others have been lost in the fog. I've been assimilated.

I am not ready to step down as Scoutmaster, but the time will come. Our Troop is about 12 years old and has had five Scoutmasters, ranging in service anywhere from six months to two years. I'm beginning my fifth year of service. All of our Scoutmasters have taken the job mostly because he was the last man standing without a good excuse not to do it. Not the best scenario for choosing a SM. Committee asked every man in the Troop before asking me if I would do it. It was a difficult decision for me. The first year I received absolutely no support and even received emails from others that it was

Meeting last night went very well. The two boys I mentioned that were not experienced enough to go on the adult-free hike are planning, actually seemed excited, to go with the adults and less experienced Scouts. I spoke with them briefly while they were going to get tents/tarps out of the trailer and each said he realized he did not have enough experience to take the hike our three experienced scouts are taking. Good for them! A moment of growth for them both. Stosh, I understand your point about cherry picking, but I do not think it fits our situation. The adults did not select who coul

I've never heard of this kind of camp. Our summer camp does run a program called Adventure to Eagle for scouts who are attending their third or fourth year of summer camp. It combines some high adventure with a couple of Eagle required merit badges. Scouts must be at least 1st class and 14 to sign up. Weasel99-maybe your camp is similar to this. I try to discourage our guys from taking the citizenship badges that are offered at camp. It's their choice, of course, but most realize after we talk that there are a lot of other opportunities at camp that are more fun or, at least, will be less

When I was a Cubmaster, I gave out all kinds of made up awards for leaders and scouts. Did it as a Den Leader too. Though it's not an award, the guys in our troop are very proud of the nicknames they earn as a result of some blunder on a campout - usually their first. Some of them are: bear bait, spider man, water boy, the fridge. I imagine that's true in other troops as well. A couple of summers ago our SPL presented my husband with an award at summer camp. The camp inspector had come by and we were not given 100% score because someone's towel and clothing were strewn about on his bunk.

Our Council summer camp staff are all registered in Venturing - Crew #1. Until last year, the uniform was the green Venturing shirt, and Boy Scout uniform parts for all the rest. They looked sharp. Last year it was announced that staff would be required to wear the gray shorts and socks when wearing the official uniform shirt. For what most folks here refer to as Class Bs the Boy Scout shorts and socks along with a Scout related T shirt was OK. Yeah, imagine how many guys actually changed out of their Boy Scout shorts and into the Venturing shorts for dinner assembly. Most did, but some did no

Please get this thread back on track.

MarkS - if that's true, it is disappointing indeed. Then again, I don't know of any Troop in our District that allows the boys to do outings on their own. We haven't yet either-at least not for a whole weekend. Our experienced guys may go off on a hike on their own, but they do end up at the same campsite for the night as the rest of the Troop. It's not because we wouldn't let them camp on their own, it's just that they've never asked.

I made a mistake when I posted about our lodge doing the ordeal at fellowships. Their idea was to do them only at the fall fellowship, so only once a year. I think one of the reasons they have not changed is because of of what ASM915 mentions. If the candidates have a conflict on the weekend of the ordeal (band, sports, etc.), then they would have to wait another year and likely lose interest. This past weekend was our Lodge's spring fellowship. Both of my sons were there. Very sad turn out, at least from our Chapter. Younger son and the chapter chief the only two youth members, older son

How do I show the outside world? I have a BSA sticker and Proud of my Eagle Scout sticker on my car. My green BSA bag travels with me wherever I go and is often seen in my office. Walls of my office are covered with plaques from awards I've received. Wallpaper on my office computer is a picture of my sons in their OA regalia. Timeless values bumper sticker on one of my file cabinets. Oh my, it is a sickness. The Scouter Forum has reached my family members, too. Older son introduced himself here a while ago, but I don't think he visits often. Husband is very familiar with some of the scre

Looks like random silliness to me.

This has been quite a prolific weekend for me on the forum. I don't think I've ever spent so much time reading or posting. My name has not appeared on the frequent poster list, which makes me wonder how much time those folks spend here. I think I need help. My sleep patterns are currently in disruption so I have a great amount of time in the wee hours of the night. Usually I spend them watching CSPAN or reading. This weekend, though, I just can't keep off the Scouter Forum. Sure, I log off and go on to something else, but thoughts of Scouting keep popping into my head. No one at home to d

ASM915 - thanks for the kind words and encouragement. I'll think about it. Your post hit upon most of the things I've thought about the OA's image problem. The clique thing is certainly an issue in some Troops. I remember when older son was first eligible for the OA. Not elected, although almost every other Scout eligible in his Troop was. It was a popularity thing. He was not elected the next year. Third time was the charm. He finds it funny that no one wanted to vote for him and last year he was nominated for Vigil Honors. Our Lodge has thought about changing the timing of the ord

Our Council started a new fundraiser. The boys are selling discount cards. You are probably familiar with these things, many times sold by schools either in a coupon booklet or as a plastic card. Services and restaurants around town offer things like a free car wash, buy one get one free, free french fries with purchase of a burger etc. The cards are $10, the boys keep 36% as profit, the Council get's the rest, and the cards may be used over and over until the end of the year. I can only speak for our Troop, but the cards are not selling well. Council still has 40 openings for JAMBO

One more thing LsScout - I believe GernBlansten's post about the come to Jesus meeting was meant to be sarcastic.

LsScout welcome to the forum. Jumped right into the fray with your first post didn't you? You posted: "When I first read this Post and saw a leader asking for help and the first response was "Sounds like you need to have a "Come to Jesus" meeting with this scouts parents" just really made me sad. There are way too many beliefs in this world to limit ourselfs to just one for scouting purposes." I agree completely. I usually stay out of these discussions, but I did want to add a perception I get when I read these kinds of initial posts. That perception is that the poster is not really

Oh great, Pack. I just snorted coffee out of my nose. Thanks for the early morning laugh.

shortridge, I will not divulge any of the specifics about our Lodge's Ordeal but I am very aware of what it is. Special treatment was a poor choice of words on my part. I did mean that our Lodge will make accommodations for those folks with health issues/disabilities in order for them to participate in the OA and that's a wonderful thing. In my case, while I would be OK with accepting some of the accommodations needed, I simply choose not to accept one in particular. One of the traditions in the Ordeal (which I will not reveal here) is something I simply could not participate in at all -

Last Monday, I went to visit one of the Webelos Dens that is crossing over soon to our Troop. The boys were setting up a tent. As I watched this activity I couldn't help but picture these same guys doing the same thing in just a few weeks as new scouts in our Troop. Yep, there were a couple of guys running around waving the tent poles, another just standing around watching, and a couple of guys really working hard at putting up the tent. Then there was the boy trying to lead the show. A lot of yelling, a lot of grabbing the poles from the "sword fighters," occasional glances at the direc