gwd-scouter

One of the Webelos Dens that is soon crossing over to our Troop has scout accounts in their Pack funds. I don't know if they will send all of the funds in these accounts along with the Webelos, but I do know they have written checks from the Pack treasury to cover the registration fee and initial troop dues for some of the guys. I really was surprised by this since it's the first time I've heard of a Pack in our District setting up 'scout bucks' accounts. It isn't even common practice among our Troops. As far as I know, ours is the only Troop that does this. Regarding the Pack keeping mon

It was a REALLY small private school with only five sixth graders. Yes the principal was involved and his son was one of the two that signed up, paid, and then never showed up and stopped responding to phone calls and emails. An update on the Webelos that are joining our Troop. We will receive 10, six from one den, four from another. Already have the applications for most of them and four new Assistant Scoutmasters signed up, too (one is going to Outdoor Leader training next weekend, the others say they will go in the fall). Crossovers for both dens are next Sunday for one and Monday for

There is not a spelunking merit badge now and I don't know if there ever was. Geology is a merit badge that fits in nicely with spelunking. There is a commercial operation our guys went to last year - Raccoon Mountain. They have an on staff geologist and offer to work on Geology merit badge with Scout groups. Our guys did not take this option, but it was there. Perhaps you will find the same is true in your area.

I am not in the Order of the Arrow, nor will I be. I have been nominated and have had others outside our Troop ask me why I'm not a member yet. Health issues would keep me from truly participating in the Ordeal and I'm not willing to be given special treatment. Just a personal decision and not anything against those that are given special consideration. In any case, both of my sons are members - older son Vigil, younger son Brotherhood - and both have been actively involved holding leader positions in their chapter and lodge and participating on ceremonies teams. The guys just love all t

Getting back to Beavah's original post - what I've noticed over the years is while many Scouters take the training required for their position, the majority do not. Also just my observation, those that go on to the advanced training such as Woodbadge and Commissioner Science tend to fall into two categories: 1) The "look at me" types (those that talk about how well trained they are, have better ideas than anyone because they have more training, wear a whole bunch of square knots, are never seen actually putting any of it into practice) and 2) Scouters that genuinely want help to do their

Your Webelos Scouts are in fourth grade and will finish the Arrow of Light requirements this spring (meaning, while still in fourth grade)? Wow, that's fast. Assuming none will be ten years old in the spring as well, what will they be doing next year as fifth grade Webelos? Just curious. Back to your question. I assume none of the three remaining sets of parents is willing to step up and be the Bear Den Leader, otherwise you wouldn't be asking. In my opinion it would be much better for you as the Wolf Den Leader to absorb these guys into your den and help them along to finish out the scho

Great post Barry. Why do you always manage to get my point across better than I do?

Folks come here to vent, to find help, offer advice, or just ask a question. Others, it seems, come here to criticize or send the message that their way is the only way. I've certainly received my fair share of encouragement, advice, and criticism. I am into the beginning of my fifth year as Scoutmaster for our Troop, going from knowing pretty much nothing to where I am today - comfortable and enjoying the job now, but still, and probably always, learning. At the beginning it was my goal to take our small, apathetic, recruitingless, directionless, adult-led Troop toward the implemen

In answer to Stosh's post - in essence the three experienced scouts in our troop are our venture patrol, though we don't call it that. We are a very small troop and have struggled with the patrol method since our initial chartering. It's a work in progress, we are still learning, and we've made mistakes along the way. All three of these scouts have been in leadership positions in our troop for many years. All three have almost never missed a campout or backpack trip. Two have been to NYLT. Two work on staff at summer camp. All three went on a adult-free hike last year for the first time.

"I've always wondered, what's the devil look like?" "Well, there are all manner of lesser imps and demons, but the great Satan hisself is red and scaly with a bifurcated tail, and he carries a hay fork." "Oh, no. No, sir. He's white, as white as you folks, with empty eyes and a big hollow voice." So go ahead with the pitchfork (or in this case hayfork), but make sure the jacket is white. Maybe put a smiley face on the back - those big black eyes look kinda empty to me.

Yeah, sorry, my post was confusing. First, let me say that these two guys I posted about were not considered for the adult-less hike. They 'considered' themselves for it. We have three experienced Scouts that have done a solo hike before, and quite long and strenuous multi-day hikes with adults. The idea of this trip was planned months ago, although the final details were not until last month. Last November's backpack trip was a shakedown for anyone wanting to go solo on this month's trip. The two boys I mentioned that consider themselves 'older' scouts did not go on the trip last N

We have a backpacking trip coming up. The older Scouts are once again going on their own without adults and the adults and younger scouts doing an easier hike. That was the plan anyway. Everyone arrives on Friday night and camps. Then, the older guys pack up their gear and take a rather strenuous series of trails. The younger scouts and adults pack up and take an easier trail. Everyone to meet up at the next campsite on Saturday evening. At last week's meeting, there was some turmoil over who was considered an older scout and could go on the adult-less hike. Let's please not get int

Yep, I'm a triple threat: I'm a Democrat I'm not a Christian I'm gay as in, "I feel pretty, and witty, and gay" Have a nice day folks.

I meant that the one piece unit number patch is not available online. The individual numerals are available online in both color varieties.

I have no problem at all with people having different faiths, beliefs, or whatever. I know Christians believe that the only way to Heaven is through belief in Jesus as savior and that all others will not get into Heaven. Again, no problem with that. What I have a problem with is an eleven-year-old telling me that I'm going to Hell, and his parents essentially backing him up on that, since I don't subscribe to his particular brand of religion.

By the way, welcome to the Forum.

Well, I have a couple of guys in our Troop that feel anyone who doesn't believe as they do are going to Hell - and one of them told me that to my face. Both boys have been quite vocal about their beliefs, and discussions with them about the BSA stance regarding religion prompted some rather negative comments from their parents about MY belief system.

scoutstuff.org. Can't order online, phone is: 1-800-323-0736 Just ordered the one piece patch in green and tan, but the salesperson said they still do the red/white.

awilson - remember a Scout is Trustworthy. I believe that holds true for Scouters as well. As a Scoutmaster I have to say it would certainly bother me if I asked a parent not to do something and they did it anyway as his/her little secret.

Oh well, guess I'm out.

We only had one school night this year. The school we've done in the past was given to a different Troop. We were given a small private school and only got two sign ups. Sadly, neither of those (and both actually filled out application forms and paid) ever showed up to a meeting. They signed up last November. For one reason or another, both said they'd start coming to meetings at the beginning of the year. I kept in touch, but eventually they stopped replying. Interesting tidbit: The den leader from one of the dens joining us stopped by last night to drop off his and his son's applicatio

I'm not familiar enough with the requirements of all the merit badges to know which I think could/should be eliminated. Just working from the common badges our guys earn: I agree and have posted elsewhere that the three citizenship badges should be combined. I also don't see the need for dog care and pet care as individual badges. Sure, some merit badges are easy to earn - music for instance. All the guys in marching/concert band have earned that one. The trumpet players usually go on to earn bugling - though that one is rather difficult for some. Reading and scholarship are two

Wow, didn't take long for this thread to get off track. Oh well, we takes what we gets. SSScout - have always heard the glass half full/empty/wrong size thing, but I love the addition of the Scouter's view of the glass.

I've posted in other threads about our small troop and our efforts to recruit new Scouts. We do not have a 'feeder' pack and we've reached out to Webelos den leaders from many packs in the District. Not much success over the years. We've had increased visits from dens, but no crossovers. We planned campouts and day hikes just for them to help with Outdoorsman and/or AOL. Oh yes, the Webelos came, satisfied their requirements, and then joined other Troops that did nothing to reach out to them. Yes, it's been upsetting, but we continued our efforts. Last year, we were visited by four Webelo

Realizing that I seem to be in the minority on this politics thread, I have to ask: what is wrong with optimism? I am an unabashed optimist. Things always work out for me. I ask myself if things work out because I'm an optimist or am I an optimist because things work out. Probably will never get to the answer. In any case, I am dismayed by the doom and gloom being spouted by folks like Limbaugh and Hannity, republican strategists on CNN, and House and Senate republicans I listen to on CSPAN. I watched Limbaugh's CPAC speech. Even my republican husband couldn't watch it all the way th