anarchist

Our PLC meets for one to one and a half hours on the first Tuesday of every month. This is to plan for the comming month and work on "issues". Only the SM or his designate ASM attend. no other adult unless the PLC has need of planning information, at which time they might ask the Adult grotto member (caving) or the Adult high adventure leader, canoeist ( or whatever adult might have some expertise they require) to attend to help them plan. They also generally have a PLC cracker barrel after camp set-up on Friday nights at our campouts to discuss plans for Saturday''s activities and

curtes, well that''s one way...another would be to check with some of the bigger (if any) outdoors gear shops in your area and see if they sponsor "swap" meets (usually in the parking lot)and see if they will let you participate. A third would be to check with your district round table leaders and see if they can set up an equipment yard sale area at a few of the roundtables this year...would be a great addition to some programs... You could also organize it yourself as a troop fund raiser...a town-wide yard sale at some shopping center parking lot -where every troop would pay (your

I''m guessing you already have this suggestion in the back of your mind...but here goes. We frequently take young (new) scouts on our Twenty mile hikes. But we alway plan escape routes (just like our bike hikes) where we can "evacuate" a scout at reasonable intervals. Even living in the sticks and hiking the AT we have ways to pull boys off the trail if need be. In almost all cases we let the younger scouts know that there will be parents and refreshments at say "five miles", "ten miles",and so on. In fact in most cases we announce the longer day hikes as having segments for whatev

Its Me, When I was a Boy Scout ( just after the time of Moses)I belonged to a troop that owned its own very old BSA two man canvas wall tents. Still remember the faded pastel green color and the fact that they were heavy suckers. Then after a couple of years of fund raising the troop purchase new fangled BSA nylon tents which were bright orange and very light weight. At the time I did not really appreciate the "troop look"...I was too busy having fun. When my boys came to this troop it only owned two ratty moldy tents...and everyone was expected to provide "private tents". In additio

funscout and all, Our adults model the patrol method. When we finish event the sign-up sheet, we kick around a few meals, take requests and select a grub master. Depending on the "crew", sometimes we eat well and sometimes we eat "out of this world". This usually depends on the folks in the group(and their idea of good food) and of course, also on the constraints of the program we are supporting. On "Money Monday" everyone ponys up $12.00-$20.00 (depending) and the grub master''s crew goes shopping...This money includes everything needed including charcoal and ice (if coolers are in

Welcome, but as usual I am not going to be as nice nor as nurturing as John-in-Ky... Wonder, I wonder, if there is some info missing here? Could the spring trip be a time-honored "prize" for salesmanship and excellent troop support and spirit? It would not be that unusual to have a super "prize" for a super sales effort, now would it? And letting folks who did not sell "super amounts" would sorta undermine the purpose now wouldn''t it? Just wondering... Then there is your obvisous dislike of the "sell popcorn or pay $100 dues", in away a condemnation of the troop being honest a

Highcountry, what am I missing? ...you wrote "To me, having 4 completely different menus and grocery lists is a collosal waste of time," Whose time is wasted? Four groups of boys planning at the same time- takes the same half hour? Then they Shop on their own time? So where is the waste...work yes, waste ...don''t see it! ...then you wrote "and trying to get 4 sets of boys out to get groceries is not going to happen." Of course it won''t...not if the Adult leaders do not help the SPL and PLC make it happen. ...Then you wrote "The other problem si (sic) that we

did I miss it or has someone mentioned... none -they just sit around the campfire and curse the darkness? grins

yeah, what beavah said... like all children who have been over-protected and spoon fed...they are really clueless...they talk a good game and that''s about it...execution is a total loss. I was working with a NSP once at the local grub store and witnessed an ASM who had taken over an (up-until-then) spoon-fed patrol...he would not lift a finger until they got to the check-out...which they did in record time...At which point this ASM (who was an experienced restauranteur) would ask a single question which was designed to make the scouts think about the meals they were cooking and "discover

Highcountry, WOW no offense, but the organization you belong to sounds like Baby Siters of America to me...not the Boy Scouts. you have my heart felt condolences...really. You keep spoon feeding them and what is the motivation for them to grow? or learn? or do for themselves?...IMHO, you are simply implementing play dates for boys...not fostering leadership, independence, or character...certainly not scouting events. was that over the top...I can never tell, but what do I know... anarchist

yes! if he has one. and his OA sash if he has one and his uniform ...;>) if he has one... anrachist

Glad to see the up-date. On troop guides...I a truely convinced that it is the most important job in the troop. Not every scout can or should be a guide. We try now to give each NSP two guides and we have the ASPL ride herd on the Guides... Guides are about the only position we have "fired" scouts from,if they don''t go on NSP events they get fired fast...guess since it is not elected(?). Having two guides means they can cover for each other and hang occaisionally with their old patrol mates. One final item...NSPs tend to vote "lock step" (as a voting block) for their guide...if he is go

I''ll play, We have been working on a "operating experiment" for the last three years...course the experiment seems to change slightly...each year... For the first seven years I worked with the troop we were a straight "NSP to Eagle/or out" unit...Worked pretty well but the biggest "wart" was the "over time drop-out" effect. While troop retention is pretty good with lots of boys staying until they turn eighteen, the area is becoming highly transient (sp?). Lots of military and Dot.commers. Result was eight and nine boy patrols slowly whittled down to 4/5/6 scout patrols and the PLC

Folks, Just a quick point about canoe treking...or packing a tripping canoe... John-in-KC mentioned the possiblity of losing a D.O. in an over turn... We call it "an unscheduled interior boat wash", but as far as losing stuff...it just ain''t so! If your kit is packed "right" nothng important comes out...because it is all "tied in". Being a "path less taken" (or should I say "rapids less taken") sort of canoe pusher, I tend to "up-end" more than is really necessary...I am generally the "sweeper canoe" when I do this and after scouting a rapid and getting everyone safely down

been watching this thread develop... On tour permits...we "cross our tees and dot our eyes" and file a T.P. by fax with council whenever we use our boats...etc., along with a float plan...''course in a "quickie trip" the fax might go out on Saturday Morning! Seeing as how even when a T.P. is filed within the "time requirements" of Council they don''t get around to issuing a tour permit "in time" for some events...we don''t loose a lot of sleep over it. As to putting a fast "quickie trip" together being difficult or impossible - I have a bunch of life and a couple of young eagle sco

Off the top of my pin head... Lets start with fire/charcoal cooking: I am assuming you don''t want to deal with finding stuff in nature to cook...greens, roots, acorns, bugs...you''re just interested in novel ways to cook regular food? whole fish, cooked on a spit/head down over coals... cornish hens ( representing pigeon/dove/grouse ''snared'' by the survivor)- smoked/baked -done on a tripod with a foil "cone"...or better a "wicker" cone covered with wet leaves or grasses (requires ability to cut saplings and thin branches...not a LNT type event...) chicken or pork co

I''ll play... First, food choice depends on motivation, time and your inclination...Canoe trips are not back packing...you can eat SOOO MUCH BETTER (MORE GOOD?). Keeping things cold is not as much of a problem as you might think... Eggs are always an option...and DO NOT REQUIRE a "fridge" for a few days...buy fresh and keep them deep in your "hard" pack and they''ll be fine! (Americans refrigerate way more than necessary!) Pancakes are also fine...On our troops annual 110+ mile James River Trip we have "quick" (bug out) breakfasts for 4/5 mornings and a biggie for 1 or 2 mornings-It

OGO you moved the goal post and changed the tune... "exicute"...a simple typo...but in the future I''ll steer clear of your threads. Anarchist

OldGrayOwl, I guess I would ask the question...Why? Are the patrols so weak that they can not plan and exicute a meal? but without background it just sounds like the PLC had a bad idea...and you let them run with it...boy led alright. If it is a matter of having a cooking contest...just set the main food item(s) such as chicken breasts and rice or hamburger and potatoes and see where they end up...judge not only on prep and taste but on originality or imagination! (shepard pie trumps haburgers and fries). Your last post (or dig?) might just indicate weak patrols, PLC a

PLs call parents?? New and very young PLs (new scout patrol) usually do not have the maturity or confidence to explain the "ropes" of patrol activities, expectations and duty rosters...particularly when dealing with a problem scout and his problem parents without "backup". Adults should deal with adults whenever possible if only to avoid having a promising Young scout leader "walked over" and demoralized by "bully" adults. Our program starts indoctrinating parents during their sons webelos years. We distribute our troop info sheets at every oportunity. We treat every scout/par

Wag bags, are a portion of the PETT environmentally friendly portable toilet and are OK...about the size of a small kitchen trash bag with powder (chemical) designed to be placed within the ''toilet'' bag suspension system and held in place by the toilet seat. Comes with a set of rubber gloves and a large (gallon size?) Zip-lock bag for disposal when finished directly in a landfill (EPA approved). Can be used without the toilet for backpacking. Check them out! We have been using the set up for river trips for a few years now...the fold-up toilet is sturdy and when packed is about the size of a

LFL, Depending on transport availability, you would be about an hour from the new Quantico (MCDEC) Marine Corps Museum, an hour from The Manassas battle fields (Bull Run) one and one half hours to the Fredricksburg/Chancellorsville battle sites, minutes from Andrews AF base or Bolling Naval Air Station... (if you have a "friend" you might get a tour out of it! Mount Vernon (George and Martha's home) is great...and not too far from greenbelt...but you will need transport. Lots to do, and lots to see in the D.C. Metro area. Both Air and Space museums are terrific- White House is a big

Had to check my book bin last night... so far this year... 5 books on First Aid (while mentoring two new scouts becoming first aid trainers) 6 books on Canoeing, kayaking and white water rescue (same excuse as above) 5 history books...(two general text books-now have two sons in college) 5 classic novels (For Whom The Bell Tolls, Tale of Two Cities The Wild Palms, The Sound And The Fury and Heart of Darkness again guys in college- gotta know my stuff at the dinner table ). 3 books on saltwater fly fishing 4 books on fresh water fishing- helping teach SM to f

Had a dog "show up" on a campout... once.... "nuff said" Anarchist yes, I know my shortest post ever!

Like most here, I think Camping only one night is a terrible waste of a good weekend! (IMHO such a policy is usually instituted by lazy parents who do not want to drive a few hours and then have to work a few more hours setting camp in the dark...ok, so "they might be tired...after working all day"...do I hear the B.S. bell ringing?) In the last ten years our troop has had two nighters, three, nighters, four nighters, and six nighters but NEVER a one nighter...unless you count an annual lock-in at a local county sports center (swimming pool, basketball, handball racquet ball, weights, t