Herms

Great question ManyHats! I think it is silly, liability included, that you cannot have a certification program for Packs to conduct their own range program. To be honest my range would be tougher than what I've seen them produce at least 12 different Day Camps! One of the big dangers with weapons is when people (kids especially) are not familiar with, or comfortable with a weapon. Day Camp is the only time most of these kids ever expierence using a weapon (and yes a BB gun or 15 pound bow is a weapon!) If Packs could conduct their own shoots (with INTENSIVE training programs for range

Not crazy about the whole email thing. We ask our Scouts not to bring any electronics with them to camp so as an example I wouldn't bring mine (the camp has emergency phones). As far as communications from the boys during the week, good luck getting the boys to "write a letter"! A few years ago we printed out fill-in-the-blank cards that we have the boys fill out on Wednesday before dinner with questions like: Having fun at camp Yes No Went swimming today Yes No Total number of mesquito bites 0, 1, 2, 5+ (The guys will actually count them!) Getting enou

This is your opportunity to find out how the Scout is doing in Boy Scouts. Kinds of things I talk to boys about are: 1. What was there favorite activity so far? (so we can plan on doing it again!) 2. Do they have any problems with any of the other Scouts or Scoutmasters? (identifying any bullies!) 3. How do they think they are living by the Scout Oath and Law? 4. What does the new rank mean to them? (With 1st Class and up we can talk about how it is now expected that they TEACH younger scouts. 5. What is their plan for getting to the next rank? (have them right their goal d

Kudu, it's too bad that more councils don't have a Brownsea 22 course for younger boys anymore. We have one here in the Great Southwest council and it is outstanding for getting a first or second year scout off on the right foot in understanding the Patrol Method as that is all it is!! I watched my boy grow more in that one week than at any other time in his life (that was 4 years ago). He is currently off at NYLT this week and it will be interesting to see what he has learned this week! It's sad to see some of these posts talking about the SM and adults doing the planning and seting t

Got to agree with you Kudu. Not much of an improvement.

I would tell them it is about developing strong, fun programs for the boys (and Crew girls!), and not about money. You build strong programs in your district and the money will come.

As a "lifetime" Eagle and NESA member I could care less about the knot.

We swap over to the tan at the beginning of the Webelo I school year. Most of the time the boys have completely outgrown the blue uniform now that you buy it at the Tiger level. We bought my twins the blue uniform as Tigers (they were HUGE on them) and last year at the end of the year they were barely getting in them. Buy a bigger tan shirt, something they can get in to for 2 years Webelos, and one or two years of Boy Scouts.

Looks like an ok program for Tiger through Bear especially for new/first time leaders, (flyer at http://www.grandtetoncouncil.org/forms/Cub%20Scout/Fast%20Track%20Flier.pdf) but I would disagree that it would be good for a Webelos program. Part of the trouble we have with the transition from Cub Scouts/Webelos is that we teach at a den meeting and sign simply based on attendence instead of knowledge of skills. So the kids get used to show-up, get-a-badge. The we throw them in Boy Scouts were they have to DEMONSTRATE their skill and we lose them. For the Webelos if you have a "can

Calico, Used to think as you, that the plastic sleeves were "tacky". We have the boys wear the sleeves while doing "dirty" type work (i.e. during the spring and fall conclaves when they are getting summer camp ready or tearing down) but we ask them to take them off for ceremonies. They really do save on not only the washing, but the snags that occur on the red embrodery.

Honestly I see the flag mis-displayed all the time. "Technically" the flag you so often see opened up on the field at a football game is incorrect. U.S. Code, Title 4, Chapter 1, Section 8, Paragraph c: "The flag should never be carried flat or horizontally, but always aloft and free." OR you see flags on clothing which is also incorrect as defined in Section 8, Paragraph d: "The flag should never be used as wearing apparel, bedding, or drapery." OR you even see it wrongly displayed on athletic uniforms (paragraph j): "No part of the flag should ever b

Wanna travel? We'll take ya!

From the United State Code, Title 36, Section 10, Paragraph 175: (f) When flags of States, cities, or localities, or pennants of societies are flown on the same halyard with the flag of the United States, the latter should always be at the peak. When the flags are flown from adjacent staffs, the flag of the United States should be hoisted first and lowered last. No such flag or pennant may be placed above the flag of the United States or to the United States flag's right. I would go with what my brother vet Gunny wrote.

There is another similar program called ScoutTracks. Parents go go in and look at what their son has completed. Leaders can enter data. Produces automatic advancement reports. Looks similar to what you are purposing. Competition is good and best of luck.

Eye contact OR proximity! Is it NO or KNOW?

If your son is going to be very active with the OA you may consider getting him a plastic sleeve to cover his sash. They should sell them at your council office, our does. It will save you having to wash his sash often or buy a new one.

A great way for a merit badge "group" to learn is have them make a home video. It works for all kinds of merit badges. Citizenship in the Nation (Req #4) - Put on a founding fathers skit talking about the making of the Constitution and/or Declaration. Citizenship in the World (Req #3) - Film the guys having a discussion about a current world event or have them do a video presentation on their chosen foreign country. Public Speaking (All reqs) - Film their speeches. Pioneering (All reqs) - Make a training film for younger guys to learn lashings while filming building a towe

Looking for some input from "the knowledge base". What is the Varsity program all about? Are these members of a troop, but doing high-adventure kind of like a (dare I say it) troop "Venture Patrol" or is it a seperate program altogether. Is anyone using it or a variation of it?

Eamonn, Thanks! As a sailor myself who just returned in Nov. from a year in Iraq, these words ring very true to ever sailor who serves. We feel our tradition in everything we do and feel pride that we are doing our small part to add to it. Again Thanks! P.S. If you don't mind I would like to use this at my retirement in a year and a half (27 years).

My wife, who is an EA at by two sons grade school had also heard this and along with several other teachers approached the Principle about it. He agreed that it is not the appropriate place for such discussions/statements, and has agreed that his school will NOT participate in this.

I recently faced a similar challenge with a parent who basically signed off just about all of his sons activity pins as a Webelo I. I just returned from and extended vacation (from the sands of the MiddleEast desert) and have taken back over for this years Webelos II group. The first thing I did was ask our Committee Advancement Chair to remove allowing parents to enter their sons sign-offs in ScoutTracks. I am waiting for the parent to come see me. I will be telling the parent (if they come) that as a Webelo this is the way the program works, that the parents no longer sign off their boys

I have searched everywhere and came up with no clear answer to the question. It has been asked of me that if a GROUP donates the $1000 or more to the James West Fellowship who can wear the knot? A collection is being taken to honor the passing of an old Scoutmaster who gave over 50 years of his life to Scouting, and the Troop Committee wants to do this for him but of course this question arises. If the boys (aka parents of boy) contribute does the whole troop wear it? If someone contributes $5? $10? $50? a $100. Any DE's out there with the answer I always value you the f

Interested in this last comment by milwscout580. Has anyone else ever heard of the autograph thing? The reason I am curious is that the current National Chief is from our troop, and it might be kinda cool for some of his old troop, chapter or lodge to do this if they would want to, but won't go there until I can confirm one way or the other.

Had a Pack a few years ago that some parents got angry and decided to start their own Pack. They demanded the amount of the money raised by their sons from popcorn. The DE found that the money stays with the Charter Organization, not the Pack.

If he is using that much Tabasco, he is a MAN!