HopewellT8SM

Dan and all,

Thanks for the advice, and Yes I have been warned about the rainy season. But such is the nature of the Philmont Lottery.

Doing what I can to make the scouts prepared.

HHS

Troop is going to Philmont this August (12 -21)

We have conflicting recomendaions of what temperature rating of sleeping bags we should advise the scouts to bring.

Philmont indicates that temperatures range from 90F to 30F depending upon elevation.

More than a few have advised to get 20F bags.

Is that advisable for middle of August?

Doing what I can to keep this a "thrifty" trip.

What say the Philmont Guru's?

HHS

Our Troop was just notified that we also will have two crews for Coral Reef sailing.

June 23 -29 2007

Just begining the sign up within the troop this week.

Troop 8

Chester County Council (PA)

HHS

We are here in the middle of mega money suburbia. Cable tv bill among neighbors is 75 to 150 $ each month. We do not have cable or satilite.

We get the three major stations and PBS. Just fine with us. We have a teenage son and daughter.

They have thier Playstation, and we get 2-3 movies a month from Netflicks, mostly for the kids and my wife.

Then again I am SM. And I found out what BSA meant by "hour a weeK"..... an hour a week per scout.... I have 29.

HHS

Welcome KSscoutmom,

As per all of the posters, Scouting is a Great program. And very safe.

The questions you ask, are the ones that should be asked of the adult leaders in the Pack or Troop.

Another way for your fears/questions to be answers is to get involved with Scouting. You set the limits, a Scoutmaster and Comittee will accomidate you. Soon you will be answers these same questions.

Scouting is for life. We often portray that it is a program for boys, but I know many adults who have gotten alot out of the scouting program for themselves to use in everday life.

Reciently one of my ASM's came upon an automoble accident. Many cars stopped, and people standing around, he stepped forward, and rendered First Aid, until the EMT's arrived. The weekend before he had completed his "Trained" requiements, which covered First Aid skills.

I'm not sure at what point in Scouting History things changed, but adults where able to earn MB and ranks.

Plus, hanging out with persons of a common cause can only be a good thing.

HHS

In our troop we allow any scout to sign off on an advancement skill as long as there is one rank separating them. ie. 1st Class signs off on a Tenderfoot going for 2nd Class, etc. Time in POR, attendance is ASM signature. Then onto SM conference, and BOR.

HHS

At this point in the process something like that needs to documented in a written format. Mail or email, with only the neccessary copies.

In the message it must be cleary what the expectation are , have been, and will always be.

Active: Our troop. 50% of weekly meetings, and 50% of trips/outings within the YEAR.

AND performing his Position of Responsibility.

If he has not been a involved with the troop, how can the SM sign of on the POR part?

Also, point of clarification, he is asking for his final project approval. Enough hours, Benifiting organization satisfied and signed off? He still needs a SM conference, and the signature of the CC.

Sorry to say so, but this is the way now days.

HHS

First, my sympathy for you and your son.

I'll be bold, if you are not willing to be CM or CC, then jump ship. Those persons and the COR have the responsibility to straighten things out in cases like this.

Start thinking long term: The goal at this stage is to have your son join a Scout Troop.

Interview Scout troops in your area, ask them what packs feed them, and thier opinion on those packs.

You have the gift of time to work on this.

Cub scouts and Scouting needs to fun at some level. Yes, there is that "hour a week" (ha) for adults leaders. But if your son sees that you are stressed and frustrated about Cubs then what message is he forming.

HHS

The positions are the positions.

I am against creating any unlisted positions of leadership, as indicated in some of the above messages you do not want to get into a grey area with a Scouts POR for his advancment to Eagle.

If the boys did not vote that scout into a postion, then he needs to approach the SM for a project, or wait till the next opening.

With repect to Eagle's to JASM, YES, but I would look at thier maturity, under age 16 iffy, above that fine in our experiance.

But most of all have a program, and provide encouragement.

HHS

Well we take a different approach.

Medical records are the proprety of each family/scout. After summer camp or a high adventure they are returned.

If there is a trip that requires a physical during the year the scout will need to turn in a copy with the trip permission slip. And again, returned after the trip/event.

Naturally, like all permission slips we have a section for medications or limits on activities, and who to contact in the event of an emargency. Our Trip announcments indicated the type of activity and minimum requirments.

Very interesting topic.

HHS

Troop has been around since 1943. The first Eagle did not happen until the early 1960's. We have 37 Eagles to date. For the last 10 years it has averaged about 1 per year. Troop size has been between 20 and 30 yearly. We take in 6-8 new scouts each year, but that varies greatly, as we are in competion with 5-6 other troops within a 10 mile radius.

Most long timers will agree that with the program change in the late 70's, the 2% has become 4-6 %.

But one thing for sure, it is about the program. The Cub to Boy transition, and then maintaining the older scouts through high school. All this is possible with a deep adult roster.

Example: Last weekend we had 21 scouts out of 28. I had 10 adults along.

HHS

Camp Horseshoe as mention is steeped in tradition. And as mention books early.

Our troop summer camps at Camp Ware. There are only two Boy Scout weeks at Camp Ware, first and second week of July each year. Camp Ware is primarily set up for Cubs-Webelo's in the summer, and for training.

At Ware, troops have the option of dinning hall meals or outposting for the full week.

Camp Ware offers most MB's as Horseshoe, but not all, the older scouts have access to the Horseshoe COPES and Mtn. bike program.

The Wood carving and Indian Lore classes are instruted by a 20+ year teacher who is with tops

both the boys and adults.

Our troop has 30+ years of Summer Camp at Camp Ware. We outpost with open fires the whole week.

CCCBSA has put alot of improvements into Ware in the last several years.

There should still be opening at Camp Ware for 2006.

Hopewell Troop 8

July 9-15 2006

gwd-scouter,

Congratulations, and hope you can see things through.

Might I suggest backpacking trips, 3-4 times a year. Backpacking trips will focus the scouts on essential gear, patrol camping, and the OUTING in Scouting.

Backpacking is also a great venue for a whole host of scouting skills up to 1st Class, and then of course Camping, Backpacking MB's.

The trips do not have to be long, but make sure there are great views, or an activity at the end of the day's trek.

These days many troops have SM changes due to job transfers, and other personal changes. But if the adult leaders of the troop are all Trained, then who is SM should not be a major event.

Welcome to the forum, and make sure there is FUN.

Hopewell T8 SM

The scouts in our troop voted to wear only a troop designed T shirt for regular weekly meeting.

The SPL will from time to time call a Scout Uniform inspection, that is the offical scout uniform. Naturally for all public, council, and national events the uniform is worn.

We are a troop of 25, and we get on average 20 scouts each week, and this includes our senior scouts. They come from thier sports activies, grab a burger, and don the T shirt. They are at the meeting, and thier presance does have an impact with the younger scouts.

At times I would like to see them in the uniform more often, but good attendance is a better battle to win. They all respect the uniform, and wear them proudly, and complete when they are requested to.

HHS

Our troop provides tents and patrol boxes full of gear. It provides a high level of uniformity to our troop. The scout tents are EUREKA "4man", but we assign two per tent.

A) We truley make the Troop QM amd PQM earn thier leadership.

B) It does reduce the cost of scouting for most families.

C)We have a good fundrasing system in the community which allows us to provide this level of troop equipment. Be it also disclosed we have troop bus, which could be a whole thread unto itself.

HHS

Tough position to be in.

May I suggest you NOT take the position. It may be the only way to show the others that this is not what things should be. They may find some one else, but you will at least have indicated your view and position.

Adults/Parents PLANNING......, Boy led troop?

Age 15 EAGLE OUT..... Losing a possible JASM/Troop Guide.

An adult supposed to arrange a scouts MB time/session? Not right at all.

With all do respect, sounds like a MB-Eagle Mill.

There are many troop out there who try thier best to follow the program. You may need to search one out. It is not fun to do that, since your son may have good friends in the troop.

HHS

hacimsaclk12, and all,

Sat- Sun, Backpacking in.

Monday-Rock climbing

Tuesday - White water rafting

Wed.- Buffer -free day

Thurs. Kayak for some, others a bike and canoe run

Fri. Cave exploration.

Sat. return.

HHS

Our troop goes to the same summer camp each year. It is a council camp. We start the infomation process in late April. The Summer camp is always the second week in July. This is the camp that we truely integrate the new scouts into the troop, as for some reason in this area, bridging takes place in late April and early May, and we do not get a good feel for the number of new scouts until end of May, early June.

But, we also offer a week High Adventure trip each year as troop. This Saturday we depart for a week in the Ohiopyle/Laurel Highlands area of western PA.

In 2006 we have been blessed with two crews, as a troop, to Philmont. For the scouts who are not able to make a Philmont type adventure, due to age, rank, or finacial reason, we offer 4day/3night Mini High Adventure trips.

HHS

Too bad many SM's see OA as competing with the troop program. Our troop makes every effort to work around OA weekends. The scouts often indicate that the work weekends doing cheerful service, and the ceremonies, are some of thier favorite camping weekends. Also, our adult members like the OA weekends as we take on building projects at our council summer camp.

It comes down to communication, and a boy lead program. Certianly the scoutmasters have final say in the activities, but why not support the OA?

In our region the OA has 3 workweekends a year. that leaves room for troop level camping.

Maybe some SM are afraid of letting go of "control".

FScouter you are correct. There should be no impeadment. And I hope it was not implied that our program would do that. We do have some who strive to make 1st class in 12 months. More typical in our troop is 18 months.

We also have our new scouts enroll in BAT (Blazing A Trail) program while they are at our council summer camp. This is a program designed to assist a troop in all the methods of the scouting focusing on Tenderfoot to 1st Class.

HopewellT8SM

Our troop uses a short NSP, April to July. We break for August. This is a new program for us as previously 90% of our cross overs cam from "our" feader Pack. (same CO). In the past we could assimilate the scouts right away in to our patrols.

But because council/national considers Packs open season for other troops "raid" at reqcruitment time,we our selves had to go "hunting".

Our NSP gets boys from different schools to know each other. We them split them up into Patrols for Summer Camp. We want our older scouts to teach the skills.

On anther subjet that this thread has. 1st class in 12 months. Do not push this upon a 11 year old! (or his parents!) The goal is for well rounded young men who can lead and take thier OWN innitiative. This world is full of people who "passed the test", but are not worthy of the reconition. Scouts need to earn each one as they want it.

Old School. You bet.

Standing by with my fire suit.

HopewellT8SM

A) One price for Adult leaders and scouts. $15.00 for a weekend.

B)Troop covers training.

C)Everybody rides in an old school bus converted. Diesel. CO and troop split insurance

D) Adults taking a week off for summer camp is the only time we are not charged.

We do have patrol points. Attendance, % scouts in uniform of the day/event, contests, and so forth.

Winning patrol gets first choice of campsite at Summer camp ( same place for many, many years), and the Scoutmasters cook one meal for them.

We outpost all week, open fire cooking, no stoves.

Troop of 24 scouts. On the monthly outings that are desinated Patrol method camping (5 or6 out of 11, August off). We normally get 20 scouts, and 8 adults.

Each of the four patrols makes up thier own menu, purchase it and cook it.

The ASPL & SPL eat with the Adults, a get some "quality time".

Breakfast over an open fire takes about 2-2.5 hrs.

Lunch -1 hour. Dinner 2-3 hours.

Each patrol has it's own patrol box and cooler. They also tent together. We try to put some distance between patrols so they are operating on thier own.

Is it the most efficient? No, but the whole point is learning leadership, teamwork, and if we are lucky some cooking skills. The younger scouts are spread out in our troop (no NSP), so they have the opportunity to get skills signed off by the PL.

I do not view scouting a place for efficiency. The scouts today live in such a prepackaged, on demand world, that these patrol method trips are important for leadership and teamwork where the outcome is directly controled by thier input.

Poor menu's, undercooked-overcooked food, not enough fire wood, questionalble clean up? You bet!

What else are you going to talk about at Eagle COH?

By participating in this forum you are learning exactly how both boys and adults behave. It is valuable.

I laugh sometimes at many posts, others I cringe at.

The big picture is to get a Boy run troop, and the adults to follow rules as printed, nothing more, nothing less.

We need to keep in mind that these are boys (scouts) between the age of 11 and 18. In that 7 year period alot happens. Step back and be gald that you can be part of it.

I admire your spirit by going out and starting a new troop from zero. It is a real challenge.

As you will have read many times, trained adults at the ASM level and Committee,are very important for any one person to avoid burn out. Then as a group (not singular)march to toward the goal of a boy run troop.

Keep asking others to do thier part. Hold them accountable. Afterall, many adults involved in today's program where not scouts, or ever had leadership training. There is much for adults to learn from scouting about leadership and being responsible.

As a former Merchant Mariner, the first thing they teach you is the phrase " One hand". Which means a call for help. They only ask for one, as you need to hold on to the ship with the other. If you use both to help another, you could slip off, putting yourself in harms way, and be of no service, and the crisis is still at hand.

Scouting is group activity, open to all. Some of those who join you may not care for personally, but then you should also look into the mirror.