hot_foot_eagle

If you do your background work in your den meetings, you can spend more time whittling on your campout. Cubs familiar with firearm safety from council BB gun events and those familiar with fire safety from fire prevention week already know the tools not toys mantra, so you can use it to your advantage. Like lots of folks, I started my den with soap carving. Very fresh soap works much better than soap with any age to it. I found some popsicle stick-like doodads in the craft section of our local big box retailer. These were larger and thicker than popsicle sticks and made good t

Thanks all for the input so far. To clarify a bit, there are no other troops in practical commuting distance for my family, at least. Spelunking is overnight in commercial or gov't caves on "scout" tours and not high adventure exploration. Appropriateness of activities includes (in my book) adequate adult training and supervision. Canoeing is OK with reasonable care, but can be an inappropriate activity without proper supervision, for example. In my mind I've distilled the pros an cons something like this: + T1 outdoor program conforms to my ideal scouting program

Background: There are basically two troops that my Webelos Den can cross over to in my area. We are beginning to visit these troops as a den to complete AOL requirements, but also to give the boys and their parents a real choice in how they want to continue their scouting experience. So far some of the things I see alarm me. Troop #1 is very young with a few older scouts, but has a fairly strong outdoor program. They do what I consider to be traditional scouting activities: canoeing, backpacking, spelunking, etc. They are well-financed and routinely have scouts attend high

"at the Position of Parade Rest in front of the Garrison Sergeant Major" could be translated as getting sent to the principal's office - X 10. If you've ever seen the stereotypical movie drill sergeant dressing down a recruit you've got the picture.

Sticking to one's beliefs, even when in the minority, can be admirable. If we don't consider other viewpoints, though, we become vulnerable. What if we ARE wrong? We have to continually look beyond ourselves to make sure we're still relevant. Can you imagine how popular scouting might be if no one looked beyond their little fiefdom and we were still wearing wool tunics and jodhpurs? I'm convinced that the arguing is good.

One of my patrol members was (is) new to scouting - really new. He got quite a bit out of the program. Having never been a part of scouting before, he learned how troops and patrols are supposed to function. Because he doesn't really know any other way for them to operate, he's on the right track for the rest of his scouting career. On the other hand, he was baffled by some of the techniques, terms, etc., that most of us take for granted. A few people like my friend could attend WB with little or no experience and really benefit from it, but that's probably an exception and not a rule

Got a holiday seasonal catalog from BSA Supply Group today that includes XGO-BSA poly underwear to go with your switchbacks. Official BSA underwear has arrived. I can't wait for the reaction from the uniform police!

One of my WB patrol members had an analogy: it's hard to describe fried chicken (scouting program), and even harder to describe really good fried chicken. Our first taste of fried chicken usually winds up being the standard by which all others are compared, and you may never even bother to try anything different. Wood Badge is a gold standard of scouting. Whatever your scouting experience, you will come away with some new perspectives and ideas on what you are doing right, and what you are doing wrong. Wood Badge is, on its face, a leadership seminar. If you've served in the armed for

It's your money, Eamonn. If you think the Council needs it, tell them EXACTLY how you want it spent and you don't have to worry about it being squandered.

A few random thoughts on the subject(s): Anyone can be sued for anything. Getting a judgement is another matter, but you're still going to need a lawyer, and that's going to cost money. Many lawsuits are filed using the shotgun approach. Some of us are going to be in the pattern, so to speak. There is no substitute for a solvent defendant. As much as they pay us to lead this scouting stuff, we ain't it (Most of us, anyway. Certainly not me.) An umbrella policy is not particularly expensive and covers much more than just scouting activities. For many people it's probabl

In harmony with eolesen. . .

If you feel a parent is impaired and has been driving (or will be driving) you should call local law enforcement and let them make the determination. If there is an underlying medical condition, the partent may well be impaired by that, even if they aren't under the influence of alcohol. Endangering a child or children like this is not too different from child abuse and should be reported to the appropriate agencies and scout hierarchy just like a child had evience of physical abuse. I don't think it's your responsibility to confront the parent directly if you don't want to. You'

I like your plan and would encourage you to go for it. If anyone is offended, call it a Turk's Head Knot and drive on.

It''s certainly possible for a young man to gain enough maturity to know he wants to complete his Eagle. It''s equally possible that mom and or dad is the sole source of "motivation". I say encourage the late bloomers, but the onus is on them to follow through.

Since Cub Scouts use the frontcountry guidelines, cleaning up any outdoor area - parks, roadways, vacant lots, etc. would be an appropriate conservation project. Somewhere I have seen a list of other project ideas for Cub Scouts, but I can''t find it at the moment.

My council accepts BALOO, OWL, or VOLT for Cub Scout leaders'' outdoor training prerequisite for Wood Badge.

I''m in a pretty small district so my experience may be somewhat different than in other areas, but our DE is actively involved in the recruiting process from providing handouts to speaking to elementary school boys about Cub Scouting to participating in roundups. These activities, roundups in particular, are conducted by volunteers, but our DE plays a role. I''m blessed with a great DE so I wouldn''t want it any other way.

In outdoor settings we request that all electronics be left at home or in vehicles (adults cell phones excluded for emergency use, but I like ''em turned off or on silent mode). I''ve always allowed an exception to the no electronics rule for plasma TV''s larger than 50", provided I also have control of the remote. So far no one has exercised the option.

Our council is signing up as well. After having a long talk, I have signed my oldest son and myself up. He''s so excited that he''s socking all his mowing money away so he can go. Not bad for Webelos scout! I went to AP Hill in 1981. If 2010 is the last at AP Hill, it will have that much more significance for us. Of course my youngest son will be old enough to go to the one after that. . .

It only takes one: the guy with knots on his uniform shirt that run from the pocket, under the epaulet, and halfway down the back of his shirt - because he knows the whole world revolves around him!

An interesting discussion so far. I''d like some clarificaton please: GaHillBilly said: "But fundamentally, to revere means to acknowledge your inferior station (in the sense that a knight acknowledges his vassal state before the king) and the superior station of that which you revere." I think my sticking point is "inferior station"? If one is awed, say, by the Grand Canyon is it possible to revere nature as a god? the universe? I wonder if such a non-personified god might result in a revealed religion of sorts, or would that just be made up? On the original topic, though,

On patrol yells: Most patrol yells are, IMO, too long. Demonstrate the proper use off hooah (oo-rah in your case?)and I think they''re more likely to come around.

Regardless of how the requirement is taught, the skill is important enough to warrant reinforcement as often as the opportunity presents itself. At Webelos resident camp I would point out poison ivy nearly every time I saw it, and also point out other plants commonly mistaken for it while explaining the differences. While I would hope that the boy leadership would be able to teach and verify this skill in a troop, I don''t think that an adult leader should be discouraged from doing it either. SSScout, I too worked a while on a survey party. What is it with the unwritten rule that prope

If the National Cathedral has already been mentioned I overlooked it. Arrange for a tour because it's impossible to absorb all the symbolism by yourself. I'd also vote for Arlington National Cemetery and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

Kudu's point about a little subterfuge is well made. I recently took a number of cub scouts on a hike in Southern IL, but had a turnout far below what I had hoped. In retrospect I probably scared off boys and parents because I used the word hike. They boys who went had one of those "wow" moments when we stepped out of the woods and onto the cliffs (it's quite unlike our topography at home). So many of them ask me when we're going back that I think I could get those guys to hike anywhere now. You can bet they'll be the best advertising for our next hike - er, adventure. For what