IM_Kathy

I like chatting with the boys after they've cooked. What went well? What could you do better? Was there enough food? Were you supported by rest of the boys in helping out? What are thinking of cooking next time you're asked to cook? What styles of cooking do you want to learn more about? With my own son I asked him the same things but on all campouts not just when he was cook: what did each patrol cook? How'd it all taste? What new thing you going to fix us here at home to practice for a future campout? I don't want to brag, but considering all the adults still talk about my

I'm glad to hear I'm not the only one that is that way Stosh. Though for me part of that is I don't take all my medications at bed time on a weekend campout and if there's an over-night storm coming in I won't at summer camp either. Medicated I can still be woken up just not running full speed for a bit, so I just prefer to be full aware if I were ever needed. The only thing I will say about the whole self-regulated. I'd have a bunch of pissed off parents if boys always returned sunday unable to function for that days tasks, and especially during soccer seasons! Yes it's up to the boy

I did go through OA to help gain knowledge myself as I obviously wasn't an OA youth member and that way can help the scouts. As for medical issues best is to let someone in the know know about them. If it's something they can work around I'm sure they will. Once "called out" you have that summer camp, fall fellowship, and spring conclave to complete Ordeal (at least here you have those) I don't have same the health issues, but do have some and had to work with them to get through. For me it was really easy here's what I can't do and they'd say ok there would be an issue with this and

when you talked about requirement 5 and suggested having each cook 1 or 2 meals on a Saturday afternoon. I get that there are some advantages to this. You can have all the boys there and all focused on cooking. Would be a great way for them to each try a different new recipe. But I have to say the best skill for campout cooking won't be learned unless out camping. Like how are they going to manage their friends off to the side goofing off since they don't have a responsibility at that time or those same boys coming up and distracting him while he's trying to cook. So yeah if they're

as SM here is what I do for OA elections. I get the list of who is eligible. I sit down with each of these for a little SMC focused on what they've done for the troop, what they see doing for OA, what they see continuing to do for the troop. I give them just the basics of the ordeal that they already know like sleeping out alone, minimal food, physical labor, day of silence and ask if they feel they are capable of this. If I feel they are ready I let them know that and wish them luck. If I don't feel like they are ready then I let them know why, but normally I've done this a few times thr

troop does a cooking class one meeting every 2 or 3 months. An older scout will teach a recipe they like usually they are given some suggestions like if the boys have constantly having same things for breakfast I'd suggest a breakfast. We usually do more stove lessons during cold months and dutch oven during warmer months. This gives the boys a chance to see and try other things. Usually when a boy is working on cooking MB I will chat with them a week before meal planning meeting if they are planning on being a cook. We discuss what styles they still need to complete and what ideas t

when it's known ahead of time that both the SPL and ASPL aren't able to be there then they assign a boy. Same for a PL and APL. Doesn't matter who has what rank or holds what positions it's who they think will do best to fill in for given situation. For our troop this most often happens on Thursday night and Friday of summer camp when those that have been called out for OA are off doing their ordeal. So those that are eligible ask and assign someone in case they are called out.

one of the best scouts I've had privilege to work with ended his scouting as a tenderfoot. He had no interest in rank. Had he, he would've at least been a star scout as I know he had enough mb's for it but not sure his total count. He just did what he liked to do. He helped all the scouts. He still comes and helps out now when it fits into his college/work life. So I'd be having a serious talk about what a patch really means - to me it just means boy did a,b,c and got it signed. What it doesn't say is the true character of a person. And I'd explain how people see a patch and expect cer

Only time we use an axe yard is when teaching toten chip and for a week of summer camp. Other times we use the safe circle and know surroundings for those using axes and those moving around

since you are talking BALOO that would mean cubs and I'm not totally sure on the policies for family with that. But for Boy Scouts the answer is yes all attending campouts must have YPT. Actually it's any adult who has direct contact with a scout - so basically anyone who attends anything where scouts are there. Now if you have a position that would only show up when youth aren't there (not sure what that would be) then they wouldn't be required. But really the online training is pretty quick and isn't that hard to complete. And as I look at it, it is more about protecting myself from fal

If the guitar is pulled out the boys will call out songs that can be played. Then they'll do songs not known to one up and inspire. Not talking lots of songs maybe 4 or 5 and then the chaplain aide usually asks for amazing grace. And since no one does the bugle taps is done on the guitar and still sounds good enough. This isn't any every campout thing. Just when warm enough to play guitar and enough room in vehicles to squeeze it in.

typically for a troop campout: after supper there's free time cracker barrel evening program (campfire, skit/song by each patrol) a few group songs chaplain aide leads evening prayer boys go to tents and settle in - adults hang by campfire about 30 minutes adult yells out "night boys" and by the time leader is settled in to sleep the boys are to be quiet. maybe 2 times a year another reminder is needed. if at a campground where others are camping adults go in a bit before the time that is listed for quiet time based on campground rules so the boys are already settlin

late sign up is allowed until food is bought by the grubmasters. Cancellation is allowed with money back as long as food isn't bought yet. so this will vary from campout to campout depending on who is buying the food and when shopping fits in their schedule. When my son was a scout and still now when I am adult patrol cook I normally shop on thursday afternoon. But other families that might be wednesday or that friday.

while I've not had to deal with this issue myself or with a scout I have had to learn with my own disability and scouts with different learning issues. The biggest thing I can recommend is look around at as many troops as possible when he gets into webelos. Be open and upfront. Let them know of limitations, things that work and don't work, how to he's learned to adapt, and how others like family and teachers have adapted to help him. I will say what others say is true in that the older boys get the easier it is to understand, remember, and adapt. There may still be some kids that

for patches I simply sewed them onto a fleece blanket that now hangs on the wall. As a cubby his pack didn't pay for belt loops as they were costly and easy to earn and left it up to parents to pay for them but none from while he was in ever bothered with them so I didn't have to worry about them but could just get a belt about the same size and color and put them on and hang them up to display too.

Had you talked with troop leadership about what day to visit? I ask because I know for our troop and how the PLC plans things out there are certain meetings that are better to visit than others. I honestly don't think you can understand a troop without visiting for a couple of months straight. For our troop we have committee meeting once every even month and on that night the boys have fun/game night in the main room or outside with our junior leaders (18-20 year olds) watching over and often joining in. Once a month (always meeting before campout) we have patrol meetings where m

just an FYI rifle and shotgun don't require the MBC to be NRA certified as long as they use a range that has the NRA certified there. I'm registered to council those and go with a scout and 1 of his parents to a near-by range. The range is great it's the one I go to a couple times a month (weather permitting) Though in saying this. All the boys I've worked with are ones that took the badge at camp but failed to qualify. And for our summer camp the shooting badges do fill up quick and prefer boys not re-take the full class. And while the camp range is open during free time they are o

When the troop was much larger and did age based patrols we used Troop Guide to work with the newest patrol and we had Instructors that typically were focused on teaching just a specific skill or a few skills. With the troop a bit smaller and mixed aged patrols we use JASM. The JASM basically does the same job as the guides and instructors together. Our JASM must be an Eagle or the age of 16 and they have to be approved by SM. We typically only have 1 but did have 2 until they aged out this past fall. Our JASM is the one that packs up a pack and brings it in to teach packing, sets up

only problem with this is these young men aren't in college yet. They turned 18 the fall of their senior year of high school

our summer camp actually had a night of underwater basket weaving for fun of course.

I won't say I'm the best SM ever, but the scouts I've worked with that have had a few different SM's have said I'm their favorite from that group basement.... and I would say having boys that have stayed involved past earning Eagle and aging out as well is a sign that we do some good things and have a good group and a lot of fun. Having sat through the training I know the boys will be bored out of their minds. I'm not sure if the training is the same from council to council, but when I went through it there was a mix of sitting through lectures, then being told how to do something,

not sure how anyone can do this and have an active school and social life and even then get old enough to have a job too. But I'm not saying it can't be done. But my big question is WHY get them all done now before he's even 14. So great he thinks this might speed up Eagle, but then once he get's Eagle what's left to do??? All he can do after getting Eagle is wait his times for the different Eagle Palms since he has be badges already. So great to have a goal to earn them all, but why get them all done before you are 14? Just sounds stupid to me. but as always that's just my opinion!

well in came today and he's official Eagle Scout! So now can send out final confirmations to the people he wants/needs at the ceremony.

I will first say I don't know the policies on all of this. But in my opinion... once all is signed as done, turned in, and a board is done then obviously everything is done. Now the whole hypotheticals of age, school, and whatever.... the boy knew what his deadline was, he needed to work that in. If there was no "time" worry to get eagle and was just for say weather then I can see someone floating a loan, work gets done, and then continue fundraising. But only until all fundraising is done does paperwork get signed off and project is considered done.

not heard yet, but only been a week and a half and still have plenty of time. But I did get a little scare this week.... Normally I as SM get the big envelope of approval mailed to me and I notify and congratulate the scout and hand over the packet to our advancement chair. The other day I grabbed the mail and there is a small envelope from BSA addressed to my son and I'm like "that's weird" he went from school straight to work and I had things going on that night so I didn't know when it would get opened and the "what the heck is this" was driving me nuts.... so I broke the law LOL and