infoscouter

An assistant den leader can, I believe qualify for the Cub Scouter award. Or, I have often seen two leaders who work well together, "flip-flop" roles in the Wolf & Den years, so each qualifies for the Den Leader award.

The Cub Scout Leader Book specifies that if a Scout has not finished a badge by the end of the school year, his leaders may give him "a few more weeks" to complete the requirements. This situation seems ideally suited to that lee-way. As others have said, however, there really isn't any reason the Scout shouldn't be able to complete the rank requirements in 5 months. This would be a good opportunity to use the FastTrack program: http://www.scouting.org/CubScouts/FastTracks.aspx

Oops, I forgot. The young lady also needs some guidelines and a code of conduct for the sibs, *which their parents will enforce*. The pack committee should present the parents who benefit from the babysitting with guidelines for the service, which they must agree to, in order to participate. These parents need to set the rules with the sibs before they arrive - "You have to stay in the nursery - no running in the halls". I would also consider getting an adult "hall monitor" whose job (perhaps rotating through various parents), would be to check for stray siblings or Scouts. This person could also watch to make sure the kids are respecting the church property, look out for strangers entering the church, etc.

It sounds like it would be helpful for the baby sitters to have something structured to do with the siblings. If you have that many registered leaders, one or two of them could be assigned to plan activities for the siblings. Simple games and crafts, a snack and maybe an age appropriate video should be enough to fill the time period of the den meetings. And on the evening of the pack meeting, they absolutely should be included.

According to the description on ScoutStuff.org, the version of this title with the suicide prevention vignette is the *new* version. So, the guide you found may be the current one, and you have an older version of the DVD. This link is a viewer guide w/o the suicide vignette, so it may match your needs: http://www.crventuring.org/document2.php?s=1&id=75

My Google News alert sends approximately one story a month about a troop trailer being stolen somewhere in the country. (This more frequent than the treasurer embezzling the unit funds - that's only four or five times a year). Insurance is vital. Many troops have found that a tongue lock is not sufficient. Chains can be cut. Some Scouters have suggest the addition of a "boot" - the type of device which some cities/parking lots use to detain autos parked illegally.

Planning and communications are the key. Have a fully planned agenda, right down to the times particular ceremonies, skits, songs are scheduled to take place. Share the agenda with the den leaders and make them responsible for having their den ready for their cues when the time comes. Seat each den (and parents) together, so they can move up to the front more quickly. Use signs to get each den at a single table or area. Family with two or more kids? Mom goes w/ one, Dad w/ the other, and if you're lucky grandma w/ the third. Otherwise, the oldest one gets to sit w/ his den under the supervision of a friendly parent. Publish the agenda (without the times) as a program. This will help the parents know when things should be happening, so they can help the den leaders prepare the Scouts. Start on time. Do not wait for stragglers or worry they won't get food. You need to keep the program moving for those who get there on time. I have seen many packs do a 2 hour B&G with far more than 50 Cubs (and a full buffet) - it just takes lots of coordination and help. The Cubmaster should have nothing to do with the food or the decorations or the entertainment (if you have it) except for introductions. Plan and execute the program just as if it were a pack meeting and let the B&G committee handle all those details.

There are generally two sizes of unit flags. One is about 3'x4' and the other is larger. Check with National Supply, or a National Scout Shop. They will be able to tell you what sizes of flags can be ordered.

In addition to the participation patches available at your Scout Shop, you can also purchase patches from private distributors. Participation patches don't have to be "official". There are many provides of these patches. Do a web search for "Stock Scout Patches" and you'll find many companies which offer pre-made patches, which your pack can order. Generally they will be less expensive than those offered at the Scout Shop or through ScoutStuff.

The parent education issue is important. The Cub Scout Leader book has plans for Den Adults meetings, which too few leaders hold. These and a new parent orientation conducted by the Pack trainer or Cubmaster and important opportunities to introduce parents to their role in advancement. Parents need to be encouraged to actually *read* their son's handbook. They will be surprised to find, that in many cases they don't have to "work with their son" to complete advancement requirements. Many requirements are things with occur as a matter of course in family life, or could be incorporated with very little effort. I.e. - the Wolf requirement to watch TV with your family and talk about what you say. If parents are just _aware_ what the requirements are they can help their son pretty easily. This year, for the first time, the inside front cover of Program Helps includes a chart showing which requirements are covered by PH each month, and which ones should be assigned to parents to do at home that month. Leaders can use this chart as a guide to show parents that advancement is a partnership between all of the Akelas in their son's lives. Frankly, some parents are only motivated when they see another Scout getting a bead or a badge or a patch, and then wonder why their son didn't receive one. At that point the Den Leader or Cubmaster has to be really frank, and reinforce the parental role in making advancement happen. IMO, we don't do a good enough job of selling the program or educating parents about the fact that Cub Scouting is designed to help them raise their sons. It is a unique opportunity to use the structure we provide to interact with their son in fashion their family life may not have previously provided. We give them the tools -- they have to do the job.

I also love the tree recycling idea. However, our private trash haulers offer this service, for no extra fee. They are prohibited by law from taking the trees to a landfill, and so must take them to the local mulch/yard waste facility where they are ground up.

Yikes - I don't know how to describe it. Put your beads on with the thong under the collar. Put the neckerchief on over the beads. Put on your woggle. Hold up the ends of the neckerchief and twist the thong, so it makes an "X". THis will result in a loop with the beads at the bottom. Put the ends of the neckerchief through the loop. Wish I could find a video.

Guilt sometimes works wonders. Send them regretful e-mails about how much fun their sons missed at the last meeting, along with a list of what they need to "make-up" at home. Once the other boys start getting belt loops, beads and patches at pack meetings and their sons get nothing, some of them wake up quickly. Unless you continue to market the fun and magic of the program, you'll lose some of them. It's sad, but some parents don't get how precious and short the time they have with their sons is. By the time they realize they missed something the opportunity is gone, never to be reclaimed.

Sorry for your troubles. These situations are unpleasant and make what should be a fulfilling volunteer experience, just painful. Removing a leader isn't covered in training for unit level leaders. You also won't find much, if anything about it in the Cub Scout leader book. However, Unit Commissioners *are* trained for this eventuality and have resources to help. Find your Unit Commissioner, or failing that, your District Commissioner. They are trained to help with just these situations. Good Luck.

The reference in the Insignia Guide to the "traditional yellow blouse" is to a uniform version which did not have a pocket on the right front. This was a version of the female uniform which can be seen here: http://users.aol.com/coffeeweb/LO/graphics/denmom.jpg As you can see in this illustration the temporary insignia is worn in what we think of as the "Jamboree position". This is the only type of the uniform blouse which for which wearing temporary insignia in this position is authorized. If you have a women's blouse or shirt with a right pocket, then insignia are worn just the same as men.

It's not meant to be a curiosity. I just like wearing dresses and skirts sometimes. I know some other female leaders who feel the same way. By nature, I tend to be a more formal person, and while trousers are appropriate when I'm outdoors, when I'm inside, sometimes I like a dress. An official uniform is still an official uniform, regardless of its age. How would my wearing a dress be any different than the Scoutmasters who wear the old olive (pre De la Renta) uniform?

If you're going to the trouble to pull everything out and evaluate it, you might also want to make sure it's all labeled. Stencils will work on tents, tarps and large equipment like patrol boxes and stoves. Another method would be to attach laminated luggage tags with zip ties, although those are less permanent. Set the QM or the Scribe up with a digital camera, and take pictures of everything. Square away a patrol box with everything in the right place and take a picture. Affix a laminated print of the photo inside the box, so it can be packed properly in the future. Ditto with the inside of the trailer. It seems like once a month my Google news alert turns up a story about a troop's equipment being stolen some place in the country. A CD with pictures of everything would make an insurance claim easier. Stencils on big stuff would make it much harder to pawn or sell second hand.

I have two yellow shirts, along with two pairs of navy pants, two pairs of shorts, the culottes and a wrap around skirt (again, an older style uniform item.) I also have a number of older yellow blouses of various styles, with several different button configurations. Not all of those fit me any longer The yellow/blue combination is still sold, and is still official. Many female leaders don't care for it, and so not as many are sold or worn, but I'm a traditionalist and wear mine proudly. I wish they would make a pair of navy blue switchback style pants in adult sizes!

I've spun this off, because like another poster, I've come into possession of a couple older (1970's - 1980's vintage) female Cub Leader uniforms, which I'd like to use for my current position of Cub Scout Roundtable Commissioner. These are a navy blue dress (yes they had them - still looking for an olive one) and the two part navy blue blouse/skirt. These were items typically worn by Den Mothers or Den Leader Coaches. However, I believe district, Council and National level female Scouters wore them as well. What's your opinion. How should I patch these? Old patches or current ones? I have the yellow snap tie and both hats from the era (the overseas cap and the Oscar de la Renta hat). I even have a navy blue beret (like the red one which was worn for a while). The big downside is that I have to wear hose and pumps with these, rather than hiking boots, but I'll make the sacrifice Tidbit I discovered when perusing some old catalogs I purchased on eBay. The first De la Renta female leader uniforms for Boy Scout leaders used the yellow blouse (NOT a tan one) with the olive pants. I always assumed the yellow was Cub leaders only - but apparently not.

My understanding of this course, from a discussion thread on the Scouter_T Yahoo! group, is that it is not a replacement for the Trainer Development Conference, but a second level course. In other words, it is taken by those who have already taken TDC and are moving on to teach "advanced" training courses. TDC serves the needs of district trainers who deliver Cub Scout, Boy Scout or Venturing PST (aka Basic training). Trainers Edge serves the needs of those who deliver Wood Badge and NYLT. Thus, not all trainer will need to take Trainers Edge, only those who will be teaching advanced courses.

Wow, the experience most of you describe is so different that what I've experienced. A poorly attended camporee for us has 15 of 29 troops attending and about 150 Scouts. Our recent fall camporee had over 300 (about 1/3 of our Boy Scouts) participants and an elaborate Lord of the Rings scenario. Staff alone was over 60 people. I think we had 23 troops there. Our camporees are well attended, probably because the dates are set 18 to 24 months in advance. The council publishes an annual calendar each year with dates for all districts, which allows the troops to adequately plan their attendance at these events.

We don't actually do the race in rain gutters. We put the boats in an actual stream and let the current carry them. Adults downstream with fish nets snag the boats and return them. Scouts can use the kits, or can make meat tray boats or anything else they want. We also have a "veggie" class - cucumbers, zucchini, etc. sliced in 1/2 with sails added.

Lots of good points here. I would add one more about seating. Don't use tables. Don't separate the boys from their parents. There is an excellent diagram in the Cub Scout Leader book showing how a room should be set up for a pack meeting. Basically it is an open square of chairs. One side of the square is "head" of the room where the flags are displayed, and ceremonies, etc. take place. The other three sides of the square are rows of chairs. The Cubs & den leaders sit in the first row. Their parents & siblings sit in the rows directly behind them. This way the adult supervision is distributed throughout the pack AND the action is up close and personal. Skits, presentations, etc. take place in the open area in the center of the square just inches from the boys. This arrangement also lessens the distance which Scouts have to travel to get up front to participate. Both the boys and their parents are right there and can pop right up to receive awards. It speeds up the pace of the meeting, incredibly. At tables they are looking at each other, not the front of the room, where you want their attention to be. They're also much farther from the action. Unless we're doing a craft, we put away almost all the tables in our meeting room.

We designed our own, and I made a silkscreen. The boys do the silkscreening themselves. Another option would be to use a computer graphics program and design an ink-jet iron-on. As someone said, watch the trademarks.

"A monthly use fee may be the results of this. Swap the storage fee for yard work and clean-up at the school. " This idea might work in a small school district, but in our large suburban district it would be a no-go. For one thing this work is the province of the unionized custodial staff, who would raise a stink. Second, the principal has no control over barter like this - after hours building use is controlled by a separate department at the school district which has no power to do something like this. We would have to get the school board involved to allow something like that. A lot of time better spent on the superintendent hiring process than the $250 dollars a year we have to pay to use the school for pack meetings. (Den meeting costs come out of den dues).