insanescouter

My experience both as youth and now as adult leader is that the mess hall style is better for summer camp. This is because the Scouts are in so many different places and have so much going on that it is just easier on everyone to let the camp handle the main meals. As far as partol method issues are concerned, conduct some kind of special patrol activity/challenge. If you would like suggestion on patrol challenges, let me know. Also remember what works for one Troop may not work for another. Do what works for you and the Scouts generally enjoy. InsaneScouter http://insanescouter.com Webmaster webmaster@insanescouter.org

I have a copy of Follow Me Boys which is wearing out. Thus I converted/backed-it-up onto CD, in hopes of perserving it until I can find and afford a new copy. My dad own "Scouts to the Rescue", it is ok. I have only seen it once. You should be able to find it at any place that allows you to special order movies like Suncoast or Blockbuster. However, it may not be out any more either. There are many movies that have Scouts in them. There is a list here www.usscouts.org/usscouts/profbvr/scoutfiction/start.html Hope this helps... InsaneScouter www.insanescouter.com Webmaster webmaster@insanescouter.org

I just wanted to thank everyone who has helped me so far. Your advice has shed light on some things I can try to make the Troop go. I have also past much of the advice I have received here and in several newsgroups to my dad, who is the Scoutmaster. Our first Troop meeting is less then a week away. I can't wait. Please keep the ideas coming, the smallest thing may become our biggest tool to saving the Troop. I guess the biggest thing I have to remember is this... "The difference between the possible and the impossible is the measure of the man's will." -Battle Hymn Movie Again thanks for all the help. InsaneScouter www.insanescouter.com Webmaster webmaster@insanescouter.org

The difference between the possible and the impossible is the measure of the mans well. - Battle Hymn Movie This is a race between those who want to be an anchor and those who want to go forward. - JFK See your adventure is over ... oh no, oh no to live is an awfully big adventure. - HOOK movie I destory my enemies by making them my friends. - Aberham Linclion (saw this on on a krate poster) Take only photographs, leave only foot prints, kill only time - Saw this on a Park Signs The best place to find a helping hand is at the end of your own arm. - sorry didnt write down where this one came from We know what we are, but not what we may be - Shakspear (sp) book We are what we pretent to be, so we must be careful what we pretentd to be. - Shakspear (sp) book An error is not terror - sorry didnt write down where this one came from Wise men store up wisdom, but the mouth of a fool invites runin - sorry didnt write down where this one came from Reckless words pierece like a sword, but the tongue of a wise bring healing - sorry didnt write down where this one came from Pride only breeds quarrels, but wisdom is found in those who take advice - sorry didnt write down where this one came from A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger - sorry didnt write down where this one came from Remember when two tigers fight, both may die - sorry didnt write down where this one came from I don't believe it ... that is why you failed - I believe this one is out of Star Wars Well I guess that is enough... Hope you enjoy... And please forgive my bad spelling... InsaneScouter www.insanescouter.com Webmaster webmaster@insanescouter.org

I have been considering for awhile adding a new feature to my web site for Lone Scouts. The type of feature I have been thinking about is some kind of "Virtual Troop Meeting". A place where Lone Scouts and their Advisor can meet, talk with, and do "virtual type troop meeting activities" with other Lone Scouts and possibily Scouts and Leaders in tradional units. I have been running into two issues with doing this. 1. What kind of features would be of the most use to the Lone Scout Community. Note: this gets into COPPA (Children's Online Privacy Protection Act) issues. 2. Are there enough Lone Scouts that have access to the Internet to make such a feature uselful InsaneScouter http://insanescouter.com Webmaster webmaster@insanescouter.org

Sorry, you are right ... I am not trying to say that their family life itself is weird .. just the fact that around 90% of the Scouts home life was not the tradtional 2 parent ... in my 20 years of Scouting I have never known of a Troop to have that high of percentage (thus my reference to weird), however that could be becuase I grew up on Air Force bases. Im not saying this to say it is good or bad ... just saying the way the Troop was and may contuine to be - so that others could best offer their advice. I hope this makes sence and I am not shoving my foot further down my throat ... InsaneScouter http://insanescouter.com Webmaster webmaster@insanescouter.org

I have a few ideas that may help. The biggest thing I know of you can do to help keep the "team" together is make sure every thing follow the Patrol method and that they work together to achieve their goal. I know this is harder then it sounds. Another great method I use which seems to work, are "Team Challeges" also known as Team Games. These type of games force Scouts to work togther, develope communcation and problem solving skills. For an exxaple of these challgens check out www.insanescouter.com/t276/files/g-team.html You may also want to use "Reflections" where you and the Scouts discuss how something went, and how it could have gone better. When doing refelections remember everyone including you are on the same level, only one person talks at a time, there are no right or wrong answers and that no one is forced, but rather encouraged to speak. Most Junior Leader Trainigs include special exercies to help build team work, etc as well. Some JLTC ideas can be found at www.insanescouter.com/t276/JLTC/ Anyway I hope this helped. InsaneScouter http://insanescouter.com Webmaster webmaster@insanescouter.org

I have read many of the posts in this section on "Wood Tools" ... I wanted to put my cents in ... I have been trained by everyone from the forest service to the California Conservation Corps (CCC) becuase I served on a trail repair crew off and on for about a year. Through my experience I wrote an article to help with the instruction of the Totin Chip - and much more ... the course I developed goes farther then what BSA requires and that is why I call it "Wood Tools" course rather then Totin Chip. The biggest thing to always remember as the CCC drilled into us is ... Remember safety first, and safety always! To take a look at the article goto... www.insanescouter.com/t276/files/wood_tools.html InsaneScouter http://insanescouter.com Webmaster webmaster@insanescouter.org

I am probabley a bit late to be of much help, but I figured why not try and help anyway... There is a whole section at InsaaneScouter devoted to Pioneering. You may find them at http://insanescouter.com/t276/files/Knots/index.html'>http://insanescouter.com/t276/files/Knots/index.html ... then scroll to the bottom of the page InsaneScouter http://insanescouter.com Webmaster webmaster@insanescouter.org

I have posted this in newsgroups as well ... Please be patient with me as this is my first time posting here... My Dad and I (I am 27, Eagle, WoodBadge trained, etc) are in the process of re-starting a failed Troop. The reason it failed was due to a lack of parent support to assist with things like transportation to campouts and with Troop Committee functions. It also didn't help that in a period of 6 weeks the Committee Chair and Two ASM's resigned, for a variety of reason including moving and family issues. The Troop family structure was a bit weird too ... composed mostly of either Single Parent Mothers or Grandparents raising Grandson(s). I was wondering if anyone has had similar problems, and if so how the over came them? How other units are getting parents and the community to help support the Troop? And how other Units are recruiting new members and parents? InsaneScouter http://insanescouter.com Webmaster webmaster@insanescouter.org