AnniePoo

http://www.scouting.org/scoutsource/BoyScouts/AdvancementandAwards/MeritBadges/mb-KAYA.aspx

Looks like they are pretty similar to Canoeing MB requirements, and can be done with recreational kayaks.

Schedule is too structured. (It looks like the schedule I originally set for the first pack campout years ago). Schedule a few organized things in between meals, but make sure they have a lot more free time. On our Webelos campouts, which turned out very well, we had stuff for them to play, stuff to work on for activity pins, etc., but let them set their own schedules for the most part (except for swimming, fishing, & hikes).

It's GREAT that you're doing this with the Webelos. The first one is the hardest, and other campouts will be significantly easier.

Ditto to what Brewmeister said.

Anyone have updated info about when Kayaking MB requirements will be released?

Another good book: A Fork in the Trail.

I have three REI Camp Dome 4 tents that I've used with Cubs and Boy Scouts for about 5 years. They are durable, dry in all conditions, and well ventilated. They've been used probably 20 times by all manner of Webelos and Boy Scouts (as well as our family), and are still in very good shape. Can be set up or taken down in about 5 minutes.

I've had a couple of the REI brand 3.5" thick "thermarest-type" pads for many years, and love 'em. They've held up really well and are very comfortable. Normally almost $100, but they go on sale fairly often. Great for car camping, summer camp, etc., but too heavy for backpacking.

Can you make it up to Zion National Park and/or Bryce Canyon National Park in far southern Utah while you are there? Both are really beautiful, and have lots of beautiful hiking opportunities from easy to difficult. They are only hours from the southern rim of Grand Canyon.

I'm one of our troop & crew's high adventure & camping coordinators, and was at Grand Canyon last week for a family vacation. I agree with one of the posters that you should focus on hikes along the rim for inexperienced 1st and 2nd year scouts. You could do a day hike down and back to the 1.5 mile "hut" on the Bright Lights trail, which will give them a taste of a little more difficult trail without making it too hard. BRING WATER BOTTLES (1-2 L each minimum). Even if it's not too hot along the rim, the air is dry. Also, when planning distances for hiking, remember that the elevation along the rim will be a factor in how far they can go (unless you live in a location at elevation).

Have fun!

Skeptic,

No, but it's related to PETA's lawsuit for gay nurse sharks.

Plague is endemic in the southwest United States, particularly in rodents, including prairie dogs. There have been hundreds of human pneumonic plague cases in the SW in the last half century. It's pretty safe to assume that if you look for Yersinia pestis (bacteria that causes plague) in rodents or fleas on rodents in these areas, you will find it.

Interesting fact - a few of these human cases have likely been caused by domestic cats that ate rodents.

Persons who live in these areas or travel to these areas should minimize their contact with rodents or rodent-eating carnivores, and should also be aware of the symptoms of plague.

LED flashlights

The aquatics tour plan requirement is a bit of a nuisance. Our Scout House is on a lake, and we paddle weekly before troop meetings all summer, in addition to many other river paddling trips. Thus, I'll be sending in about 20 tour plans all at once to cover the whole summer.

What Blancmange said.

And check with nature centers, etc. in your area to see if they offer programs for the four nature-related Webelos pins at a low cost. Your local EMT's may be able to handle Readyman for you.

Get 'em outside as much as possible.

REI Camp Dome 4

Put handwarmers (the ones that activate when you open them) in your pockets. There's a product called ThermaCare heating pads that are essentially the same thing as handwarmers but are much bigger. They generate a LOT of heat, and I gave one to each of our scouts (and used one myself) when we slept outside this winter for Polar Bear. I use them when deer hunting as well. The Thermacare's come in a red box and are located in the pharmacy department of Walmart, etc. They're basically a one-time use heating pad with an adhesive so they stick right to your body. Get one for back or for arm/neck. They can really help.

From Food Safety Annie...

I usually just lurk here, but had to respond to this one. You can probably assume that most types of plastic freezer bags will leach at least a small amount of hazardous chemicals (not likely to be dioxins) when used off-label to boil foods in water. There are bags specifically designed for sous-vide (i.e. boil-in-bag) type cooking, but these are meant to be heat-sealed, which is not feasible for campouts.

Having said that, the risk from boiling foods in a Ziplock bag at a Scout campout once or twice a year is probably negligible and I would not be concerned. As with most negligible risks, driving home is probably by far the most dangerous thing you will do.(This message has been edited by AnniePoo)

Cool! It's one of my favorite shows. I'd pawn stuff to send kids to camp if I had any old junk worth anything.

We don't have a set policy, but would give reimbursement for gas for the vehicle pulling the troop trailer to campouts if asked. Last campout, because he hauled the trailer, we waived the food fee for the SM and his kids instead.

Our troop covers registration fees and any training fees for leaders & registered parents.

Your post should be a reminder to all of us here that we need to assume that many readers are not long term scouters and are coming here for valuable information and insight. We need to keep usage of acronyms to a minimum, or at least spell them out the first time they are used in a thread.

Never assume everyone in your audience knows the basics of what you are talking about.

This is a good reminder that we should keep the use of acronyms to a minimum in this forum and in many other areas of life. There have likely been many newbies viewing these pages that have been confused and are too shy to speak up.

I guess I fall among the "imprudent or unlucky". While donating blood a few years ago, an improperly trained phlebotomy nurse in a hurry seriously damaged a nerve in my arm. The injury led to serious complications which now result in painful neuropathy in half of my body, and it is likely that I will have this condition the rest of my life. It's a 24/7 condition, and only expensive anticonvulsant medication, frequent neuro appointments, pain clinic visits, etc. keep this condition even remotely in check. I can fortunately still work, albeit not as effectively because of side effects of the meds. (Scouting has become a much-needed positive area of my life).

I've worked hard all my life (in my mid-40's) and now I have a significant pre-existing medical condition through absolutely no fault of my own. The fact that this pre-existing condition would not be covered right away by a new insurance company severely limits my prospects for switching to a new job, so in a sense I'm somewhat stuck in the job I have. I need to be insured - my meds alone are expensive, not to mention the frequent doctor visits.

Eisely, the tone of your post sure sound like you're suggesting that most people with pre-existing health conditions could have prevented their misfortune. However, this was certainly not the case with me, and there are far too many others who either suffer serious financial misfortune because of non-coverage of their pre-existing condition, or have significant limitations placed on their career options. Have some empathy ---you don't know everyone's story, and you or someone close to you could be in a similar position some day.

Our cost per Cub Scout is about $100. This includes Boy's Life, belt loops, program materials, $20 toward summer camp fees for each scout, school rental for den meetings, etc. We also offer financial assistance to needy families to cover the cost of activities and summer camp. For instance, we covered the cost of summer camp for four scouts this summer. Our income comes from registration fees, popcorn & wreath sales, and a spring rummage sale.

If needed, we could probably get costs down to $50/scout, or we could go wild with expenditures and get costs up to $200 per scout. We have an estimated budget for the year, and generally stick to it.

We did a pack rummage sale last spring, selling items donated by pack families, friends, and community members. We raised over $300, and by changing location I think we can make $500 next spring.

We have a pack of 50-60 cubs, and like to carryover the equivalent of one year worth of expenses, which works out to $5000-6000.

The CM does not make financial decisions. These are made by the committee, headed up by the CC. An expenditure of this sort should be voted on by the committee (which does not include the CM), and ideally should be also approved by the chartering organization rep.