jhankins

Careful of your tent poles. We have wind so hard in our area we have at least one family with a broken pole by the end of a trip!

The first pack my son joined operated on a zero-balance system. Minus the money we used to purchase show and sell popcorn and to cover 1 event paid for the boys (Roughly $700), we were at -0- balance by the end of summer. We all agreed that we would operate the pack on whatever money came in through popcorn sales, and then we'd decide on activities we could afford. It worked really well for all of us, and the boys knew the money they helped raise was used on activities for them. Contingencies aside, I can't see the benefit of units holding on to so much capital, it should be spent on

I can't afford it either, that's why we're leaving after crossover next month. Boys are referred to other packs if they can't afford this one, but the cost of this one usually leaves a bad taste in the parent's mouths.

I agree, we shouldn't lose boys over it, but uniforming is still an important part of the pack, and no one should be left out of it because, well, it's uniform. We run district and unit uniform closets of old uniforms, we have parents who canvas thrift stores for uniforms and then recycle the patches off them on Ebay or to the boys (if they can use them) to pay for new uniforms. We ask Charter partners if they can help with the cost of outfitting a boy in need that shows he's dedicated to the program -- there are ways to make it work. In my current pack, though, there's no ifs, ands

One of these Strike Alert personal lightning detectors is pretty cool, too. http://www.strikealert.com/ProductInfo.htm We have a lightning detector at Cub Camp, and pull kids out of the water when we need to. We don't get many thunderstorms here, but the occasional strike at 6600 ft. elevation is possible.

Books are important, as are uniforms. They're part of the methods of the program to help instill those morals and values we're trying to teach. With the new cub program, there's lots of homework, so a book is going to be even more important.

The pack I moved to (had to move 45 minutes from our old one), is now charging $285 for new scouts, and $220 for returning scouts, in addition to at least $300 in fundraising (or you can buy-out and pay the pack $300). Neckerchief, slide, hat, book ($30 or so) Awards for Pinewood (Car and food not included) Rank and belt loops Raffle prizes (to bring in MORE Money) This doesn't include food and lodging for overnighters, it doesn't cover den dues, day camp, resident camp, or any big outings. When I looked at the books, I couldn't justify that much per boy. The COR kn

I am all for boys going to Boy Scouts when they've earned their Arrow of Light -- not received it. Some boys in our pack have finished by October, have the required time, badges, and skills set forth, and they've been held back to going because the Pack wants them to cross all together at an OA AoL ceremony. If a boy is ready to go, can acclimate to a troop and get registered for spring camporees and summer camp, more power to them! They're motivated and you shouldn't hold them back by not awarding their badge for a fancy ceremony.

I LIKE this idea! How fun!

The General Young Men's Presidency of the LDS church has declared that if the member deems it appropriate to miss church for an adult training, then by all means go! This especially pertains to Wood Badge. The problem lies in the individual members wanting to be apart from family for this purpose. It varies by stake and ward if this happens, but I guarantee having a Wood Badge trained Stake President changes the outlook on all the leaders in regards to Sunday trainings. That being said, we offer our Wood Badge spring course Thursday through Saturday so everyone can be home for Sund

Don't get me wrong here, I support LDS Scouting and wish for it to thrive. I want to see every eligible young man in my district have some sort of contact with Scouting at one point during his life. That's my goal. To that end, I do work with training LDS leaders, serve as a unit commissioner to an LDS Troop and Pack (Because the Team and Crew just don't meet at all, they are with the Troop), and teach classes at Little Philmonts. In my district, I've seen LDS Scoutmasters serve 1 year as SM before their calling changed. 1 year! That's barely enough time to get fully trained let alon

Den Chiefs in my council are encouraged to attend camp with the Cubs! They get to have fun with the boys, meet camp staffers, and experience Cub Camp from another perspective. We treat Den Chiefs in one of two ways -- mentors to the Cubs they came with or as CITs for the time they are there. If the Den Chief would like to work a program area, they are welcome to, if not, they tag-along with their boys and serve as a coach and mentor on activities. The Den Chiefs also just pay the adult fee.

Are you looking for NAYLE or NYLT materials? Scout Shops have the NYLT syllabus on display racks, at least in my part of the world.

I like that idea, having Arrowmen stand behind the call-out team. Very nice. My lodge is big on service. 5 Ordeals this year, last year was six. I had a long talk with the Lodge Adviser last night after a Wood Badge beading and we discussed how cheerful service in some chapters is better than others, and the LC is working with each CC separately to come up with a plan.

The 100% swoop is even more complicated at the council level. I saw 25% no votes at our last council board meeting because of one person on the slate.

Sorry about the multiple posts, I was having internet issues last night! The best way to dispel myths and answer questions is to gain knowledge, and that's part of what we're doing here. Getting involved with leaders from other religions also helps, and can bridge the gaps we have in the program.

How funny, LDS not being allowed anything Disney. I just went to Disneyland for 14 hours with three of my best friends, all Mormons. My baptist son and I had a blast with our friends and enjoyed everything Disney while discussing church/scout politics in the lines I talked with a Stake YM President about why girls can't have their own Venturing crews, or why the GSA isn't used as a church program -- it's because the church feels comfortable with the program they offer the girls on their own. That being said, there are a group of young LDS women looking for a charter org for their own

I look at my work in Scouting as a kind of therapy as well. When I was at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, laying over a bed with needles in my back, the doctor asked, "So do you have kids?" to which I replied, "Yep, 3,000 boys!" It sure was a great conversation starter to talk about scouting that way!

How funny, LDS not being allowed anything Disney. I just went to Disneyland for 14 hours with three of my best friends, all Mormons. My baptist son and I had a blast with our friends and enjoyed everything Disney while discussing church/scout politics in the lines I talked with a Stake YM President about why girls can't have their own Venturing crews, or why the GSA isn't used as a church program -- it's because the church feels comfortable with the program they offer the girls on their own. That being said, there are a group of young LDS women looking for a charter org for their own

How funny, LDS not being allowed anything Disney. I just went to Disneyland for 14 hours with three of my best friends, all Mormons. My baptist son and I had a blast with our friends and enjoyed everything Disney while discussing church/scout politics in the lines I talked with a Stake YM President about why girls can't have their own Venturing crews, or why the GSA isn't used as a church program -- it's because the church feels comfortable with the program they offer the girls on their own. That being said, there are a group of young LDS women looking for a charter org for their own

How funny, LDS not being allowed anything Disney. I just went to Disneyland for 14 hours with three of my best friends, all Mormons. My baptist son and I had a blast with our friends and enjoyed everything Disney while discussing church/scout politics in the lines

I look at my work in Scouting as a kind of therapy as well. When I was at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, laying over a bed with needles in my back, the doctor asked, "So do you have kids?" to which I replied, "Yep, 3,000 boys!" It sure was a great conversation starter to talk about scouting that way!

A lot of the church/scouting history is available at ldsbsa.org

Do any of you engage in cultural studies and informational classes/demos and Pow Wows with local nations? We have an 800 acre reservation right here in my chapter area, and I've only seen a hand few of Arrowmen participate in the events that happen in our backyard. We don't have a formal cultural studies committee in our lodge, but I'm hoping that could be a part of my service as an adult to the Order!

Well said, Crew.