jhankins

One of the camps my boys looked at had a program called "The Final Frontiersman" that included Space Exploration, Engineering and Astronomy. They also had a program called "Mataguay Messenger" that used Radio, Journalism and photography and they published a daily camp newspaper.

The last I heard (back in 2008) was that the BSA pension plan for professionals was funded from National Supply. I can't give you anymore information than that.

Great stories!

I took my cubs to sing Christmas carols at the local veterans home. The boys in Christmas hats and uniforms, and the moms in yellow cub shirts. No sooner did we finish but a very tall elderly gentleman hobbled his way over to us, carrying his Troop 1 Gilwell hat in his hand. He shook all the hands of every boy, then gave every mom a kiss on the cheek. He said he never got to do that for his den mother, and he could have sworn she saved his life when he was in Korea, just by being a voice of reason in his head.

Wow.

The CO is providing the meeting place, but out of the funds that the CO owns (the pack account), they want $600 a year to provide the meeting place. Seems reasonable enough. Ask the Pastor how they're going to help as the CO to raise the money.

If you feel that the relationship between the CO and the unit isn't worth the time and effort, then have your DE help you find a new CO, they are out there. But follow the meeting place inspection forms, and rules to see if it's a good fit. Make sure the new CO understands their role, too.

The church can then relinquish their rights to the number, equipment, and money -- if they choose. If not, all the money gear and the number go back to the council.

The message we were given at the Area leadership training conference this past year is that courses must always start with Beaver, and follow Gilwell order to the Antelope patrol depending on enrollment.

Courses can be expanded to 56+ participants with Scout Executive approval, but that requires altering the syllabus to give everyone the chance to be patrol leader. When we pointed that out to the powers that be, we were told to expect some kind of notation regarding that with the "revamped syllabus."

Teaching solidifies learning. If Star and Life scouts can go back and ensure their skills while teaching at the same time, they'll not only get the leadership experience but also prepare themselves for moving forward.

I asked the patrol leader I work with today to teach Totin' Chip skills (with supervision), and he jumped at the chance to get to share.

It's a win-win in my book.

You have cabins?! We have portable "agricultural buildings" so the council didn't have to get building permits. Hah!

I think there's a difference between hidden expenditures and flat-out profit from a training. Eventually, every penny will come down the pipeline from some donation, occasionally our own, so it's beneficial to ensure the money is going for what it is intended.

Should training cover its own expenses? Of course.

Should mandatory training be a council profit center? Not in my book. It's mandatory, and the training and better program should reflect upon more funds brought in rather than asking more of your volunteers who already give so much.

That contingency fund should be used to the full extent and benefit of the participants. The overhead costs in my council go to cover all council resources.

All that being said, getting whatever gifts-in-kind or project sales accomplished on behalf of your budget is always a good thing! The more free stuff we can get, the better off we all are. I've secured almost $300 in free food for a training coming up this year. It will all be recorded as free, too, but the money taken in from the participants will then be added to the contingency fund and more quality will be built into the program, not more money for the council.

I've never gotten a straight forward answer about why can't have more than 8 patrols (but you can have more than 6 in a patrol if necessary...). Something in my mind tells me it's a monetary reason, but I've not heard that from the horse's mouth.

That is so awesome! Stories like this are heart warming.

I have the privilege of working with a gentleman who received his Eagle at 35 (with an age waiver). He's the light of any event he attends and his cheerful heart and service is an example to all. I gain much by serving with him.

Beavah, I just consulted the COR training syllabus as well as the risk management paperwork my council office manager provided, and registered leaders are covered secondary to their primary liability coverage. The Chartered Organization, COR, board of directors are all covered as primary.

Keep in mind, too, that as a unit leader, Charter Org board member or COR, you are covered under a more than $5M liability insurance plan through the BSA. As a unit leader that insurance is secondary to any personal insurance you might cover, but it does pick up after your personal coverage ends.

You can always contact your council office and ask to speak to the person in charge of insurance certificates (It's usually the office manager) and get a written copy of what the plan covers. I distributed copies to almost 40 CORs last night and all seemed relieved to even know this existed.

I like the idea of our military men and women assisting on the ranges! Temporary duty is common for scouting events in my neck of the woods (leaders being sent as part of their work to camp), but it's an under utilized resource for more than that.

Our council has been giving them away like water lately. Ask your scout office if they have one, call your DE and see if he has a box of them in his garage, or ask your round table commissioner, even if your cub scout trainer.

I didn't see any mention of this being part of scouting, but a reality for our own children.

Thank you for sharing this. Testicular cancer and its screening hits home for me as my son is at risk with a 70% chance of developing it within the next 5-15 years due to an illness and birth defect.

Early detection is key, and no matter how uncomfortable it might seem to bring it up and discuss it, the treatments and diagnosis are far worse.

Our camp staff certainly isn't paid what I've seen mentioned here, and room and board comes out of the pay, so some staffers only make $50 a week.

If there is adequate supervision, disclosed rules and regulations, and it's not an affirmative action campaign to have female youth on staff, I'm all for it.

From what I've seen at our local camps, though, I wouldn't trust any young lady I know to be at camp without better supervision.

I've seen it written in several places (pdfs for Lodge leadership and the handbook, I think?) that the advisers and chiefs are involved with camping promotions committees and members of the committee. I'll have to dig out the material tonight.

Cross-chatter seems to be an issue the more units that rely on a meeting place rather than in-home den meetings. Has the unit considered that option? What about enhancing a relationship with other organizations with a building? Even hosting a unit can give them credit for community service.

Thank you for sharing this. Major Winters lived the very best leadership qualities, and is an outstanding example to all.

With so many more people using the outdoors and not understanding stewardship of the natural national treasures we possess, I think it's important that there be a standard to teach that is practical and informative.

I also enjoy seeing youth taking the charge on this, sharing their love of the outdoors and how best to preserve it. Recently one of the Venturers from my council was hailed an Outdoor Hero by LL Bean for her dedication to not just teaching LNT, but living it, too.

The youth are the current and future stewards and teachers of the importance of the backcountry classroom, I applaud them for owning LNT and committing it to their lifestyles.

We had a neat program at professional training aptly called the "Good Turn Award." It was a miniature copy of the scout statue that stands out front of the Irving office.

A good turn was observed by the staff, then the statue was passed out in a ceremony to recognize the good turn itself, not the person. The temporary holder of the statue in turn looked for another good turn to honor, and the statue was passed then from participant to participant.

It's great to see boys understanding the concept of helping their fellow man and beginning to look for the same qualities in each other.

I've seen what Eagle describes, sadly.

Pioneer their own rope ladders for a climbing relay?

Sounds like lots of fun, keep us updated on the progress!

I have a Nook, and have loaded my .pdf training files on it. The quality isn't great, but it works and is a step in the right direction.

I chose the Nook for the ability to loan books to friends, in addition to the ability to load .epub books and the e-ink on the screen seemed to load better for my eyes.

I enjoy holding a real book, but on-the-go lifestyle is far more reader-friendly when I can carry the books in my purse and not have to worry about packing boxes when I need to move.