AntelopeDud

Having a son with ADD, I understand the notion of a "Medication Holiday". It is even suggested from time to time from the pediatrician. But, parents have to think about what they are doing. Generally, ADD is an inability to properly focus. Of course it makes logical sense to take the meds during the week at school because it's helps them learn what they are being taught. When you are at a Scouting campout - or any event where your child will be working, the same need to remian focused exists, and the meds should be taken. At school, it you loose focus, you get a bad grade. At a campout,

That's great motivation, and I'm sure they were a pretty tight unit during their journey.

"The schism can be seen right here in this thread 7 replies with 4 boy scout leaders blaming cub scout leaders for their losses. Stop blaming cub scouts for ailments in the boy scout program. Boy scouts shouldn't even need a "prepared" scout. So how could we prepare them wrong? " I think an unintentional nerve has been struck here. Most Boys Scout leaders were at one point Webelos Den Leaders so I don't think that "Blame" is what we are doing. My comments come from they heart because this "Schism" caught me by surprise when 7 of 11 Webelos that I crossed over into one Boy Sc

God Bless! -AD

I think that the schism occurs during the Webelos years. Kids are alot more advanced, savy and smarter earlier than they were 20 years ago. By the time Cub Scouts become Webelos, they have dne all the gluing and pasting of paper that they want. Nowadays, Kids this age really need to get outside more and become far more hands on and challenged. I'm amazed at the number of Webelos who cross over and have not camped very much at all. In fact, you could count on one hand how many times they have camped. I believe that we need to get the Webelos outside more, Webelos Leaders need to imp

Sometimes, I think we are losing our focus of the aims we are supposed to be teaching. One's character isn't a reflection of his fund raising abilities. I'm sure Bill Clinton (A star Scout) would raise $1 million, but I wouldn't view him as an appropriate voice for Boy Scouts. Our council had U.S. Navy Commander Scott Waddle speak at our Character Counts breakfast. Who is he? He is a Submarine captain who made an error in his location as he resurfaced underneath a Japenese vessel killing nine people. His ethics he learned being an Eagle Scout made him immediately take responsibilit

My district doesn't really do a very good job with this either IMHO. I mean, they put on Day Camps and Webelos Woods and a recruiting event or two - which is great. The problem is, they don't tell units how to use them. Now, some of this should fall pretty square on the shoulders of the Boy Scout Troops. If you don't understand that these events are there for your recruiting benefit and choose not to staff them, then they deserve your low numbers. Problem with that attitude is that you aren't giving Webelos a good look into Scouting and may cause them not to cross-over at all. My t

The Montrail Torre is another GREAT boot. Very comfortable and extremely durable shoe. The break in time for my pair was extremely minimal. I would buy them again over Vasque and others due to my satisfaction. -AD(This message has been edited by AntelopeDud)

LisaBob, My Troop does similar to what you do, but with variations. All of our new Scout go to a NSP upon crossover. They stay there 9-12 months, depending upon their progress. Last year we had over 20 new Scouts join our Troop, so we were able to create 2 NSPs. Each NSP had two older Scouts as their Troop Guides. We had a stronger pair of leaders guide NSP A last year than NSP B. In that, I mean that one of the Troop Guides for NSP A was a little more mature, had better leadership and conflict management skills, and therefore was better at bringing the patrol together.

We as leaders, set up a program and set up boundaries that we intend for the kids stay between. We all know that youth of Boy Scout age are going to "push the envelope" and test those boundaries from time to time. It's part of their growing and maturing process and we shouldn't be blocking that. In the process, however, they will get carried away from time to time and that's where we, as mentors, come in. We help them understand what they did was wrong and why it was wrong, and hopefully inspire them to make a better choice next time. Mistakes by the boys will be made. It is not a

gogator I am kind of a wimp when it comes to things like this, so here's how I would handle this. In a committee meeting, you can make a point that you have noticed that some of the youth have been caught with their shirts untucked. You want to start enforcing a rule of good appearance and that you were going to start really getting onto the Scout when you see them like this. As a good measure, since we are asking our Scouts to stay buttoned up and tucked in, let's all make an effort to do the same and make sure we look sharp. Hopefully she will get the hint. -AD

Hey Bugs! I know how you feel. I am the Committee Chairman for our Troop. When I first joined the Troop, I was asked (for what reason I'm still not clear) to take over for the outgoing CC. One thing I have learned is that as Committee Chair, your committee looks to you for leadership. These are going to likely be pretty good adults who share a common goal and set of values. If something just doesn't seem right, then change it. Especially if it has to do with how the Committee meeting is flowing. That is your primary job. Run it however you are comfortable with running it. T

kb6jra - Wow, you don't let kids sleep in tents until they get to First Class? Man, I thought our Scoutmaster was tough on the boys.

Nothing infuriates me more than to be ridiculed by other Scouters in your area for doing things right. Our Troop is seen by some as the 800-pound elephant of our district. We aren't just huge or anything, but we are always involved. We have a very diverse group of boys and appeal to many people because of our participation in things like Webelos Woods, Day Camp, other district activities. Troop in our district tend to not support these events, but turn around and complain when we "steal their kids". We end up recruiting the kids that they were after because we supported our district. Thos

I was NO wee lad in 1977. I was an imposing 8-year-old and well on my way to Dud and Woodbadge fame. Pranksters I can handle. In fact, there is a particular SPL that I would love to 'Get Back' for clearing out my tent at summer camp and hiding it's contents in the woods. All in good fun, he is a great Scout. However, I have to be careful on how to acknowledge the fun and 'retaliate'. That's where those youth protection issues keep popping in my head and protect said SPL from waking up in the middle of the lake on a raft. Yes, sadly, Bill Murray and the 'Meatballs' gang is from my

Well, I have looked all through the G2SS and other publications and can't find anything that prohibits a boy sleeping in a tent alone. SR540BEAV loves pointing out the errors of AntelopeDud, there must be some kind of Merit badge for leaders on this ... the SM loves to do this too. I guess that was a troop policy or maybe even a Pack policy from way back when. I still think the buddy system is the best guideline for tenting arrangements. I'd feel better because BSA guideline always have me thinking "what if". We have sleepwalkers, kids with allergies that require Epinephrine shots so

I think it's being replaced by "A Scout is Ambiguous".

Beavah, Going to the Pecos Wilderness. I don't think we have to pack it up there, but the topic came up in a WFA course that I took this past weekend and it just made me think. Now, which one of these are tootsie rolls....? -AD (DoD)

I'm a proud member of the Dud Patrol, the dedicated group of adult Scouters in my unit. I agree with you OGE, it's always good to let everyone know what we are all about and what great things these young men do everyday. My comment wasn't really meant to counter the various and sundry political and news organizations that tend to paint a very misleading picture, my comment was really focused more on the issue of membership. I want to see more boys in Scouting. In my district, the public school system has kind of done an about face on support of the BSA and made it really hard to intr

I really don't think that alot of changes are in order. I would like to see the BSA improve it's image and make the program more attractive to youth. It always been kind of funny to me that the image that youth not in the program have of Boy Scouts is that nerdy little kids helping the old lady cross the road or those silly uniforms they wear. Truthfully, the thing that would attract a youth is that we do fun things that most kids don't get to do. Boys love to camp out, rock climb, canoe, etc. Sometimes I wonder if advertising that stuff might be worthwhile. The BSA has the Scoutzone web

WOW! What a great group of Scouters. Your knowledge of fecal matter is very impressive, as is your sense of humor. I have laughed, been informed of bacteria and had my stomach turn all on one topic. Well done Scouters! -AD, the newly appointed Duke of Dung (I really liked that one OGE)

SR540BEAV, is like my Scouting big brother, always looking out for me, always making me take his crap, always getting me into trouble with the SM. Seriously, he's a great Scouter and a wonderful mentor. I just hate to take extra weight with me if at all possible, and do we really think that animals care that we poop in their front yards. We can all do more to protect our environment, but some things just seem to go a little overboard. Just looking for that other point of view. SR540BEAV has this pocket on the outside of his backpack and he will never know when I leave him a littl

I understand, believe in and practice the principles of LNT when camping, but can someone explain to me why it is neccessary in some wilderness areas to pack up and carry your human waste with you? What is it about our poop that makes it so much worse than that of the other animals, that it needs to be carried out? Sounds like a bunch of "poop" to me, but maybe I'm missing something. -AD

firecrafter, I know your thoughts are and have always been with the young son of this crazy man. We all want to help as many kids as we can, especially when it appears there is trouble. Ultimately, the right thing was done in that you've done what needed to be done for the good of the unit and boys in it. The best we can do is pray for this young man who seems to be lost in the cross-fire and hope that his dad receives the help he needs. You did good - now on to the business of your Troop. -AD

I agree that increase in numbers DOES NOT equate to quality. My biggest problem is with requirement #5 "At least 70 percent of our youth members had an outdoor experience or one activity per month, or improve percentage over last year". I had to call my district commissioner on this one. Do they really think that we get 70% attendance to all of our campouts EVERY month? Surely I'm not reading this right. He said that yes, that what is expected, but instead of a campout, your unit can just go outside and have a flag ceremony to quality for that month. Seriously, the idea of this new