jmcquillan

If you're going to go the 2-3 man tent route, one of the most popular tents in Scouting is tht Eureka Timberline series. They're self supporting "A" frame tents with a door at each end. Our troop has about 15 of them. A really good idea, if you can afford it, and if you have a good dealer (Campmor should be able to do this, if not contact Eureka, is to build yourself a supply of replacement parts. Having extra 'bones' (plastic connectors), pole parts, and stakes is a good idea for when the tents come back from a trip with missing or borken parts. Ever notice how these parts were "in the bag wh

Received the following this morning regarding the status of USSCOUTS.org. FYI: Just to make sure everyone is aware, We are back on-line in a temporary location. That includes usscouts.org, clipart.usscouts.org; www.macscouter.com; www.netcommish.com; and others. We are still working on finding a permanent home for the entire family of sites, and have some very promising leads and contacts to do so. Access may be a bit slow for a day or two, while the DNS Servers all get realigned to our IP addresses, so bear with us. Thanks to everyone that wrote us, or posted messages of support.

As a result of the expense and relative inadequacies of the current Scout uniforms for rugged outdoor wear, we forgo the notion of appearing 'uniform' when camping and hiking in the woods. It is far more practical to have the Scouts wearing clothing that stands up to the rigors of the craft we practice. Jeans and such serve the purpose well.

My service to Uncle Sam was spent in the jungles, thus the use for wool was non-existent. Yet, I have a good collection of the stuff for when I'm rather sedentary outdoors. You're correct that, when one is quite active, wool can be more of a hinderance than a help. The shear weight itself can be cumbersome. Newer, high tech outfitting can serve one better there. But I still relish sitting in my old chair, outdoors, with my cup o' coffee, watching the troops move about, in my heavy woolens.

Well, here goes... I try very hard not to get hung up on the variety of reason and lack thereof that society ventures forth with, or without. The human species is not something to be taken lightly, nor is it to be taken too seriously, either. Kids will be kids. Always have been. Always will be. Unfortunately, we have little control over their environment outside of the Scouting world. We can only attempt to divert attention to what we feel the program offers as more worthwhile endeavors and challenges for the boys and their time with us. And while the boys are with us, we will come a

Well, whoever authored the message above, it is very well put and clearly stated.

OldGreyEagle, I commend you. I haven't seen a better reason to be in Scouting than yours posted anywhere, for a long long time. I thank you for that. That one is worth sharing. And Mr. LeRoy, you're dead wrong, again. As I stated up above, I agree to let you have your opinion, and you do. You've made that very clear. But it truly seems to me that the shoe you seem to be trying to put on our foot is the one you're wearing yourself. We accept the fact that you have an opinion. That's fine. Please accept the fact that we all have our own opinions, too. And the fact that they don't agree

I'm going to try to paste in the email I received from USSCOUTS to answer your questions...hope this works. Fellow Scouters: Earlier today the U.S. Scouting Service Project went offline. The websites that we operate including www.usscouts.org; www.macscouter.com; www.netcommish.com; and others are no longer available for your use. It is our steadfast hope that soon we will be able to offer all of you as many Scouting resources as possible via the web. WHAT HAPPENED? Drivernet.com has for the past few years hosted the U.S. Scouting Projects web server. Today our host filed for ban

Our troop is chartered to an organization that can not possibly provide us with long-term meeting and storage space. Up to last week, we had our own Scout House (a state owned facility, since declared structurally unsafe by state inspectors). So, we're on the road again...so to say. One of the ideas we're toying with is the possibility of real long-term solutions in the form of building a new Scout House. My question is: Does anyone out there have experience with the 'process' of getting something like this venture of the ground. We know what we want. We have architects and engineers

Unfortunately, they lost their host. The host went belly up and declared bankruptcy. They had just enough time to get their gear out of the building. Presently they're searching for a new host, but claim that they will keep us all up to date via email as to their status (from time to time). To make matters worse, the loss of the host also effected MacScouter. And I agree, it's like losing a good friend. We can only hope some real do-gooder host out there can make provisions for our friends on the web again.

I'm afraid I still do not see a problem. And to that end, perhaps I agree with your statement that most Scouters don't see a problem either. If I join an organization, or if my children join an organization, I know right up front what their criteria are. And if that criteria spells out that a 'duty to God', no matter what God, be it higher deity or a tree, is a necessary part of the program, then so be it. I accept it or I don't join. Simple as that. And, I believe, that's the way most Scouters see it. If a governmental agency, or a town, or a school sees fit to not sponsor such an organi

Last time I checked, there was no 'religious descrimination' in Scouting. All religions are accepted, tolerated, approved, etc. That is, of course, unless you consider Aetheism to be a 'religion', which I believe most people understand to be the lack of any belief in religion. So that arguement lacks merit. Having been in Scouting for over 16 years, I've had the benefit of many religions within my troop, and it's always been a real bolster for learning about each. Religious intolerance? Not in the BSA!! Every one is accepted. Each and every Scout can practice any religion to which he and his f

Old Colony Council, generally south and southwest of Boston (Boston Minuteman Council). Most units are chartered to churches, Lions, Legions, VFW's, etc. Few, if any, chartered to schools that I know of. Haven't seen too much of the problem of units losing partners in this council, but it's happened in at least two nearby councils. So, it's not too far away, I'm afraid.

While I've never encouraged wearing camo on a troop camping trip, I've never encouraged wearing a Scout uniform, either. Uniforms are expensive enough, and I, for one, have always encouraged Scouts and their folks to save the uniform for events where it counts...meetings, parades, community service, summer camp, etc. Out in the woods, by ourselves, it hardly seems necessary to give the unifotm that extra wear & tear. So...Scouts are encouraged to wear clothing that fits the events, and if camo is to their liking, so be it. I do know, and have experienced, events like Klondikes, where the e

If you follow Bootman's thread under Issues & Politics, you'll find that you are not alone. It's quite astonishing that the folks in charge of that end of this sites business appear to have an uncaring attitude. (Can you spell fraud?) I would suggest that folks visiting this site refrain from making purchases. You'll be out your money, and likely never get what you ordered. The catalog part of this site hardly seems to live up to the Scout Oath and Law...which it would appear to hold high, but fails to live up to.

Now THAT should be published in the Scout and Scoutmasters Handbooks...

OldGreyEagle, No offense meant by the "Grandpa" comment. I used to get that from my two sons....now I get it from my grandchildren....go figure. But even they wear wool when we all go winter camping with their troop. And I bring mine when I go winter camping with mine. I must admit, though, I do try to make sure the wool is as 'stylish' as possible. Here in New England, wool pants and jackets are pretty much associated with northern parts of Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine...you know....hunting, trapping, logging, grandpa...

I agree whole-heartedly. If it's fashion you're after, then wool pants ain't gonna do it. Can you spell "Grandpa???"

If I understand what you're saying, it appears that the last thing you want to do is travel down the same path that the other troops appear to be...and that's trying to denigrate the other troops. And that would be the last thing you woudl want to do. Let your troop stand on it's own merits without comments regarding the other troops. The ultimately works against you. In our town there are two packs and two troops. Neither of the packs has ever been considered a 'feeder' pack. The two troops just run their programs, and offer the packs ample opportunity for their Webelos to come and visit

Wool pants are definitely NOT on the way out, and the EMS guys who told you this are only trying to sell you something else because they don't stock wool pants. LLBean does, and they sell quite a few...go figure. I have two pairs from Bean and two older pairs from the Army/Navy surplus. They all have their place in the grand scheme of things in the outdoor world. If you're heading into a cold rainy weekend, you might want to pack other pants along, and you'll need long underwear if you think the wool will make your legs itchy. But in cold non-rainy weather, they're great. Not to say that the m

It's absolutely amazing that after this series of postings, for all to see, that they might actually still expect people to buy things here. It's a poor way to run a business, that's for sure.

I must have been pulling a Rip Van Winkle, here. It seems that a number of the Eagle required merit badges have been revised, as have the 2nd and 1st Class requirements. While I was aware of the rank requirement changes, and did not agree with many, I was unaware of the new stiffness and elevated level of effort required for some of the merit badges, like swimming. What's up with that? Has National suddenly decided that there are too many Scouts attaining Eagle, and thus the bar should be elevated to make it tougher? (i.e., the racing technique requirements in the swimming merit badge.) I was

Every time I see these kinds of postings, I find myself being irresistably, but unhappily drawn into the discussion. But it's a discussion, like Mike said, that few address on a troop by troop basis. I don't think that the lack of attention to the subject stems from an unwillingness to tackle tough subject matter. Rather it comes from an unwillingness to allow the subject to intrude upon the program and goals the each troop has for the boys it serves. We've discussed the matter in the troop committee, as I indicated above. And, without anyone placing their views on the subject 'on the table' f

Our troop committee decided upon a policy to deal with this issue when it really began to boil. We simply decided, as a group, that the issue is not part of the program (as stated above), and that if the issue did come up, not one of us wanted to take the place of Mom & Dad. Your last paragraph pretty much states what we decided we would say, if called upon. To date, that hasn't happened. We feel that, with a large troop like ours, the likelyhood that parents of Scouts in the troop having opinions varying from ours is pretty good. So we don't want to be preaching something that Mom & D

Does anyone out there have experience with taking a group of scouts on a hut to hut hike in the White Mountains of Hew Hampshire? I can get rates and other information from the AMC. I'm looking for hands-on experience. Thanks.