johndaigler

I've never seen ScoutNut referred to as "Sweet" before . . . Omega, We don't allow our boys to "carry" ever. Parents and DLs hold knives before and after any adult-supervised activity where the knife is used. jd

AAAAAAAAAAAAWWWWWWWWWWWWOOOOOOOOOooooooooooooo!!!!!! Welcome and thanks for stepping in!!! Keep an empty chair handy for the old DL - maybe there's a different Den or Pack role for her to play. Enjoy the path!!! jd

Welcome, newbie-CM!! jd

Welcome, Bushmaster!!! Good luck with your evolving role!! Sounds like you're on the right path -- thanks for your efforts!! jd

Welcome, 625, and good luck!! Remember to have fun and help the boys have fun while they're learning. Since you have to learn on the fly, I suggest starting with the Cub Scout Leader Book - and of course, the boys' handbooks. There are other great resources but these are the best for steep learning curves. As CM, you'll be partly responsible for future planning, so the next best resource is Program Helps. And, of course, look to get yourself and your Pack leaders trained as quickly as convenient. On to your parent involvement thoughts: Each Cub rank has many requirements that are family-based. Take the time necessary to figure out which ones those are and share with the parents. For example, for Wolves, the following Achievement requirements are "Family-Based": 3a-c, 4a-e, 6a, 7a-b, 8b-e, 9a-c, 10a-g, 11a-d, 12a. When parents understand how family focused our program is, they see the need to get involved with their own son's Scouting adventure. For many, it's a short step from there to helping out the Den and Pack, as well. Look into the Family Award program - it's another good tool for hooking families into the process! BTW, ADL is a MUCH better job title abbreviation for Assistant Den Leader!! Enjoy!! jd

for us, ...An adult cut the felt(one piece like regulation, minimizes sewing), but the boys machine-sewed the shoulder seams hammered in the graumets and cut the leather lacing. jd we couldn't find (afford) wool felt as thick as is used by BSA, but they turned out great!

BTW, welcome!!!! And remember to leave time for your own training, growth and fun. jd

The Cub Scout Outdoors Award. But it requires Day Camp so make sure your boys plan ahead. jd

Any chance purple signifies chaplain or other religious focused volunteer who would cross unit lines?? jd

OmegaEagle, The requirements are pretty straight forward. We've found the tricky part to be what happens afterwards...When is the Cub allowed to carry/use/own/share/show his knife??? jd

AWWWWWOOOOOOOoooooooooooooo!!!!!!! jd

Why allow Poker, but not YuGiOh? YuGiOh requires much more thought and strategy than Poker. It's much more about planning attack and defense, and using the tools you have at hand, than about "reading" your opponent. And it has a smaller "Luck" factor than Poker. And isn't Poker much more likely to proliferate gambling than a trading card game like YuGiOh? Sure there are always going to be occasional problems between boys, but cards don't punch people; people do! If it's interfering with planned activities, that's a separate issue (and isn't that as much about the planned activities as it is about the cards?), but with their own personal "down-time", I'm not sure I see why we'd step in and act. ???? I hope that didn't sound critical of your choices. Just trying to understand, so I can figure out how I'm gonna respond when I have to face the issue. BTW, don't get me wrong. I LOVE Poker, but that's a big-boy game -- I'm struggling with it being an acceptable Scout activity... jd

Semper, Thanks! It was worth every last word!!!! jd

Welcome and good luck, Singme!!! Don't hesitate to ask specific questions -- these guys are all about answers! Make sure you get your hands on a Program Helps!! And ditto on the training! Bears only need to do 12 out of the 24* Handbook Achievements, so don't think you need to be everything to everybody. Plan Den activities that are fun and purposeful and help parents see that the family has a share of the responsibility and the fun activities -- some of those Bear requirements must be done at home! Try to keep parents informed about what you're planning and accomplishing as a Den so they can plan what they need to do to help their son succeed. Good Luck and visit often!! jd *The 12 Achievements not used to earn the Bear Badge can be used as Electives for Arrow Points.(This message has been edited by johndaigler)

Now that Tigers are Blue and the Webelos can option Blue/Tan, parents might be able to save a penny or two on the number of shirts they buy during Cubbing. Parents can choose Tan as their son sizes out of Blue as a Fourth/Fifth grader and maybe not need to buy a new Tan when crossing over. I'd like to know who sizes those shirts anyway. Body size and body length never make any comparable sense. Have you ever seen a Cub with the right body fit shirt that didn't have the shirt tails hanging to their knees? - no wonder they don't like to tuck them in! For the pants they need to take a hint from GAP and include those inside-the-waistband-button-up-pull-tab-elastisizers. Works great for those scrawny Cubs whose legs keep growing but whose waists stay the same. The various neckerchiefs, hats, belt buckles and slides is what bugs me. They aren't necessary. Could you imagine BSA telling Scouts to buy/wear different uniform pieces as they progress through ranks...It's as if we're trying to use Cub families to subsidize program. My $.02 jd

When you really think you're complete, ask OGE to help you find one his red berets!!!

Now, you guys aren't saying that your leaders don't sit around after lights out and play a quiet game of cards, are you???

Eamonn, wishing you more joy. Cajuncody's right - you need to go watch the local Pinewood Derby!!!!! See if you can convince OJ to build ya one to race once or twice after the boys are done!!!!! jd

My Dad (1924 - 1992). Lost his own father to a drunk driver when he(my Dad) was 18 and serving in Europe during WWII. Then ... 9 kids - 5 sons (5 AOLs; then 2 Stars, 2 Lifes, and an Eagle; 5 OAs and a total of 7 Religious Awards) not to mention 3 seriously involved Girl Scouters and a 4H-er. CubMaster, ScoutMaster, Commissioner, etc., etc. -- decades of service. Took three busloads of boys and leaders on a 28 day trip across the country from Buffalo, NY to LA and back with stops for the Lake Michigan Ferry, Corn Palace, Mt. Rushmore, Knottsberry Farm, Grand Canyon, 1960 Golden Jubilee Jamboree, and obviously, much more. WoodBadge trained. Catholic Committee on Scouting, St. George Award. Unretired as an ASM at 51 yrs old. to lead me and a crew at Philmont in '76. Silver Beaver. All with a High School Diploma, and a salary that never reached mine as a starting teacher in '82 ... with only 3 bedrooms ... and a wife who didn't drive (but was awarded a St. George of her own!) ... while operating a restaurant. jd (This message has been edited by johndaigler)

just my two cents, not criticizing, not attacking... This topic is so personal, it often seems to bring out the worst in each of us. We get defensive or aggressive. We get hurt or hurtful. It's a bit mind-boggling. Anyway, ... $0.02 ... I'd rather the govt. was less religious. My family and I don't need Uncle Sam to be teaching/demonstrating Religious truths or symbols. To be honest, even the "In God We Trust" is too much for me. I could go on down the list of ways in which our govt. mixes religious ideals, if only as metaphors, into areas that ought to be Caesar's. They don't benefit me and taken to any extreme, become more than disrespectful of religious minorities. Which then sets us up for the acceptance of mistreatment of other minority groups. If Faith is politicized, then it is/will be used as a political weapon -- gee, haven't seen that lately!!! If faith is a political tool, then religious groups become nothing more than "special interest groups" -- bought and sold, buying and selling. I'm not so naive or uninformed as to believe this isn't an historical reality -- at many times, in many places. But I'd like to see our Democratic Experiment grow beyond that. I think Faith can make a good man better, but I don't think it does the same for a govt. I don't want to see Faithless politicians, but I would like to see a Faithless govt. The other side of the same coin ... I don't need my religious leaders teaching me civic lessons or suggesting political opinions to me. I think these aspects of my life are better if separate. jd PS>...High schoolers Should dress up as Santa, and schools Should throw Winter Break parties. Yes, the principal over-reacted. May '05 be your best year ever!!!!!!

So does every charitable organization, PBS station, museum and community group to which you've ever contributed. It's smart business --- people who give give again. It's why we fundraise popcorn the way we do! It's why kids know which neighborhoods to trick-or-treat! It's also why Drudge does what he does - again and again - demographic studies! jd(This message has been edited by johndaigler)

Granted, it was 75 and 76 when I went, but . . . The actual treks at Philmont varied greatly. one year it was 56 miles - moderate. The other year was something like 106 miles - strenuous. So, I guess my question would be: What are you getting yourself into? Working as a team is vital. Teenagers is decent shape is important, but as I recall they're pretty resilient. If you're going strenuous though, you probably need to prepare or just be taking senior scouts. The younger boys could w

pg 6 of the Bear book also explains the situation for Bears in a pretty straight forward manner. 2CD, I think CubMaster-Fred is right about the Wolves. jd

LOL Well Played, Semper!!!

Wolves and Bears cannot use those "unused, optional" requirements as electives. Bears can use requirements from un-selected Achievements as Electives but cannot use those "extra, optional" requirements from their chosen Achievements. jd(This message has been edited by johndaigler)