Scouting4Ever

Our troop will be celebrating our Centennial in a few months. I thought I would reach out and see what the community thinks should be included.

1. We are inviting all former Scoutmasters. We only have two more to find that we think are currently alive.

2. We are working to find and invite all living Eagle Scouts. We have 120 Eagles from our troop.

3. We are inviting our chartered partner, the church.

5. We are planning to have a lunch and will develop a program to show off what we can of the past 100 years. This will include speaking parts for the current Scouts and recognition of Scoutmasters, Eagle Scouts, former members, etc.

6. Each currently registered member of the troop will get a special unit number that we will only give to current members and burn the rest of them that don't get given away to members.

7. We are working on a special patch for anyone that wants one - think former troop members.

What have you done for milestone celebrations? What have you seen done, what have you heard and what do you wish you would have done different for yours? Do you have a script you would be willing to share?

We appreciate any insight you can provide us to help us make this celebration amazing.

I am working on developing a hammock camping class for our troop and our community. What kinds of things would you want to learn?

I am planning on including Leave No Trace and reading The Ultimate Hang: Hammock Camping Illustrated by Hansen and have found some good resources online. 

I have some different hammocks for the Scouts to try and see as well. 

Who has troops that are starting to have more Scouts hammock?

On 3/27/2018 at 7:29 PM, Thunderbird said:

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On 3/27/2018 at 7:31 PM, Thunderbird said:

Are you looking for the old rank images?  Or current ones?

I was thinking old, and making it a bit more vintage than just attaching the current patches.

Thanks for the insight. I like the idea of them coming up with a game that uses the skills and I am thinking that might be there next "assignment"

I have also seen life size rank props

We would most likely hang it on the wall like this

The candle holder in the middle

http://blog.utahscouts.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/EagleCourtOfHonACor.gif 

We would love to make some props and stuff for courts of honor and such. Does anyone know where there might be plans to build something like this. Not so much the board and the stand but the awesome vintage graphics

We just finished our crossover and our troop has expanded! No complaints there. 

As I look at the troop some of my older Scouts (freshmen) have earned Eagle and I have a few (freshmen, sophomores and juniors) who are close to Eagle. They are getting bored with the meetings and such. 

My younger Scouts (5th, 6th 7th and 8th) make up 2/3 of the troop. A lot of effort is put into teaching them the skills needed Scout to First Class and we use older Scouts to teach but after awhile that gets boring for the older Scouts as well. 

Any thoughts, links, cool things you have done to re-engage your older Scouts? We have talked about older Scout camp outs and they are looking at doing a float trip. One has applied for World Jamboree and one is spending his summer as a counselor. I know they still enjoy Scouting just Monday nights are sometimes a drag. 

If a Life Scout completes his Eagle project, and the work is done with another club, does it still count even though he was the only Scout who took part?

Thanks for the input. I have read through the pamphlet and as the SM/MBC I am just trying to figure out the heart of the requirement. If the majority of people feel it is more the planning and the preparation then I feel that many of my Scouts have done it. We annually do a cold weather prep meeting and then go on our cold weather campout in December which is preparation for a campout in January that usually is in the 30-10 degree range. Sometimes it snows sometimes it does not. Last year it snowed but not enough to accumulate. If the expectation is a snow covered campout then they have not. 

What would you expect to see as completion of Camping 9B - Plan and carry out an overnight snow camping experience? Any insight is appreciated so I can guide our Scouts. Thank you.

We would like to recognize a former Scoutmaster with the recognitions he should have completed paperwork for when he was SM.

1. - Scouters Training Award - no brainer as he completed it all when he was SM

2 - Unit Leader Award of Merit - says you must be a currently registered SM so I interpret he is ineligible.

3 - Scoutmasters Key - should we award under the old criteria as he could of earned it like that or does it have to be new criteria and he would not be eligible.

What would you do? What have you done? Thanks for the input.

This weekend I taught personal fitness. As part of the requirements there is the sit and reach test. Since all Scouts will do the badge on their way to Eagle we decided to make the sit and reach box to help all Scouts and their counselors.

That got me to thinking what other kits could a troop make to elevate the instruction of merit badges?

We are working to bring back patrol flags with our troop. I was wondering if you could help me out. We are thinking we are going to give them the "flag" - the size, shape, color as determined by the PLC) and let them come up with the design that goes on their canvas.

1. Materials? - Polyester, cotton, nylon or something else

2. What is the best way to transfer a design to the flag?

3. Grommets or sleeve?

4. What else do we need to know?

We are going to build a flag holder where the flags will rest next to the troop flag. Then have them use their patrol flags when they line up for opening, closing and when we head to campouts. I am also thinking about a Webelos flag so that when we have visitors they can get in on the fun.

Thank you for any thoughts and suggestions you can help us out with.

The Scout symbol is what I am looking for. More than just a "cutout" and maybe from the 60's. Maybe made from resin?

I am looking for the name of or plans to build  what I assume are vintage "props" used in courts of honor. One is a candle holder and has the First Class Badge in a 3D type ornament and the other is stands of each element of each rank badge.

Any help would be appreciated.

They have released the new Adult Leader Training Awards: http://www.scouting.org/Training/Adult.aspx

(Tiger, Wolf, Bear, Webelos) Den Leader Training Award: http://www.scouting.org/filestore/training/pdf/511-052_WB.pdf

Scouter's Training Award for Cub Scouts: http://www.scouting.org/filestore/training/pdf/511-057_WB.pdf

Scouter's Training Award for Boy Scouting: http://www.scouting.org/filestore/training/pdf/511-058_WB.pdf

Scout's Training Award for Varsity: http://www.scouting.org/filestore/training/pdf/511-059_WB.pdf

Venturing Training Award: http://www.scouting.org/filestore/training/pdf/511-060_WB.pdf

Cubmaster Key: http://www.scouting.org/filestore/training/pdf/511-053_WB.pdf

Scoutmaster Key: http://www.scouting.org/filestore/training/pdf/511-054_WB.pdf

Coach's Key: http://www.scouting.org/filestore/training/pdf/511-055_WB.pdf

Advisor's Key: http://www.scouting.org/filestore/training/pdf/511-056_WB.pdf

According to Scoutwire if you are currently working on an award you have until a specified time to complete it.

Tiger Cub Den Leader Award December 31, 2012

Webelos Den Leader Award December 31, 2012

Cubmaster Award December 31, 2013

Pack Trainer Award December 31, 2013

Cub Scouter Award December 31, 2013(This message has been edited by jzweiac)

Thanks to everyone for your input.

To answer "But perhaps that's not a problem for you. Can you describe how that works?"

It is actually something that we began doing last year as a suggestion that I found on this forum. We do our main activity which is held on the same night as our regular Pack meeting. This might be a bike ride, bowling party, swim party, etc. We then do a Cubmaster Hike (another idea from this forum) to provide an extra opportunity for those Scouts who will not be present for the Monday event. We want Scouts to have extra opportunities to earn the award if they can not be there for the main event.

This June we held a Car Wash so Scouts could earn money for camp. Since it was a Pack activity, if they showed up we count it for them. During July and August we will only have two events not counting the Webelos Camp in June and Day Camp in July, which we count under the auspices that we as a Pack promote, write a single check out of Scout accounts, try to provide volunteers, etc.

We have guys who will be attending Webelos Camp. They check in Thursday and leave Sunday. Sunday is in July and so approximately 80% of the activity will be in June.

Would you count it as a June or July activity.

They have multiple opportunities each month to attend a Pack activity, at least 2-3 a month.

Thanks for the advice.

I started the week before our Packs Blue and Gold, the other guy left us high and dry.

This month was my third B&G. My ACM will take over this May and I will have completed about 2.5 years as the Cubmaster. I will spend the next 2 years with the Webelos Den and helping to find an ACM to take over for him when he completes his 2 years.

We are hoping to have our first Cubmobile/Pushmobile Derby in a few months, perhaps April.

Our initial thought is that each Den will get to build a car and then race it. The Dens will build their cars in their Den meetings.

Have you done Cubmobile races? Was it fun? DO you have some good suggestions for first timers?

As always, thank you for your insight.

Don't forget about Cub Scout 2010. The fact that their year of Scouting is planned out is a bonus for new leaders, and old leaders can use them as a guide to prepare for what they are going to do for the year.

For what it is worth, I personally do not like "Den" competitions.

When I took over as Cubmaster it seemed that all the dens were against each other and even when we camped at events we had Webelos that wanted nothing to do with the Tigers.

We quit the den competitions and made it about the boys. If we have sock wars or something fun like that we always divide the Scouts into like sized groups.

This has helped our Pack become a much more cohesive group and we can use the leadership of the older boys when we do things.

But for that Pack pizzaz, don't forget corny jokes and being able to act silly. At our last Pack meeting we had a uniform inspection and I simply put on my neckerchief on my head and a pair of sunglasses and it was the loudest that they screamed and laughed the whole night. You just have to get out of your box.(This message has been edited by jzweiac)

We have been ending our Pack meetings with a Cubmasters Minute and a Circle of Life, repeating together that "Now, may the greatest Cubmaster of all times be with us until we meet again."

I feel that no one except the parents listens to the minute and we are just to big now for the circle and it winds up being a dog pile. After this last meeting I am going to end it. Now I need suggestions.

What good tradition do you have for closing your Pack meeting?