kenk

"One of the exciting things about going into the wild is the adventure. Not being 100% sure you are gonna make it back. Sharpens the senses." So do you drive without a seat belt too? With all due respect, I don't buy the argument. I also don't buy the "electronics have no place in backcountry" claim since that is just one step up from thinking that a magnetic compass is a newfangled device. Flashlights have batteries too, but I consider a flashlight a key part of my survival kit. I cherish my life and even more so that of my family members. I choose to be prepared - and eq

If one is certain that a cell phone could can get a sufficient signal where you are going, then I should help, BUT a 460 Mhz Personal Locator Beacon will provide a MUCH more reliable way of calling for help when things go bad. Here is a very good review/summary of the PLB technology: http://www.equipped.org/406_beacon_test_background.htm#How As you mention, this also means that those who are heading into the backcountry take appropriate precautions, plan ahead (including letting a reliable person know your plan & expected time of return), bring along gear needed to (1) survive

Welcome to the campfire! I visited Virginia (Culpeper) for the very first time this spring and found it to be an absolutely beautiful area!! Ken

I've always preferred Coleman fuel stoves over propane stoves - even when it comes to the two-burner suitcase variety. I had an MSR Whisperlite for many many years, but tired of struggling to control the flame level. So, I researched and researched and finally made the decision to go with the MSR Dragonfly. After using for a while I know I made the right choice. The MSR Dragonfly provides complete flame control for cooking more than water. Is field repairable. Functions perfectly in very cold weather. Has mult-fuel capability - but use of Coleman fuel is best. Separating the fuel bo

First, are you SURE that the water came from the floor? This time of the year lots of Scouts are zipping their tents shut at night and with the very cool nights that can lead to lots of condensation which eventually makes its way down to the floor. Last fall on a particularly chilly night my son and his buddy zipped his 4-person tent completely up and ended up with puddles - real puddles - on the floor by morning. I KNOW his tent didn't leak since it didn't rain a drop during the weekend. For tents, take a look at http://www.alpsmountaineering.com They offer Scouts a 45% discount. D

Kraut, If you can point me to the tall version of the Carson I'd buy it in a heartbeat. I've tried to find it before. It appears to no longer be available. I can only find the regular length ones. Ken

One additional thought (with all due respect) ... Don't let your nostalgia for your days in Scouting burden your son with out-of-date, heavy, or "un-cool" gear. My son's troop has a Scout whose dad makes him use the dad's old Scout gear. I once said to him (in a very positive way) that is so cool that you get to use your dad's Scout gear. I even mentioned how hard it was to find an external frame pack and their advantages. He rolled is eyes and said "Yeah, I wish I could have gear like the other guys." The Scout wouldn't dare break his dad's heart by asking him for new gear. That sai

I like the glowstick idea for certain parts of the ceremony. I also can see the use of lots of keroscene lanterns being a cool replacement for a fire. I first thought about Coleman lanterns, but they tend to be too bright - almost electric lightbulb like. Heck, with some imagination you could do some nice things with just flashlights too.

Thanks for all your great advice. I'll bring it to this weekend's PLC meeting. ALL chemical fuels (Coleman fuel, kerosine, propane) require that adult supervision be provided. The only real difference in how the GTSS treats Coleman fuel/gas/kerosine compared to propane is that it specifically says that "Both gasoline and kerosene shall be kept in well-marked, approved containers (never in a glass container) and stored in a ventilated, locked box at a safe distance (a minimum of 20 feet) from buildings and tents." Around here there aren't restrictions on wood fires (in approved f

My son's formerly small troop has two new patrols coming in, and that means it time to start buying more gear. This brought up the topic of "standardized patrol gear" and exactly what should be on that list. From what I've found in internet searches it seems that most patrol gear consists of car camping kind of stuff - 2-burner Coleman stoves, lanterns, dutch ovens, big carport canopies, tables, etc... I'm wondering if anyone knows of patrols that have instead taken a lighter, more lean approach - something like backpacking where Scouts are using one or two small one-burner stoves, n

Most important .... Pointy end goes in front!! Very good advice given already. Assume you'll swamp. Pack and dress as if you will. Swivel your hips to ride out the side-to-side rolling. Don't fight it.

In the last year my son's troop (I'm an ASM) has started separating the youth from the adults when camping. Us adult form the OWL patrol (Older Wiser Leaders or Old, Weak, & Lame, depending on your point of view) and we cook and clean separately from the patrols. We've been calling it "white-line" camping, where the youth stay on one side of the line, and the adults stay on the other - except for activities out of camp. The only person who can move across the line - except for emergencies - is the SPL. We encourage the SPL and ASPL to eat with a patrol. During activities the OWL patro

I'm an ASM. My son is a 13 year old Star Scout. He's been told that he'll be eligable for the OA vote this spring. My son has Aspergers Syndrome, and is clearly not all that popular with the other Scouts. While my wife gets upset at the thought of the OA election being a "popularity contest", I myself understand the process and I'm OK with it. I've had discussions with my son about the possibility that the other Scouts may not vote for him. He says he's OK with it. If he doesn't get voted in, it will hurt both of us parents, but that doesn't matter, and I honestly think he'll be OK

Troop adults (SMs, CCs, ...) all too often fail to recognize that the troop is run by the PLC and the Scouts. The Scoutmaster's job is to guide them, to ensure their safety, and to make sure they follow BSA policies and guidelines. It is the committee's job is to support them and to make sure that the troop program is functioning accordingly. My son's troop has that problem. The adults are trying to run it like a Cub Scout pack, where the adults do too much of the decision-making and work. Myself and another ASM - who is actually the CR too, now that I think of it - are trying to change t

I had to smile when I read "An ASM told him he had to add fruit to every meal." The adults need to let the Scouts do their thing and fall back to a position of a very high level guidance. Its the Scouts' troop. "Stop giving them money for food. Let them earn their own money and buy their own food." Bob, you are soooo right!! Now I just have to try to convince my Scoutmaster and Troop Committee that this is the correct patrol-method method. If the parents give the money then the Scouts have no personal stake in that part of the the process and the cost.

Sheesh! Hey Knight, why don't you crawl back into the narrow-minded hole that you crawled out of. Ever hear of eugenics? I suppose you'll want to add another Scout law: A Scout is genetically perfect. Clearly you missed the "mentally awake" part.

We watched "Remember the Titans" with Denzel Washington

Great advice so far. My only advices is: 1. Have your son get the information from his troop. They'll be able to offer lots of advice. 2. Don't feel that you have to buy the top-end gear. Mid-level gear will do fine for what your son needs. Great advices on the Alps Mountaineering gear. 45% discount! 3. Let your son pack himself. During our yearly backpacking trip most new Scouts have too much and say their parents told them to pack this and that. They should pack only what they'll use/need. 4. My experince has been that the biggest weight/space saver is in the sleeping ba

You know, the first time I read this thread I was thinking that this was all wishful thinking. Now that I read through the GTSS a second time it is clear to me that with the wording: "Pointing any type of firearm (including paintball or dye) at any individual is unauthorized." The GSS clearly refers to firearms - a device that fires a projectile. A laser tag gun is NOT a firearm, though it may look like one. If their intent was to prevent Scouts from pointing gun-like objects at each other, then they would/should have stated that. Actually laser tag is more akin to pointing flas

Around here, for real cold weather camping, Scouts buy 4x8 sheets of foam insulation at Home Depot or similar, cut it into managable strips, and then duct tape it back together so it will fold z-style. This goes on the ground to provide insulation. Put your regular pad (for comfort) over that. Stay dry!! Before you climb into the sleeping bag change into dry clothing - even the underwear and socks - since they will contain moisture and that will make you cold. I myself absolutely need to wear wool socks to bed or else my feet get cold - even with the warmest sleeping bag. Bring extra bla

I see knives as tools. All kinds of knives are needed just as there are all kinds of tools. There are clearly places where a fixed blade is the best tool. Scouts in my son's troop are allowed to carry fixed blade knives of "reasonable" length so long as they carry & use them safely, though they are not allowed on council properties and our troop respects that rule. What's resonable - well, that depends on what its used for, but a blade much longer than 5 or 6 inches seems oversized for Scouting. For Scouts I tend to look at lower cost, but still high quality knives, since there

Sorry for the rehash all. I've been out of town for the last two weeks (Frankfurt & then Texas) and missed that thread. Even so, I do hope the BSA publishes some guidance for Scouters to help us out. We certainly want to teach them "correctly". Thanks, Ken K.

I got this in an e-mail from my council: New Boy Scout Rank Requirements The National Youth Protection Committee recommended additions to Boy Scout rank requirements that were approved and will become effective January 1, 2008 . These changes will help us advance the importance of Youth Protection training beyond the initial Boy Scout joining requirements, and keep youth informed and actively engaged in understanding the key elements of personal safety and protection. Tenderfoot Rank Revised requirement 9: Explain the importance of the buddy system as it relates to your personal

If I'm going to submit an Advancement Report form that only contains merit badges (no rank badges) do I need to get the two Board of Review signatures? Of course there wouldn't necessarily be a related board of review, so it seems that the signatures wouldn't make sense or be needed. Thanks, Ken K.

As a troop advancement coordinator (and asst Scoutmaster) I'm curious how your troop uses TroopMaster's Advancement Report form - or for that matter any other Advancement Report form. We tend to have several board of reviews just before a court of honor. Each of the board of reviews likely have a different mix of committee members. After the board of reviews - usually held during two or three troop meetings - I enter the dates of completion for each relavant Scout (which completes their rank requirements). A day or two before heading off to buy the badges I print off the Advancement