kittle

I am very new to Boy Scouts (my son has just crossed over), but I would like to add my experience here. I more than feal for this scout, I have the same problem. I am fine in the water until I get above mid-chest. When taking a shower, I face away from the water and it never hits my face because if it does I start to panic (and I know nothing is going to happen to me in the shower). A face mask has never helped and neither have swim lessons. There are times when I cross a bridge (especially during a storm) that I wonder (worry) what would happen to my kids if we somehow ended up in the water.

Anarchist, Why would you expect me to blow a gasket? I do plan on getting trained. With a little practice, maybe I will learn how to make camp coffee (but I won't drink it), and who knows what in the Dutch oven. My brother gave me a camp cookware set for Christmas that I should really get out and start using. I'm not part of the program, just a parent who is willing to do whatever is needed.

Lynda, I do plan on stepping back and letting my son find his place. But I also plan on knowing as much as I can to encourage and protect him. I do not want to do it for him, I get more satisfaction when he does things for himself. Katrina

Sorry for the confusion. My son wasn't elected PL, I was just wondering how it worked. It is my hope that he eventually will, but the boys are going to have to get a chance to know him first. He was the only 5th grade Webelos that we had in our Pack and he chose not to join the local Troop (local meaning in the same county). He chose to joing a Troop in another county, he had only met the boys twice (when we went camping with the Troop for his AOL requirement). They did all get along and they let him join right in, but they still know each other better because they have came up ranks together

My son has just joined a troop and I am trying to figure out how it all works. I am planning on going to training in April when they have it, just so I know what is going on. But until then, I will probably be asking a lot of questions. If a boy is voted Patrol leader, do they remain patrol leader 'forever' or is this position changed on a regular basis? Katrina

Will "don't ask me, ask your patrol leader" work even if it that scouts first campout also?

ScoutNut, I know all the hats I am wearing and believe it or not, I will add a BS hat if my son's troop needs the help. Katrina

Do you have to have the advancement person turn in the advancement. I hope not, because I have signed the sheet and turned it in ever since I have been a leader. We don't have a advancement person. I actually turn in advancements for the whole Pack. The other 3 leaders let me know if they need anything the week before a Pack meeting. That way I can get the advancements and get my husband's outline mader out (he is the CM).

KS I am not planning on attending very many campouts unless the Troop needs leaders. I am more than willing to vulunteer in whatever capacity I am needed. All this said, I am a little leary of Boy Scout Camping and want to see how this Troop is run. Especially how the boys treat one another. And in a couple of years, our CS CO is hoping we will have enough boys to start a Troop. If this happens, I will probably have to take on a leadership role and would like to already be experienced. If there was a local Troop, we wouldn't have to drice 25 mile one way for meetings. Katrina

Give the boys their rank and ask the Cubmaster (afterwards) if he is willing to sign the cards. If not, print his name on them. Neither of the Packs my son has been in have given the cards. This would be my advice, but I don't exactly care whose toes I step on. Katrina

I would be happy to go to training (in fact I am trained as a Cub Scout leader). But I can't because I have no babysitter for my 4 year old. I would even register as a leader or whatever is needed in my son's new troop, all they have to do is let me know what they need. In fact, if I can find a way, I am going to go to basic adult leader training this weekend. Katrina(This message has been edited by kittle)

He wouldn't be along for just the fun campouts. He would only have to go on campouts that I go on because both my parents are deceased and I would have nowhere else for him to go. If my husband didn't go on the campout it would be because he had to work (and he works 6 days a week usually). I don't want to go on very many of the campouts, but will go on any that they need adult leaders for. I even offered to fill out an adult application, but the SM didn't know if they needed anymore adults. I am a registered Webelos leader and my husband is the Cubmaster for son's old pack. We are stick

The talk about women on camping trips made me want to ask this on. My son who is going on his first Boy Scout campout next weekend wanted me or his father to go on the campout with him. Thank goodness his father took a vacation day and is going with him. But, here is the question. How would you feal if a mother went on the campout and had to bring along a younger sibling? I did this when he went camping with the Troop as a Webelos. Keeping him out of what the boys wouldn't be a problem, I was just wondering what other would think about this. Katrina

I like the blanket idea. I would print it from the computer to transfer paper (as suggested). I also am the sewer for our pack, I just made 9 red brag vests. Check out Acorn awards for a reallt neat black arrowhead to put all patches on. I am going to make one of these for my spn. Katrina

Our pack pays for them. Part of the beltloops aren't optional. The specifics are evading me right now, but part of the Webelos' pins require beltoops. Katrina

Yes, she is from a small town. Thanks everyone for the responses, I hope they will be of help to her. I am afraid that rather than try to start a group for he boys she will just pull her boys and quit Scouting all together. Katrina

Looking back over my post, I didn't make it clear if I was talking about Cubs or Boy Scouts. I was actually needing to know about both. I know Lone Scouting isn't as good as going with an established unit, but in her case it might end up her only option. Bob, thanks for answering so quickly. I am trying to gather as much info as I can to give to her. It is my desire that she make an informed decision. I am also going to tell her that she needs to contact her local unit office and talk to them about the situation.

I have been asked this question by a friend and told them that I would pose it to you all and find out what you could tell me. My friend as her boys enrolled in their local scout program. Due to something that happened to one of her boys at camp, she may be pulling them all from scouts. I mentioned Lone Scouting to her, but she was interested in trying to get a troop/pack started more locally. Here are the questions: 1. How many boys/ leaders do you need to start a troop or pack. 2. If you have had experience with this, how hard is it? 3. Would it be better to go Lone Scouting o

I haven't had a chance to reply, but did want to take the time to now. I have been to training (for den leader). It was very interesting. I do think it would be nice to have each boy take a turn at denner. Shich could be a challenge for a couple of the boys which do not seem to have any organizing skills. As far as camping goes. I am afraid that will be where our short coming is. I am not a camper so I will have to try to enlist the help of other parents who are. I also have a 2 year old son that refused to stay with anyone else, so this limits what I can do. We are lucky enou

I bought the Webelos leader book about 2 months ago so that I had a little more time to look at it. I am looking forward to the Webelos time, it looks very interesting. The book is very full of cool information. Katrina

My husband and I are following our son's Bear den to Webelos as the leaders. I have a couple of questions. At your den meetings, do you have flag ceremonies, pledges, etc? If not, what do you do to pull your meetings together? We did OK this last year, but it seemed that we had a hard time getting the boys to settle into the start of a meeting. I would like to find a way to change that. We didn't have anything that we regularly did at the beginning of meetings. Thanks, Katrina Webelos leader

The message that ScoutNut left for me is our local council. I called the Scout Shop and I have to go into Evansville nest week anyway, so I am going to register then. My mother even said she would babysit for me if my husband has to work. The Illinois Council's are all farther away and Feb. isn't really that far. Thanks for posting the information for me.

Thanks for the ideas. I have been pondering how to fo about the whittlin chip. Katrina

I'm not getting any kind of feedback from the parents. The boys are having fun and I think they are learning something. I am trying to be happy with that. Twocubdad, I wish I could say that I am trained, but I am not. I have made several calls and asked the CM about training. I called the Scout Shop and they gave me someone else to call; I have only gotten an answer at his house once and he wasn't there. The CM said that they only offer Cub leader training once a year and it had been offered before they got us to volunteer to be leaders. But I have done my best to search the internet

Here is how I have worked it. I have spoken with all of the parents personally, explaining what them and their boys need to do. I have spoken with the boys. I send worksheets home, that I have taken many hours putting toghether, for them to work on. We accomplish some part of a requirement at each meeting. I send letters home to the boys and paents after each meeting. Nothing, no parent signatures in the books, no work done on anything. If my most current letter did any good. I am going to check their books this week while my husband and them do games and relays. If I get their books