Knight

I'm BALOO trained - I'll go! Eh - too far away - darn.

The boys in our Troop say the plastic holder screams "CUB!!!!!!"

...And I can Antelope no more, but I'm going to work my ticket if I can...

I agree with you completely, BobWhite.

...But now I've finished Anteloping, I don't know what to do...

My son and I research the area where he is going to and locate the nearest Catholic churches and find their schedules. It is a valuable lesson of the trip: we see and experience many different variations of Catholic Masses and congregations.

If I'm going camping with him, we let the Patrol/Troop know in advance that we will be leaving for X hours at X time on Sat PM or Sun AM (and then returning to the camp). That way the PL / SPL can plan the duty roster accordingly.

If I'm not going along, then he typically has no way, in practicality, to attend a Mass except by going to a local-area church that has a late Sunday Mass.

We always attend the Masses in full uniform.

Missing one Pack Meeting in order to go to Wood Badge is entirely appropriate and is 100% the right thing to do. This is precisely what ACMs are for. I'd make sure the ACM or CC mentions at the Pack Meeting that the CM is away doing BSA's best and most intensive training in order to help the boys and the Pack grow even better.

As someone else menioned, new scouts and parents will be bursting with new stuff, just make sure the Pack Meeting agenda is full and has some back up "Plan B" things (like goofy cheers or "spirit yell" contests between the various ranks) in case some part of the meeting goes awry.

I used to be an Antelope, and a good old Antelope too...(This message has been edited by Knight)

Does anyone use a bridge (similar to Cub Scouts) during rank advancement at Court of Honor?

Just curious...

"In the software business, we call that a feature."

LOL

Software bug = "undocumented feature"

I will say a prayer for Dominic and his family.

Everytime I post a topic or reply, I am required to enter my username and password.

Is it supposed to be this way or is it just my computer?

My sons make sure I make a copy of the sheets with the addresses covered when we turn in the sheets. They've been building their "repeat customer" data base for many years and guard it. We've talked about how we'll donate the lists to the Pack or Troop when the boys finally outgrow Scouts.

Our Pack collects almost nothing - less than $10 per person per year, I believe. Almost all of the funding comes from popcorn sales - of which my younger son is the top salesman!

The young man was referring to weekends in general, not camping weekends.

The patrol went hiking through the woods and along a beach and explored a 150 year old fort. They successfully set up their camp in heavy rain with nary a single complaint.

Again, six little words from a Scout make everything worthwhile.

Thanks for the references, Nessmuk. I will go to our local library to get those books.

As Cub Scouts, my sons were very dtermined to fill up a page each every year. As Boy Scouts, the enthusiasm may not be as strong.

The patch was not as much motivation as seeing the form fill up - and going for the next level of the Walmart gift card.

True story:

Upon returning from our January campout, our newest Scout (this was his first camp) walked up to me and said,

"This was my best weekend ever!"

The Girl Scout in the item I mentioned received an outpouring of donations from people - that helps.

http://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/mplayer/m/60673

I hope whoever stole the patches of this topic is caught. It is not right if the police just let it go uninvestigated, especially if there are possible leads as has been mentioned above.

QUOTE: "A couple of years ago someone broke into our Venturers' Den, breaking the lock on the door, and stole nothing but the Australian flag. (Yes, I'm in Australia.)

It's nice to have patriotic criminals."

LOL

As to the main topic, I'm sorry to hear of the loss. I view this type of theft as almost as bad as stealing Christmas presents. The other week, someone near here stole money from some Girl Scouts selling cookies in front of a grocery store.

Thank you for the info!

I don't think all the adult leaders in a unit need to be able to do an active outdoor program - but there should be enough sufficiently fit adult leaders available that it never comes down to not having enough adults to do an active outdoor program. Different leaders bring different talents and capacities. The Treasurer and Popcorn Chair fulfill immensely important functions and might never go camping - that's fine because I've never had to deal with those hassles.

On the other hand, I don't think a Scoutmaster who gets winded climbing two flights of stairs is going to deliver a good program unless he also has ASMs and other adult leaders who can take the boys on active outdoor programs.

Camping and outdoor activites are at the heart of the program.

These themes sound great.

We recently had our Blue and Gold. This time of year in South Florida is generally very good - not hot and humid like the rest of the year - so we hold it at a local park on a weekend. We have lots of carnival games, and plenty of activities. The food is burgers, dogs and chicken cooked on the parks's big grill. Nothing fancy, but it is a very fun, family-friendly afternoon.

We just have basic blue and gold decorations all around.

We have some goofy parent (and den chief) awards and are also trying to recognize the parents who are not registered leaders but who show some promise of stepping up their participation a bit to become Scouters.

Set up

Opening ceremony

Games

Food

Water rockets (water-filled soda bottles launched by adding air pressure from an air pump)

Awards

Cubmaster minute

Closing ceremony

Clean up

These themes sound great.

We recently had our Blue and Gold. This time of year in South Florida is generally very good - not hot and humid like the rest of the year - so we hold it at a local park on a weekend. We have lots of carnival games, and plenty of activities. The food is burgers, dogs and chicken cooked on the parks's big grill. Nothing fancy, but it is a very fun, family-friendly afternoon.

We just have basic blue and gold decorations all around.

We have some goofy parent (and den chief) awards and are also trying to recognize the parents who are not registered leaders but who show some promise of stepping up their participation a bit to become Scouters.

Set up

Opening ceremony

Games

Food

Water rockets (water-filled soda bottles launched by adding air pressure from an air pump)

Awards

Cubmaster minute

Closing ceremony

Clean up

Wow - Star Wars theme B&G - that really sounds great! There are so many good things you cna do - already lots of good ideas here.

and YES, of course all the boys know and understand Star Wars.

We gave our boys arrows on a plaque shaped like the AOL emblem. They were very nice.

I also like the arrows that have colored stripes corresponding ot all the ranks and achievements the boys earned during their time as Cub Scouts.

One practical thing you could do: Suggest the parents meet in a room separate from the boys. It is great that so many parents are willing to spend time each week. Maybe try (gently) to encourage them to meet a little more physically separated away from the boys so the parents can get some Committee work done or tasks divied up? Perhaps a room across a hallway from the Scouts' room, or in the hallway outside the Scouts' room?