Knot Head

>>> Why is your son in Boy Scouts?

Backpacking is a fairly difficult badge because of the number and length of trips that are required. Of course that assumes the MB counselor actually makes the scout do all the requirements as written.

SS is not really a Ponzi scheme because participation is mandatory. With that said SS is not actuarially sound and thus will require adjustment to either the revenue stream (taxes) or the benefit side (payments). There will probably be an adjustment to both sides so that more people will have their SS benefits taxed and working people will have their taxes increased. I dont consider SS in my retirement because it will either be broke or my benefits will be cut or taxed down to zero. So I expect to pay into the system for my entire working life yet receive nothing back in return. In that

We have a bugler and it is great. When a guy won't get up in the morning the bugler walks over and blows max volume right into the tent flap.

We are a BYOT troop (bring your own tent). New scouts usually start with dome tent. Sometimes a Kelty or Apex and sometimes a Wal-Mart tent. We cap it at 3 scouts in one tent and most times it is two in a tent. The older guys usually trade up to a 2 man backpacking tent as they start to get closer to Philmont. It is their tent so it is their responsibility to take care of it. Air it out, make sure they have poles, stakes, ground cloth, etc. I switched to a Hubba 2 years ago and love it. Junior has a Hubba Hubba.

Our troop is often called and eagle factory. I guess that's the same thing. 55 on roster and 42 eagles over the troops 16 year history so about 4 to 5 eagles each year I guess. It does not bother me too much to be called an eagle factor. We've never had a guy make eagle before age 14 and most get it at 16. We camp 11 months a year and go to Philmont almost each year. Every once in a while we have a guy get eagle who does not really like to camp, skips Philmont and is a resume builder. These guys are list checkers with stage moms and dads pushing them along. You do what you can to make sur

Kids are free to go or not go as they choose on my middle school football team and my scout campouts and meetings. But actions have consequences. I don't cut players from the team or the troop. But if a player misses practice he won't play and if they miss campouts they will advance more slowly. So it's not mandatory unless you want to play or advance. And yes we try to win all our games so I am guilty of being an ego stroking coach trying to prove my manhood. >>>>>> I think it's VERY illegitimate for a sport or activity to claim kids must be there 100% of the tim

1) Is there any definitive guide that states what is and is not considered an outing for this requirement? >>>>Our SM sets that policy and we have always counted service projects for this requirement. 2) Is it unreasonable for a Scout with a lot of experience in the woods to get 1st Class in 7 or 8 months? >>>> Not at all. If you master the skills and meet the requirements then you advance. With a little practice and dedication it just is not that hard to learn the requirements. 3) Is it appropriate for an ASM to tell a Scout to slow down a

The band has girls... and band trips... on busses... at night... with seats in the back of the bus...

We have some older scouts who recently planned and executed an overnight backpacking trip. Some of the *ahem* "leaders" on the committee were not in favor of this so the kids did not file a tour permit nor refer to it as a scouting activity. They can drive as 16 year olds so off they went. They got no Troopmaster credit but shrugged that off. Didn't like it, but accepted it. The kids who went are Philmont vets. They hike too fast for my taste but I was certainly proud they did 30 miles in 2 days on a pretty hard trail with no cell coverage (but other hikers on the trail). I remember when they

I don't think this is the fault of the adults.

I own a pricey thermarest and leave it at home in favor of the blue closed cell foam pad I got at Wal Mart for about $9. My 14 YO scout won't use it either. The blue pad is easy to take care of and feels better to me than the thermarest. YMMV

We use same age patrols and there are definitely pros and cons. Bevah covered many of these very well in his post. The troop where I serve was formed in 1995 when 5 webelos founded the troop and the troop has grown and has a very active outdoor program and high retention rate, which of course are good things. Since the beginning horizontal patrols has always been the way things were done. While I personally would prefer that we give vertical age patrols a try I doubt this will ever happen in our troop. One benefit is the patrols are very tight since they are the same age and are good fri

>>>>>> How are your units handlin' this kind of behavior by kids/families?

Sometimes you just have to *try* as best you can to ignore some folks in your troop and make sure you are trying to do things the right way.

we have a jalapeno patrol and their yell is "muy caliente!" or sometimes "arriba - muy caliente!"

I feel kinda old school here since we still use the 12 cup old style perculating coffe pot.

Our troop historian job duties: 1. Take pictures at each troop or patrol event or assign someone to do it if he cannot attend the event. Collect photos from all who took a camera to the event. Upload all pictures on the troop shutterfly account. 2. Write up a one paragraph or more summary of the event (eagle work day, campout, patrol hike, etc.) and submit this along with one or two digital photos to the local weekly free newspaper. This paper will often publish this since they are looking for local news and they dont have to do any reporting. If they do publish a photo or article then the

I like this idea! >>>>>>> Trail to First Class - cumulative nights camping: 1 night camping for Tenderfoot. 3 nights camping for 2nd Class. 5 nights camping for 1st Class. Star: 5 nights camping as a First Class Scout Life: 5 nights camping as as Star Scout Eagle: 5 nights camping as a Life Scout

We count summer camp as 1 activity. Each campout is counted as one activity even though we may do multiple activities while on that campout such as a swim and a hike and a compass course. We allow all campouts to count toward the activity requirement also. So if you camp 10 times you would be good to go. Now I've never seen that happen but it would count. Usually there will be an eagle work day or two mixed in with campouts, memorial day flag placement, Christmas campfire party or 4th of July swim party or a day hike or something to get a guy to 10 activities. As mentioned above if a pat

You can shoot .30-06 at Philmont but that's the only place that I know of that allows you to shoot other than .22's.

>>>> If they are absent at the COH, we call their name and recognize their accomplishment. We present their badges and cards to them at the next Troop meeting.

>>If their goal is to handle most proposals electronically, simply saying the committee strongly prefers proposals be submitted electronically would be sufficient. I would think they would get a high level of compliance and the few remaining hard copies could be handled without a great deal of trouble.

>>>> What is considered successful?

>>>>>Sitting down and making 10-12 phone calls with the same information (which, with our group seems to be the only foolproof way of getting the message across) is very labor intensive. Multiply that by ALL dens (35 phone calls or so) and it's unreal.