Knot Head

We have a bunch of great moms that help out. They are involved in every aspect but we haven't had a mom that camped with us in a couple of years. If someone wanted to camp that would be fine but currently they choose to serve on committee and as MB counselors.

Our guys bridge Feb. of the 5th grade. The motivated ones that attend summer camp 4 years, winter camp 4 years and go on most troop campouts seem to make eagle in the 9th, about 4 to 4.5 years later years after they join. Some (edit: Most) make it in 10, 11, 12th grade. An 8th grade eagle would really be putting the hammer down. If a go getter did it himself and made eagle in the 8th grade that's okay by me.(This message has been edited by knot head)

In our troop we *try* to get PL's to first address the issue in the context of the scout law. They report problems they can't handle to the Instructor (guide), ASPL or SPL. Depending on the issue the SPL may be called in by the Instructor or ASPL. If they SPL can't get them into line he reports his actions and the response to the SM. SM has a SM conference about "obedient" & "courteous". This almost always has a big impact. If that does not solve the problem the scout gets a BOR. You have to train scouts to use the chain of command because they tend to turn to the nearest adult to ba

Sounds great and I'm glad you got a good fit! We invite and encourage people to attend one campout and our "recruiting meeting" in early Dec. After that folks can attend any meeting in Dec or Jan. if they want to check us out and to see how we roll. We go out of our way to tell them to visit three or more troops to find the best fit. They'll be happy if they mesh well with us but if they fit better elsewhere that's where they should go. We try hard to be up front about who we are and how we do things.

It starts at the top. If adults proudly wear the uniform the kids will typically follow. If the adults are not proud you're sunk.

We use the free site shutterfly.com and are happy with it

Everyone in our troop knows I'm a pretty conservative type. When they start veer into politics I just tell them I'd appreciate it if we can have this political conversation away from scouts. I don't go camping because I'm dying to talk about politics. Now if it's a joke... my rule is if you wouldn't tell it in front of the boys and their moms, then don't tell it. If I want comedy I'll go to a comedy club or my den to watch TV, not a scout camp. I like the idea mentioned earlier about reminding everyone before a campout/activity that we are bound by the scout law and to bring to each

We meet year round. I was a little surpised to learn some folks don't. Our July campout is one of the best of the year. White Water!(This message has been edited by knot head)

Dues $90 regular campouts 8x20 = $160 Summer camp this year $220 Winter camp $80 (I think) two semi-high adventure trips a year run about $120 each so $240 if you do those. (This message has been edited by knot head)

It would take a very mature set of adults to split a good troop and not have fights like the ones mentioned above. Seems like it would be better to just start a new troop if someone wants a smaller unit. Our roster is 53 this year. That's about as big as I'd like to see it get. Big enough to be well equipped but nible enough to go camping without taking over a fast food joint or campsite. Usually we run aboout 30 on an outing.

We wear them under the collar and have pretty good participation, usually only a couple are missing each week. I've noticed recently more guys are wearing the MB sash eash week. I kinda like it as it looks good and maybe motivates the young guys a little bit. So far this year uniforming has been really good and consistent. The uniformed adults all go 100% including socks, belt, etc. and I think that helps to set the tone.

Great comment >>>> I think as adult leaders we are to supply the opportunities & resources for the Scouts in our units to advance. How long it takes them is up to them

It's a good idea to screen these projects so we don't approve projects that put youth into dangerous situations they are not trained nor ready for. I mean teenagers seem to think they are immune to injury sometimes. But I can't help but miss the good old days when you could assist a group that needed help without worrying about insurance & getting permission slips and health forms with Part A&B&C completed and signed first. I guess we'll have to get those forms notarized here pretty soon.

Roll up sleeping clothes and leave in the sleeping bag each day for sleeping only. Only sleep in these, nothing else. You don't want to be in a shirt with food stain (and smell) in bear country. An ounce in the morning feels like a pound in the afternoon. Pack light and compare items weight. Cut where you can. Do shakedowns hikes where you camp overnight. If you bring an item & don't use it, decide if you *really* need to carry it. Many new backpakcers way overpack! Get lightweight boots, or better yet no boots! I hike in New Balance trail runners. Think heavy duty running

No Ramen noodles eh? We have a patrol that always eats noodles. They plan their menu and you can bet it will include Ramen. They are always the first to clean, cook and stow gear so they can go play frisbee or whatever. They often cook, eat & clean while others are still cooking. Cooking just isn't that interesting to them. OTOH we have a patrol that loves to take two or three hours to eat, cook & clean. Different Strokes I guess.

We have a no soda rule. Not sure why, cost I'd guess. We go gatorade or water. If you put a stick in the fire it has the stay there. Safey thing. Only a troop or patrol quartermaster can go into the trailer. About a year after the bridge over, no one wants to anyway.

yep - dental floss is pretty good option for this. Nylon kite string also works. Nylon is easy to whip, take off, whip take off. You have to fuse the kite string before you use it so you can cover that also. So you get a lot of practice in a short time. We use 1/2 inch sisal rope to whip. We cut the sisal into 1 foot length and each guy whips both ends, then takes it off and repeats. In the real world I'd probably whip with duct tape, so I teach that method too. ;-)

I'll be bringing this to the next campfire for a discussion about what these words mean. --------- When the chopper lifted off moments later with three wounded soldiers, it left behind others who were wounded but *refused to be MEDEVACED out of the combat* zone so they could return to fight with their buddies. --------- Not surprised that they did this, but that does not make it any less worthy of my respect. http://abcnews.go.com/International/wounded-us-soldiers-refused-leave-taliban-fight/story?id=8754347(This message has been edited by knot head)

You don't "officially advance" until the COH (false) You can't advance two ranks at a single COH (false) You auto-flunk a BOR if not in full uniform including socks (false) You can't have a BOR on a campout (false)

1) My Side of the Mountain. I loved it as a kid & enjoyed it again as a grown up kid. I read it about every other year. 2) The army field manual? I don't have a really good idea for this one other than the BSA publications. 3) The One minute Scoutmaster or maybe the Book of Virtues.

This is an interesting thread to see what others do. We have the new scouts hit the high adventure right out of the blocks unless there is an age limit or safety issue. When the troop canoes they come too. We just put them in a canoe with a scout that has the canoeing MB or an adult. If we go snow skiing or climbing or white water they go also. Now they may climb a smaller easier spot but they camp & climb with the troop. When we backpack they may do 4 miles in while the older guys do another trail for 8 miles in but we camp at the same spot. Some older patrols cook up their own "hig

About half our guys get FCFY. We camp 18 nights on our own (Fri & Sat) +3 nights winter camp + 6 nights summer camp. Some kids attend all 27 nights the first year and have at least 7 merit badges (4 summer, 3 winter) by the bridge anniversary. They are just fired up and so they show up. We don't push it but if they show up that much they usually get there. Guys that miss some outings take 1.5 years or so. EDIT 18 nights not 20, we take July off.(This message has been edited by knot head)

Lashing a catapult is a good way to teach a little design & engineering, practice knots & lashings and have some fun too. Google and you'll find some plans. We also lash a flagpole each campout. It goes up fast and reinforces one type of lashing type and a couple of knots. Also we like to have a morning flag ceremony. It's a big deal in our troop.(This message has been edited by knot head)

Set up an NCAA tournament type bracket on a campout for knots, lashings, plant recognition, first aid, deserts, whatever. Seed the teams and let the competition be your friend. Compete as patrols, have differnet events for each age, each rank, whatever works best for you. Mix things up. Make scouts over star tie knots blindfolded. Let TF's use a book for 2 minutes to identify plants & older guys get 30 seconds with the book or none at all. EDIT: Almost forgot. Remember Family Fued? That type back & forth team event where each member contributes works well.(This mes

A few years back we used to have 2 two by fours from Home Depot that we lashed together. We had eye rings at the top. We lashed the 2x4's together and used three ropes to anchor it. This way the scouts got to do a lashing, use a round turn with 2 half hitches to secure the rope to the pole, and taut line hitches to adjust the ropes near the ground where they were anchored. One one campout on private land we got permission to gateher three oak spars and we now have a more rustic looking flagpole we take with us. No more eye rings, we just carved a spot to secure the anchor ropes to the s