koolaidman

It's not supposed to be an orienteering course. It's just a 5 mi. hike using a map and compass. My orienteering courses for FC generally include a couple of control points that the guys can not beeline to. They have to figure it on the map, then figure a way to get to the control point. I'm much more devilish when it comes to orienteering.

I can see where that would taint your view. Parts north and west aren't nearly as polluted (I say that with blissful ignorance, please don't enlighten me!). It just so happens that many of the refineries are clustered there and Texas City, and Baytown, etc...

I've been thinking a little about food. It may be a lunch on the way into town, or a dinner thing if we want to watch the bats. One of the peculiar things about the downtown area are the tunnels (only open on weekdays). That's where most folks eat lunch. Finding a place to eat on a scout's lunch budget could prove difficult if your looking for something better than average fast food. Houston is definitely an aquired taste. Pack did you take the boat tour of the ship channel?

Maybe it would work better with the street names as they can learn to check the map at intersections to make sure they are on the correct path towards their destination. I think the simplified overall objective to SC1 & 2 is to learn to read a map, take a walk and not get lost... I do believe the boys enjoy a challenge and respect an achievement that is not otherwise easily obtained. The suburban folks around here easily get lost or intimidated by our downtown area: The streets are lined northeast-southwest and northwest-southeast and 99% of them are one way. I get around

I've thought about integrating mass transit into the picture and that may take place if we do it on a weekday. We live in the suburbs and to take mass transit, it's relatively straight forward, but still a good exercise. Park at the Park-and-Ride, then sit on the bus until the nearest stop at your destination. No transfer needed. The Park-and-Ride busses don't run on the weekend. I can usually smell the winos before I see them. Once it starts to smell like the zoo, then you have an idea of what you're about to stumble upon...

Just spitballin' here and thinking if our guys would like to take their 5 mile hike in an urban environment. Our downtown area consists of square blocks about half as long as normal city blocks. Normally 1 block = 1 building. Our guys have/will have many opportunities for a 5 mile hike in nature every year, but I think it's also a good idea to learn how to navigate urban environments too. If the PLC were to warm up to the idea of an urban hike, I'm concerned that using a map and compass may be "too easy" because of street names on the map. Has anyone else here done a similar urb

I was googling al sorts of scout related topics and kept arriving to Scouter.com. Finally I just started reading all the posts while getting ready for my son to cross over to Boy Scouts. Eventually logged in and even occasionally join the discussion. You may want to try the "Scout is Reverent" pamphlet. Item 34248 at scoutstuff.org

Pack, If you have maps of Texas east of San Antonio, I'd be glad to take them off your hands.

Then she probably doesn't have insurance and she should be in jail. It could be she does have insurance and carries her proof (like we have to in TX), however doesn't want to go through the hassle of figuring out her coverage limits.

Consider it an effort to "be prepared". Same reason you pack a poncho during a drought. Help at all?

Who's punishing the scout? You or the parent/DL that didn't do something as requested? You've told them what they need to do and they need to do it. If they don't like it, they can be Advancement Chair. Do you run out and get a badge when someone only tells you 5 minutes before the pack meeting that Johnny earned his bear? Give them a valid reason: You don't want to punish a scout because of an errant email, or one you just missed. You don't want to punish a scout because it takes too long to tally up a badge/loop order manually. Seems to me a much better chance to punish the scout usin

IMO Scoutrack works great and its cheap. The calendar email reminders are handy too. Like BD said, the non-adopters will age out. You can provide incentive to use it though. Starting in September, announce that you will no longer be ordering advancement items unless its been entered in Scouttrack. period. Then (and this is really important) offer to train everyone in the pack how to use it at two different times. They'll start coming on board pretty quick.

Thanks for the info BD. I can't believe I didn't think of restaurant supply houses! Still interested in hearing form others if they treat it as a patrol activity vs troop activity and how lightweight troops do it. We are making an active effort to keep everything in packs and not require a trailer, even if we are going to plop 'n' drop sites.

We have quite a few troops around here that utilize the 3 tub method for doing KP. Warm soapy water + rinse + sanitizing solution. It seems to end up being a troop activity with large 3 tub set ups. I'm somewhat familiar with it since I sued to wash dishes during college. I don't ever remember doing that as a scout 25 years ago. I am open to change, but is the sanitizing solution really needed? (provided the dishes are actually washed properly) Is there some edict I'm missing in the G2SS? I've read it, but don't proclaim to remember all of it. When did this all come about?

bump for interest. I'd like to hear about it as well.

"but shouldn't every boy that wants to earn it be allowed the opportunity ?" -- your has the opportunity to participate in contingent troop activities, district and council activities. He also has the option of bringing up activities to the PLC. " But what if no one else wanted to go ?" If the PLC or patrol schedules an activity that is not cancelled its still an BSA activity, right? Having Scouter dad along does not make it under the auspices of the BSA. The PLC, patrol, district, council make it under the auspices of the BSA. "Do I understand the requirements correctly ?"--I t

Notice the commission for camp cards goes to the unit, not the scout: "Introducing… The Camp Card The Camp Card program is designed to help Scouts earn their way to summer resident camp, high adventure, or day camp. Units participating in this program will earn 50 percent commission ($2.50) for each $5 Camp Card they sell."

Here's your chance to unload, Scouting Magazine just admonished us all that if our troop isn't working, it's because we aren't using the Patrol Method: http://blog.scoutingmagazine.org/2013/06/24/how-to-keep-your-troop-out-of-the-death-spiral/ Thank you for the link. It is always good to have an article like this (or three) up your sleeve to help explain things to "helpful" adults.

One more thing to add. Make sure you teach proper use of zippers! Usually there is a flap of material that runs the length of the zipper that is to prevent water from going through the zipper. Teach your young scout to move that flap out of the way while zipping and to zip carefully. It's amazing how far a new scout can force that zipper over the flap. We had to learn the hard way that you have to teach these boys EVERYTHING sometimes. Had no choice but to cut the flap so a scout could close the rainfly (in a brand new tent's first outing ugh!).

Try this. It seems to be working for me: Before you log in. Click on the last 24hrs button. Then save it as a bookmark. After I logged in, and went to several other posts, I was able to get to it via the bookmark/favorites link.

Check out alps mountaineering and sign up for their program at scoutdirect.com we have about 8 of their lynx-2 with the aluminum poles we bought during the Christmas sale and they work fine. They have a vestibule and an entrance on each side. Their scout direct price is close to $100. You may want to invest in better stakes.

Participation does not necessarily equivocate to hours worked or units sold. Fundraising is just another troop activity. If the only participation metrics used were fundraising activities, then I agree with you, but if you put in the other troop activities, it's perfectly kosher. Other metrics include: leadership, scout spirit and advancement per the "national memo" linked to by Sam Houston Area Council. Any way you go *someone* will complain. Like I said before. It's not the size of the troop, it is the size of the CO that will attract your friendly neighborhood agent who will be

Last post I've seen from Beavah was May 15, so he's been through the worst, maybe some of the better.

I think you did the right thing there Basement. What was his reaction to your suggestion? Did you offer to help come up with a plan to improve?

BD has he performed badly enough for you to remove him from his POR? If so, replace him and mark time served. Pages 22-24 of the 2011 GTA cover this. It says, "only in rare cases - if ever- should troop leaders inform a Scout that time, once served, will not count." If it is for Star (assuming since you mentioned 4 months), remove him, give him the POR credit and let him know the standard he will be held to for Life. Hold him to his POR standard early on...