koolaidman

I'd say no to both the examples given. Merit badge classes are for individuals. It just so happens that the troop is putting it on. (think about the boys that already have the badge).

A couple of patrols meeting to work on advancement stuff. That's really just a patrol meeting, eh?

A patrol hike, any other patrol outing, a troop service project, troop fundraising event, patrol camp outs, troop camp outs, patrol box cleaning day, organize the scout storage space day, district first aid meet, patrol helps out at packs pinewood derby sound much more like activities don't they?

If you don't show up, you miss stuff. Fact of life best learned early on. I recommend taking a "We'll see what we can do, but no promises" attitude. Don't jump through hoops for someone who has missed so much by choice.

KDD: Exploring your options is the right thing to do! A smaller troop may be what you're looking for. If your son is inclined, take them up on the offer of Camporee. That will give you the added bonus of checking out other troops at once. jblake47 has good advice and I don't disagree with BD either. This troop sounds better than your current situation, but I'd still look around.

Other items to think about:

Patrols: mixed age/NSP? Do they act as patrols or a troop? Patrol yells, flags? Are the permanent? Do the reorganize frequently? Are the patrol method or troop method?

Leadership: How often are elections held? How many PORS? Do they "require" a minimum rank, or training for a POR?

Advancement: do they believe you need to be First Class to start merit badges? What is done for scouts that are not advancing? SM conference? BOR? How many Eagles in the past three years? What is the "paper trail" of recording advancements so that Advancement chair gets info? Who signs off? (SM, ASM, patrol leader?), and where do items get signed off? (camp out, after meetings?)

Camping: Where did they go last year? Where are they going this year? (if same, indicates possible rut). do they go big or small? How many adults are hovering over the patrols? How many non-Scoutmaster trained adults go on the campouts?

Cash: What happens to your scout account if you transfer out (per troop policy, regardless of your position on scout accounts)

Uniform: Nazis present? Neckers required? Do they require you buy 1,2,3,4 or 5 activity unis?

(all those critters would scare the bejeebers out of me, but that's been hashed out here before hasn't it?)

Trust your gut when meeting the SM.

Good luck! Keep us informed!

"by the book" the SM would have spoken to the SPL privately about the matter, after the meeting, via "what coulda been done better?" conference. If necessary discuss with the other boy.

Personally I wouldn't have become involved, unless yelling, cursing, physical altercation, or "yo mamas" came about.

Questions:

What does the boy think?

Is there any scout younger than him in the crew for him to teach?

Do the members of the crew already know those skills? (if so, its not really teaching is it?)

Is it unreasonable for him to teach a couple of new crossovers from his old troop?

Hi Bob,

Welcome to the forums. Your poll has expired.

I don't think your Wolves should be wearing patrol patches, since they are for Webelos and Boy Scouts. I would not encourage competition with the Wolf Dens, other than say games or sport of some sort. There is a lot of "bookwork" yet to do in Wolves and Bears, so it doesn't quite seem right.

I would suggest getting the boys' input on who they'd like to be in a den with and work it out the best you can.

If a Webelos scout earned the Citizenship BL & pin while a Bear, does he have to re-earn the pin as a Webelos for the Citizen activity badge?

Ignore the old guy...........

Much better than the kilt!

While OP is off checking with pros, I propose a challenge/question: Can someone show me where, in the 2013 Requirements, or the 2013 Guide to Advancement that a Scout must perform the Joining Requirements (Scout Badge) in order to earn any rank? I've read and don't see it. In the spirit of "no more no less", does it really need to be earned?

While OP is off checking with pros, I propose a challenge/question: Can someone show me where, in the 2013 Requirements, or the 2013 Guide to Advancement that a Scout must perform the Joining Requirements (Scout Badge) in order to earn any rank? I've read and don't see it. In the spirit of "no more no less", does it really need to be earned?

Per official specs: 4 x 14 inches Don't sit it it with your legs uphill...

Big Agnes Air Mattress

REI Flex Lite Chair

DOB is publicly available through information provided by the government. I can look up most adult's DOB on ancestry.com. It's not really private data.

Sorry about your "go to" site Cambridge. You're welcome here anytime.

This would certainly make an interesting Pack Meeting.

Trained badges on the collar!

Long sleeved shirts in the Sam Houston Area Council?

Some people just have no clue.

I'm not a uniform tzar, really I'm not.

 

 

With proper insignia for her position, just how big of a stretch is this?

 

-b

I don't know. I guess it depends on the size of your wife and the size of the dress? Is that a better attempt at humor?

Academically speaking, I think the underlying question is, if it is proper to wear a den mothers uniform given your wife's current position in the pack? If there were separate uniforms for Cub Masters and Den Leaders, what would the answer be?

Realistically speaking: Cool idea! Go for it!

What do think of the Den Meeting Resource Guide ? I started last year but we got hopelessly behind try to follow it. I have been looking over the Bear plans and I just don't see how to make it work. We are meeting immediately after school on premises. We can make some field trips work, but the bike stuff would be a logistical mess. Bear at least offers a lot more flexibility, so if we do the bike thing on a Saturday and some cubs don't show they can do it own their own or pick another one to do. My first two years as a leader was a small group of Webelos so that went fairly well, (except some of the science experiments I never could get to work. Tiger was easy enough because all the dads really pitched in. (Different city) Wolf last year was a pain, the prep work involved was just to much and I wasn't getting much help from the parents and the other leader was soaked at work and had a newborn. A meeting with the teachers to check their plans could save some work, just more time up front.

-----yup-----

Cnew, Noticed everyone here has been discussing the cons? Here are some Pros (none of which benefit the boy, only the adults):

MBC doesn't have to figure out a meeting place.

MBC only needs to teach once a year

MBC doesn't get phone calls from parents

MBC doesn't get phone calls from kids

Parents use the peer pressure to get there kids the MBs

Scouts earn more MBs quicker and easier to mom and dad's satisfaction.

In the meantime, for fun and games, see if your troop can offer the Bugling merit badge as a class...

I didn't know they had special underwear. That sounds like golden trivia stuff to me. Not much different than a yarmulke though is it?

BD are you talking about hating within the BSA or in the general population? Hating BSA program within LDS, or just plain ole hating them Mormon folk?

I've only known a few Mormon. I liked them all very much. Especially the ones that took the time out to explain bits of their religion to me when I had questions.

KDD, try a different approach. Remember if they do something at school it does count for Cub Scouts! (If you're sure the completed the req, just discuss it a bit and move on). If you have "dry" stuff to go over, counter it with a fun game or one of the more fun reqs. Personally, I like doing the emergency numbers twice. When done and posted on the refrigerator all you have to do is point to it when the baby sitter comes over.

I wouldn't be surprised if there were some rural communities out there without 911. You can also teach your scouts that having your bicycle stolen is no reason to call 911. In that case, it would feel like an urgent call to them, but they would need to call the non-emergency number.

Bike safety the second time around, have the boys do a skit to show what happens when you don't follow safety rules, let them over dramatize the injuries they suffer. They love that stuff.

Build a shelter out of a tarp. Show them why its important to know their two-half hitches and taut-lines. Making a competition out of things with a reward helps to keep them focus.

Maybe the winners get to lead the Webelos-Only hike.

 

Tree Identification is another thing to work on.

 

For second year Webs, look at the outdoor requirements for Tenderfoot and Second Class that are age appropriate, find fun games that can support that knowledge.

Once is enough for requirements, but I think a lad who has earned his AOL should be able to show he knows something more that the lad who walks in with no cub experience.

If a kid crosses over, and can't do the fundamentals, have they really learned anything? Something a little better than just a square knot I hope.

KDD, did you have a particular requirement in mind?

As they are still cub scouts, Webelos should use the red unit numbers and blue shoulder loops.

christineka, if the CERT course is offered at another time, I strongly recommend you attend so that you can see the boy scouts in action and what the goal of the Webelos program is.

You will have a chance to talk to the adult leaders of the troop and learn more about what awaits your Webelos on the other side of the bridge.