ASM162

Scouts from our Troop have done the Valley Forge hike 4 times now, and after leaving Redoubt 3, we have experienced four different hikes. While this is a map and compass hike, some of the landmarks are not very distinctive. We have never been close to where we thought we should be when we exited the woods on Mt. Joy Ridge. I don't know what it is about the info in the book, but whoever is in charge of the trail guide could do a better job of being more descriptive of the trail after taking bearings at Redout 3.

Our troop sells popcorn, and we have done Camp Cards, and we have an annual FOS presentation. We also do fundraisers as the need arises. The unit Fundraising Form gets filled out and submitted to the Council office. I've always looked at it as the Troop informing council that we are doing a fundraiser. I've often wondered what we would do if it was rejected. I'd imagine that we would still do the fundraiser, since the Troop, as a whole, found it necessary. Just a personal gripe about the unit fundraising form - I feel that they ask for alot of information about unit finances, that rea

One of my former scouts went to an auction about a week ago, and was able to make the winning bid on a box of old timey scout stuff. Among the old rank patches and the black on red patrol patches, he had a Fieldbook from the 1960's. I offered him $25.00 for the book, on the spot! He didn't budge - good for him

I bought the latest edition of the Fieldbook, simply because it seemed like a much better book than the last edition. (A little excessive on the LNT principles IMO). I have to agree that I much prefer the older Fieldbooks. I still have my fieldbook from the '70s. I like how there were photos or illustrations to go along with the material being presented. BSA would do well to utilize that approach with any new edition of the Fieldbook.

The Scouts in our Troop have been using cell phones/ smart phones in their personal lives for the last four or five years. Cell phone use has slowly grown in our Troop over the last two to three years. While I personally don't care for the scouts to use them on outings, it has become difficult to police. For the last two years, our Council Camp has been promoting the use of camera phones/smart phones to take and share pictures with other campers, and to submit photos for a contest that the camp runs. With the advent of solar chargers an additional electrical outlets at some camps, it seems i

The adult leadership in our Troop eats what the scouts make for their particular meal. Maybe this is due to usually having ad hoc patrols on any particular outing. I have eaten less than desirable pancakes, stew that was more like watery soup, and other burnt/poorly prepared meals. It is a skill that most boys today don't do much of. It is a learning experience for them. IMO, it helps the boys learn that when cooking for the entire group, it is important to accept feedback, and know what you did right, and where there is room for improvement. Now, on the other side of the coin, I've eat

Ripping patches off of a uniform is destruction of property. Scout shirts are not cheap. patches cost money. I would take the uniform to a tailor and have the patches reattached and then send the course director the bill. Maybe that will help influence his decision to continue the "training method"

This sounds like a case of having a preconceived expectation going in, and then realizing that your expectation did not match reality. I say this as a good thing. Listen, when a Troop plans for a WEBELOS visit, they try and make it fun, or what they perceive as fun for the WEBELOS. So your son knows how to build a fire. Did he pay attention and take notice of what materials the Boy Scouts were using for tinder and kindling? Did he ask any questions? I would think that fire building and toasting marshmallows would be kinda fun. One thing to remember too is that some Troop meetings can be

Typically, the presenter will explain that it cost the council X dollars per scout for a year of scouting. If you can pay that amount the council will give you a gift, such as a special Council Shoulder patch, or some such thing. We were never forced to donate to FOS, and if you wanted to donate, you could donate what you felt comfortable with. Our unit is given a goal, based on our size and location. Some years we hit the goal, others years not so much.

So, if I understand this correctly, I'm just switching from paying higher premiums, (HA!), to paying more in taxes to cover the uninsured, who can't or refuse to pay for insurance coverage. I am covered thru my employer, and if history is any indicator, to reign in the higher premiums, my employer had to increase the deductible and increase the co-pay. It is still good insurance, but coverage for blood work and other medical tests come out of my pocket to meet a higher deductible. So, while the cost of my premium was somewhat contained, my out of pocket expenses have significantly increased. I

Moosetracker, Since you seem to be a fan of the ACA, please sell me on it. I would really like to know how this piece of legislation is going to make health insurance affordable for the anywhere from 20M to 50M folks who currently do not have health insurance.

OK, so now we have a fairly clean continuing resolution, and the debt ceiling has been raised. We know the deadlines for this new continuing resolution, and debt ceiling limit. Is anybody going to lead and/or govern, or are we just going to continue to keep kicking the can down the road until 2016? The problems of this nation still exist, and they need to be addressed. Spending Limits, ACA implementation are real issues that cannot be ignored! Obama needs to meet with the house leaders and hammer out a budget. The citizens of this nation deserve to know what the revenue streams ar

I like the idea a merit badges that focus on marketable skills. Hopefully, this will inspire some boys to make a career out of a skill, such as plumbing, or welding or any other trade. In my opinion, the cost of a college education is soaring to the point that many folks are debating the reward of a degree, vs the potential income from said degree. I think it is a shame that young men and women, who have Master's degrees make less than $35k per year, and I am willing to bet that they are in debt for more than that. Now the MB's that cover vocational skills can hopefully lead youn

Thanks for the links, Click23. Glad to see that there was a coordinated effort for the DoS.

Does anybody know anything about the "Day of Service" at the Jambo? I saw a Facebook posting from a young man who wasn't overly thrilled about the bus ride for the DoS. It struck me that if every scout at the Jambo is to participate if DoS, over ten days, thats 3000 scouts per day! Is there enough work available to keep 3000 kids occupied every day? What type(s) of service are they doing? It seems like a logistical nightmare.

People never seem to learn. Never make a statue of someone who is still living.

If the Local option is passed, the scenario I fear is one where an openly gay person wishes to join a unit, and it just so happens that this particular unit chooses to follow the original membership requirements. (i.e. heterosexual individuals only). If the person is refused membership to this unit, based on said sexual orientation, and this individual decides to sue, I am guessing that the CO will be the entity that is sued. Will the BSA support the CO, or wash their hands of the incident, and leave the CO hung out to dry? One incident like this could put a significant financial burd

If these acts are pulling out of entertaining at the Jamboree, because of the BSA membership policy, then I hope that whoever plays the Super Bowl half time show also knows that the NFL has an unwritten rule which basically is "Don't ask, don't tell." As far as I know, there are no openly gay players or coaches in the NFL.

I saw Carly Rae Jepsen also decided not to perform at Jambo for the same reason.

Our Troop has been very fortunate that once we get a boy to join, he most likely will stay with the Troop until he is 18. Our retention is hovering at around 85%. I like to believe that our Troop has a very well planned and executed program, that keeps the boys interested. There is ample opportunity for advancement, and when one boy advances, well, it just seems to be contagious. Most kids in our Troop, if they stick around past 16 yrs old, will most likely earn the Eagle Rank. And yes, we have quite a few who usually are up against their 18th birthday, when they complete the requir

Let me ask this question. When does being a friendly neighbor stop and scouting begin? Many years ago, an adult leader, his son and the neighbor boy all came to the Troop meeting in the adult leader's car. They lived in the next town over, which was about a 10 mile drive, one way. No other scout or adult leader lives this far away from the Troop meeting place. In other words, it is out of the way for anyone else in the Troop to get this boy to the Troop meetings. The neighbor boy is from a single parent home. No transportation available. The single Mom has to care for another child, whil

I hate selling overpriced popcorn. Much like Scoutnut, we can start selling popcorn as soon as we pick it up. The popcorn kernal for our Troop sets up locations to sell at, nearly a year in advance. He loves this stuff. From the OP's description, unless the SM has already made arrangements to sell at the hardware store, on Saturday, I don't understand how he can disrupt the popcorn sale for the Cubs. That's just dirty pool.

My biggest concern with the Unit Fundraising Application is that it asks for the amount in the Unit treasury. Why is this a concern for council? We do not do fundraisers for the sake of doing fundraisers. If the Troop determines that we need to raise money for - whatever, it is a legitimate concern. Whether we have $5.00 or $5000.00 in our treasury shouldn't be the business of the local council. One last thing; I have always perceived this "application" as mearly a formality in letting the council know that we are doing a __________fundraiser, on such and such a date(s) and time(s). I

Had an interesting issue with two scouts, who happened to be brothers. They would eat pancakes, loaded with syrup. They would eat sugary sweet cereal. They would not eat eggs, sausage, chicken, or beef; with the exception of maybe a hamburger. Neither one of them cared for hot dogs as well. I come to find out that their meals at home consist of pop tarts and Mt. Dew; Or donuts and Monster energy drink. I was surprised. When on an outing, my concern is that they do have some caloric intake, but not empty calories like with soda. If they turn their nose up to what has been planned for m

I was in an electrical engineering lab at PSU when I heard the news. I was in shock that such an accident could occur; especially with the first teacher in space on board, Christa McAuliffe. A true national tragedy. Now, to correct the record, the date of the disaster was January 28, 1986 and occurred at 11:38 EST. It is now more than 26 years ago.