ASM857

Just recently had a collage student walk in front of a metro train here. Looked one way at a double track crossing started across I-Pod blarring didn't hear the whistle of the approching train. She's in critical condition, because of here I-Pod, and lack of attention. We do not allow any electronics at the campsite, Phones I-pods all get looked away when we get to the site and we hand out when were loading into the vehicals for the drive back. YIS Doug

Uncle Sams and Cabela stores here offer discounts by showing your membership card. YIS Doug

In our kit we have cheable Benadryl Imdium & the generic pebto, we also have burn cream, bite aid & genral first aid cream. On first aid training, myself and the committee chair are First aid Cpr AED & oxygen certified first responders by our employers. I am planning on attending Wilderness first aid this summer. On prescription meds we have one leader assigned that keeps with him and hands to the scouts at the appropriate time. ON the older star & life scouts they take care of themselves. YIS Doug

Kudu you mis understood whsat I wrote, each patrol camps together and adult leaders set thier tents up on the perimeter of the campsite. This allows our COG the comfort level they desire while the boys have thier patrol dioning flys and patrol boxes to do as the will. I don't consider a saftey or security precaution not letting the boys lead themselfs. YIS Doug

In our district this would not be possable, plus this would raise the hairs on the necks of our parents. At State Campgrounds we make sure that we have adult leaders tents at the end of the patrol rows. 1 To ensure Scouts are in Bed 2 That no one enters the campsite Were very lucky that the 4 leaders that go the most are light sleepers and used to not getting a full night sleep. I'm glad if this works for you but we wouldn't be able to pull this on off. YIS Doug

We have the accounts every fundraiser the boys have a minimum amount that goes to the troop, everything over that amount goes to the boys account. If we are doing trash at the fair or setting up tables, it is based on the hours worked. Seems to work well and weve had no complaints. YIS Doug

We cleaned the kids outdoor classroom, or look into clean streams. YIS Doug

We have 5 patrols but on most outings we only have 3 total show up so when patrols are doing menu palning we will merge and assign patrol leaders. As adults we are the lounge lizards, we supervise all activities for saftey but let the boys run things, we cook & clean are on food SPL and ASPL will eat with us if they so chose. I hope this helps YIS Doug

Ok my two cents LFL is operating independently of the BSA they share a building and some administrative functions. My parent company a large military contractor is unable to sell to certain country's, being we are an independent division but sharing building and administrative we can. So we need to let LFL do thier mission and BSA thiers, this country was originally founded on what was best for all the people, were lately were making it for the few that squeak the loudest. YIS Doug

If I had my way 1) I would make Star & Life have specific leadership goals. Too many parents say well he was a patrol leader for the right time, and unfortunatley at our troop the commitee caves and awards rank. 2) I believe we need to have or profesional staff evaluated by scouters, they do a good job but sometimes they worry more about the Charter Org than whose leading the boys YIS Doug

I will take your pledge Being new to this forum and trying to work a troop from being adult driven to Boy lead, I need any advise and help I can get. I believe that the rules are thier for a purpose, we all try and put the best program for the scouts. But we need to appeal to the boy's in our area, which can be night, and day. So every program needs to work for them not a cookie cutter mold. Sorry for the rant YIS Doug

I understand were he's coming from, but I believe that's why were here to go out of the comfort zone to learn differnet methods and ideas. Most of the post's are excellent and work within the ideas of scouting a very few cause unscoutlike comments and bickering internally. I belief we all have the right to express ourselfs in this forum, just wish some were not so agenda driven. YIS Doug

Both Cos provide a meeting place, and a storage cabinet to store flags & library materials. Other than that all expenses are covered by dues, and fundraisers. YIS Doug

In our district most troops have a Troop Hoodie, some like ours has a logo with the troop number. Others Just have the troop # on a red hoodie, being in the midwest it comes in handy in the spring and fall campouts. This time of year everyones is wearing winter garb no troop jackets for 20 degrees. YIS Doug

Not sure on the accomadations offered, we have all Feamle leaders in a seperate tent at the edge of the encampment away from Scouts & male leaders. So if you can get a seperate room away from the rest of the group you should be ok. YIS Doug

At the Scoutmasters confrence he fills out a sheet of what rank and requirments met. Then the scout takes to advancement chair and we have a BOR scheduled, normally 1st monday every month during PLC meeting. Hope this helps YIS Doug

Everyone has valid points in this argument, I can only speak from my experiances. Welfare abuse is rampant in my area, I was a manager for a grocery store, were I had people wearing leather jackets I would see in a store and couldnt affoard come in and buy steaks, with food stamps. Yes everyone is entitled to a good steak but if your on assistance buy ground round for $1.99 apound rather than Sirloin for $3.29. I wish our country had the backbone in my grandfathers & fathers life, were people stood on thier values not the most recent poll numbers. You may not agree with our current Preside

Remember to have a good sleeping pad and I take a wool blanket for a liner in the sleeping bag or a good fleece one works also. Always do layers and preferably a material that will wick your presperation away. Good Luck and enjoy YIS Doug Buth

In the past we had a cub pass on ina car accident, as a Pack we sent a poster board card everyone signed, and we left it up to the parents if they would go to the visitation. We went and I think it helped my son's understand a little better that live can be short, and to live it to it's fullest. GW is right my wife never went to a funeral as a kid and it freaks her out to go. Just my thoughts YIS Doug Buth

We have implemented the money for food money is due at the meeting before the outing. That way no one gets stuck with the bill, we also stress in our scoutmaster minute the event and have Patrol leaders remind all particapents. This has helped we do get the occasional canellations that are dealt with individually. Good Luck YIS Doug Buth

Merlyn what happened was terrable for the scouts, but trying to shift blame on one individuals actions to a group as a whole is unfair. The BSA as well as any volunteer group is not perfect we get background checks and training to serve the boys, or as in this case both boy's & girls. I do not see if the ship was a district or self sponsered unit has any bearing on what happened. An individual who was trained and trusted betrayed that trust, causing damage to those kid's as well as to the whole system. This is a tragedy and hopefully all will learn from this mistake. YIS

Ea I understand your concearns but when I was a Scout in the 70's we rinsed with water & soap. For our troop we have both soap & water and the lovely sanitizer hand gel, that is recomended to be used. Kid's will be kid's so we let them go unless we see a health risk such as undercooking meat, thats when we step in and ask the question is that done? As a whole they are clean, and a good bunch of boy's. YIS Doug Buth

http://www.stlbsa.org/Camping/Summer+Camps/Boy+Scouts/S-F+Introduction.htm S-F in Missouri has started some new programs with an outdoor program for 14 Yr old & 4th summer camp, also the OA is going to be running a new program not annouced yet. In the past our scouts not working on Merit Badges have hiked and fished at one of the many lakes. Hope this will help YIS Doug BUth

I agree if he participated in the hike he has met tha requirment, but not for the outdoorsman. Febuary crossover is not a good thing we do a trout fishing trip first campout so that makes it in March still a bit cold but not to bad in Missouri, and the kids have fun in a relaxed enviroment. YIS Doug Buth

We sold our 6x12 and purchased used a 7x16 trailer total cost was $850 after we recieved the check on the original trailer. Adult leaders donated wood & time to make racking on both sides and a propane cabinet. The only problem is you do need a vehicle with a V-8 to pull, the old trailer I could pull with my Mini Van. If you are looking check local business we got ours from a carpet company. Hope my rant helps YIS Doug Buth