LauraT7

I'm not going to get into the ADA argument, but it occurs to me that many of the counselors I have met at camp are young people looking to be teachers and other service oriented fields. It would not surprize me at all to find that someone on staff knows "some" sign language or has other interests that might help. I would contact the camp director and ask him to look into the staff he is now hiring and see if anyone meets the bill. that being said, both these boys are obviously of an age to read & write - if they don't want to carry a pad and paper around all the time, get them a

Barry - I like your idea of a contract - esp if you have some parents in the troop that DON't "get it". But i disagree with having a re-election. sst3rd - is your APL also and elected position? or does your PL select his APL? if the APL is elected, or if they are elected as a TEAM - then the boys have ALREADY voted - this is a model of how our democratic system works. If the PL can't do his job, the APL steps in. That is the APL's JOB. Does it make any difference if the PL is in the hospital? what if his family moves? or if they go to europe for a month? or

What is it, specifically, that is giving them trouble? Is there something they don't want to do - or are there adults who don't want to "let go"? Training always helps - have you had a JLT recently or sent boys to JLT camp? Do you have any OA boys?

Twocubdad - nope, you probably DON'T want to know what you've spent on that stuff - just comfort yourself with the fact that some of it is tax-deductable! Besides, while you can't take it with you, I have a theory that there is a special place in heaven reserved for dedicated volunteer scouters - some kind of replica Gilwell field, without the bugs! And only your 'good stuff' goes with you, and never wears out! OGE - you got me thinking and I went and checked my plastic "trunk" for what I DIDN'T remember - yup - more "stuff" - TP, an extra air mattress and sleeping bag lin

in the requirements for the SCOUT rank - it says "complete an application and health history signed by your parent or guardian." is the "health history" part of the application itself? or are they asking for the health form that we need for outings and camp - signed by a Dr.? I think it's ON the application itself - but since I don't have one and can't remember Jon's, I don't know for sure. We have 5 new boys coming tonite - they just crossed over yesterday. We have a Court of Honor coming up right after spring break, March 31 - and it would be great if they could ge

OGE - I never heard of 'Cracker Barrel', except as a restaurant, until joining up with the Boy Scouts two years ago. I've been a girl Scout forever, ( since the 60's, anyway) and never heard the term used that way before - so I can understand your parents' confusion! LOL! LauraT

Car? hmmm do we have a car? OH! You mean the "Scoutmobile?" OK, I confess, what the heck does a single mom of one need with a huge VAN? to haul STUFF, of course! my little olds was just too small! My van reflects two loves - Scouting and my Golden Retreiver. you can always find evidence of both in there! LOL! I have a "trunk" in my van (er, Scoutmobile) a large plastic trunk that holds maps, jumper cables and the two hitches, (we have different sized hitches on the troop trailers - so I need two different sized hitch balls!) and the like - in addition to essentials li

sorry - your link didn't work - I got some web-hosting site? I'd be interested in taking alook at these - if i could get to the site...

LOL! I was afraid you would say that - I'M his merit badge counselor - and the only one for 'Camping' in the troop. I have no problem signing off on the other requirements - they've been done in the troop or otherwise well-documented. I have a couple of other boys in the troop working on the badge - but none as close to finishing as Jon. Even if we count our 2 family campouts (5 nights), he still doesn't have enough and needs more. I think I'll ask around at roundtable next week and see if I can find someone else in the area that counsels that badge... and ask them. S

I would REQUIRE a minimum amount of ongoing training every year for every adult volunteer that works with the troop in any capacity on a regular basis -(for example, more than 3 events a year or attends more than 8 scout meetings or accepts a committee position) ESP COMMITTEE & ASM's! Training is not THAT hard to do!

Two cub Dad - I would've bet you were right - only I thought it was above the LEFT pocket, in place of the world scouting emblem - so I looked it up, and we're both wrong! Well, maybe - it doesn't say that the conservation patch is a "temporary insignia", if it is, it goes on the Right pocket - and it would be covered up by the Arrow points / compass patch attached to your shirt pocket button. the conservation patch is an INTERNATIONAL award - and I can't find anything, cub scout or boy scout, that says exactly where it, specifically, should go, or that the boy scout can't wea

Ordinarily, knowing most family campers, I'd agree with you KS - Mom and Dad plan the trip and the kids ride along. and I understand that the "intent" is for them to plan and implement the trips - but it doesn't SAY that - specifically. But as I grew up in girl scouting, canoeing and LNT camping in the northwoods with my family, so has Jon been trained in the arts of LNT camping since he was 2 or 3 yrs old. LOL - he didn't even recognise the phrase "leave no trace" he just thinks that IS the only way to do things! Plus I'm a single mom - slightly overweight, 40-something, with a

BobWhite - good answer! of course, your answers always are good! Where's Yaworski been hiding - does he know about the humourous side you've been hiding? LOL! might knock him off his campfire stump! thanks for the smile! LauraT

is there any requirement that say he must have the badges & other requirements done before his project? unless there are - i don't see any rreason to hold this young man back. Right now, as gung-ho as he sounds, he might have the time and resources to devote to an Eagle project - if he waits until 15 or 16 when girls, jobs and other demands interfere, he might have a harder time juggling those demands. I would not skimp on ANY requirements, though. In the end, doing his project at this time might make him a better scout for the troop, too. And Mark? I have seen a few b

ok - so let me get this straight - A scout provides on his Eagle application the names of 5 people who are willing to give him a recommendation, including his minister. it's handy if they already HAVE the letters to go with the application to the BOR and to national, but is is not required of the scout to provide them. This particular scout did NOT have the letters in hand at his BOR, but DID have the names and contact info on the application; his BOR passed him, and now they are asking for the letter(s) - from the Scout? What happens if the minister (or other reference

We have about 20 boys. Our troop has usually done two fundraisers a year - popcorn is one, which doesn't bring us much, as we have too many competeing troops and packs selling at the same time. Our other fundraiser is unique to our area, in that one of our long time sponsors owns a parking lot across the street from the county fair, and for the 5 days of the fair, he lets us charge people to park in his lot. It's a great fundraiser - but the city recently sold the fairgrounds land, and we may lose it this year or next. It brings us over $5000 a year. we have done other fundra

bump!

having been there and done that - I do NOT envy you. however - the reason i stayed on the committee for two years is that i supported the interim SM and new SM who wanted to bring back boy-lead programming. In order to support the boys and the boy lead program - there needed to be adults ON THE COMMITTEE that were trained and voting in their best interests. Being on the committee does not mean that you can't participate in activities and teach the boys. But is does mean that you are not supposed to sign off on their advancements - because you might have to sit that same boys bo

What made me think of that one was that I saw a guy last summer at Napaown in the mess tent every afternoon(center pole)with his laptop - don't know if he was working (I think he was) or doing scout stuff. We have troopmaster on a laptop for the troop - but we've never taken it on any outings. However, I just got Troopmaster traveler for my palm pilot, so we might use that instead of the paper files on each scout's advancement needs for camp - However, last year it also stayed in my car/purse. But I do admit to prefering my digital camera to my bulky 35 MM and as it only uses spe

Wow , Eisley - what a cool site! makes me want to dig out the canoe paddles & life jackets & go RIGHT NOW! Unfortunately, most of the rivers around us are frozen solid, so I guess I gotta wait.... Still, now is a good time to start planning those trips - right? ROOTBEER - What skill level are your boys? are you looking for river trips or beginner paddling on still water? If you are looking to teach skills - we did a "canoe olympics" weekend last year to hone manuvering and cooperation skills. I have a couple of "games" your boys might like. e- mail

Hi Hops_Scout! See, that I can understand - it makes sense to me to have one nighters sometimes during the school year - events, holidays, homework - it's like everybody wants a piece of your time. But when we have the opportunity - say on a school 3 day weekend - Columbus day, Teacher conference days, at spring break weekends and summers - Why not do SOME 2 nighters?

Hmmm.. I checked the book - it DOES say "Camp a TOTAL of 20 days and nights. Sleep each night under the sky or in a tent you have pitched." It doesn't say it has to be with the troop or patrol - does it? what do you folks think? We have done alot of family camping - just the two of us - wonder if those nights count, too. in other areas of the badge - like the preparation - it DOES say to do it with your troop or patrol. Jon IS Star rank - he just passed his First Class BOR, and already has 11 MB's - 3 of which are Eagle req. (first aide, Cit in comm & swi

My son is working on his Camping badge, and has all the requirements done - that is, except for the 20 nights. We have been with the troop for two years and he has gone on almost every outing and 2 summer camps -he's missed only 3 campouts - the first - a 30 mile bike trip in April 2001 (he hadn't been on his bike since the previous fall, and never been more than 10 miles - no WAY could he make 30 miles first hit in the spring!) The next was a canoe trip to Quetico - for the older boys, only. And one was a caving trip - he's claustrophobic. the problem is - our troop doesn't DO tw

What you might want to look into is something our district has recently started - a "Merit Badge Opportunity Days" they picked a church (latter day Saints) with good classroom setup, and arranged to teach badgework and advancement work in a classroom type setting, every other Saturday for 6 weeks on a Sat morning. Last year they did 5 "classes" 3 am and 2 afternoon - but this year they just did 3 in the morning. They got badge counselors to run the "classes" and offered whatever they could get counselors for. Sign up was in advance - this year they limited the Eagle Required Badges

In looking over stuff I came up with a question about the SM key award - Is this for the actual SM ONLY - or can it be earned by ASM's, too? I'm not really clear on that. As for Scot, we are looking at the Award of Merit - which, as BobWhite pointed out is often awarded yearly at a district dinner. Ours is in November - (which was mentioned by our District commisioner)and there's a liklihood that Scot may not be around that long. So I had to point out that the application only says that we must apply 30 days before we expect to present the award. Some people have a tough