LeCastor

A popular extra-normal Scouting event in these parts is the electronics-themed lock-in at the chartering organization's building. Since we have some pretty cold, snowy winters, it has become a tradition in my Troop to have pizza on Friday night, let all the Scouts bring their video games systems to the church and have a big sleepover. Personally, I don't think electronics and Scouting really jive together. However, the boys really love it and want to continue the event; some have indicated they want to do it up to twice per year. (I think I'll have to use my veto on that one...) We do

Dear Fellow Scouters, There comes a time when we must put things to rest and remind ourselves that we are here to help the youth of our nation become better citizens. Petty bickering is not going to help us achieve our task. We serve as role models and set the example for the youth and, while this internet forum is relatively anonymous, Scouts can (and do) see what we write. If we agree to live by the Scout Oath and Law, we must remember to set the example and be Courteous and Kind. Now, please, for the love of Lord Baden-Powell, let this thread die in peace. Get your training a

Hi Shepo1! Thanks for the kind words. I try to keep a positive attitude and remember why I'm a Scouter...It's for the boys. No, I won't be over in Minnesota for my Wood Badge experience. But I look forward to discussing how your experience was in, say, September. We'll both have had a wonderful time, I'm sure! Also, thanks, Kudu, for acknowledging my having done the homework! I appreciate your enthusiasm for Scouting and keeping it for the boys. It's kind of amazing how long this thread has become. I just wanted to say how I wanted to experience Wood Badge for myself

I am a voracious reader anyway and so I'm always looking for more and more books on the outdoors and woodcraft. Here's just a sampling of what I've been reading lately: Woodcraft - Nessmuk Boys Book of Camping and Wood Crafts - Mason BSA Fieldbook 2nd Ed. Camping and Woodcraft - Kephart Be Expert with Map and Compass - Kjellstrom Air Force Suvival Handbook Complete Walker IV - Fletcher National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) Cookery AMC Guide to Outdoor Leadership - Kosseff Last Child in the Woods - Louv Sand County Almanac - Leopold Anything by John Muir Backp

To follow up on my original post...I have registered for Wood Badge, paid in full and am super excited about training in August of this year.

I noticed that the Scouts in my Troop were starting to get lax in keeping their uniforms up-to-date. So last Saturday I dug out my old ODL uniform shirt from when I was a Scout and stripped off all of my old badges and insignia from another council/lodge. After about an hour, I had my new CSP, Troop numerals (red), current lodge flap, SM badge of office and trained strip (tan and red) sewn on to the old uni shirt. Then, on Monday night at the Troop meeting almost all of the boys noticed right away that I wasn't wearing the new Centennial shirt with the green accents. And you could se

Thanks, everyone, for the responses. I had a SM conference with the Scout in question last night and learned that he knew he was over the line and that he has deleted all adult leaders' contact info from his phone prior to the meeting. He really impressed me with his actions last night. Turns out he just needs an outlet--someone to talk to--and I just happened to be that guy. I see a brighter future for him now. He even said he considered putting his hat in the ring for a youth leadership position. "Train 'em, Trust 'em, Let 'em lead."

Since I have become Scoutmaster of our Troop, one particular Scout has taken to texting me about Scouting-related topics and sometimes about life in general. Normally, he would speak with his Patrol Leader or Senior Patrol Leader about these things. However, the texting has become abusive with 4-5 part messages coming through on my phone at all hours of the day. Some texts are veiled threats that I can't be completely sure aren't directed a me personally. I have brought this up to the Troop Committee in the past and we came to the decision that all replies should be something along t

I don't have any experience as an adult with a Pack and it's been a LONG time since I was a Cub. However, I have seen a gradual shift my Troop's patrol menus this year. Traditionally, The Scouts have a Mountain Man (egg bake) cooked in a Dutch oven for Sat breakfast. Then, "subs" for lunch and grilled cheese sandwiches for dinner. Then, on Sunday morning it's cereal. Boring.... Now, they still hold tight to the Mountain Man but they are branching out for lunches and dinners now. They made soft shelled tacos one night recently. The "adult patrol" has been more adventurous

I agree with TwoCubDad. You should give the mom a call and discuss your concerns with her. Very often, emails and/or letters are taken to mean things that weren't intended. You can't hear concern in someone's voice through email. A phone call is very personal and shows care for the Scout. An email is very 21st century but not personal at all.

Please allow me to reiterate my point...I like going to training events. And I'm looking forward to Wood Badge. Basementdweller, I'm sorry you had such a lousy experience. We realize that it wasn't all that and a bag of chips, as they say. Thanks to everyone who gave positive posts and well wishes. I think this thread should be put to bed now.

Perhaps it's because I'm a young Scouter who has just been chosen as Scoutmaster for my Troop, but I really look forward to taking all of the training courses offered to me by my council. I enjoyed the Scoutmaster specific training and the Intro. to Outdoor Leader Skills. And I look forward to taking the Wood Badge training next fall. I have the Scoutmaster's Handbook 3rd Edition by Hillcourt and I've read both volumes. And I've read just about all of the Boy Scout Handbooks (BSA editions), including "Scouting for Boys." I tend to read as much as I can on a certain topic, as it help

Just for the heck of it I did a search on the local GS council in my area: gsbadgerland.org. It looks like they had a "Troop Camp" with activities much like our BSA district fall camporee back in September. Also, there's a "Girls Vs Wild" event coming up in November. Apparently, it used to be called "Badgerland Trekkers: Outdoor Skills." So what I'm gleaning from this 2 minute research is that the GSUSA council offers outings just like my BSA council counterpart. It's up to the individual troops to push for extra-council outings (i.e., camping, hiking, etc.).

I have been thinking about this topic a lot lately myself. My sister-in-law was a Girl Scout through the Silver Award and went camping and did ropes courses, etc. But my wife didn't do anything outdoors as a Girl Scout. It seems that the Troops just folded right and left because no one was recruiting or providing an exciting program for the girls. If GSUSA instated a training program for adults leaders that incorporated something similar to the BSA's intro to Outdoor Leadship Skills that wasn't "lame," I think more troops would recognize the fun in camping, canoeing, kayaking, rock c

I received this knife as a gift over ten years ago and have never been able to open 3/4 of it. Believe me when I say I'm no novice to breaking in knives. This one is insanely difficult to use.

I have the "Boy Scout Knife" and I find all of the implements hard, if not impossible, to open. The only part that I find usable is the blade. I have tried to open the can opener and screw driver and practically tore my thumbnail off! This is the knife I'm referring to: http://www.scoutstuff.org/bsa/camping/knives-accessories/knives/boy-scouttm-knife.html For the most part, I leave this knife at home as it's heavier than my other knives...and I can't use 3/4 of it! Has anyone else had this problem?

Clearly, I have ruffled somes feathers, so to speak, with this topic. As with most of my posts, I intend to invite discussion rather than to seek personal answers to my questions. So I apologize if my intentions weren't appreciated. As for grace and faith alone, it wasn't my intention to say that being in the OA was going to set me right with my creator. Service and cheerfulness are just good things to do and very Christ-like, in my opinion. Again, I only wanted to spark a discussion.

Being both a Lutheran and Brotherhood member of the Order of the Arrow, I found the recent discussions about whether or not Christianity and the OA were compatible to be very interesting. In fact, my mother is a recently-retired pastor in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) and she found the discussion just as interesting, if not more than I did. As we who are members know, the OA is a service organization that aims to help others in a very selfless way. It's about being a better person, both as a leader and as a servant. From my many years in a pew at church beside my

Here is a link to the patch in question: http://www.oaimages.com/cgi-bin/buildpage.cgi?pp=146b&dd=1&ii=7572&ch=y

I realize this is an old post but I just got back from our Lodge's fall conference and I noticed a few of these "full-pocket patches". In fact, a Scout from my unit designed a full-pocket compliment to our Lodge's flap. However, this particular addition is for our chapter, not NOAC or lodge. What do you all think of Scouters wearing these patches? I personally think they are neat but they also take up a lot of room on the shirt and look, well, a little too flashy for my tastes. Nevertheless, I purchased one this weekend to support my Scout. I don't know whether I'll put it on my un

I see that Scouts Canada will launch new uniforms this fall: http://www.scouts.ca/uniformlaunch/index.html

I realize that I am opening a can of worms with this topic but I don't think this subject has been touched upon in these forums. (I am a Brotherhood member since the early 1990s and I have a deep personal connection to the Order of the Arrow.) That being said, some of my friends/aquaintances have asked me, in some form or fashion, how I justify the use Native American customs and images by the BSA. So have any of you been asked similar questions regarding the OA and its emphasis on Native American heritage?

I agree with you all that we can't draw negative conclusions about the rank of Eagle based on the actions of certain Scouts who have earned that rank. Personally, I know of at least two Eagles who never showed Scout Spirit or leadership qualities; in fact, one of them (I hear) went to prison. But I have also known (and currently know) countless Eagles who are fine, up-standing citizens. As for this particular Scout, not knowing him, I can't and won't caste judgement on him. But basementdweller hits the nail on the head, so to speak, when pointing out that the Scout didn't even bother to

Thanks, everyone, for the kind words! I recognized both Scouts last night publicly at the Troop meeting and had them present their idea for a trash clean-up service project at the park. This went over very well with all present. As I got up in front of our two patrols and began the short introduction, I could see smiles forming on the faces of the two Scouts in question. It was very warming.

I had an experience yesterday that almost brought me to tears and it was as simple as watching Scouts follow the lead of adults. Yesterday, after a Troop outing to a minor league baseball game, I was walking back to the car through a local city park with my wife and two Scouts. Up ahead I saw an empty ice cream bucket lying in the grass. As we got to it, the Scout I was talking to stepped over it without making an attempt to pick it up. So I grabbed it and made it obvious to both Scouts (without words) that it should have been collected. My wife then began picking up smaller bits of