LeCastor

Not to beat a dead horse but...

I just received my 42 L Red Wool Jac-Shirt from Scoutstuff.org for $20.00 and it fits very well and is true to normal sizing. It's also made in the USA, if that matters to any of your interested folk.

Thanks, everyone, for the lively discussion of Troop 238 in South Florida. I was able to contact the Scoutmaster and he is genuinely interested in keeping the fun in Scouting. A most enthusiastic Scouter, indeed.

I have to admit I didn't think this thread would lead to such a lengthy dialogue but I'm glad it did. In fact, I was having a discussion with some other Scouters in my troop and there was talk of a certain amout of fun lacking in some outings and, thus, a dirth of Scouts who attend on a regular basis. I have taken away some ideas from your posts that may help revive my own troop and lead a kind of renaissance, so to speak.

Cheerfully yours,

LeCastor

All in all, I like the new green wool jacket. However, my only complaints would be that the sleeves are a little too short and it doesn't quite match my pants. In fact, I've noticed that the greens are all over the place--socks, loops, pants, caps. They are just a shade different than uniform...But, heck, they'll all fade sooner or later anyway, right?

I'd like to get a red jac-shirt, too, because I've always wanted one. Too me it's the iconic look of the Scouter--green pants and a red wood shirt/jacket.

I have been trying to understand for months what you all are referring to when you say "ODL." Could someone please clarify? What does ODL stand for?

thanks!

Thanks, everyone, for the warm welcome!

When reading the thread about whether or not a Boy Scout could/should be wearing a campaign hat, I did a little "googling" and found this website for a "special" troop in Florida:

http://scouts238.com/content/view/16/30/

From the photos, it appears that the Scouts are enjoying themselves even though they do look like they are 1910 Scouts living in 2011. However, I can appreciate that this troop wants to follow the ideals of Scouting, as laid out by Baden-Powell's "Scouting for Boys." If I had had the opportunity to join this troop when I was crossing over from Cubs I would have been thrilled.

What are your thoughts?

LeCastor

Good idea! I think patrol leaders need all the help they can get in order to gain a better idea of what their role is. However, I prefer the analog versions, too. At any rate, the BSA website has a few good points of departure:

http://www.scouting.org/scoutsource/BoyScouts/PatrolLeader.aspx

It may still be a good idea to have the Scouts have a tangible copy of the patrol leader's handbook. They can mark in it and carry it with them in their packs.

I always make it a point to wear my field uniform (aka "class A") at EVERY function. In my opinion, it sets a positive example for the Scouts. I'm not ashamed to wear the uniform shirt and I'm certainly not afraid to get it dirty. After all, I was a Scout and now I'm a Scouter and I wear my uniform proudly on hikes, camping trips and Troop meetings. (Even Greenbar Bill's 1979 handbook says your uniform is part of the packing list for camping trips and hikes.) I consider it the 11th Outdoor Essential for Scouting trips.

The problem I see with the activity "uniform" is that it isn't technically a uniform. Many of our Scouts don't wear official pants/shorts anyway, which is sad in my opinion, and they each tend to pick their own "class B" t-shirt. This all leads to no "uniform" at all. Rather, we have Scouts in street clothes...

So I say, wear your field uniform whenever possible--everyone in the Troop. If heat is a factor during an outdoor activity, then have the Scouts choose ONE BSA-related t-shirt and wear that with the appropriate shorts/pants.

Since I have just recently begun working with three Scouts on the hiking merit badge, I thought I'd revive this thread.

Our Troop tends to have a ridiculous adult-to-Scout ratio. On one particular campout, there were ten adults and six Scouts. While the patrol method was followed perfectly, I didn't see the need to have that many adults present. (Of course, I was as guilty as any of the other ASMs who were there.) But I digress...

My three Scouts are planning their first 10-miler for our next session and, in remembering the terrible ratio from above, I told them that I didn't even need to be there with them, since patrols ARE allowed to go on day hikes on their own. They insisted that they wanted me to go with them, not for safety's sake but because they know I like hiking with them. So I agreed to go but encouraged them to limit the adult presence to two at the maximum.

The Scouts should be planning this hike and following through with a proper hike plan. My main worry is that parents are going to want to tag along--helicopter parents as they're called these days--since I've seen this in the recent past.

Perhaps I'm swayed by the neat photos of Scouts out on the trail in their uniforms, no adults to be seen, having a great time. Just think of the 1967 edition of the Fieldbook, for example. I fully intend to follow YPT but I'd like to limit it so that the Scouts can do the planning, set the pace and enjoy being Scouts.

It's nice to do smaller, patrol-type activities rather than with the whole Troop sometimes. It breaks things up and, in this case, will allow me to work with a smaller group in discussing hiking etiquette and LNT ethics, etc. At any rate, I can't wait to see what they've planned!

I've really enjoyed seeing the resurrgence of bugling interest. My musical background is primarily in low brass (trombone, euphonium and tuba), but I have been known to dabble in the trumpet and cornet. Incidentally, I've also been toying with the idea of purchasing a US Regulation bugle for personal/Troop use.

One of my fondest memories of Scouting was during the summer of 1991 at Skymont Scout Reservation in Tennessee. My troop had an ASM who played trumpet and he volunteered to play "To the Color" each day for our Troop's flag-raising. It still gives me goosebumps just thinking about it!

I would love to have one of our Scouts participate in this time-honored tradition. Check out this US Army website for details on all the relevant bugling details:

http://bands.army.mil/music/bugle/

I've been reading these forums fairly regularly over the past three months and have enjoyed seeing other Scouters' ideas. As a youth, I was involved in Scouting from Bear all the way to Life. But through college, graduate school and general distractions, I let Scouting slip out of my life for about fifteen years. However, I recently re-registered in a council far, far away from where I was a Scout back in the day. Today, I am an assistant Scoutmaster, merit badge counselor, friend and mentor to several young, eager Scouts. I'm sure all of you know how special this is.

Every Monday I look forward to our Troop meeting. Also, since I've been working with three Scouts on the hiking merit badge, the weekends have been full of planning and actual hiking. We've been on a Troop campout/cycling adventure, one camporee dedicated to backpacking knowledge and an OA conference. Pitching my tent again after all these years, cooking meals on a camp stove, hiking, sharing my Scouting background with the younger Scouts has been so fun and, at the same time, eye-opening. It's interesting to see Scouting from the persepective of a 30-something as opposed to a teen.

I look forward to reading and re-reading these forums and, hopefully, adding my own thoughts.