Lippoeowl

Hennesey hammock is a good one. Check out at:

http://www.hikinghq.net/gear/hennessey_assym_hammock.html#Tip%201

Also check out archives at: http://www.backpacking.net/bbs.html

You need one per scout but if you contact Hennesey he may have seconds or make you a deal. The smaller "Scout" model will work well for younger scouts. I wouldn't reccommend for winter camping.

Hope this helps. YIS : L-Owl

smaster101:

Troop and patrol equipment can be overwhelming to an adult QM much less a Scout. We had the same problem until getting a QM from each patrol to step forward. Their duty is to maintain the equipment their patrol uses. In our equipment shed each patrol has an equipment storage area and their equipment is marked with the patrol's name. The patrol QM maintains everything his patrol uses and works with an Assistant Scoutmaster who maintains the adult leader's camping equipment. Any equipment that needs to be replace or repaired then the patrol QM reports it to the Adult QM who assist the Scout in the proper way.Any work needing to be done to troop equipment (like waterproofing new tents) gets a group effort from the group of patrol QM's.We use propane in 20 gal containers and the adult QM helps with getting these filled. It's up to the patrol QM to say when his patrol needs more propane. Troop equipment such as backpacking tents, water filters, sil nylon tarps, back packing stoves needed for backpacking trips gets checked out as needed for the outing and then returned to Ass. Scoutmaster QM by the patrol QM. We still have Scouts that forget to take care of something before an outing but when we get in the woods and they have to use their resources to get by without a piece of equipment, learning takes place. I had one patrol leave all their cooking pots at home once but the other patrols came thru and helped them out. It was a good lesson for everyone. Hope this helps. YIS : L-Owl

The Board of Review is an excellent opportunity for the Scout to develop and practice those skills needed for an interview. Walking into a room with three to five adults can be very intimidating to anyone, much less a young Scout. The ability to walk into the room and communicate a positive and confident impression is a skill, which will help the Scout throughout life. Serving on a troop's Board of Review can be very satisfying as you watch Scouts develop from very nervous Tenderfoot Scouts to self-assured and confident Star or Life Scouts.

It very important to train your Board of Review members. We use a Board of Review Guidebook and teach a short course in "Conducting a Board of Review" to all interested committee members who plan on serving. They need to understand the purpose and goals of your troop's Board of Review. In my troop we use an evaluation form to check off how a Scout did with things such as:mood when he entered the room, appearance, first impression of the Scout, did he make good eye contact, posture, how did he answer questions, handshake style, and did he identify any problems in the troop. Each board member fills in one of these evaluation forms and returns them to the Scoutmaster who can then work on helping the Scout improve those things he needs to work on.

The Board of Review is NOT a retest; the Scout has already been tested on the skills and activities required for the rank. The Chair of the Board should ensure that all the reequirements have been "signed off" in the Scout's handbook and that leadership and merit badge records are consistant with the requirements for the rank. It's very important that the Scout find warm and friendly people who listen to what he says and only want to help him have a good experience with Scouting. A wisely run Board of Review can itself reinforce this good experience and increase a Scout's ability to communicate with all adults, including his parents.

YIS: L-Owl

Excellent post! Thanks: L-Owl

We had an interesting thing occur at summer camp this year. One of our Scouts fell, hit his head hard and went to the local hospital for a CAT scan.

Medical form was up to date and filled in with all the information required by BSA and the Scout summer camp. When we got to the hospital we were told that it wasn't adequate. The hospital called his parents to get verbal confirmation before any treatment. We were told that the BSA medical form needed:

1. SS #'s of both parents and Scout

2. Photocopy of health insurance card (front and back)

3. Notary for parents signature.

Since coming home and checking with local hospitals large and small, they're right. We are working to add this information to our BSA medial forms.

I would also like to see a place to add a digital photo of scout to medical form. The nurse at the summer camp handed us the wrong form as we were leaving for the hospital. I guess this could be easy to do with 600 Scouts in camp and young Scouts don't always have ID. The photo on the medical form would sure make it easier to put the right form with the right Scout. Anyone else had a similar experience?

L-Owl

By the way, Our Scout is fine.

(This message has been edited by Lippoeowl)

I am the Advancement chair for my district and I would like some information concerning your District's Eagle Boards. First some definitions:

District Eagle Board:

In some Districts you may have six members on the District's Eagle Board and the same six members conduct each Eagle Applicant's BOR. I will refer to this as a "District Eagle Board".

Unit Eagle Board:

In other Districts, the EB committee sends one or two members to the troop and, with the addition of 3 or 4 troop committee members, they conduct the Eagle applicant's BOR. I will refer to this as a "Unit Eagle Board".

To the Scouters who have served on their District's Eagle Boards or are currently serving in a District that conducts "Unit Eagle Boards":

1. Who approves the Eagle project service plan? ...the Eagle Board Chair or any member of the Eagle Board?

2. How many representatives from the district's board do you send for a "Unit Eagle BOR"?

If you have any feelings about District Boards verses Unit Boards or strong opinions on questions 1 or 2 , I would love to hear them.

Thanks for your help. L-Owl

Was wondering how many WB'ers have a WB cup. In our council we use the maple colored plastic mess-hall cups that can be engraved with patrol's totem, Scouter's name and course number. Woodbadge patrols acquire one cup per member and then hopefully someone has a Dremel and performs the engraving. Engraved lines are highlighted with ink. Is this a national trend or just an East coast thing?

L-Owl

We always make a point to start and end on time. Responsibility rests with the SPL who understands the reasons. As Scoutmaster I always get to the meeting 30 minutes early. SPL and ASPL arrive 30 minutes early, most of the time. Service patrol arrives 15 minutes early. Late arrivals generally get the idea after several meetings that 7 o'clock means 7 o'clock. We do not repeat announcements for late arrivals. They get information from their patrol. Pre-opening activity works well.

L-Owl

I'm new posting here so forgive me if you already know about this site: http://www.scoutingmilestones.freeserve.co.uk/

This is a wonderful source of information on the history of Scouting.

YIS: L-owl

Don Johnson's Photon Stove is a pepsi can stove that works great but is rather difficult for the typical Scout to build. I like Sgt. Rock's Cat Stove better. It boils water just as fast and can be made in about 4 minutes. The hole punch (2" throat) needed for the pepsi can stove is $69.00. If you combine the Cat Stove with a Walmart Grease pot you can outfit your Scouts with Stove and cookpot for around $6.95 that only wieghs 8 oz. and build them at a typical meeting. If you would like to check out these and other designs try:

http://wings.interfree.it/

Red feather: Are you talking about a "Swedish Chimney"? We've used them quite often. You need three split logs about 20" to 24" long.Stack them tipi fashion and with a wire coat hanger or other suitable wire, wrap around the top of the tipi or chimney. The lower part of the three stack logs will be spread and inside is where you start a small "twiggy fire" . The fire generates a draft that ignite the inside of the three split logs and the "Swedish Chimney" will burn for quite awhile especially if you keep tightening the tipi up . Be sure to feed the twiggy fire until the logs "take off" and you can feel the heat coming up the middle of your chimney. We use it for coffee pots and stews. The pot goes on top of the chimney and the heat gets really intense from the draft . Neat thing is you can handle the logs from the outside because they stay quite cool. Scouts are amazed that it works . Its important that the three split logs be of equal length to provide a platform for the your pot. You can do three or four at a time and have a "Four burner Stove" in the field. Dekota hole is really cool too. You probably know about it but if not just ask. I hope this helps. YIS : Steve

ASM1: What a resource! The more I reserch the site the more things I find and it looks great! I've only scratched the surface but thanks for the address. I have sent it out over our council's list serve and it should be interesting to see what happens here. YIS: Steve

Sctmom: When you said:

"Now I need some sort of metal thing to put on the ground when a fire pit is not allowed. I wonder if a flat grill will work, just no legs."

Are you talking about a fire pan for Dutch oven cooking?

If so, we use the heavy duty aluminum cookie sheets available from Costco. They come 3 to a package and work great as a "Fire Pan" for Dutch oven cooking. I think the cost is somewhere between $13.00 to $16.00 per pack. In the past,we used 55 gal drum lids but they rusted out and were really a pain to carry around. The cookie sheets are still going strong and have other uses too. Each of our patrols gets two and the adult leaders have a half of dozen or so. Dutch ovens tables are also great but cost more and are harder to carry around.

Hope this helps. Steve

In the Headquarters Gazette (Leaders' magazine 1923) Baden Powell said, "The Gilwell scarf does not entitle you to consider yourself as a thing apart. Your Troop or District must as much as ever command your first allegiance. (As the outward sign of this, indeed, the Troop scarf and not the Gilwell scarf should be worn when working with your Troop."

Wonderful little book - "Footsteps of the Founder - The Baden-Powell Quotations Book" by Mario Sica --can be purchased through BSA.

sctmom,

Check out this link for games:

http://www.macscouter.com/Games/index.html

We always use the last 15 minutes of our meeting for a game choosen by the PLC. The SPL has copies of all the material and the PLC plans everything on a monthly basis. Use the "Troop Meeting Plan" sheets. The section marked "Inter-Patrol Activity" can be a skills contest, display or demonstration or game for all Patrols. These sheets really help keep the meeting on track. Good luck : Steve