local1400

Eamonn, I hope I didnt offend you. The point I was trying to make, and maybe I dont make much sense because I get on here early am after working all night, is that as a unit we were also tired of the council camporees- they became so predictable, that either we stopped going or work to make changes to the program. And to stop going was a disservice to the kids in our troop who looked forward to the camporees.

parents and adult leaders don't want to shell out $$$ for uniform components, Well where do they expect it to come from? Scouting costs money, but so does every other activity. Money is tight these days (Ive got to replace both our vehicles at once) but I still found good deals on uniforms on ebay. The unit should pay for awards, advancement, etc. and the parents should supply uniform parts.

Welcome spl205. I recently joined myself after reading for a few months. Alot of the senior members are very wise and always have interesting topics to discuss. I hope you learn alot here I know I am.

emb021 Thank you for the info. I will try to keep it straight. I guess a lot has changed in Scouting over the years.

Amen Eamonn!

I admit I dont know much about the Venture program I have been out of Scouts for 17 years. Missed every day though. I dont even think there is a Venture crew in my area. Did Ventures replace Explorers? Your right Ventures and Boy Scouts probably wouldnt mix company well. I wish you the best of luck but the S.O.S.O. has been recycled for years. Each camporee was the same as a scout for me but I still went just to stay involved.

Thanks John I felt stupid because I thought I was missing something important about Scouts and couldnt pull it up. Yhe younger guys(20-25) at work bring in this magazine and I have found absolutely nothing usefel about it.

Go Norteast young man. For a little extra time in the car try Camp Roosevelt in Maine. Go to the Katahdin Area Council website. Theres a few pictures on the camping section but a few more on the JOTA section. Great location, lake is private, good program, family style dining. Check it out.

The Daniel Webster Council's website has been updated so anyone wishing to send something to the cub's family may do so.

I am surprised this is 5 days old and has no replies. I could build a good field latrine back in the day.

Most kids today wouldnt join scouting even if every night was xbox night. You need to take care of the ones who are coming now. Of course you want new prospects but reality is few are interested these days. Maybe if the GSA improved then girls wouldnt want to join the BSA (sorry, call me old fashioned or chauvanistic but I believe Boy Scouts should be BOY Scouts!). Kids have a lot more choices these days and sadly Scouts is not high on their list. But you do raise an interesting question. What would you change?

No really Andrea, what are we supposed to be looking at? I went to maximonline but all I saw was sex themes and other junk. Not a place for a scout to be but I went just the same to see what for.

Does your district have different units "host" a camporee or similar event? Up here Troops will host a camporee and it is usually held in their town. As an ASM in ME in 90 our troop hosted a "Pioneer Days" camporee. With help from DE we put this theme together because we were tired of the same old same old! Each unit had to lash a gateway for their site for starters and really had to scout the old fashion way no Colemans etc.. but modern stuff like flashlights were allowed for safety. Our troop always won the dessert contest. Apple pie in a dutch or reflector oven and it was served ala mode. S

Calico you are right I think the point was missed. I live in an affluent area and sometimes (okay most times) I dont have much $ to go on outings. The troop committe could pay for some activities if they have the Dough-ray-me. It would be too bad if the only reason keeping these 2 boys from camping is economics but I know how they feel.

The council I grew up in allowed us to use the council camp off-season at no cost. Basically we just stayed in the lean-tos and did patrol cooking. Ask around your area I have faith there must be some land owners who were scouts. Use "catholes" for facilities and always leave it better than you found it. A troop that takes care of someone elses land just might be invited back!

What am I looking for?

Scouts have been in parades since ? maybe day 3. Its a shame and I hope this doesnt put an end to this activity. It is one more opportunity to have your unit out in the public view. When a parent sends their child off to scouts they expect that their young'un will be safe. Lets learn from this, move forward and Honor that Cub.

What kind of camping do you do that require campsite fees? Up here camping at State and USFS campgrounds is fairly inexspensive like $8 to $20 a night per site. I know of some commercial campgrounds where Troops can stay free in exchange for service to the CG. Of course you must "Be Prepared" for rainy day activities.

So Rip is what you saying is youve got a lot of patches like the rest of us and you want to proudly display them at camporees and such? When I went to a BSCanada Jambo in 84 most all scouts up there had "Patch Blankets" usually wool and covered in patches. I thought that was great and am currently working on transferring them to a new green fleece. Of course the U.P. would say those BSC patches are not official BSA but you know what Rip? You and I PAID for those patches and therefore have ownership rights.

NH is a great state and the men like Phelps use any event or tragedy where there may be media to get their agenda out. I am a Baptist, but I dont agree with everything they stand for. Mr. Phelps most likely will be arrested long before his mug gets on tv. Live Free or Die BY the rules.

Good luck to you and God bless for your willingness to step up to SM. Its only a couple hours a week! Thats a tough spot. Discipline starts at home and its obvious there is none in some scouts today. I think everyone knows a name in their head right now. At COH's when I was a scout the SM had a < shaped birch log with 12 candles set in drilled holes. Fromthe lower end up to the higher he would light a candle and call out "A scout is Trustworthy". A person from behind the scenes with a great voice would read out the meanings of each point. Light a candle, call out a point, get response on so

I think any Scout Leader should make an attempt to find out why any kid drops out of scouting. Time is scarce but go to the familys home and sit with the scout and his parents. You will hear many reasons and some may be just lack of interest but a program in trouble needs to be corrected.

While personnally not approving of homosexuality, a friend of mine who I stayed in the same cabin with as camp staff members as an adult came out of the closet. I had no idea. But should he lose the Eagle he worked so hard for? I never got mine be "S" EARNED his. Who are we to judge? God knows I havent always lived morally straight, and I have aked for forgiveness. Has anyone ever made a bad choice that they regretted? Ever had a drink? Let he who is without....

Is there a little more thread left on this spool? Its been read over 6000 times! I am a Union Proud freight train conductor and President of my unions local. Both of which leave me little time for Scouting which I have been away from for 17 years. In the past: Scout camp staff, convenience store clerk, package courier, and beer/wine truck route driver.

Ive never heard of putting new scouts all in the same patrol. You separate all the kids by age and how does an 11 year old lead more 11 year olds? If you have 5 patrols and 10 new kids put a couple in each patrol or beef up one that may have lost members to SPL/ASPL duties. If theyre all in the same troop but in different patrols they will still be friends, but they will make new friends too!