LovetoCamp

Uncle, That's kind of sad, "Play to Lose". Were they told that by their adult leaders or their youth leaders? Trail "Duke Fan" Pounder

I got to Chair our last Fall Camporee. It was a lot of work and judging by the reaction of the competitors a success. We averaged the ages and divided the teams into junior and senior divisions. We had 10 events and the Sea Scouts and Ship's officers served as judges, guides, timers, and Ranges Safety Officers. We had a backpack race. Next year we're going to put some more weight and distance on the senior division. An orienteering course, I've got to get out earlier with the GPS and make it tougher and longer. We drove teams from the State Park to our Indoor Rifle range to compete on our 10 M Air Rifle Range. Warm up and then fire 10 shots for record. You think that wasn't popular? We had a Fire Dept. rescue dummy race. A four man sprint with a 200 pound dummy on a stretcher. A knot tying challenge (it needs work). A race to put up properly 4 Voyager tents. Fire Starting race. The winner used a pile of steel wool and a 6 volt battery, WHOOSH. A Scouting Trivial pursuit test. A physical fitness test. Push Ups, sit-ups, chin-ups, and long jump. We ended it at night with a Dutch Oven Cobbler cook-off. All the adults were judges. After we gorged on the samples, we voted for out top three favorites, and the one with the most votes won. We awarded everyone a patch, a hat with the patch affixed to it, a nice certificate, and to the two winning teams went a nice new pocketknife and to their troop a shiny new Dutch Oven. At the campfire, the boys were stoked up. They had too much energy at the end of the day, I obviously didn't challenge them enough. BTW, if anyone has any activities that would work in the above type of competition....please share it!!!! Have a great weekend.

NJ, Wouldn't far-right of you put me right in the center, a moderate I would be. Welcome back.

http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=38372

Maybe the next time one of these murderous terrorists thugs will think twice before firing a B40 rocket into a busload of schoolkids if he knew that "Naked Twister" was in his future and not access to 75 virgins and endless martinis in paradise.

How'd that little tiny girl from West Virginny get all those Big Bad murdering terrorists to play naked Twister? They weren't being abused, they were on a Recreation break.

Our first mistake was hiring these Canadian Prison Guards.

I was a Scout in the early to mid 70's and we had Patrol vs. Patrol, white-knuckled, take-no-prisoners, Capture the Flag competition as often as we could make it happen. The Leadership Patrol consisted of the Troop's Eagles and older boys who were generally from the Class of 79. My Patrol was made up of us who were 2,3, and 4 years younger. Our whole purpose in life was to beat the Leadership Corps. We rarely did. But on the few occasions we did win, it was glorious. In sales, I'm in competition every day. If I just gave up on every customer who had proposals from two or three of my competitors, my kids would starve. I do notice that the group of Scouts we have are all on the honor roll, are top of their classes, and involved. But, they seem to lack initiative and drive. Have they as a generation lost the competitive spirit? Something is definately different. I earned most of my merit badges as a kid, by scouring through the counselor list and dialing their phones after school. "Hi Mr. Smith, this is Trail Pounder, I would like to work on the Reading Merit Badge with you at a time and place at your convenience." (If Mrs. Smith would allow it!!!) I've even given them the telephone numbers of counselors, and told the counselors to expect a call. That was a bit embarrassing, because they never called him. Could these young folks be missing something because everything's been done for them and they've been given everything? When do do they get introduced to "The School of Hard Knocks?" I've had a mom recently tell me I push junior too hard. If my little urging for scout advancement were too hard, I don't know what school's like for this kid (he's not one of the honor students), but wait until he gets a boss. It's not going to be pretty. Or more likely, he'll be living with mom for the rest of his days.

The brother seems to be a pretty classy atheist.

You gotta admit that discussing chorizo, Mexican cheese and listening to OGE croon beats the heck out of arguing with Merlyn the Atheist about...... anything.

And if Ranchers in Oklahoma made a pale yellow cheese it would be called cheso Oklahoma.

In the northern Mexican state of Chihuahua, where cattle descended from animals brought from Europe provide a major means of sustenance, the production of cheese is an important and respected industry, and one which is still frequently carried out in the home. Ranchers arise early each day to milk the cows, initiate the curdling, and begin the process of making queso ranchero, the ubiquitous appellation for many different types of cheese, including the ricotta-like requeson, the smooth, moist panela, and the pale yellow queso chihuahua. Like all people close to the land, the ranchers are subject to the whims of nature. A good rainy season means good grazing for the cattle, more milk, and a more productive cheese industry. When drought conditions occur, goats' milk is used to make cheese. Goats are capable of surviving on even the driest, thorniest vegetation, and their milk is five times easier to digest than cows milk. Although it contains significantly greater amounts of potassium, goat's milk is not nearly as popular as cow's milk for making cheese, and goat cheese is getting more difficult to find in the markets. Mercados all over the country, in addition to their own regional specialties, sell cheese from the well-known cheesemaking areas. Besides Chihuahua, these include Oaxaca, Quertaro and Chiapas.

Without a doubt, chorizo y huevos, with some jalopenas, and a taste of chihuahua cheese wrapped in a warm tortilla, is the absolute best Campout Breakfast in the history of Scout dining!!!

I'd say, "Super" all 8!!!! Get them to summer camp this summer. I wouldn't be for correcting someone's little error in terminology. Tenderfoot for the rest of the world is the equivalent of beginner. They surely didn't crossover and get promoted the first weekend, so why sweat it? Encourage them to get to camp this summer would be what I would stress.

Is the uniform the reason or just an excuse for someone not joining? For two cartons of Lucky Filters and two cases of Pepsi the kid can be fully uniformed. There's no reason that the VAST majority of American kids can't afford to be fully uniformed. The GDP of the Black community in America makes it the equivalent of the World's 16th wealthiest nation. 22% of the Black Community live at or near the poverty level. The poverty line hovering around $20,000 for a family of four, which is three times the amount I made at my first full time job after high school. Me thinks, parents that refuse to by a uniform and book for their kids, make a lot of other bad choices regarding their kids also.

Neil, 1. Done it. 2. Great Advice!!! P

Does anyone know why a Coxswain would be left off the list?

Hi Neil, the Boatswain and Boatswain Mate are the equivalent of SPL and ASPL. The Crew Leaders or Coxswains are the equivalent of Patrol Leaders but are not on the list. Just strange is all. They should be on the list. Skipper assigned Project coupled with their Crew Leader Responsibilities, Check.

LOL, I've never heard of parents filling out college applications. That's just too funny. There ought to be a section in there that guarantees the parents who fill out applications will have a book smart sluggo with zero personal initiative living with them well into their thirties. Jeeesh.

The positions listed as Positions of Responsibility in which a youth must serve to advance lists Patrol Leader in a troop but does not list Coxswain or Crew Leader in a ship. Our Ship's Crew Leaders, Port Crew and Starboard Crew, are responsible for their crews in the same manner a PL is, if not more so, because we hold them to a higher degree of performance due to the older age. I'm thinking this is an oversight. Will I be correct in allowing one of our Sea Scouts to advance to Star using his four months as Crew Leader to apply? Guidance please!!! Skipper Trail Pounder

http://www.juneauempire.com/stories/042704/sta_bearfists.shtml

I'm just thinking that in the very, very near future, we'll be getting our 16' Tri-Hull out on the River for every possible meeting. We're going to learn inland navigation, basic motors, rules of the road, and how to operate it. We can also get some skiis and tubes out on the River Illini. A day trip will get us from home up to Lake Michigan. Going south between Starved Rock and Lake Peoria is a scenic as it gets. We'll be flying our Sea Scout flag. Where would you rather be? Smoking a butt playing with a skateboard or out Cruising the River with the Sea Scouts? I think we're Kewlerr.

On a recent Long walk in the woods, I carried my trustee Coleman propane stove. The one that you screw the top onto the big bottle of fuel. It heats water most rickey-tickey but both it and the fuel are big and heavy. I've also noticed that these little cute backpacking stoves that my Bos'n and trustee First Mate lugged on this trail, had a hard time heating enough for a cup of coffee, forget about a pot of Joe, we'd still be out there. What works for you?

Our Sea Scouts went on a 50 Mile "Land Cruise" over Easter Vacation. For Christmas I recieved a pair of Nike Karsk Hiking boots. They really felt good and I was pumped up about possibly going somewhere with Ms. Dana on my back and not having my little toes blister beyond repair. Previously two cheapo pairs of midweight boots found my little toes blistered badly. I wore them for two days and finally switched to running shoes, which stopped further pain. The damage was all done. I wear a 9 regular, narrow doesn't fit and wide doesn't fit. 9 1/2 is too big and 8 1/2 is too small. I think I could have put another pair of socks on, could have tightened the laces tighter, or I don't know what else. I just know that everytime I go out and walk farther than 5 miles, It's blister city on the toes. I was in pain for 45 of the 50 miles. Can't wait to do it again next year!!!

Yes