LPC_Thumper

As someone that chairs that committee for my district, I would like to respond. I would tell you that I only reflect what our district does, and suggest that you speak with your local folks. You must have the project approved before work is started, and so take your time getting your ducks in a line. Maybe even a phone call to the person, might help you see if they share my opinion. I have friends that have a son in a wheel chair. We have built a couple of ramps for this family. In fact his troop has built ramps at some of the camps they have attended. There is some work involved. I would not approve a project like this in my district. I wouldn't do it for a couple of reasons. First, last time I checked families are not non-profit organizations. Refer back to the instructions, and you'll see you should do work for a non-profit group. Second, I wouldn't approve the project due to lack of service LEADERSHIP hours a project like this entails. I would encourage this young man to get his troop involved in building this ramp. The family could REALLY benefit from a good deed. Scouts that were working on Life & Star ranks could benefit from the service hours available. I have a problem with the LEADERSHIP hours this project would provide. I hope I've made this clear. Good luck in your search, something with more leadership potential will show up, and that will work beter.

This can be hard, not belonging to the group that charters the unit, BUT it's up to you to be a resource. In my personal experience, my church sponsors a Pack, a Troop, a Team, and a Crew. I was working as the Webelos Den Leader when my son was basically told by the boys that he was not welcomed to be there. They physically made their point known. I had been active on a District Level, and knew quite a few people in our scouting community. A buddy of mine was starting a brand new Troop. His church was chartering it. We turned quite a few heads when a Troop sponsored by the Knights of Columbus had to go to two different chapels at base camp at Philmont. It was even more surpising when we learned that actually these chapels were right across the street from each other. I made an effort to contribute to the Troop, they made efforts to include my family. Our son is out of the area for two years, but I'm still involved with the troop, because it's fun. He went a long way from one night asking his mom "How do we tell dad I'm not going to be an Eagle scout?" To one evening inviting his Scoutmaster over to watch my him open up a very special letter. Now at Knight meetings they don't have a clue who I am, I don't know what they stand for, BUT we both know that we are bringing a good program to the young men of our town. I had to volunteer, I had to get involved, but then my son's heart was broken, and he was bruised, but we got over this hurdle. Good luck, and best wishes as you try to clear yours.

You know I've been working in Scouts longer than I haven't... I've learned something, kids don't talk to parents at this age, and sometimes husbands aren't much better. You may pick up on the fact that there's some secrecy about the Order. let me help you... While all the details of the ordeal are not for youth knowledge, there is NOTHING not for parent knowledge. Therefore there is no secret group in Scouts. The order exists to be of service, specifically service to other units to help them with camping. This doesn't mean anything other than in the perfect council, your OA folks might make a camping/hiking guide. They might help prepare summer camp for campers. They might get roped into things like this. You ask about a "special arrow". There might be some sort of fee for this first camp out (mom that's the ordeal, honest) And when you see the bill, you're reaction will be "Hold on guys this is ALOT more than most campouts." OK, yes it is, however, when was the last time he went on a campout, and came back with a new patch, a new sash, and a new book? Gee I wonder why this camp out costs more? Now if he looses ANYTHING he can replace it, or if he needs two shirts for camp or whatever, you can buy more patches, or whatever. One of the great traditions in OA is patch trading, these cool patches are almost always much more colorful than most others. This would also mean he's going to tell you he needs more "pocket flaps." You'll understand when you see where the patch goes. Any other questions? Just ask either here or locally, as a mom you'll get answers, if you ask the right person.

Do I dare admit in this forum that I'm the Eagle Advancement Chair for our District? Any way, I had a personal experience with that book. Don't use it. It presents some ideas that can be twisted not too far, and then create problems. What we encourage troops to do is have someone that will sit down with the scout, and help him clean up his packet, and make things presentable. We offer helps twice a year to both these adults and boys during Roundtables. We actually make copies of good packets. We ask after the Board if we could please use theirs. This then gets High School kids learning about things like chart in Word, or something called Excel. They present charts and graphs, and digital photographs with captions, and ... It works well to keep them pushing on their reports. Hidden information, we have only turned down one application. It was done by an 18 year old that had completed it in pencil and crayon (and I'm not just talking about his diagrams) Hope this helps...

I have sat on many (hundreds would make you think I was old, I don't think I'm old) Eagle Boards. One of our favorite questions is, "Tell me about a merit badge that was hard. One that you didn't like." There are usually four mentioned. Your son is looking at two of them. BTW, we usually ask "Tell me something you've learned in Scouting, that you don't think you would have learned if you weren't in the program." They almost always go back to that dreaded merit badge, and tell us how they've applied some of those skills. I have taught Env Sci at camp, and the current reqs require a research project about an endangered local animal. Some research before hand, if approved by the camp, can GREATLY aid in softening the strains caused by this badge at camp. In the old days, when I was a Scoutmaster, our troop adopted the tradition of the Friday night essay writting marathon. Our first year, I made dutch oven brownies for the older boys that were busily working on the essay (back then it was a 500 word report about what happened while they slept in a field for 10 hours that week, or something like that.) Second year back, these boys brought a mix in and cooked for those in the class. Needless to say the tradition was started. I learned that, we are now 15 years later, nobody knows why, but EVERYBODY knows that those that have completed Env Sci cook goodies on Friday night for those that are working on the badge.

Hi. Not to brag, but rather trying to set up some credibility, I am the chairman for our District Merit Badge Pow Wow (we just finished our 19th annual back in March). Questions like this come up all the time from our Counselors. Let's refer back to your training and see if I can help you. It sounds to me like you are able to help the scouts fulfill the requirements for the badge. As you know a Counselor must not add to nor take away from the list of requirements for that particular badge. However, the way you present that badge and accomplish it's requirements is up to you. (By the way, it doesn't sound to me like you are adding or subtracting requirements.) So can you do it as you suggest? Sure. The bottom line here really is: Are you registered? Are you qualified? Are you YPTed? (In case you're new Youth Protection Trained, if not talk to your District Advancement Chair, and YELL. You shouldn't be here without that.) Are you 2 deep? (You are going with these scouts right? You aren't alone with these scouts, right? (See YPT trained, above)) Have fun, and thanks for helping the young men in your area.

I just "cruised" this site. I'm impressed, but then hey I'm impressed easily. I'm planning on spending more time there. Thanks for sharing the site.

I've only list mine for thirty years. I only have another twelve years to keep a resume', I think I'll keep it there

If it doesn't work a hardship on you, WB now is best. As for who gets to go, I agree with Bob White, if you have the pre-reqs get there, as long as it doesn't interfere with family. (Sounds like a trip to Southern Africa, the kids are going to be hurthing too bad) Only thing I have a problem with is which patrol is best... That would be BEAVER... There's a reason their first you know

Interesting points... I'm a District Training, and I'd like to comment on what has already been posted. It is only my opinion. Anyways here goes. I always thought that the idea was to get trained to provide the best program for the youth we serve. I mean I've only read they manuals, and stuff, and I just thought the goal was to provide the best program we could for our youth was the point. I didn't realize that getting beads was REALLY the goal. Silly me... As for putting other youths needs in front of our children, and thus showing the world that we are committed to a program, I'm of the opinion that our family comes first. I do trainings in our district on a monthly basis. When my son was in the program, I was helping with campouts on a monthly basis. After he graduated (something about being 18 and rather spending weekends with the fairer ones rather than with 12 year olds) I started helping in the district. Again, I guess I should have been more concerned with others, but I figured I would spend my time helping the kid I loved. I really do think the goal here is simple, it's the goal National suggests... Get as trained as you can. Does that mean you aren't trained if you don't take advanced training? I don't think so. Can I be a good Cub Committee Member and not know about BALOO? You bet!! Can I work with young men in Boy Scouts, and not know HAT? Sure!! Can I influence young ladies in Venturing and not have beads? I believe I can. Does that mean Woodbadge isn't worth it? Hey I'm a District Training Chair... all courses have their purpose. Just don't get so upset over stuff that doesn't really matter.

Hi, I'm my Council's Venture Training Chair. Might I jump into this thread? (Even if I promise to try and not post my message twice?) While I agree with BobWhite, you really should consider that you need four (4) adults at any gathering. If only to make it so they know what's going on during outings. I understand that four is a bunch, and yes that may mean that you have almost as many adults as youth. Here's the reasoning... If you are co-ed (and let's face it, that is one of the main draws for Venturing among the youth) and you a situation with a young lady, which one of the former short & knee sock leaders are you going to have help her? (I realize I'm being vague, doing that on purpose) Oh you've decided that both need to help... OK who's going to stay with the rest of the crew? Just trying to give more fuel for the concept that one adult just isn't going to get the job done. Plus with one doing it, it won't belong until he's burned out. That kind always does. The long term leader is not worried about getting help, and using them... Just my two (2) cents worth

First, Congrats on getting to go. I was invited to attend COPE training there. Was an amazing course, my wife went with me. Second, My wife IS NOT A CAMPER. She LOVED it!! Did I mention she asked me this spring if I thought we'd ever get to go again? (We went a few years ago) They treated her like royalty, they helped her do things that amazed her. I went on a trek with my son (previous marriage), and realized that what took us 4 days to hike to, the PTC staff DROVE her to on a day hike. She saw wild Eagles, she saw museums, she read a great book, they helped her in the crafts lodge. I'm telling you they kept her busy, and she LOVED it. She was very rested after she had this "vacation." Third, my course was out of control. I went after breakfast, and was gone until dinner. I was beat. She didn't even know that I was gone. Fourth, the kids program is WONDERFUL. It's built for various ages, and skill levels. Those staff members are wonderful. Drinking water is very important. Patch trading is GREAT. Time with the family would be good too. (Like I said my course kept me REALLY busy, we didn't have the traditional day off) The only problem we had was... We flew to ABQ, grabbed the train and got off in Raton (great trip by the way), but you see trains and planes don't have the same reference point for schedules. The train was delayed for our return. They were running a day late. Which meant we would miss our airplane. We found someone willing to do a good turn, and they drove us to ABQ. If they hadn't, I don't know if we ever would have left. (Did I mention we loved it?) A car would have resolved this problem. Also I don't know if there are car rentals in Raton. I'm sure they don't exist in Cimmiron. (When I took our troop there, we rode the train from our local train station all the way to Raton. The boys loved it) The bus that picks crews up in Raton, was very willing to pick us up. A phone call did the trick for that. PTC is a treat. Be prepared for some real fun for the family, and some real education for yourself. EVERYONE should get a chance to go. I hope that in two years I get invited again. I'd love to do it all over.

In our Council Los Paders (CA) we had to cancel our latest attempt at JLT. I think we could learn from you about how to generate interest. Would you be so kind as to share how you guys get this sort of interest?

In my unit our monthly "Committee Meeting" is refered to as a "Parents Committee Meeting." It's a little messy, BUT what we do is invite all parents to come and give thier input as to what the troop needs. As for BoRs we follow the guideline that no parent sit on their son's BoR, AND no SM/ASM sits on a BoR. Just like no one other than the SM/ASM signs a boy's book. While your work as a parent is notable, and needed, you really shouldn't be swapping roles back and forth like that.

I'm the CC from a troop of about 40. Our adults meet in an "Adult Program" meeting quarterly. The purpose is to decide which of the adults are the advisors for each of the trips, and what extra travel support they advisors will need. Our PLC meet in September (after summer camp, and High Adventure trip) to decide what's going to happen the coming year. The SPL then come to the Committee Meeting and we discuss their plans and what will be needed to make that happen. This method has worked for us. We have attended at least one summer camp each summer, had at least one outing per month, and have been to all 3 High Adventure bases & Jamboree over the entire history of our troop (7 years). Sometimes they have come and asked for help getting to high demand areas. We have made reservations for them that were not actually in the calendar year they were submitting (for example you can't get into Philmont or Sea Base the September before you go, but we got through the paperwork for them the year they submitted their plan, and then they included the trip the folowing planning meeting. Hope this helps...