MaScout

oldsm -- very valid question & I'm sorry I forgot to include the answer. I actually thought about it before I posted, I just forgot to include the info. The school is K-12, about 400 students total.

So...what qualities make a "good" camp? Which make a camp experience "bad"? Why? Maybe list your top 3 or so... Thanks! Ma (Yes, there's method to my madness. )

Our school wants to host a flag retirement for Veteran's Day, and wants our troop to do it. They want to take the entire student body out to the football field & have a big ceremony. What is your take on this? I'll tell you mine later.

Oh yeah...I'm obviously NOT an Eagle Scout, but I am the SM in our troop. I also substitute teach. One year I was long term subbing at our school & one of my classes was "lifetime sports". The regular PE teacher had nets set up for Pickle Ball. They were pathetic knots & couldn't keep the nets tight, as OGE mentions. I finally couldn't stand it anymore & put in tautlines. The classes were much happier. One of the Eagle Scouts from our troop loudly proclaimed, "Ma Scout, you tied these, didn't you? Why don't you teach Mr. PE how?" (Of course, I suggested HE teach it to Mr. PE)

Not me, but my son told the following story: Last summer he was on the Coast Guard cutter "Eagle". It was the 225th birthday (or some such number) for the Coast Guard, so they were having a celebration on board. One of the "competitions" was knot-tying. Most of the young cadets were out early on. As time went on,the competition narrowed to fewer & fewer, with my son being the only young one left. They finished with my son only being bested by a 30-year veteran. His comment to my son? "You were a Boy Scout, weren't you?"

I think each situation has to be assessed on it's own merits. It sounds like Laura's son was hit harder than usual. My son, too, was on camp staff for three years. He put in tremendously long hours, with the year has 50-mile hike ranger hitting an all-time intensity level. However, HE thought it was wonderful. He said, "Ma, I hike all week long to the highest peaks. I do what I like doing most in the world, and at the end of the week, they give me a paycheck and say it was work." (Yes, he calls me Ma.) His day typically began at 5 AM & he went to bed at 11 PM. Even at night, he was respons

Our OA team determined that they were done with such long ceremonies. We had SM's who wanted to keep up the suspense and wouldn't mark the candidates until late -- like the 5th or 6th pass. Their solution? They hold a SM's meeting and tell them they will make three passes to collect candidates. Troops are to show 1/3 of their Scouts each pass. On their 4th, "clearing" pass, they will not collect any more scouts. They had to get tough with the SM's, but it worked! And everyone really appreciates the shorter time frame!

Where are you hiking? Actually, my question is who is supplying the food? Philmont food is notoriously bad. My son who's motto is, "if you're hungry you'll eat it, if you're thirsty you'll drink it, and if you're tired you'll sleep" found "Tooth of Time Chicken" unswallowable. (I believe it has been phased out.) However, what he learned was that a small bottle of seasoning salt and a bottle of cholula sauce are necessities! He put his cholula sauce in for a Rayado trek after the shakedown. The entire crew loved him! So, seasonings may be "needed".

Sorry for the double post!

Tale to your district people...our's lets us have archery IF we have the right trained people, AND it is for "recruitment", which they call a district activity.

Tale to your district people...our's lets us have archery IF we have the right trained people, AND it is for "recruitment", which they call a district activity.

Our camp doesn't let first year campers take the MB. This is from the range instructor, and he wants a little more maturity on the boys. I realize it doesn't always happen in one year, but better chance of it. Versus getting a whole bunch of very excited first year's who are too excited to stand still, let alone listen! On occaision, if he knows the lad, and knows the lad has shooting experience, he'll let him take the MB -- but this is a rare exception.

Also, the SM must sign the blue card after the MB Counselor to validate it.

SR540 put it well with "...to determine if it was worth it to prove a point or provide my son with the best scouting experience I could." I was actually coming back to say - FWIW (For What It's Worth), we have not regretted starting a new troop. We have a fun & dynamic group. It was well worth the effort. If another troop would have been within a reasonable driving distance, our choice probably would have been different, but as it is... we chose the right path for us.

Can your troop not request to have unit members present? Who will be there to present the youth for his Board of Review? Could the lack of signature be addressed at that time? Our council generally tries to have unit committee members sit on the Eagle BoR. However, we ALWAYS have someone there to "present" the candidate. At that time, they share pertinent information with the Eagle board. Once upon a time, we had an Eagle candidate who had a (serious) problem after his SM Conference & signature and before the Eagle BoR. A simple phone call to the District Advancement Chair explai

First, I would encourage you to seriously consider either staying with the troop youre in and try to help improve it, or to join another pre-existing troop if it is at all feasible. Visit some of the other troops meetings and outings, and see how theyre run. Talk to the adult leaders and find out how they feel about how a troop should operate, whether theirs is actually performing properly or not. How does your son feel? Is there another troop he wants to join? How does he feel about the stress it can cause? How dependent is he on his friendship with his fellow scouts? No money and

Hmmm...I'll get back to you. I want to give this some serious thought & introspection. Ma

Aaah...Hunt has the essence of it...be gentle. If someone (especially a newbie) asks a question, they DO want answers. They just don't want attacked for being so stupid as to not know the right answer on their own. There are always at least two ways to tell someone something. And one of them is kind. And sometimes they make what they believe is an innocent comment and they get attacked. Gentle correction and guidance would go a lot further here. If they get attacked, they will go on the defensive. That is human nature. At that time, anything you have to tell them will be lost. So...if you actu

Wow! It sounds like the first troop my oldest son started out in. We (my husband & I, along with one other couple) tried to iniate changes. Ultimately (after talking to SM about putting a boy in tears at a SM Conference) I was told (in quite loud & forceful tones) that it was the SM's troop & he'd run it however he wanted, and if I didn't like it I should "shut up & butt out!" At that time we felt like the options were: 1) Remain with the troop & keep our mouths shut (HA HA! Fat chance with me! ) 2) Change troops 3) Drop out of Scouts 4) Start a new troop I wa

Correct. While working his way up to Eagle, they can each be counted...for example, Swimming might be counted as an Eagle required for Star, and Cycling might be counted as an Eagle required for Life. However, only one may be counted in the Eagle required for Eagle rank. The other may count towards elective MB's or towards a Palm after he gets his Eagle.

Our QM put together a list of "must haves" and went over it with each scout right before we left. That way, parents could make a quick run home for forgotten necessities. His must have list included rain gear, water bottles, books, uniforma (Field & activity), sleeping bag, medications, etc.

We did our "own thing" this year. It was exhausting, but well worth trying on occaision. We jumped through all the hoops on a council level to get it approved -- detailed driving plan, daily menus, daily itinerary, detailed information on all attending, etc. We went to Montana and observed the reenactment of the Battle of Little Big Horn. We visited various battle sites & museums and camped on private property on the Crow Reservation along Reno Creek. We saw Devil's Tower & Fort Phil Kearny in Wyoming and went to the night ceremony & lighting at Mt. Rushmore. We cooked in camp

Yeah...Ma got activity & field reversed. Thanks for knowing what I MEANT, not what I said. I had just come off a 2-week intense Scouting period, & was rather bushed. (Over 1000 miles touring trip with the troop, followed by a concession stand where we turned over $4000 in receipts in two nights!) First, I agree there is only ONE field uniform and ONE activity uniform. (Although in reverse of my earlier post. ) However, that isn't everyone's stand. Some people are perfectly content with just the shirt, paired with jeans or shorts. I don't feel it is my place to scold anyone about

TDC every three years?!?!?! It doesn't change. Why take the same course over & over? No to time limits on trainers, either. Sure, you'd get in new blood, but you'd lose some good blood, too. Natural attrition takes care of the ones who don't care to be there. Coupled with a DTC who doesn't invite the poor quality trainers back, you should be getting only the best.

Aahh...the "out of council" troops really DO get the "choice" campsites in our council! We can "reserve" our campsite for the next year if we make our reservations prior to leaving camp during the current year. I can't remember when we were last placed in the campsite requested...it always goes to "out of council" troops, and WE get the "left overs". Very true last summer...they put us in a campsite that hadn't been used in over a decade. We had to clean it and repair it before it was usable. We didn't have a trail in nor any outhouses within a reasonable distance. But in our council's eyes, t