mdutch

Somebody told me that Venturing Crews can set their own uniforms (anything they want). Then somebody told me that this was not true, and it only applied to Explorers. Anybody know which is right? Thanks, Eric

Any suggestions on how to get scouts to quite down at meetings. At our past troop meeting, we spent 20 minutes waiting for scouts to quite down. We have threatened to withold signing off on "Show scout spirit" as it is a disregard for several points of the scout law (curtious, obedient). This doesn't seem to work. Any suggestions? Thanks, Eric ASPL

I think that one VERY important statistic is being overlooked. How many of the older scouts (3rd year+) are staying in the troop (and being active). It has been my experience, in the past few years in my troop, that mixed age patrols tend to lead to higher retention of the new scouts for a year or two, but then they ultimitley drop out sooner than if they were in a same age group patrol.

There seem to be a lot of council and district positions and titles. Could someone explain to me what each of them are?

We are in the Albany Area, we have traveled across the state (Buffalo this past summer), as well as into vermont, in the past 5 years I have been in the troop. Eamonn, thanks for the advice

My troop, located in Upstate New York, is looking for a new summer camp to go to. We have a tradition of going to a new summer camp every year, and are looking for recomendations of good summer camps. Thanks, Eric

What is Gillwell park? Eric

When I was an SPL as a kid, I used the silent signals as printed in the Scout Handbook. I found them far more effective than shouting commands. It only took one or two Scouts to catch on to make the entire 40+ troop fall into order.Unc. Where can I find a copy of the siginals? Eric

Eamonn, What position do you hold in the district? Eric

Tiger Cubs, Wolf and Bear Cub Scouts, and Webelos Scouts have the opportunity to earn the Cub Scout Outdoor Activity Award. Boys may earn the award in each of the program years as long as the requirements are completed each year. The first time the award is earned, the boy will receive the pocket flap award, which is to be worn on the right pocket flap of the uniform shirt. Each successive time the award is earned, a wolf track pin may be added to the flap. Leaders should encourage boys to build on skills and experiences from previous years when working on the award for a successive year. Requirements All Ranks Attend Cub Scout day camp or Cub Scout/ Webelos Scout resident camp. Rank-Specific Tiger Cubs. Complete one requirement in Achievement 5, Lets Go Outdoors (Tiger Cub Handbook) and complete three of the outdoor activities listed below. Wolf Cub Scouts. Assemble the Six Essentials for Going Outdoors (Wolf Handbook, Elective 23b) and discuss their purpose, and complete four of the outdoor activities listed below. Bear Cub Scouts. Earn the Cub Scout Leave No Trace Award (Bear Handbook, Elective 25h) and compete five of the outdoor activities listed below. Webelos Scouts. Earn the Outdoorsman Activity Badge (Webelos Handbook); and complete six of the outdoor activities listed below. Outdoor Activities With your den, pack, or family: 1. Participate in a nature hike in your local area. This can be on an organized, marked trail, or just a hike to observe nature in your area. 2. Participate in an outdoor activity such as a picnic or park fun day. 3. Explain the buddy system and tell what to do if lost. Explain the importance of cooperation. 4. Attend a pack overnighter. Be responsible by being prepared for the event. 5. Complete an outdoor service project in your community. 6. Complete a nature/conservation project in your area. This project should involve improving, beautifying, or supporting natural habitats. Discuss how this project helped you to respect nature. 7. Earn the Summertime Pack Award. 8. Participate in a nature observation activity. Describe or illustrate and display your observations at a den or pack meeting. 9. Participate in an outdoor aquatic activity. This can be an organized swim meet or just a den or pack swim. 10. Participate in an outdoor campfire program. Perform in a skit, sing a song, or take part in a ceremony. 11. Participate in an outdoor sporting event. 12. Participate in an outdoor Scouts Own or other worship service. 13. Explore a local city, county, state, or national park. Discuss with your den how a good citizen obeys the park rules.

A Field Director is a professional position at the Council level. He is the boss of the District Executives. His boss is the Director of Field Services. In my Council, we have one Director of Field Services, two Field Directors and eleven District Executives. I thoght that was wat a District Director and Scout Executive was for. (slowly realizes why scouts don't get involved in the council level, too confusing)

What is a field director?

so if the cubs are wearing the progress towards rank advancment, there is no place on the uniform for the patch to be worn? Also, can you wear unofficial patches (like from a meuseum) as the temporary insignia? Eric

And JASMs, being under 18 years old, are not adult leaders.

Where is the correct place on a cub scout uniform to put patches like from pinewood derbies, popcorn ect? I couldn't find anything about it in the insignia guide. Thanks, Eric

Rooster7, One thing that you are forgeting, is that scouts like to use the time that they spend at scouts, as a break from being around there parents. While some adult supervision is required most scouts (atleast in my troop) prefer if it is not there parents. Eric

FScouter, While I might be misinterpreting what you said, I believe that JASMs do NOT count as adult leaders on trips. Eric

In my council we have commisioner "teams". That means that, for example, a group of commissioners will share the responsibility for a bunch of units. I have only seen one of them, but that is because he is also a ASM in my troop. Eric

Supply Division has a satisfaction garuntee, so if you don't like the photos, you could always return them. http://www.scoutstuff.org/popups/satisfaction/index.html Eric

(This message has been edited by meamemg)

Hi, My name is Eric. I am a scout in Troop 58, Twin Rivers Council, which is located in Albany, NY. I am a life scout, currently working on Eagle, as well as ASPL/Den Chief/Troop Scribe (I wont be Troop Scribe much longer). The biggest problem that my troop has right now is that we do not use patrols. While we do have them, and each patrol elects a patrol leader, we never break up into patrols for campouts ect. I hope to be able to change that this year.

Thanks for all your replies When asked, my scoutmaster tells us it is a council desision, and he has no control over it. Any ideas who, at the council level, would be the right person to talk to? Eric Twin Rivers Council

I have often heard it said that the BOR is not the place to be retesting scouts on the skills that they have learned (even though many troops do it anyway). What reasons ARE appropriate for a BOR to deny rank advancment?

At the risk of sounding stupid, who is Bob White?

Every year we (the PLC) evaluate whether or not we should go back to the same camp. Usually we choose to go to a new camp, but sometimes we go to the same one. We haven't gone to (either of the 2) camps in our council, in about 10 years(at least). We are about to go to our 3rd different camp in 3 years. This works pretty well and the % of older scouts that go is about the same as the % of younger scouts. Of course it does have its drawbacks doing it this way (because you don't know your way around camp) Eric