mikecummings157

Does anyone know what the offical procedure is for changing an adult leaders position code? I think the only way to do it to change it at Charter time and have it approved with the Charter OR have the adult fill out a fresh application for the position, even within the same troop. What say you?

Very interesting discussion. I do see a lot of folks reasoning for the boys tenting alone. My reasons for the buddy system for tenting 1. Promotes comradery 2. Much of the year in New York we have cold or wet weather. It helps having the kids keep an eye on each other if they get in trouble. It really helps with the warmth in the cold weather too. 3. Kids with medical issues (diabetes, asthma, etc) need someone else to keep an eye on them. 4. Young kids need a tentmate and I'm not a proponent of special priviledges for the older kids. They should be setting the example.

We have a disagreement among some of the leaders in our troop on whether a Boy Scout can tent by himself. I say no, citing the buddy system. Another leader disagrees, as it doesn't prescriptively say this in the handbook. What say you?

I'm a 1st ASM with one of our council contingent troops and this question came up, as some troops in the area were talking about visiting rather than participating. The answer I got was visitors could see an arena show and the static displays, but that's it. All of the activities are reserved for the paid participants.

We attend summer camp the 1st week every year and have never seen this kind of chaos. All minor issues and the staff always goes above and beyond to make things right immediately. We like the 1st week because the staff is fresh and enthusiastic. BTW- we just got back from summer camp yestersay and we didn't have our temperatures taken. We just had to confirm that nobody had flu-like symptoms in the last few weeks and we were good to go. If the same Camp Director is going to be at your camp next year, it might be time to find a new camp.

Has anyone starting working on Gateway designs, or have some great ideas from another jambo? I do have a copy of the last Jambo's leaders guide which gives a design idea, but there must be many others.

Our summer camp has a dutch oven dessert contest every year and we've served dutch oven ice cream along with a baked dessert. It has gone over very well!

Our troop has a policy that lunch & dinner menus can't be repeated for the duration of the Scouting year. We also ask that the patrols use a Dutch Oven for something at Saturday night dinner. This breaks up the menu monotony. As someone else suggested, there are many dutch oven & outdoor cookbooks available on-line. We have some printed and in the troop library to help with menu planning. Even better to get the boys interested in better food is a little competition. We have had camporees and also interpatrol competitions; the boys really have come up with some great dis

Our Pack has had picnics, bike rodeos, scout olympics (using the achievements as events), and just game nights playing kickball. Anything to get the kids together once a month.

Ditto the post from kb6jra The spiral books hold together great and you'll need them at the boy scout level. We've had to chase pages that have fallen out of the standard bound books.

I agree with most of the other folks who've posted. I have been the New Scout Patrol in our Troop for several years and we keep the 5-maile hike simple. Proper hike preparation, read the map and compass, enjoy the 5-miles. We do have them make the 1st aid kit at a previous meeting and bring it along. The active boys were still able to attain 1st Class in a year without having the overload them at any particualr meeting or outing. We have run an "Operation Tenderfoot" weekend seperately, where the new boys are able to complete their outdoor requirements for Tenderfoot in a single

Our Scribe takes dues and attendance, as well as keeping minutes for the PLC.

Has anyone heard whether Health & Safety will be offered as eLearning at any point?

First Aid Hiking Cooking Pioneering Orienteering

Our troop attends Camp Yawgoog in Rhode Island. They have had a "Geoscouting" program for several years. The boys are given a list of coordinates for controls that range from end to end of the camp, forcing them to get out onto some of the trails and see parts of the camp they may not normally see. There is a punch at each location and when the boy (or adult) returns with them all punched they get a "Geoscouting" patch, as well as the right to purchase a special segment at the trading post.

I just saw a posting on another site suggesting that there will be 3 new merit badges coming in the next year or so. Robotics GIS - GPS SCUBA Anyone heard about these?

Here's one the boys really enjoyed on our last hike. Just Add Water Backpacking Feast In a small sandwich bag combine: cup instant potatoes cup dry stuffing Dried cranberries Beef or turkey jerky pieces Powdered gravy mix At camp, stir in boiling water and let stand before eating.

Yes, we have one of the adults at summer camp hold money for the boys and they can withdraw it upon request. By working with an adult on budgeting their money for the week, they learn how to make it last and to think through what their exponses are. Also, we assure that everyone has at least a few bucks left to buy dinner on the way back from camp, as it's a long ride requiring a stop. I agree, as some folks pointed out, that the boys "should" be able to manage this on their own, espcially as they get older. However, they're still kids, and we're there to help them.

Yes, the SM and CC can be Husband & Wife, although she can't also be registrered as an ASM. This certainly has potential for problems, such as the one you've noted. There must be at least one registered ASM in the troop? Can he or she sit in on this conference? If not, maybe the Unit Commissioner, Charter Rep, or another Committee member.

Project Manager for a Defense Company.

As someone else said, "Quality District" requires additonal units. As implemented in our Disctrict, what this seems to have done is create Venture Crews that aren't supported and fold after the kids get to college age, making the numbers look worse. Also, when I was Cubmaster of a very strong pack, Council started another pack in the same school in order to feed a local troop that was near folding. Now there are two weak packs in the school, as the kids and volunteers are divided. How about instead of "Total Available Youth", we start considering "Total Available Volunteers"? Cr

You're absolutely correct that this isn't scouting. You have to ask yourself whether you, maybe with help from some other like minded parents, can influence a change in the culture of the troop? Also, is it worth the it, as there is likely to be conflict? Maybe the best option is to find another troop in the area before your son gets infected by this.

That's correct; you can use them for one or the other, but not both.

The statement that Girls don't want to pitch tents is a bunch of baloney. My wife & I have 2 daughters and they have seen the fun our sons have with Boy Socuts and they want the opportunities as well. The problem is getting the moms to go. Girls want to do things with their moms, even though they won't admit it as they get into the teen years. The girls pretty much drop out of the programn around here after Juniors because there is no adventure and outdoor program. It's up to individual leaders to make this part of the program. My wife loves to camp, so the girls in her troop are

In our troop the Andvancement Requirements are signed off in the book by an ASM or the SM, unless it's your own son. Then another ASM will sign-off. Scoutmaster Conference is done by the Scoutmaster, again unless it's for his son. He will then delegate this to one of the senior ASM's. Committee does the BOR. Again, Committee Members can't sit on the BOR for their own son.