mk9750

Often, our PLC will identify a couple of knots that each Scout must tie before they eat. Sometimes, it is the same knot across all the patrols, sometimes each patrol wants to emphasis a specific knot and the PL chooses something different. But over the course of a year's worth of campouts, all of the major knots, and many of the 2nd and third tier knots, get a going over. Works pretty well for us. I have also seen intra patrol competitions set up like relay races. In the most elaborate, each patrol counted off, and the SPL called "#2!" Whoever was number two started off and were given a k

I wish I could help with some evidence that it will work, but I have none. But I like the idea. We tried to float the same idea to our PLC, who came close to adopting it (we didn't have the details ironed out like you have about how the "draft" would happen), but it came up a vote short. I think it's a great idea. The only drawback I can see is what I'll bet Bob White brings up in that it might strike a bit of preventing boys to patrol up as they see fit. If that is a concern, I think I'd disagree. Maybe a way to overcome that would be to take it to a complete Troop vote if the PLC approves. T

Laura, Congrats on the shift your Troop is making! A few humble opinions: 1) It sounds to me like you are doing the CC job now. All of the things you describe is 90% of our CC's duties. I guess I shouldn't claim we do it right, but the way we do it, you'd be the acting CC in our Troop! 2) You mentioned that because you could sit on B of R, you shouldn't test boys on Scout Skills. In our Troop, we push boys to seek out 1st class and older Scouts to do this testing. However, the Scoutmaster in our Troop is responsible for approving anyone who signs off requirements, and if yo

It seems that many Eagle Scout candidates, especially ones pushing 18, have at least one parent nagging him constantly. My son was no exception. Well, as of last night, the nagging is over! My oldest made Eagle! I have been proud of every single guy in our Troop who has made Eagle in the last 7 years. But I was knocked off my feet by how much more intense that pride is now that is is my son. I can't possibly express how I feel. I do know that my son, my family, and especially I owe a tremendous amount to the Boy Scout program. He will be afforded significant opportunities because of

I guess I've got some apoligizing to do... About a year and a half ago, our older Scouts voted to change their name from something pretty traditional to the "Jedis". We didn't want to discourage them doing what they wanted, but a number of adults (notably me) just don't seem to want to accept it. Looks like protecting the traditional names shouldn't be such a big deal to me, judging from the previous posts. I'll try to lighten up. Mark

Thanks Bob! I did know the distinction, but didn't write it that way. But the question was meant to be posed that under those circumstances on a Troop campout, and a Scout gets hurt, could both leaders take the Scout and leave the Troop without adult supervision, knowing that Patrols can be without adults? Certainly, four deep is a much better idea. In our Troop, we can't do a Troop event without at least 8 adults to drive. We always have at least five or six stay. so it shouldn't ever be a problem for us (at least the way we are configured now). I am asking for information only. Als

In littlebillie's example, is it permissible to leave the rest of the Troop at the campsite without leadership to provide two deep with the injured Scout? I seem to remember Bob White saying that adult leadership is not a requirement, but if adults are there, there must be at least two. My apoligies if I am wrong Bob. Or - Could another Scout be sent with the adult taking the boy to the hospital (assuming two deep leadership is left at the camp)? If the second solution is not permissible, how do Merit Badge Councelors meet with candidates? I was taught to make sure Scouts met with MB

Fella, I beg to differ. Earrings could harm Scouts. 1) It is a needless procedure that comes with the possiblity of infection, done for vanity. 2) Earrings can be dangerous is some situations, especially situations in which Scouts often find themselves. this is even more true depending on the style of the earring. Every youth athletic association of which I am familiar requires that all atheletes (male and female) remove jewelry, including earrings while participating. 3) Whether fair or unfair, males who wear earrings run the risk of being treated differently than those th

Glen, A few ideas: Right in your own back yard is Seven Ranges. The Akela Cabin holds @ 28 people. It has a patio off the back that is now sided on three walls. There are usually extra cots outside durung the winter, and there are also picnic tables out there. We have the adults (and usually our older Scouts) sleep either in tents or out on the patio to provide seperate quarters. There is a bathroom indoors, but you have to go out onto the patio to get into the bathroom. The Greater Cleveland Council has a camp way out east named Beaumont. It is SR 45 in Rome, Ohio, I think. The

Can I just put my head in the sand and pretend I didn't see this new statistic (5%)? I don't want it to be true! Oh well, I guess the bell can't be unrung. I see nothing in the program that causes the increase except possibly the 1st Class / first year emphasis. It seems to move the time table of everything that comes after it up too much, and incrementally. I see rank requirement as really aquiring basic skills, and these should be learned rather quickly. But as I understand it, BP set his highest rank originally at 1st Class, representing the "all 'round perfect Scout". We've modified t

First let me try to describe my embarassment when I reread my post and saw how consistantly I mispelled DISCRIMINATE. Never mind, suffice to say I am embarassed. ML - I am not a lawyer. I don't recall you saying whether you are or not, but you appear to have a deeper legal knowledge than do I. Please tell me what the law defines and religious discrimination. I am not being antagonistic. I want to know. But until you can help me with that, I still believe that if anything, IMO, the BSA is discriminating against atheists. And as BW points out, not all discrimination is illegal, or

Thanks all to the great comments. Eagle74 hit it right on the head. This Eagle recognizes the importance of the accomplishment, and what it took (both his own effort and the help of others) to acheive this. I think his attitude is that he IS an Eagle Scout now, he doesn't need a big ceremony to prove it. Kind of like being just as married if you have a few friends as witnesses instead of a 300 guest gala event. I like the idea of at least doing a ceremony during a Troop meeting though. Although we make a big deal at regular C of H for ranks earned in the last months, we pretty much

Is it being too simplistic to say that the BSA does not descrimnate based on religion, they don't have any care what religion you are, they just require a belif in God? That isn't religious descrimination in my book. They aren't descriminating against anyone belonging to a specific religion. If you want to say they descriminate against atheists, well that's another discussion. Athiesms isn't a religion. The BSA does not practice religious descrimination. Mark

We allow parents to be MB councelors for their sons. We handle the potential questions about favoritism and such right when a parent approaches about being a councelor. We explain our advancement standards, we impress them that it is not in any boy's interest to be cheated out of the full benefit of the effort, and that we will not allow boys to work with that councelor again if there appears to be anything amiss (I have no idea how we could enforce that if we ever needed to, but it makes the point). Although this has been said about me, I think it is far more true about others in our Tr

We have a boy in our Troop that has earned Eagle. Between sports, music, a "home and home" visit with a foreign exchange student, major school projects, and preparation to leave for the Military academy, he cannot come up with a time convenient to do a Court of Honor. He has also talked about not doing one because he just isn't comfortable with the spotlight being directed soley on him. In our Troop, the celebration of Eagle Scout is a major event. We all feel as though we acknowledge the role the boy's family played in the achievement, as well as the role the Troop had in his suceess. Wh

Barry, As usual, you're right on the money. As a matter of fact, I tend to use this "soft" approach when I need to make a point rather than trying to be the bulldozer. My dad use to say you can get more flies with a spoon full of honey than a whole barrel full of vinegar. Matter of fact, my response is an example of using this technique, I think. I worked hard at phrasing everything to make it the son's responsiblity to try to work things out. It wasn't until the end I tied everything together to make my point that it often is more beneficial to let the boy himself try to solve the p

123, Welcome to ther forum! Sorry to say your son's experience happens all too frequently, particularly the leadership issue. Positions like Senior Patrol Leader and Patrol Leader should be voted on, and your son's Troop and Patrol should have established criteria for being eligible. If they do, you son should either respect them and work to meet the criteria, or work to change the rules in a Scout - like manner. But if someone is being arbitrary about the rules (if he is being told "you can't run because you haven't been to the minimum number of campouts"), have him ask for that rul

We do Popcorn, (1) car wash, (1) spring clean up, where we sell our patrols to rake leaves, mulch etc. If the boys decide they want to do anything particularly expensive, the decide how they are going to pay for it. sometimes they do fund raisers over and above these. If the money raised by the 5 - 6 events you do covers all of the costs of Scouting for the boys, I'd say good for you! Actually, that would be assuming the boys are able to do the connect between their work and the benfit they get. If they understand that the more work we do, the more fun we can have, I think your Troop is d

We are going through this right now with my son. As others have said, our Council provides a form letter (for convenience only) that an Eagle candidate gives to all of the people listed as references on his application. The Eagle candidate asks each of these people to write a letter of recomendation, and forward it directly to the Council office. When the application arrives, a file is started for that boy. The registrar double checks to make sure all of the advancement history matches their records, then puts the application in the file. Once a minimum of three letters come in for that b

I am overweight. I am not a role model when talking about good health and nutrition. I choose to be overweight (becuase I choose not to lose weight). Although I will stipulate that there may be a genetic propensity for obesity, I will not accept any reason other than it is my fault for deciding to eat things I shouldn't, too much of everything, and not get enough excercise. I also smoked, until 7 1/2 years ago. I chose to smoke. No one made me. I wasn't a role model when i was smoking, either. Should I resign because I am overweight? Maybe I should. I hope not. I want to b

I just had a conversation about this last night with a parent of a Webelo visiting our Troop. Seems the Webelo Den Leader turned us down on our offer to provide a Den Chief based on the behavior and attitude of "the vast majority" of the Den Chiefs at Cub Scout day camp the previous summer. He was a Den Leader at summer camp, and spent far more time correcting the Boy Scouts than he did the Cub Scouts. When I helped out with day camp, I remember the same thing. Could it be that bad experiences like this are tainting a good idea? Mark

KS, Your perception about the impact of a tragedy like this I think is correct. I noticed it in myself. I found myself pausing, saying a prayer, thanking these brave men and women for what they have done, and basically going on with my life. When I caught myself doing this, I was ashamed. However, on a radio talk show today, I heard the host describing the same reaction. I started thinking my attitude, as bad as it is, may not be so abnormal. How sad. Mark

Bob, I just posted in the Den Chief thread, but most of my comments there hold here, too. At least in our situation, we go way above and beyond to extend our hand for the packs to help us cross boys over. Because of lack of knowledge, or desire, or burnout, or fear of the unkown, we get practically no help from the packs. "Who are your Webelos Den Leaders?" was asked in September of 4 Cub Packs in our area. we asked so that we can send them calenders, keep them advised of activities that are geared to them, and to send out invitations to a campout we do specifically with them in mind. Two

For those in Cub Packs looking for Den Chiefs, please contact me! We almost might be willing to pay air flight costs to and from your area! Seriously, we have identified, as best we can, what the need for Den Chiefs for the 4 area packs we draw from. We determine what boys might be qualified and interested, and approach them asking them to consider. Our Council does a Den Chief training, but for some odd reason, it is in Late November, which is too late for this year, and too early for next year. Se we do our own training. Our Scoutmaster never really appreciated the Cub program, so he le

Bob, I answer with only very limited understanding of the role of UC. I was asked to accept a UC position last spring, but decided to decline as I felt I would not be able to fulfill my current unit duties and what I understood UCing to be, and I wasn't willing to do both half assed. It is sad that good volunteers are not easy to come by for this position, because it could be valuable, but when I see the kind of people that have agreed in our area, I kind of wish more were like me and said no. All that being said, I think your idea makes a lot of sense. We use a similiar method in ou