moxieman

Some of the popular winter activities here in the Maine "Wilderness" include ice fishing and model rocketry. Why Model Rocketry? Less likely to set the launch field on fire. I know many a scout unit who will camp out at our local summer camp--cabin for the newbie scouts and outdoor shelters for the rest, provided there's enough snow as we've had a few screwy winters lately. During the day they ice fish and while waiting to catch something with the fishing traps, they launch model rockets out on the lake. I know several of our units also winter hike with snowshoes. The next co

IF you have been to the Jumpstart website: http://jumpstart.oa-bsa.org/ And have a current OA handbook (mine from '84 won't help you), you will be able to get into the site AND find the abmonition (not to mention hear it pronounced--almost creepy). The password into that website is: "the fifth word of the title on page 10 of your OA Handbook."

There are three variations of the patch you are looking for at this moment in one eBay store: http://tinyurl.com/5rlntk(This message has been edited by moxieman)

Hello Jake, yes, this board can be cranky at times, especially if you use an 'antique' system like I do (PIII running Win98). I have sent you a private message with a link to my patch website.

As far as Eagle Scout is concerned, the folks at Eaglescout.org have compiled a historical list of the requirements through the years, which can be found at: http://www.eaglescout.org/history/history.html As for my favorite rank requirement that no longer resists, 6th Edition of the Handbook (late 50's-early 60's) for Second Class Rank, 3B Observation: Do One of the following: Follow a trail made with trail signs for half a mile OR Follow the track of a person or animal in soft ground or snow for a quarter of a mile, reading the main meaning of the track OR (my favorite)

Be careful, or you might find yourself as the next DC. I don't have any suggestions for you as I've learned to say "NO" very well: "If you want me to do that, you first must find volunteers to take on the various positions I currently hold..." Good luck!

DeanRx, I have in front of me, my handbook from the 80's, the Ninth Edition, the last one written by William "Green Bar Bill" Hillcourt (and it's autographed by him too). This is the last one where there is a time requirement for except Scout. There are no positions of responsibilities requirements in it for ranks below Star. Only Star, Life, and Eagle have a requirement of a position of responsibility, not necessarily leadership. From page 534 for Star Rank: Serve actively 4 months in one or more of the following positions (or carry out a Scoutmaster-assigned leadership proj

Very inspiring. Thanks for sharing. As for me, coffee gives me the shakes. I'm very caffeine sensitive and what's the point of drinking that stuff if it's decaf?

I can't help you with the first song. However, as for the second, I have observed this at several Scouts Canada events, but up "this way" (New Brunswick) they have to sing "I'm a Little Tea Pot" to get their item back--youth or adult. Keep in mind it's Scouts Canada. The program is different from the BSA. It's coed, they don't have as many sue-happy lawyers, and the Scouts section only run up to age 14 (14 through 17 is Venturers and it's Rovers until I think 25), not to mention that youth in the sections are expected to provide leadership/assistance to the next section below them.

Anyone in a patrol today would be too young to remember the G.I. Joe cartoons (they fought against Cobra, remember?) Yes, I remember that very fondly. Why? 'Cause I was a member of the Cobra Anti-GI Joe Patrol. Our patrol members absolutely HATED that cartoon (which was based on a comic book series if I recall correctly) because of it's forced educational message at the end of each episode which always ended with "...and knowing is half the battle." We went so far as to nickname members of the patrol after members of Cobra. Our PL was Cobra Commander, the APL was Destro...We even

Well, a lot of folks seem to forget that the VP is only a heartbeat away from being the Prez. Either if the Prez drops dead (examples: FDR and William Henry Harrison) or is killed (JFK, McKinley, Lincoln...) So, it could be important as they could be prez at anytime after the next prez takes office. I recall the common joke back during elder Bush's presidency that he chose Quayle for his VP to ensure he'd survive his term in office 'cause no one would want Quayle to take over.

As others have said, this is a council/local level award. You'll need to check locally for your local requirements. I've seen some where the requirements are you have to camp a total of -100F to earn it (So, first time you go camping outdoors, it drops to -15 the first night and -20 the second night. That puts you at -35 towards the -100). Other places, you simply have to winter camp. Our winter camping award is based on the latter and you're welcome to buy as many of the patch and give it out as many times as you want as long as you/the youth meet the requirement each time. The

For the past five or so years, we've offered an overnight experience as an option for our district klondike derby. Those who stay overnight are scored separately from those who attend only during the day. We have an award ceremony for the day trippers and then we have a separate one for those who brave the night. We have held it on the grounds of school so that we have access to a heated space where some of the activities are held. Units that spend the night are still being judged right up through breakfast. The patrols are not informed of this until the following morning. Additiona

Should your boys choose the patch blanket option, there's many different ways they can go. In many other countries, scouts/scouters slit a hole in the blanket, reinforce the edges, sew patches on it and wear it to events. I've also seen them done-up as a cape. I display my collection on five different blankets (and counting). I used the pattern at the second link below for one of my five blankets. Some ideas/patterns for patch blankets: http://www.geocities.com/3rdharpenden/misc/campblanket/blankidx.htm http://guidinguk.freeservers.com/campblanket.html Pictures of camp blanke

One Mainah to anothah, welcome. I serve as the Boy Scout Roundtable Commissioner for Kennebec Valley District (Kennebec, Somerset, and Franklin Counties), Pine Tree Council. We also have "Secret DE" on this board, who is the DE down in Casco Bay District (Portland area) and an leader from over in Hancock County/District, Katahadin Area Council. As others have asked, how far Downeast are you? Far enough to be at the Moosehorn Camporee outside of Calais this weekend, or just the Penquis District (Piscataquis County) Camporeee this same weekend, or perhaps I'll see you at our district

Sounds kind of unfair that they would: 1. Only interview you for one position and 2. Not allow you to reapply for staff. Something smells fishy here to me.

Madockawanda started out using names of stars for Vigil names. They did this through the early 1970's. Since then they use Lenni Lenape and sometimes mix a little local Abnaki (or Abenaki) into the names.

Well, we did a cost comparison in our office recently between our newer HP b&w laser printer and our newer HP Color printer--both about a year old. Black & White Laser print job: 1.9 cents per sheet Full color laser print job: ~23 cents per sheet This includes the cost of a piece of copier paper, the toner and electricity costs. Our cost for the toner for the B&W is $79 per cartridge. Each of the color cartridges for the color printer is $250 on sale and normally $300. The black cartridge for it is $240. So, color is still more expensive. Maybe they've got

Yes, I believe it is a dying art around here. It's no longer taught in our school system. What? Yes, it use to be a REQUIREMENT in seventh grade. EVERYONE had to take full Home-Ec and full Shop. So everyone knew how to sew (both by hand and with a machine), cook, and safe use of shop tools. They dropped this about a decade ago. Personally, all my patches/badges are hand sewn by me. And that included the 2,000 patch collection on 5 blankets (and growing).

You could also ask some of the experienced attendees to share their knowledge with the others present. This is one of the things I turn to a lot with the various topics I've presented or found presenters for over the past six or so years that I've served as Boy Scout Roundtable Commissioner in my district. Also, do you have an active OA Chapter in your district? You could contact the youth leadership and see if they have a places to go camping/hiking guide for your area (ours does). You could also have a handout with websites for places to hike in your area rather than just tell th

Scoutmaster Fundamentals, 1991 Fast Start Training, 1993 (needed it for a training award) Greenwood Rangers (local, intermediate level outdoor skills training--good refresher), 2000 Basic Commissioner Training, 2003 Commissioner College BA, 2003 Council & District Activities at Philmont Training Center, 2004 Commissioner College MA, 2005 Several courses at Commissioner Colleges/Universities of Scouing between 2002 and present

My first name is Scott. When I made Eagle 20 years back, my mother rewrote the Scout Law as the "Scott Law" as part of her recommendation letter for me. My scoutmaster found it so humorous, that he read it at my Eagle Court of Honor. "A Scott is Thrifty...no SCRATCH THAT! A Scott is CHEAP!" And I still am today and I still fit in my uniform from 20 years back, so you won't see me in the new one unless they REQUIRE it and trust me, in these parts, many of the scouts are poor so there will be an uproar if that happens. As such, I don't need to buy either a discounted, soon-to-b

I never had a corner cut, but I wore out my card over the years until it was more oval than rectangular. While in college, I tore three corners off the card of one scout in the troop I was helping. I don't recall the offense, but it was something really stupid for the scout to have done RIGHT AFTER COMPLETING THE TRAINING! Eventually, his family moved to another state, but he made Eagle. I was invited to his ceremony and I made the 6 hour drive to attend. The SM invited members of the audience to step up to the podium to say a few words about the new Eagle Scout if they wished.

I went to PTC in 2004. With travel from the Maine Wilderness, it cost me a month's pay (roughly $1.7K at the time). I was recognized as the person who had traveled the furthest to attend the particular week I was there. Was it worth it? In my case, NO, absolutely not. The course I took was misdescribed as an advanced course in district/council activities planning. Instead I got a 101 planning course I could have taught at my local scout university. I got nothing new to take back to my district. I contributed a lot to other attendees, but I got NOTHING out of it. I provided two pag

As of next month I will be continuously registered in scouting, first as a youth and then an adult for 30 years. When I turned 18, I immediately became an ASM. I helped out units in my college towns and was welcomed by those units and their leaders/parents. When I came back home at age 25 (with two degrees under my belt), my hometown unit was in need of a scoutmaster and they asked me to fill the role. I filled it for five years. However, there were several parents who would not accept me (nor would they step up) because I didn't have any kids in the troop. It was due to conflict