Gone

I did a search before posting (found nothing) on this topic so forgive me if it has already been discussed. This may be a simple questions, but is the Unit Leader Award of Merit just for SMs? Or can it be awarded to ASMs? Reason I ask is that I have seen ASMs in my District (and neighboring Districts) wearing the award, and I know they have never been a unit lead. The requirement reads pretty clear -- "Be a currently registered Cubmaster, Scoutmaster, Coach, or Advisor who has served in that position at least 18 continuous months." -- but is this being interpreted differently across the n

We try to use the old-school methods of trail cooking. Hard to find actual food to cook. Most food is dehydrated, so boil and eat. Some are reconstituted, cook and eat. It is hard to convince the boys to do the latter when the former is easier, faster and less clean up. The advent of JetBoil and instant food makes selling trail cooking tough. Philmont does not service to this with their potatoe and oatmeal menus. When we do trail cook we try to work in some fishing so the guys can do some actual messkit trail cooking. The downside is the recent mess kits are so cheap (read: Chinese excre

Mmmmm, food baked in plastic.

Wow, really? Who has the back up pens if the boys lose them? Our troop requires the boys to carry one and the troop med to carry the other (or store at camp medic if at summer camp). When we are out in remote areas we always carry the CareFlight number and a personal locator becon just in case. Yeah, it sounds a bit like a recon patrol, but I don't want to be the one to explain to Timmy's mom that we were not fully prepared and her son died in some canyon. Yup. But the same could be said for any first aid that might be life or death. The one thing they hammered in to us during WRFA t

Figured I would respond to this thread with how Camp Orr was in Summer 2013 in case anyone searches for later info. Camp was nice. Very much like Daniel Boone. Good quality camp, staff and program. Facilities were good. Only down side is that it was wet. Damp most of the time. But that's summer camp for you. All my Scouts and Scouter would recommend it. One word of caution is the hill going in to camp. It is VERY steep so don't over pack your trailer or cars. A bus won't make it there unless it is carted in on a Huey.

Figured I would respond to this thread with how Camp Orr was in Summer 2013 in case anyone searches for later info. Camp was nice. Very much like Daniel Boone. Good quality camp, staff and program. Facilities were good. Only down side is that it was wet. Damp most of the time. But that's summer camp for you. All my Scouts and Scouter would recommend it. One word of caution is the hill going in to camp. It is VERY steep so don't over pack your trailer or cars. A bus won't make it there unless it is carted in on a Huey.

Been to Daniel Boone twice and going again this summer. IMHO, best camp I have been to. Great staff, excellent facilities, great location, top-notch first year program and the support and dedication of the Council to keep it all that way. Dining hall is like a ski lodge. SM lounge has wifi and there is adult training too. The only "down side" of the camp is the lake...it is small and cold, so I would advise Scouts taking water badges to bring something to keep them warm in the water.

I too did WB after many years as a Scouter. Cannot say I feel the same as you. Was a total waste of time. Did not learn anything that I had not already read or learned elsewhere. A bunch of common sense stuff in a binder that was duplicative of other stuff already received in Scouting. I found the Leader-Specific training more informative than WB. The new course is even worse I hear.

Summer camp booze break: Drink before camp, drink after camp, but never during camp. When I feel like drinking I have a peanut butter cookie and take a hike. It is only 5 days, I can wait for my Ben Nevis.

@SW, sounds like it is time for a talk with the committee. There should never be events that cannibalize each other. Sometimes this is not avoidable but with good planning I suspect most of the time it is.I think we all struggle with sports and school conflicting with Scouts, but it is insane for the troop to cannibalize it's own program. We had a similar instance two weeks back. There was a training program on the calendar for months. A Merit Badge college was the same weekend. Lastly, a church member who is also on the TC asked us to support something at the church. When this last item

Clearly if you DON'T align yourself with the Tea Party, civil liberty organizations or selected church groups all is good. Richard Nixon is rolling is his grave at the lack of indignation coming out of the press on this, Bengazhi and the AP wire tapping scandals.

Hope you bought him an ice cream and had a father son moment. Those don't come along that often.

This has been helpful to me too. Thanks. Unfortunately I am in the same boat as Krampus in that I get no support from my Troop Committee. If I were to hold someone back without obvious behavioral or attendance issues I would be in for it with the parents and committee. I wish that were not the case. At times I feel like finding a new troop that thinks more like I do but my area also has this culture of entitlement. I'd swear half my parents (and kids) have law degrees the way they argue.

Wow that is different. My council you need a new app for every position. SM=app. MB Counselor=another app. It is a standing joke in our area exactly how many apps you submit in your Scout life. My personal record is 5 so far. I know someone who has submitted 8. So much for the 21st Century technology.

I think what he meant was outside of flag ceremonies. At least that's how I read what he wrote. Doing flag ceremonies has always been allowed.

Wow. Sounds like you need a Bylaws amendment channelling all financial matters through you Troop Committee.

@EmberMike...the BSA policy has always been well known. Don't kid yourself. The reason that it is more "open" now is because of activism, social media and the recent swing in this country of the political pendulum. But the policy has always been well known.

There is nothing on the news here. Nothing on the national news that I have seen, though given how the national media picks and chooses what should be an issues I am not surprised. If there are Scouts or Scouters making political statements of ANY kind they should be sanctioned. Current rules preclude that.

Too funny.

Just in the last week alone there were three robberies stopped by folks carrying. Another car jacking (near a school) stopped the same way. I suspect there are many crimes that are stopped or diminished in severity with folks stepping in with a CC.

Well, it's the internet...who knows who the person really was. http://www.unc.edu/depts/jomc/academics/dri/idog.jpg[\img]

FScouter is right...the intent of Scouting is not lost *if* your troop (your boys) decides to embrace it. A few examples from my own troop: - FOS: It is done parent to parent. Kids don't see it. I don't like it but...according to folks I know at national...much of that money goes toward getting kids from inner cities out to local/regional camps. So while the big, bad adults are sticking their nose into Scouting it is a program to benefit youth. I have no issue with its [FOS] mission. My complaint is how they hound you. - Boy and a Bag vs. Trailer and a Truck: We do the boy+pack thing

Nike, I hate to mention this because they can be either very helpful or simply ignore you, but have you tried a call to national? The Transatlantic Council is based in Italy and should be able to help. Their HQ is actually located in Dallas and they have a new head. Could try there to get some questions answered.