Nessmuk

...That the same parents who don't mind having their sons in half (or less) of a Scout Uniform never apply the same logic to their son's soccer or baseball or football uniforms? ....That when the little league baseball coach told all of his players to be in their full uniform at the big game on Saturday, everyone(including parents) understands and thinks it's great !??? ... That you would wonder "what's his problem?" if you saw a Soldier, Sailor , Marine, Cop, Mailman, UPS driver, laundry delivery man (pick any) in his uniform shirt AND JEANS.. but it's "OK" for members of the Worl

Eagle in KY - The idea of the uniform is to be "uniform".. The "We're gonna do this and we're gonna do that" is another problem that is killing the uniform and the movement a piece at a time.. I am no fan of the Oscar Dela Rente uniform and the changes away from the practical and traditional... BUT I still wear the full uniform and do not make my own rules - This is another subtle lesson to the Scouts about respect and loyalty ! You are supposed to be the example.. You are subverting the methods of Scouting with your "substitite duds". Anyway, your proposed substitute is not pract

Just a quick lesson learned for the rest of you.. Don't use a "Stain-stick" on the olive green Scout switchbacks.. It very much lightens the color in the area you apply it. !! I guess my new switchbacks are relegated to camp duty alone ... And I was getting to like them for all around wear. Aside: I do wish we had made a more rugged version .. The Supplex is good for kayak/canoe and beach trips (general non-rugged use).. Something along the lines of a heavy weave water resistant duck material would be more handy for most camping trips. (ala Carhart material quality - treated for wa

Beavah, Glad to have you respond.. As you may have seen I'm a fairly new poster here, but I have been reading the site a long time.. As far as my 'codgering', I am only 38 and a child of the 70's/80's. I was in the transition phase green (no collar) to khaki (as well as a victim of book changes) Still love the beret (even if not practical - unless you're a tank driver) Just got one of those new wide brim wool stetsons from the Scout shop.. I like it ! I can't believe teh uniformicrats can sleep at night with having developed and issued the AWFUL ball cap for so many years. I like ball caps -

Oh!! say it's not so BSA ! I missed that part somehow --Page 6 of the regs states the neckerchief optional for Boy Scouts ! By vote. It's worse than I thought.. I was wrong..It is more accurate to state that "BSA has essentially killed the neckerchief" - Extreme statement ?? We all know what comes after things become "optional". The real threat is not the Uniform Police - but in fact it is the "Uniformicrats" (just made it up) who are making up these 'out of synch with Scouting' policies at National! It's enough to make makes even the most die hard Scouter dude (like me) want to pr

Whoa - I was so red eyed in my rant about Neckers above I did not see this good post on the same subject.. Keep it practical! - Heavy cloth (Some websites out there show how to rip (yes rip) the bolts of fabric before hemming and get the RIGHT size .. Frontiersmen (old time scouts) liked bright colors in the neckerchief.. It was one way to kick their outfit up a notch when they were on the town after a long time in the the wilderness blending in.. A heavy 100% cotton is nice if it has been presrhunk and does not bleed easily.. 50/50 is Ok but I have observed that it's all in the weave

My last response to a post on uniform got my blood pumping.. I've been wanting to put this out here for years ! The BSA is killing the neckerchief (and the uniform in the process) - Why? 1) 'Under the collar' promotes the Necker as a fashion item - not the practical, functional AND good looking item of clothing it is. (Symbolism over substance.) 2) While the insignia guide leaves the over/under option open to a unit to decide, it is plain confusing (and un-uniform) for most Cub/Scout Parents when they see a Scout catalog filled with under-collar pictures and the Cubmaster or oth

I have to chime in and say that in my experiences as a Scout and now as a Scouter, consistent uniform issues are an indicator of other Unit and individual "issues".. The clothes are not a litmus test, but they do 'make the man' as they used to say.. Too many maybe well intentioned (we know where that heads) folk whine about this exception and that - instead of just owing up to the fact that the full uniform is the right way to go - end of story... On the so-called "poor boy" scene, I most often see the motivated scouts in proper uniform - indepenedent of $$ -- If they have the right attitud

Sure there's a time and place for campfires ! Don't like the smell of smoke? Is your heart into this or are you going through the motions? Smoke is great ! And even BP and Beard and Seton encouraged small fires only as needed.. It's all good sense. Campfires and smoke are practical and spiritual things. I am impressed about the observation about fire vocalized by the boy mentioned in the first post. It is true and to the heart. This "techy" version of the outdoors life and all of the LNT "extremism" I am seeing now threatens the very act of going outdoors.. Balance is key here folks.

Hey I realize this is May 31 and this is late and in the pile of a lot of good replies.. But !! This boy has just learned a valuable lesson or two in leadership and reinforcing this outcome ( I refuse to call it a mistake) is part of his growth .. # 1 He is demonstrating better leadership and initiative than 95+ percent of the world's "adults" !! #2 Forget dinging him with "He did not have all the information before making the move." That is a slippery slope that can sour the development of a great leader. A common rule in leadership circles is make the decision when you think you have 85