Basementdweller

That is too much. While I appreciate the cost of such an event, scouting has lost touch with his base. For my Son and I to attend it would take most of my discretionary income. Not fair to the rest of the family. Sorry honey no vacation, goin to the jamboree. Not worth it in my book.

Thanks for the replies Fumble the oath, they just didn't know it. In thinking about the visit, it was lacking energy, enthusiasm. The Boys scouts were not in uniform, so I could not pick out a patrol or senior patrol leader by behavior of anyone. The complete lack of familiarity between the boys and the boys and Scout Master. What I mean by that is the general conversation/fun of having share a lot of mutual events. The teasing about burning dinner or falling in the lake or raccoons raiding a backpack. The camp discussion lacked the "remember last time......." or "I hated

Well, my saga continues. The Weeb Leader begged out of taking the Weeb 2's to visit the scout troop, well in a nut shell he didn't show up to the outing. On to the story, we get to the troops meeting place. They start their opening, the pledge and announcements, that was all. hmmm. So I asked him about the oath and law. He lined the boys back up and had them attempt both. Interestingly enough they didn't know it. Now there was a mix of ranks so these weren't new scouts. Actually the Weeb den knew it and were whispering among themselves about it. The meeting was so, so an

So if I take my Den to a Basket Ball, Football, or any sporting event. It is then a violation of BSA Policy. Or if my den is also a baseball team they can't wear their uniforms. I doubt it. I think that bickering about rules is a Scout Adult specialty. The bickering and fighting takes place not only on this site but on every single scout website I have visited. Really sad. The people who are truly helpful have left years ago, leaving a group thumping the rule book and GSS2. Anyhow steve.....thanks for the info, I think it is a good idea and what scouting is about.

Baden, I understand Bob is in his own little world where everything is perfect, enough volunteers, enough caring parents, enough money, enough training, enough boys, enough rules, enough of "fill in the blank". His world is black and white, My world is gray scale. I am not denying that his points are valid. Some of us live in a less than perfect world and must make do. I am far from perfect, but I love scouting and the boys in my dens. I never felt taken advantage of or even the Martyr. I never said that, what I was commenting on was a person who abandoned the Pack and is being

It's not my job is a poor excuse. That is why programs fail IMHO, maybe this one needs to meet that fate. If your baseball analogy means we should have forfeited that particular game fine then. But it seems we don't have enough player to even to field a team. You are correct that I it is irrelevant if I like the first baseman or not. But if he is on the field I would EXPECT and TRUST him to do his job to the best of his ability after all he is there by his own choice. If he does not do his job, management should do theirs and remove him. I would expect that, just as if I was inadeq

Bob you are correct, It isn't my decision. But I don't have to like or even Live with it. Well I think I am done with this Pack. I had a chat with the CM and didn't like the answers I was getting. As eluded too earlier in the thread, his attitude was well we made it work. What do you mean we????? In the last year I have meet some fantastic people in scouting thru Pow Wow and Baloo and Owl training. Several have extended invitations to Transfer to their Pack. My son and I are visiting them starting the first week in January. I have already sent a couple of emails and have re

Unfair is not what I was thinking. There is no wealth or fame to be gained in scouting. Just a lot of work. I have no problem sharing the work with someone I can trust. For the record, she was grocery shopping while he was at the meeting and socializing at Starbucks(same plaza). Da wife saw her on two separate occasions. I asked if the CM heard from her regarding missing the first couple of meetings, he called and she said she was busy. Why bring her back as a den leader, why not Assistant Cub Master or Assistant Den Leader? Something were if she decides to take another sabbat

This evening I was informed that a den leader will be returning. The issue I have with her returning is she quit last year with out telling anyone. How is that you ask? We meet in separate meeting rooms on the same night at the CO. She just stopped coming, she even dropped her son off at the meeting. She never quit just stop coming, Very uncool in my book. I ended up with both dens. The Cub Master sees nothing wrong with her coming back. I am more than a little miffed hearing this, Especially with the way it all went down. No way I could trust her. I asked him in what capacity

Thanks for the responses. Rangemaster certainly warrants further investigation. In thinking about it further. If the men in women don't want me in their club thats fine. I will just do my own thing with our Pack. I am thinking a week trip to Gettysburg......

Well, as a fellow chauffeur of the Pack. I have ran into the situation of a couple parents taking advantage. It is not that dissimilar to the babysitting on day events, how many times are you stuck waiting for hours after the scheduled pick up time for parents. they show up and apologize profusely cause they misunderstood the pick up time or their phone was dead. of course they were ignoring my calls on the cell phone for the last hour. Cell phone was dead? Not this time, I called as they walked up only to hear the phone ring, OK you got me, with a sheepish grin. I agree with you t

Well in reading about disappointing camp experiences I began to wonder. What makes a great day camp experience? What events are the most fun/memorable? My son is a wolf and already has four summer camps under his belt. Two years of resident camp and two day camps. I am a little worried he will be bored with camp this summer. Lets face it all camps have the same basic activities, BB, Archery, Swimming, fishing and crafts. Sooooo, what other activities are a possibility?????? It dawned on me that the Day camp Director announced her retirement last summer and most of her

I miss a capital letter and your trying to short cut a path to Eagle. I investigated the merit badges and it is a significant investment in time that is for sure. It is more than just two hikes. So I understand the desire of "killing two birds with one stone". I will have my scouts start working these right after they cross over. Not to cast the first stone.

I think they are waiting for him to age out. The incident happened when he was 16 which was a year ago already. Then BG council said to wait one year to re apply. He will be beyond his 18 the year at that point. They are making sure he does not get his Eagle. It is interesting the variances in rule enforcement is interesting. I remember a thread about a boy pre and post eagle caught smoking weed on a camp out and a scoutmaster conference was it. Non-discipline IMHO. Then this case were the discipline is significantly harsher. I have to agree that there must be more t

10 miles is easy get up early one saturday morning and just go do it. Shouldn't take more than 4 hours. I can do 10 miles with the cubs in that period. No big deal in my book. I bet you have wasted more time worrying about it than you would just have done the hike. So what is the lesson in letting them skate on requirements?

I interpreted advertising as. a big sign on the side that says Bob's Trash service with a phone number or home depot or anyone who will give some predetermined amount of cash. Often one of the parents has a construction company and he donates his old trailer with his companys name on it. Seen that a few times in a neighboring district. Trailers are not that expensive......of course it depends on what your tastes are. On ebay you can get a brand new for under 2k.

I am opposed to ad space for several reasons. First problem I see is exactly what Bob said, endorsing a product or merchant. Second is who is gonna pull it and the repercussions of a less than courteous driver. Seen it happen heading into camp. Got blown by on the highway by a jerk leader pulling his troops trailer. I found the Scout master and discussed it with him and found he didn't pull it no truck. One of the Dad's did. Just food for thought. Just think about an upset motorist calling that business to complain about you. I really dislike the fact that the trailer

Yep, the cubs need to camp. My wolf has almost as many nights camping as some of the boy scouts in the troop. We have 4 family campouts a year, council resident camp, district camp weekends and a father son camp out. he has about 18 days from may of this year. OUTSTANDING. We have a monthly hike program with mileage award patches and do many of the state and metro park events. We go creeking with the naturalist, plus a bunch of conservation projects. A busy scout is a happy scout, the only problem is as a wolf his brag vest is completely full. The cubs are the best recruiter

How quaint, Going to camp where the cell phone towers are close and huts with electricity. I wonder if the lake is up to the correct temperature. What there is fish in the Lake OMG! Horses, what the?????? Are they crazy, horses are way too expensive for a council to maintain. A high tech equestrian facility?????? Some one is way out of touch. What an incredible waste of money. I think it is more a social problem than anything else. The girls must always be in contact with each other. I do not understand it. Texting Talking or just sucking up air time. Do they lack that m

Well, welcome. Whom ever told you the primary purpose of the B&G is to cross over the weebs is incorrect, although that maybe the case for his/her pack. As you eluded to it is a birthday celebration for Scouting.........The event ranges from a sit down dinner with scouts acting as servers to a cookies and punch affair. There really is no rules. We like to have the majority of boys receive their rank advancement at the meal, which is giant subs and 4 foot accrossed pizzas for us. We have the dens put on a few songs and a couple of skits, Awards ceremony, The ever present Friend

Wellll, My troop made a replica cannon for the bicentennial. Our Mom's made minute man costumes and we pulled the cannon in parades for my entire scouting career. That cannon went on our shooting camp outs and yet we shot it at plywood targets. We used soda cans filled with cement and fiberglass insulation for wadding. It was cool. I had a big laugh when I read the GSS and saw that Artillery was a no, no. Hmmmm, I wonder if it was in response to my old troop. In no way does this help you, just a trip down memory lane.

Blake......some outstanding suggestions...... I will put my name on them and number them. I will never send them home again. Sad it had to come to it. Yes I wrote the boys names on tags attached to the stuff sack. Never thought anything about it. I spoke to a couple of the parents but not all about the bags.. My fault. I understand that this could/should possibly be a life lesson and if the boys didn't have it bad any way I probably would enforce it in such fashion. Outdoor committee chairman...oh I wish. This pack is run by about 6 adults. Again working poor area o

Beavah Thanks for spinning my Question. First off this has absolutely nothing to do with our troop or Pack. Our Pack and Troop is extremely poor. I have purchased a number of tents out of my own pockets and enough sleeping bags and pads for the boys who did not have. I never in my wildest dream would have believed that parents would sell their boys gear. The first camping trip I went on after joining the Pack...we did not have enough tents or room for all of the boys, most just had blankets off their beds to sleep with....Not bad at summer resident camp with a cot.....this was A

No feedback on my sleeping bag question?

Do what you need to do provide a quality program and retain the boys... Then don't apologize if offend people. The area you describe needs scouting in the worst way. Camo second hand gear is the last thing you should worry about. Just curious, how would you handle sleeping bags????? We have a similar situation with boys who cannot afford them, I have purchased sleeping bags and given them to the boys only for them to not bring them to the next event or their parents/siblings selling them on craiglist. I saw the ad myself after a tip from another parent. a fifty dollar sleeping