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NIscouter

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Everything posted by NIscouter

  1. My son has just joined a pack where the dues ($50) pay for the recharter ($17), Boys Life, and the balance to the pack for unspecified items. No necker or books, just the awards from the pack (I think). The pack has been a slow starter in the past few years and has little to no fundraisers. We didn't even have the round up until late October or a pack meeting until November sigh). This pack has been up to 100 scouts when my oldest was a Cub with at least 3 dens per age level and is now down only one with no 2nd yr Webelos for the lsat 2 years. Still, I want my youngest to be in scouts as my ol
  2. I would be remiss if I did not chime in and note Camp Tamarack, on the Wood Lake Scout Reservation near Jones Michigan, is a good choice. This camp is ran by the LaSalle Council based in South Bend, IN and has excellent facilities, a great lake for swimming and other water related activities, a great wooded location, and a great staff. The price isn't too high, at least the last time I looked.(This message has been edited by NIscouter)
  3. Since we do not have an oven in the meeting room, it would have to be a dutch oven pie. It would be a challange as I am learning to use dutch ovens myself and have never baked a pie in one! Great replies - this is the type of stuff I was hoping to get. Too bad I can't pour that next cup of coffee for you guys around the fire.
  4. Eamonn - one question. What are the "7 Steps"? I feel I should know these, but I have always felt the only dumb question is the one not asked.(This message has been edited by NIscouter)
  5. I talked with another one of our ASMs and discussed using methods espoused in this thread - his response was "Excellent, now we have a plan". A plan to teach how to plan. I agree with Barry that we need to look at this situation as training the scouts to develop a plan and then working the plan. Heh, that could be a great concept for a book :>
  6. If it were only 13 yr olds. We have a number of 14, 15, and 16 yr olds. A bit of history, the adults planned a High Adventure this summer to provide an experience for the scouts and only got 4. A good size, I found, as they really enjoyed themselves. Unfortunately, these scouts are now tied up in sports and not actively involved for a few months. I will use the suggestions provided to try to move this forward. I was really stuck for ideas - something that happens as you get older, I'm afraid. I will report back and let you all know how well the "theories" presented here worked in pra
  7. My intent is to set these boys up to suceed. I have gave them print outs on locations and places in SD, we have discussed options in the last few months), and I have asked them to identify where they want to go and what they want to do - nothing. I know we can always use the nuclear option (ie no high adventure) but that is the last thing we want to do. We have struggled to find a way to keep the older boys interested and they do not have any history or troop tradition to help pull them through this. All of the other high adventures appear to have been adult planned, so we are plowing new
  8. Yes, they have selected "South Dakota" as the destination, but are still trying to figure out what to do or where to do it - other than visit Mount Rushmore.
  9. I am the ASM "responsible" for our troops older scouts and our virtual venture group. We bring the older scouts together (13 and 1st Class) in this group to "plan" for the high adventure. My dilemma is that none of the scouts seem interested doing any of the the heavy lifting involved to planning for next summers high adventure (not at a BSA facility, unfortunately). I am being pressured from the committee to do most, if not all, of the planning myself. Not something I want to do as we strive to be boy run. It appears that I may have to do the bulk of the planning if we want to do anything u
  10. I am looking for some suggestions to take to our Venture group for High Adventure in SD. We (I mean the boys) are planning to go next summer and the boys are excited about the opportunity to see Mount Rushmore. Now they need to decide on what the trip will really be about. I have found a few things on the web, but thought this group could help a bit more with some reality based suggestions. Any opinions or experiences to share out there?
  11. I have to say that the question of reviewing or retesting rests in the definition. A "review" means that you do not sit back and wait on the scout to answer all of your questions - you feel free to prompt a bit, talk about some of the reasons and uses of the area under consideration, and get a feel for the way be scout understands the area under review. All areas are open for review! My favorite - if a snake bites my leg, what would you do? A test is where you ask and wait for the scout to answer, and decide if they get it right or wrong. No assistance to or discussion with the scout, a
  12. I am an EHS manager for a large manufacturing group responsible for 13 plants (as of now). My company has even let our troop use a woods on one of our properties for camping and pioneering projects. I have to ask this question since I cannot answer it - who was Dsteele and what happened to him? He seemed to be very active at the time this thread was started, but now there is nothing listed in his profile. The last post I found of his was in April of 2004
  13. I have read this thread with a mix of emotions - some of surprise that some seem to think that one way will work for all situations and admiration at the way some of our group has found unique ways to "play" the game of scouts. I respect what the by the book people are saying, but as with most things in life, it don't always work that way when reality comes crashing in. We all need to be open to new ideas, even experiment if necessary, and try to make the Boy Scout program work for the group of boys and the adults we have. I have taken a number of great ideas from this thread to be used in ou
  14. We are experimenting with using temporary "Super" patrols (more than 8 or 10 for a short time) instead of a NSP this year. Mainly because our PLC wanted it that way and due to the complete failure of our NSP last year to retain any new boys. It is anticipated that the "Super" patrols will be a place for the newcomers to learn about the patrol method and get good training in scoutcraft from the older boys. We expect for the patrols to get back to normal size around June, after our new kids get some experience and decide if they want thier own patrols. Should be an interesting experiment. If
  15. Just a follow up on this topic. I called our council about liability for private landowners and they OFFERED to send a certificate of insurance naming the private landowner. I didn't even get a chance to ask for one. They offered to give this out to any private landowner who offered us the chance to camp on their land. Good call, Fscouter! Now, the trick is to get that travel permit in on time every time :>
  16. EagleinKY - I don't thik it is the scouts they are worried about, it is thier parents and associated lawyers. Thanks all for the ideas and info.
  17. I have been looking into using private property for camping with our troop. One of the landowners asked me about liability protection. I have looked a bit, searched this forum, and have come up with no info. Is there anything that I can use or point to to help us in this matter?(This message has been edited by NIscouter)
  18. SWScouter - Congratulations on completing yout ticket. I am in the midst of mine with two down, three to go. Hunting Wolf - My course appears on have been about 1 year after your C-11-05. And I used to be an Eagle. Hmm, strange things to ponder late in the evening :>(This message has been edited by NIscouter)
  19. My intent with this thread (this is my fisrt chance back) was to open a discusstion about this around our "fire" without telling you what I was doing and try to see if I missed seeing something in all this. My tactic as a parent has been to discuss it with my son (who is only 12 1/2, my mistake) and advise him to try to accept what has happened and be patient, his time will come. I also noted that he should be enjoy being a scout and not worry about being an eagle in the next few years. I have felt that he is moving a bit too fast in the advancement and may be missing the all important exper
  20. I know this is an odd title, but I am in a spot that I am not sure if I am on a sane course of action. My son, who with minimal prompting from me, has progressed to up to Star by 13 1/2. He is in a patrol which has one scout (lets say "Ralph") who has little to no motivation to be a scout or in our troop, it appears, but continues to come none the less. Well, "Ralph" has made it his "mission" to make my son miserable in many ways. This came out in the recent Patrol elections when my son ran for PL, was the only scout at the election meeting who wanted to be PL, and "Ralph" basically talked
  21. In our council, we have to register every year with a seperate membership application with the council office. They have a commmittee that approves/disapproves the MB counselor. Our district does have a council wide list, but one that you can opt out of if you want. Do other councils require yearly registration/membership apps and place approval at this level?
  22. I used to be an Eagle .."Soar, Soar, Soar!!" - C-11-05 But I am most proud of being a member of Troop 1 that includes all of you great scouters!
  23. If the troop votes to make the expedition hat part of the troop uniform, is it then considered a part of the "approved" uniform for that troop? We have done this in our troop, and I have been told it is OK to keep it on during Flag Ceremonies as I am in uniform. What say yea, oh wise ones in the ways of the uniform :>
  24. VictoriaG - I think you might get more response if you did a few things to establish your "bona fides" - such as fill out all of your member info to give us a better understanding of who you are and have an e-mail address and/or references that directly connect you and identify the Scouting magazine. Not saying you are trying to pull anything, but from my limited view right now, I would not offer myself or recommend that anyone else interview at this point.(This message has been edited by NIscouter)
  25. I have avoided commenting on this thread, but you know, 30 years ago (in the 1970's) or 40 years ago (1960's) uniforms were NOT seen as acceptable to most kids - I would even say the 50's were that way too, although I was not around then! PNY wrote "...This is just a guess and I have no data to prove this but I am guessing in those days you could take a scout troop, have them dress in their class A's, stand them in fron of their peers at high school and they would not be embarrassed about wearing the uniform. I doubt any troop could say that today. " Shoot, I remember the razzing I g
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