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I don't really eat much popcorn but the Trail's End is at least as good as any other I've had. But we're not rreally selling popcorn are we? We're selling Scouting. As a fundraiser, it has been phenomally successful for each unit we've been involved with. We went, in one Pack, from barely scraping by to paying for registration, Boys Life subscriptions, leader registration, all uniform patches, handbooks, all activities and transportation, etc because of popcorn sales. Another Pack made enough money they provided all renewing membership costs for the Cubs and leaders AND uniforms. We've h

"In the place I was at that time, my liason warned me about the practice and had evidence that children had been intentionally maimed by a parent and sold or rented across the border for use by professional beggars in order to gain greater sympathy from their customers. Every cent given to this system supported the intentional harm to innocent children." PackSaddle - You're absolutely right and I couldn't agree with your decision more. There are many places where children are exploited by maiming to increase the "charitable giving" of western tourists that take pity on their condition. I

The "obligation" is for the individual Scout/scouter to provide help to others - not "to support" other people/programs "which profess to help" others... I recognize a need that I am able to address, I help the person in need. I see a homeless man sleeping in a culvert and winter is coming. What can I address and how? Do I provide blankets, canned food and a can opener/spoon, a ride to the shelter, a piece of canvas, money, job training/counseling, mental health diagnosis, a tip to local law enforcement, petition local government for support/assistance programs, develop a support group

If you're looking for a veteran's day tie-in, you can contact the local American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, and AmVets. They may have a variety of resources - flag retirements, post/lodge bands, provide judges for events, have some great stories of their days in service, old military equipment to display or demonstrate, honoray camp Scoutmaster. You could have a giant card to be delivered to nearest VA hospital for the Scouts to sign and then deliver after Camporee, multiple cards for Scouts to sign to send to Soldiers overseas (orgs above may even pay for postage), you could colle

ScoutFish, you fell for the oldest trick in the book! Someone noticed you're competent, capable, motivated, and willing - and recognizing this they... asked you to do more. The greatest compliment is to be invited back. I'd not think you're a sucker - a valuable asset to the Scouting program sure, but not a sucker. As long as you're enjoying what you're doing and able to stay balanced in your life - live it up! You're good at what you do and others want your talents put to good use.

We usually see about a third of the Scouts that start the "training" swims complete the week and the mile swim at camp. The swim is in a lake (5 laps). So for numbers, about 15 - 18 sign up, 5 or 6 will do complete. We have on Scout who does it every year, a fewe that do it once and that's it, and the others might repeat the swim at a future camp once. Adults alternate - I do it every year, an ASM signs - up every year and doesn't finish the training swims, a committee member signs up every once and awhile - but he always completes it when he does. I've never been involved with a t

SctDad, Within the parameters of your choices, I'd buy the smallest one that my gear would fit in. Most people tend to "feed" their pack until its full. Kind of like all the cool loops and straps and "tie-down" points folks like to fill with danglies on the outside of their packs. Open space just seems to make us want to fill it, to avoid that get the smallest pack you need. You'll cut weight and remove temptation. If there's an REI or similar store where you live, go and try on a couple of packs AND see if your gear will fit in the space. If you NEED the 1050 extra cubic inches, th

Had a PLC plan one for a troop as an overnight that worked out really well. The Scouts provided the consoles and games. We established rules about the games and the SPL and ASPL checked the games as the Scouts arrived to make sure they were OK. (No swearing, nothing rated "Mature", etc) The consoles and games were inventoried as they came in to make sure there no mix-ups at the end. There was pizza, a video game tourney, and lots of free time to just play the games. The Scouts loved it, the PLC felt successful in planning the event. nothing was lost or broken - it worked for everybod

Well, the difference is mostly in the eye of the beholder - or the pen of the writer. A skit is usually less 5 minutes, humorous, satirical, and informal. Skits are generally performed at a club or in a classroom. A one-act play would be 10 - 30 minutes (very general) and probably have more than one scene. Of course, many modern writers have dispensed with any traditional use of scenes or acts at all. So a skit and a one-act play are _both_ plays of a type. The one act play generally follows the rules of formal theater with scene changes and a skit is much shorter, based on humo

Our troop did Peaceful Valley (Colorado) our first "break out" from the Council camp. http://www.denverboyscouts.org/openrosters/view_homepage.asp?orgkey=51 Everyone loved it. Traditional Summer Camp experience for the younger Scouts, HA opportunities for the experienced Scouts and, most importantly, separate activities for the adults! Fortunately, this was only a few hours from us and well worth the drive, I'm not sure how far it would be from you. This camp was attended by many parents anxious their young men would be so far away. But the camp's organization and professionalism got

In every unit I've seen, our QM has always been a member of a Patrol and QM is an additional task (aka POR) at the troop level he has. The SPL usually appoints the QM; I've been in one where the Scouts elected and another where the SM selected. In current troop, our QM: * maintains inventory list of all equipment * maintains troop numeral, council patches and troop t-shirts * conducts "regular" inspections (about once a quarter) * signs out (troop) equipment to Patrols * inspects equipment after use for turn-in * guides Patrols in repairs and maintenance * addresses equipme

"So maybe this was one of the guys who earned every MB when he was a scout.. Does that make him qualified to teach every MB?" No, it doesn't. Requirements for MBs have changed over the years, some quite significantly. Many MBs didn't likely exist - at least not in their current form - depending on when he was a Scout. "Our council does have the requirements that with guns you need to be certified, and with swimming/lifesaveing you need to be certified by red cross as a water saftey instructor.. After that we have no guidelines." Or is this one of those things that since there are no g

Welcome Rascal. I'm sure you have much to share with us as well. I spent 12 Scouting years in eastern AZ and western NM myself. Hope you enjoy the forums!

Oh how I hesitate to enter this fray! As an advocate of "300 feet", Personally, I think the "separateness" is more important than the actual distance. After all terrain, vegetation, etc can all combine to create isolation at varying distances. Scouting in southern AZ often required at least 300 feet to get Patrols far enough apart to function independently of one another - and the adults. BUT, when we ventured into some of the canyon areas less than 300 feet was needed - and honestly who carries a yard stick or does pace counts to measure this anyway? I suspect, but do not know for s

((Edited to repair links)) I always thought our mascot was... a Scout. The one image associated with Boy Scouting is a Scout - with or without a hiking staff, neckerchief, campaign hat, uniform pants, etc. - but always a recognizable Scout: http://www.osagecohistoricalmuseum.com/scouts.html http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_cQxTVEjThKE/SOieUqoP5WI/AAAAAAAAAnc/_6FonzPTsnc/s1600-h/Boy_Scout_Memorial-27527.jpg http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Boy_scout_godollo_sculptor_Lorinc_Siklody.jpg Kind of like what they TRIED to do with the postage stamp that looked like

Just got off the phone with Jim, Camping Services, at Philmont. The policy of no tarps for sleeping is weather based more than hantavirus. Hantavirus is more of a concern in the base camps and cabins, where people tend to be for longer periods. Tents with floors are required PRIMARILY for protection from rain, mud, etc during the rains. Hope this helps with the original questions.

ScoutStuff reports: Availability: This product is currently BACKORDERED, will be available on 07/27/2011 http://www.scoutstuff.org/patrol-leader-handbook.html A 1950s version is here: http://www.thedump.scoutscan.com/patrolleader.pdf The one UCEagle72 references is on eBay for $10: http://compare.ebay.com/like/380309200332?var=lv&ltyp=AllFixedPriceItemTypes&var=sbar

The link Oak Tree provides (http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/philmont_redux_returning_scout_report.html) offers this: "Philmont requires that each crew take a dining fly and offers to supply a 12 x 12-foot tarp and poles. The crew is expected to bring its own guy lines. Packs and other gear are stored under the fly at night, and the fly serves as a kitchen or group refuge in inclement weather. Interestingly, Philmont will not let Scouts sleep under this or any other tarp. A tent is required. I dont know whether this requirement is related to bear safety or privacy issue

Depends on the camp. Our local Council Camp is Patrol cooking breakfast, pack and carry lunch, mess facility dinner. There we are Class B for breakfast and lunch and Class A for dinner. When we travel to a camp that is mess facility breakfast and dinner, we are Class A for breakfast and dinner. Any flag ceremony we are Class A. We started with zero full uniforms (Scout or Scouter) and over a two year period moved to full uniforms. PLC set the GOAL for 100% uniforming at about the one year mark. It was summer camp outside of our Council (and state) where they first saw fu

I'm assuming this is the correct Nieli... Russell K. Nieli is a lecturer in Princeton Universitys politics department. Author of an important study of the philosopher Ludwig Wittgenstein, he has written numerous articles on public policy topics and edited an anthology of writings on affirmative action. Nieli graduated summa cum laude from Duke University, received his Ph.D. from Princeton in 1970, and taught at several colleges before returning to Princeton. He is the author of a paper published by the Pope Center in March 2007, Russell K. Nieli is a lecturer in Princeton Universitys poli

Why not just hit "Reply All" and send out the same explanation you just posted? You can address the fact no one (other than the Council Advancement Chair) tried to contact you about this in the same email. You can also give the "oops" apology for the paperwork. Bring the original blue card with you to the next committee meeting.

Not just at Summer Camp but... Our SPL conducted camp inspections, whenever he wanted sometime during the day. The PLs had the list - no trash, sleeping bags canoed, no dirty clothes, fire ring clean, food stored properly, etc. Some PLs would do an inspection, some wouldn't.

Buffalo Skipper, Having just replied to your second question, I thought I'd check your original thread. In the same reference(BSA Troop Committee Guidebook For Successful Troop Operation, Copyright 1998, Boy Scouts of America, ISBN 0-8395-4505-3) you'll find this: The committee meeting is attended by all committee members and the Scoutmaster. Occasionally you may want to invite guests such as your chartered organization representative and unit commissioner. The Scoutmaster is not actually a member of the troop committee, and has no vote. The committee should not forget that its

Well, according to the BSA Troop Committee Guidebook For Successful Troop Operation, Copyright 1998, Boy Scouts of America, ISBN 0-8395-4505-3: The troop committee is the troop's board of directors and supports the troop program. But you ask, "What does the troop committee do?" The troop committee does the following: * Ensures that quality adult leadership is recruited and trained. In case the Scoutmaster is absent, a qualified assistant Scoutmaster is assigned. If the Scoutmaster is unable to serve, a replacement is recruited. * Provides adequate meeting facilities. * Advises

bnelon44, I suspect Beavah is referring to slide #36, "Directing-Explaing, Team Stage: Forming". The drawing of a troop meeting you refer to certainly does not indicate a SM doing anything other than enjoying the Scouts efforts - out of the way. Slide 36 has a photo of an adult sitting in camp chair pointing into a trailer while the Scouts are working. I believe this is what Beavah is referring to. Without wanting to read too much into the photo, I suppose it would be less onerous if the SM were seen "directing" to only the SPL/PLs off to the side. This one gives the impression the