Ohio_Scouter

For everything you've done and everything you continue to do each day, thanks to all you veterans. We'll never forget!

 

Keep 'em flyin', gang.

 

From all the men and women at Headquarters, Air Force Materiel Command,

Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio

I bought 2 full-size Bear Vaults, and my son and I used them out in Yellowstone back in 2004 on our high-adventure trip. They worked great for us. IMO, if you hold them between your feet and twist the lids counterclockwise, they're not too hard for a human being to open. I don't believe that a bear could figure out how to open them. They make a good seat, too, plenty big and high enough to sit comfortably.

 

Please add the following:

 

most of your wardrobe is olive drab or khaki.

you keep a bucket of water by your side while cooking dinner.

you spontaneously break into strange songs in public.

you carry your own toilet paper wherever you go.

you always read by a flashlight.

your radio is always tuned to the weather station.

you hoard tent stakes.

you keep a lantern hanging outside your bathroom door.

you cannot walk by a piece of trash without picking it up.

you carry a dufflebag size first-aid kit in your car.

you always have hat hair.

you continue to wear it until it stands on its own.

you see paint samples in a store and immediately want to name things in nature with the same colors.

your pots and pans are all black.

you roast a mini-marshmallow on a paper clip over a candle; then put it on a golden graham with one square of chocolate, just to get the flavor.

you always cook enough food for twelve.

you always have a cup hooked to your belt.

all your dishes have little pieces of egg stuck on them.

you open letters with a pocket knife.

you know 365 one pot meals.

your "microwave" is a box wrapped in foil.

you buy your shampoo in little tiny bottles.

you have the urge to help little old ladies ... whether they want it or not.

everything in your cupboard says "Instant, just add water".

you really do use those emergency sewing kits.

you see a pile of rocks and immediately put them in a circle.

you know 100 uses for a bandana.

you wear thongs in the shower.

you have a collection of used candles and dryer lint.

someone asks for a volunteer and you find your hand is already in the air.

your favorite cologne is "Deep Woods Off!".

you can't remember which hand to shake with in the office on Monday morning.

you have the end of every rope at home backspliced or whipped.

you correct someone who says "Gee, I used to be an Eagle Scout/Girl Scout", and then get him/her to volunteer in your Troop.

you always have a boy/girl registration and adult leader application in your bag. And you have to keep replacing them.

you deeply understand the potential of a group working together.

you camp for a week in the summer with about a dozen old guys/women; about 40 between 18 and 30; hundreds between 11 and 18; and the whole thing works!

you know you have brothers/sisters all over the world.

you have helped raise each other's children.

you are proud of the mentors your sons/daughters have found.

you say "signs up" in a business meeting to quiet everyone down.

you find yourself discussing the relative merits of internal vs. external frame packs on a date.

your closets are full and they don't contain clothes, but craft stuff.

you have a special woven belt loop cup holder.

you know more than two ways to light a fire.

your gourmet meal consists of cornbread, "Spam," and bug-juice.

your front door has a zipper instead of a deadbolt.

your last birthday cake was prepared and served in a Dutch Oven.

you're the only one on your block with a fire pit in your back yard.

your "family vacation" includes 30 kids your wife/husband doesn't know.

you've ever heard the phrase, "Trust me, it's only an hour and a half a week!!"

you have holes in the pockets of your jeans from carrying a pocket knife.

you begin to think half frozen french fries don't taste all that bad.

You can stare at a spider web for an hour, and not notice the time

you wear 2 pairs of socks to bed.

you sleep under a trash bag.

you're always counting how many matches you have left.

you tie up your little brother, and he can't get loose.

you know all the words to Little Bunny Foo-Foo, but can't remember your anniversary.

all your clothes smell like pickles (from the bucket).

pie iron pizzas is the best meal you've had all week.

you have something on your shoe...and you're sure it's only mud.

you eat ants on a log and like it.

you wear bread bags on your feet.

when opening large gifts you survey the box wondering if you have a piece of foil large enough to cover it.

you order pizzas 14 at a time.

your neighbors hide when they see you going door to door with "that order form" again.

you have to go to the restroom and you start looking for a buddy.

you go to someone's house for dinner, don't like the food, and ask if they have peant butter and jelly.

you tie your shoe and check the handbook to see if it can go toward earning a badge.

all your shirts have pin holes in them.

you actually own the book, "How to Sh*t in the Woods".

you miss the "floaties" and "sinkers" in the office coffee.

your computer password is "TLH FCK OCT BCR."

you miss "cargo pockets."

you really love your self-inflating sleep pad.

you have seen the spiritual power the outdoors can have on men and boys.

You know who in your patrol can really cook and who's talent lies in dishwashing. And, you think a pan of warm water feels pretty good after dinner.

Your garage is full of what you used to consider trash, that you now consider raw materials for arts & crafts projects.

You have your own desk & filing cabinet just for scout related paperwork.

If your calendar is full of meetings that you never forget, but can't remember to send a birthday card to your brother-in-law on time.

If you have the local BSA office on speed dial.

If you stop by other people's house on trash day, rescuing items you can use.

You know all the best yard sales and thrift shops.

People don't recognize you when you're not in uniform.

if you catch yourself singing "God Bless My Underwear" when it's time to sing "God Bless America"......you might be a scout. if your "microwave" is a box wrapped in foil...

if your gourmet meal consists of cornbread, "Spam," and bug-juice...

if your idea of a burned-out lightbulb is a broken mantle...

if you've ever been mistaken for a park ranger or a State Trooper...

if the trash collector has ever requested that you not hang your bags between the trees in the parkway...

You take the family on vacation, And you stop at the Scout office to pick-up a tour permit.

You pack to go on a weekend trip to visit friends And you take your backpack instead of your suitcase.

You pack your suitcase(backpack) for the weekend And roll your clothes up instead of using hangers.

You are in a large group of people and someone tries to talk And you hold up the Scout sign to get them to quiet down.

You go on a family walk around the block And you take a map and a compass along.

You go to a public campground with the family And you rope off your site and put up the patrol flag.

Instead of building a fence around the yard with nails and wood, You lash it with poles and rope.

Instead of teaching your 1 yr. old son his ABCs You teach him the Scout Law and the Scout Oath

Instead of a Flower garden in the middle of the backyard You have a fire pit, with logs and stumps to sit on

Someone asks for a light and you pull out your magnesium sparker

A stranger asks for directions to a public restroom and you hand him a trowel and give him detailed instructions in the fine art of digging a kitty hole.

You pack your kids lunch box with things like foil packs, dutch oven cobbler and bug juice.

Derby Day has nothing to do with Kentucky or horses. It's all about a 5 oz block of wood and a ramp.

You ask off work for B-P's birthday.

And the number one way you can tell if you are a Scouter is: You take your own bag of Trails End, Butter Microwave Popcorn to the movies and ask the guy behind the counter to put it in the microwave for 2m, 33s exactly.

(This message has been edited by Ohio_Scouter)(This message has been edited by Ohio_Scouter)

Lisa,

 

My advice is to move on. It sounds like you've tried for several years to influence the troop to no avail. Time flies, and before long your son's tenure in scouting will be over, so go for the gusto--somwhere your son can enjoy the program.

 

Good luck.

Fred,

 

Under Godwin's law, when posting, don't you actually have to mention Hitler by name to forfeit the debate?

Our troop decides who gets to participate on high-adventure trips strictly based on which qualified scouts turn in their fees (first-come basis). We haven't found a more fair method. Good luck!

Hey BadenP,

 

If you don't like hearing from your fellow Americans, tell Scouter Terry to stop starting these threads.

pack,

 

I know your wallet has already taken a 50% hit, and the retirement you once looked forward to is now not possible. After having worked for over 40 years, I can't plan on retirement either because most of those savings have been squandered by Wall Street crooks. But I wouldn't be so sure that Obama'claus couldn't top that. Guess we'll just have to wait and see next year.

 

Hold on to your wallet, folks. Here it comes.

Go for it, pack. You've come close, but you haven't creeped me out yet .

Sorry, I thought this was another Obama thread. Never mind.

I guess I'll be canceling out your vote then, Terry.

I'll pay more taxes when the Wall Street crooks restore their losses from my retirement funds.

Hi scoutldr,

 

Yeah, I'm getting the SPRINT popup ads, too. They are quite annoying; almost as annoying as getting political election ads.

TwoXForr,

 

No, not really. All summer camps we attended have some combination of BB, rifle, shotgun, and archery ranges. Our troop is just big on shooting sports, so having a shooting range is just a check-list item in case the scouts are considering a summer camp that for some unknown reason may not have ranges.

In addition to what you already mentioned, our guys think a flexible merit badge program (not too overly structured) is important, too. We also like to attend camps that have rifle, shotgun, and archery ranges.

Don't sweat it, gwd. Take jtswestark's advice and take a hike with your scouts. The leaves are turning color, and the forests are beautiful. I think I will, too. Until now, I thought I would retire and maybe take a job at Philmont. Unfortunately, my 401k has been trashed, so I'll have to formulate a plan "B" sometime soon.

 

On the plus side, in the last 2 years, I've survived a quadruple heart bypass and prostate cancer. I've really stopped worrying about retirement and most other problems, and I'm just happy to be here amongst the living, day by day.

My advice is to form a high-adventure Venture Patrol for the older Scouts to focus on, and let them run it. This patrol plans a high adventure trip each year like canoeing, sailing, or backpacking at a National High Adventure Base or elsewhere, and during the rest of the year, the patrol plans activities in preparation for this high adventure trip. The Venture Patrol also gives the younger scouts something to look forward to as they grow older and more experienced. This seems to work quite well for us. It keeps the older boys interested, and it keeps them active in the Troop much longer to the point where the vast majority of them earn their Eagle rank.

gwd-,

 

Clearly, you have every right to be proud of your Scouts . They obviously have great leadership and have taken to heart the Scout Oath and Law. Congratulations to you and your boys! They have already received extra points for spirit in my book.

Ed,

 

I crack up uncontrollably every time I picture Andy Kaufman singing "Here I come to save the day..." with his best disco moves.(This message has been edited by Ohio_Scouter)

rdcrisco,

 

Based on your requirements, I would recommend Vasque Wasach GTX (or similar) hiking boots. Many outlets carry them including Red Wing Shoes and REI (see link). http://www.rei.com/product/721359

 

Good luck!

Buffalo Skipper,

 

We have used Timberline 2s in our troop for many years, and we really love them (except for the zippers). They have plenty of room for 2 scouts which is our recommended maximum number of scouts per tent. We have a couple of T4s that our adults use because of all the additional room. We have not worked with the add-on vestibule or annex fly?

 

We use our Spitfires on both backpacking and non-backpacking campouts. They are super light (less than 5 lbs. each) and have plenty of ventilation since they are about 75% screen mesh. The only down-side is that they are not free-standing and must be staked down which is not a huge disadvantage in our opinion.

 

Good luck!

 

rdcrisco,

 

Sorry for the long reply, but you asked for it. Following is excerpted from the BSA Backpacking Merit Badge pamphlet:

 

Boots

 

As a backpacker, your feet are as important to you as a plane is to a pilot, or a ship to a sailor. They transport you from place to place, and as long as they are healthy and content, you will hardly notice them. But if they become irritated, they will make their discomfort known with a vengeance.

 

Keep your feet clean and dry, and trim your toenails straight across. Treat tender spots before they turn into blisters.

 

Proper foot care also includes choosing the right footwear. While well-made boots might cost quite a bit more than cheaply made ones, most backpackers prefer good hiking boots. The lightest pairs weigh just a few pounds, and are fine for walking well-maintained trails. Sturdier boots, at 3 to 5 pounds a pair, provide plenty of ankle support and protect your feet even in boulder fields and on cross-country rambles. Mountaineering boots are heavier still, very rigid, and appropriate only for specialized climbing.

 

A pound of weight on your feet is equal to about five pounds on your back, so its obvious that keeping your boots light will enhance your enjoyment of a long walk. On the other hand, you dont want to choose boots that are too light. Lightweight boots with fabric uppers may not hold up to the demands of backpacking, especially over time.

 

Look for boots made of top grain leather which breathes, allowing moisture from your feet to escape. Lacing hooks and eyelets should be durable and securely attached. Lug soles provide the most traction, though smoother soles are usually adequate, frequently lighter, and often cause less wear and tear on the trail. If you plan to hike in wet conditions, modern boots come with another desirable featurea breathable liner made of synthetic material.

 

As with packs, shop around before purchasing boots. Ask experienced hikers and competent clerks to suggest their favorite brands, and then find a pair that fits just right. When you try on boots, wear the same socks you intend to use on the trail. Your toes should have plenty of wiggle room so they wont jam against the front of the boots on downhill hikes, yet the boots should hold your heels so they slip only a little. Carry a lightweight pair of running shoes or sneakers for wearing around the campsite to give your feet and legs a rest, and the land a rest, too.

 

Breaking in Boots

 

Like new baseball gloves, new boots usually are stiff. They must be broken in before you wear them on an extended trek or you are in for a crop of blisters. Although it takes a little time, the process is simple.

 

First, treat your boots with the dressing recommended by the manufacturer. (Different kinds of boots require different dressings.) Rub the dressing thoroughly into the leather with a rag or your hand. This will protect the boots and help them repel water. You may want to guard the boot seams against moisture and abrasion by applying a commercial seam sealer.

 

Some high-quality boots are already treated by the manufacturer. They do not need additional dressing. Follow the recommendations that come with your boots.

 

Wear the boots around the house and on short hikes until they have loosened up. Gradually extend the length of the walks on which you wear them, and soon they will feel like a natural part of your feet.

 

Since boot leather usually comes from steer hide, it has much in common with your own skin and deserves special care. Clean your boots after every outinguse a stiff brush if they are muddyand apply more dressing. Never expose leather to more heat than you can tolerate on the back of your hand. Drying boots by a campfire is a good way to ruin them.

 

Socks

 

Experienced hikers often wear two pairs of socks: either two pairs of medium-weight wool socks, or a pair of thin synthetic ones under a pair of heavier wool socks. Both wool and synthetics such as polypropylene draw moisture away from your feet and help prevent blisters.

 

You may find that a different combination or weight of socks is more comfortable. In any case, carry several sets in your pack, and change your socks occasionally during a long days walk. Fresh socks are absolute ecstasy for hot, tired feet. You can hang sweaty socks on the outside of your pack and let them dry in the sun as you hike.

 

I counsel the following merit badges:

 

-Auto Mechanics

-Backpacking

-Camping

-Computers

-Cooking

-Electricity

-Electronics

-Engineering

-Fishing

-Fly-Fishing

-Hiking

-Home Repairs

-Painting

-Plumbing

 

Jack,

 

Yes, our troop has had significant problems with our older Eureka Timberline zippers. That's why we switched to the new Eureka backpacking tents when we upgraded. The zippers on the backpacking tents seem to be sturdier, and we haven't broken one yet (knock-on-wood).