OR Pioneer

Thanks for your thoughts, John.

Right, I don't plan to be the direct contact leader. I guess there is some chance that I'd be CoR.

The kids shouldn't be to much problem as there has been a very, very active Refuge Club at the middle school and years of those kids have moved to the high school which does not have such an activity. I think we could recruit a core group from there and then have them present to the Friends of the Refuge board or to the service club about obtaining a charter.

If the charter is done by the service club, I'd be the point of contact between the Crew and the Refuge. As it is now, I serve that role for Eagle projects, various service projects and advancement activities from Cubs through Merit Badges.

Again, can anyone help identify a similar Venturing connection somewhere in the country? The DE has been on the professionals network and to Venturing at BSA headquarters in Texas and we seem to be first on the block. I'd like to learn from other's eherience.

Berk

Absolutely! I agree that the Crew should be oriented by the youth involved. In my role as a commissioner, I work to help Troops be youth led all the time. Endlessly. Persistently!

But here I have the new (for me) role of looking at this as a chartering organization. For me to present this to our Friends board, I need to tell how it would help with the Friends mission and where we can look for successful models.

Berk

Yes, these are my yellow fags too. We might also charter through the a local service club. I am also wondering about activities and service ideas. Really looking for some successful models.

Berk

Venturing Crew... Venturing Crew...Venturing Crew...Venturing Crew...Venturing Crew...

I'll bet my brain slipped and was remembering Venture Patrols. but I've got it now: Venturing Crew...Venturing Crew...Venturing Crew...Venturing Crew...

I am both an Assistant District Commissioner for the BSA and the Education Chair at our local National Wildlife Refuge. A DE has approached me about the Friends of the Refuge chartering a Venture Crew. I'm wondering if anyone has experience with a Crew at a NWR or other Federal facility or a Wildlife Refuge that is State or Non-Profit. I need to pick brains about issues and assets that such a crew raise. Could someone give me contact information for such Crews if any exist?

Thanks,

Berk Moss, Newberg OR

Read it and love it.

Re: Louv's take on scouting--- In an extended dinner conversation, Richard expressed his strong support for the methods of Scouting. Perhaps his only reservation is adults trying to organize kids too much. His thesis is that kids need "unstructured" time with nature. In a good troop with the program led by boys, with lots of outing and time on those outings unstructured, we are delivering what kids need!

Berk Moss

ADC Pioneer District

Cascade Pacific Council

Newberg, Oregon

(200+ nights camping)

I used to be a Bear

And a good ol' Bear too

But now I've finished Bearing,

I don't know what to do

I'm growing old and Feeble

and I can Bear no more

So I'm going to work my ticket if I can

Back to Gilwell.. Happy Land..

I'm going to work my ticket if I can.

Berk Moss

WEM 94-442

(My gosh 14 years ago and still Bearing up!)

GRRRRRRRR....AAAARRRRRRR!

The problem with the old belts was that they shrink. Mine got shorter and shorter.

(Actually at one summer camp, one of our "adult" patrol readjusted the belt of his tent mate each night about half in inch shorter. Toward the end of the week, the tent mate was passing on seconds at dinner and not eating cobbler. We finally told him and gave him extra Chili-Mac that night.

Berk Moss

Cascade Pacific Council

Newberg, Oregon

When I put the uniform on I requre myself to try to fill it the way Mr. Crandall (SM Troop 157 Tarzana, Calif 1957) and Bill Beebe (SM Troop 204 Multnomah Village OR 1989) looked to me. I try to stand proud and tall and "pull it in!" for them.

I get people telling me stories and I suspect people thinking things I'm just a gald they don't say, but we're not doing it for them. Have a look at your patrols and dens. Think about your Eagles doing life long service projects, because that's what they learned. Think about teaching the joys of self-sufficincey while also teaching the power of working in a group. Think about your own joys of sharing the parenting of millions of young men and boys with thousands of adults who share your values.

Think on these things and the uniform fits just fine. Even makes you look good in it.

Berk Moss, Newberg OR

Assistant District Commissioner, Pioneer District

Cascade Padific Council, Portland Oregon

My son went to camp earlier this year. But it was Boarding School ... Boarding Team Member Training in the US Coast Guard.

Previously, I sent him off to the Washington State Police Academy and to college.

But, I was never as anxious as when I sent him to his first BSA summer camp. I was confident of the troop (adults and youth) and decided he needed the experience without me along. (I took another portion of the troop on another event). No matter how old they are, you are always "dad" and take a deep breath as you watch them take another big step. But, you are so proud that they are stepping!

Berk Moss, Newberg OR

P.S. Did you ever notice that the Coast Guard motto Semper Paratus (Always Ready) is close to Be Prepared?

Responding to: "Scout gets home with his new uniform and a handful of patches (unit number, council strip, the usual) and calls you on the phone and asks where do they all go? What do you tell him - "oh, just put them anywhere you like, whatever looks good." Or do you tell him to look inside the cover of his handbook for instructions, which are taken from the Insignia Guide? Curious to know your answer."

The answer is much more important than correct uniforming. If you want to build a strong Troop and carry out the mission of scouting you answer. "Great question! Glad you want to look good. I'm sure your patrol leader can answer it. Why don't you aks him?"

I would add two buttons to our uniforms. One to point to when talking to youth members which would say "Ask your patrol leader." The other to point to when working with adults who want to "organize" things. That one would say, "Never send an adult to do a Scout's job"

Scouting has brought me two sons who are Eagles, fine citizens, good husbands and fathers. My learning the two concepts above was one key to that success.

Berk Moss, Newberg OR

I don't know if this is like some witness protection program, but the university where I did my graduate degree has changed its name twice and changed the names of each of the buildings on the campus. Many of the buildings are now named for people who were either professors or students when I went there!

Berk Moss, Newberg OR

There is a little misunderstanding here. He is not a "former Eagle Scout" he is still and always has been an Eagle Scout since the date of his Board of Review. The council won't try to collect back dues, just current one for his newly active status. On the other hand his "back dues" of service to Scouting are still due. He'll be gald to know that your troop will accept his volunteer hours and will be happy to see his obedience to the Scout Law as an adult. T L H F C K O C T B C L --- those should have meaning to him.

In my Troop when I encountered the parent of an new scout who told me he was an Eagle, I didn't ask him if he'd volunteer, I just told him we'd get him an assignment. It usually worked. They were happy to rejoin the campfire.

Berk Moss, Assistant District Commissioner, Pioneer District, Cascade Pacific Council

Newberg OR

I had a little talk with God about your situation. But, I can't find the words to tell you much more here. The prayers of all our scout family are with you.

Berk Moss, Newberg OR

May the Great Master of All Scouts welcome him to the eternal campfire and may we all take the courage to now stay on course inspired by the leadership that the likes of him provided us.

Berk Moss, Newberg OR

Can we BEAR one more?

I used to be a Bear,

and a good old Bear too.

And now I've finished Bearing,

And I don't know what to do.

I'm growing old and feeble,

And I can Bear no more.

So I'm going to work my Ticket while I can.

Back to Gilwell, Happy Land,

I'm going to work my ticket while I can

I LOVE that song!

Berk Moss, Newberg Oregon

Assitant District Commissioner

Pioneer District, Cascade Pacific Council

WEM 442- 94-1 (Bear Patrol)

Anyone tried turning the CUBMASTER upside down? We did it once. I'm 6'4" and 200+ pounds. It was difficult but that is why you have ACMs, right?

Berk Moss, Newberg Oregon

Assistant District Commissioner

Pioneer District

Cascade Pacific Council

Well, Resqman, you've got the idea. The one of the basic concepts of Boy Scouting is to "teach responsibility by giving it away (in bite sized pieces)" Giving your Webelos skills of being able to work together and to be self responsible will take them a long way in life. The outdoor skills of knots and tent setting are the vehicle for boys teaching each other and learning to work things out.

Have you den do lots of games which require cooperation for success. Take them in the outdoors and as you walk with them ask questions, don't give answers. Give them a chance to make lots of decisions and some mistakes.

Your den is going to be fun and successful.

Berk Moss, Assistant District Commissioner, Pioneer District, Cascade Pacific Council.

Newberg Oregon

Here's one plan --

Hold a special board of review for him to help him with his problem. There should be no expectation that he will be passed for the rank at this board. It is just a strategy session.

Start by asking HIM to outline his problem and what ideas HE has for beginning to solve it.

Help by continuing to ask questions of him about how he can move forward. Develop a way that he can get people to vouch for him on each requirement or that he can demonstrate his skills again.

Finally, ask him how he is going to avoid being in such a situation again.

Always stay on his side. You don't need to tell him he's in a mess or that he shouldn't have lost his book. He knows that. Focus on the opportunity for him to learn to recover from a bad situation. What a wonderful life lesson.

Celebrate his ability to figure things out and arrange for the Board to meet with him in a week or two to continue the discussion and perhaps pass him.

Berk Moss,

Newberg OR

1) Camping on the Warm Springs Indian Reservation with my youngest son and taking him away from the campfire to lay on our backs and look at all the stars.

2 Watching the personal character and leadership growth of my sons. Often watching Loren as SPL of a boy-led troop of 70+ and watching Eric as SPL for a Boy Scout staff led Webelos Woods of 25 staff and 400 webelos and parents. The only Boy Scout adults were with me in the "Parking Patrol"

3) Wonderful times with my fellow scouters around campfires etc. Heaven mst have a special place like this where we can laugh, have fun, brotherhood and a wonderful sense of acceptance that I feel with these people.

4) ?? ... (The best is yet to come)

I married a wonderful woman a few years back and gained a very large and close family.

The first time we had them all to our house, I was asked to say grace. I started "Lord, these are the people I've been talking to you about...."

I guess the family was happy that I was putting in a good word for them, because they always tell the story right after anyone says grace. "Do you remember when Berk... "

Berk Moss, Newberg OR

FScouter asked, "If these HS dens are doing a pseudo pack meeting every week, do they come to the real pack meeting? The monthly pack meeting led by the Cubmaster, where all the dens come together, with each individual den having a part in the meeting program? "

Yes, they do come to the Pack meeting, in fact one of the strongest HS parents is the Cubmaster who runs a well organized pack meeting.

It almost seems to me that we have two pack meetings a month for these dens.

Berk

Thanks for all the thoughtful replies.

A little more information. I don't know how I transmitted the idea that the home schoolers are slow in advancement. The reverse is the case -- they are earning lots of awards of many types. Sorry if I confused anyone.

I don't know how the dens became separate, I've just been assigned this Pack and am learning as I go. They seem to stay separate because home school dens all meet at one time in one place and have an opening, breakouts to dens and closing. Home school parents with boys in more than one den like this arrangement.

Interestingly, the home school multi den meeting does not take place mid day, but in the evening. In fact it runs later than the "publics" are comfortable having their kids out on school nights.

The advice I've given so far is that if they are running two programs, they should consider two packs and make the change now while people can shake hands and smile and wish each other well. If they don't want to be two packs (and they seem not to want that now) then they should make efforts to integrate programs. For example -- they have two mixed Bear-Webelos dens, on for home schoolers and one for "publics." They have two membership chairmen and I haven't surfaced all the structure of the pack, yet.

More thoughts? Advice? Can you point out any land mines before I step on them?

Berk

PS. THIS DOES NOT APPLY TO THE PARENTS IN THIS PACK OR THE DEDICATED HOME SCHOOL SCOUTERS ON THE LIST, but in my 37 years in public education, I noticed that most home school kids when reentering public high school are very well prepared. But, for a sad significant number "home school" equaled "no school." This only reinforced my admiration of the home school parents that had the time, dedication, resources, organization, and persistence to see that their children were taught at home. My heart and prayers go out to those children who are removed from school and then do not get an adequate preparation for life some other way.

Greetings all --

I am a Commissioner serving a Pack of 47 Cubs which are about 50/50 home school and public school scouts. They have about one den of home schoolers and one of "publics" at each level. The home schoolers come from a wider geographic area.

The active committee and adult leaders have discussed some of the difficulties they are experiencing, and have decided to make a great effort to NOT split into two packs. These issues were minor. The home school dens all meet at on location so families can stay together which creates more or less a second pack meeting. The home school dens have tried to include others in activities but were not aware that they were doing them late on school nights which prevented much participation. Public school parents are seeing lots of advancement and belt loops etc from home school cubs and are a bit overwhelmed.

So, I would like the group to tell me about similar experiences both successful and not successful in having home schoolers and publics in the same pack. What issues arise? How did you handle them? How successful were you? Any advice?

Berk Moss

Assistant District Commissioner

Pioneer District

Cascade Pacific Council

Portland OR

Most important rank?

Lots of good discussion, but may I take another view:

The most important rank is the one **the scout** decides to reach. Not his parent, not his leader, not momentum. It is the rank that **he** decides to put forward the effort for after those requirements easily met by mere participation in the program have been signed off. It is the ones that require effort and dedication and tenacity on his part. Those are some of the signs of maturity and character we are working to achieve.

Just another way of looking at it.

Wow, you need help, both inside the Pack and outside. Yes get the committee chair to find more adults. Many hands make small work and more fun!

Contact your District Commissioner and ask for help from a Unit Commissioner. These volunteers are experienced scouters who can help you see your way through the year's program.

Get everyone to training. The jobs are a lot easier if you've spent the short time getting the training.

Best of luck!