Owl62

I have no problem with youth, cubs, younger Scouts, etc, attending or participating in flag retirement ceremonies. I do think it is important though to briefly explain the retirement so that all understand. Any no one should be forced to participate or observe. The U.S. Flag code contains just one brief statement about retirement of the U.S. Flag (the word "destroyed" is used). The preferred method is burning. Contrary to popular belief, there is no detailed specifics on how to retire a U. S. Flag in the code. Among the things I have heard about flag retirements are: 1.

Anyone out there know anything about the Corps of Discovery? Anyone have it implemented in their council or area and can tell us about how it works? Thanks.

Volunteers in the BSA are just that, volunteers. You have the right to leave anytime you want and that is it, period. You have no obligation to submit a resignation either verbally or in writing (although that is probably the ethical or "correct" thing to do. If your resignation is not accepted, and you still want to leave, just leave. Of course all of this is just my opinion. But if I wanted to leave a volunteer position, I would do it.

After readling this forum and the commissioner publications, I am now wondering what a "unit leader" is? The publications simply say that a commissioner should not be a unit leader. There was an entry in the forum that a unit leader is s Scoutmaster, ASM, Cubmaster, etc. But committee members are not "leaders". But, the new BSA training for "leaders" is Leader Specific training and that includes committee training. So are committee members also "leaders" If that is the case, then can unit committee members be commissioners? So where it comes to commissioner duty, what is a u

Our unit does use activity permission forms for each activity other than troop meetings. Our form was developed from several forms and other sources. It is a two part form that can be separated by cutting the top part of the form from the lower part. Both parts contain the name and type of activity, the dates and times of the activity, the location of the activity, and contact information. The top part is cut off and left with the parent/guardian so that if they need to contact the unit leaders for the activity they will have that information. The lower part of the form contains i

Our local Scoutfitter has the new pants and I took a look at them. I like the design of them, the color, they are versatile (the zip-off legs are great) and dry fast. But I don't like suplex nylon. It tears easily, it is cold in the winter (although their design allow you to wear longjohns, etc underneath, and I am very concerned about fire. Nylon usually melts away from a heat source but if it gets hot enough it might melt right to the wearer's skin. Also, nylon suplex to me is too lightweight and feels like nothing. I wore a pair of similar pants on a hike in some rather thick wo

In our unit, everyone pays their own way. On occasion, we have reimbursed an adult who offered to pull the unit trailer when no one else would. Campout and activitiy fees (camp fees, activity, food, etc) are paid by each person participating in the activity. Same goes for registration fees - everyone pays their own. The recharter fee comes from the troop fund. The troop fund comes from fundraising and occasional donations. For most weekend campouts we manage to keep fees for food to $5 (for 3 meals)and for the most part, through good planning, we have been able to do that. Part

Actually, there were Totin' Chip patches back to at least 1965 for sure and even earlier I believe. I was a Scout in the mid 60s and I was presented with both a Totin' Chip card and patch. The patch was white with a red border and embroidered lettering and emblem. It was pocket flap shaped and we were told to wear them on our right shirt pocket flaps unless we were in OA - then the lodge flap went there. I am not sure that the Totin' Chip patches where supposed to be worn on the pocket flap on not. There is an interesting website on Totin' Chip: http://totinchip.home.comcast.net/

I have earned two Adult Leader Training awards (Boy Scout and Venturing), and was given only the knot and the certificate. I had to buy my own devices (Boy Scout and Venturing) for the knot/medal. And yes, there is a medal for the award available. Mine cost me $8 at the Scout shop and it was in stock but I had to ask for it. The little devices were about $3 a piece!

One rule I heard was no vehicles past the parking lot, on the camp roads, or in camp, only trailers. Question: how is the trailer going to get to the campsite? Another rule is no electronics and then a photographer goes all over camp with a digital camera taking pictures and then the camp staff has a slide show the final night of camp..... No lockblade knives. Can't understand this one - the locking mechanism is a safety feature. Lots of others - too numerous to mention. I guess some people just feel better if there are lots of rules.

My Chevy, my music. If it ain't country, it ain't music. (And I listen to older country music). If they don't want to hear me sing along, they can ride with someone else. I usually have no riders......

I think that as a uniformed organization, we should try to wear the appropriate uniform for our program, as properly as we can. But, I think that there is a big difference between wearing the uniform as best as one can, possibly making some minor changes, and deliberately wearing a uniform improperly. Of course there will be those that say that if a uniform is not EXACTLY as stated in the regulations, then it is not a proper uniform. Examples: Wearing only the uniform shirt, especially for newer members or for those with financial issues. I think it is preferable to get members

Any ideas about keeping dry in a tent? Over the years, I have learned a number of things to help stay dry in a tent. 1. Use a good quality tent. 2. Consider the design of the tent. I prefer "A" frame tents or dome shaped tents. Try to make sure that the rain fly covers all the tent (some tents have large sections that extend out beyond the reach of the rain fly and every one of those I have ever seen have leaked; try to keep the walls reasonably taught - if they droop esepecilly at ground level they may form pockets that catch water and since the tent material is not designed t

I am seeking opinions on good rain gear - specifically a rain suit (hooded jacket and pants). I have a coated nylon poncho that I use for backpacking and just about any good coated nylon poncho that is big enought is good for that. But rain suits are another matter. Most are made of thin, coated nylon, or Vinyl or a combination. Some are of gortex or similar material but they are very expensive. Most coated nylon suits are not every effective in ongoing rain. Vinyl is ok but are subject to cuts and tears, and condensation inside gets the wearer about as wet as they rain. I only o

Of course the manufacturer of the tent suggested purchasing a new tent. I wonder why that is? Many products today are not manufactured to be repaired - at least easily - or by the manufacturer. Instead they are made to be discarded and replaced. Again, I wonder why that might be? Many times products can be cleaned, repaired, etc. through other means. I was once told the same thing by another manufacturer of a tent I own that had a damaged zipper. Was advised to just buy a new one - and this was for a tent that was only one year old. Instead, I found a local canvas repair shop

Our council camps do not encourage personal/troop tents at summer camp, but they do not discourage them and do allow them. Many campers bring their own tents. Many of our council summer camp tents (and in other council camps I have attended) are not in the best shape (I know, I know - give more to FOS so they can buy new tents). Most are not even erected properly and when we use them we often have to strike them and put them up properly. Seems like they just slap them up any where and way. Sometimes they set them up on inclines, and I saw one put up over a small ditch with the two plat

Does your troop use tents provided by the summer camp, or bring their own? Since mosquitos are bad in our part of the country, most of our troop started bringing their own tents about 4 years ago. The 9X7 tents provided by the camp are not screened. Some of us tried mosquito netting but it is a bit of a hassle. Most of our adults have personal walk-in screened tents that are about 10X8 and many of the Scouts bring their own screened tents too. For some the reason to use their own tents was due to the mosquitos, some for privacy, and some just like to use their own. I use my own fo

A Scout is Clean We rarely have any problem getting the Scouts to shower. For the most part, our Scouts are a pretty clean bunch. Since most camps have some kind of shower facilities, there's not much reason not to shower. We deliberately picked a camp and campsite this year with hot showers right in the campsite. The only issue we have had in the past is Scouts not wanting to take cold showers. Most camp swimming pools have hot showers.

Question: Does a registered member of the Boy Scout of America (any program) HAVE to be a registered member of a Boy Scout Troop or Varsity Team to be a member of the Order of the Arrow? What I am speaking of here, is after a qualified member has been elected/nominated, gone through the ordeal, and been inducted into the OA. Some examples: A qualified Boy Scout who has been inducted into the OA, but quits Boy Scouts and joins a Venturing Crew. Can they be a member of the OA and wear a lodge flap even though they are no longer registered in a Boy Scout troop? A Venturin

Regarding a clean OA sash. Some may be of the opinion that a clean sash is the sign of an inactive OA member and a dirty sash is a sign of an active member. Hmmm. Would we also assume that a clean Scout uniform shirt is the sign of an inactive member and a dirty Scout uniform shirt is the sign of an active member? My opinion: A Scout is Clean

Same question as Hukehart: What is a red and white? I am presuming as one should probably never assume, that it is similar to a Blue and Gold Banquet in Cub Scouts?

Anyone out there know where I can find instructions for tying a double friendship knot? I can tie a single, but just can't do type the double version. Thanks.

I got the following Wood Badge Patrol colors from another source: Beaver: Red Bobwhite: Orange Eagle: Yellow Fox: Green Owl: Blue Bear: Black Buffalo: Purple Antelope: Brown

Congratulations! Owl62 And a good old Owl too!

Does anyone know if there are designated "official" colors for Wood Badge Patrols? I have seen a couple of different lists of colors for the patrols. The most recent is: Beaver: Blue/Yellow Bobwhite: White/Khaki Eagle: Green/Black Fox: Green/Yellow (Was told just green) Owl: Blue/Blue (But I was also told Blue/Yellow or just blue) Bear: Brown/Red Buffalo: Red/White (Was told just purple) Antelope: Khaki/Green Apparently the colors go back to a time when patrols wore colored ribbon on their uniforms to denote their patrols. Are there any official Wood Badge Pa