Owl62

Congratulations on being selected to attend Wood Badge. Being an Owl, I will pass on the following if I may: I agree with the inexpensive fleece sleeping bag. You can get them for about $10-$15 at most discount/sporting goods stores. With a decent sleeping bag rated to about 40 degrees, using a fleece bag inside will increase the effectiveness about 10 degrees and the fleece feels good. But, a good sleeping pad is every bit as important. I usually use a low cot with a foam pad, but if I use a sleeping pad alone, I use a self-inflating pad and in the winter I put down a closed

As they say, if you snooze.... Actually, I recall reading somewhere that there is no "Official" order of Wood Badge patrols. I think this concept of "Wood Badge order" is more tradition than anything. I also heard that patrol names are the decision of the course director. If there is anyone out there with the Official BSA stance on this, please let us know. Perhaps a Wood Badge Course Director... I do know that there have been other Wood Badge patrols in the US other than those that are standard now - and in other countries, I have heard of even more different patrol names.

I used to be an OWL and a Good 'ol Owl too... And now I'm finished Owling... I don't I don't know what to do... I'm growing old and feable and I can Owl no more... So I am going to work my ticket if I can... Back to Gilwell.. Happy Land.. I'm going to work my ticket if I can...

DTop, I have not found anything that prohibits the wear of Wood Badge beads with a bolo tie. I have never worn the two together so I tried it an looked in the mirror and found that at least in my opinion it looks a bit strange. So I don't think I will wear the two together.

CNYScouter, Do I understand correctly that in your council that the current version of the Scoutmaster/Assistant Scoutmaster Course and Outdoor Leadership Skills Course is required even if a Scouter has completed the previous "Scoutmastership Fundamentals" course? While Scouters can attend these courses more than once, it can get expensive and might actually cause untrained Scouters being denied or delayed in attending courses. I think that attendees of the previous course should be grandfathered and considered trained. Will your council require Wood Badge? If so, what abo

The BSA 2005 Insignia Guide provides official guidance on the wear of Wood Badge regalia on pages 31 and 38: "Wood Badge slide or Woggle. No. 02173, trained Scouter with Wood Badge Neckerchief, necklace with two beads, No. 02175; three beads No. 02176; four beads, No. 02177; worn under the Wood Badge neckerchief, and over the ends below the woggle, with the official field uniform; Wood Badge beads are not worn on civilian clothes dress blazer uniform, or with a T-shirt. Wood Badge beads may be worn with a neckerchief or alone." There are illustrations of the simulated MacLaren Tartan

To me, (and all of this is my opinion) it is pure and simple, desecration of the Flag of the United States of America is not freedom of speech or expression but it is disrespectful and despicable. Flag descretion is a wrong against all citizens of the USA, past present, and future. It is the symbol of all that we have been, are and will be. Every one of us is represnted by our Flag. The Flag of the United States of America, is not just cloth or just a symbol, or someone's private property. When I consider giving a US Flag to a group to retire, I will not give it if the group pla

We also actually encourage Scouts and Scouters to bring camp chairs for most of our outing. They are now availabe for very litte money and many are very light weight. Course all but the lightest would not be practical for backpacking. I see no reason to ban camp chairs or stools for most Scout situations. I supposed teaching Scouts on how to make a camp gadget chair is ok but is that practical for every campout. I think not. We do have a rule that you can not sit in another's chair without permission. That prevents arguements. Actually the rule it to not touch or use anything that is

Our unit is considering not purchasing new troop owned tents as they become unserviceable. Rather, we are considering asking unit members to purchase their own tents. A few reasons for this: 1. Many already have, carry, and use their own tents on Scout campouts. Some have both a tent suitable for short backpacking trips as well as a larger tent for car camping, summer camp, etc. 2. Those that own their own tents seem to prefer them over troop tents. And they take better care of them, it seems. 3. Tents are expensive and there are so many to chose from. Asking unit memb

Any of you out there had any experience in getting tent zippers repaired or replaced? I tried the manufacturer (big name) but the tent is out of production and they said they couldn't help and suggest that I consider buying one of their many newer model tents. Imagine that. But I am sure that there are other places to get tent zippers repaired or replaced. I am pretty sure this one will have to be replaced as there is about 1/2" of teeth missing from the zipper. This is my favorite tent for car camping, summer camp, etc, where it does not have to be carried far (it's and *

I have never tried getting the BBC on it, but I have and have used for several years a tiny SONY multiband radio that has AM, FM, TV, and, NOAA Weather Radio. It is about 1X2X4 inches and has a belt clip. Runs on 1 AAA battery. They are available for between $25 and $25 most places including Wal-mart. It has only earphones, no speaker, but it has served me very well. I use it running, camping, etc. The weather stations are great for camping and I have been very few places where I could not receive them. You may want to consider a little MP3 player with FM radio. I got one for about

In my continuous pursuit of sizing down, and in support of LED lights due to their reliability and long lasting light, I picked up an LED lantern. Made by Garrity. It's a 4 LED light with three modes of brightness and one flashing mode. Operates on 3 C sized Alkaline Batteries. it cylindrically shaped, about 4 iches in disameter and about 8 inches high. Weighs about a half a pound. Cost about $25. Seems promising. Package says the light will run for 200 hours on 3 batteries. I tried it out in a darkedn bathroom (about the size of my tent) and it appears to emit plenty of light.

In my continuous pursuit of sizing down, and in support of LED lights due to their reliability and long lasting light, I picked up an LED lantern. Made by Garrity. It's a 4 LED light with three modes of brightness and one flashing mode. Operates on 3 C sized Alkaline Batteries. it cylindrically shaped, about 4 iches in disameter and about 8 inches high. Weighs about a half a pound. Cost about $25. Seems promising. Package says the light will run for 200 hours on 3 batteries. I tried it out in a darkedn bathroom (about the size of my tent) and it appears to emit plenty of light.

Many Scouters are registered in more than one position - sometimes several or even many. Probably most of you have seen them - some of you are probably among them. They are the ones that show up everywhere, serving in a pack, troop, crew, on the district committee, commissioner service, roundtable, etc. Some even use velcro on their position patches! Some are involved in some Scouting activity nearly every day of the week. Some hold unit positions, district positions, council positions, regional and national positions. I can understand someone perhaps being registered in a Cub Scout posit

Bob, Thanks for the reply. As I understand it, the COR actually is actually a registered member of a unit. At least in our unit they are. What about a situation where a chartered organization charters two units from the same program level - for example, two Boy Scout Troops, and the COR is registered in one troop but not the other and appears to favor the unit they are registered in???

In a chartering organization, that charters more than one Scout unit (Example, a Cub Pack, Scout Troop, Varsity Team, Venturing Crew), can each unit have a separate Chartered Organization Representative, or does one COR have to cover all units chartered by the same organization? Thanks.

Other than what is in the G2SS, I can't find any BSA reference on the size of knives. Some BSA councils, districts, units etc, address knives. I was at one BSA camp that did not allow folding knives with locking blades. Some places do not allow fixed blade knives, some do not allow anyone to carry or use a knife until they have their Totin' Chip. In my unit, Scouts must have their Totin' Chip before they can carry a knife. But, the laws of the jurisdiction where a Scout is carrying a knife may address and regulate the size and type of knives. We used to go to a summer camp in a state

The BSA has a brand new Insignia Guide 2005. Headgear Regulations are covered on page 3. Basically, it does not say that headgear is REQUIRED. It talks about what is and is not official headgear and when and where headgear can be worn and what can be worn on headgear. But it does not say that headgear is required. It mentions nothing about a all members of the unit wearing the same headgear whether by choice, vote, etc. Some of the uniform inspection sheets address headgear, but based on the actual insignia guide, my interpretation is that headgear is not required. I know in my

Regarding all this about BSA health forms. I think the real issue is how the forms are managed, not that we have to submit them. At least that is my main concern. I for one, want someone on an outing to have access to my medical information, just in case. The question is how to manage that. Some just say blindly hand it over and don't worry about it. I say that that is unwise. I have asked repeatedly for the BSA policy on management of BSA health forms. I have yet to get an official (or even the same) answer from anyone. It appears that each activity leader has a lot of di

Although not the final word, I did a little research and could find nothing prohibiting a youth from being registered in more that one Boy Scout Troop. Maybe some of the professional or district or council staffers on here can provide more definte information. The young man must find something of interest in both units. I say that if it is not prohibited, let him be registered in both. I know lots of adults that are dual and even multiple registered.

BSA Medical forms are not unique to Wood Badge. There is a requirement for them for most Scouting activities. And I fully understand the need for the information. But my concern is how the forms are managed. In our council, we are even required to submit a copy of our immunization record with the medical record for summer camp. And I am not sure that HIPPA does not apply - the act is a a little unclear about it. It appears that most of the controls in HIPPA has to do with the transfer of protected healthcare informion, especially electronicall. But there are other state and federal l

Electronic items are a fact of life today. They are not, in and of themselves bad. Common sense, courtesy, and in some cases, laws, policies, rules, regulations, etc should apply in their use. I believe that as with all things, it is probably better to help coach those people who use them to do so appropriately. The outright banning of these items is probably as out of place as banning any other personal items. There should be very good and mission related reasons for banning anything. (We already have the Scout Oath and Law). Confiscation of them from the user by Scouts and Scouters is p

Many years ago, the Totin' Chip patch was authorized for wear on the right shirt pocket flap. For some reason though the patch was made "temporary" and can now be worn on the right pocket as a temporary patch or it is my understanding that the local Scout Executive can authorize the patch. My personal feeling is that the Totin' Chip patch should be allowed for wear by anyone who has earned their Totin' Chip. It would be a visial indication of that, and will remind the wearer to handle woods tools properly. I think it should be allowed for wear on the LEFT shirt pocket flap. I can't s

Our troop has a policy but it is more or less common sense based. Scouts are asked to wear the uniform as completely and as correctly as possible. Since many of our Scouts are younger, we don't push official pants or shorts (due to growth issues but encourage them and most of them have them. Also, we are essentially a "hatless" troop, although those that have official hats often wear them - and we allow "activity" hats with any uniform - especially at troop functions, and when camping. But they have to be Scout related or be plain with no logos. Same thing with T-Shirts. They have to

I agree with Eagle-Pete. I once dropped my beads in some brush and refused to leave until they were found - no only because of what they mean to me, but because I did not want them to fall into the wrong hands. I was amazing how hard they were to see. We literally walked over them a half dozen times before we found them. Camouflaged I guess.