ozemu

We don't have summer camps. Just not part of the culture although there is a lot of US tv on the box at night. So maybe we can try running our own? We have run week long camps but not with as much parent support as described nor with an emphasis on MB's. I don't know any other Troop that ever ran a week long camp. Maybe I could ask around the District to see if there are other Troops interested. But what are these NCS camp and aquatics directors that you speak of? Besides having a piece of paper what do they actually do? What we have done thus far is just a Troop

oooh that sounds like a good idea easely. Wish I could've come along with you

Sounds terrible Aquila. How did everyone handle it? Maybe you don't need the 'i' and 'l' in your name?

our uniform shirt went from khaki to navy blue. A great idea from the southern parts where it gets cold but here in the sub tropics and further north in the tropics navy blue is really hot. Just sewed the last badges on the new shirt last night but am sneaking out today in my old shirt because I'll be in the sun all day. I hope that your uniform is functional - ours isn't in colour nor in quality. Seems BSA is going for functionality and Scouts Australia for looking good. Can I join BSA?

This weekend is JOTA/JOTI. We always run a camp on this weekend and have activities for those of us who can't sit still for long. I thought it would be interesting to see what other Scouts are doing this weekend. What Scouting activity did you get involved with this weekend? I'm just about to show some Scouts how to ferry glide so am putting the canoe on the car as soon as I've had my coffee. Have a great day whatever you are up to.

Thinking about my previous post I realise that the youth culture around here and probably in the rest of Australia is all about not trying. Young people are encouraged by peers to not achieve. It is not cool to try hard. I work every day with secondary school aged kids from all over the region. It is a worryingly consistent attitude. I hope it is a passing Australian thing and that my previous post does not reflect the state of young Americans or BSA. Hops - in no way was I criticising you or your reasoning. We, here, need to emphasise the earning of Eagle/Grey Wolf/Adve

I may be one of those who pushes hard for some Scouts to reach for the highest award available to them. That is because if just one Scout is looking to Eagle the rest get dragged along to a whole raft of stuff that they would otherwise ignore as 'too hard, not fun or a bit embarrassing'. But with the 'one' they get involved, expand their circle of comfort and become a bit more experienced in all sorts of things. Without an emphasis on getting to 'Eagle' (or equivilant high awards) the Troop/Unit will often opt for 'fun' as the default and that does not really help them grow. In fac

On thinking about it there have been times when male leaders moan about the good old days before girls. I've heard the comments a couple of times in different states so they opinion must be widely held. The main complain is that boys can't be boys anymore. They used to do good-for-boys activities like pull toads apart, set fire to their own farts, swear a lot, tell dirty jokes and skinny dip in the creek. The world, they say, has changed and that is bad. Yes - I'm teasing. BSA obviously does not experience that behaviour. But those comments were actually made in those almost

There was talk of 'when they let girls in I'm leaving ' he too. Don't recall any specific cases of that actually being followed through. We have never been given a percentage goal. Scouts Australia has remained boy heavy. Rarely do girls outnumber boys. Very rarely. There are some guide company's that offer an almost the same as a typical Scout Troop program. But in truth we get a lot of refugees from GG. Boys and girls are different. So (given the boy dominant natureof the Troop) we ran a few girl only things. Didn't really take off. Kids just wanted to be kids.

Yes Eagledad isn''t the Girl Guides and girls in Scouts interesting. I see it like this - Scouts treats them all the same. But GG has a positive discrimination toward women. That means that girls get more opportunities to get outdoors and break free of the ''I''m just a weak woman and can''t do outdoorsy things for myself'' attitude. Boys don''t need that. Pint - if there are no guidelines or rules about women being present when girls are in Scouts just follow your common sense and treat it, as always, that they are all your nephews and neices; but your sister-in-law is is a wor

people worried about co-ed here back in the early 90''s too. Only real change is that we have got girls around now. Boys did not leave in droves, parents couldn''t care less, more women became leaders maybe, and I think that there are a few small domes in each Troops gear inventory. That''s about it. No big deal. Why would it be?

Slightly off topic. To boost the image of Scouting here, emphasising the benefit from being a Scout - I intend hosting a reunion of our Troop. I know of medical, engineering and teaching students who were in the Troop. Another is trying for the Air Force at years end and one is a big solid farm hand. These ex Scouts are fit, personable, responsible and great examples of our product. Many are well known locally in sport and will have been seen by the current Scouts. I''m praying for a collection of examples if not uniformed adult role models

A few years ago a 16 year old Australian sailed solo around the world. Had been a Cub Scout. A well known Australian businessman, philanthropist and patriot was a very active Scout through to adulthood. and stacks of astronauts were Eagles. But they just don''t seem to fire up the imagination and enthusiasm of a football or rap star. If they had the same PR people and tv exposure they might. That''s a national/world Scout issue. Point is that invisible role models are not useful. The Scouting ones who count are in uniform each week at the local hall. They are the only

Lots of single parent families out there. Maybe boys would learn respect for women by wathing male and female Scouters working together while modelling respect for eachother? Fathers in those families (also in some two parent families that I know) not being useful role models.

Boys need to observe both genders as adults. So do girls. You live in a big country with a big population that is segmented into areas and sub cultures. Each place and group has particular ''problems'' and needs. You might want a male from a particular cultural group to provide the role model needed. You might need some particular language speakers. You might need lots of men. Or you might need women in overt control. The role of women (all adults really) in Scouting would be as varied as your local communities. I''d advocate for as few restrictions as possible to allow

Good job Kudu. Does it work with small schools. Lots of our schools number 100 or so and therefore only about 20 in the right age bracket. They know each other really well - which could go both ways.

Good job Kudu. Does it work with small schools. Lots of our schools number 100 or so and therefore only about 20 in the right age bracket. They know each other really well - which could go both ways.

Does ''two deep'' apply when the place is dark and no youth members are present?

is onehour still around? used to be active on the forum. Must have committed the one hour elsewhere. I gave up SM to become a Scouting manager (Group Leader - you don''t have such a thing) to reduce the hours. Well I haven''t - but now I can choose when I do the hours. That has made a heap of difference.

Thinking more; if you want a rule - what are the rules in your building industry? Got to be a builder on the forums somewhere. BSA would at least be as cautious. So what are the building reg''s for being at height without scaffolding and steel mesh walkways?

Not sure about rules but at work we climb on prof built climbing walls, tree, sand natural cliffs. We ''spot'' people until they get to belay height. ie a belay rope will stretch and the climber will still hit the ground until about 8 foot depending on their weight. Spot means people stand below and prevent the climber hitting the ground too hard. We spot on all low ropes which rarely get about 3 foot. We climb on a few pine tree''s which have good solid branches with no foliage until the very end of each branch. We tie all participants together about 6 foot apart, they wea

Reading pinkflames post has reminded me that I am not food oriented and this probably colours my view. Food is energy for the next day. Not immediately essential to today so missing a meal is no problem. Just got to have a quantity and lots of mixture (veg and stuff) daily where possible. I know others and kids are a bit stressed over taste, colour and times but I am not going to spend much effort or time on something that no wants to handle eight hours after you finished preparing it. So meal times at camp I really only focus on whether they are sharing the jobs around, suppo

Is it a normal BSA way of doing things for Scouts to shop for camp food under supervision of Troop leaders (adult or youth)? I doubt if that is a rule but is it taught at training or just an expectation? It is mentioned a lot in the forum. Are you guys a little over organised? Our Scouts are allocatted the job of purchasing by their PL depending on the MB needs, experience, willingness, time available etc. Then we hand them the cash collected from camp fee''s at the rate of $10 per head per day. Most of the time we have a quick look atthe menu when the Patrol throws some idea

hasn''t been a problem so far. They use the phones as phones at the end of camp. Don''t actually see them being used on camp or at night. Program is generally too busy and dirty. They don''t want them wrecked I think. If the electronics are really important I think they are not turned on to Scouting and are not in the Troop. But we retained a lot of our Scouts through to 15 HiLo and I think they had well and truly ''gotten it'' by then. Their example to the younger Scouts was what we adults say - leave it at home for safety of the item and get involved in the doing of things. A

seems I have touched a nerve. I suppose the fuller story might be needed therefor this is a long post. Semantics are easy to change in word and happy to do so - thanks for the title change suggestions. I''m sure others may feel the same which I have overlooked. Serious money is there to be honest. And that is part of the reason for the document. The major part is to ensure a leader is supported. At present my SM is doing the job as an interim because she has a fulltime job, two of three kids with ADHD, a dairy farm to manage, serious committments to her church and Scouts. She g