perdidochas

What is the advantage of these over a striker type device? Even the scout model seems extremely expensive.

BadenP, As written, the First Amendment prevents the state from interfering in church matters, not the other way around. Simply said, the government cannot establish a state church, nor can it interfere with worship. There is nothing about the first amendment that prevents church from interfering with state. The Constitution cannot control entities that are not part of the government.

I'm with Gary. The only limitations we have on beltloops, is that when Webelos re-earn belt loops (as per Activity badge requirements), we don't award a second physical belt loop. Now, if they earn a new beltloop (per activity badge requirement) we do award those. Some kids, including my own, have a belt full of beltloops.

We do the belt loops and pins. Not sure why the Webelos would object, since they are required to earn belt loops (or at least do the requirements for the belt loops) for at least one required activity pin (Citizenship). The kids love the belt loops. It's instant recognition, and they look cool. The only objection I would bring up is cost. They are $1.79 each, and that adds up.

I don't see the ethical dilemna.

bbender, I agree. Ideally, there should just be a generic den leader course (at least off-line). On-line, I can see how it might be ok to have a generic den leader course followed by a short course for each year. Very few den leaders elect to stay at the same level, most of us change from year to year, with the boys.

My training record isn't up to date. Everything I've taken online is there, as well as the training that I submitted to the council in a training update form. The class-based training I've taken since that time (April 2008) from the council hasn't been updated. I probably need to send in another update form, but I think I will wait. I'm a Web II leader, and will wait to update after I've decided what I want to do with Boy Scouts. I'm already the troop Advancement Chair, and I'm contemplating ASM after I finish my term with my youngest son in Web II.

Sherminator wrote: Having observed how BSA supply works, I'm guessing that they'll get their own necker AND their own hat AND their own belt buckle. My reply: That is what I was trying to imply. That said, I think it would be foolish. The second year Webelos parents are already getting ready to invest in Boy Scout uniforms, it would be silly to do so for a 6 month time period.

A smoker can function quite well as a leader while smoking. By that, I simply mean that smoking doesn't disable the mind, as does alcohol. Also, having been around people in nicotine withdrawal, I think a smoker with nicotine in their system probably has better judgement than a smoker that is in withdrawal. Smoking is legal (for now) and is a hard thing to quit. Unless we want to get rid of all smokers as volunteers, some accommodation (i.e. hiding from the kids while doing it) has to be done. I think vigileagle's telling the scouts he smokes and that he regrets it (and hides

Will the "Arrow of Light Scouts" be getting their own necker? That said, I think it's a silly idea. Webelos II (while not an "official" designator) is a good way of expressing their name.

The answer to why the ambiguity in the tobacco rules is simple. A smoker can function quite well as a leader while smoking. Smoking doesn't impair judgement. Hence, there is really no reason to not allow adults to smoke out of the presence of scouts. Alcohol is a different matter. A drinker is not able to function well as a leader while drinking. Drinking does impair judgement. Hence, the absolute ban on alcohol while scouting. In terms of legality, as evmori pointed out about smoking, it is legal, however, so is drinking alcohol.

I'm with BDP. EDGE is not really different than Show,tell, do. Edge is Explain, Demonstrate, Guide and Enable. Explain and demonstrate are tell and show. Guide and Enable are do. Explain how it is done Demonstrate the steps Guide learners as they practice Enable them to succeed on their own

Jblake wrote: When I was WDL, I got my WebI boys in September, met weekly, and all the boys had a blast. They all earned their AOL at the following February Blue/Gold and now the problem was they were 9-10 year olds with the AOL on their shirts. What do you do? Keep doing what you're doing, the boys were having a great time. Because they didn't have any more requirements to do, that summer we went out and did camping and all the neat stuff that they would be doing in Boy Scouts in the next few months. Then they turned into WebII's (September of the second year). Already had the AOL on their

CPAmom, AOL is not the same as crossing over to Boy Scouts. He can stay in the Webelos den after the AOL. The AOL just gives him the option to become a Boy Scout earlier. It doesn't require him to crossover early. That said, talk to the Scoutmaster at the troop, and ask his opinion.

Have you asked the Scoutmaster if he would prefer your son come over now, or wait for the rest of his cohort Webelos to come in? He should get his AOL awarded to him at the next pack meeting. Not sure about if he should crossover yet. Does he want to crossover before his friends in the den do?

I'm new to our troop, but they strictly keep the tents to two at max if at all possible. The possibility of mischief increases exponentially per extra scout over 2. (heard this in a committee meeting when we were discussing new tents)

The hot water extracts the caffeine from the beans and makes it more readily available for you body to use.

Stosh, I don't think most parents are worried that without supervision their kids will become criminals. I think most (if my wife is typical) are worried about them becoming victims of criminals. Yes, I am working on loosening that with my new Tenderfoot, but Mom is much more risk averse than Dad.

CPAmom, Have you had your Webelos Den leaders ask for Den Chiefs? In terms of quick drop-outs, I wouldn't split up dens until at least the first meeting after the sign-up. I've noticed that the great majority of drop-outs are between the signup and the first meeting.

Sounds like these packs stopped recruiting a few years ago. I think it's up to the CO. If they want to continue, then the packs need to get new leadership (Cubmaster on down). If they don't, well let them fold.

In cub scout family camping, the option of roaming with an empty coffee cup does sometimes work. I've got the french press, and I boil the coffee in a whistling kettle. The good thing is I usually have water to make hot cocoa for my cub scout son.

Well, IMHO, as long as the adults leave the Scouts alone, what's the problem?

Beardad, That's what my in-laws did when renting a beach house. Every family did a dinner (family meaning married couple, so in our case, it was 3 generations), which included cleanup, but lunch/breakfast was "every family" to themselves. But, they aren't big breakfast eaters. SFish, Had you been my brother-in-law, I would have been more than happy to clean up in exchange for fried eggs, bacon and sausage :-) I do think they were rude for not offering to clean up.

Sounds like you had a good trip. Sounds like your in-laws are leisurely people. I guess they figured Scoutfish would do it all.

My preference for camp coffee is a French Press coffee maker. Starbucks sells a travel mug with a built-in French press, and I've seen other brands at Target. Makes absolutely delicious coffee, and fairly easily. However, you're going to get a few grounds in it.