ps56k

tnx all for the great info. I've been passing it along to the Crew leader, as our son will miss Philmont, as he will be at Jamboree. Here is another posting, from the scouting newsgroup - --- >Here's some advice that I've posted here a couple of times in the past. Looking it over it all still looks valid so I'm happy to share it again: >Far and away the best single thing you can do to enjoy your Philmont trek is to get in shape. Exercise. Walk, run, climb stairs, hike with a heavy pack. Start a good two or three months before your trek. >This is equally important

tnx - I'll have to go back and look at the Philmont and 928 cookbooks I have printed out and spiral bound... I'm really looking for some detailed computer forms to help the Scouts with the mechanics, and logistics of the thinking, planning, shopping list, and equipmnet required vs the actual cookbooks.

We have been trying a Nextel i860 camera phone with some new GPS software from Trimble. It has a PC planner, a GPS firmware download to the Nextel phone, and an online Web trip viewer. It might be interested to journal a camping trip this way. Here is a link a friend sent from Arizona.. To view this trip simply go to the following url: http://www.trimbleoutdoors.com/TripViewFrameSetGuest.asp?tripid=2192 Click on camera icons on the map to view pictures taken at those locations. Here is a true adventure - Dale and I saw mother nature's fury in the Superstitions Sat

I tried doing a SEARCH for this, but it seemed to just show me all the recent postings.... I'm looking for some examples of what you use for campout menu planning, food estimating & buying, and also equipment needed. ie - making pizza in dutch oven 1. food items needed 2. quantities (based on attendance) 3. equipment required (2 dutch ovens, 20lb charcoal, lid lifter)

some of these folks have been up to BWCA... -- Didn't realize the altittude was that big a deal. I do recall being out at Pikes Peak and Mt. Rainer, and I didn't feel anything, but some others did feel it... What about the actual paths or trails between camps ? Is this a forced march along an easily followed set of trails, or do you really need to drag out the map & compass to figure out where the heck you are, and where you are going ? Are more crews using GPS's (along with a backup compass). Just trying to decide what our folks really need in this area. -- Also,

We have a single crew going to Philmont this summer. I was wondering about the prep for this trek vs what might have been experienced at BWCA or other Venture Crew activities. I've already had a thread on the physical vs teamwork aspect. Some of the skills up at BWCA involved backpacking types of food, cooking, & travel, but the big difference being having the canoe vs just your back. Also - what about map & compass skills - Is it different nav'ing out at Philmont vs up at BWCA (ignoring the mag declination topic for now) Our crew has been out doing long hikes

I've been wrestling with all of this for the past couple of years - and postings - about what is "active" and how scouts disappear and then re-appear years later for their Life rank BOR and even Eagle BOR. I've pretty much backed off the loosing fight within our Troop - one that I'll never win. However, as our own family will be facing the transition of a Scout into HS, it will be interesting to see things from the other side of the fence and having a 14-15yr old Life Scout with other activities. It is interesting to note that our son was the SPL and is now the ASPL, trying to steer the tro

I've been wrestling with all of this for the past couple of years - and postings - about what is "active" and how scouts disappear and then re-appear years later for their Life rank BOR and even Eagle BOR. I've pretty much backed off the loosing fight within our Troop - one that I'll never win. However, as our own family will be facing the transition of a Scout into HS, it will be interesting to see things from the other side of the fence and having a 14-15yr old Life Scout with other activities. It is interesting to note that our son was the SPL and is now the ASPL, trying to steer the tro

Happen to tag along with our OA Election Team visting a Troop. It was embarrassing by the lack of Troop attendance. Troop indicates they have over 42 Scouts, but only a handful showed up. Last year it took 3 visits to get to a voting quorum. Most of the Scouts listed this year were all "first years" with just achieving First Class last month. And yup, they went to summer camp, and had their total 15 days/nights camping... so I guess they were eligible. But, I can't see these 12yr old Scouts actually participating in the "service" and "work" performed by the OA at various Council faciliti

going over the election reqs, I was wondering how to exactly count a typical weekend campout - Friday night - arrive at campsite & setup, sleep. Saturday - daylong activities & sleep. Sunday - have breakfast, packup, & leave before noon.

We have in our Troop Guide this obscure rule for adults & uniforms. I think it stems from the fact that we have a SM and lots of ASMs, along with other major committee members, BUT also have just a lot of "registered" adults for drivers, trailer hitches & campout helpers. How do we (you) address the issue of a "uniformed adult leader" vs someone that just had to register to pass the BSA screening, and therefore is officially on the committee, or a MB counselor, etc. It's also ironic that some of the ASMs wearing uniforms are not "trained", and some are old legacy members tha

just a basic question - without grabbing our 3-ring binders of Scouting stuff - What's the difference in concept between a normal Troop patrol, a Venture Patrol within the Troop, and the external Crew ? Ignoring the "age" and potential girl thing, what else do these alternative Scouting venues technically offer to the 14+ Scout that is not available as part of the normal Troop within a "senior" patrol.

I read thru this topic, and it all seems very familiar. We had the older scouts, and formed a Venture Patrol... but that was not enough stimulation, so a Crew was formed... and yes they plan rafting trips, ski trips, canoe trips, nights at sports teams, comedy clubs, etc - and how many actually attend from a group of about 18 - about 3 - the 3 "families" that cannabalized the Troop of all the older scouts to form the Patrol, and then the Crew and now have their little social club. So - I'm really down on Crews that skim the older scouts and leave the Troop with nothing above 14yr olds.

Wonder what your calendar looks like for new scouts, PLC elections & JLT. We have new scouts join in Jan/Feb, with an election every 6 months for SPL, etc. The new Patrols rotate PL more often. Looking at last year's calendar, we had elections in March and September. The March PLC carry over into running summer camp, and the September PLC handles the new incoming scouts program. The JLT is held in Jan/Feb after the new Scouts have joined.

tnx for the posting, and sorry if it appears as a dup.... I guess I was trying to focus the thread on the "why we do this" vs the "this is what we do". Our Troop currently has JLT as a pre-req for getting elected, which seems tough to handle. I like your idea of splitting it up, and "before" just covering something like an intro: teamwork, leadership, patrol method, along with each POR and what it involves. Then after they are elected, re-visiting the subjects with more focus.

Couldn't figure out how to spin a new thread, and yet anchor it with an article from the spawning thread.... is this possible ??? Anyway - Would like to followup on my original msg, with the focus on the "before vs after" and anchor it with Eagle KY's msg - ---- My concern is inviting everyone to JLT makes it just another meeting with those that really want to be there, and those that show up, but are not really interested. I'd suggest having the training AFTER the election, and then train the Scouts that were elected and really want to run the troop. And yet, our Troop makes JLT

Happen to run across this thread from the original - makes for great reading.... BTW - is there anyway to post a reply into the middle of a thread, or is everything always appended at the end ? Here's another side issue concerning Troop level JLT - maybe a different thread... Who should attend Troop level JLT, and when should it be offered.. We have had it offered to anyone that wanted to come, and basically had most of the troop attend. I'm not sure what it really accomplished. I'm starting to lean toward having it AFTER an election, and then only for the Troop level &a

Just wondering as a comparison, getting a group ready for a trip north to BWCA vs getting ready for a trip out west to Philmont. I don't recall any special readiness for the BWCA trip, they just showed up.

snip'd from a newsgroup thread - -- We have a group going to Philmont in 2005.... They are the older scouts that have mostly split from the Troop, setup a Crew - but don't really attend to those meetings & events either... We are concerned about their lack of acquired camping skills, along with not working together as a team. Anyway - wonder if it makes any sense to form a "Philmont Patrol" and have those Scouts start doing things as a special group vs just being part of the normal Troop - on weekend outings -(if they attend) ie - have to plan & backpack their food, c

Wonder if there are any other Hams that have managed to take their rigs on a campout and got the Scouts interested in Ham Radio, or even Morse Code ? We have two Hams in our Troop, and we have thought about doing the JOTA in October, along with dragging a rig to our indoor/cabin camping weekends, and something during good weather.

I've become more and more disappointed at Scouting. Looking at our Council, Districts, OA, and Troops, there is very little really good interest from the Scouts, and their supporting leaders. For example, I see the Boy Scouts (up to First Class) as more of the Webelos 3rd & 4th year - and then the Scouts drift out of Scouts, or maybe to a Crew, or just stay on the roster as a ghost. Our Troop is still struggling with how to turn itself around from 6 years of a youth camping/outdoors "club". We have several star & Life Scouts, that needed "more", so a Venturing Patrol was setup - bu

It appears that our Troop took a shovel a few years ago, and started digging....for what ?? I'm guessing "more fun" - the more "stimulating stuff" - for this generation - That is why a "troop fun night" was created - like movies, mini golf, etc That is why the Crew was fought for and created that is why..... you get the idea - more, more, more - but did it satisfy them...do they come - no no no ! Also, now that I see this trend in the above print - it might just be a "generation" of the past 6 years of SM's and Scouts, that have to pass thru our Troop to get a new and f

We have this ongoing problem with the Troop, and how to handle the older scouts - past 13/14. I have a couple of different msgs on the topic, but here is another set of observations and comments - at least from our Troop's standpoint - We just got back from a weekend campout, and I think it comes down to a Scouts commitment & interest.... The same for meetings - we have : A - the new scouts working on advancement B - the middle scouts working on advancement C - the old scouts working on MB's with no other interests - and no attendance D - the old scouts

I have a couple of old threads from the Internet newsgroup that can be found on Google Groups - Here is one from the spring - --- Our SPL and 2 ASPL's went to JLTC this summer - They enjoyed it - but I'm not sure they really got anything useful out of it - Most of the activities were with their peers, and mostly everyone wanted to succeed, work together, and learn. Our biggest "real world" problem is with the 14yr old and above Scouts. I've posted various msgs about this over the years, but the other night at a Troop meeting - it became clear - We were trying to g

I'll have to look up our Lodge/Chapter election form... if there is one. I guess it all boils down to having these entries actually checkmarked by the SM, with the last one being the most up for grabs : A. Be a registered Scout B. Be a First Class Scout or higher C. After registration with the unit, have at least 15 days and nights of camping including 6 consecutive days and nights of resident camping within 2 years of the election. D. Have unit leader approval - The unit leader must certify the candidate's Scout Spirit, his adherence to the Scout Oath and Law, and participat