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E441, depends on the troop. Like Stosh mentioned, his troop operates in the field pretty much independent of the SPL/ASPL. Our troop is like that too most months. (This term, the SPL has disabilities that limit his participation, so the ASPL is "the guy" for outdoor activities.) Other troops, if the ASPL is absent -- especially if the SPL does not arrange for someone to fill in for the SPL, things start to fall apart. Like BD, the issue is more one of Loyalty. And this applies to every first class scout. How are you showing your loyalty to the troop? My SM and I ask that of every scou

Hanukkah, eh? How about a fire-starting kit? Candle lantern? Head lamp? What would be best depends on your child's personality. Plus there's a lot of cub-scout things to do before March. So, don't forget things like fixings for a pinewood derby kit, or whatever else may be on your pack's agenda. Another neat gift: parachord and a knot guide.

Hey, I managed multinational multicenter clinical trials outta my cube! :0

That may be so for TM. Other races allow teens with parental consent. Our local orienteering club had one (a rogain) that my more senior scouts were welcome to try. Problem is, those typically have a participation limit, so you don't want to take up a spot that some proper enthusiast could fill. It should really be reserved for select scouts.

Several friends ran Pittsburgh's Tough Mudder. One lady at church came to me for some orienteering pointers because one part of the course had a compass component. Adventure racing is attractive to a couple of my venturers. The time-commitment is the big issue.

Correspondence (letter, phone, or in-person): E.g., to/from scouters like who mist roundtable and need a rechartering packet. To potential corporate donors regarding how to support scouting in their neighborhood. To unit FOS coordinators making sure they have what they need. To potential chartered organizations to ask if they are interested in starting a unit. To youth who may have never heard about the programs available to them through scouting. Or they should be meeting with adults/youth who volunteer for any of the above. Really and truly, DE's job is to be meeting. It's

No problem wearing field uniform in public. So if I'm on my way to a school event from a meeting I don't bother changing out of it. But when I was a kid, I lost a few uniforms (one was shredded mercilessly for the win of a round of British Bulldog first night of Troop Leadership Training week, one was from theft at Jambo -- I think for our lodge patch), since then ... I rarely wear it on unit trips and hikes. Never wore it rock-climbing or backpacking. November through April it's under layers of clothing so never saw the point. Never on service projects. Always on camporees, etc ..

TT, by administration, I mean leading PL's in establishing program. For example, in the troop I grew up in, SPL lead campfires. It was just part of the unwritten job description. In Sons' troop, the SPL finds out if the boy needs to be MoC for communications MB, or appoints a really charismatic scout, gets a rough outline ahead of time, and let's the campfire run itself. SPL chills (this summer, that meant sitting back and playing his guitar for background). ASPL (who was Son #2 at camp this year) did not need to do much but be a member of his patrol until SPL had to leave a day early).

You can start creeping on South FL council here http://www.sfcbsa.org/Portals/0/Admin/Images/District%20Boundaries,%20partial%20BUC.jpg. P18A, I suggest you look into joining your council's camping committee. You might discover that some of these facilities are only considered council properties as long as they are maintained for the scouts. They can't be consolidated because the land can't be sold without the entire proceeds reverting to the estate of the donor.

The most important First Class requirement is missing: The First Class Journey. Therefore the BSA's outdoor requirements are designed to get Cub Scout survivors to Eagle without ever walking into the woods with packs on their backs. For a while, Hillcourt's Patrol Leader Training got Patrols out into the woods without adult helicopters, but in 1972 Wood Badge replaced it with Troop Method training called "Leadership Development." Therefore the BSA's leadership skills requirements are designed to get Cub Scout survivors to Eagle without ever walking into the woods with a Patrol

There's no such thing as standard issue pants. Venturers can get their pants from anywhere. Myself, I'm a big fan of Land's End traditional fit grey.

No limit. You should wear as many as you are fluent in and can be helpful as an on-the-spot translator. You never know when someone might be looking for that one strip to help them with communication. The downside: a polyglot may not have room for a Jamboree patch, but what's more important: being and advertizement for an expensive convention? Or, signalling that you are prepared to serve if called upon?

Hold that line Bbf! And don't let the Mrs. and Junior talk to my wife. While Son #2 and I were getting ready for summer camp a couple of years ago, the day before Father's day, she puts Daughter on the line who says "Daddy, why can't we have a puppy?" Two years later, she's away at school, and I got 90 pounds of canine jumping on me at 06:30 sharp ready to be fed. Worse part, I offer to take it hiking and camping with me and everyone pitches a fit! (Bears n'at ...) Would have been a perfect weekend for it. Then while I'm away, she leaves a bag of chocolate candy on a counter and betw

Good question. This hinges around another question, which Stosh hinted at: is your SPL/ASPL an instructor or an administrator? Ours are mainly administrators. Which means attendance at meetings is most important because that's when they make sure our plans for the weekend are reasonable, based on their experience. Then, they can delegate responsibilities to other scouts. Now, if your troop really needs an instructor in the field, and your ASPL is the guy, then you're gonna be hurting until he can take off work to be at camp. Regardless, accountability is what I look for in these situations

The most important First Class requirement is missing: The First Class Journey. Therefore the BSA's outdoor requirements are designed to get Cub Scout survivors to Eagle without ever walking into the woods with packs on their backs. For a while, Hillcourt's Patrol Leader Training got Patrols out into the woods without adult helicopters, but in 1972 Wood Badge replaced it with Troop Method training called "Leadership Development." Therefore the BSA's leadership skills requirements are designed to get Cub Scout survivors to Eagle without ever walking into the woods with a Patrol

Although all the drama would make good theater. That's a lot of busy people to try to get in one room. SM and boy should be sufficient for whatever upkicking is needed. Remember that this whole thing started because a boy wanted to bypass interaction with the SM.

BD, something still isn't adding up. Boy says he used his cat, MBC says he was shown pics of boy and dog. Mom would have a lot of Moxie trying to pull one over on the MBC .. and then, expecting the boy to keep his story straight ... Is she blonde by any chance? I'd still tow the line that your signature isn't on the card, and it is therefore null and void. (No need for dramatic shredding ceremony.) It would be unfair to the other boys if you'd let this one slide.

I don't like people having their "Plan B" when I think my youth have thought of everything. But I remind myself that that's just me. The other silk purses ... 1. You get an idea of the adults who really do love to tent camp, or at least are interested on how your boys operate from soup-to-nuts. 2. You might get a sense of cubs who are prone to homesickness. It may mean your SPL or Guide will have to escort a boy to his parent's cabin, (or go fetch the parent), but by starting that relationship early might take the edge off summer camp. 3. You might "check out", pay a visit to the par

I told my youth this week that discipline regarding fire management, first aid skills, and orienteering are the first step toward high adventure. I know they can haul bodies and packs anywhere, but when they stop for a break, their attention to detail needs to be flawless. Arguing with me or SM that a fire is out even though their hands feel the warmth does not instill confidence.

If it's any consolation, I had a parent on my case when I told him his boy will have to earn Cooking MB since he won't make Eagle until next year. Figured I'd take one for the SM last night.

Good plan. Better Lifesaving skills are more essential for most troops.

We have lots of these. So, I never thought about doing anything special ... I would save the "fidelity" recognition for when the boy turns 18 (or, if he's gone on to venturing, 21). Any boy who sticks with the program all those years deserves at least a round of applause from his fellow scouts. If he did participate in the same CO for all of those years, it might be nice for the institutional head to send him a note thanking him for getting the most of the program. For making Eagle as well? Give him a medal with a red, white, and blue ribbon.

Your signature isn't on the card. Badge isn't earned. Done. It's all nice that you are willing to call the MBC and that. But that's all extra mile stuff. And I sincerely hope the boy at least qualifies for "Pets", but be clear that the blue card doesn't count for tinder until you sign it, and you don't sign unless a boy comes to you with a reasonable plan for how he's gonna earn the badge. Time for the angry parent calls ... Have fun.

Just wondering what makes you think involvement on the district level has anything to do with having an unruly child? Either they want their kid to behave because thuggery is unbecoming, or your most important cause (the well-being of everyone's youth) is lost. I hate when parents, on account of being abrasive and sometimes manipulative, ruin scouting for the boys. I've seen good boys want to hide their heads on account of their parents' behavior. But, when a boy ruins scouting for himself, I'm not all that upset. Sometimes being told he's not welcome until we know he'll respect

At Mallory Square in Key West there was this french guy who performed with trained cats. He made a decent chunk of change for his (their) efforts. Make sure the boy wasn't earning Pets MB instead.