qwazse

Yeah, KDD, the guy should have been smoking a cigar! At this age, a kid's special needs can overwhelm him. Especially a bipolar kid's needs. The boys in his troop could have been going out of their way to be helpful and it still wouldn't have been enough. My son is friends with a number of special needs kids, and when they're camping, he needs to do a lot of prodding to keep them positive and engaged. When a kid like that gets old enough to realize that everyone is having to go the extra mile on his account, he doesn't feel like he is giving anything in return. The sense of isolation builds quickly. All that to say, integration is really really hard. I'd say only about half of our special needs kids manage to "fit in" with our troop. The others have serious emotional conflicts that they just cannot overcome in a wilderness setting. Can you give special needs kids a hundred yard distance? Depends on the kids. But usually, no. The adults in their life have just barely begun to understand them. Maybe they have one or two friends who really "get" what's going on, but those aren't their fellow scouts. (Think about it. Even odds, their ideal outdoors partner is of the opposite sex, and therefore not a member of the troop. Then of his male buddies, not all are interested in scouting.) Typically these adults are not "helicopter parents", they've been doing that 24/7 just to help the kid survive until now! They are happy to back away, but they need to be around 1. to help the boy when (not if) and emotional crisis hits, 2. to coach the rest of us (adults and youth) so we can do what we do in a way that helps the boy(s).

My buddy just dove in to the only ripe patch of blueberries on the trail. I told him, "I'll stay on the high ground, while you enjoy yourself 'cause if this is the only shelf, someone else will be itching to raid the cupboard." Sure enough, I found a dried puddle with a complete set of fresh prints. (Wished I had plaster to make a cast.) I guessed it would have stood 4-6' high. On our hike back down, my buddy was a little ahead when he saw her. By the time I caught up to him, she was gone.

One more note: most of us east of the Mississippi who hike in "bear country" rarely encounter one in the wild. (I have only once, and not until I was 47. That was after years years of coming across scat, tracks, and rubbings.) So, if you have the opportunity, go to the back-country. And, go frequently. Cache your food properly. Pay attention to any warnings/instructions rangers may post for the area you are camping in. Keep your eyes open (especially when picking berries, but my buddy startled that one off before I could see her)! Be with a buddy (just in case, for example, you are seated treating your blister while the bear you're destined to meet pops his head over the bank across the trail from you). And be grateful to the Almighty for the opportunity to be reminded of your place in creation!

Pack, I agree. When son #1 was interested in cub scouts, the cubmaster tried to do just that in presenting the program to us parents. I'm pretty sure he was following his own script, not the districts. He went a little too far in describing BSA as a "Christian" organization. (My experiences as a scout -- especially at Jamboree -- showed me how diverse the organization was, so I knew he was being a bit narrow.) But, he was clear to point out that it welcomed boys of all religions and expected leaders to have some belief in God. His statement didn't offend away any parents in the room. And, even if a couple folks weren't the church-going type, I think they appreciated the disclosure. He made no mention of homosexuality. Not because he was naive to it, but because it wasn't even on his radar considering the couples in the room and the age of youth he was dealing with. For the Venturers (and older boys), I have encouraged them to read the fine print on the youth application ("reference" being one of the foundational steps of teaching any skill, especially scouting). They are more than welcome to ask questions. Some Christians do ask for clarification on how broad "non-sectarian" is. Generally I tell them "very broad" and that they might find themselves in the company of the kind of people Jesus would bunk with, so their parents probably would not approve. I've also made it clear that I have no intention of applying the "gay ban" to youth. So far, it hasn't scared any of them away. (On the other hand, the possibility of little Jenny being around boys with the prevailing orientation has been the occasional deal-breaker!)

Drove to Morgantown. Just past the state line there was a bill board welcoming scouts to the 2013 Jambo. (Big improvement over the usual greetings for Pitt fans!) My relatives are all talking about it as if it's just out back. (it's still a haul from there) So fellas coming from the north, enjoy the welcome, but remember you have a few miles to go yet.

I guess it depends on the bears. Most around here might be drawn by the sent of berries, but not try to come near a "bush" that was mixed with the scent of sweaty human and no other food. (Bear bagging is necessary in most PA trails.). Keep in mind that most bears here contact humans via their garbage. If they sumell you, they will start looking for any food you left behind. Actually encountering a person is low on their bucket list. That said, neutral smelling stuff is usually preferable for other reasons. It's amazing how those scents can lead to skin irritation when combined with a days rugged walking and limited water for washing. So if your trip involves a lot of backpacking, you might want to think of limiting your soap collection to unscented body wash and baby shampoo.

Thanks for joining in. The hardest thing for us Advisors is seeing 18y.o.'s suddenly become too "grown up" for all his scouting stuff. It's encouraging to hear of another young adult jumping in!

Welcome to the forums and thanks for your service to our boys! I've found the back-and-forth on some of the various forum topics under patrol method very helpful for setting the groundwork for our crew. I think some of the answers you need are there too. Honestly, you will have boys going back-and-forth. But, be positive and show your most dedicated boys a lotta love. Even if they don't exactly have your vision, let the older one's know it's their turn to shape the troop and you trust that if they stick around, they'll do a great job. Help them understand that managing these new numbers of scouts will be a challenge, but something to look back on with pride. There's nothing wrong with a camping-with-friends club. That's what each patrol should be. The issue is the little cliques have to turn into effective gangs otherwise the friendships wont be anything worth remembering. In the field, try to give your patrols some physical distance from one another. Give them different assignments for meetings. (E.g. one patrol does color guard, another room set-up, another clean up.) And the best way to learn stuff is to teach it, so don't let the older boys get discouraged. We all forget stuff. Finally, brace yourself. It's easy to prejudge one another on the web. So half of what's discussed will miss the mark. Keep in mind that someone out there will benefit from the discussion. So, one specific situation at a time, one out of ten suggestions might be applicable you, and that one has a 50% chance of working. Stick with it and the odds will eventually mount in your favor!

Two campouts devoted to cooking and you'll be set. Plus the boys who didn't take the course can learn by example.

There have been a lot of different meetings over the years, and quite a few agnostics have darkened the doors of our church, Jews as well. But you're right, I don't think we had too much in common with Albert. Besides, his visit to the 'burgh were rare and brief (http://www.pittsburghmagazine.com/Pittsburgh-Magazine/August-2012/Einsteins-Relatively-Short-Visit-to-Pittsburgh/) The point is that Einstien was quite outspoken, and if he thought the Bible was keeping our society in shackles, he would have made some attempt at "liberating" us.

I love the implication that Einstein was too chicken too declare himself an outright atheist. Maybe the scientists (leaders in thier fields, responsible for extending the lives of untold thousands) I meet for prayer on a regular basis are also cowardly athiests and merely taking time out of their otherwise busy schedules to keep up a pretense.

Thanks. An interesting read indeed!

Every SM get's panned for saying just that. Comes with the patch. Apply this simple test: Are you inviting every member of your patrol, troop, crew, etc ... ? Note that the question is in present tense. The working assumption is that the scout is getting approval IN ADVANCE. As in "what's the writing on the little scroll in the shape of a smile?" If you feel like you need to make up for lost time, here's a retrospective test: was there an invitation on the patrol/troop/crew mailing list or calendar?

What if it was an IYA as recommended here: http://meritbadge.org/wiki/images/e/e0/Individual_Youth_Accounts.pdf Or here: http://www.scouting.org/filestore/financeimpact/pdf/CFD-Manuals/Product_Sales_Guide.pdf (specifically, page 9) Contrary to your statement, National seems to condone scout accounts. Can you give us a link that expressly prohibits them?

Back when I went to Jambo, we didn't have no stinking schedule! Each day we got handed a stack of Hollerith cards for events at certain times, and we mixed and matched until we had a stack of events to suit us and how far we wanted to walk. Here's hoping your scout learns how to game the system t suit his fancy,

Wow! I wonder if they'll have a booth at Jambo! I have had the occasional scout with a pink/purple pack. I'm sure your daughter will enjoy her gift. Good work, Dad!

And camping and hiking? Don't forget that we do that for the purposes of character development as well. If a boy is not prepared to hike with us, we cannot provide the public benefit of well trained youth on our nation's trails, inspired conservation projects, and a knowledgable citizenry when it comes to issues of environment. P.S. - For the record, I'm just playing devil's advocate here. I hate ISAs. don't have them in my crew, and wish my troop didn't have them. My son and I would be just fine rolling the dimes credited to him into shaving costs for everyone.

Well, like I tell my boys: when a door closes, it's time to knock a hole in a wall. Keep putting yourself out there. There's gotta be someone in your district who would take advantage of you. My son #2 still has a 4 year old partial BC in swimming. So not every camp is a slam-dunk.

".... #1 & #2 ... you have the person who raised the money choosing how to use it and being the first to benefit and often the only to benefit because of wear and tear. " No, my troop benefits first because if the boy is prepared, we don't have to interrupt program to fish around for an old uniform or treat for hypothermia or buy the kid boots (if there were no spares in the troop store from previous stewardly purchases via ISA's). "Plus, if I donate my son's shirt after four years, I don't get to write off the full price of a new shirt. You get the garage sale price / value. Anything else is fraud. " - Nobody's making you use your son's ISA to by that uniform. If the boy uses his ISA, it's the troop's uniform, not his. So when he hands it down, it's not a donation, it's mere stewardship of troop resources. - You're certainly welcome to abstain from the troop's coffers and roll the dice on some organization wanting that ratty shirt after four years so you gain a write-off. Hope your boy respects his uni enough to make it worth your while. In fact, we don't make a boy use his ISA for anything at all. He can opt for it all to go back to the troop's coffers. Importantly, note the lack of boy-led in the statement "if I donate my son's shirt after four years, I don't get to". Isn't it your boy who would be applying for the write-off? Because really, if we compensated him for popcorn sales in the true sense, wouldn't the 1099 be in his name?

I agree with Fred. Credits=Currency. ISA's are real money that a boy uses for things that he thinks are real important. The only "correct" way to view ISA's, IMHO, is by applying youth led principles and teaching your boys this working definition: ISA's are troop monies put under the stewardship of the scout for the betterment of his troop or patrol. Examples ... 1. If a scout uses his ISA to buy a uniform, that uniform is the troop's. When it gets too big, it gets handed down to another scout. Boys inspect each others' uniforms because you never know who will be wearing it next! 2. If a scout uses his ISA to buy gear, it is because the troop needs a boy who is prepared. Any northerner who has had to deal with boys at winter camp outs with only one pair of sneakers knows what I'm talking about. Gear bought with an ISA -- if it hasn't been worn out after dozens of troop outings -- should be handed down to another scout. 3. If a scout pays for camp fees through his ISA, he is doing a service to the troop. Anyone who disagrees with me just needs to come to camp on a year that more than 5 boys can't make it! If you don't allow "ad hoc" patrols, then your boys really know what it's like to do without another youth! The troop/patrol gains more from any given boy being in camp than the boy ever gains from being with the troop. 4. If the boy uses his ISA for jambo, or as a provisional scout on a high adventure, he is doing a service to the troop. That boy will be representing your unit in a far corner of the globe. In the process of training for the trip, he may organize a super activity for your unit. On his return he will give reports that inspire your first-years with big ideas for the future. Thus ISA's aren't mere personal bank accounts for easy accounting of popcorn incentives. They are a tool that your most involved boys can use to shape their unit in ways they see fit.

Stosh, The "pulling out of the bin" happened at the last crew meeting. Up until this last point I had heard zero interest from the boys about the fall council camporee. Then, they reviewed their sports calendars and realized that they could make this work. I explained that the venturing portion may very well be scaled back because no crew has committed thus far, and they may have to contribute some sweat into having the fun. They were okay with that and brainstormed a few ideas. Gauntlet thrown ... Now to talk to the reservation director about the possibility of flaming arrows and exploding targets ... Thing is, if adults are afraid that I'm gonna cause lil' Johnny to lose a limb, the odds of volunteers to help supervise increases.

KDD, if you teamed up with your local Y or Red Cross to do swim instruction in the winter, I bet you could have a lot of boys in your troop (and their sisters) take the MB again by virtue of simply helping you run the course. One mom did this for a while and it was a huge benefit to our community. My kids were too young for MBs at the time, but we spent a lot of our summer on Lake Erie (and winter/spring breaks in FL) and it was a huge weight off my chest knowing my kids could cover 200 yards if they had to. Just puttin a bug in your ear ...

BD, sounds like the group who camped next to our pack one summer. We almost had them kicked out after one night. Camp director read them the riot act and that was that. They were lucky. Had I known the CD then as well as I do now, she would have gotten a phone call at midnight and they would have been gone at 1 am.

Co-parenting is tough. You wil need to communicate with your ex to properly help your daughter through scouting. But you might have an idea based on what you know of your ex's camping experience. If she's into the outdoors and has done a lot of camping, chances are she will lead her troop in that direction. Other ideas: raincoat, boots, survival kit. One time I bought my daughter a first aid kit and she thought it was the bees knees.

NJ, Maybe folks aren't as divisive on your side of the Appalachians! Consider yourself fortunate. Or maybe not. I like our involvement at the district and council levels. (It's almost a requirement for venturing crew officers.) My district and council people have been nothing but helpful most days (and generally take a step back when we make it clear they aren't helping). They've given my youth (both troop and crew) support for truly unique programs and service projects. So, when they stop by at camp - as they did this summer, they have my ear. And they have been spending a lot of time trying to figure out which COR's may need some TLC when rechartering time comes around. I'm hoping next time we cross paths that I can do them the favor of directing the conversation to how my youth can contribute to the next camporee, or the venturing advancement roadmap, or promoting the recent Islamic religious awards. (Oh, by the way, blessed fast to those starting Ramadan!)