qwazse

Our boys are older and still have the same issues. Sounds like you all are on track. At the end of the weekend, tell the PL if he needs shopping done, to give your son a call next time, and you'll help get him to the store. Have fun.

Our units don't own tents, the youth and their families do. They manage to equip themselves according to the location. Sometimes piling into those big tents are a barrel of fun. Other times, when the wind kicks up and my pup's the only thing standing, not so much fun.

Yes, you have the right to work on venturing awards. Your advisor may not be used to staff wanting to be authentic venturers, but he/she should be thrilled to help you. In the process of working on a bronze award, you may help your fellow staff build a fellowship that extends beyond the summer. And yes, you should find out what other crews meet near where you live and try to join one that may interest you. (You can be a member of multiple crews.) Find out if your council has a venturing officer's association (VOA) and get in touch the VOA advisor or president. Again, because you aren't

I'm no historian, but the general thinking seems to be that the time for combat may be upon a lad soon enough. Scouting on the other hand, comprises a set of skills that gives your fellow combatants the edge.

Miki, And here's hoping that if a crew of girls needs a chaperon for their expedition, you'll find yourself "trapped" on the trail (or the reef) with them too!

R., blessings to you. SM's spouse is the hardest job on the books IMHO. For the Life scout, he needs to have a conference with him and ask, "What position can you hold for six months straight that will benefit your troop (or, your venturing crew, if you're in one). I'm looking for something that may take up 2-3 hours/week of your time. Something that, at your EBOR, if someone asks, you'll be able to answer with pride." An important question to ask boys who "have a life" is "what can the troop do to be a bigger part of your life?" Maybe they could be the color guard at your sporting

Whitewater stressful? Hmmm. That may explain why some of my committee never again want to be in a raft with me.

we ALL know that if it had truly been "some" (i.e. 3 or 4 scouts) there would have been NO need for an e-mail. They sure didn't sent an e-mail saying that "some" scouts had gotten a cut or a scrape, did they? And I'm sure it happened. You are generalizing our ability to extrapolate a second hand message. So, how many boys fron your troop succumbed? I agree that you didn't need that message. But there was no way they could be more specific. The only obligation your leaders may have had was to call the parents of the boys who were in the worse shape. Sticking to that would hav

I might add that your boys should plan their breaks where they can filter water and top their tanks. The temptation to push on through to a campsite can leave you high and dry. (That said, our boys never seem to complain about taking a walk back to the nearest stream once they've set up camp.) As their map reading skills improve, their ability to identify locations of brooks will help them make more efficient hike plans.

Our boys own their own tents, but that doesn't always guarantee that they'll be more responsible and air them out. The cleaning advice will come in handy. If you can't identify the boy or parent, sounds like you all are cleaning a tent at the next meeting. If it bothers the boys enough, they can have the QM set up a check in/out system.

Back when reliable filters were expensive and my troop was poor, we placed caches (gallon containers) of water strategically along the trail the day before our departure. It took some of the mystique out of it, but we didn't have to worry about contamination on ridge-top pasture land. If you are just starting out, and gear purchases are getting in your way. Re-purposed half-gallon plastic juice containers (especially the ones with little handles) make for fine canteens. Troop meetings should involve a lot of shake-downs. The first one, SPL and you bring your gear and unpack it in

I've talked guys (and some ladies) down from a few metaphorical ledges. Spent too much time growing up in the beer business to put myself anywhere near where gents on the verge of fisticuffs. I know my grandma, uncles and cousins were respected (and feared) bar tenders who did not tolerate threatening behavior from patrons. I've broken up fights between scouts who had spent who thought their season of boxing lessons gave them the right to "throw down." Some parents thought that was dangerous, but nobody dared give me a MYOB lecture. When youth friend me on FB, they find out that I

Patrol cooking allowed for our best learning experience, which was: DEEP FRY!!!! One patrol was asking if the could make potato chips instead of mashed potatoes (the assigned menu for Thursday's steaks night), so I told them how to set it up with their mess kits. They wound up making fries. The other patrol raided the trailer for some pancake mix and made batter-dipped onion rings. To top it all off, they dipped the Mrs. Field's cookies in the remaining batter. My arteries couldn't handle the thought of that dessert, but it looked delicious! The boys did miss open program that

Fashion statement I figure. Bug's gotta eat: they'll go through your socks if they know there's fresh meat to be had! I prefer taller socks for compression. Pushes fluid from my ankles. Joints seem to ache less.

Oh, I get it. Super mom wannabe. Best solution (easiest for me because it's my favorite activity): more back-country hiking. Second best: shakedown ala Seabase style. All personal gear must fit into a 12" br 24" mesh duffel. Sleeping bag presented empty and rolled before packing. Backpacks presented empty. Trailor provisioned and loaded. Packs provisioned at arrival site. Drivers may only drop off boys and no gear. I prefer the former because nature does a lot of the work for me!

Thanks. Will pray.

So, no winter camping, anyone? I'm asking because that seem's to be my crew girls' Achilles heel. Whereas the boys have already spent a couple of cold seasons overnight, the concept is foreign to most of the ladies. One of my youth also has a circulation problem, so I haven't pressed the issue. But a girl shouldn't have to wait until she's a venturer to gear up for sleeping out in the snow!

Oooo, a WCC censure! Folks in these parts would wear that as proudly as some Orthodox brag about the papal bull the got 9.4 centuries ago!

Got my first mentor pin. It's on my collar for now. But, I really like w's nameplate idea. Wait, are nameplates in the IG?

Unit EBORs with a district rep for as long as I can remember in these parts. For most scouts, it's their last chance to frankly address the committee about what the troop should do differently. Boys have been very helpful in that position. And we listen to them VERY closely. I suppose with district EBORs, the reps might get a better feel for what the district could improve upon, but from the way you all describe it, that doesn't seem to be the case. Have what candidates told you at your district EBORs had an impact on district program?

Really CC? Struggle sessions vs. singing? It's time for a word from the "A song from every boy and a big shiny brass whistle for every lifeguard" camp. In a related thread, I've already discussed how leaving your stuff behind is a heinous offense to your troop, your country, and your momma. Won't go there again. Let's consider the law of salvage. 'Fish rescues a boy's imperiled vessel. He has rights to a salvage fee. (Any of you who've actually had someone recover your boat after a flood or storm should know this.) By rights, he can claim recompense proportionate to the value o

Anybody use cast aluminum for a box? how lightweight can a composite material be?

I couldn't imagine it being any worse than sending a text saying: " A scout died in accident at camp - we'll contact you later." All that message does is create a ton of anguish and worry. I don't have to imagine. I can tell you that all the cell phones in the troop (including one with the FD dispatcher on speed dial) could not outrun the state trooper showing up at that parent's door. Simply put, the names of the dead or injured are not broadcasted until the families of the afflicted are notified. The SM couldn't hazard a guess until I (the trailing car) showed up, then we went over th

Learn your gifts. Excersize those. Learn other folk's gifts, ask them to use those to do the jobs ypu're not good at.

What don't they do? Winter camping.