qwazse

We're an average size troop, so we have a little margin when it comes to food ... less when it comes to transportation. But usually there's a boy who cancels during the week, so we can usually fit a latecomer. Our problem comes because sometimes only a few can make it to an event. We have canceled events because not enough boys signed up the Monday before departure. When someone says "Oh, I was meaning to sign up ..." and they realize their procrastination ruined it for a couple of other boys, that solves that behavior. For crew events, I'm more willing to pull things together for a

It's been a while, but yes keep it simple for cubs. Mountain pies: If several families have pie irons (we had 3 and the CM had 6) the boys could make their own pizza's and then cherry or apple pies. You needed adult supervision of the hot irons and making sure kids washed hands before the prepped food. It took a couple of rounds before everyone was feed, but everyone had fun and when you weren't cooking you could run around. Soup is also a good option. Each den makes a different type. Keeping track of cups and spoons is a hassle. It is getting tough to do it all on $10 a wee

One of the advantages of NOT having adults in uniform at EBOR's may be suppression of the "I'm a super scouter" attitude. A boy might have a perfectly solid understanding of the rules. The same reply might come off as courteous and helpful if he was explaining it to a bunch of suit-and-ties, but might come off as challenging (e.g. requiring a "with all due respect, sir/madame") if said in front of six unis with four rows of knots each!

Acco, I think a lot of boys feel the same way. I know one star scout who didn't count the hours he did music for church, even though every week it involved an hour learning the tunes, and an hour rehearsal. (Turned out he didn't have to, some adult neglected transfer hours he helped on Eagle projects into that software thingy.) I'm not entirely sure he thought it through, but most of us figure some things are just duty to God, and in our hearts don't want it to be counted as anything by anyone else. Growing up, I sure would have scoffed at any help I gave to a church (mine or some othe

Yep, the stuff of peoples lives can just drag you down. On several occasions, a divorced parent has asked me, "What would you do in my situation?" I've had to say, "You two need to decide how you're gonna co-parent. The sooner you do, the better for all parties involved." But, I would never say that without one of the parents opening the conversation. Sadly for the kid, like Eng pointed out, there's nothing you can do. You can tell them that they have a fine son, and you'd love to see him around, but you'll understand if that's just not possible. Or you could not tell them anyth

Beav, I don't think it's a valid assumption that None of those organizations are giving him a free-will recognition, the way a lifesaving award might be. They each have requirements of service for the status conferred. None stipulate "for the sole purposes of recognition by this organization" is the community service to be performed. I look at it this way: scout performs six hours community service the weekend after earning star rank. Should the SM recognize it for rank advancement? Yes. Should the NHS recognize it? Yes. Should the FFA recognize it? Yes. Should his churc

resq, I was thinking of cutting up a sleeping pad, then I saw that my camp towel folded several times was the length of the kid's arm! Thanks for the SAM splint suggestion. Thanks for the ideas guys! I'm glad we weren't too far off the mark in terms of equipment. I think what hurt us was the preparedness factor. All of the boys present learned "inside the box" first aid. (The trained boys who were on Philmont contingents graduated last year, leaving us a little inexperienced.) This made it hard for them to help figure out what would work best. The SM and I are thinking of

Yep. Talk. Don't write. Good luck. Call the dad as well. Just let him know you miss seeing him around, and as a First-Class scout he has a lot to offer your boys (or any group of youth wherever he goes). If the mom is sticking around, I would suggest that she help on the committee and spend time with parents of cross-overs encouraging them to fundraise, come to camp, etc ... Needless to say, you don't want to be anybody's therapist! If you have a divorced mom on your committee, she might be able to listen to gory details. But your focus is on a find scout who should be finding

Gunny, In the community garden our scout set up as part of his Eagle project the answer would be "no." The food is grown to provide fresh vegetables for the food bank. Since we they can't predict who will be out of a job next month, they can't guarantee a surplus for the folks who worked the garden but whose families are doing OK financially. (Although, I think in the past couple years there was enough to go 'round.) That said, I get your point. POR's overlapping is a different issue. When that happens, I want the boy to do both well or give one up. (Just read the riot act to m

An SM might ... talk about an honorable fellow still does his duty to God and puts in his hour in church on Sunday. No matter how much work he did for client X, an honorable fellow wouldn't charge that to client Y. And if the kid says to SM Beav, "Well sir, I heard on Sunday that God reaps where he does not sow and expects me to do the same with my talents!" Anybody know if there's a medal for that! Seriously, for our school's National Honor Society, the point of the juniors reporting their service hours is so that the seniors can write up an introduction that recognizes the can

This is one of those that doesn't come up until after you need it. The standard first aid kit for backpacking is pretty adequate, except ... Materials for splints! I wasted a good half-hour foraging for a decent piece of dry wood to form a splint for a kid with a sprained wrist. (We had just hiked in to an isolated site. It was getting dark fast. No bleeding or bruising to justify a panic. And in my experience, even when X-rayed, you never know if there's a break until you repeat the exam in a day or two.) And after all the fussing we realized that a camp towel folded and rolled aro

I'm not talking about last-minute boards either. (Although I get the impression that most of those would be last minute communications. Or maybe last minute situations at work or home that put grabbing the uni at the bottom of the list.) The bottom line: since uniforming for an EBOR it is not required in any documentation, wearing other dress more representative of your role outside of scouting is allowed. A district advancement chair may set the tone by having his volunteers dress in uniform if they are representing, he may answer affirmative or negative if a committee chair calls and

It's easy to have opinions. The money is in proving them right. Is there anything in the "rule book" regarding uniform dress for adults at EBORs? Gee it's nice when adults "tan it up", but if that's not the culture in your district, I'm not seeing the problem. Either way, it's how you treat our boys that's important.

The real problem here is when you ask questions from a point of bias, you miss out on important things like: "What's this boy and his troop like?" "Are other boys also moving along as quickly?" "What kind of program can we provide for him and his buddies?" "Is this a kid who can be challenged to lead at a district level?"

I'm with you Blanc ... At round-table one SM told us he ran it by his boys. He said they came up with unreasonably high expectations and had to tone things down or even the boys who came up with them wouldn't pass! Talk to the boys. Make it achievable. Make it fun.

BP - awesome works mentality there! Don't ever dispense 3 hours of grace for one hour of penance! I believe in overlapping service requirements as much as the letter allows. Our kids do great things, we need to recognize them for it. If we spare them the misery of finding time to fulfill non-overlapping service hours, we FREE them to serve according to their gifts. And they do! So, LET THEM. Within scouting if an MB requirement states that the project cannot be counted for other service hours, then it is non-overlapping. If it doesn't state otherwise then it is overlapping.

Some practical stuff for the terrain is never a bad idea: bungee cords/tie downs of some kind, ponchos or survival blankets, flint/steel and tinder kit, directions to your favorite campsite location (something that might not be on the regular map). little compasses. fishing line/spare hooks your favorite lure (ask that they post a picture of the next fish they catch with it) Some personalized stuff is great. If you are in a club, see if they have a tokens of some kind (pin's, coins, laminated cards). I had a kid pick one up a coin this weekend, it wasn't a geocoin, but a

Moose, How do I put this? O.K. Here goes: Your vision is somewhat parochial. I grew up in a football family. One cousin went pro, a couple sibs played Division I college. If you got tickets to a game you went in suit and tie or (military dress if you were on active duty). You did not put on team colors or wear a team jersey. Maybe you carried a pennant to wave. This was out of respect for the players and the game (which, in our parts was just shy of a religion). You would not dare to presume that you were "in the game" in the same way that those boys on the gridiron were. You c

I have a friend who went with his son to Tinnerman a few years ago. They had a great experience. A while back someone posted a topic about how rising fuel costs (and the economy in general) may affect your program. Well ...

Let me start with a statistical sample of 8 (i.e. my youngest son's den). They all crossed over. Three years later none had made first class. Two remain in scouting. (One died, two relocated, three quit.) So I guess those boys have been deprived of "Well-delivered programming", thanks to the leadership of my SM and his lackeys (your's truly included). But, those two boys LOVE their troop. My son made FC at the 3.5 year mark and was elected PL. His buddy has to overcome a fear of H2O. In the meantime they've both racked up some MB's that interest them. Do you really think t

I do like the concept of a merit badge "pow-wow" implying an introduction to the topic and a counselor with the possibility of completing the badge later like some of you described vs. "university" implying a knock-it-out-in-a-weekend mentality with the probability of you completing a badge or two. Fact is, unless you have a hand in the planning, you'll never know which it's gonna be. So, I would suggest you get together with a couple of SM's in your district, decide which four or five specialties you might present (maybe on a job site) and offer, say, "An introduction to ____". No

O.T. - Really really bad idea. Just sayin'. Two phrases: "The kids/parents need you to focus on this." "The kids/parents need you to back away from that." Suggestion: if you act like you're out to lunch -- like your just this nut that only cares about cute little boys having a barrel of fun and has no clue about the work that "needs" to get done -- sometimes they stop knocking at your door! Alternative: build a collection of videos of the "last minutes" of recent dictators and point out that you would rather an adult's scouting career end on a more upbeat note.

OTN's neighbor pack is a "Friends of Pack ###" charter. One of the "friends" happened to have a relationship with that church and provided space using that building. Two organizations, two packs, they just happen - through separate channels - to provide the same physical space. And I suspect that neither unit wants the DE looking into anything. If you ask someone for a rule, they might just make one for you!

Here's how I handle this ... (the registration part ... for the peacemaking part you're on your own) ... let's call it the "what applications?" strategy: Only register the paid youth. Let the unpaid youth know that they are not on the roster until they put money behind their paperwork. That means they can come to pack meetings but not activities. At each den meeting if they bring a dollar until they are paid up, then you'll register them. Tell your COR and your DE that's your plan unless some generous donor comes forward to underwrite the registrations. If your DE says those

If I'm gettin' sued anyway, I'm goin down helpin'.