red feather

Sure do Buffalo, I read as much as I have time for. I try to read as many net based 'newspapers' as I can. Both domestic and overseas. Wealth of both sides of stories out there. Check out Refdesk.com for a listing of just a few of the papers out there. yis

Jabborwocky Series of Red Feather stories ( about a young plains indian that tries do the the correct thing but somehow things turn on him, usually humorous with a 'hidden moral') yis last SM was a story teller and often would have to take a break to figure out how to get out of the story or someway to end it. being a lawyer he was a natural at it

Condolences to the family of the young man, you and your troop. No words can express the loss but the memory of him and what he brought to those around him can be the best lasting memorial. yis

Keep them coming Trail! and thanks. yis

Show ya what I know they did post as links. Oh well, learn and then be confused yis

First off welcome to the campfire ( or to be somewhat PC the online roundtable You mention cook kits, do you mean Patrol boxes? Or other cooking items? That might help us narrow the search. I will look for a site for patrol boxes and if I find one I will send it over http://www.troop168.net/forms/patrolboxC.htm might one to look at http://home.epix.net/~hawkmtn/jambpb.html Are two that I came up with. Sorry for not knowing how to post them as links, but I will work on that. Good luck and welcome to the forums yis

Regardless of how the troop is run or not run, your post indicated that the boys chose their own patrols. Once chosen the older scouts voted (or were outvoted) for a younger scout to be PL then stated that since they had other 'Troop' positions they did not have to do other stuff. "stuff!", as members of a patrol they have the duty to help fulfill the needs of that patrol. Might want to remind them of 'Helpful', 'do my duty' and I am sure there are many other scouting precepts that relate. In our troop, Troop Guides are in an older scout patrol that functions as a patrol. The SPL

What an opportunity!!!! We have had the same situation in our troop over the years and the best way we have found to resolve it is the next highest ranking scout moves up into the position for camp. ie: ASPL if at camp moves up to temporary SPL, then he can either choose his ASPL or as we do the highest ranking PL moves up to ASPL and his APL moves into the PL slot and so on. Works well for us and keeps the scouts on their toes. We follow the same criteria for overnights. If both the SPL and ASPL cannot make the overnight the the ranking PL steps up and the second ranking PL be

After rereading one of my earlier posts on this thread I wish to correct something A knife in the hands of one who does know how to handle them and care for them is much more dangerous than the knife in the hands of one who does. For themseleves and others. is what I posted. What I meant was: A knife in the hands of one who does NOT know how to handle them.... Sorry for the ommision. yis

A little tongue in cheek.. but not much. We need to teach scouts to use the knifes, not fight with them. A knife in the hands of one who does know how to handle them and care for them is much more dangerous than the knife in the hands of one who does. For themseleves and others. yis

I carry a buck pocketknife on a daily basis, stopping only when I have to fly somewhere. Other knives that I have have specific purposes and are used or carried then. Knife safety, handling and sharpening is fast becoming a lost ability and that is sad. I find that scouts that are not exposed to sharp edges are the ones most likely to cut themselves and then learn that a dull knife cuts worse than a sharp one. Sheath knifes do have uses but they are limited. But then again I still carry my militry sheath knife on overnights, not on a belt but in a 'possibles case'. Most scouts

Do Your Best vs. Do What You Can. That bothers me at a core level. Doing your best leaves no easy outs. Do what you can does. If you are doing your best then you are holding yourself up to a higher level of achievement. Do what you can opens a lot of doors that allows an out depending on the circumstances. I am not expressing myself well, words are not coming.... maybe these... A Scout Is.... Not what a scout Maybe. yis

welcome to the campfire. Para cord by its nature needs to be heat sealed after being cut and having differnet lengths already prepared is a good idea. The trouble with that is knowing where you stored which length where. I carry several 3-4 foot lengths for tie downs and similar uses. A longer length about 30 foot is wrapped around my pack frame and one around my lawnchair. Anything over 30 feet really needs a larger cord (sisal?) as para cord will stretch over time and not be that usefull. I also have some 5-6 foot lengths and a couple of 10 foot lengths soted the same way. Reme

Reading this thread made me think on something that my oldest son is experiencing in Basic Training (Army). He and his training platoon are now going through their 4th week of training and their 2nd suicide watch of one of the trainees (the first one has already been released). The second watch in 3 plus weeks!!! Makes me wonder about the 'school of hard knocks' or the lack thereof. Could these young men been so socially protected that they cannot face the 'real world' without someone always protecting them and their self-esteem? Could they so unprepared that they just do not have the

For personal use I like the homemade alcohol stoves. Search the net for alcohol stoves, lots of good stuff there. You can make a stove out of a dog food can and a cat food can. Mine heats enough water for a personal dehydrated meal and a cup of coffee in about 5 minutes with 4-5 pop caps of fuel. If more heat is needed the remedy is a second stove (about 3 ounces in weight) can be used. Larger needs I leave to the Whispers and Colemans. yis

yepper yis

Don't plan on changing jobs, but Eagle Scout is on my resume and will always be there. (earned my Eagle in 1968) yis

carry the flag The rest of the nay sayers can pound sand, with a flag this size, respect for the flag and what it stands for is what matters. Not to mention what the lesson taught to the scouts carrying it. And what they will learn and remember. yis

Ah, the beauty of a virtual camfire. Almost but not quite as good as the real thing. Welcome the the reality check of scouting or at least of those involved in scouting here on this forum. Would it be we could all fulfill the ideal of scouting. In the 'ideal' world we would be ideal scouts. However, in the real world you do what you can with what you got and come as close as possible, as one can, to the 'ideal'. Do a Good Turn Daily and Be Prepared is what I expect of scouts that I work with. Every thing else is gravy and adds to the scouting experience. Most scouts do not real

....and having done so, she reached for her keyboard and.... welcome to the campfire, pull up a log and have some bad coffee. yis

ditto yis

Seems to me a case of Free Speech and Free Choice yis

Welcome to the campfire, pull a log up and have some questionable coffe. As a scouter that remembers the garters, I was every day rubbing out the indentations that they made. The garters were not either not big enough or so stretched out they had to be real tight to stay up. As an adult scouter I really like the over the calf sock that they have now. As having skin cancer I appreciate the extra cover when wearing the scout shorts. Besides I think ( in my old fashioned way) that they look better. yis

Just read this thread twice, and that is unusual for me. As a veteran (101st Airborne) and with my oldest in bootcamp, I will read (listen) to all but the most rediculous at this campfire. I have survived yaworski, and zorn patke and have only squelched one, the w guy. This is a forum where ideas and thoughts can be posted as it would around a really intense campfire ( in real life very rare) group of adults and some older scouts. Most campfire discussions do not (or rarely) include policy, religion, or politics. This one does and therefore is open to more disagreement and inven

CW, you pose a difficult situation. A SM for 7 yrs is not a temporary position. Sad that your SM will not get training. How about the other ASMs in the troop? Any of them have extra scout training? Any that might be coached (coerced) into trying the position? To my humble thinking, 'Bobby' is not your problem, the rest of the troop deserves your leadership and attention. 'Bobby' is old enough to row his own canoe and will with a little time come around and get back to where he ought to be. FOG is correct on a method of talking with 'Bobby' and I pretty much agree with hi