red feather

Oz, go for it. If I can be of help let me know. I will try to get my brothers (2) email addresses to you for more input. Eamonn, Mic-O-Say is a non OA organization based in Kansas City, Mo and St. Joseph, Mo that is getting ready to celebrate 75 years of existence and over 50,000 members. If you want more info let me know and I will be happy to provide what I can. Peace yis

Peace and happiness to all my brothers and sisters in scouting worldwide and to those around the world who have put themselves in danger. Red Feather yis

No problem here SPL. Is or has there been a problem with your ID? yis

Pack check yes. This is as much a part of the training as the actual activity. From experience I have learned that even with the check items are removed, forgotten, etc. But the check should be an essential part of Being Prepared. The check should be done by the scouts if they are properly trained or supervised. If they are not then someone qualified to do the check should do it or at least oversee the check. yis

Interesting what the simple wearing of the scout uniform does to the mind set of the people who see it. Something to think about. Lil did as well in her situation as was possible. Picture me giving her a scout salute. Her choice of the person to join her in the final two speaks highly of her and the values that she has. The 900,000 dollar lesson is not for her but a lesson for all scouts and scouters. I hope that if in a similar situation I would have the stength to do the same thing. yis

Welcome to the campfire. Only rules that I know of are the 12 points of the Law. I use a oversize Slumberjack bag rated to 0 deg. The size is important to me at 6'6" and 250. This bag is large enough for me to move around in it without having to keep track of the zipper. Almost as important as the bag you get is the pad or pads you use underneath it. I use a full length Thermorest that fills up to an inch thick. On really cold overnights I will put a closed cell pad under the thermorest. Have always slept good and warm. My bag has a hood with it but tends to be too thin for co

Seems to me that good businesses and organizations survive and proper primarily on the good will of word of mouth. Such it is with Scouting. Strong adult leadership (wearing uniforms and supporting scouting ideals) goes a long way in the retention of younger scouts and helps bring in the new scouts from cub scouting. Our troop does demonstrations at local elementary schools and this really helps in the recruitment of new scouts. The years that we do not do this we see a definite drop off in the numbers. Maybe we should try to extend this to the middle schools and show those who

Good luck and happy scouting. I will keep my fingers and toes crossed for you. yis

I use an self inflatable pad under my sleeping bag and add a closed cell foam pad under that during the winter. Really makes a difference. My sons used closed cell pads under their bags and seemed to do well. But I would recommend the self inflatable pad, worth the money. yis

We camp one weekend a month except for Summer camp month which is a week long camp. December is usually a lock in at the local YMCA which includes prospective Webelos. We normally do 2 weeklong High Adventure activities. No recent history of Patrol camping. yis

cubs: Wolf, Bear, Lion, Webeloes scouts: all the way to Eagle hiatus for a number of years..military, marriage, college, life active with my sons ( both Eagle) and still active now for 10 yrs or so Experience comes from one day at a time and a curiosity about things that I do not know anything about and catches my fancy yis

One book that I keep reading about and browsed recently in a book store is Ashleys Book of Knots. Many books on knots refer to it and some even go so far as calling it the 'bible' of knots. What I browsed was very impressive, has anyone else seem this book and what were your impressions. Are you listening Santa? yis

Outdoor sounds like you had a great summer. You had hope that no one has pictures. LV, had to chuckle about the Goodwill Store thing do that scene myself. Come on the rest of ya, I cannot believe that only LV, Outdoor and myself are the only ones that learned something this summer. yis

Worked a bit with using and making alchohol stoves. High adventure canoeing in Canada taught me quite a bit about things that I thought I knew. Learned how to bake pumpkin pies in a dutch oven. Learned more about more with less styles of camping. How about the rest of you? yis

With winter camping due again, this thread might be useful. yis

49 and counting Constantly surrounded by things I know nothing about and makes me always curious. And Satchel Page (sp?) was right. yis

Mentally Awake Aware of where you are, who you are and where you are heading Aware of those around you, their needs and requirements Aware of your surroundings and able to plan for or react to your surroundings as needed Aware of what all 5 of your senses are telling you in each of their own ways. Remember talking is not a sense, listening is. Hope this made 'sense' yis

Welcome to the campfire ManyIrons. I try to teach knots in 'the troop that I am honored to be associated with' and it is a hard road to follow. I get some boys interested for a while and once in a while (over the last 10 yrs) have had a couple really take an interest and push my abilities. Rarely have I had leaders show much interest in knotting. Not sure why but most look on and say neat and then move on. Have had some success in teaching knots specific to the leaders job and job uses, but not much. I would be interested in doing the Master Knotter program myself, but ther

ScoutNut covered the first items pretty well. next items? yis

Eagle Scout, 2 bronze, 2 silver, 1 gold. Currently CM, was ASM with various 'duties' yis

how about... an anodized aluminum pot set from GSI.. wide mouthed nalgene bottles... 50 foot of 'good' rope... 50 foot of 1/8 in nylon rope... sierra cup or three... good fold up magnifying glass... good compass... leather lanyard with good whistle... better stop but the list of small things to improve a scouts outdoors experience can go on and on. yis

Welcome to the campfire. I cannot put it any better than any of the ways it has already been stated. YP is there for the protection of both the scouts and scouters. Its gotta be followed. yis

Come on down, fires lit. 10-29-03 2130 hrs.

In response to the original post, we have not had patrol outings that I am aware of during the last 10 or so years. Too many boys going too many directions I think. On onites the leader patrol sets up seperate from the other patrols, but within eye and earshot, and tries to set an example as how a patrol should set up and all that. Our main goal on onites is to make sure that the woods are not set on fire and we return with the same amount of boys and gear we set out with. ( of course this is done through the SPL or senior scout on the onite with the appropriate level of instructi

Cracker barrel is used at least in 'the troop that I am associated with' for the after the evening meal (dinner or supper depending on where in the states you are from) for a late night snack that may include dump cakes, crackers and whatever, smores or whatever the patrols may want for the snack. yis