red feather

chuckle...LOUD GUFFAW! thanks I needed that, chuckle, chuckle, chuckle... yis

Ditto with Wingnut, the floors are better and the zippers last longer. yis

Welcome and throw a log on the fire and throw your ideas and comment out for us to a have a shot at. From the KC area myself, Troop 341, Raytown , Eagle in 68 and currently an Adult Runner in MOS, with two Eagle sons. Work my paint at Camp Geiger. Welcome yis

Oh, boy this is interesting. Hope the way back machine is working.... as a youth: one overnight that was so cold we had to stay near a very large fire all night to stay warm helping carry my dads vw bug out of the mud after it got stuck during an overnight helping rescue a climber who had fallen and was badly hurt being called to join Mic-O-Say earning my eagle and later having a COH named for me going to natl jambo in 69 and intnl jambo in 71 did not realize what I had done until some years later. Then I was a little stunned helping shear sheep to earn my Animal Husbandry merit badge as as adult: watching my sons grow the overnight when the topic around the adult campfire was farts (had to be there) seeing my boys tapped into Mic-O-Say and eventually both earning their Runner going canoeing in the Boundary Waters seeing the many scouts over the years grow up and become fine young men, true returns watching a scout run in his sleeping bag to get away from a tree frog so many to list, but thank you for making me think of them all yis

Just a thought, the giving of such a gift is not just for the recipient. It is the feeling of those giving it. Kinda like a Eagle Court, not only is it the awarding of the Eagle but it is also for the parents and those who helped them get there. The presentation of such a thing is for all involved... not just the one recieving. Accept with honor and with pride. yis

Not to be too simplistic, buy more dutch ovens and use charcoal for cooking in them. We have 6 patrol boxes, each with a iron skillet, dutch oven and griddle along with the usual utensils. We have backup or extra dutch ovens in the troop trailer if needed. Garage sales, estate sales, etc is where I usaually find them. Auctions are good source (sometimes) for good cast iron. Let your parents know what you are looking for and then stand back and be surprised. (hopefully) I did and was really surprised as to what was donated by them.

Looking for info on the International Activity Badge. What it is and where to ask council to look for the information. Thanks yis

BRAVO! Hope you come out my way. You Know the reason Vasalred yis

Getting back to the theme. Some time back on an overnight the acting SPL faced with boys who would not quiet down, asked them if they would want Mr. (me) to wake them up in the morning with song? Now I have been accused by some to be overly cheerful on some mornings. And some say I need at least one bucket to carry a tune. But that is all hearsay. Or so I have been assured. To my astonishment, the camp got quiet. yis

Do a search for the Ol Geezers Cook book, several in there. yis

Seems to a lot on info out there about canoeing, thus this thread. Lake canoeing is to me harder than stream canoeing. Harder physically and proper gear seems to be more important. Lake treks gear weight needs to be lower due to the paddling needed and the portages required ( if more than one lake is being traversed). With the increased portages good footgear is one of the things I learned is needed. Good strong soles and shoes with the ability to dry quickly. Also cotton socks are not the best to wear, nylon or polyester socks worked the best for me, dried quickly. Nylon pants and shirts work well also with a good hat, 'boonie style' worked well if they had some sort of chin strap to keep them on in the wind or during a tip over. Stream floats... we have always started the float by tipping each canoe with riders in them to get them over the fear of flipping and to teach and show them how to recover from a tipped canoe. Duluth style packs work well, especially if they come with a tump line. Assign each member of your crew specific duties to accomplish during each portage and be willing to modify them as the trek continues. Good maps in map cases make life easier also. Each person should have a whistle and compass. The whistle is to be used ONLY in emergencies. Padding for the canoe bench will also improve the enjoyment of the trip. Hopefully others will add to this and if anyone has specific questions please post them here and surely someone will have an answer. yis

looking... looking... looking... there has to be a teapot around here somewhere. yis

Crushed the sulfur into a powder and put a couple of handfulls in a tube sock with a tennis ball. When bugs started up, beat the sock against my arms, legs and hands. Spread the sulfur on my hands onto my neck, ears and hat. Worked pretty well unless the bugs got really thick or I was too tired to be patient. Only happened a couple of times tho. Also used the sulfur around sleeping bag opening seemed to help.? yis

Back from boundary waters. Ticks were not an issue where we camped and portaged, however, gnats, flys and occasionally mosquitos were. Sulfur worked very well with the gnats and flys unless they were very thick. Had to pulverize the sulfur to ensure a good application. Hard to get even coverage with the sulfur and had to use deet once in a while to keep the skeeters at bay but not very often. yis

Had a great time in the boundary waters. Both crews did well. Bugs were not a major issue, gnats in one location, flys in another. The Minnesota state bird, the mosquito, did not bother us much at all. Combination of deet and sulfur worked well and most of the time sulfur dusted on worked by itself. Beautiful scenery and water, found some portages that will be noted on our troop map to avoid during future treks. Hope everyone has a chance to go! Wonderful trip. yis

I am 6'6" and 250 or there abouts. My primary sleeping bag is a Slumberjack from Campmor. Good bag, stuffs small and is light weight. It even has room to turn over! yis

Going to the boundary waters tommorw with the scouts. Taking sulfur to try first as a bug repellent,with a deets backup. Will let you all know how it works out. yis

Leaving tommorow for the boundary waters, taking two crews and using Cliff Wold as outfitter. Let you all know about the trip when we get back. yis

Compass, whistle, 50ft rope, poncho, knife (sheath), knife (pocket, locking), deck of cards, book, snacks, two types of fire starters, first aid kit, hat, sunglasses, comb, a light step and easy heart. YIS

Campfire was not lit. Have a hapy 4th yis

On my way

I am looking for information on a line of mowers manufactured by Scag mowers. They are reported to be the top of the line commercial mowers, but are not well known in my area. Anyone heard of them? And what has been heard. Need input so I can make a recommendation, we are also looking at the Grasshopper line. thanks yis

Theres got to be a teapot around here somewhere. yis

True returns in watching young inexperienced boys grow confident in themselves as they progress through Scouting. True returns in knowing that I may have had a part in helping that young man gain that confidence. True returns in that "First Expression" (thanks Mutua for putting words to what we all see) The handshake that we get from a scout or his folks when they say 'Thank-you'. yis

Sorry, I forgot taps echoing through the hills at night and bagpipe music wafting across the hills at night also. Had the pleasure of listening to a bagpiper at Fort Sill play his pipes from across the valley while we were in lager. Still haunts me. yis