red feather

Rooster 7, I agree with you in the root cause/reason of WW2. The people I was with would not have been my enemy as individuals but as a group--soldiers. It is easy to mark a 'type' of people as bad or wrong or whatever the label would be. That is, to me, one of the easiest ways out for some people. Instead of looking into the situation or issue it is easier to mentally lump the bad guy into a category, Jews, Arabs, blacks, wasps etc., etc., etc. As scout leaders have to look deeper into situations than the average person might. We have volunteered to assist in the molding, training, raising of young men as scouts.

Soap box is getting creaky. Thanks for the chance.

YIS

Thanks for the link le voyaguer, looks like I have an item for my christmas list. Thanks again. I don't do much low weight hiking, but i do try to show alternatives to the boys. One of my favorites is to take a frisbee and let the boys use it for games, etc., and come eating time I claim my 'plate' back from them, clean it and use it for supper. Usual repsonse from new scouts is either yuck or wow.

Yaworski you are correct in that we don't know the whole story and probably never will. Speculation is about the best we can do and hope to learn something from this and each other to prepare for the future.

When I signed up I had no preconceived notions of what scouting would require, but was willing to do what was needed to provide the best scouting experience that I could. As it turns out, what I signed up for was occasionally bad/good coffee, good company and the opportunity to enrich the life of a scout. That is enough.

If a scout has special requirements, then if I or those I work with cannot provide, then it is up to us as LEADERS to try to find the help that is needed if possible. Summarily removing a scout should be the last resort not the first. We would do so for the ones we work with in our proffessional lives, caqn we do no less for a kid?

YIS

Lost sheep children sfter seem to be the ones who benfit more from scouting than 'normal' kids. Granted the 'normal' kids gain in experience and confidence that may allow them to increase their potential in life. However, those scouts who are challenged (PC) benefit as much or more at their level as do the other scouts

When I was on older scout in my Troop years ago I had the opportunity to go camping with a troop that was entirely of both mentally and physically diabled scouts. These scouts did not want our help unless they were completely frustrated of unable to perform the tasks (usually after an extended amount of time). One scout in particualar sticks in my mind-- his job was to unroll his sleeping bag and organize his gear in his tent. Four hours later the look of accomplishment on his face when he finished his job was and is they look that I look for still in the faces of scouts that I work with today, rarely seen. Well adjusted scouts are easy to work with, it is the others that adult acouts should bend their special attention and efforts to. If needed get specialized help if available and keep these boys in a program that gives them things that none other does.

YIS

Thanks for the information Double Eagle. Is there any particular benefit of this type of head gear over other types? I use a polypropylene pullover bacalva with neck wrap.

We do Labor Day and Memorial Day hamburger and hotdog sales at Wal-Mart. Nets about 1500 a year. Many of the consumables will be donated if an effort is made. Check into matching donations of some stores. Some will match to some extent the amount of money made by the troop for a particular fund raiser.

Remember the Parol method! Adults take care of their business, cooking, repacking, cleaning, etc. The adult patrol sets the example and lets the boys learn on their own (maybe with a little encouragement). Waking up is learned fairly easily when the cook oversleeps and no food is ready. Last one up cleans and repacks the kitchen along with their own gear.

What is a tuque? and what do you consider a cooking set? You have good information and lots of have done that knowledge. Keep posting.

YIS

Try the Old Geezers cook book. Think it can be found at macscouter.com

Similar post as in another forum. Looking for tips, recipes (utensiless) etc. Such as using metal shower curtain hangers on backpack to attach items to. Especially to dry clothing as you hike. Wrapping duct tape to frame of backpack as a convienent way to store it. Mud spuds, spit roasted eggs, etc. All welcome and appreciated. Thanks

YIS

forgot one, short length of rope with a monkey fist on one end and a loop splice on other. Overall length about 6 inches with a weight in th middle of the monkey fist. Used to throw ropes either over a branch for bear bags or to heave a rope. Use a sheet bend to attach the ropes.

Dutch oven lid lifter.

Tripod for leaders coffe pot.

Tripod for boys hot chocolate.

Talking stick. Used a campfire indicting the scout ththas the floor, rock?,log?.

Rock tongs,used to lift heating rocks out of fire, or stew.

Have the boys make a fork.

Patrol flag stands.

Hope this helps.

YIS

What a debate. I have had to read the postings several times to get the issues proposed straight. Of all the posted phrases and words one stands out.

"By plurality and relative perspective or mores. And by mutual respect for each other, toleance and standing on common ground."

Sounds to me like the formula that has made America the nation that it is. My understanding of the legal battles is that BSA is saying that they (BSA) have the right to set their own standards and not have standards forced upon them. On that issue I agree completely. As a simple adult volunteer I tend to stay away from the 'bigger picture' that is discussed in the media. My bigger picture is the young scouts that I have the privelege to work with.

Morality that is dictated is not morality, it is the views of a select group that wants me to believe as they do whether I do or not. Personally I have morals that I have chosen and they are ones that have developed throughout my life. Not others.

Years ago in my youth i tended to be a right/wrong sort of person. While in the military , serving in Germany, sitting in a brew house with the german unit we were stationed with it suddenly come to me that 30 years before that day I would have been required to try to kill the men I was sitting with. Because they had been declared evil, bad people not worth associationg with. On that day I learned that there is perspective to every issue and I learned to get along to get along.

I don't have the literary styles of this thread or the indepth knowledge and learning that some have demonstrated, but, as a respecter of each opinion I thank you for passing on the information.

YIS

Camping with two seaters... had scouts that thouht removing the t-paper from the reading room was a great fun thing to do. That is until they tried the joke on the leaders. We locked the paper up with keys given to me... when they (the jokers) came to get keys a handed them a bucket of corn cobs, didn't have any trouble after that. Lefthanded smoke shifters and shorelines are good too. As a young scout I went on several snipe hunts (before I figured it out)...never did catch one.

quarter inch sisal should work well for all sizes mentional. Smaller cord would be good for practice areas and small projects. Good luck.

le voyaeur... not sure what you mean by pilot biscuits, throw bags, and rewarming plan. Yeah, ponchos when on water are a definite nono. Scomman don,t forget to add baby potatoes and possibly small onions and vegtables to the mix, bbq sauce is a nice touch also. Keep them coming.

Proud Beaver. "if it aint for the boys....it's not worth a dam" Had to bredk family tradition my dad and one brother were both bears. When I took WB our patrol was used as the first one to do new things, consequently we set a record for not doing this right. Oh, well. We did write a story of our last night out with hike that is used as an example of how to do it. Never did get a sound out of the horn.

Good idea. How many scouts do you have in your troop? We have trouble making sure we have enough leadership positions ( that have leadership meaning). We currently use the dual ASPL system and the scout that performs the best advances to SPL the other moves to Troop Guide usually working with the first year scouts.

I agree that more information is needed in order to generate a proper response or give good recommendations. Have two boys in scouting and made it clear to them early on that on o-nites and during meetings that they were scouts first and my sons second. Worked out ok. This is the advice given to every new adult volunteer/leader that joins our troop.

YIS

Robk the eggs pop in the mud. They can't vent. To cook them on a spit square off the spit a little they won't spin so much. Mud spuds are great, but watch the heat. To speed up potato cooking insert a copper nail down the center when baking. Good ideas keep them coming.

Neckeriefs. My old troop had one that was cotton with a silk-screened a buffalo (troop totem) with BSA and troop number on it. It set us aside from other troops (area custom) and made the scouts immedialtely known as to where they were from. My Eagle scarf is silk, embrodered, and a item of pride for me when I wear it to Eagle ceremonies. Unique. Pride in scouting is what we wish to engender is boys, a little variation does not diminish scouting but may keep them in. Common sense. Common sense. None of us wish to change scouting.

First response. Chuckle. chuckle, chuckle. I think a soap box just got broke, not mine, it's new. Remember Brave? Got any good recipes?

YIS

firstpusk (sp) recently I sat on a star BOR and at the end the scout asked if I would teach him and some of his friends to cook some of the items I cook. Wow. Looks like I won't be able to ease out of o-nites. Gearing up again, new generation and all.

This was part of my Wood Badge ticket, design a Class B uniform for the troop. Troop hat. shirt, pants, etc. Presented a t-shirt design and hat design to the troop. Accepted. Currently at certain times of the year scouts are required to wear the offical BSA uniform then switch to the Class B uniform (late spring usually) saves wear and tear on the Class A uniform. At camp breakfast uniform is class B for evening meal class A. The class B uniform for adults is similar but is a polo style shirt with collar. Hang in there.

YIS

Korea Scouter. The troop I am with makes an effort of plan o-ntes that allow us a variety of cooking choices. Some allow only propane,some charcoal, some allow open wood fires (conditions permitting) some no fires. This allows the scouts the chance to practice many different skills. One o-nite no fires were allowed but we had a leader with access to MREs with heater tabs. Kids loved it!! Liked them better than the c-rats I have known. Variety in what the scouts have to adapt to works well for us. Does your troop have a special meal or dish that you prepare?