red feather

Keep the ideas coming. I have coordinated several survival overnights and am always looking for tidbits. Like the straw idea for spices. I use new plastic lab specimen tubes for spices, waterproof and reusable. Favorite o-nite is one that scouts are allowed a 10 by 12 tarp, 50 foot of rope and their basic survival pack. Cooking is utensiless and cans are not allowed. Like the idea of simulated trapping and foraging, will work it in. These skills are ones that will hopefully not ever be needed, but they increase the confidence levels of the boys. Which is the design. Keep the ideas coming. thanks

Have you tried spit baking eggs?

Checked that thread you geve us. Told me nothing. Checked your website .... coming soon. Once again told me nothing. As not a member of the internet community (huh?) that option of knowing your training or scouting history is not open to me. Being a liberal or conservative is not the issue in forums, the exchage of ideas and view points is. Cracker barrel? Excellent look on what this form is. Thanks. Some of the problems we face have 'solved' in many of the late night discussions my troop has had. Free for all discussion is much needed and without is we have no freedoms or individuality.

Gotta get another soapbox, the old one is getting worn.

YIS

Help!!! Call Big Brother!!! (current gov't) Zero tolerance is the buzz word of tody. How many of us old fa-- wuld have had trouble in our youth if not for the common sense intervention of an adult that knew us? This is not a trip wire situation unless there is a history of this type of activity. Counseling yes, formal or informal, is indicated but is not the responsibility of every adult leader to hold scouts to an expectation of behavior that conforms to the norms of society? Automatically reporting a incident is part of the BSA guidelines, but, every situation calls for mature review of the case and appropriate action taken at that time. Once again this is not a trip wire case. On a side note we had the n----- situation, not reported,called in or escalated, handled at troop level and one scout is an Eagle and the other is earning his. Not that he is a perfect kid, but, without scouting who knows where he would be now.

YIS

Yaworski, out of curiosity I decided to check your member profile for this forum---it's blank. Interesting.

The scouters in my home area know who red feather is. In that respect I am 'unique'. I chose the name to ensure that those who I interact with in this area would know who I am. Don't really care or necessarily would want those outside the group of scouters that I respect and have worked with for the last 10 years (some longer) have all the particulars on me. Just as I do not want every organization and group have my life history as part of their database. As far as updating my profile , have been trying and have failed to do it properly for some reason. Would you go so far as to insist that I post my SSN to allow 'proper' background checks?

YIS

Stay the course! Scouting will open up adventures that he can't imagine yet. Does your troop push cooking, survival, knots and high adventure?

These will give him confidence that many of his peers will not have. Speaking from experience, two boys now eagles with Canada and Philmont under their belts. Not to mention they can cook up a storm (at least on an open fire). You have to make it exciting, remember, no matter how little you may or may not know about these things you know more than they do or at least have the maturity, age, training to find out where to get it.

Looking for input about camping tidbits and hints. Wilderness survival, camping, cooking, skills, etc. Things such as a sponge is a good thing to have when canoeing or kayaking. Open to all ideas and suggestions to pass on to our scouts.

Making waves??? ME???? In a heartbeat!! But I do want to see where the new guard is going. The boys is the troop call me the enforcer since I am the 'hard core' scouter. Not true, but I fill the role in the troop that needs to be filled. recently (last few days) some of the new leaders found out that their vision of how scouting should run is not how it happens. Hope? One of our older scouts told me recently that the troop is going 'soft' and not learning skills that he had learned. Plan to stay around and stir the pot as I can.

YIS

Bob White and Yaworski. I would like and almost would pay money to have both of you together in a spit ball contest at 10 feet and listen to you discuss the proper way to do it.

Rooster 7, better than an adult? He is reflecting what he ahs been taught and we should be thankful that at least somthing has connected. As for respect from younger people--- i have lived longer and survived what they may face. I call our scouts sir or gentlemen and they call me mister. Recently one of our older scouts requested permission to call me by my first name, happily granted. Respect. As a side note how many teach scouts to stand and salute (appropriately) whtne flag passed in a parade? Recently, during a parade the flag was about to pass and boys in the troop in 'civvies' did not stand and were reminded that they were scouts and should stand and show respect for the flag.

Sounds like your SM needs to get with the program of scouting. Is he going to carry all of the boys packs on high adventure because they might hurt themselves? Or not allow float trips because they might flip over? Please let him know, for me, that scouting is to expand a scouts horizons and increase their own image of themselves as capable, confident, young people. If he does not allow them to grow in scouting then he is causing a portion of our society to grow up wishing, hoping that someone will come along and do things for them absolving them of all responsibility for waht happens to and around them.

Yes, many of us on the net assume a 'mon de guere' (sp). This is not that there is something to hide but we are not fortunate enough to have an unique name. This is a forum that allows us to express opinions and thoughts without (hopefully) causing direct, personal responses. Question authority please, but do it within acceptable (common) norms. Once opinions become a target for ridicule and abuse then the forum no longer becomes an open one and is then used by those who are 'acceptable'. And is therefore no use to anyone except the few.

Off the soap box.

WOW!! What a topic. Call the National Guard, mobilize federal forces, the thought police, NAACP. etc, etc, etc. Common sense please, common sense. Is the scout is question all that bad? Long history or abuse/bullying? Or is scouting what he really needs-- adult role models? Or is he not suited for other human association. Let's take it in a slightly different direction---- calling a fellow scout a N---- is that grounds for dismissal or an opportunity for the adult leadership to step up and start a learing process to eliminate improper behavior? Used to calling a kid 'yellow' was grounds for a free for all. When I was military calling someone a 'straight leg' was good for some sort of confrontation. From one of the two things that fell from the sky. ( and used to be a long haired hippy)

Don't know what level of training all of the CMs have. But most are trained to some extent, some are volunteer adults wanting to help in some way. The troop is going through a philosphy change since the old guard is stepping back (most of us no longer have boys active) and the new guard is coming in and learning what makes a good troop. Still some of what is going on makes me nervous, but whats going on may be 'right' for the younger scouts and their parents. Time will tell.

Chuck or patrol boxes come in many designs and sizes. I like the ones that the boys can carry and setup. Take a look in the Campmor catalog, there is a patrol box there and under magnification you can get a very good idea of how it is put together. I am building one for myself based on that picture. Might also try web search for chuck boxes or a variation of that.

Keep these sort of organizations in mind for scouts doing research for Eagle projects. Most organizations have a list of projects or families that need more attention than can be provided.

Recently our TC passed a requirement for scouts who had not reached their Life rank by the first of the year or so (forget the exact date) for advancement. Den Chief training and JLT is now required for advancement. I expressed some trepidation in the adoption in that I do not think a TC can add requirements to what BSA hs established. Looking for input.

The most difficult problem that I have seen in failing or in trouble troops is the parent participation. COH are great times to recruit parents and get them involved. Disdain for DC and above...... about the only time we hear from district is when they want money from the troop or when they have a pet project that they want us involved in. the troop I am involved with is one of the premier troops in our area and we are accused of not supporting the distict, therefore not a 'proper' troop supporting BSA. We are a very active troop doing spelunking, sailing, canoeing, backpacking, high adventure, on top of pushing the basic scout skills. We draw from 4-5 packs and get 2-3 transfers a year from other troops. But we are doing something incorrect according to a lot of the district and pro scouts. Each troop os different and should rise or fall on the merits of that troop. Parnetal involvement is paramount in the survival of a troop. Off the soap box. Thanks

Input to a forum should always be accepted. The response generated is then open to review and 'attitude check'. The negative response just might be the one that is at the heart of the problem in question. Removal of non-correct responses limits the ability of the poster to express their beliefs and philosphies. Let 'em express and then determine the level of believability and usefullness.

SM does not have to go to Eagle Projects. Actually scouts do not have to go to the project either however it is recommended to allow service hour for the younger scouts and to give them experience on what a project entails. Recently we had a scout propose and execute a project that involved members of sports teams and band members. Went very well and introduced what scouting is about to people outside of scouting.

Definitely no electronics for the scouts. Long trips CD players are ok if the driver agrees. Books are allowed, don't want to discouage reading. The troop usually carries some game boards (checkers, chess, etc.) on overnights for when the weather does not allow activies (heat, very heavy rain, etc.) One scout in the troop tried to get around this by having a flashight with a built in radio, which was allowed after the batteries were removed and the battery compartment duct taped. Adults carry comm devices that may be necessary for safety or work.

The more I thought about this issue the more i have to include. Adults who go on the o-nites are instucted as to what their duties are:

1. Ensure that the scouts follow proper Outdoor Etiquete (sp?)

2. Make sure the woods do not burn down.

3. Provide experience and knowledge as needed.

4. Have fun.

My particular duties are to make sure my coffee cup is full, that my chair does not become lonely, and to respond to questions from scouts (other than the SPL or acting SPL) find the SPL and ask him the question. Works pretty well.

Drat passwords, lets try this again. Well said OGE. Well said. I also agree THE MORE THE MERRIER. There are very few oportunities for adults to become involved with the youth of today. Do not limit the chances. Some of the best overnights have been when there are a fairly large number of adults. The adult patrol sets the example on how the patrol method should and does work. The boys see that we are asking them to do no more than what we ourselves are willing to do. Besides when we sit down of the evening for out Sit and Squak sessions the scouts sometimes wonder when the rubber trucks are coming for either the Rat Pack or Crakd Pots. Don't short change the adults who wish to be involved, let go of the reins and let others learn to enjoy working with the boys and allow them to set adult examples for the boys to follow in their lives.

Just to add to the mix. Who knows why the BSA wears the flag on the uniform with the blue field facing to the back and the military in some cases wears the flag with the blue field facing front?

Not knowing the scout in question or the history of his journey through scouting I have an interesting reaction to this issue. The troop that i am involved with is ging through a philosphy change with the new adult leadership. Similar issues are being brought up concerning older scouts going for their eagle. The new leaderships stance is that since the boys have not shown leadership during their tenure (sports, music, work and older scout type activities) is that they should not and have not earned their eagle. These scouts have paid their dues in years past and I am happy that they are 'staying around' to complete their journey through scouting. Know how to make an animal mean and distrustful? Hang a reward just out of their reach for years and then after they have done all what was required of them over all this time take,or deny them the reward. Pass on through this and endevour to prevent this situation from happening again. Present the award, hope for the best and try to prevent a repeat of the situation.

After reading 5 pages of responses to this issue I have to say I am a victum f the snipe hunt and the smoke shifter, shorelind, tent stretcher, etc. What it tought me was to evaluate, question, decide, and if the issue could not be logically quetined then ask question about the quest. Pick your targets!! and teach them this lesson. PC or not the youth you are in charge of to teach, lead, and help grow since many parents look at

scoutning as a "time away" are your responsibility. Would you want your child to be completey gullible???? We recently had an adult that fell for the left haned smoke shifter joke, he was on reservation staff, sad. teach your scouts to question, not accept at face value everything told to them, they are not cattle. You might be surprised at the result. To much coddelng will result in individuals that accept too much without question and then would wonder what happened"?"