red feather

Wow! Thanks, Trev. New thing for me to use at my next Eagle Bors. Have two coming up this month. Very good and thanks.

yis

Ditto OGE

yis

Mom and Dad did not have scouting where they grew up. But my Mom was a Den Mother for us (myself and 2 twin brothers, 3 yrs diffence). When we moved into Boy Scouts my Dad (in some way, I was to young to know how) became Scoutmaster and fulfilled that position for almost 20 yrs. One of my brothers took over and has been Scoutmaster for 15 yrs off and on. The other brother is active in scouting with his son (Eagle) and we think is going to be a Scoutmaster also.

Myself, I have been an ASM for 9 years and on the committee for 2 yrs and forgot to dodge and am now a Scoutmaster (say a prayer please ). Both of my sons are Eagles, one in the Army as a Medic and the other in College.

All three of us (my brothers and myself are Eagle Scouts) and all of us understand what scouting has meant for us.

Don't know if there is a scouting gene but I agree that the values that Scouting puts forth for young men is and has been a something that we all value and want to pass on.

We also have around a 100 years experience in scouting as a family. What a thing to have as a heritage isn't it?

Eagle 1968

yis

Thanks, am passing it on to the Troop and the engineers that I work with. What a great a simple idea.

yis

meamemg, your post gave the reason to continue on to Eagle.

"becoming an Eagle Scout is for the recognition that is seen to the rank by the rest of the world."

Wow, not many youthful achievements recieve that kink of recogntion. The military gives an automatic rank advancement for Eagle and the military acadamies recognize the achievement also and I do not doubt that public and private colleges do the same thing for all the reasons mentioned by the previous posters.

All and I repeat ALL of the scout leaders who did not finish their Eagle that I have met over the last 20 plus years have stated that they regret not getting their Eagle rank back when they were youths.

I hope you will not be one of them.

Go for it, you will not be disapointed.

yis

Eagle Scout 1968

(and yes it did help me get my first job in the field that I am in 25 years ago. Interviewer was a Scouter and had earned his Eagle.)

Haven't heard of this one either.

When I pull the troop trailer I do not have another scout in the truck with me. Another adult if the seat is needed but no scouts.

yis

Ditto the PVC pipe, would recommend tho to build a frame (don't glue it ) that will support the netting. This will help prevent the pipe punching through the netting and also make it sturdier and more able to withstand the young ones efforts to get out of bed. Also make sure it does not touch the tent fabric itself. Nothing like having a leaky tent channeling right to the cot.

yis

Fingers crossed and prayers sent. Both of my boys went without me and managed to come back even tho I paid good money to have them left up there.

Semper, thanks I needed that chuckle and it reminds me that I have put off filling in the tiger pits in the back yard. Boys have moved out and I have no need for the pits anymore. Besides they are big enough now to climb out of them and I do not feel up to digging them any deeper.

yis

Not sure how to reply. Could there be a hypothetical, what if?, scenario?

Just curious.

yis

Hearing the rain hitting the lakes up on the Boundary Waters... sounded like little bells. The sound of the bear that rummaged through our campsite. The sound of the wilds waking up of a morning. The sound of the wind whistling through the woods and fields. The sounds of the scouts enjoying themselves as they learned how to be scouts out camping. Hearing the sound of the campfire as it played out its life for my enjoyment. Hearing the evening sounds of the world as it wound down for the night. The lonely sound of the owl as it started its nightly hunts and the sound of its wings as it wound its way through the woods. The comforting sounds of a stream over rocks after a hard portage. The sounds of a light rain as it hit my tent. The sound of a train whistle way off in the distance as the fire burns down. The 3 whistle blast of a scout in trouble. The cry of a scout needing comfort as night.

Yep, I sure am glad that just because something is portable, small and lightweight, I did not bring to camping something that is better enjoyed in different surroundings. Scouts camping is, imho, a situation that is supposed to expand their horizons and experiences. Not to make it something that they can pigeon hole as another place to text message and listen to their current favorite band.

Outdoors has its own music and enjoyments. Hopefully in the short time that scouts go camping as scouts we can help them learn to listen to it.

Sorry for the soap box, putting it away for now.

yis

Yes I can remember when....

Scouts and scouters actually walked at Philmont and carried all their gear in what was called a backpack. That was before the personal hoverpad and tagalong carrier.

One could actually go to Canada, just north of Ely, Minn and find true wilderness. Not built up areas of condos and business districts.

I remember those antiques called compasses and later the hand held GPS's. That was before the gps become part of the PIP. (personal implant package)

We cut firewood with sharp edged pieces of metal, ya know axes and hatchets? Now all the scouts use perlls. (personal range limited lasers)

And I sure was sad when I could not find replacement parts for my old tent and had to get one of those new fangled individual weather shields. (although I did get the extra full length ground effect sleep hover)

thanks for the chuckles

yis

OGE, thanks for all the tolerance and work that you put into being a moderator and all around good scout.

yis

Thanks for all the information. I cannot take credit for the word play on BSA. I first heard it around 36, 37 years ago from my dad. He was a scoutmaster at the time and was going through pretty much what we are now.

Different times, same issues.

YIS

We ask each patrol to 'Be prepared' for conditions that they do not expect and they usually have supplies to meet their needs.

However, we also tell each patrol that when they serve meals that they serve the food according to rank. The lowest rank first (assuming that the scout is awake) and on up with the PL and cook eating last. If the scout is not awake and misses a meal it is the PL that is required to come up with a solution. Usually not a tough one but it is their responsibility to make sure each scout is fed. And the responsibiltiy of the PL to let the SPL know if the PL cannot make sure the scout is fed. And on up the line.

On the times that the troop eats together the rule still applies with the adults eating last in the same order that the scouts follow. (the older scouts and scouters should have learned to have a reserve food supply put back just in case)

Took only one time when the older scouts went a bit hungry and the adult scouters went a bit more hungry to teach the lesson of proper planning.

yis

Bob, this response is only because I respect you and your knowledge of scouting.

Yes, posting 'baby sitters of america' is equivalent to yelling fire on this forum but it was done because we need the input of this forum and need it a fairly short period of time.

And it is that important to me and the troop.

All the information given on this thread is being sent to members of the committee that are preparing an action plan and is being very helpful to us in generating that plan.

Keep the information and personal experiences coming as both are extremely helpful to us.

Thanks in advance.

yis

ps: the lack of committee members at meeting is due to a break down of communication and the blame for that can be spread around to all here fairly well. Working on it.

Sorry for the second post.

Dug, we are trying to recruit adults for ASMs, committee membership and we have targeted a current ASM for SM and are getting real close to nailing that one down. Just need new people to start moving into adult positions not for just now but for the future.

yis

Guess I need to correct my profile. Currently a committee member, past ASM for many years. Both boys Eagles and pursuing their lives.

We have tried some targeting methods and it occassionaly does work. Seems the last couple batches of new parents duck, dodge and weave to keep away from being recruited. Efforts are always ongoing but we are having trouble.

Currently there are 14 committee members I think.

8-10 come to committe meetings. The committee membership is not the issue for us( or at least not immediately). It is getting parents to sign up and become active ASMs.

Just for the record, I believe that the scouts in the troop would not place me in the 'babysitter' category. But the phrase was used as I knew it to be a scouting buzz word and would get your attention.

Thanks for the input,it is being forwarded to the commitee on a daily basis. Please keep the ideas and experiences coming.

yis

Thanks for the input so far.

Manyirons:

We have tried parents meetings (the same people that usually show up were there. Parent meetings both during Court of Honor, and specially time designated meetings. Mailings, schedules, calenders, all with specific needs indicated. No response from anyone that is not already involved.

We have sufficient committee membership to cover the needs of the troop (except for troop meeeting attendance). We are already a mix of old guard and new blood on the committe and yes some of the old guard is looking to 'do less' officially but are still trying to stay as active as possible.

Not many new ASMs and many of them are having work conflicts. Most registered ASMs do not have boys in the troop but do what they can.

eamonn

preaching to the choir, preaching to the choir

madkins007 and eagle 90

your suggestions will be passed onto the Committe Chair and the Scoutmaster. Thanks for the input.

Thanks again and looking for more input

yis

Looking for ideas and methods to get more parents involved with the troop and scouting.

Have searched the forums database and reviewed all threads that may be appropriate. If I missed one please let me know.

The troop that I am with is having a problem with getting parents involved with not only day to day activies but with showing up at meetings, and staying there.

How have other troops generated paritication of the parents in scouting? Incentives?

We are having trouble having BOR for scouts due to the lack of adults at the meeting. Those who are there when they can are the 'old guard' who do not have sons in the troop. Not much participation of new parents.

Looking for ideas, methods, threats, of getting parents involved. Close to having to cancel meetings due to lack of two deep leadership of a troop where 15 to 25 boys show up.

Thanks in advance for your input.

yis

Very good listing of Be Prepared equipment. Thanks

Just a few additions:

Paperback book

Deck of cards

Extra cotter pins or equivalent ( I like the metal shower hooks, they have many uses) for the backpack if you have an external frame

Breakaway compass/whistle lanyard (sometime back took a tumble and the lanyard I had on did not breakaway and by the time it did break...ouch!!

yis

Have not laughted so much.

Time between slipping on a peel and smacking the pavement.

One bananosecond.

Murphys Law: What can go wrong will go wrong.

Various authors: Murphy was an optimust.

Coles Slaw: Thinly sliced cabbage

yis and thanks

No words, no words....

Prayers and heartfelt sorrow and thank you to the young man and his family. May their sacrifice be honored and recognized by all.

Scouts Attention! ..... Hand Salute!

yis

Having read this thread a couple of times I am reminded of a story that one of my brothers told me.

He was at the time a second generation scoutmaster and at a parade when the colors were passing he called his troop to attention and called for scout salute.

Not only did the scouts of the troop salute but several members of the audience saluted with the scout salute as well.

No mention of what uniform was worn by either the troop or the other scouts, but to me the important thing is they all showed respect to the flag and what they had learned it stood for.

Regardless of what a scout is wearing, class a,b, activity etc etc etc the (imho) is the fact that the recognize the need of that respect.

Doesn't matter how we get there but that we get there.

yis

The challenge is to live with interest.

Prayers and thoughts to your injured scout and to all that serve.

May his troubles be less.

yis

No problem here. Keep up the good work guys.

yis