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Scouter&mom

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  1. As I watched the news develop on CNN last night, I couldn't help but think about my son who is at our Scout camp for staff week this week. I had already been wondering if they would have special severe weather drills this year, after a tornado (or severe winds) went through camp during staff week last year. Thankfully the weather only took some trees down and blocked some road ways. The first full day they were there this year, we had severe thunderstorms with hail that were very near camp, and have had severe thunderstorms each evening they have been there. I expect that a tornado drill w
  2. I have been reluctant to take Woodbadge for a similar reason. Not that I think my ticket items will change my unit too much, but that I refuse to become caught up in our council's "honey-do" list of projects that they try to pass off to Woodbadgers. Friends who have attended have been "encouraged" to tweak their ticket to solve a district or council need and have even been presented with a council want/need list.
  3. Gern suggested trading your SUV for a used Honda civic... Well let me ask, If I trade my paid-for crew cab truck for that used Civic, who would haul my scouts and their gear around? Do I just pull my support And please tell me where to find that used civic for a reasonable price. I have spent the last 6 months looking for a used car for my son. I can buy a new one for the same price as a used one that I feel like will get him back and forth to band practice and Scout camp without leaving walking miles of country roads.
  4. Scoutersmom, you get my PM??
  5. WOW!! I can't imagine our SE trying to force training on some of our leaders by threatening to refuse charter renewal. I do think training should be on-going for everyone. We have a mix of feelings about training in our council and district. Some who think the old WB is the only course that was any good, and those that think the new courses are better, and some of us in the middle who see advantages and disadvantages to both. Just this week, I heard a SM say that the NYLT syllabus was missing all the leadership training that was in the old JLT course and that he doesn't thing the NYLT course
  6. Don't know about Cub Leader Position Specific, but just yesterday our District Director told me there was a new syllabus and training package for New Leader Essentials. It would seem the others would be updated too. Especially since Wood Badge has become WB 21st century and JLT has become NYLT. They all sure need it, since the hair and clothing on some of them is straight out of the 70's, and should be allowed to be retired.
  7. Lisa, I am ordering Coleman's cot & air mattress combination, since I am short, I can get by with 72" long one. Air mattress is removable and whole thing only weighs just over 10 lbs. Ordering from coleman's non-profit site (added on troop order), it cost about $45 and since troop order is well over $200 shipping is free. Since I have arthritis in several joints from doing too many rough activities, I find a regular cot is too hard, even with a camping pad. I can deal with a pad for a night or two, but for a week, I gotta be more comfortable.
  8. Our council holds council pinewood derby at local mall. Our council is rural and this is the only large mall in the council, so people from all over come to it. We get to set up in the area where Santa is at Christmas and Easter Bunny is in early spring. Kids know there is something interesting in that area of the mall usually. Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts and Leaders are encouraged to come in uniform. They are allowed to pass out information to anyone who asks (just can't approach mall customers unasked). We usually get some new kids from that.
  9. Lisa, Jamboree as a Scout is a once in a lifetime chance. (for most anyway because of the timing of the event), but like the others said, it is not a troop thing. They will be part of a council contingent troop with many boys of different ages going. Cost may very well be a factor, but because of our location and the equipment, Jambo has been less expensive than Philmont. Most of our southern boys already had what they needed for jamboree. Just a few more pairs of shorts and a couple extra shirts. Since we don't have any mountains within 2-3 hours or desert closer than 2 day drive,
  10. None of the GA state parks I have talked to have given us a discount either. We usually use the primitive sites when we take the troop (never taken the pack to a State Park). Don't forget to have your parents who have an Annual ParkPass to use them or allow you to use them. When we have been at State Parks, I have gone around to the regular campground showers and used them. Just make sure I have my Annual Pass hanging from mirror. Another thought is check on camping at other BS camps nearby. For example, our camp is less than 100 miles from your location, and we have nice showers with
  11. Our troop uses bamboo!! It's lightweight and fairly sturdy. You would have to plan your sizes for a tower or monkey bridge, but you would with wood too. It can grow to 3-4" in diameter. Bamboo is a noxious weed. It was planted many places (here in the South at least) as screening plants back in the 40's and 50's, and has gone wild taking over large areas. It is hard to kill, and many landowners wouldn't mind you cutting some. My mother has some on a farm that she has paid to have sprayed by crop duster and it still keeps growing and spreading. We cut poles each time we are there to kee
  12. Our troop lends equipment to our pack on a regular basis. We decided that since "A Scout is Thrifty", it made much more sense for the pack not to purchase duplicate equipment that would only be used four or five times a year. This allows the pack (and all the boys and parents) to attend the cub scout and webelos weekends at our council camp easily. We have enough tents that we can loan tents to parents if they need them, and they don't have to go buy one just to go to camp one weekend and try out camping. Many parents will buy their own tent after the first weekend, when they decide Cub Scout
  13. As a life long Georgian, my advice is learn to live with it. If it can't be washed with bleach (and lots of it) it will be red clay colored. Red, orange, and brown don't show it as bad as light colors. Every year, I watch the boys go home from summer camp with orange tinted light blue, yellow or grey camp shirts. If you look in lots of the state park stores and other "tourist" stores, you will see "official red GA clay" tee shirts. By the way, when my son went to Jambo, he took pictures of the dirt, because it was black and not red.
  14. So doesn't somebody want to donate me some time off work, so I can take em up on my invitation? If you are invited, but can't go, can you ask to go another year? Do certain councils or regions get more spots, or was it just that our council may have been one of those "test" councils. I know a lot of people that got the packet. Really would love to go, and take my 17 year old and let him do NAYLE, but I just can't get away from work this year.
  15. All I can say is WOW!!! Our very small council, will not do anything but basic leader courses during its annual University of Scouting during early fall. Everyone sits through New Leader Essentials (unless you show up late for the day) then they do age level training.. SM/ASM, Commissioner training or Den Leader specific. And then they wonder why no one bothers to come. I have been a registered leader for 5 years and been to several age trainings. Cub Scout Pow-Wow is on a different day and they do teach supplemental classes there, no basic training. My big complaint.. Is set the dat
  16. Pizza for one patrol at Troop meeting... that sounds like you are asking for whining and complaining to start in... I can see the patrol that wins the pizza having the other boys hanging over them, saying "hey good buddy, you remember when I helped you out?" etc.. Too many of them will beg and bribe and it won't be a special thing for them.. The kids are indoctrinated with everything must be fair from everywhere else, so make it easy for the winners to enjoy the spoils of glory. How about getting some pizza's to campout for that one patrol?? Or as supper when they return from campin
  17. For those of you that get the chance, check on "NASCAR Angels" this week, was just on here in the east. Each week, they select an "deserving" individual, repair and upgrade his car, and throw in some visits with NASCAR celeberities. This week it was a SM in inner city Indianapolis. His car was re-done, he and some of his troop visited "The Brickyard" race track, he and his troop were given camping goodies from several NASCAR sponsors and the boys in his troop earned Auto Mechanics merit badge helping the shop repair his car. Really cool show. Video of show is available at NASCAR site. http://w
  18. Should OA lodges collect permission slips and/or Medical authorization forms for events? I am thinking more of things like Conclaves than ordeal or fellowship weekends. In either case, since the lodge member usually will not have a parent along, shouldn't the lodge require permission forms/and authorization for medical treatment. Is our lodge the only one that doesn't collect these? Or is OA somehow outside of BSA and G2SS regulations? I don't like to be an alarmist, but it scares me terribly to see these adults (that I don't know well) taking boys hundreds of miles away witho
  19. Do be sure and annotate Dual Membership on apllications. Also when re-charter comes up, don't forget to remind everyone. If you do internet re-charter, you have a check box to mark your dual registered, non-primary (non-paying) members.
  20. Beav, ya not gonna make this grit-eater jealous! We have many days of sunshine. Even last week when the temp was in the teens overnight, it got up to upper 40's during day and we had gorgeous sunshine. It's not the cold I mind, it is the grey dreary days without end that I disliked when I went "up north". I was having beginning to have issues after 5 days with no sun, just a never ending cycle of rain, sleet, and snow. This morning we had thunderstorms and tornado watch. By lunch, we were in the 60's and the sun was out. Nice day to get outside (and I don't have to worry about frostbit
  21. spend time getting to know him.. find out what his likes, dislikes and experience are. Hope he really enjoys Scout type things and has a Scouting background. Be there to talk and answer questions. Just be positive and don't expect the new one to be the old one. Previous one had a business degree and athletic background, but no Scouting, didn't like camping, was great at talking to the little boys and fundraising, but wasn't much interested in program. New one is Eagle Scout, loves hiking, mountain biking and recruits boys with his "cool toys". He really cares about the program and empath
  22. Ok, I guess I should have been more specific. I do remember that the Scout applied on the youth application. I am looking for more information on things like if they have to audition or submit a tape or a recommendation letter. I know a Scout is honest and wouldn't say "hey, I can play trumpet" if he couldn't but there could be a big range of ability between various boys. I would think they would want boys with Marching Band experience. What I really looking for is information on the selection process and specific requirements that would relate to band.
  23. Does anybody know the previous requirements for Jambo band? My son has expressed interest in going to Jambo 2010 as a band member. I remember seeing the info for 2005, but since he was going as a contingent member, I didn't pay a lot of attention. Since he will be 19 in 2010, he is exploring options on going as staff.
  24. I don't specifically know of anyone that used this exact line, but I suspect it (or something very similar is used often). I think many of those parents learn which troops are the MB & Eagle mills and move their sons to those troops. I know of at least two boys that have left our troop for a better fit because that was their reason for being there -- getting Eagle for the bragging rights. I think of the mom who when I mentioned a conflict my son had with a band activity telling me that "thank goodness sons have earned their eagle and are through with that (scouting)." This is the sa
  25. It can be done, but I think many kids aren't motivated quite enough. We have one boy, who crossed over in Feb and picked up First Class last meeting before Christmas. He hasn't missed many meetings, and almost always makes it to other activities. He crossed over and then began to prepare for camporee. We had a campout and a lockin (slept in building, but spent all day outside setting up camp, cooking, etc) at the church in preparation for camporee that he attended. He went to summer camp (said first year program was boring because he had already done it all) and has been on all our campo
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