Scoutfish

I think you guys gave me great answers. But let me clarirty: THis is NOT my plan. This was asked of them before I was an ASM with the troop. Back when the scouts went to a couple different troops to decide which one they wanted to join. They liked the idea and were already chomping at the bit to be boy scouts. Now, as a side note, all the boys in our Webelos den already knew how to cook..somewhat. Hot dogs, hamburgers, bacon, eggs, toast. Give my son a pot, some water and most any kind of pasta and he will cook you a past dish. One boy is a pretty darn good pizza maker. One makes a good beef stroganough which is pretty damn impressive to me. So again, I apreciate the answer and I do understand and will go by them myself. But please make note: I am the one who told my son that I would rather him age out at Scout rank and have had a ton of fun memories, than worry about advancement for the sake of advancement. Personally, I'd rather he not get Eagle before 16 years old at the soonest. To me, it's about the journey just as much as the destination!

No, not pro ball teams. These are guys in college who play during the summer break. Not even AAA yet. Full price tickets are $6.00 a game. When we went, scouts in uniform were free and adults associated with the scouts were $3.00 THese guys are people you never heard of unless you really follow college baseball.

Please...will somebody....anybodt answer ? LOL! Okay, Like I said, I will not push them, but will help them ( by encourageing ) them advance as much as they are ready too. I will say this about my troop, if you are signed off on something, you can bet you will know it inside, outside, and upside down. My troop also goes camping at least once every month and usually 2 times a month except month of summer camp. Looking at a few various FYFC shedules, I am thinking most of it would/could be met without even trying for FCFY . But like I said, the scouts were given a description of this during their Webelos SM conference. They all said they wanted to do it. So, I am thinking that, yeah, they all said they wanted to, but will it really happen or will they change their mind later on? So, if they change their mind, could you still use the FYFC line up, just slow down the rate at which it is achieved or should you dump it completely and just concentrate on one rank at a time as they are outlined in the checkoff section in the hand book. Know what I mean? No overlapping skills as there are in the FCFY check off? Again, I am not going to push them, force them, or run it for them. I will help them advance as much as they are willing to do it, but not push it.

They used a generator for power. Plugs had different numbers on them. You could only go up to 5 or 6 somethinmg like that. So you could plug in two #3 cords, or three #2 cords, but not a #4 and #3 cord. If you did, the generator relay would kick out.

CONDENSED VERSION: Can youi still use the first year to 1st class checksheet even if you move at a slower place or do you follow another plan? Thanks, Mark

So, it was asked of all the scouts who just crossed into the troop, if they wanted to go for first class in first year. They all said yes of course. But what if this isn't practical or obtainable ? What if a scout changes his mind? When asked what my view of advancement was, I said that I will help and encourage the scouts to advance as much as they wanted or were ready for. I will not plow them through, nor will I hold them back. I will work with each boy at his potential and however fast he decides. I will encourge them, but not demand of them. I am not going to be a slavedriver, not am I gonna have a "I don't care" attitude. Each boy will be in control of how fast he advances, but I will offer gentle encouraging supportive pushes here and there when needed. I personally would rather see a scout age out as a scout and had a great time in scouting and learned alot than for it to just be a perent induced miserable experience of checklists of ranks recieved for a future resume. I want them to really enjoy it, which will in turn be a natural and fun way of advancing anyways. So, here is my question: If the boys follow the first year to first class schedule, and then decide that they do not really want to reach first class in the first year( for whatever reason) is this still a good plan to follow, or do you drop the plan,step back and just concentrate on each rank's requirements? I know that some things are intertwinned. But other than those? Not saying that any scout has decided this yet( only had 3 meeting so far) but I want to plan ahead and have a course of action ready ...just in case.

In a not so related - but related topic... At our council Resident camp, there are usually 5 or 6 activity badged available, but you can only take 3 of them. WE did this because you really couldn't take 4 or 5 or all 6 and complete the requirements to earn them. Pick 3 of the 5 or 6 offered. MB Academy's could be the same way: Offer as many as you want, but only sign up for a limited number of them. Or assign a point value to each MM available and set a max point value - kinda like the generator on Green Acres. Look at all the MB's available, pick them out and make sure their point value does not excede the max allowed. Rank MB's at 5, 10, 15, 15-I, and 20 points. The "I" designation meaning it would be "incomplete" as that merit badge could not be completely done at the academy.Also, location of the MB and the distance between MB class locations would be a factor. If two classes are on opposite sides of the camp, you wouldnt fit both in in the morning session. Some would only be supplimental and not a complete MB class. Citizen for example. You could not perform Requirements 3, 4-a, or 5 while at the MC Academy. But the rest are probably doable. So citizen could be ranked at 15-I points while Chess MB could be ranked as a 5 The MB Academy could be set at a max point limit of 20 When you reach "X" number of points, you cannot sign up for any more MBs Ummm...I am assuming everybody knows what Green Acres was and the generator reference?

Deaf, It's one of those things that get generalized in this site. For every awesome, intense, by the book MB Academy that does things legitimatly and right...there are 20 that do not. Even at the Cub Scout level - Webelos Scout Saturdays. Around here, Webelos can go to a 7am to 40 pm event that serves breakfast and lunch, and the Webelos scout come home with 5 or 6 completed activity badges? LEGIT? Nah, it was rushed, things were overlooked intentionally and people figured it was "close enough". But some boys only came home with 1 or 2 activity badges and those same scouts had already b een working towards those badges. Guess which ones get all the attention? The scouts who came home with 5 or 6 activity badges signed off in their books. So, yeah, a MB academy can be done right. CVan be very beneficial and serve the scouts and troop well. IRS agents can also be very friendly, courteous and helpful to the taxpayers...but those are not the majoritry or the ones we hear about are they? A spin off asking for advice on a MC academy is a great idea. You can hear everybody's issues and concerns and adress them before the fact instead of after.

Chris, I have been dragging my feet, but I AM going to buy a hammock! I have narrowed it down to these two choices: Light weight no-see-um http://www.campmor.com/outdoor/gear/Product___67907 GI style Jungle Hammock http://www.campmor.com/outdoor/gear/Product___41118 I will probably go with GI version because it already has the rain fly and seems like the material would be tougher than the light weight one. I have no doubt it will be heaver , but the trade off should be worth it.

I still stand with my answer too, which actually supports your decision in this case whih falls under: "that you have undesputable proof was done absolutely wrong." The class was done wrong, the MBC were not really MBC's, the scout showed up late, left early and cards were blank in the wrong places. I cannot see anybody holding any sort of good arguement agnsinst your decision. As far as seeing "adding/taking away from requirements" comments...that is a still debated thing. "I'm not adding a requirement, just clarifying ity." " But the book says a scout must be prepared, and not having /having done "X" means he is not prepared." You know what I mean, you will get a ton of answers on both sides of that. Anyways, I think you did the right thing. Merit badges are supposed to be earned, not given out. They are acomplishments, not something to just be collected. Is the father a leader or not? If he is a leader, he should know that " his son essentially ended up teaching two of the MB's (Woodworking and Chess) because he purportedly knew more on the subject " is DEFINANTLY not the same as taking ther MB class , and he has no argument to stand on. If dad is not a leader and not in the know...this is a good time to expolain to him how itv really works and he still has no argument to stand on .

WOw! Didn't mean to write a book!

With Cub Scouts, scouts first level of division should e age/grade. THis is of course, to give an age appropriate level of learning and adventure to them. It really only doesn't work when you have a scout who is pretty mature or immature for his age. After that, it's just adults not seeing te better picture. AS far as seperating dens based on what school you go to, what neighborhood you live in or even what color hair you have ...that needs to be tossed out and done away with. Whoever decided this is doing a huge disservice to the program and boys. The only percieved benefit would be on paper. At opne time, we had 3 seperate Tiger dens. We called then Tiger Den 3 , Tiger Den 8 and Tiger Den 5. Parents and/or the Tiger cub chose which den they wanted to be in. They did this based on which leader they liked, wether their son had a friend in that den and what that den did - because like you say, not every den of the same rank will do the exact same thing . Some boys started out in one den, but later went to another. Of course, all our den leaders worked together on biger things like the required go see it oppertunities at fire depts and seeing Officer Friendly ( do they still call him that? ) SO, other than mixing ages/grades up - like 4th grade (first year) Webelos with 2nd grade Wolves - you can mix the boys up however you want. Exception being a scout who has passed or failed a grade. Then you have to consider wether to put him in his age group or mental age group. Okay, mental age is not quite the right word, but based on his learning ability. Could be the boy is in a maturaty level of the grade he is in, or he might be maturer than that, but just not quite a book smart. That make sense? Anyways, you do what you need to do to make the boys have fun and stay interested. I tell my leaders that if we do not keep the boys interests and fun as our main goal, we might as well close up shop! As far as Boy Scouts, yeah...more complicated. Most patrols groupings start out based on a new group of scouts starting each year. You sorta need to keep the green guys in the same patrol and not mixed with the sr scouts as they have different mentalities, different maturaties, different things they need to work on as far as progressing in rank. But if you have a new class of at least 15 - 18 scouts a year, then you do have the awesome ability bto make 3 brand new patrols. Boys could change from one patrol to the next based on goals, progress and plans. Of course, at the same time, having s mix of different scouts at different levels of progress ain;t so bad either. THis is where they learn alot of stuff. EXAMPLE: If my son is a super achiever, and yours is not. This is where your son will learn to start stepping it up and learning to priortize. Likewise, my son will learn to slow down and also to start helping out his peers. THis is where they learn to work together as a team and help each other out for the greater benefit of all. Granted, my sons advancement would not be slowed down by your son's advancement, but they would learn about helping each other out, being a team, camraderie and even a bit about citizenship. Of course, there is another way to mix up and change patrols: Some boys drop out for one rteason or another: Parents move, sports, girls trap them with their evil syren songs, jobs, or the age or Eagle out. As the number of boys in a patrol diminishes, you sometimes have to mix 2 patrols to make one. But from my standpoint, the bigger importnace is on the cub scout level. You lose these boys, they may form a negative opinion about Boy Scouts without having a clue about how different it can be. ADults are usually ( but not always) the ones that ruin cub scouting for the boys. Again, if we aren't making it fun for the boys, we might as well shut the doors. In my own personal opinion...I'd rather the boy have fun before all else. If they have fun, they stick arouind. If they have fun, they participate more. If they have fun, they stick with it and learn alot of stuff even if they don't realize it. And fun is subjective. One scout loves doing service projects, the next one only likes the camping, the next likes wearing his uniform everywhere he can. I feel that you already know everything I just said..Now it's time to start pushing the rest of the leadership and committee here and there. Just don't push too much too soon. My pack had a case of : "But this is how we have always done it!" syndrome. I hate being traditional only for the sake of tradition. If there isn't a reason or meaning behind the tradition, then lets change it up and do something better. If tere is a real reason behind the tradition, we can still do it, but lets find a better cooler way to do it. It took some time and work, but our pack rocks now! GOOD LUCK!!!

Funny thing is, our council website still has a link for "tour Permit" but when you click on it, error 404 or something like that pops up. You have to click on teh "National Forms" link, then click on tour permits. You also don't get a signed paper copy of it afterward unless you specifically ask for it.

Well, you will find out that some volunteers do indeed wear two hats. Depending on which hats they are it is a non issue other than only having 1 offical registered title. Having an experienced Tiger DL is an awesome thing. The new Tigers will get a quality program from day one without having to deal with a trial and error session or somebody doing things wrong. Another thing to look at is this: While there "shouldn't" be a reason for people to wear two hats, reality dictates that it happens often. Maybe you have 45 parents who do absolutely nothing. You can ask them to help out, but you can not make them. Some people are too scared, some are too lazy , some wouldn't do it if you offered them $40.00, valet parking and a free cup of coffee. So, in the real world, you will have a small core group of people who end up doing almost everything and another small group who help often, and a huge group that will do nothing at all - ever! As a CM myself, I am flexible that I can do other stuff. I could run the Tiger den too if need be because during regular den meeting nights, I do not have anything to do anyways, but to offer to help if a den needs me. On Pack meeting nights, the Tigers would be there with everybody else. Since I am not doing individual groups stuff, it means I am leading everybody...including the Tigers. A few years ago, we had a great ACM who was in reality the Webelos II den leader. On paper he was a ACM and he had an on paper Webelos DL too. The on paper Webelos II DL was in reality a den secretary/treasurer. So titles were one way, leadership was another, but the boys themselves got a great program by great leaders. Plus you know, as a former ACM, you were just like the VP of the US; Not much to do unless the CM couldn't do his job. That and you organize the religious awards program..which in truth is kinda odd since the rules, requirements and such for the religious award is outside of scouting anyways. So with a mom and dad duo, One could be Tiger DL - with all the required parent guides since Tigers dos not require an ADL. The other Could be Webelos DL- and get a third parent to be another ADL. Speaking of which, there is not a maximun number of ADL's you can have. Not that I think you will ever have that problem anywyas. My son's Wolf and Bear years, there were 24 active boys in his den. We had a DL and 3 ADL's. Still too big of a den to be effective and too much on the DL ( paperwork and keeping up with advancement) but just showing you can have more than one ADL per den. As long as the two dens do not meet at the same time on the same night...it shouldn't be a problem.

Brewmeister , I'm the complete opposite: I sleep on my side at home because I have deep enough padding on my pillowtop matreess that It hold me just right. But when I am camping, I sleep on my back because I will sink all the way through my air matress til I hit the ground. I also tend to list from side to side. So, I end up sleeping on my back, which is also when I snore. Yeah...I snore when sleeping on my back, but not on my side.

DLChris71, Under the part " Party will travel By ( check all that apply" I wrote " personal owned vehicle " Didn't have a problem at all. Departing place was the destination itself since we did not convoy ( not allowed) and since we did not have an officail meeting spot other than the actual camp area. Plus, you figure that depending on work and what not, people will arrive at different times. I am "usually " the fist one at our campsites by a couple hours. Some folks don't get there until after dark. We start our campouts late on Friday afternoon, but some don't show until Saturday morning. If you have a problem , call Beth at the council office. Trust me, she's the person you contact if you really want to find out what's going on.

Yeah, camps are just about filled ( or over filled ) up already for Cubs. Boy scouts should have already signed up and paid for or at least deposited by now. But for packs, the best stuff is done at the pack level. Summer time fun days. We went to the above mentioned ball game for June and will do it agin this June. In July, we go to a sound side beach ( no waves or undercurrent) and make a day of fishing, swimming, sand castle building, and swimming. You'd be surprised at how many things scouts would enjoy that we tend to look past because it's "boring" or "not fun" for us. Basement, I know you know how to think outside of the box! In August, we have been to the Battleship USS North Carolina BB-55 . We have been bowling in August too ( hooray for air conditioning!). There are a few Civila war and revolutionary war sites we can visit and even see re-enactments.

So, if I understood your post, you have April covered, right? If not, I only offer this advice when it comes to Summertime activities: Simple, fun, and think like a kid! They do not have to be productive to be productive. Socializing, interaction , and plain fun will create the same atmosphere come fall when the pack starts meeting agin. We went to a intercollegiate summer series ball game. Our scouts got in free, led the opening ceremony, met ( and wore out ) the mascot, played the games they had every inning. Had a blast. At the end of the game they ( the ball park) shot off fireworks. May is a good time to bring up advancement scenaerios. You know, they ones they ask about about a scout who is a grade ahead, behind, held back, etc..... We discuss beltloops that can be earned while on summer vacation and family trips. This is also especially important with the Webelos. June is when our RT has an ice cream social. Yep! We just sit and eat ice cream and people write down 5 things they would like to se as the topics of next years RT's. Write them in order of how much you'd like to see them. August is our welcome back RT and we jump right into roundups and recruiting ideas and tactics.

You know.........there are programs that are shown on tv that I do not like. Could be they are not my style. Maybe not geared to my age group, or just outside of my interests. I like watching SyFy ( although the name is stupid as all get out). I like watching The History Channel and Spike TV. Can't stand MTV or any of the shows thay show. I hate Nancy Grace and all those other "news" shows that purposely show only one side of any story and they poll callers to determine in somebody is actually guilty. I personally think tose kind of show cause people to loose touch with reality and common sense. Guilty until proven guilty - and still considered guilty afterward anyways But instead of telling people that they shouldn't watch those shows I don't like or do not even agree with.....I just change the channel and do not watch them. Yeah, it's that easy! It's like I have the power to make them not be shown on my tv! So...speaking of programs and groups we do not like or agree with........

DLChris71, Beth at the scout office gives these out to the Committee Chairs after recharter is done She doesn't even print them until after recharter . You don't want to print cards for people who quit and you also want to make sure you have cards for those who have joined since last recharter. So, could be your CC has them, or that the CO got them in the mail. Could e that beth still has them at teh scout shop. Give her a call and she will tell you if she has them or who she gave them to.

If the signature was fake or forged, if the Blue card was not approved to start with or if it was a camp MC class that you have undesputable proof was done absolutely wrong. Other than that, if it has valid signatures...you accept it golden....wether you like it or not.

Oh wow! I totally did not even think about going to the scout shop and seeing what they might have, Brain fart on my part! Thanks!

I agree Rat! Kinda sounss like High Chancellor Adam Sutler in V for Vendetta " Mr. Dascombe, what we need is a clear message to the people of the country! This message should be read in every newspaper, heard on every radio, seen on every television. This message must resound throughout the ENTIRE INTERLINK! I want this country to realize that we stand on the edge of oblivion! I want every man, woman, and child to understand how close we are to chaos! I WANT EVERYONE to remember WHY THEY NEED US!" Sure, you want to wear the uniform right. But to say not wearing a necker, or not wearing it correctly will lead to disrespect for law and order? WOW! That's more than a bit over the top. Alot of our leaders do not wear neckers. at any given time, a third of our boys are not wearing them or not in uniform. So far, there haven't been any molotov cocktails or breaking and enterings. Haven't had ant scouts stealing or committing crimes either. Me thinks that Jmaes West had a little bit of OCD. And sounds a bit like Freud with his rationalization and reasoning. Know what I mean? He put his own thouggts and isues on everybody else: "The reason you hate your necker is because it represents your mother, who you hate and want to have sex with!" Umm...nah, I just hate that it itches and irritates me when I am hot and sweaty!

Gunny & Kudu, THis is why I am planning on buying a hammock. Been dragging my fet, but I am planning on getting one. Whenever we go camping, my back will be kinda sore after the first night, and really sore after the second night. This si using a air matress too. Part of it is the getting in and out of the tent, part is prcatically laying down on the grouind, ten getting back up and out again. Think about it: You go to your tent, squat down or hunch over to get in. At that point, you practically crwl on your hands and knees and spend all your tent time hunched over at a not so normal angle. Getting dressed ain't no walk in the park either. Have to hunch over to put on a shirt. Then you stick your legs straight up to slip on your pants...but you can only pull them up to mid thighs. Then you put your feet down, and arch your middle body up and supported by your feet and shoulders while yanking your pants on the rest of the way. Then you get on your knees to tuck your shirt in and button your pants. SHoes/boots? Wether you hunch over in the tent or go outside depsnds on wether you have a rug or mat outside and if the dew will cause any and everything on the ground to stick to your socks. No wonder I am sore after camping...I just spent each evening and morning becoming a contortionist!

Here's what I thought about trying: At Sam's club, next to the matresses, they sell those foam pads. We bought one for my sons bead. It's used to make a regular matress a pillowtop matress. This pad is 4" thick memory foam. Top side is flat, bottom is that egg crate design. This is not that cheap 1 1/2" foam rubber egg crate padding, but the real deal memory foam. His twin bed size pad cost $159.00 . Luckily my king size bed was already a pillow top or else I'd have to take out a mortgage on my house to get one that size! It comes with a white silky protective zip off cover. You could lay this thing over a pile of bricks and sleep like a baby. Problem is this: The silky cover for the pad is based on this thing being on top of your bed. It's not a "go outside in the big wild world" protective pad. If this thing got wet, I'm sure it wouyld act like a $150.00 sponge! It is washable, but I have no idea what the drying time would be. Of course, if it gets wet, you sleeping bag is probably wet too. I'd like to try it to see how nice it would be.