Scoutfish

We have picked up bags to find out we have been given dog food, bird food, fish food and even a plastic jug of kitty litter! But one of the coolest things we ever got was a MRE. Of course, we couldn't give it to the food pantry, so instead, I made it the topic of a pack meeting. I presented to everybody, the kind of food that the military - who defends our freedoms to eat pizza, go to restaurants, and order take out or microwave - eats while sitting in the hot/ cold/wet place they are at. They could be eating this MRE while squatting down in a ditch for the 4th day in a row. One of the best learning moments we ever had.

Never claimed that my CO owns the girl scout troop. Just saying it has one. They have their own building at the church that my church owns and sets aside for the girl scout troop to use. There is a bulliten board in the chucrh foyer dedicated to the girl scout troop that meets at my church. They reference my CO all the time when the girl scout troop puts notices or pictures in the local paper. My CO has a girl scout troop wether they own it or not.

"I would not join or volunteer for a pack that twinned with an AHG unit. " Please define what you mean by twinned. If you mean they happen to have the same CO, wouldn't you think that a bit unfair? My CO also has a troop, a ships crew a girl scout troop, and a church youth group that is totally seperate of all three. But when it comes to the pack...I do not know, nor do I care about the particulars of. the minute beliefs of, or the mission statements of the girl scout troop or the youth group. Why? Because I am not a member of those groups. I did not join them, not do I belong to or owe them anything. I do nat care what thier beliefs are. I run our pack in accordance with BSA guidlines. If the youth group requires that you must be a member of the church...doesn't affect or matter to my pack. If the girl scout troop requires that you be a firm believer that all males are chauvinist...I think they are stupid, but it still does not reflect on, or determine anything about my pack. But if you say twinned by meaning they adopt the exact same principals and beliefs.......well yeah, I agree with you.

Basement, that's the dunmbest idea ever! They should have Eagle chauffeurs to pick them up and take them home in Hummers...that also have AC

They get around it easily: knives at the table are utensils, knives in a kitchen are kitchen cutlery ot cooking utensils. Knives in a sheath on a persons side are evil weapons of mass murder and mayhem! It's like police do: You ever hear of somebody being arrested for...get this....resisting arrest? So if they are being arrested for resisting arrest - what was the original arrest..that they were resisting...for?

Folgers makes a tea bag style coffe for single cup . While I have used it quite a few times, it's a bit more acidic than regular brew since the regular brew coffee filter does take some of that out. I think it's a mix of regular grounds as well as some instant coffee too. One of our leaders owns a coffee service. He brings a full scale coffee brewer to pack campouts. attaches a hose to a 5 gallon water cooler jug and just needs a 115v power source. For smaller groups or where only a few people will drink coffee, he swears by ( and prefers ) a french press. It's good for almost 3 cups of coffee. Of course, you have to get your coffeee custom ground because regular can stuff is just fine enough to clog the screen or even pass through. I mentioned that I was going to buy a campfire perculating coffee pot and he turned his nose up to the idfea! Elitist!

Finished pics up. Technically, I am done, but thinking that maybe I should tie a feather on each arrow?

Well let me first explain I am not part of teh Oa. I mean, I know you probably couldn't tell but.... I'm not sure if the dancers will have costumes or not. I do know that the dance team is a seperate part of OA. The OA rep who is my contact is on the dance team, but as far as I know, he is also the OA contact for our district. Or at the very least, he was the contact name I was given and had been working with. We will still have the dance part. So Eagle93, I am only an hour and a half from you. Feel like dancing? LOL!

The way I read it; it's simply a spanish speaking woodbadge course. I took it to be that their target market is for adult leaders in this country that don't speak or understand very good english and probably work with our youth in the US that don't speak or understand english the oportunity to take woodbadge. Nowhere did I read where this is a goodwill gesture to our friends from Mexico." Yeah, but you also didn't read anywhere that this was an attempt by BSA to make "us" conform to or change "our way" of doing things to suit others. Nowhere did you read that we were bending ourselves to fit other people. It doesn't say that it's targeting leaders here that don't speak english. But you did read "...to be held in conjunction with our friends from Scouts de Mexico." You do understand that "in conjunction with " means working with them and that "from Mexico" mean that they are here visiting instead versus saying" friends IN Mexico"..which would mean they are still in Mexico. Now...the way I read it is that we are offerening a class in a language that can be understood to our guests while they are here during a BSA event. It's called being a good host. And if there are leaders here that do not speak english....so what? They are not supposed to learn? They shouldn't be allowed to be the best they can in scouting? Last time I checked..camping, hiking, exploring or knowing what to do in an emergency is not limited to english speaking people. How does somebody learn english anyways? Well, to start with, you have to speak their language and introduce english slowly. You sure don't just speak english and hope they learn it. Just like spanish. If you do not speak a word of it, having somebody just speak spanish to you will do nothing. "Well I'm sorry that I ever started this thread. I never thought it would get some of the type of negative responses it did." I read this to mean" I never thought people would diagree with me, but instead take my side!" But, just because I read it that way does not mean anybody else read it that way or that you meant it that way. Basically, it means I used my own opinions and personal biases - that reflect my owm thoughts and ideala - and used that to interpret your sentance.(This message has been edited by scoutfish)

The way I read it; it's simply a spanish speaking woodbadge course. I took it to be that their target market is for adult leaders in this country that don't speak or understand very good english and probably work with our youth in the US that don't speak or understand english the oportunity to take woodbadge. Nowhere did I read where this is a goodwill gesture to our friends from Mexico." Yeah, but you also didn't read anywhere that this was an attempt by BSA to make "us" conform to or change "our way" of doing things to suit others. Nowhere did you read that we were bending ourselves to fit other people. It doesn't say that it's targeting leaders here that don't speak english. But you did read "...to be held in conjunction with our friends from Scouts de Mexico." You do understand that "in conjunction with " means working with them and that "from Mexico" mean that they are here visiting instead versus saying" friends IN Mexico"..which would mean they are still in Mexico. Now...the way I read it is that we are offerening a class in a language that can be understood to our guests while they are here during a BSA event. It's called being a good host. And if there are leaders here that do not speak english....so what? They are not supposed to learn? They shouldn't be allowed to be the best they can in scouting? Last time I checked..camping, hiking, exploring or knowing what to do in an emergency is not limited to english speaking people. How does somebody learn english anyways? Well, to start with, you have to speak their language and introduce english slowly. You sure don't just speak english and hope they learn it. Just like spanish. If you do not speak a word of it, having somebody just speak spanish to you will do nothing. "Well I'm sorry that I ever started this thread. I never thought it would get some of the type of negative responses it did." I read this to mean" I never thought people would diagree with me, but instead take my side!" But, just because I read it that way does not mean anybody else read it that way or that you meant it that way. Basically, it means I used my own opinions and personal biases - that reflect my owm thoughts and ideala - and used that to interpret your sentance.

The way I read it; it's simply a spanish speaking woodbadge course. I took it to be that their target market is for adult leaders in this country that don't speak or understand very good english and probably work with our youth in the US that don't speak or understand english the oportunity to take woodbadge. Nowhere did I read where this is a goodwill gesture to our friends from Mexico." Yeah, but you also didn't read anywhere that this was an attempt by BSA to make "us" conform to or change "our way" of doing things to suit others. Nowhere did you read that we were bending ourselves to fit other people. It doesn't say that it's targeting leaders here that don't speak english. But you did read "...to be held in conjunction with our friends from Scouts de Mexico." You do understand that "in conjunction with " means working with them and that "from Mexico" mean that they are here visiting instead versus saying" friends IN Mexico"..which would mean they are still in Mexico. Now...the way I read it is that we are offerening a class in a language that can be understood to our guests while they are here during a BSA event. It's called being a good host. And if there are leaders here that do not speak english....so what? They are not supposed to learn? They shouldn't be allowed to be the best they can in scouting? Last time I checked..camping, hiking, exploring or knowing what to do in an emergency is not limited to english speaking people. How does somebody learn english anyways? Well, to start with, you have to speak their language and introduce english slowly. You sure don't just speak english and hope they learn it. Just like spanish. If you do not speak a word of it, having somebody just speak spanish to you will do nothing. "Well I'm sorry that I ever started this thread. I never thought it would get some of the type of negative responses it did." I read this to mean" I never thought people would diagree with me, but instead take my side!" But, just because I read it that way does not mean anybody else read it that way or that you meant it that way. Basically, it means I used my own opinions and personal biases - that reflect my owm thoughts and ideala - and used that to interpret your sentance.

The way I read it; it's simply a spanish speaking woodbadge course. I took it to be that their target market is for adult leaders in this country that don't speak or understand very good english and probably work with our youth in the US that don't speak or understand english the oportunity to take woodbadge. Nowhere did I read where this is a goodwill gesture to our friends from Mexico." Yeah, but you also didn't read anywhere that this was an attempt by BSA to make "us" conform to or change "our way" of doing things to suit others. Nowhere did you read that we were bending ourselves to fit other people. It doesn't say that it's targeting leaders here that don't speak english. But...I read it is that we are offerening a class in a language that can be understood to our guests while they are here during a BSA event. It's called being a good host. And if there are leaders here that do not speak english....so what? How does somebody learn english anyways? Well, to start with, you have to speak their language and introduce english slowly. You sure don't just speak english only and hope they learn it. Just like spanish. If you do not speak a word of it, having somebody just speak spanish to you will do nothing.

Scouter, My reply was aimed at kd7kip

Okay, I have to clarify: THis is just a question of curiousity. I am not trying to bad mouth anybody or get vengance. After planning for some time, I JUST got an e-mail from my OA contact yesterday ( Saturday 3-17 -12). Matter of fact, this guy was on the OA dance team. So anyways, the OA was supposed to come to our AoL and Crossover ceremony that takes place tommorrow night ( Monday 3 -19-12) Apparently there was some sort of falling out between a member and the rest of the lodge. THis member is the one who has the regallia . Due to hard felings betyween this member and the rest of the lodge, getting the regallia will not be possible. The dance team however, will still be coming. My contact, who is one of the dancers, apologizes profuslu for this happening. OKAY................. I do not have a clue as to what happened. I couldn't begin to even think of taking sides. Teenagers are teenagers and sometimes trying to understand them would be harder than trying to explain nuclear physics to my dog. So, here's my question: Doesn't the lodge own the equipment? If it doesn't..shouldn't it? What is happening to our event is not the end of the world and can be overcome easily. We have a bunch of dedicated leaders who can easily step up and run the ceremony. Sure, it would be cooler - presentation wise - if the OA did it in full costume, but again, the scouts will not think this is the end of the world. But what about the OA? How many other events will now crash or be changed due to this falling out? Again, my unit only sees this as a very minor set back, but depending on what others have planned ( and this is that time of year) is our chapetr of the OA giving themselves a black eye? Again, not trying to badmouth a whole group based on the actions of one or two people. I have no idea what happened or who's fault it is. But if the chapter owned the equipment, wouldn't this have been "somewhat" preventable? Does this mean they have to cancel all future plans until somebody buys more regallia or until they guys possibly make up with each other? How much do the costumes cost? Pretty sure they aren't cheap. Who pays for it? Again, just curious.

"Acrobatics (any time your head is lower than your torso) are prohibited." Uh oh! I se where some people will argue at which point falling could actually be rougue acrobatics! Demand for a specific definition of falling will be called for. Then you may have your true " traditionalists " who will decry this as a blasphemy since real scouts would use only a monkey bridge! How about cub scouts? Will this be adapted for them? Maybe a 2x4 secured directly on the ground at a height of no more than 3" off the ground and scouts must wear a safety harness at all times! Of course, it will be pointed out that this is no more than a balance beam and will be shunned.

WELCOME BACK! Yeah, I bet things have changed since you were active, but look at it this way: Cars and trucks have changed also in the past 30 years, but the main design and function is the same...just the details are different. 6 speed automatic trannies instead of 4 speed manuals . Used to be you could count every vacuum line and wire on botrh hands. Now you almost have to go to the apple store to get your engine diagnosed! It will be hard work, but my experience with Cubs is this: You work with what you got, make it great for the boys, and that will bring more boys who will bring more parents. More parents means that at least 1 or 2 will step up to help out. Do a few community projects that really benefit the community, and it's better than having a tv commercial for your unit. A few community members will step up here and there for at least a few things if not full time.

While I do not agree with scouts looking like 3rd world generals with every patch ever earned on their shirt at one time.... Saying that a Tiger shouldn't have beads or beltloops just shows that we are looking at things with the wrong mindset. Sure..from our adult minset, we know what the bigger puyrpose of the program is. But a Tiger Cub does not see it that way. He doesn't think that way. You and I can think long, long term ahead. A tiger may think long term is a whole week. You want to keep him interested and having fun , right? You want him to want to come back meeting after meeting , right? Youi want him to not only earn his Bobcat, but to stick around for the rest of the year and earn his Tiger rank as well as a few gold arrow points and even some silver ones too? Well, the best way to do this is NOT to have him wait and wait and wait before you hand him the rank. Immediate recognition is there for a reason. To keep them excited, to kep them motivated and to keep them interested and to keep them working on getting rank. Do not think like an adult when trying to understand how a very young child sees things. Do not use a 30, 40, or even a 50 year old mentality when trying to understand how a 6 year old sees things. Would I wear...or even want beltloops and immediate recognition beads on my uniform? NOPE! Sure don't! But I am not a Tiger Cub either! I also do not like to sit on te floor Indian style and watch Spongebob or Ben10, The Mickey Mouse Club or whatever other cartoons are popular these days. I would not - given the choice - choose cake or ice cream over a a big roast beef sandwhich on wheat with provalone cheese.......but I bet a Tiger Cub would. Are there exceptions? I have no doubt. I know that some Tigers may actually be planning out not only what they will be doing their Webelos year, but thinking about an eagle project and what college they plan on attending. On a side note: Does anybody know another part of BSA where beads are given out as your progress or complete steps - but to adults - not to youth ? A couple of hints: 1) prerequisit training for your position 2) ticket items 3) bobwhite, fox, beaver, etc.....

Welcome to what I consider the "real world " version of scouting! Now that you are in, you do not need to hear the DE's sale pitch version!

I have no doubt there are many, many varying degrees of what peole see or do. We had a dad who brought firecrackers - and after we said "NO!" - made a reference to us being a bunch of pantywaists! But I also watched as an ADL how a couple parents were treated. The DL and his overbearing wife decided on which 12 of the 24 Bear acheivements that the den would cover. Nothing wrong with that at all. But when a few parents ( who stepped up and assisted all the time ) asked about a minor detail or suggested a change - which really was a better idea - they get that cold stare and you could here a pin drop. At planning meetings, somebody could bring up a suggestion or idea about...anything...and the entire committee would stop in the midle of whatever they were doing and give incredulous looks to the person making the suggestion. Then they would make statements to the fact that the parent knew nothiung, had no idea how anything worked and either they did what was asked or stepped away. Cold stares and cold shoulders. Then the same committee would wonder why nobody ever wanted to help out. No, I'm not suggesting that every idea that everybody ever comes up with should be followed. I just saying that sometimes, a fresh perspective IS NEEDED. And there is a way to turn down ideas tactfully too. My only point is we have to look at ourselves also when looking at why we need help and why we have problem with getting help. Funny thing about most people with tunnel vision is that they do not know they have it.

"Don't you worry your pretty lil' mind,People throw rocks at things that shine..." That's a line from a song that country singer Taylor Swift has playing on the radio right now - in case you haven't heard it. So, noname brought up a great point: How do you get adults to step up and help out/ help promote something or anything? But let's be honest with ourselves....what do we say or do when adults do step up and offer to help out or even present a fresh new idea? Do we give those thoughts and ideas a open and unbiased honest look, or do we just pick up rocks and start tossing them at the help and ideas? Now, I am not talking about obvious cases of rule violations, or ideas that are completely at odds with the ideals of the program. Sometimes, we need something to bring some pep back to the program, but we knock any and every idea that isn't just like what we have always done( which is part of why things get stale in the first place right?) Small example: When our pack would go den camping, it seemed like it was just a big weekend long den meeting. Scouts were just dragged from one thing after another after another, with a couple breaks to eat adult menus. Leaders forgot to have fun stuff just for the sake of having fun. It took me two years, but now campouts are about CAMPING and exploring, and having fun. If a den wants to work an A activity or finish one up...great! But as CM, I started hijacking planning and events . We started having free time. We started playing kickball, softball, and doing things besides sitting and hearing the DL's go blah blah blah... The menu was geared to the age/mind set of the scouts instead of adults who wanted thier own "getaway weekend" courtesy of the pack. No more cooking 17 boston butts all day or cooking a 250 pound hog on a pig cooker. Now it's hot dogs, cheseburgers and chicken nuggets - bring your own steak and I'll cook it while I'm working the grill, but the pack isn't going to provide it for you. We started having a less rigid schedule and marching boys around like they were in military reform school. More free time, more activities the boys enjoyed. So, I'm not saying I'm a shining super star or even close, but I did come up with diferent and fresh ideas. At first, long time parents and long time leaders threw rocks and hollered and protested and didn't like that we were doing things different from what we always did before. But I didn't give up, I didn't back down. I took my position for the benefit of the scouts, not the adults. I might have overstepped my "authority" - if you want to even call it that - to see some changes. But our camping attendance has gone up, we have more adults ( who enjoy ) helping out than ever before, and kids spend the next month or two talking about what they did while camping. Leaders are starting to see this as fun instead of just a job. They are being more creative and thinking outside of the box. Den attendance is going up, boys are progressing more and we are passing out more ranks, awards, and beltloops at pack meetings. So, long story short: When adults do step up to help out, do you let them shine or do you throw rocks at them?

Safety being the first and foremost concern....The next thing I'd consider to be important is wether anybody will have a good time or not. If it's going to be miserable, tiresome and just a pain in the ass to be camping in ...whatever the conditions were that you end up with - snow, flood, gale winds, sleet, etc...- then that is something to consider too. Especially if you are not packed for it. If you spend your entire camping trip stuck in your tent bailing water out of the tent, and everything is wet because iof a foot of water on the ground....well, I bet this is the first thought a scout has when he skips out on the next campout. No, not all campouts are going to be rosy perfect, But there is a point when you just admit that this particulat excursion is gona suck, so lets just stay home and pick another weekend. Maybe you can meet up in the nice, warm, dry CO and practive your first aid skills or CPR.

I really like garlc knots! That being said, I am working on my CM knot. Actually, I have met all the requirements ( and then some) except being a tad shy on the time frame. I could have had the Cub Scout leader knot based on the requirements, but it's not something I'd push for now. So why have them? The same reason you keep a photo of your troop at Philmont or you standing next to your cub scouts at camp. The same reason you post a pic of your own cub scout son holding his PWD car or after recieving a beltloop at any pack meeting. You do it because you are proud of it. You are proud of it because it stands for something you did. Okay, I really don't know why anybody else would wear a knot on their shirt, but it's why I am going to wear mine!

Sounds like - to me that is - an aswer to a question we get every time a new parent or new leader joins our pack. Our concil holds 3 sessions of Parent/son camping each fall. As soon as the flyers are mailed and passed out, you get a handfull of people who chime in to point out that this type of thing is not allowed due to misunderstood rule # P-238 or whatever. Now usually you can just say : "No, it is allowed." But misinformation spreads faster than gossip and wildfire combined! Let one of those misinformed parents/ leaders post the "this is not allowed " rule on facebook................ You show up for camping and you are the only one there from your unit!

Heres some of the pics so far. I'll be done with them this Saturday and will post more pictures http://www.facebook.com/groups/172739770499/#!/photo.php?fbid=401517409876548&set=a.401516543209968.100378.100000548768654&type=1&theater

Just curious. I like working with wood. Not This Old Shack like, but every niow and then like. Last year, I made 4 outgoing leaders some custom carved hiking sticks. I took a Dremel tool and carved out the diamond pattered hand grips, and carved a symbol that coorulated with the leaders position: ACM had cub scout symbol carved into hiking stick and i had every scout in the pack sign the hiking stick. The Webelos DL had the Webelos symbol and AoL symbol carved into his stick and all the boys from the den signed it. The CC's hiking stick had a judicial gavel carved into it and all the leaders and committee signed it. The Advancement chair's hiking stick had 3 of the triangle shapes on a belt loop with some markings in them ( too small to even tell it was random) . So this year, I decided to make the AoL awards for our 3 AoL Webelos. Pictures of the progress should be on scouter.com very soon. All I have left to do is mount the arrows to the bottom and paint the scouts names on the awards. So anyways...do you buy your awards or do you make them yourselves? Not judging.....just curious!