Scoutfish

This past weekend was our crossover/ graduation campout. But due to inclimate weather ....well threat or rainstorms, and as the day progressed, severe winds and tornado watches AND warnings for our area...most Tiger Cub parents eithet went home or didn't show up to start with. So our Tiger den leader approached me yesterday and said that they were feeling scared about the weather and were gona miss the ceremony. But that they would probably have their own den level ceremony ins few weeks . He also wants me to run it. I'm totally cool with that. The only thing I need is some sort of Tiger ceremony story. You know what I mean? For AOL, you can tell the story of the chief sending scouts out to climb as high as they can and bring back a branch from a tree at that point. For an entire graduation, you can tell the story of a chief having the best archer shooting an arrow and all the scouts looking for it ( along with carving arrow tips and making necklaces of them. But what about for one den only? And a Tiger den at that? I could make up something, but wonder if there are some cool stories that go along with graduation? THanks!

Thisw past weekend, we had our annual spring pack campout/ Crossover and graduation ceremony. The weather hampered things a bit, and we had to drop and change a few things...but all things considered - it went great! On Friday night, something I wasn't expecting at all happened. We are casual on Friday nights during our camping. YOu show up when you want, set up and the scouts can chill, play, exp,lore....whatever. YOu fend for yourself for dinner, but usually a few of us throw down and cook good stuff. I cooked a huge pot of black-eyed peas and smoked sausage. My ACM cooked a big pot of deer stew with potatoes and carrots. One of the Wolf DL's made a low country boil ( shrimp, crabs, potaoes), and another ADL from our Tiger den made hobo sandwhiches. I also cvooked 3 packs of Brats. You know, I think alot of the scout parents "accidentally forget" to bring their own food when they find out what we are cooking! One thing we do on Friday nights is a night hike. No lanterns, flashlights, glowsticks, cell phon lights, etc......NOTHING! Of course, the full moon didn't hurt this time. Now, I don't know about your night hikes, but we stop every 200 yards or so, and tell a kinda spooky story. The Devil's stomping ground which is about 2 1/2 hours away over in Siler City, NC...or about the wild and roaming ferral hogs that are known in our area..or about Lonnie Butts - the Boy Scout who drowned because he snuck out one night at camp and jumped of the swim dock andf drowned ( great story for using the buddy system by the way). The stories are not really scarey, but do have an edge to them. So, after one of the stories, and I can't remember which one, we got to an area where the canopy of trees knocked aout a bunch of light. STill not completely dark, but way darker than the rest of the hike. About this tgime, a few of the youngest scouts decided that they would be safer walking behind me. I was about 2/3 of the way back as our ACM was leading the hike. After a few feet into the natural tunnel like area, I fel a small hand grab mine and hold on. I looked down and a Tiger Cub was holding my hand. What happened after that just blew me away: The tiger looked at me and said: "I feel safer walking with you." I said something about the dark not being nearly as scarey as your own imagination, and then he says to me: "You know that you are my hero don't you?" So I asked him why I was his hero. "Cause you are always happy to see us at meetings and when we do stuff, you always joke with us and you are nice to us. I also like the songs you sing and because you act silly with us." WOW! I didn't expect that at all! Funny thing is this: Even thought I will jump up and act silly with the boys, I always get apprehensive a few hours before a pack meeting. I start thinking...well over thinking what I'm gonna do about 3 doys out from trhe meetings. During den meeting nights, I stil show up in full uniform and I will greet the boys, joke around and answer their questions. I ask them what they happen to be working on and congraduloate them and give them encouragement too. But I never really knew how far that went until this past weekend. Man, I love this job!

Well...the thing about being on the VFD and Water Rescue is that - it was over 15 years ago. For Water Rescue, we , along with two other coastal Fire Depts, actually contracted a company out of Fla to teach us. Florida Public Safety. When we took our certified CPR classes back then, it was through the local community College, who was in turn contrated by the county on behalf of and under the guidelines on the state who followed the Dept of Human Resources/ Offife of Emergency Medical Services. The Red CRoss was set uop, and contracted for their part by someboduy in an office 185 miles away and who nobody ever saw. Even most of the county level people didn't have a name or a face to go with the name if they did know it. Plus, it was ovver 15 years ago. The instructors I took classes under are mostly retired now. But I did get ahold of a local compaany that teaches a certified AHA CPR/AED class. 2 1/2 hour class for $23.00 and everybody ge4ts their own maniquinn to use .

Our council just went through district refinement..or whatever you want to call it. We went from a bunch of districts to only 4. One of the DE's who used to cover 2 large districts, is now in charge of Programs. Truth be told, he's really great at doing the program jobs. THis guy was a great DE, but is a better program director for the council. He was at our Cub Scout Resident camp this past weekend and he wanted to head up the campfire program. Matter of fact, he headed up the parent/son campfire too. Now, maybe saying headed up isn'y quite right. He played EMCEE or host. THis guy sang the entire Spongbob song, and he actually sounded dead on like the captain. He loves being in and watching skits. Again, he3 was a very good DE, but I think he has found his calling as Program director.

Oh wow! There are so many ways to look at this: 1) The kid's mom did not say it and the kid did. Remember as a kid, saying your parents said something is the ultimate source of proof or authority.."Oh yeah? My dad/mom says that G I Joe is way better than your stupid Superman!" REall? WEll no! Of course not, but the kid who said it, and usually the one who heard it think so and it's the same as having 100% scientific proof of being true! 2) You ever say you want to kill somebody or wring their neck? Sure you do. But do you really want to? Well maybe knock them upside the ehad, but not really choke or kill them. Could be an exasperated mom was being especially expressive while feeling overwhelmed. 3) Two people talking about two differet things: Example: This past Christmas, my son was wearing a Beatles shirt. He thought it was the coolest shirt ever and was telling my wife about how cool it was.....again...for the 100th time. At the same time, my wife was taliing about egg nog and how none of my son's cousins or friends liked it. My son then look at my wife with an awful face and asked her: "WEHy would youn tell me something like that?" Turns out my son..in all his great hearing, heard my wife say: "Nobody likes your shirt, not even your cousins or friends!" No, my wife didn't say that, but my son heard that. Who is to say the same thing didn't happen with that kid. 4) Then is could be just what it is: he mom may have said exactly that. And that could mean one of two trhings itself. I call a bunch of kids brats to their face. BUT...I am joking and they know it. They call me a brat right back, we laugh and then we talk about whatever else. People have a commradierie where they do that. Friends, pals and buddies rag on each other all the time. But it could be that she does think your son is a brat. But what really matters is this: Does she act like he's a brat to his face? I personally do not feel like being best friends with every child in my pack. And yes, I do think some of them are brats, Some are wild, abrasive , spoiled jerks. Some need a little bit of discipline. Some need A LOT of discipline. Some need their necks wrung daily. Some are the coolest kids ever.Some are as sorry as their parents: selfish, inconsiderate, spoiled , self centered brats! And I treat every single one of them the same. Could be that mom really does need to watch what she said in front of others...but we should right? Tell your son that it's a mistake and let it pass. Unless she actually does treat him different or singles him out, I wouldn't worry about it. So far, the ONLY thing you know is a "He said ...that he said.... that she said..."

Same zip code since the pony express as far as I know. Funny thing: I get the Burlington, Ia classes shown to me, but nothing else. No NC classes at all! I'll call them tomorrow and see what they can tell me. Had one of our leaders tell me after I sent an e mail that the $23.00 rate was a steal compared to what it cost his Marine Sciences Dept at University of North Carolina - Wilmington.

Well, I won't deny that I could have dialed the wrong number. But the e mail addresses I copied and pasted and trhey kicked back. And trust me, I prefer live "old fashioned " people over automated systems anyday!

Yeah, that's p[retty much what I said. Toe may toe.....tah mah toe..Still a red thingy that gives you heartburn! I said : "Now, above, I said " you hold "MORE" authority ..." This does not realy mean you have or that you are the upmost authority, it just means you have more than the CM or ACM will dream about. In truth, the COR is above you and hoilds the authority ( in representing the CO) to drop any leader and approve leaders for position. It is the job of the CM ( per BSA) to help and work with the committee inj finding suitable leaders as they are needed." And the standard orgazational chart shows the CM, ACM and the rest of the leadership ( including pack trainer) under the CC In our pack, the CC handles Buisness and admin stuff, and The CM ( me) and ACM handle scouting stuff and make sure the leaders are doing what they need to do. But as CM myself, I cannot fire a leader or call for him to step down. I can bring it up at a committee meeting, and state my case, but thats as far as it goes.

Mn, Thanks, but those links are the ones I tried. The staff directory has e mails associated with each person, but the kick back. The "take a class " link is all but useless> It asks you to type in a date range of when you want to take a class, then they will see if they have one available. Even typing in my North Carolina zip code only gave 5 results - all from Ia ( is that Iowa or Indianna) WEll, I googled CPR and found a company - http://www.firsthandscpr.com - that will meet at our location and time , and they bring a maniquinn for each participant so that nobody is waiting their turn. 2 year certification in CPR/AED ...not that I'm really concerned with using an AED. They will give us a discont and charge only $23.00 per person instead of the uual $35.00 per person because we are a scout pack. But as for the American Red Cross...I'm not so sure they could make it any harder if they tried to.

How do you guys get CPR training set up? Who do you call or contact? I went to the American Red Cross site, which directed me to our local Red Cross chapter site which gave me an e-mail address..which was bad. I got a daimen mailer type responce in my e-mail. On the National site, the best you can do is type in parameters of when you might like to take the classes, and then they list classes available in that time. I listed Apr 12, 2011 til Aug 31, 2011 . I typed in my Hampstead, NC zipcode and all I goty was 5 results from Indianna or Iowa. Ia? The numbers are not correct and the e-mail is not good. So, should I be going through somebody else? United Way or who? I asked our DE, but he has no clue as all classes of these type are done on the unit level and outside of district or council. THanks for any info!

I'm not going to even try to pretend I have a soplution for your problem, but I will clarify something in the simplest terms: AS CC, YOU ARE IN CHASRGE! You hold "MORE" authority over the CM and ACM as to who will be a leader or who will be removed. You cal committee meetings. You preside over meetings. Technically, the CM and ACM have squat for voting rights. Now having said that, in our pack, our committee metings are for committee and leaders to vote in. WE allow any76 parent to attend and watch. All leadership positions are welcome to bring up, voice opinions and vote on pack matters. WE do things together as there is much insight and knowledge within the leadership that the Committee just does not have. The committee has the advantage of not being too deep and personal and chance making pack decidions based on den feelings. Now, above, I said " you hold "MORE" authority ..." This does not realy mean you have or that you are the upmost authority, it just means you have more than the CM or ACM will dream about. In truth, the COR is above you and hoilds the authority ( in representing the CO) to drop any leader and approve leaders for position. It is the job of the CM ( per BSA) to help and work with the committee inj finding suitable leaders as they are needed. In reality, you need to work together on this kind of stuff. But technically, the CM ( and all the other leaders) works under or for you! You run and head up meetings, not the CM or ACM But, the CM is the one who handles the scouting stuff, Scouting programs and it's his job to make sure the other leaders are running good den programs. And oner of the things I love about being a CubMaster is: At pack meetings, I get to be the one who acts up, jokes, sings, and gets the scouts all riled up!

Are you next to a pond or lake? Tell a Friday the 13th type story with Jason in it! Nah, tempting as it is, I have always liked two stories: 1) Aesop's Fables: The Man, the Boy, and the Donkey A Man and his son were once going with their Donkey to market. As they were walking along by its side a countryman passed them and said: "You fools, what is a Donkey for but to ride upon?" So the Man put the Boy on the Donkey and they went on their way. But soon they passed a group of men, one of whom said: "See that lazy youngster, he lets his father walk while he rides." So the Man ordered his Boy to get off, and got on himself. But they hadn't gone far when they passed two women, one of whom said to the other: "Shame on that lazy lout to let his poor little son trudge along." Well, the Man didn't know what to do, but at last he took his Boy up before him on the Donkey. By this time they had come to the town, and the passers-by began to jeer and point at them. The Man stopped and asked what they were scoffing at. The men said: "Aren't you ashamed of yourself for overloading that poor donkey with you and your hulking son?" The Man and Boy got off and tried to think what to do. They thought and they thought, till at last they cut down a pole, tied the donkey's feet to it, and raised the pole and the donkey to their shoulders. They went along amid the laughter of all who met them till they came to Market Bridge, when the Donkey, getting one of his feet loose, kicked out and caused the Boy to drop his end of the pole. In the struggle the Donkey fell over the bridge, and his fore-feet being tied together he was drowned. "That will teach you," said an old man who had followed them: "Please all, and you will please none." I guess you can relate it to staying in scouts no matter what other people think about it. Do if for yourself, not scouting. 2)Failure: Dont Be Afraid To Fail. Youve failed many times, although you may not remember. You fell down the first time you tried to walk. You almost drowned the first time you tried to swim, didnt you. Did you hit the ball the first time you swung a bat? Heavy hitters, the ones who hit the most home runs, also strike out a lot. R.H.Macy failed seven times before his store in New York caught on. English novelist John Creasey got 753 rejection slips before he published 564 books. Babe Ruth struck out 1,330 times, but he also hit 714 home runs

I also confirmed something I suspected for a long time: Scouts are like litle dirty Supermen......and showers are their Kryptonite!

WEll, I worked my first time as a cub scout resident camp staffer. What a weekend! To start with, we were short about 5-6 people just on the Webelos side of things.And there were around 470 scouts in attendance. Then found out that the national inspector for camp accreditation were going to be there Saturday. Friday night, I worked the sign in table. It's amazing how many people think we have a mobile computer that has ALL their med form info on it. I had a huge stack of forms for those who did not have one. It'sw amazing how many people get bent out of shape over a form. And yes, we explained time and time again ahead of time through e mails and RT's to unit leaders that they had to bring them. Now, this was at Cape Fear Scout Reservation in White Oak ,NC If you are familar, you know that Camp McNeill Cub SCout World and Camp Bowers Boy Scout camp are butted up to each other.If you weren't familiar.....you are now! WE had all scouts camp at McNeill, but the Webelos Scouts ( and Bears who were considered Webelos) hiked over to Bowers for colors and spend the day there including breakfast, lunch, and dinner, then evening colors. Afterward, they hiked back to McNeill for campfire ceremonies and whatnot. So, I was supposed to teach Craftsman I, which was SUPPOSED to be the Craftsman activity Pin subjects of woodworking, but with being shorthanded, I ended up teaching woodworking, plastic and leatherworking. I did have the help of a 15 year old Boy Scout who was also teaching how to tie survival bracelets and woggles. At one point, while relaxing during down time, the camp director and one of the inspectors walked by,m said hi and chatted a few minutes. Latter, during that nights staff meeting, I commented that I felt lucky that..being the rookie and shorts staffed, that the inspector camy by while we had a slack moment. The Program director started laughing at said " NO, they ( both inspectors) came by about an hour earlier when you were standing on top of one of the craft tables yelling!" . Actually, I was explaining to 16 different packs ( at one time) what the craft stations were, what they needed to do, safety tips, etc...and was using the table as a high ground podium. Matter of fact, while explaining the woodworking station that consisted building a bug zoo, I started joking with the boys when they asked what they were for: "You take these bug zoos, and go and catch bugs, stick them in the cages, close the lids, then take them home and let them loose in your mom's bedroom." The boys thought it was the funniest thing they ever heard. The parents laughed too. The program director said the inspectores were impressed that I got everybody's attention, spoke loud enough that " That man doesn'ty need a pa does he?" , strongly informed them of all safety rules, and still made the boys laugh and have fun. Apparently, the inspector s were from out of Virginia. Old school types. So later Saturday night, the threat of bad weather ( strong winds, hard rain and hail) caused alot of folks to leave right after supper. We canceled our outdoors campfire ceremony snd moved it inside to the dinning hall. Attendance was minimal -service scouts and staff outnumbered the participants 7 to 1, but we still put on a show for those who stuck it out. In the end, we had 5 minutes of downpour, followed by 15 minutes of drizzle and the rest of the storm parted around us and passed us by. Sunday breakfast consisted of 4 staffers and one Webelos scout ( mine). So, to recap: Understaffed, over attended, National Inspectors, and rained out. Oh, did I mention that the camp is 2 1/4 hours away from home? AND I HAD A BLAST! I'd love to go back next weekend, but next weekend is when my pack is having it's Pack campout/crossover/graduation ceremony. The third session of Resident camp is whan my pack is holding it's annual BBQ chicken fundraiser. Can't go then either, but made myself available to work all 3 of next years as well as next falls Parent/Son weekend.

" The church sees it as "Oh, we must help the poor little lamb!" And none of the Committee have kids in the Pack, so they don't know how bad he is." If for some reason, the conversation starts heading this way, explain that the church wouldn't put up with this kind of adult behavior during Sunday services ...now would they? Then explain that the church stands to lose the rest of the pack due to this one kid. Again, it sucks. It really does. I have no doubts that you wish you could do more for this guy. But that's the way it works sometimes. Too many think that all people are either right in the head or just nuts.....but there are alot of variable stages along the way. AS bad as anybody hates to say or think it, this kid may just be as good as he will ever get. Grandma might be trying in vain to make him "right" because he just isn't going to get "better" . At least not in the environment scouting offers. The botom line is this: It is not your job to be a full time wardon during pack events. Occasional situation? Yes. Full time? NO! It is not the packs, the leaders or any other scouts or oparents responcibility or job to be constantly burdoned by this one scout.

"Does anyone know a ceremony for presenting the Marbles Belt Loop?" Well, you get a bag of marbles...then draw a 30" circle on the floor, then.....

I concur with Seattle..although I didn't want to be the first to say it: I always consider the well being of the entire den or pack before I consider the "wants" of one parent, leader or scout. If you end losing a bad scout, so be it. Problem solved!If you start losing good scouts becaue of a bad one, pretty soon, all you will have is the one bad one because all the good folks will be over at pack sunny smiles having a blast while you have a wild child running around like the Tasmanian Devil. I mean, you try to work it out as best as you can - when you can, but in the end, the poack outweighs one scout.

TwoCub, I don't think anybody is saying that several eagles can't have their ECOH at the same time..at least, I did not take it that way. But myself and others are saying that we wouldn't hold a regular COH within or together with an ECOH. I don't see any problem with holding ECOH after a COH is finished either. Not saying there has to be a $5,000.00 dinner ceremony either, but I am saying that a scout getting Tenderfoot or Star does not put him on equal ground, nor is the playing field the same. If it was, scouts would stop at Tenderfoot or Star and that would be the end of it.

How about award candles? I've seen two versions: 1) A single candle - usually a 9 or 12 month - is lit at beginning of pack or den meetings. It stays lit as long as all scouts are behaving. If they act uyp and you have to warn them more than 2 or 3 times the candles go out! If the candle is burnt away by the end of the year, the pack or den has an ice cream party or pizza party. 2) Individual candles- Same principle, but each scout gets a candle. Same as above: Pizza or ice cream party or some other sort of prize. THis also encourages scouts to try to make as many meetings as possible. I'm okay with one candle for the whole pack, but I steer away from individual candles.

It would be up to the Eagle Scout...but I wouldn't ask him. Think if you had a small gathering after having a new baby. Your showing it off and then one of the guests stands up, starts handing out pictures of their dog's new pupies. Maybe Your having a big to do dinner reception to announce your engagement and marrage plans and one of the attendants stands up and starts talking about meeting a new girl. Point is, Eagle is THE big deal. Not saying others aren't, but come on..are we really gonna put Eagle on the same plain as any other award? Eagle is pretty much the culmination of a scout's - scouting career. He is the graduate with his PhD or Masters degree. Do not put him beside the paralegal certificate. Okay, my wording or terms may not be exactly right on, but you know what I mean. Like comparing a splinter you get while chopping wood to the battle scar a vet gets in Iraq. Just not cool and just not the same! That's my opinion anyways. For what it's worth..maybe a $1.45? (This message has been edited by scoutfish)

" AS THE CUBMASTER in charge of an event, DO I, at that moment, have the authority to SEND HIM HOME if he strikes another child? " ABSOLUTELY! And if for some reason, they refuse to listen, you let them know in no uncertain terms that ALL advancements, all written paperwork concerning beltloops, pins, ect.. will stop and that the scout in question is considered "suspended.

Greetings, welcome, great job and ....welcome to the club. It's your first year, but not your last! By the way, I am also a Mark F.

I'll give you an off-kilter answer. My pack hasn't had a den chief since who knows when. One night, I asked the troop at our CO if he or any of the scouts were interested in providing a Den Cheif to our pack. WEll, the next week, a scout showed up to be a den Chief. He started working in our Tiger den. I asked the accompaning ASM if I needed to fill out any paperwork or what not, and he said the troop handled it all. That was 4 months ago. This is what I can tell you: I have no idea what he does. None whatsoever. But I know the Tiger Cubs love him. The DL and the two ADL's love him. He seems to be enjoying it. The Tiger DL said it makes hhis job 100 percent easier. The DL also said he would realy like to have a den chief next year too, as did one of the ADL's who is going to run his own den next year.

"before Jambo! wow, that's how often I used to check into that thing" Guilty here too! I created an account/ profile when I became a scouter, and I haven't been back since. I had no idea it was gone til I read this. I'm sure gonna miss that place!

Some will say bylaws are not needed, but they are. I know it to be true. But, realize that 99.9 percent of bylaws are not about the scouting program, or scouts, but about, for, and directed towards adults. The situations also usually involve money: Paying dues, paying recharter, popcorn, PWD, camping and trips, and misc supplies PWD can also fall under bylaws as far as who can touch the cars after inspection, what rules are used ( pack, district, council, internet, or only what's in the box) Money, money money! Bank accounts, treasurers , who has authority to sing or deposit. We have bylaws for our pack. Like I said, 99.9 percent of them are soley to keep adults in check in the day to day running of the buisness side of the pack. And most of the are the result of adults who just decided to do whatever they wanted instead of following leader agreements or normal ways of doing things.