Scoutfish

In addition to whatever you finally decide to do,I have an add on idea for you: Have each one of you select around 15 to 20 pictures of things that represent your life- Wife, kids, job, house, vacation fun, scouting...anything that you couild look at your SM and say: " Because of your mentoring and guidance, this is my life journey." Noyt only tell him, but show him what scouting and his influence did for you.

"No, smoking per se causes some harm to the smoker, but not innocent people. " Except when a high person decides it's okay to drive to the store to get some food because they have "the munchies", And because of their distorted mental sate and repressed hand-eye coordination,aswellas retarded reflexes..forget to stop and drive through the store..including the INNOCENT people who were in line waiting to pay for their "non munchie" merchandise. Except when a high person decides to drive down the hiway, and for reasons unknow, decide to pretend they are in England while driving up grade on a high rise bridge and cannot see the oncoming traffic on the other side. Luckily, nobody died in that one. Except when a high person gets paranoid in a shopping mall, doesn't like that the maniquinn in "checking me out:" and decides to stab the maniquinn as well as the security guard who tried to stop him. Except the 2 guys who decide to drive "moonlight" down the hiway at70 mph at 12:45 am , and run head on straight into a taxi cab of teenagers coming home from a rock concert. The one who only uses crayons and watches Barney doesn't hold a grudge like her mom and dad! Except the guy who freaks out while high in an arcade and throws the cue ball ( from a pool table) across the arcade and hits a 6 year old boy who luckily recovers, but has a nasty scar for life. Except the guy who runs across a highway thinking he is somehow superman and faster than the traffic...and causes a 6 car pileup . Luckily, he didn't have a chance to feel pain. My sources? 12 years working Fire/Ems / Water Rescue Yeah Merlyn, alcohol is a nasty thing indeed, but it is legal. wether it should be or not is another debate completely seperate from from marijuanna.

Here's an idea..or at least a thought: Instead of filming a staged pack meeting ( let's be honest, you probably don't have any GREAT actors), go to a pack meeting at one of the most successful packs in the ditrict/council. Tell the CC and Cm that you'd like to film it, but try to keep it hush hush to the majoritry of the crowd ( don't want anybody to ham it up for the camera only) so they act "normal" . Take and edit the fil as necessary, but place some extra emphasis on the CM or whoever is running the meeting. Then place emphasis on the DL's as they do their thing. Place emphasis on the scouts as they are reacting to what the CM ( or whoever is leading) and DL's are doing. THis will by far be better than a staged meeting. Maybe you could even insert some interviews with those leaders who could talk about what they do and how they get motivated to do it.

We discussed it, but not everybody was on board with scouts using their own mess kits. I was all for it as well as several other leaders. But you know how it is....There are always just enough leaders who didn't get on board with the idea. They are worried that: 1)A scout might lose his kit. 2)A scout or parent won't wash it good enough. 3)They are worried that the leaders will end up washing a ton of mess kits. I said: 1) GREAT! It will teach them responcibility! 2) They will learn from that mistake. 3) HA HA HA HA! I DON'T THINK SO! We even talked about using those corn fiber plates that will breakdown in no time flat in the ground or if you wet them enough, but somebody freaked out about the cost. So.....here we are , using paper plates and paper cups. At least we can burn them in our campfire and not pack them up in plastic bags that go to the landfill, but there is still the issue of plastic forks and knives. I think we will bring it up to a vote again next year. See what happens then.

Yeah,I'll echo those above. If a pack's attendance is getting worse as time goes by, then soimebody needs to light a fire under the leadership or replace them. Anybody can read out of a Cub Scout book or off a piece of paper: "Bueller?... Bueller?... Bueller?...." What you need is somebody who isn't scared to stand up and take a chance of making a fool of himself. And truth be told....doing what you think may make you look like a fool - usually won't! You want a plan for those packs and leaders? Tell them to stop acting their age. Tell them to start acting 8 or 9 years old. I just started something new at our pack meetings: As I am walking in the sanctuary, I look around at the scouts. I pick one who is wearing the full uniform and possibly waiting for the meeting to start. I walk up to him, tell him to follow me to the front and hand him that $4.00 giant foam scout sign , and tell him to put it on and hold it up. I also hold up the scout sign. Then the color guard does it's job. Before we sing a song or do a cheer, I look and see which den is the most antsy orr full of energy, Then I bring that den up to help me lead the pack in the song or cheer...in front of everybody! They love it! Get them excited, make them laugh, keep it fun and interesting! Oh yeah, I made a bet with our scouts at the last pack meeting: If at least 70% of ALL dens make rank and stick around the whole year......I will lead the last pack meeting wearing a pink ballerina outfit complete with a tutu. Crazy? Over the top? Unheard of? You betcha! Did the boys laugh? Sure did! Are they accepting that bet? You have no idea how excited they are to take that bet! Am I gonna look stupid? ABSOLUTELY! Will I be embarassed? Nope! Not if it make the boys laugh and have a good time....but most importantly, if 70% stick it out all the way through....then it's definantly worth it! Want the boys to stick around, then make it fun and exciting.

According to my DE, I will be a: "You are not a committee member, but a sub-committee member of sorts. You do not have to attend committee meetings if you do not want to. Basically, you just help the District Camp Director by promoting at roundtables nad compiling a poster of pack within our district that may want to camp at Camp McNeill..."

Bluejacket, You have cooked with cheese in eggs before havent you? Yeah, you can easily tell when they are done as they are solid , just like a pan cooked omlette. Firm, but not hard.

Nah, the job description as I read it was to attend a training meeting at the camp, discuss planned planned activities at Roundtables, and contact the other pack in my district about camping. I am not collecting money, do not have a roster of those attending, nor will I do any planning as to what activities are gonna be. Basement: Luckily, the 4 closest packs to us all meet on a differnt night. Planned or coincidence? beats me! My pack( 235) meets on Mondays, pack 770 meets on Thurs, pack 234 meets on Tuesdays, and pack 270 meets on Weds. Not sure what night the other packs meet on, but doesn't matter.I will not drive to their CO's or attend meetings with their packs. I will be at the roundtable which is always the second Tuesday of the month...which I already attend anyways.

Really...It's about the " That's cool!" factor. At a Cub Campout, uaually, the adulyts cook over a stove making all the food and then a pre determined den helps serve. But while we are cooking,the cubs are around the campfire, running around or goofing off. No, nothing wrong with them goofing off, but cooking in a bag would be "cool", or at the very least - different. Me? I prefer my stainless steel/ oil filled base frying pan. I can eat more than the 2 eggs that go in a bag. But that's not cool!

I have an activity that two different den ranks are going to do. I'd like to make it an entire pack activity. I was inspired last year when we happened to collect a MRE ( Meal Ready to Eat ) while collecting for the Scouting for Food campaign. My son wondered what it was, so I opened it up and showed him. Explained why the soldiers didn't just sit at a table and eat cheeseburgers and pizza every day. SO, at the time, I was only an ADL. I took the MRE to our DL and told him I had an idea about teaching the boys some respect for soldiers, a touch of gratitude and just a lesson over all. So here it is: *************************************************************** We as a country, are lucky to be able to eat whenever we are ready to. We can also choose what type of fod we want. Hot, cold, soups, sandwhich, steak, burger, etc... We can snack and eat when it suits us. Whenever the mood hits us. But sometimes, we had a "rough" day and decide that we just don't feel like cooking - so we go out to eat. Sometimes we are just sooooo too tired to even do that, so we order delivery. Speaking of delivery, used to be a time tat delivery meant pizza. Now it's chinese, Mexican steak, fish, standard food ( chicken, roats, ham, etc...) or places like Boton Market that you pick up on the way home. But what about the fine military folks who are in other countries , surrounded by terrorists or other combatants who are trying to kill them. They could be in extreme heat conditions or extreme cold. They could be in snow, water, rain, mud, 125 degrees or whatever else. So imagine when you had that "rough" day, and you just don't feel like cooking, and you order out....that the guy or gal who makes sure you keep the right to do that- could be sitting in a ditch, in a foot of cold nasty germy water, and getting shot at or shelled....and is eating their meal out of a plastic bag. Could be the 7th, 10th, or even 18th meal they have eaten this way...assuming they can even stop to eat. They might be freaking estatically enthused about having the opertunity to slave over a nice hot stove inside an A/C heated house away from flies, bugs, snakes, scorpions and rain or dust. ******************************************************************** So that was the lesson or activity I wanted to do. I gave our DL the MRE and nothing ever happened. Found out later he let his son just have it. WEll, I just happen to have a unopened case of 12 MRE's and also an opened case of 8 ( individually sealed and packaged) MRE's of a mixed variety. Just happens that we have 12 active full time Bears and 8 full time active Webelos. Both DL's are very happy that I offered them the MRE's and the idea I had. And wether they actually like the taste all aside...the boys will just think they are cool! But I wouldn't mind turing this into a pack wide activity. Same as when we build PWD car boxes or a recipe book holder for mom on Mother's day. Each den goes to their regular room or meeting place, but all do the same activity. Sometimes we just mention it as an upcoming activity during the announcements at a pack meeting. Wow!I just answered my own question. You guys are great! Keep up the good work!

I think it is rare that anybody actually means to say, or come off as sounding like they said: "That is absolutely a bad idea and will not work!" We could write: "Hey, as long as it works for you....in your particular situation...with your specific circumstances - but I am of the opinion that it may not be the best way to go about 'X' ." But that is a given isn't it? WE are all writing comments based on our personal experiences, situations, councils/districts, members of our units and possibly based on geolographic and climatic nature. Wow, alot of writing, huh? Seattle. As I said in my original comment- It is only my OWN OPINION - that I wouldn't do it. And I'll be the very first to recognize I could be completely and totally wrong. But here's my line of thinking...assuming you have a fall ( well around the start of school ) roundup. If you have a roundup in the spring ( wich is a great idea, by the way) and the new boys are segregated into a single Bobcat den, what about the boys who join at the fall roundup? Do they go through the same seperation into a Bobcat den or are they just put into a regular den and having to catch up on Bobcat while the boys who advanced from the previous years rank start on regular rank activities? See, although it doesn't alwys work out that way, I do try to see stuff from the scouts perspective. A scout who was a spring recruit may wonder why he was singled out for a bobcat den, but the fall boys were not. Granted, the spring boy actually will get Bobcat sooner, but will feel like he was the one who was discriminated against. PLEASE realize that he may not know the word discriminate or what it means, but will have those feelings. The thing most of us were pointing out about Bobcat is that...well, it can be done along side of the regular den activities. But again, I will say this: If the system works for you, then have at it. Just try to remember the first time scout who is Bear or Webelos age , and is stuck in a den with a few Tigers until ( from his point of view) he passes his baby test.(Yes, I have heard it called that from scouts!)

I do not consider poptarts a breakfast food. I really do not consider them a food at all, but they make a great hold me over snack between breakfast and lunch, or lunch and supper. Even a late night snack. I pack them when I go camping. Some are for me, some are for my son.( Cub Scout by the way) . They work great when a kid is hungry, yet you don't want him too full and just picking at his next meal.

Well, one thing I try to remember is this: We can not hear each others tone of voice...which also means that we can't always tell a little bit of good natured joking from a little bit of good natured sarcasm from regular sarcasm or even somebody being down right mean. Know what I mean? I can sometimes be talking to a friend and say a pretty hateful thing or two, but when my friend sees me..he sees that flicker in my eye and the smile at the corner of my mouth..then we both bust out laughing becaise he knows there was absolutely no hate whatsoever in that hateful thing I said. You ever tell a freind your gonna kill them after they prank you? Even when you were youinger? Didn't mean it one bit did you. Nah, just all fun and games. Of course, I would hope nobody actually said that on here though...... I learned something once from a great guy that I only knew from a NASCAR forum: Sometimes how you read something is more of a reflection of yourself than the writer. No, not always, but it's hard to know when it is and when it's not. And me personally, I don't yell, I capitalize for EMPHASIS on a particualr word or thought!

I'm with Eagledad. Call it a sheath knife, just not a John Holmes knife!

I guess ----Open Discussion-Program is just as an approprite forum as Cub Scouts is. Guide to Safe Scouting. Yep, "seem" and "fairly clear" are the words of the day. Just by title alone, I'd say it is a guide. Not an be all end all and absolute final say. Sure, I think most of the stuff in there basically fits the optimal range of safety and well being. But let's look at the two page guide to age appropriate activities chart. Notice that some things are okay with every age group because the line extends from Tiger Cubs all the way to Varsity and Venturers. Camping is a good one. But you know, there are some Tiger Cubs and even Wolves and Bears who just don't do so good away from home, especially in a tent in the big ole spooky woods at night! "Hey there little red riding hood, you sure are looking good...." Sorry, just popped inmy head! But then you have Martial Arts ( defensive) . Not recommended at all for any Cub Scouts. But that's probably all: Just not "recomended". But not specifically banned. Then you have BB gun and archery. No line, but clearly labeled as council or district only. Then you have ATV's. That activity is specifically banned except for Venturer and Varsity. So ATV are not "not recommended" but flat out restricted. But wait! You have a specific section devoted to Unauthorized and restricted activities which are: "The following activities have been declared unauthorized and restricted by the Boy Scouts of America:" So, no guessing on that one. No ifs ands or buts about it. But it doesn't list BB gun or say they are restricted to council or district. Unless you plan on hunting with the BB gun, in which case, hunting is banned. So back to polar camping with Cub Scouts. Restricted, banned, or just not the most encouraged thing to do. And speaking of polar, does BSA have a good definition of what constitutes polar or even "tcold" ? I mean, When I lived in Block Island, RI (over 33 years ago) we'd play in the snow for months and had a blast. 4 foot of snow, and the plow would come by followed by a school bus. In NC, let somebody see a snowflake hit the ground..and schools, colleges, daycares, and most buisnesses shut down and super markets sell out of bread, water and soup! I'm serious. In south Texas, people wear jackets and coats when it drops to 60 degrees! LOL! So, what is cold and by who's definition. If you ban Polar Camping, scouts in Fargo may never ever go camping! Basically, maybe what seems so "fairly clear"...isn't so much after all?

I'll tell you a secret about NC winters. Probably the same situation in SC and Ga too: It feels colder when it's above freezing than when it's below. Sounds like I am on crack doesn't it? Well, let me explain: It's pretty humid in Nc. ESpecially on the coast where I live. When it's 32/33 degrees outside, it's not cold..It's DAMP, RAW cold. It's cold to the bone- need to take a long long hot shower to warm up - cold! Kids don't play outside for long because tey are miserable. But let the temperature fall to 20 or 30 degrees, and something magical happens: It doesn't feel as cold! Why? Because the moisture in the air freezes. It's no longer damp outside. You can dress warm and be just fine. You don't worry about dressing warm AND dry. And since snow is a rare thing on the east coast of NC, polar camping would mean "cold dry air camping. It's the same weather that the kids ride thier bikes,play football,play in the woods, go hunting and even jump on the trampoline on. So , I'd say that below freezingis probably more apt to be less extreme weather conditions..at least in NC!

83Eagle, Yeah, it does work, but so does waiting until the last den or pack meeting to hand out rank badges. Just because it works does not mean it's the best or most ideal way. We could have a scout take 3 years to earn the LNT award just to make sure he really gets it, but if he can do it in a month or even two...why drag it out? Besides, bob cat is not a long thing, it's a beginner step. That;'s all.

In my opinion, having a Bobcat den is not a good ideea, but it is only my opinion. But first, I want to be clear on a few things: Spring recruiting? Is this your annual recruiting drive for the whole pack or is this a second time event along with the fall campaign? If you just do the recruiting drive in the spring, there should not be an issues as it'sa new year. But if it is a secondary drive, you are short changing the scouyts who only have half a years worth of any rank before they go to the next rank due to age/ grade. They will be working on trying to meet rank when most opther dens are slowing down and just coasting til the end of the scout year. Now, having said that... do you put all ages of boys in a single Bobcat den? Do you have 6 year olds and 10 year olds together? I'm sure it's great for the 6 year old, but the 10 year old probably hates it! And echoing what ScoutNut said...all our new scouts usually have Bobcat within a month. At that time, you'd have to mix them in with the existing dens or create a new one.

I just became the Camp McNeill promotions chair for the Northeast Cape Fear District. The camp promotions chair of a neighboring district ( Masonboro) called me the other day. She said our senior DE gave her a list of "potentials" for taking over our district camp promotions chair. She said their were 5 names on the list, but mine had stars and checks beside it. So I agreed to take it, especially since I am going to be volunteering ar both Cub Scout resident camp and Cub Scout parent/son camping this year. I'm not entirely sure how this hapened. Yeah, I did willfully agree to it, but I think the Sr.DE used an old Jedi mind trick on me or something! So, as I was told, it's not exactly an excruciating job. Basically, I go to a "training" meeting at the camp in about a week and a half. Then all I do is present the info at the next few district roundtables, and contact packs within my district to see who's going to resident camp( almost 5 months away( and parent son weekend ( just under a year away). It sounds like it's not really that hard a job, to be honest with you. But I also understand the difference between: "should" and "is" "supposed to be" and "was" "ought to be" and "Is really gonna be" So, it sounds simple enough, but if you did it before, what should I realistically expect? What are some hints or tricks you used to make it run smoother or easier? Like I said, my part will only be for Cub Scouts, as the Boy Scouts go to a different ( neighboring) camp.

Well, they are not "offically" banned, but we tell our cubs that their will be no radios , gameboys, psp's or such brought on camping trips. IPODs? Well, if they want to listen in their tent at night before bed. That's up to them. So far, we only tell them this: " If you do not mind losing it and never seeing it again, go ahead and bring it. But if you lose it, we are not gonna help you look for it, nor are we responcible in any way." So far, that has worked. Usually, myself or somebody else will bring a portable radio. Mine is a DeWalt jobsite radio. We turn it on with the volume set so you can hear it, but low enough that anybody can talk over it. It's set to a mix/top 40 radio station. Get alot of weather "updates" on the hour too. We do this at meals times because it seems to help the boys talk less , chew more and calm down while eating. Translation: less spilled food and drink, less horseplay, less chance of somebody choking on the food.

Yeah, I admit ,the qualifications for the quality award were not exactly set to a regular high standard. A pack could easily decide to better themselves by increasing their membership by 3 scouts a year...and easily meet that goal. WEll, we did set high standards for ourselves. We maintained a high atriition rate and recruited 20 % more scouts at roundup for a pack of 120 kids. But of course, it's really maintaining the membership number instead of adding a bunch because we lose about 15- 17 Webelos each year at crossover. That is one reason I like the Journey to Excellence awards. Atleast there is a set standard with an across the board meaning to each level of the award. Right now, the biggest advantage of wearing the quality unit award is that prospective scout's parents see that patch at roundup and it helps them decide to sign up their kids.

I just bought a new uniform shirt today. Had to. My Basset ate my old one a few weeks ago the day after attending a Pow-Wow and doing a bunch of outdoor cooking. So, I decided that this time, I was going to sew on the quality unit award and veteran bar this time. To be honest, I have no idea why nobody else in the pack wears those patches, but nobody has since I have been at the pack. Honestly, I believe that most of our leaders are not even aware. No, I do not think badly of them for it, just the result of a pack that had too many adults wearing too many hats and without a committee for too long a time. Basically, I do not think that the Den Leaders even know we have been earning the Quality Unit award the past few years. And in case that doesn't make sense - let me explain: The pack is doing the stuff to earn quality Unit, but all paper work and communication was handled by one very busy person who also was way over worked. That person may not have always passed on this sort of info to the pack..Or had bigger worries since they wore 3 or 4 hats at one time. Now, it's no longer an issue as we have a nearly full working committee.( 7 people) So back in the present day, I will be sewing those patches on my shirt as well as my council, unit number, Position of office, my trained patch, world crest with 100 year ring around it and wearing my service star. So here's where the spin off starts: If wearing too many knots may be considered tooting your own horn or just wearing bling.... what about patches? I am proud we are a quality unit award. I am proud to wear the 25 year veteran bar ( our pack is 28 years old). They show we are doing a great job, dedicated and that we are not a fly by night pack. Proud of my trained patch too: shows I take the time to be schooled and trained and not just showing up to meetings when I feel like it. I am wearing my BALOO temp patch to to show I learned cool stuff to do with the kids when camping. I will pin my service star on my shirt too, because well, I've been here doing it, why not wear it. So, am I just "blinging it" or am I wearing stuff that I am officially allowed ( and expected) to wear? No, not really a question to determine what I should wear, but a question about what YOU would wear. Why?

What? No Tums in that mix?

Well...I guess we will be taking all the boys pocket knives away and issuing chansaws instead. Okay, I didn't clarify, but this is something we will do at/for CUB SCOUTS. In the original post, I 'thought' I made it clear that you eat directly from the bag, no plates, no forks, no anything...but a pot of clean water that can be dumped out. Can be cooked on a true wood fire, or ....as we will do it...over a gas burner. As for Real cooking - umm - we use real food that is really cooked when we eat it. I'm thinking that does qualify as "real" cooking. But I'll clarify on that too. We have a scout trailer, It has 2 double burner gas cookers on legs, 2 single burner gas cookers on legs, 3 camp style stoves ( think coleman) that use 1 pound or adapt to 20 gas pound bottles. By gas, I mean propane gas. Now, we also have 3 120 quart Igloo marine coolers . On the last day of a campout, we do not feel like coooking masss quantities of bacon,eggs, and pancakes. We do not want to have to pass around 15 bottles of syrup, 10 shakers of salt and pepper, nor collect all the paper plates, plastic knives forks and spoons. Nope! Use 1 single burner, heat a big pot of water and then set a couple cartons ( 2 1/2 dozen count) of egs , as well as a few bags of grated cheese, pre cooked and crumbled sausage on a table with 4 shakers of salt and pepper. The eggs mix, cook, and are eaten DIRECTLY out of the bag. Toss the bag, toss the water, put away a clean pot and burner. Then drive out of camp!

I am not a jerk..really, I'm not. But sometimes, a little bit of sarcasm works where reason does not. I'd compile a list of the parents who have not been paying - yet still reaping the benefits. Type them a letter saying something along the lines of : " For a couple years now, you have enjoyed pack activities and events without paying for them. Since a scout is: Compassionate, he cooperates, is honest, has a positive attitude, is respectful, and is RESPONCIBLE.... We feel that you will have no problem taking your turn paying for not only your scout, but at least 4 others as well. This is only fair as all your activities, awards and special occasions were paid for by others. Please send a check for $....X... " Yeah, those parents will be mad, outraged and calling you really fast. But what can they say? Tell them you do not expect them to really pay for others, but it is not only expected they will pay for themselves, but it is required or they will not advance and will alos be promptly dropped from the roster at recharter time. I have no problem supporting a scout who is financially unable to afford scouting, but this is a case of parents just trying to get around the rules...and balking and crying when they are caught. Yeah, it sucks for the scouts themselves, but you will also notice that- "that" scout is not playing basketball, baseball, football or any other activitry by his parents avoiding dues and payments! Scouting is a great and awesome youth activity, but it is not a right!