ScoutingEMT

I'm having to play with this, too... I'm setting up a skit for the "science camp" week at the Boy Scout camp... We've got some thoughts... and haven't quite decided what to do. One idea that has been talked about, but I'm not fully sure is the "brightest" - Sodium (element form) on the top of the fire... add WATER... get fire. I've also seen Model rocket engines and other pyrotechnics used... it looks cool, but I'm sure my copy of the G2SS has large, bold type warnings against that....

I would suggest speaking with all "listed" parents - giving them the option to have both parents put on the contact information and troop email newsletter. If a parent approches me and asks to be put on the email contact lists, I'd check with the "listed" parent... so long as they agreed to it, I don't see a problem.

Our council camps have "Polar Bear" swimming -this is a before breakfast "swim" - You've got to get wet hair, but you don't have to stay in. Every scout who does this gets a segment for their camp patch. This gives every scout some time is a chlorinated pool every morning. Not perfect, but not horrible. It also gets the scouts going in the morning. If a youth hasn't actually showered all week, and NEEDS to shower - the other youth will usually "gang up" on the scout until they shower - this is usually wedensday or thursday (Not perfect, but it is coming from the boys, not the le

The troop I am now affiliated with (ASM) is a small troop. We have 1 patrol with 5 or 6 members, a PL, an ASPL and an SPL. I've not camped with them yet (other than staff at district events) but I wouldn't be suprised to see it go either way. My old troop (when I was a scout) had at least 3 patrols on every trip, and the adults always ate seperatly... There was also "extra" adult food for scouts with religious issues when the patrol failed to plan for them (Jewish scouts with pork products, etc). The adults also would usually cook the evening snack/dessert (The SM made a m

My bridging ceromony (10 years ago) was from 2 or 3 weblos dens in 1 pack, going into 2 major local troops and 1 scout into a smaller local troop. The pack was "affilaited" with 1 of the troops, but was a pack that fed all 3 troops. The cermonly was put on at another troops' propertly with fire circle, etc. We bridged and "our" new scoutmaster and troop gave us our neckerchief, book, etc.... very nice ceremony, with appropriate involvement from all troops... Even if you just had an ASM and PL from the other troop(s) - someone to "accept" the scout bridging into that troop... it shou

Great comment - I'd heard the same thing - that, if someone appeals as far as National, they usually get their Eagle, but THEY HAVE TO APPEAL... Anyone else heard or seen this?

I've sat in on 3 Eagle BoR's recently, and the District Advancement Coordinator would like to see me start to sit on the BoR's. I get to see the whole BoR, start to finish, and never leave the room. I don't participate in the discussion or interview process, just observe. The Coordinator often schedules multiple scouts for a BoR (does them 1 at a time) - this appears to be a convience factor to a point... easier to find volunteers for 1 longer meeting than 2 or 3 seperate dates... We had an incident at the last BoR (3 Scouts) where the last scout was denyed his Eagle (I'm not g

Funscout.... great points. I'm 20, my brother is 16. I still live at home (joys of going to school locally) To prove how "uncool" I am... I just got a MySpace account 2 months ago so I could participate in 1 group... I've played with it a little, not much. I've been on AIM since I was 16. In that time I've gotten a few "spam" IM's referring to "adult" sites, etc, not too much, and nothing I couldn't just close... I only have dial-up internet at home, so most of my On-line time is from work, school, etc... places where I could get into REAL serious trouble if I was visiting

I am on staff for a Week-long Merit Badge camp held Opening week at one of our scout camps. As this is an intense program, we have the SM sign off that A: the scout is able to do an intense week of merit badges (this "should" weed out scouts who don't want to go) also the SM signs off that the scout is a "good" scout. In addition, many badges have prerequisites.... mostly the "read and explain" as a written paper... these are REQUIRED at Check-In.... no prerequisites, no check-in. You can sit and work on the prerequisites, but if they aren't "there" we won't check you in (not saying they

I've had the fun of being "the First Aid guy" at District and council events. I've seen 1 troop with a similar organized binder as SemperParatus has... and it was very nice to have. I've also seen "the worst" - Webelos / young scouts without permission slips or parent contact #'s. It is very nice to have an organized binder that makes finding medical forms easy, even in times of high stress. Also - a few concerns. The information is private, and needs to be secure. If you are camping "near" your vehicle, locking it in a vehicle might not be a bad idea. Also, because of the confide

I've been getting the "your estimated delay is" screen too. It is annoying -espicially when I'm using high-speed internet. Jon

a few troops locally wear them. The troop I might be joining soon as an ASM is the "reincarnation" of one of the troops that wore them, and everyone stills has them. I'm trying to get one, and an "overseas cap" off of Ebay - just to be different. As for "baseball caps" - my first troop had the logo on a troop neckerchief, and the same logo on the hat... looked really sharp. Oh, as for the beret's being introduced to look "less military" - what is the trademark of US Special Forces troops? a Green Beret. Many, many, armed forces wear berets, and they do look VERY impresive.

Acco44 wrote: "For example, I have a Scout who attends troop meetings fairly regularly but does not attend outings. His position of responsibility is Patrol Leader. He does attend PLC meetings too. His patrol doesn't attend outings much either (total patrol has attended only two outings all year, one Scout attended summer camp and three Scouts for our May outing. We have an outing every month.) Now is he active? Should it depend on why he has not attended outings or is that irrelevant?" Better question..... WHY isn't he going on outings? Perhaps SM needs to sit down with the scout and d

Just a comment. A troop I was a member of had a "1 car garage" attached to the scout hut. That was the equipment storage area. We installed some boards with hooks attached, so that, after a campout, tents could be hung in the garage to dry, rather than go home and never return. Tents would dry, and then be rolled at the next troop meeting. It worked out great for us.... occasionally tents still went home to be washed, but we didn't have to worry about "jonnie scout" forgetting the tent in his garage for a year. Jon

I heard of an intresting concept run by a local troop.... a "merit badge morning" held over 6 saturday mornings in January and Febuary.... they offer about 15-20 badges, with each scout being able to do 3 MB's (3 sessions of class eack Sat. Morning over 7 weeks) It seemed like a neat way for a troop with a large number of boys and involved adults to present badges, and a way to present some "oddball" badges that some scouts might not have thought about. I'm also involved in a Council project for a summer "science camp" that offers some "oddball" badges to scouts as a summer camp prog

"It's true, there does seem to be little middle ground on Napoleon Dynamite--either you love it or despise it. What I like about it is that it shows a real outsider having a positive influence on his community, basically as a result of an act of kindness he performs for a friend." Well said. I've watched the movie once. I scratched my head through some of it, and also remembered a kid from Middle and High school who not only acted, but almost looked like Napoleon.... Personally - I'd stay away from it with a young audeince, but with an older audience, it could make a really good

I've got some feelings on this. First, as for the scout who went through NYLT after just being taken off the med that helped him through school - THAT IS STUPID (just a little rant - I've also seen it before with psychiatric medications - can be a real disaster) From my perspective as a "medical type" - I've got a BIG problem with scouts being on medications, and WHY, and it not being on their Medical form, same as having a medical condition and it not being mentioned. I need to be able to look at the form to get information to treat a scout having a medical issue, and I will pass th

I'm spinning this off - I think that Aspergers deserves its own thread. I was looking at the last couple of posts, and a lot of this rings true. My younger brother had been diagnosed with Aspergers, and I seem to have a lot of the same "qualities" found in those with Aspergers, but have never actually gotten diagnosed, because we didnt realize what my problem was until my Senior Year of high school, when by brother was diagnosed in his learning differences private school. Im now 21, my brother is 16. Im an at-large of the district committee, and am likely to become an ASM in the troo

I remember many years ago, in Elemrntary school (Early 1990's)... It was still "Cool" for cub scouts to wear there uniforms to school. I remember one scout getting sent home for WEARING HIS KNIFE TO SCHOOL, before a den meeting. Scout was sent home, and lucky that he wasn't expelled. I mention this as a warning, if scouts still wear uniforms to school, it must be re-inforced that Knives are Bad at school. Jon

Thanks!

I've done Gettysburg 3x... great trip, and don't forget to visit the Eisenhower Farm. As for other trip suggestions.... Ben Franklin's 300th birthday is in January... many, many intresting tributes to him being planned in the city of Philadelphia. And you can always do DC again, because there is always more to see. Jon

I'm looking for something that will look "class b" with a troop shirt, or that I can wear with a class A shirt for a retreat ceremony. Again, I know the "uniform police" will get upset, but my pants seen to take a beating, and I'm a student on a limited income. I want something that looks a little better than jeans. Thanks, Jon

I'm looking for a Chester County Council CSP that is the old white on red patch. I've got 2, my brother had stolen 1, and the other is falling apart. Thanks, Jon

I think it could be a real neat activity, but must be done with proper respect for the tool, as well as proper supervision, also with a "don't try this at home" speech. As for the BB shooting.... This has occured on weekend troop trips to established camps.... one that is usually a "day" camp, and the other one a resident summer camp. Both BSA, and both supervised appropriatly. Jon

Perhaps have him camp with "his age group" - the "Senior Patrol." As for smoking, that is a No-No. Next time he is smoking, throw water at him, because you must assume he is on fire . Have you sat down with the ASM and ask WHY this, umm, 'youth' is in scouting right now??? There might be a story behind it. Jon