scoutldr

When I was a DL, I taught my 8 year olds how to shave. You blow up a balloon, smear it with shaving cream and then "shave" it with a razor. The one who can shave all the cream off the balloon without it popping, wins. We did this at a ScoutORama and the cubbies loved it.

IMHO, the "swimmers test" is seldom administered the way it is designed. I have seen too many instances where the scout is passed if he can manage to thrash his way to the end of the pool regardless of "comfort" or technique. Swimming is not like hiking or cycling where the goal is to just go from point A to point B any way you can. If they are "not that comfortable in the water" then they are Beginners...not Swimmers.

Three of "my" scouts are at Tech. One lives in the dorm (West AJ)mentioned and he and another are engineering majors (Norris Hall). Another is in the Corps of Cadets, who have their own dorm. We've only heard from two of the three so far. Not wanting to bother the stressed out families, I can only pray and hope all is well. A student was quoted as the shooter wearing a "Boy Scout-type outfit"...not sure what that means, but I sure wish they had not used those words.

Now you know how we in Virginia feel about going to Philmont! So I guess we're even. Not many can afford that price tag, either, not to mention the 3 week time commitment for adults who have to work for a living!

Camp Dark Hollow goes on the auction block Modern Girl Scouts want modern amenities, the Virginia Skyline Council says. By Cody Lowe The Roanoke Times Today's Girl Scouts want an outdoor experience, but they'd like to have it with hot showers, flushing toilets and modern kitchens. That was the conclusion of the board of directors for the Girl Scouts of Virginia Skyline Council in 2004, when it decided it was time to sell off the three most primitive of the five camps it owned. Monday at noon, the last of those three -- the 400-acre Camp Dark Hollow on Virginia 311 at Hanging Rock -- will be sold at auction. "Things continue to change in Scouting," said Jen Ward, director of marketing and communications for the Roanoke County-based council. "There's been a decline in use of the camps," she said, and Girl Scouting nationwide has been working "to develop programs for girls that they want to do, so they'll stay in Girl Scouting and not be seeking opportunities in other places." Dark Hollow, purchased in the early 1950s for $12,000, has always been a relatively primitive camp. There are two wells on the property to serve the bunkhouses and kitchen. Electricity is available in some buildings. But the outhouses, lack of showers and absence of a large flat outdoor spot for sports and other activities were a drawback. There is a stream on the property, but not large enough to be used for aquatic activities. There are still girls who are interested in primitive camping experiences, Ward said, and in traditional activities such as archery. But there's also a demand for other types of activities that today's Girl Scouts' moms probably never thought of, such as crime scene investigation. The council hopes to replace Dark Hollow with a smaller, more convenient camp somewhere near Roanoke. It is looking for about 20 acres, with 5 acres or so open and flat for sports and other activities, and with access to water such as a lake, pond or river. "Preferably, there would also be existing infrastructure there -- water, electricity, flush toilets and showers," Ward said. "We want hiking and primitive camping to be available, as well as progressive camping." In fact, such sites technically aren't even called "camps" by the Scouts anymore. "We call them 'program centers,' but we still give them camp names," Ward said. They are home to a variety of programs, she said -- science, technical programs, computers -- as well as outdoors activities and sports. Much of the Dark Hollow property is steep and rocky and most of it is still wild. Woltz & Associates, which is handling the auction, believes that is a great selling point. "Its potential use is limited only by the imagination of the bidders," said Jonna McGraw, who's handling the sale. The Web site describing the property received 40,000 hits its first week online, she said. Prospective buyers have talked to her about continuing to use the site as a camp or retreat center, as a hunting camp, or even as a "family compound." The property has been subdivided into five tracts, which range from 26 to 274 acres. "We tried to divide it in a way to appeal to most people. There are smaller tracts for a single-family buyer, and a larger tract with more wilderness area for outdoor sports, recreation, hunting," McGraw said. The property is zoned for agriculture use, so any proposal to create additional subdivisions or more intense development would require rezoning by the Roanoke County Board of Supervisors. No one is making a guess on the total revenue the property may bring, but McGraw said she hoped it would be higher than the tax assessment, which last year was $776,000. Subdividing the site into five tracts, which will be sold singly or in whatever combination brings the highest bid, can help generate a higher sale price, she said. There is no minimum bid on any parcel. The sites will all be served by the current access road running through parcel 1, where most of the buildings and other improvements are located. All of the sites have been tested and approved for septic sites, McGraw said. Such a site so close to the interstate is rare, McGraw said. "There are beautiful old trees, wildlife, wildflowers; it's pretty neat." And, she said, "The good thing about the sale is that the money will go to buy a new camp." The Skyline Council spent some of the money from the sale of Camp Shawnee in Southside Virginia and Camp Massawomee in the northern Shenandoah Valley on improvements to the remaining two operating camps, Ward said. Camp Sacajawea near Lynchburg and Camp Sugar Hollow near Crozet serve the two other major population centers in the council's service area. The decision to sell Dark Hollow was a tough one, Ward said. "The board decided that we needed to move forward ... and that it would not work for what we needed." The board sought feedback from the 11,500 girls it serves. "We have to listen to the girls," Ward said. "If we don't, we're doing them a complete disservice. "Girls will always have new interests. We're trying to keep up with them."

Welcome, tuxz0r! As we say, grab a cuppa joe and pull up a log. You're background sounds similar to mine and several others here. Couldn't wait to have boys of my own so I could put the uniform back on and dive back in! That was 22 years ago...boys have aged out, but I haven't!

Bigfoot is a member of the troop in which I serve...age 12, size 14!

Here are more details: http://www.boyslife.org/home/728/scouts-capture-bigfoot/

Not having used to be a "critter", I realize I have no "cred" and probably don't know what I'm talking about. But I have to wonder why this discussion continues, when the answer has been established? If you've earned a knot, you can wear it. Or knot. Your choice.

We had a cuss jar at one time...our ASM who sailed for 30 years as a merchant mariner and served in the Army before that would liberally use the f-word and s-word and even the n-word. Of course, his son was no better, because that's what he heard at home. When we got to summer camp, he would just throw a $20 bill in the jar and say, "There, I'm covered for the week!" We don't use the cuss jar any more. A teacher once told me that cussing just showed ignorance and a lack of education and vocabulary.

I think that 'guidance' was not meant to apply to knots, which in another part of the IG clearly shows that multiple rows of knots are appropriate. It is meant to apply to things like QU awards, which I have seen lined up all the way down the sleeve. Only the QU award for the current year is meant to be worn. I have seen a Scouter in our district who wears not only the Eagle rank badge on the pocket, but also the medals for Eagle, Religious Award and Scouters training award...ALL the time. That's clearly ridiculous, but I don't feel I have the right to tell him my thoughts ... no more so than I would go up to someone at work and tell them that I feel their choice of clothing looked ridiculous (much as I would like to)... Another example are those scouts and scouters who continue to wear their Jambo CSP and unit numbers long after the event is over, not to mention multiple Jambo patches above the right pocket. We also have a council scouter who likes to wear the dark green Venturing shirt, along with 4 rows of those special knots with the dark green background (not official). He was in a Crew as a youth, but now is registered with a troop and holds a Council committee position. When I am attending a troop or OA event, I wear my red loops. When I am representing the District on an EBOR, I wear silver loops. That's what is meant by "current status", IMHO.

Unfortunately, it's the culture today. Kids hear 4 letter words and worse from a very young age on TV, in their music, in the movies, at home and in school. To them, it's nothing.

Thanks, Ed. That's useful information!

First of all, thanks for the reference! I think BSA should do this with ALL their pubs. But the first thing I looked for was a copyright notice, and sure enough, it's on the last page (back cover). Has the BSA finally given permission to Scouters to reproduce their publications and pass them around? Is this considered "fair use"...someone on the forums once stated that we had permission to do this as long as we use the materials to further the movement and don't profit from it. (I'm not a lawyer...I'm just asking the question) (edited for typos)(This message has been edited by scoutldr)

How to prevent burnout? Focus on the job you signed up to do...if you are a DL, then don't worry about a nonfunctional CC. It's not your job to pick up the slack. Focus on den meetings and your group of boys. It's up to the CO and COR to decide if the CC is "pulling their weight" or not, and to replace them when necessary. Most cub scouting happens in the Den...where the rubber meets the road.

Most BSA memorabilia is illustrated in "A Guide to US Scouting Collectibles" by George Cuhaj. The book is available on eBay, and sometimes in Barnes/Noble stores.

We are Troop 99, but it is listed on some documents as 3099. Not sure why they do that.

Check the address label on your Scouting magazine. The number right above your name ends in the Council number: #0000080506617#546S 0099CJAN08N In the above example, #546 would be your Council number, and the 0099 is the unit number. Jan 08 is the expiration date. At least that's the way it is on mine!

I am going to join the Procrastinator's Club...someday. Remember...planning ahead pays off in the long run, but procrastination pays off RIGHT NOW!

I think Randy has the right idea. The religious emblems are not BSA awards...they are presented by the Scout's denomination, usually at a church service. The BSA merely approves the wearing of the award on the uniform and provides a square knot to wear in lieu of the medal, which is worn only on formal occasions.

Traditionally, den meeting time and location are at the discretion and convenience of the DL. I had den meetings in my kitchen, like my Den Mother did 40 years ago. I don't know when it started that "all dens meet at the same place and time", but it seems to be more and more common. It's neither good nor bad, I guess, as long as it works. Whether to have a den meeting during Pack meeting week is also at the discretion of the DL, but the parents might want a vote too. That being said, we had Pack meetings on the third Wednesday of the month...check your Council calendar to make sure it doesnt' conflict with Roundtables, or other meetings/events that might conflict. Congratulations on wanting to get your Pack on track...a Pack Meeting SHOULD be an EVENT...with songs, skits, awards, cheers, and FUN...Roundtables are an excellent source of ideas, so make sure to take advantage of those.

I wouldn't disparage the other troop. I would just say, "all of our adults and youth leaders are fully trained and we are operating the troop according to the BSA program...boy-led. Our scouts do their own planning and learn from their mistakes."

I would ask the parents what lesson their son learns by having an adult do everything for him? As has been mentioned in other posts, many of today's parents view the Eagle as "let's get it done, check it off the list and move on to something else"....a resume entry for the college application. After all, as soon as we make Eagle, we can quit those annoying weekly meetings, campouts and popcorn sales!

Do you attend the monthly roundtable meetings? No Do you even know what they are? yes Does your roundtable staff conduct good meetings? No Are they worthwhile attending? No I don't consider them "training". Just an information passing meeting. Could achieve the same end by sending me an e-mail and saving me a night out.

I agree with the others...awarding the SB for donating money is just wrong. Awards should not be purchased. I also have served on the District selection committee and the biggest problem is getting nominations. SOme forms just had a name on them. Some just said "Jim is a really great guy and deserves this award." Sorry, can't do anything with that. Also, it's hard to get someone's "resume" without telling them why you need the information, so most people don't bother. The same issues seem to hinder the OA Vigil nomination procedure. You can't be selected if you're not nominated, and getting people to track down all the information required and then fill out the form in a coherent, convincing manner is just beyond the capability of most people. It's frustrating to see Scouters with 30 years of dedicated service be passed up year after year, while the DE/Staff advisor to the lodge gets the Vigil honor within 3 years of being hired...the schmooze factor is alive and well. Sadly, we have years when awards go unawarded for the lack of quality nominations.