scoutldr

I agree with the ban on cellphones at camp, except for emergencies. And any kid who is allowed to spend 3 hours a night on a cellphone has morons for parents. Is it any wonder that your typical 14 year old can't read or write a standard English paragraph?

He asks the question Who is supposed to help and/or make sure things are followed in the BSA guidelines and help pack and troops that are not following those guide lines and make sure all the leaders are receiving training? A: That would be the Commissioner staff. The CO can insist that all unit leaders receive training, since they are the ones who approve unit leaders. The Council has no authority to "fine" units for non-compliance with BSA policies. It can, however revoke the charter if the terms of the charter agreement are not being upheld.

I was always taught that hitchhiking was a bad idea.

I would think the folks in Irving would be monitoring this forum constantly. What better way to get a cross-section of opinions from Scouters across the country (and other countries!).

I don't think anyone has said, "go back and kick up a fuss". We're just answering her question by stating BSA policy. What she chooses to do with the information is up to her.

The BSA uniform does not include pants from Campmor (yet). If the troop is doing this, then they are not "in uniform". If they want to wear the pants with a troop T-shirt, that's fine...but its not a BSA uniform. If the troop leadership wants to do this, what's to keep them from tweaking other rules that they don't agree with?

Rabies shots urged for 950 Girl Scouts LEESBURG, Va. (AP) -- Officials are recommending that nearly 1,000 Girl Scouts who may have been exposed to rabies at a Northern Virginia camp consider getting protective vaccinations. There is only a small chance that any of the girls were infected by bats that were found in some of the sleeping shelters at Camp Potomac Woods, Loudoun County officials said. But authorities are erring on the side of caution because around 1 percent of bats carry rabies, a viral disease that is incurable once symptoms appear. Bats can bite children in their sleep without waking them. "We think the risk is extremely small, but we can't say there is no risk," Loudoun County Health Department Director David Goodfriend said. "Really, at the end of the day, it's the parents' decision of what level of risk they are willing to bear." Last month, the mother of a girl who had attended the camp contacted the Girl Scout Council of the Nation's Capital. The girl had told her mother the shelter she slept in had bats living under the eaves. Five bats subsequently caught at the camp's shelters tested negative for rabies. But officials soon learned that a few girls apparently touched a bat captured by a counselor, and some girls had not used protective netting around their beds while they slept at night. The Loudoun health department sent letters to the parents of around 950 girls who attended the camp through July 22. Most of those contacted have declined to get the vaccine. At least 14 girls have begun receiving the monthlong series of shots, local officials said. They include the children authorities believe were most likely to have come in contact with a bat. The vaccine consists of six to nine shots, which can cost up to $2,000. The Girl Scouts organization is covering the cost of the shots. Camp officials have installed screens on windows, doors and eaves in all 54 of the camp's shelters since the incident. 2006 The Associated Press.

Not to get way off topic, but carcinogenicity levels are WAY below the LD50 (the level of exposure at which 50% of the test animals will die ). When playground equipment has been removed due to treated lumber, the soil around it also had to be removed because the arsenic contamination levels (which can migrate into the ground water) were above EPA limits. Personally, I think second hand tobacco smoke is a much greater risk, but parents don't think twice about exposing their kids (and your kids) to it.

Mea culpa. I shall defer to LongHaul's more current knowledge. BTW, that should have been "plastic" lumber.

Treated lumber contains chromated copper arsenate as a preservative. It is a carcinogen both from the chromate and the arsenic. If you wear N95 dust respirators while cutting it (these will not fit children or adults with facial hair), and work gloves, you should be fine. If the bench is to be used where children will be in contact with it (e.g., a school or playground), I would use something else, like cedar or that new plasting lumber. See the below article for more information. http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2003-12-29-treated-lumber_x.htm

Short answer...NO.

The holodeck has been invented...I think a lot of people experienced it at Woodstock.

As I've stated before, I think we on this forum take the uniform a lot more seriously than the folks in Irving do. Just take a look at any issue of Boys' Life, Scouting or Eagletter.

I'd like to hear from other Camping Chairs out there. What sorts of things does your committee do, other than attend meetings and discuss camp maintenance? Is Cub Day Camp considered part of your responsibilities? How does the OA figure into your committee activities?

The Lord be with you... May God protect you from harm, and grant health to your soul. May He shine on your heart, and lead you to eternal Life. Amen. And may the blessing of almighty God, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, come down on you and remain with you always. Amen. Let us go in the peace and the joy of the Lord. Thanks be to God. + (This message has been edited by scoutldr)

I'm not a lawyer, but I think you're making this more difficult than it is. Anyone can form a youth group and have activities, uniforms, etc. You just can't infringe on the BSA corporate trademarks,patents and copyrights. And even at that, I think that after a certain number of years, copyrighted materials become public domain. That might explain why BSA pubs are constantly being revised and reprinted.

Just my opinion...I would say no. A service project is based on the "good turn", which is supposed to be without compensation. This is not "service"...it's selling a product, which is being used to offset the cost of things they would otherwise have to pay for. Now if the fundraiser is to benefit your CO or a church, or the local neighborhood park, that's different.

Can you still buy a BSA motorcycle? I just looked at a group called Awana...church based, but similar to Scouting. Their uniforms are cheaper and they only have shirts!!! I found it interesting that their youngest group is called "Cubbies". Bring on the Lawyers!

SR-768 Wood Badge Course SR-768 runs September 29-October 1, 2006 and October 20-22, 2006 in Camp Lions at Pipsico Scout Reservation, Surry County VA. For more details, see: www.tidewaterbsa.com (training)

SR-768 Wood Badge Course SR-768 runs September 29-October 1, 2006 and October 20-22, 2006 in Camp Lions at Pipsico Scout Reservation, Surry County VA. www.tidewaterbsa.com (training)

I lost my dad and best friend in 1995. The best gifts he left me I only realized after he was gone. He taught me how to be a good father, husband, Scout leader, employee, patriot, and citizen. He taught me to fend for myself and pay my own way. He taught me how to change my own oil and sparkplugs. Never ask others to do for you what you can do for yourself. Face your fears and don't procrastinate. When you make a mistake, fix it and move on. When it's time to go, go with dignity and courage. Sounds like our Dads were cut from the same cloth. We are so fortunate. God Bless.

I am in the SE Virginia area. This week, it's 97-101 degrees during the day, with 60-70% humidity. "Black flag" conditions on the military bases (no unnecessary physical activity). It happens like this every year, so it's not like it was a surprise.

2007 will be the 400th anniversary of the settlement of Jamestown, Virginia. There will be activities all year long. Pipsico Scout Reservation is directly across the James River in Surry County and is accessible by ferry (camping and cabins available). Known as the "historic triangle", Jamestown, Colonial Williamsburg and Yorktown are all within a few miles' radius of each other. A little further south of there is Norfolk and Virginia Beach. Also the Outer Banks Historical Trail on the outer banks of NC. www.tidewaterbsa.com www.cvcboyscouts.com Looks like greeneagle and I were typing at the same time. Great minds think alike!(This message has been edited by scoutldr)

Our camp also has strict rules about visitors. For the first time this year, we ALL had to wear those silicone wristbands (e.g. LIVESTRONG). Campers and unit leaders wore red. Staff wore green. Anyone without a band was shot on sight (just kidding). ALL visitors had to check in at the office and had to provide a picture ID (which they Xeroxed) and a unit leader to vouch that this person had the legal right to take custody of the scout, if leaving early. Must be a new National policy to prevent non-custodial parents from taking kids. In this case, the staff was correct, you were technically trespassing. I would have handled it a little more diplomatically, however. But considering what your attitude may have been, maybe not.

51 boys went to camp. All 20 new scouts went to camp. We still don't know how many are in the troop (denominator).