scoutldr

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).

I found several sources. They are about $6. Google is a wonderful thing.

"The following is the URL for the bios of Camp Onteora's leadership. I repeat my earlier question, 'ARE YOU SURE YOU WANT TO LEAVE YOUR CHILDREN AT CAMP ONTEORA?" I looked at the website and I don't understand what your point is. All I see are photographs of two gentlemen and their brief bio, which look remarkably like the bios of any of us. From what you wrote, the main issue seems to be that a staffer did not provide a ride for your son from his campsite to the parking lot in order to meet YOUR schedule. Based on that, your reaction appears to be way out of line. If you were treated rudely, perhaps it was in reaction to your demanding and critical attitude. Scouters are human, too.

As I said, I was trying to be objective and present all points of view, not place blame. For the scouts to assume that they could be paid in advance of their normal payday was a mistake on their part, IMHO. You know what they say about assuming... Did they have an employment contract or other written agreement that spelled out what the pay procedures are? I also said, "On the other hand, the Director agreed up front and should have had a plan before he agreed to hire them." So I did not let the R/D off the hook. I do think it's a mistake to hire staff for the summer and then make exceptions that you can't cover with other qualified staff (such as with my A/D example - there was no NCS qualified A/D in camp that week).

One of my favorite sayings is "We are victims of nothing but our own bad choices." (I made that up myself) In my opinion, the Camp Director made a bad choice in hiring a number of senior camp staff, knowing that they would "bail out" later in the summer. If they held critical positions, it's nearly impossible to hire someone to cover those jobs for a week. Those with the misfortune to be attending camp that week will get a lesser program experience. Is that fair to them? I believe that when a Camp Staffer agrees to be hired, it should be for the entire term of the assignment. (We once had an Aquatics Director who missed a week of camp because they "had to go to an out of council camp with their troop" - unacceptable in my opinion) If they wanted to go to NOAC, then camp staff is not a job option, and they certainly should not have expected to have the payroll process altered just to meet their special needs. It's all about making tough choices and not being able to "have it all". On the other hand, the Director agreed up front and should have had a plan before he agreed to hire them. (Making some assumptions here) From what I see, as a parent, there is nothing for you to be angry about. We are just seeing predictable consequences...an important life lesson. If they choose not to return to camp staff next year, the Camp Director also learns a lesson(hopefully), as long as he knows why they are not returning. And just out of curiosity, don't the other scouts have parents with ATM cards? Sometimes our biggest stressors are from problems we take on that don't belong to us. Yes, we should help others...with "cheerful service". Remember that thing about "irksome tasks". I don't mean this to sound hard and uncaring...just trying to provide an objective view. And I admit I'm reading a lot between the lines and may have it all wrong...

A Camp Director (especially if he's still at camp) would appreciate a "care package" of homemade brownies or cookies. You're right about the patches...he probably has all he needs, but a gift for the stomach would please anyone. (I speak from experience!)

http://www.ustreas.gov/education/fact-sheets/currency/in-god-we-trust.shtml