ScoutNut

I usually come to Pack meetings prepared with a few songs and at least 1 participation story. The words to the songs I copy and leave by the door so everyone can take one. When we hit a snag or a slow spot I just grab the microphone and go! Everyone used to think I was nuts when I first started this (they still do, but that's another story - LOL!). Gradually they came around because everyone had fun! There was one Pack meeting I still remember. It was getting VERY boring so I quietly told my hubby he had to go up and make an announcement about popcorn. Yep, you got it! As soon as h

Laurie - On the issue of training, check with your council to see if they have Fast Start and Youth Protection videos you can borrow. You might also check out your council website. Many councils are now offering these two trainings online. Come fall keep an eye out at your council and neighboring councils for the yearly Pow-Wow and/or University of Scouting. These are day long training events and are great fun! They have lots of different classes you can take from knot tying to camp cooking to disipline in the den! Here are some sites you might find helpful: BSA National - Lots

You say that this boy was allowed to bring a friend who was 11 and entering 6th grade. Allowed by who? Bring him where? Did he just visit a 4th grade Webelos meeting or was he registered with your Pack as a Webelos? A den meeting is not like a pick up game of basketball. You don't just bring along friends unless it is to check out the Den & Pack for the purpose of joining. Your den leaders are responsible for EVERYONE at their den meetings. The people who are registered and involved with BSA are covered by the insurance. The 11 year old friend is not. There is also no possible

You need to take your son out of that troop ASAP. He will make more friends and there is no reason that being in another troop will lose him the friends he has there. Explain to him that friends are no longer an issue, that his saftey, both physical & mental are. Find a troop that actually follows the Scout Oath & Law.

Another possibility for the Adventure Program is a council sponsored Adventure Camp summer camp program. One of the summer camps my council has is called an Adventure Camp. It is basically a longer camp period of 4 days and 3 nights where our other Cub camps are over a weekend and are 2 days and 1 night. For all of our Cub camps one or both parents are required to attend with their son.(This message has been edited by ScoutNut)

There is no Cub Scout Adventure Program, unless it is something that is council specific. Check with your council to see if it is a program that they do. What you might be thinking of is the Cub Scout Sports and Academics Program. The only patch is a large "C", but there are belt loops the boys receive for doing various activities. If they want to go more in depth into subject after they earn the belt loop they can then do some additional activites and earn the pin. The pin is displayed on the "C" patch and worn on the red patch vest.

More from the G2SS, but NOT in bold print : "A common departure site and a daily destination point are a must. If you cannot provide two adults for each vehicle, the minimum required is one adult and two or more youth members - never one on one." So Dan, it's 2 adults or 1 adult and 2+ kids.

From the Guide to Safe Scouting in bold print: "Two-deep leadership. Two registered adult leaders or one registered leader and a parent of a participant, one of whom must be 21 years of age or older, are required on all trips and outings. The chartered organization is responsible for ensuring that sufficient leadership is provided for all activities. No one-on-one contact. One-on-one contact between adults and youth members is not permitted. In situations that require personal conferences, such as a Scoutmaster's conference, the meeting is to be conducted in view of other adults and

The programs (monthly themes) repeat themselves every 3-4 years because the boys are all brand new every 3-4 years! What might be a repeat for a 5th grade Webelos is brand new fun for a 1st grade Tiger! For a long time, repeat leader YOU might have seen the same things over & over, but remember the boys haven't. The internet is a wonderful resourse. For skits, songs and jokes check out sites with old council Pow Wow books. You can get some new stuff and also old stuff re-written by people in the council. Look under Girl Scout/Guide sites as well. Also, while looking thru WAGGGS

It sounds like your council has some unique ways of doing things, but having entire troops quit because of S2B is rather a radical response. You can't let yourself, or the program you give the girls, be bogged down with the politics. If you are singing "Father Abraham" in a troop meeting and the girls all agree on the song then there is no problem. If it is for a wider council/SU function and many different types of girls (& their parents) will be there, then I can kind of see where they are comming from, even if I personally do not agree. The addage "don't sweat the small stuff" a

Here is a recipe and lesson plan for oobleck & another thing called glurch. These sound like FUN! http://student.biology.arizona.edu/sciconn/oobleck/oobleck.html

it sounds like you need to look for another Charter Organization for your current Pack, or another Pack. If your recharter is not signed yor Pack will cease to exist. Contact your Unit/District Commissioner. He will be able to help you. Good Luck.

BTW - GREAT JOB!! Can you send your son up here to IL? I could sure use some landscape help & that trellis looks real nice! Nut

OK - First off, your son has been involved in quite a few SM Conferences. He should know the drill by now. Hopefully his troop is just teasing him, although that is no excuse. A Scoutmaster conference is NOT a group inquisition. There should be only the SM(or ASM) and the scout, and it should be done in full view of other people. A Scoutmaster Conference is a time to get to know the scout. It is a conversation between 2 people, not a tag team question & answer grill session. Like the Eagle BOR, the SM conference for Eagle is not, and should not be, a RETEST of everything they have d

Joni - I must say, that as much as I feel for you and your problems with the adults in your Troop & Pack, I also kind of agree with what Eamonn has to say. Take a deep breath and try to look at this dispassionately. Yes, they are a pain in your anatomy, but are they really that bad,or are you just used to something WAY different? We do not have Packmaster, never had and have no plans to start. OK, we are kind of lax on the banking side of things (my inner accountant continues to grind teeth!), but we make due. As much as my fingers itch sometimes to grap the checkbook & put t

OK, I just couldn't let this slip past as I have been waiting for the yearly post on this myth with bated breath. Yeah, I know it is a mite early, but I have seen it even earlier. Tiger uniform changing to the blue Cub Scout uniform. This is the last order of orange shirts on the shelves at national, after they are gone, it's blue all the way!!! What Horse patooty!! That one last shipment has lasted at least 5 years, if not longer! Tigers are ORANGE, at least until further notice from National. And I kinda like them that way! Nut blushing Tiger orange & black!

Hey Scrapper - Welcome to Cub Scouts!! As you have seen the personality of the den is very much reflected in the personality of the leader! Since you have 3 dens to choose from in your Pack (WOW - What a WONDERFUL thing!) do not AT ALL feel bad about switching dens. HEY ! - We want you to STAY in Scouting. That means finding a spot where you and yours feel comfortable. Your CM should know this! Different people relate to kids differently. Your leader may be REAL focused on the Tigers themselves. Whatever else you do, do NOT just do a drop off with your Tiger!!!!! And SHAME ON

Laura - Do you have a son in your den? Technicaly, the 2 deep leadership requirement is for all trips and outings, not for den meetings. The YP requirement that would apply would be "No one-on-one contact". As long as your son was there with you there was no need to send the Denner home with his parent for 15-30 minutes.

Per YPT - Youth Member Responsibilities - All members of the Boy Scouts of America are expected to conduct themselves in accordance with the principles set forth in the Scout Oath and Law. Physical violence, hazing, bullying, theft, verbal insults, and drugs and alcohol have no place in the Scouting program and may result in the revocation of a Scout membership in the unit. Units should consult with the parents of members who fail to meet behavior standards Unit Responsibilities - Adult leaders of Scouting units are responsible for monitoring the behavior of youth members a

One year we did the "Cub-o-matic" for the boys graduating to new Cub levels. For our Webelos crossing over to Boy Scouts we added a "Scout-o-matic" to it. The 5th grade Webelos went into the "Cub-o-matic", were "processed" (received their red shoulder loops, BS handbooks, and nifty scarf slide) and came out of the "Scout-o-matic" side a brand new BS (as the Pack chanted "Be Prepared"). They were welcomed by a rep from the troop they were joining. The boys had a BLAST! We have also had a local OA ceremony team do Indian crossover programs for us. The boys like those a lot also! T

If the former director knew of these two why didn't she say something to the council executive? Why did she continue to hire them as summer counselors for all of these years? Has there ever been any complaints from girls or their parents about them? I would talk to the former camp director and see what the story is and if she can help. If you get nowhere, and still have reservations about their conduct at camp, about the only option is to talk to the other counselors. Tell them that it might be a good idea to make sure that no girls are alone with camp staff at any time. Do not sprea

The BSA policy is that they would like to see the BOYS earn their OWN way in Scouting. The BSA fundraising policy is there for the BOYS & the UNIT. The BSA has NO say-so over how the CO raises money for ITSELF. As scoutldr said, the bottom line is the CO can raise funds any (legal) way they like, as long as they do NOT advertise it as being for Boy Scouts. They can advertise it as a fundraiser for THEIR organization ONLY. What they do with their funds after they are in their bank account is up to them. It may sound like splitting hairs, but that is the way it is.

Congratulations to your daughter!! What a LOT of work!! My daughter and her troopmates are working towards their Gold also.

You are right, this can only be accessed thru your council's website. After you complete the training, if you are a registered Scouter, you will receive a "certificate of completion". You can browse or just use the site for reference if you do not need the training. You can do this by using the menus at either the top or side. This is a GREAT resource, and I am glad my council FINALLY got around to adding it to their website!!

Our Troop covers a percentage (up to 100%) of the cost of summer camp. It is based on the boys participation in various service projects and fundraisers. The balance is usually covered by the boys either from their popcorn account (they get 100% of profit) or from their parents.