scouts-a-lot

Scouts in our Troop turn 16 and just expect to be made a JASM. Then they sit around and do nothing. Personally I hate the position because of what represents in our Troop

He should only wear the Ordeal sash until he seals his membership to Brotherhood. Have him tough it out until then. Shouldn't be that long.

Congrats to all of the above!

Bragging of my own to do. My oldest son will be called out for Vigil Honor this weekend. I personally received Vigil last year and I am way more excited for him than I was for myself. He has served our Lodge selflessly and tirelessly and it is very well deserved! I personally get to call him out and his Mom (who is also a Brotherhood member) will be there to watch. Can't wait!

My youngest will finally be on the ballot this month so here is to hoping he is elected so he can finally join the rest of the family.

We will be heading there for Conclave this April but I have never been there for summer camp. I have been to Arkansas for summer camp and I can tell you it is hot and very humid.

Good luck and have fun.

Be prepared to get a lot of information in a short amount of time. Sleep when you can!

We always used straws but you have to watch that they do not use them to push their boat.

Welcome aboard. Enjoy your stay.

I think he is a dad in our Troop. :-)

That is awesome and pathetic all at the same time. Awesome that he did it simply pathetic that he got a bill. But what would one expect in today's world...

We have informed our Crew that we are not a dating service so no dating between members. Period!

Good article

As an adult involved in all three levels I welcome it. I cannot tell you the # of times I have said the wrong words and looked foolish!

They did say that it was based on a recent study done by the BSA and it was being implemented nationally.

He went on to say that they were moving to doing it online at the national level. They felt that more people would "attend" and Skype type meeting than actually go to a meeting with real people.

At our last District Committee meeting someone was mentioning the fact that we were in need of a new RT Commish for Boy Scouts. Our District Commissioner and Executive both responded that the BSA is eliminating RT for all levels. Has anyone else heard this?

We had the same issue as Eagle92 but it was a staffer and a participant.

Still makes for good jokes!

Here is what I use. If you want the entire ceremony (this is just part of it) I can send it to you.

Before we award the Arrow of Light, let us take some time to understand its meaning.

The Arrow is to remind us to continue to go straight on the pathway of Scouting and in Life.

The Arch is the sun rising at daybreak, starting a new week in scouting and life.

There are Seven Rays in the Arrow of Light. They stand for the seven great virtues of life.

(As each ray is covered a candle is lit)

The FIRST RAY is WISDOM

Wisdom does not necessarily mean superior knowledge. It means putting to the right use, the knowledge that one possesses.

The SECOND RAY is COURAGE

Courage is not meeting danger without fear; it is being able to meet danger in spite of one's fear.

The THIRD RAY is SELF-CONTROL

Self control isn't limited to the control of one's temper but control of one's self in all things emotional mental and physical.

The FOURTH RAY is JUSTICE

Justice is the practice of dealing fairly with others without prejudices.

The FIFTH RAY is FAITH

Faith is the conviction that something unproved by physical evidence is true.

The SIXTH RAY is HOPE

Hope means to expect with confidence. Always hope for better things to come.

The SEVENTH RAY is LOVE

There are many kinds of love - family, home, fellow man, country, God, all of which are necessary for a full life.

IF YOU LIVE BY THE SEVEN GREAT VIRTUES - YOU WILL BECOME A HAPPY

AND SUCCESSFUL INDIVIDUAL.

http://www.tandyleatherfactory.com/search/searchresults/4452-25.aspx?feature=Product_6&kw=fob

Here is what you are looking for.

What I want is an even playing field to combat the Troops that show up and have stacked all of their older Scouts into on patrol just for THIS event. In case you have never watched the reactions of the other patrols when the Screaming Eagles (and that is literally the name of the patrol because they are all Eagles) takes home first place in every event and for their Troop in the overall competition try it sometimes.

When I tried to get our Troop to go this year some of the complaints were "Why so the Screaming Eagles can win everything again?"

Our patrols range in age from 12-17 and most ranks. Same thing with most of the district.

Some patrols do OK but an even playing field is fine with me. I am mostly concerned about the patrols that consist of 11-12 yr-old new Scouts.

I have considered different levels of competition for different age groups but that drives up the cost of the event.

@Stosh - That is what I am trying to combat because I have seen it in the past. In fact the patrol that cleaned up evvery year was a patrol from the Troop the Camporee Chairman was from. It really bothered me so I am trying to stop it before it is an issue.

I found a couple of methods and combined them into something I think myself and the committee likes:

PATROL CLASSIFICATION would look something like this:

Patrols are classified by the ranks of their members. All Patrols compete against every other patrol.

PATROL RATING SYSTEM

Scout Rank Rating

New Scout and Scout 1

Tenderfoot 2

Second Class 3

First Class 5

Star 7

Life 10

Eagle 12

Each Scout is rated according to his rank. The total is then divided by the number of Scouts in the Patrol to give an average rating. A patrol can be made up of any number of boys.

PATROLS AT THE CAMPOREE WILL BE CLASSIFIED AS FOLLOWS:

Rating Average Classification

1.00 thru 3.49 New Scout

3.50 thru 4.79 Regular Scout

4.80 and higher Older Scout

The event would be run something like this:

Burn a String(Timed)

Scouts will demonstrate their ability to build a fire and burn a string 24 above the ground. Only natural materials found at camp may be used to build a fire no more than 12 above the ground.

Two matches will be provided for this event. Patrols will be penalized for using extra matches. New patrols may use extra materials to keep the fire going, if needed, at no penalty. Extra credit will be given for using Flint and Steel to light the fire. Time starts when the patrol is ready to light the match or has flame ready from Flint & Steel.

SCORING 60 pts.

Time starts when the patrol is ready to light the fire and ends when the top string breaks.

Regular/Older Scout Patrols

60 pts. String burns in 30 seconds or less.

- 5 pts. Each additional 10 seconds.

- 5 pts. Added for each additional match or reuse of Flint & Steel.

+ 5 pts. Use Flint & Steel to light fire.

New Scout Patrols

60 pts. String burns in 90 seconds or less.

- 5 pts. Each additional 10 seconds.

+ 5 pts. Use Flint & Steel to light fire.

thoughts?

Thanks that is just what I am looking for.

I have a directory of the kids in my school but need a couple of example letters to craft mine.

I am looking for a camporee scoring/handicapping system that would be used to classify patrols by make-up. What I am trying to do is make the playing field even for all patrols. What I am trying to avoid is the stacked patrol of all Eagle Scouts coming in and cleaning up against the patrol of all new Scouts.

Does anyone use this type of system? If so can you share it with me?

Just like the example you are setting in this post?

They/we are Scouts and not perfect individuals. So someone has a moment of weakness should we take them out behind the barn and smack them around? Kick them out of the program? I thought the point was to teach them to be better citizens. Did we fail here? You bet your butt we did! The last time I checked we have never talked about not booing someone at a Scout meeting. Can you honestly say that on May 4, 2008 or whenever you did? I seriouly doubt it.

This is a learning opportunity. Big deal the thing has gone viral. In 30 days no one will remember it happened just like anyone remembers there was an oil leak in the Gulf last week. Time passes and people forget.

What we need to do as leaders is take this opportunity to let the youth and leaders around us know that what happened is not acceptable. But on the other hand we need to let out leaders in whatever government know that their behavior and priorities are not acceptable either. BOTH sides are wrong in this deal. PERIOD!

Did the president have the right to not come the Jamboree? Sure! Did the people in attendance have the right to boo him for that choice? Sure! There have been plenty of people die in this country to ensure those rights on both sides!!!

We cannot change what happened in the past but we can try to improve them for the future. That is what is important here. Not bickering about who was un-Scoutlike or who was un-Presidentlike.

Let's all work harder to teach our kids and adults about this so it is not repeated in the future.

Does anyone out there have a letter that you mail to prospective Cub Scouts and their parents in your area? If so what kind of response did you get?

I have never sent one and would like to see what effect it has on recruiting.