sctmom

I found out last year that when you register your kid for sports, you can write a note on the registration form saying "Cannot practice on Mondays." This may not be possible if he wants to be on a specific team, but if he's going to a new team, they may take that into consideration when assigning him. Doesn't always works, but helps. This year my son may have baseball games on the night of troop meetings. I agree with Chippewa about splitting time equally. My son did miss a Cub Scout event a few months ago because his basketball team only had 7 players, we discussed it and he realized the team needed him more that day. Also, he had been to the place the pack was going. I've told him we will look at each conflict as it occurs this spring between baseball and scouts. The troop has the same attitude Chippewa does -- you are welcome whenever you choose to come. It is easier for them to say this because they have about 30 boys right now.

MomScouter, I understand where you are coming from. A couple of boys from our pack are almost that big at 11. They had a hard time wearing the Tiger shirt, they had a hard time wearing the Blue Cub Shirts. I bet the Boy Scout pants will be too tightly cut on them and the shorts way too short. The brag vest doesn't seem to come in a large enough size. I know they get treated differently, people will say "why does that boy act so childish?". Well, he's a CHILD! While I'm washing new uniform parts this week hoping they shrink, some of the moms are washing them carefully so they DON'T shrink. A couple of the 11 year olds are comfortably wearing the largest size troop t-shirt available. Not a lot of room in it for them to grow. Versus my son, who tried on a new pair of fleece pants I bought him and said "wow, these are so big I could put the cat in here with me." LOL

Congrats to you and your daughter! What a great project!

OGE, I've got to go look up the answer to number 10. I was going over that with my son this weekend, I thought it was something like truth and honesty. There is a good set of questions just from describing the Scout badge. I'm guessing that is one of those things the boys learn long enough to get it checked off and then forget.

Thanks, OGE ONE correction, you misspelled the name of the founder of Girl Scouts -- Juliette Gordon Low (without an E). Being from Georgia, I knew about her without ever being in Girl Scouts. I like the trick question -- those are always fun.

Interesting posts. Dedicated Dad, you still have not stated what YOU believe is Traditional/Family values. Strong family values (whatever your definition is) will not be threatened or destroyed by anything in this world if they are true and truly strong. Andrews writes: "It may consist of a single parent, but not some other combination of adults. " Brad, please find another way of phrasing this because what you said can be interpreted in ways you did not mean. For example, a single parent and a grandparent teaming up to raise a child. A know a man who is raising his son "alone". The man's mother lives nearby and contributes that "female view" to their live at times. The father is very grateful for this. I'm guessing you are saying that 2 people outside of male/female marriage does not make "mom and dad". Also, just to be picky (grin) families do not necessarily include children. A married couple without children are also a family and can display many of the same values listed by most of the posts in this thread. OGE, What do you consider Traditional / Family Values?

WOW, THANKS! I knew I could count on this group. Now, I've got to go do some research to find the answers (how convinent for you to leave off the answers < smile > )

Someone mentioned to me that when I'm leading the upcoming Merit Badge class, I might want to have the boys play a little "Scout Trivia" to break things up some. This might be a good thing to have handy for lots of times where we need to "fill time" and at the same time maybe sharpen the boy's minds about scouting. Ideas? What are some good questions to have? Of course, a lot of this is NOT trivial but makes a game of it. A few I have thought of are: How many points in the Scout Law? Name the ranks in Boy Scouting. (Tenderfoot, Second Class, First Class, Star, Life, Eagle) What BSA program allows girls as members?(Venturing) Others?

This is a tricky one. Despite what some may say even atheists, gays and "others" do believe in some of the same values. But to add to the rhetoric, let's talk about "traditional". I have a friend who came from a family where "tradition" was everyone getting drunk and having a fight at family get togethers. Her mother "traditionally" drank each afternoon, being drunk and violent by the end of dinner. Part of my family has a "tradition" of incest. I don't think those are "traditions" any of us want. Family Values To me it's about doing one's best, sticking together as a family (sometimes this is your friends more so than your blood relatives), taking care of each other, encouraging each other, taking care of and teaching children so they can grow into independent adults, doing things together, doing nothing together, doing the dishes and the laundry, arguing about who is going to clean the bathroom and who left their shoes in the middle of the floor. It can't be defined by the shape, size, color, gender or even the physical location of the family members. It's about respect for each other and yourself, compromise when those things don't match (barring extremes like abuse). Family is not necessarily those who are blood kin or hold a certain legal status with you. You are bound by your heart. Like OGE said in another post "it's about feeling". A family doesn't have to look like the Cleavers to be a good family. In fact, many families "look" like the Cleavers and are really very scary.

As a female leader am I allowed to wear my earrings when in uniform? Am I allowed to wear makeup? Or let's look at the flip side -- maybe I should HAVE TO wear makeup because that is the "standard" for women in the United States? I think it goes without saying, but I'll say it anyway. I like Bob.

My son is very small for his age. He's 10 3/4 years old, 60 pounds (maybe), and about 52 inches tall. His brown Scout shirt is a medium -- size 10/12. It is larger than the blue Cub Scout medium also 10/12. Living in the south, we only wear short sleeves shirts. The Scout Shop will sell you a long sleeve one but only after talking to you about are you willing to buy 2 shirts the same size. If it is cold, everyone puts a long sleeve t-shirt underneath their Scout Shirt. My son crossed over last night!!!!!!! I gave him a box with everything he needed in it. He didn't need a new shirt. The pack gave him the handbook. I gave him the merit badge sash, new shoulder loops, new unit number, socks, belt and a pair of shorts. I wasn't sure what he was going to think since the troop he is joining doesn't require the official pants at most functions. But he was excited! The belt really did wrap around him twice! I'm hoping those shorts shrink a little in the wash, and I have some time to fatten him up before he really needs them for summer camp. Hopefully I can get him to wear the complete uniform while he's still young enough to not care about fashion.

My son's troop is having new scout patrol. They are getting scouts from 3 different packs. One patrol is made up a complete den that is crossing over together. The rest are making up 1 or 2 more patrols. They have been assigned troop guides. The troop guides also talked to the parents some. They wanted information about what my son's strong points were. They said if he liked to cook, then they would make sure he got to do some cooking at the first campout --- keeps his interest and builds his confidence. The troop guides will sign off on many of the rank advancements the first year. I'm not sure how they are going forward from there about PL and where they go after the first year. They try to have part of each troop meeting for patrol's to meet. I know the week of a campout, the patrols plan their menus during the troop meetings. Then they get the scoutmaster's approval of the menu (make sure they aren't eating hotdogs all weekend). As I've said in another post, I like the idea of the older boys teaching the younger ones. My son's school teachers and counselor perked up when I explained this to them. They said he really needed that and boys are going to listen to each other first anyway. It will help him with his personal relationship skills. We have already been attending troop meetings, even though he has not yet crossed over. We seem to be getting pretty good at separating as soon as we get out of the car. We keep our distance. It's hard to see my son not paying attention and be quiet. So, I turn the other way and let the troop leaders handle it. It seems to be working wonders in making him less dependent on me in public -- only after a few weeks. Peer pressure CAN be a good thing! Thanks to many posts on this board, I knew what to look for when we looked for a troop. We saw one really bad one, and the one we choose. This one isn't perfect and doesn't claim to be, but they have the right attitude and try to correct any problems. And they follow BSA methods.

Ahhh....yes, a boy and a rope, better yet, boys and rope ---- amazing how they can entertain themselves for hours with such a low-tech item.

It seems that in my council there are too few merit badge counselors? How can the council solve that? Do other councils recruit? Do troops recruit? I'm teaching at an upcoming MBU. The boys take ONE class all day -- total of about 6 hours. Do I set aside the last part of the afternoon to talk to each scout individually? What do I have the others do in the mean time? Am I expecting to much to believe they can quietly behave themselves? In my experience in the business world and in Cub Scouts, I have seen that most adults do not have the confidence to teach. Many people are terrified of speaking in front of 20 people, even 20 kids. I had many parents tell me they could not teach anything to the Webelos, so you can bet they will not even think of teaching to the older boys.

Just getting into the Troop part of BSA, let me add my observation. The troop my son is going to has a lot of new scouts crossing over (enough for 2 maybe 3 patrols). The troop currently consists of a lot of boys who are 13 to 15 years old. The boys planned out a great year for themselves. But, here are a bunch of new scouts who need basic camping under their belt this first year. Most of the camping trips are leaning toward high adventure (whitewater rafting, caving, etc.) The older boys have other options of what to do with their weekends, so if the camping trip is something they have done numerous times before, they aren't going to be that interested. Soon that lack of interest leads to them leaving altogether. I think they need the high adventure, without the younger scouts. My young scout has NO interest in whitewater rafting, absolutely none (that is not just Mom talking). Yet he needs the camping experience. If all the trips are more high adventure type, the younger scouts will get frustrated. I'm glad to read this thread about the options BSA has to address this problem and create balance in the troop. This troop already has an attitude of getting Eagle and leaving. I hope that changes before my son gets to Eagle. Right now, I'm trying to figure out how to suggest the older scouts go on their high adventure trips while the younger ones just go camping to work on basic skills. Are there enough adults to cover both at different locations? Can they do that at the same location with problems? Are there enough adults to cover campouts 2 weekends in a row?

Oh, I know how to cut off his belt and shorten it. We had to do that with the cub scout belt. I should have enough webbing left over for another belt! LOL Hmmm...wondering if I can get some plastic ends for it to be used to tie things down with?

Thanks, OGE. I thought when discussing the 3 branches of the government, I would hand each boy a card with a "job title" on it and ask them to gather in the group that represents that branch of the government. Then "walk through" a law being passed and then ruled unconstitional by the Supreme Court --- a really absurd law like "you can't drive a car or date until you are 25 years old". Also, trying to think of ways to show them the freedoms they have because of the constitution. I know one thing that never sunk in to me before adulthood was that the Declaration of Independence did not really start the war. Also, the constitution was not written until years later and George Washington didn't become president until 1789.

Since my boy is about to cross over to Boy Scouts, I thought I would buy him a pair of official Boy Scout shorts (we live in the South, this will be more practical for summer camp). The troop doesn't insist they have them, especially right away. My son is small for 10 years old (and 9 months), but I know other kids his size. He wears a size 8 slim and they are loose on him in the waist. I buy the smallest size pants they have -- size 8, waist 24 inches. I get them home, hold them up to his blue jeans that are a bit loose --- the Scout pants are AT LEAST 2 inches bigger in the waist! They have elastic already. You just can't cinch up 2 inches with belt. By the way, any suggestions as to what to do with all that left over webbing from his belt? The kid has to gain at least 10 pounds, without getting any taller, before these pants are going to fit. Too short or too tight in the crotch? Oh, not for a few years. LOL So for all of you who think the pants are cut too small, realize there is another end of spectrum. And they expect 9 year old Webelos to wear these pants?????? His dad has his Boy Scout uniform from the late 1960's. I know the shirt was too small for my son a year ago. Not to mention, his dad thinks the uniform is a little fragile to have junior running around in it. Obviously, years ago they made a smaller size. Are kids really that much bigger these days? Okay, enough venting...just had to share.

Don't flame me if this site has information you disagree with. I only looked at this one page which is specifically about this Merit Badge. www.iveleague.org/s021-ab.html Dad, When discussing the requirement about writing to Congress about a national issue, I will point out to the boys the section in the MB book that talks about seeing both sides of the issue, and that a good place to start is with your parents. That a boy's parents can help explain how they see the issue, how it affects the family and how it fits into the family's value system.

Good subject Rooster. I think that everyone, at some time, expects BSA to be the answer to every thing our boys need. That it is there to teach them EVERY life skill imaginable. Leaders are human. As much as everyone says "there are standards", we must also keep in mind there are humans involved. Every leader is different, every boy is different, therefore, every situation will be different. Adults make mistakes too. It takes a lot courage and bravery to admit a mistake and correct it. I see so many posts about each boy should meet the requirements exactly as stated, no more, no less. That is a good policy. But if we get into nit-picking (admit it, we all do it), we can say Scout Bob spent longer discussing the meaning of the Scout Oath than Scout Joe did. This can happen even with the same adult working with each boy on the same day. I do wonder and worry about the leaders that blatently break rules and policies. Those who figure they need no training because "this is the way it was done when I was in Scouts way back when." Or "this is the way I discipline my children."

I think the idea of taking the training to the leaders is great! I live in a council and district that covers many miles, mostly rural. Those volunteering have children. Not everyone works Monday - Friday, 8 to 5. Training is not stressed a lot in our pack. Many leaders go for a while before finding out about Roundtable. It is also hard to attend when it is 30 minutes to 1 hour away, on a weeknight. I would have to take my son with me. We would not get home until late, he often has ball practice on that night, it's the same night as our school's PTO meeting, on and on and on. I know our pack needs a training advocate. Someone to really encourage and HELP people get the training they need. Seems to me like most people aren't going to go looking for it.

Thanks again Dad. These links are great. And I PROMISE to keep all personal political conversation out of the discussions. Dad, you have boys....what are some national issues they would care about? Something they are affected by and would have an opinion on. Something they would WANT to write a letter about.

Try to make it clear to the leaders that you are understand the goals of Girl Scouting and are not trying to take over or make it Boy Scouting. Let them you know you want to help and how much your daughter likes having you there. Be honest with them and give them some time to get used to you being around. Show them you treat them and the girls with respect and expect the best out of the girls. Ask them directly "hey, can I help you with that?" or "I have these skills, is there some way I can help the troop?"

Dad, Thanks for the links. Bob, I understand where you are coming from, but let's please not get knee deep in the discussion of the value of teaching merit badges in a group. The council choose the badges they are offering, I was asked along with many other parents if anyone would step forward and teach a class. There were a handful of classes that needed instructors. I have taught Webelos and I have taught adults. I know more about the national government than what is covered in the handbook. Also, I'm a person who CAN get up in front of a group of 20 and talk, many people cannot and will not. The class will happen with me or without me. I heard stories of people walking down the hall being pulled in to teach a class right then! After this I will volunteer to help with the issue of registering Merit Badge Counselors in advance. But right now my focus is on giving the best I can to these boys on that day without boring them to death (the bodies are such a bother to dispose of). Most of the requirements are "discuss" not "repeat from memory". One is to "outline" and one is "write a letter". I want to give them some ideas of issues to write about. Get them started on the letter and have them finish it later and get sign off at the troop level. My 5th grader has covered a lot of this in his Social Studies class over the past 2 years, so I know the boys have heard some of this before. How do I keep it lively? How do you keep any class like this lively?

From what I've seen at the pack level, it's best to get people involved with something small so they don't become overwhelmed. Lots of family events have the parents there anyway, so many realize they might as well be helping. Our pack has a history of parents stay at den meetings and pack meetings. Obviously there are some exceptions. This seems to help get parents involved. Also, everything our pack does is a "family event". I know that is not feasible at the troop level, but it is at the Pack level. If a parent knows they can help out AND bring along the sibling AND the siblings get to participate, it makes a difference. I've seen sisters and older brothers be pulled in to do skits and games. Our pack is really a family event. We still have some parents who don't participate, but you can't win them all. I got involved because I was there anyway, saw they needed help and figured I could do it.