sctmom

I say don't slow him down. Just make sure he's having fun and really doing his best on the requirements.

A Wolf can earn all the arrow points he wants. I would try to keep him from doing the same things over and over.

As a Bear leader I just awarded on of my boys the Bear badge and 3 arrow points! He doesn't do Cub Scouts 24 hours a day, just his family is involved with him and likes to experience new things. He will easily get a 4th arrow point by just showing up to den meetings.

The suggestion to have him work with the other boys is a good one. Have him bring in samples of what he has done on some of his electives to show the other boys at den meetings.

Also look into the Cub Scout Leave No Trace Award. It is new this year.

Maybe have him tackle a belt loop & pin that is a challenge for him and will take some effort for him.

Congratulations on being involved and having an excited Cub Scout for a son.

By the way, I'm in Georgia too...Stockbridge.

Eamon,

I am currently a Bear Den Leader for other people's kids. I just volunteered to be the Cubmaster in the fall. So I got that hour covered.

Yep, he had a good time again tonight. He is officially registered with this troop. And I'm taking full advantage of over an hour alone! I'm not sitting around watching the meeting when I can be doing laundry.

It helps that some of his friends from the grade below him just crossed over to that troop. With a summer birthday he is as close in age to those kids as he is to the ones in his grade.

We went to the nearby troop last week. Had been hesitant because of some personality conflicts. Those people may still officially be in the troop but are not very active.

This morning my son put on his scout shirt to wear to school. At first I thought he was too lazy to find another shirt, then when I said something about tonight being the troop meeting his response was along the lines of "yeah, that's why I have on the shirt" and rolled his eyes.

I don't plan on staying for the meeting because he needs a little less mom in this deal.

Wish us luck!

Eamonn, I think Oz is talking about the National Lampoon movie with Chevy Chase from a few years back. Forgot the name, something Vacation?

The family drives across the country with many mishaps like grandma dying, the dog being left tied to the car after they drive for awhile, etc.

They are going to Wally World -- take off on Disney World.

Really funny movie, but don't let those skit police see it --- it's not very "nice". LOL

Our pack always uses a "knowing" volunteer adult for skits like those you mentioned. The "volunteer" from the audience may be the Cubmaster or a Den Leader.

I was about to comment on this being not approriate for Cubs when I remembered something. Ummm, I had just "a little" something to do with that cake at Blue & Gold that looked like....ummm....ummmm.... a used cat litter box.

But at least we didn't throw it on anybody or MAKE anyone eat it.

:::: grin :::::

Ooohhhh, that sounds great. making a note of that.

We only have 5 Tigers this year. Would love to have something to give away as an incentive to get people to see Cub Scouts.

I don't do ball team fund raisers, I pay the extra to buy my way out. Selling candy bars has nothing to do with playing baseball. I also don't do the school fundraisers.

Selling popcorn is supposed to teach boys some responsibility about paying their own way. Same with Girl Scout cookies. The kids are supposed to do some of the work. At least sort the product and write a quick thank you to the co-workers of the parent who bought the stuff.

I think we (myself included) do a horrible job of showing the connection between selling the popcorn and paying for activities in Cub/Boy Scouting. I'm sure some units do a better job.

Listening to Girl Scouts, they have the girls come up with goals of what they want to do over the next year, how much will it cost and then how many cookies to do that. If they don't make their goal of money, they change their plans. A great learning experience.

Also, we just had the shortest FOS presentation this week at our Pack meeting. Short and to the point. People actually listened. Hopefully it was effective. I don't know the results.

Cubsrgr8,

What "games CD"?

Its Trail Day,

My son crossed over a year ago, joined a troop, by fall had given up and hated the troop, refused to go. This troop we went to last night has had major leadership changes since we first visited it a year and a half ago.

I asked one of the boys to say something to my son about how much fun they were having. The boy did mention it to son. Son can't tell me what was said but "I'll guess I'll go".

The SM and ASM's want him to stay. The ASM is also the CM that I'm replacing. The SM wants more of the ASM's time, so the SM is interested in making sure I am good at being CM. Most of that troop came from our pack, so they are willing to help me be CM and to help me personally by trying to keep my son in the troop. They don't want to see the pack fold.

I see good things down the road for my family and the pack. The troop is willing to be involved with the pack, my son will be getting back into scouting with a good troop, and I will be having fun with the Cubs.

Okay, visited the nearest troop tonight. This one is not officially connected to our pack but is unofficially because we meet at the same place. My son seemed to have fun. Wow, they have some fun and cool stuff coming up! Of course he can't admit to much fun to Mom. He did point out to me the "boring" part of the meeting. So sorry, you have to live through boring. It was only "boring" because you haven't been working on the skills they have and it lasted all of 10 minutes. That game at the end sure looked like fun and what about that campout where you get to teach stuff to Webelos and that bowling night and those bike trips...............

What a week! And it's only TUESDAY!

As a female volunteer I would want to know that someone talked to this jerk and explained to him the RIGHT way to complain and that when it comes to our volunteer jobs we are all "Adults". He needs a verbal lashing about the comments about women.

Even though I appreciate the gesture of the rose, please don't. That just continues to point the difference and continues the stereotype. Would you buy a rose for a man? Probably not.

Plus the rose would get squished in the car on the way home because of all the scout stuff we all tote around. hehe

Any great words of wisdom from anyone? Other than "buy lots of headache medicine" LOL

Our pack has been small this year but we've been having fun. Since the beginning of January we have had:

PWD

B&G

Scouting for Food

An overnight field trip

Scout Sunday

Scout Show

Council sponsored Scout day at the Racetrack

7 Den Meetings

2 Pack Meetings

Webelos Crossover at last night's Pack Meeting

PLUS a week break from school (no meetings)

Sounds like you have been busy! Way to go!

A touring Mascot? That sounds very interesting. Gives me some ideas to do with the pack.

ASM1, Good question...a few answers.

I was committee member for the troop he crossed over to. Last fall he decided to quit Scouting, he was REALLY hating it, to the point it was disruptive for others at the troop meeting. At that same time I found out the pack was having problems getting some leaders because many crossed over and a few moved out of the area.

It looks like my son may be getting into a different troop. Of course I will help out but he doesn't need me around all the time. In fact he needs me to not be there --- otherwise he thinks he should get special treatment.

I like working with the Cubs and hate to see our pack failing. My first priority, even before I officially take over, is to find a replacement from the parents of the Tigers and Wolves...hehehe.

Could you ask some of the den leaders and involved parents if they know what is going on?

Maybe they have a feel of why attendance is down.

Our pack was about 70 boys a couple of years ago, with no change in CM we have dropped to 35 boys. Talked to a neighboring CM last week who said they used to have 70, last year 35 and this year 15 boys!

Do we blame it on the economy and politics?

To satisfy the parents:

You must bring back the same number of boys you took to camp, no more, no less.

Wow, forgot I hadn't updated my profile in a while. I'm a Bear Den Leader this year. Didn't do much as a Troop committe member.

I was asked because I keep showing up for stuff -- guess he figured if I'm crazy enough to keep showing up after my son crossed over, I'm crazy enough to be cubmaster.

I have been asked to be Cubmaster.

Laura,

Do you think that special place in heaven has PERFECT camping weather all the time?

Does toast get burnt there? Does food fall on the ground?

Sorry, I digressed.

Forgot something -- First aid kit and the display board for our pack from the Scout Show.

Like Laura, I'm a single mom with one kid and a minivan. The Saturn Station Wagon would not get us to camp with all our stuff.

Last week I found a ream of paper that was much needed for the paper airplanes at the Scout Show.

I have the cooler (mine isn't growing anything, I checked), a plastic tote box with some tools in it, a handheld U.S. flag, the Den advancement wall chart, some wooden dowels, small orange trowel for digging cat holes, a compass, a pinewood derby car, copy of the latest scout catalog, a tin of popcorn (better get that out before warm weather), and of course duct tape and rope.

I'm the person everyone comes to and asks "Do you have ......" The scary part is that I usually do!

A restaurant chain that serves REALLY good down home cooking like biscuits.

OHHH, you mean in scouting. A meeting of leaders for getting info about upcoming events, socialize and to share snacks. Usually held at campouts.