sctmom

I'm finding the gear guide a good place to get an idea of how much quality stuff costs. This issue doesn't have things rated but just lists and lists of equipment by brand and usage, including size, features, and price. As someone else noted, quality is usually not found at the local discout mega store. Last fall when the temps dropped below freezing on a campout, I was snuggled in my sleeping bag going "I am SOOOO glad I spent the extra $20 for this bag." Also, knowing my small, cold-natured child was snug as a bug in his mummy bag I had spent extra on. Everyone else was freezing in their bargain bags and blankets. Also, some of the "expensive" clothing I've purchased from full retail outfitters have been worth the price. They are comfortable and made for action. I'm NOT a high adventure person but highly recommend a few made-for-action undergarments, the comfort you gain is well worth the dollars -- I hate things creeping when I'm walking. People gasp when they find out what I have paid for a few things, but I would pay that again for the quality, function and comfort I get. You don't need a full wardrobe of this stuff, just buy an item here and there. Big thing I notice in Backpacker magazine is they stress "try it on". Only YOU can tell which boot or which backpack is comfortable for you, and they explain when not to overbuy. They realize we aren't all thru-hiking the Applachian Trail, but we don't want to throw our money away.

I don't own stock in the company, but Bacpacker magazine has their March issue out that is packed full of information about gear --- backpacks, boots, tents, etc. I picked up a copy and it looks good. Gives some good hints about how to choose the right gear. Lots of tables about the specifications and prices of gear. Also, lots of definition of terms for each category.

Miss me? I've been gone for 3 days and 2 nights with a bunch of 5th graders (boys and girls) on a fun filled adventure learning about the environment. No offense, but I NEVER thought about you guys, I was WAY too busy making sure everyone was dressed for the weather and not getting into trouble. We think the adults had more fun then the kids, we kept asking if we could come back WITHOUT the children. Anyway, I come and decided to catch up on what is happening, and find myself unable to seriously read any of this. Again, no offense to anyone but after the last 3 days, it's just nice to be back home and not have to sleep on the bottom bunk underneath a wiggly 10 year old. Not to mention the amazement of bunking with girls since I have no daughters. I feel I must start a list of "things you will NEVER hear in the boy's bunkhouse." (Like, can I take a shower tonight AND in the morning?) Hope everyone has a good weekend. I think this winter is getting to everyone, get some adults and kids and GET OUTSIDE!!!! Dig in the Dirt! And loosen up! You will feel better! (I know I do....as tired as I am)

The boy was in our pack for a short time. His mom and dad kept "forgetting" to bring his registration form and money to meetings. Then he turned 11 years old. Since it was spring, I talked to his mother at length one night about him possibly going on to Boy Scouts, since it was traditional cross over time. He was the only 5th grader in my first year Webelos. I gave her information about troops in the area and she acted very interested and polite. Another reason I ask is knowing that this does happen a lot, and as boys get older they catch on that Johnny has is driver's license but plays on the 14 year old team. I emailed the head of the recreation department a few weeks ago, simply stating that I felt a boy one the stated team may be over the age limit, would they check into this. I have had no response. I left my complete name and my phone number. If I'm going to stand up for something I will stand up. It doesn't make a lot of difference as far as the season goes because the season is almost over. But it makes me wonder how often are they turning their heads. I'm out of town for the next few days so I will put it aside until I return. Then I will call the rec department and politely ask about the policies.

I think all the parents (some moms and some dads) will be there with the Webelos. The new troop is being started partly by our Cubmaster. I'm one the Webelos parents as well, but my son IS joining this troop and in fact will cross over the week before the campout. I guess I feel that some are not being up front with the troop, just taking advantage of their generosity. It's there "fall back plan" if the new troop doesn't pan out. The troop will be comprised of a few graduting Webelos, some older boys who dropped out of another troop not long after cross over, maybe a few new boys from the chartering org and 2 or 3 experienced scouts. If they want to do that fine. I have discussed with the scoutmaster the idea of this new troop so he knew the "competition" so to speak. We spoke about this months ago. He isn't against a new troop, but also has questions about why? Why is the district allowing this when there have been a few new troops fail in the last few years and a couple of other troops with so few boys & adults they can't have an effective program. He has also explained what his troop has to offer and what it takes to get a new troop going.

I don't have my Bible handing but read a little earlier in Leviticus. It says that after a child is born, that the mother must take a sheep to the priest as a burnt offering and a turtledove as a peace offering.

The "other" troop does not exist yet. They think they are going to start their own troop. They will have their own leaders. I'm mixed on it too.....at least they are staying in Boy Scouting, which cannot be said for all Webelos / parents.

I just happened across this page about some Scouting Myths. http://www.arkie.net/scouting/UrbanLegends.htm Your troop may have a tradition of 100 hours but it is not required.

Wasn't sure if I should post this here or under general program. As a scout and/or scouter how do you handle this situation? How far do you go? While watching a recent community league game of basketball, I see a young man playing that I know (or at least was told by himself and his mother last year) is on a team where he is at least 1 year too old to be playing. He should have moved up to the next age group. The kids are grouped by age, 2 ages at a time. Like 7-8, 9-10, 11-12, 13-14. So this boy who will be 12 in 2 months is playing against 9 and 10 year olds. He is no longer in scouts. Either his parents lied to me a year ago (with no benefit) about his age or they lied this year to get him on this team. If a scout saw this and of course realized "this is wrong, he lied and his parents lied." What would you tell that scout to do? What would you do as an adult? This lie is unfair to other boys, especially those who are 9 years old (my son not being in that category). One reason for the age cutoffs is about maturity, not just size. Do you just walk away? Do you try to make the world a better place? Or is this just not a battle to fight?

I want some others opinions (and I know I can always find those here ) How do you feel about a group of Webelos going on a camping trip with a troop when they have no intention of joining that troop? The Webelos will pay their share for food and transportation, will use the troop's gear and of course the troop's time but the parents are pretty sure they aren't going to this troop.

This has to be one of the best Scouting stories I have ever read. These are the stories that BSA needs shown on the evening news. ::::reaching for my tissue to wipe away the tears::::

It's just as relevant as asking if pedophiles are allowed or if incest is okay. I guess I come from a long line of immoral people. In the last few years while doing genealogy research I've found out a few things about my grandparents and some other ancestors that are "immoral". Hmmm, strange how that is not the year we were TOLD they married? Did that make my grandparents immoral? Does that mean I should throw away every good memory I have of them and refuse to talk about them? Does that mean I should disregard all the good things they taught us? People keep saying it's a choice of association. I'm just curious how you avoid ever being around a gay person or ever having your children around a gay person. If your brother, sister or child says "I'm gay" are you disowning them at that point?

Great job! Sounds like a good time. You can always win a boy over with fire! LOL When our Webelos visited a troop last fall they got to go outside and do some patrol competitions. They did tent setup, a small ropes course, and a some game of having a rope around the ankles of 4 guys (not tied) and then racing while keeping the rope off the ground. Us parents were busy talking to the Scoutmaster and didn't get to see all the action. But we could tell from the excitement in their faces that they had a good time! Sure won my boy over!

But we DO make our choices about associating with people. This is the whole argument the BSA is using. I say homosexuality is not wrong. I don't agree with everything everybody says, so I have to draw the line personally of how much I will tolerate and what I will not tolerate. We all do this. I don't care to be around smokers, because I don't smoke. I don't think smoking is a sin, but I don't do it. I will at times be around smokers but I will not allow people to smoke in my house. Some non-smokers will allow people to smoke anywhere. Others refuse to be friends with anyone that smokes. I have gay friends who have NEVER heard of this "homosexual agenda". In fact if you met them you would NEVER know they were gay. Do you avoid stores that hire homosexuals?

I find reading old BSA books very interesting. It's great to see what was taught and assumed at different times over the last 100 years. I like the Webelos book from the late 60's that tells the boys part of their responsibility on a family camping trip is to help their mothers and sisters, because women will most likely be scared of bugs. ROFL I have vivid memories from that timeframe of my mother in the backyard with a jar trying to catch a black widow spider so I could take it to show and tell at Kindergarden. And if it weren't for camping, my family may have never vacationed. Okay, it was car camping but it was a week of freedom for us kids. Never thought of my mother as "odd". But hey, the BSA printed it 35 years ago, and we need to stick by it, right? Oooohhh, there's a bug will somebody kill it, I'm just a helpless little female.

Does the current belt totem with the beads do a similiar type of thing? It looks like it tracks their progress to First Class. Has anyone used it to track First Class? I know some of you talked about using beads for some types of recognition.

As a Webelos leader I was seen walking around a pack campout last fall with a piece of rope over my shoulders. Got some strange looks and some questions. But I also taught a few Webelos how to tie a square knot that weekend. The ones who said "I know how, I did it before" were then to instruct the new scouts or a younger scout. They fell for it hook, line and sinker! For myself if you give me a reason to do something -- like it will keep my tarp up, then it will stick with me.

Rapists and pedophiles are exerting their power over someone else. Rape is not about sex, it's about power. Two consenting adults is not about having power over another person.

Our Cub pack does about 1 community service project each year, usually connected to Christmas. I wish there was more, but have not been in a position to make changes. I think all the scouts need to be more visible. And the kids at that age LOVE to help with anything.

Many Southerners tried to justify slavery as "taking care of them". If we just let "them" be they would be wild animals, sleeping with whoever, killing each other, stealing, etc. Even if you taught them a trade they wouldn't know how to handle their money. You can't train them right. EVERYBODY knew this. And if you CHOOSE to teach a black person (free or not) to read and write you were committing a CRIME! Many Southerners still justify slavery as "just one of those things". Still consider blacks as immoral. Who deems rape or pedophiles as NOT immoral? Who other than the ones committing the crime think it is okay? Even some of them know it's wrong. This is not a valid comparison.

What I meant by rank advancement is not the earning of badges and special awards like the Gold award (which is pretty impressive to me, I've seen the requirements) but the Second Class, First Class scenario. About 20 years ago an elderly gentleman in our small town told me about the Girl Scouts when his daughter was young. I'm guessing this would have been in the 1930's or 40's. The town was small then too. There was an active Boy Scout troop who often camped in the nearby woods. The Girl Scouts wanted to go camping but none of the women would camp. This father took the Girls. He pitched his tent close enough he could hear them yell for help and left them alone. He said they loved it. They took care of their camp all by themselves but he was their in case they needed an adult. Of course, things are so different now. But men in Girl Scouting is NOT new. I know the Boy Scouts do a lot of community service but was very surprised and impressed with the amount done for EVERY badge for Cadettes and Seniors Interest Projects. As well as the amount of time spent on the Silver and the Gold Awards. There seems to be more of a focus on community service in Girl Scouting than in Boy Scouting. Just my opinion. Glad to hear you are taking your girls outside. I've spoken to some women who said they dropped out of Girl Scouts at an early age because they were tomboys and wanted to go camping and carry a pocketknife. They were very bored with doing little craftsy thing that were a repeat of school.

Weekender is right about the alternative double boiler method. Your mom will not kill you if you CLEAN the double boiler after using it for melting parrafin. For those of you saving old hacksaw blades, let me just say that Scouting is THE place for all us packrats in the world. Now, even get to save dryer lint! WOW! It can go in the garage with all the egg cartons, cardboard boxes and toilet tisse rolls. I was trying to make the egg carton fire starters this weekend. I had read somewhere to put a piece of charcoal in each section. Well, either I buy very small eggs or very large charcoal, because that wasn't going to work. Guess I'll try the dryer lint, it is all over my laundry room. My son and his friend enjoyed dipping rolled up newspaper into the parrafin last year. Just watch because eventually some one will want to stick their hand in the wax. Do you know they sell an expensive thing at stores (including Wal Mart) for women to stick their hands in melted parrafin to improve their skin?????

Last year I got into a "discussion" with some other parents about not throwing apple cores and orange peelings down in the woods at the Scout camp. We don't live in an area where oranges and apples grow naturally. I know the critters or insects would eat them but is it a good idea to throw them on the ground, even away from the campsite?

I've been involved in Cub Scouts for the past few years. Our cubmaster's wife is in Girl Scouts. He thinks the Girl Scouts have bizarre rules. Seems like some of the rules vary greatly from council to council and even from troop to troop. His wife's troop voted that no dads are allowed to go camping. Yet right down the road is a dad who is a Girl Scout leader. I have no daughters but hope to volunteer with the Girl Scouts at some time. I find some of the differences amazing. Our pack insists that parents stay for den meetings unless there is a pressing reason, then someone other then the Den Leader needs to be responsible for your child. Some packs don't do this. Our pack also is more open to moms being involved and going to campouts than other packs I've talked to. I've heard of some Girl Scout troops that very seldom go outside and some that do a lot of outdoor type things. I guess it depends on the leaders. I was shocked to hear that Girl Scouts leaders take kids camping without all the parents. It's all I can to deal with 8 boys for one hour! LOL It is interesting the way Girl Scouts is girl led from the beginning, yet Cub Scouts are adult led. In the early days of Cub Scouts, an older Boy Scout lead the dens. Then it evolved into Den Mothers playing a bigger role, until eventually we had Den Leaders. I have a Girl Scout book from the 1950's that shows at that time they had the rank progression like Boy Scouting --- Tenderfoot, Second Class and First Class. Now there is not that rank focus. I have read books talking about how women do not view challenges as climbing a ladder but more with an attitude of "you had fun, you learned somethin, you gave it a try, that means you succeeded." Where for men, they must follow one path, not get sidetracked and must reach the top of the ladder or they have failed. I wonder if that's why the two different approaches to scouting are they way they are now and why the work. Hmmm...something to ponder in your spare moments.

Look at Baloo's Bugle on www.cubmaster.org This is a monthly newsletter. There are a couple of years of it online. Also, the yearly Program Helps booklet from BSA has some information.