SemperParatus

Running a successful youth group is very hard - much harder then a scout unit because you have no pre-established model, training, resources, etc. The upside is that you can do just about anything you want. It sounds like some folks thought it would be a great idea and opened the doors, without giving detailed thought to the mission, purpose and activities that would drive this 'community service'. Adults definitely need to be involved big time (especially at the middle school age) and not just as supervision, but as long-range visionaries and activity directors. You need a core team of committed adults that will be willing to spend an inordinate amount of time planning and executing a program that is supportive of the 'mission' of this endeavor. General ideas - Sports nights Craft nights Service Projects Challenge Games (mind and body) Talk nights Dances/mixers Field trip nights (bowling, movies) It is not clear from your post if this 'youth group' is intended to have a church message or is meant to be purely secular. If a 'church youth group' there are some purveyors that have excellent programming material. Good luck with it.

I've always thought that self-reliance is a good thing to develop in a young person (as is relying on others and having others rely on you). It sounds as if your complaint is about either the extent or tactics that this particular ASM is focusing on this issue (at the expense of other scouting methods)? Is he merely suggesting that more backpack-styled trips be scheduled, or that every trip be a complete 'on-your-own' experience? A little variety can offer each boy an opportunity to experience the world and his role in it in a different way, and that usually means growth. Perhaps, a 'wilderness survival' campout experience once a year is enough to appease this adult (although I completely agree that we are not here to appease adults) while giving the scouts some challenges that help them mature into young men that can handle situations requiring their individual efforts and ingenuity.

I would never view increased opportunities as interference. I presume you are talking about high adventure opportunities sponsored and promoted by your District and open to all eligible scouts from all troops in the District on a first come first serve basis. That would be very refreshing. Our District is clearly in a rut of doing its two Camporees each year, with a lack of imaginitive thought on larger and more engaging possibilities for scouts with a strong interest in doing something more than that supported by their individual units. Council opportunities exist, but I think doing this at a District level may be a better sell with many boys being familiar with those from other units (through school, sports, etc.).

Any troops out there with strong alumni organizations? What does your alumni (other than registered leaders) do for your troop? What does your troop do for its alumni? **** As the latest troop I am involved with (the third and probably last) ages out, we are beginning to look for ways to keep the scouting spirit moving in our lives, by possibly forming an alumni organization... Semi-annual electronic newsletter with updates on what's happening in the troop and in the lives of alumni. Annual weekend camping trip centered around fellowship and good stories from days gone by. A fee would be charged and contributed to the troop. Possible resource for troop leadership, providing possible skill and merit badge counselors. Repository for the ancient history of the troop days - sponsor a troop museum. Have regular attendees at Courts of Honor - possibly give presentations on the good 'ol days'. Sponsor a campership program for the troop. Generally a means for maintaining friendships and interest in scouting for those that do not have the desire to be registered troop leaders (yet or again). The idea is to be a continuing avenue for fellowship beyond scouting and an additional support structure for the troop, rather than a one-time gathering of old farts at the 50th anniversary celebration. Thoughts? Experience?

I would echo the good advice of others to get some training and start participating in a somewhat limited way (at least for the next year). After the training, I would take several months visiting packs in your area to determine the pack that best meets your needs and appears to have its act together in delivering the cub scout program. Armed with the knowledge that training will provide, you will be in a much better position to be able to assess the relative merits of the packs in your area. Best of luck to you. It is a very exciting time for you and your son, and I admire your desire to 'scout' out the program in advance.

What a wasted opportunity to show off scouting to the public. Somebody let those boys down by not teaching the proper attitude of pride, respect and courteousness. A real shame.

Anything by Clive Staples Lewis

I assume this is for the flag pole project. You will probably need to have multiple fundraising efforts going on. Consider selecting a scout or other youth you know to act as the project's fundraising chair and lead and empower them to organize the efforts, recruit fundraisers and handle the related paperwork. Any of the normal scout fundraising projects could be considered - selling pizzas or candy, carwashes, pancake breakfasts, spaghetti dinners, etc. Also, consider seeking grants from non-profit patriotic organizations that may have an interest in this project (VFW and American Legion posts, flag day foundations, etc.). If this project will include a 'courtyard' surround, maybe you could sell bricks to sponsors with their names chiseled on the bricks as a perpetual thank you for their support. If your town has a local Independence Day celebration, maybe the powers that be would allow you to engage in a related fundraising activity (e.g., selling snowballs to parade watchers topped with mini flags). Good luck.

"There's a lot of space out there to get lost in." ~ John Robinson

I'll be honest, I have never thought to wash clothes (i.e., field shirt) at camp...but it sounds like a good idea. We'll add that to our Wednesday schedule. Thanks.

Sometimes I think the scouts would be better off if us scouters stayed home.

Greenbelt Park on the Maryland side is your best bet. You can hike from your campsite to the metro. They have a group camping area - with scout discounts it should end up less than $5 per scout for the weekend. http://www.nps.gov/gree/

enJOY!!!

I feel like I'm in the Matrix.

From my old muscle car/teenager days - FORD = Found On Road Dead Back then, I was a Chevy man. Had a '71 jet black El Camino with a 396 big block and Keystone mags. Then a '67 Camaro SuperSport (boy, do I wish I still had that). After accumulating the requisite number of speeding tickets to have my license suspended for a month or two, I decided the wise thing to do was to buy a 'small' car that I couldn't get into trouble with. Bought a Ford Mustang II, which turned out to be the proverbial piece. Haven't bought a Ford since...but I really do like the look of the new retro Mustang. I'll have to ask them about the cruise control/spontaneous combustion problem when I test drive one tonight. So, I guess another Ford truck is not in your future? Goin' Dodge?

Welcome to the forum. Each of our five patrols have a set of 3 plastic totes - one for tents, grounclothes, tarps, etc. -one for cooking equipment - one for dry food, plus a cooler, water jug and folding camp table. We basically stack them along the sides and back, leaving room in the middle for loading personal gear. We considered building shelves and tent holders but have decided that we like the flexibility of being able to take everything out when we need to and having an empty box (e.g., for summercamp we unload it all to haul everyone's personal gear). Having shelves built-in would take away some flexibility.

Ed, Have you ever considered the possibility that there may be a certain poster with an Ed Mori voodoo doll, who is the source behind your recent troubles?

A SM minute eulogy in loving memory of Trevorum's truck... I loved my old Truck. I still remember the first time I drove it home. It was immaculate with that wonderful new car smell. Over the years it certainly lost some of its luster the new car smell was replaced by a more horsey odor, those clean seats eventually became stained with coffee spills, I had to start turning the radio up to drown out the rattles, and each new scratch and dent bothered me less and less. While it was no longer shiny and new, it became more and more comfortable as it became a part of me with each new outing. I guess my truck is a lot like scouting. I still remember what it felt like to put my immaculate and freshly scented uniform on for the first time. How the Scout Promise and Law meant so much as I memorized each word in its proper place. I remember those first camping trips as if they happened yesterday and the feeling of new experiences in the woods. Over these many years of scouting, my uniform is, how shall we say, not nearly as sweet smelling, there have been a few stains on my scouting experiences, and camping has become so routine that sometimes I dont recognize just how incredible it is to experience Gods handiwork in nature. Yes, scouting has become more and more comfortable as it has become a part of me with each new outing. My truck blew up last night. I suppose I will be buying another one very soon. I think this may be a sign to me to always remember not to become so comfortable as to take things for granted. Wont you join me in not taking scouting, this troop and your fellow scouts for granted. (This message has been edited by SemperParatus)

Here's a few... 4 Nights 4 Fun Night Owls Cool Nights Running That Outlandish, Fantastic, Amazing, Incomparable Cub Scout Thing that Happens Down By the [insert Landmark]

Wow. Sorry to hear about that. same story...different day - http://wcpo.com/external/dwym/16a71330.html (This message has been edited by SemperParatus)

Is this a week-long cub day camp? A weekend overnight camp? Is there a theme? gotta have a theme!

He'll either grow out of it...or he will remain a GB all of his life. Either way, the entertainment factor that GBs provide is enough for us not to try and change them You are living a fantasy if you think you are going to change his natural tendency to be 'goofy'. Let him be himself and grow into the person he is meant to be, goofy or not. Why must a boy conform to something you want him to be? Granted, legitimate safety concerns need to be addressed, but ill-fitting boots and canoe tips are just a part of scouting.

Gern, Welcome. Just click 'submit your message' once.

Agree completely that hat should stay on; however, I would suggest you respect the request of the campmaster rather than making this an issue. Enjoy daycamp...I tip my hat to you.

My sympathies to the Queen...I can't believe they dissed her like that? What's next...changing the Queen's Scout Award to the Bin Laden Scout Award?