shortridge

Oh, yeah. It's quite good. I have the latest edition, which includes a list of ideas for community groups (including Scouts), schools, businesses, governments, etc.

Yeah, there were a few posts removed, talking about the 2000 Democratic convention booing.(This message has been edited by shortridge)

Sorry, I didn't realize that going slightly off-topic was forbidden. I was really wondering if some people actually thought the [incident previously mentioned] was orchestrated by [institution previously mentioned]. To get myself back on-topic, I'll just share this writeup from a DC TV station which says no sticks or poles are allowed. So I'd ask someone in charge specifically about your troop or patrol flags. www.wusa9.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=79091&catid=187(This message has been edited by shortridge)

The scout should come up with the punishment himself. I really like this idea. It has the potential to turn the whole thing on its head.

I'd wager that general Scouting numbers might be up, given the relative low cost, but summer camp numbers are definitely going to be down. I can see a lot of new families looking at pack dues and say "OK, that's affordable, let's join," and then getting major sticker shock from the camp fees.

Congratulations! From all that I've read, the D.C. officials are expecting a crush of people, to the point of overwhelming streets and infrastructure. I wouldn't count on doing any sightseeing, or on coming anywhere close enough to even catch a glimpse of the big event. Check online for restrictions on what you can bring and where you can go. It would stink if you brought along a bunch of water bottles and canteens (that whole being prepared thing), but were told to ditch 'em by the cops (think about the airline restrictions). Also have your Scouts practice waiting patiently standing

I second Lisabob's comment. In a lot of cases, younger kids are often just "trying out" words or phrases they've heard elsewhere. The goal is to get a reaction and test the adults.

That said, I'm doing the happy dance. National FINALLY has the eagle app so it can be saved and edited. ALLELUIA! Now if only it'd do that for the membership application...

"... remove the label and in black marker mark it "P" in large P's all over the bottle and cap." If you're like me and are bat-blind without your glasses, or if it's just really, really dark, you might want a method to distinguish it by feel, too. Try encircling it with duct tape, or put small Velcro patches on the outside - anything with texture that will make your half-asleep brain say "Ah, that's it!"

Winter program ideas: - Outdoor photography - Lumberjack contests (seem to work better in winter than summer) - Outdoor cooking (the hottest or spiciest dish wins?) - Snowshoe-walking contest - Introductory skiing clinic for first-timers - Nature walks I've never been impressed with the burn-through-a-string-fastest contest, as it doesn't test any Scout skills. When we build fires, they're for a purpose - cooking or emergency heat or camp fire camaraderie, not burn rate.

Liz, Another thing to consider is that the camp may require the uniform to be "clean" - meaning free of any patches that indicate membership in a unit, since you're working for the council, representing the council, and not our individual units. That's what my old camp did. We either had to have a separate uniform shirt for staff, or else remove the unit numbers, POR patch, patrol medallion, Quality Unit patch, etc., and then sew them on again at the end of the summer. Temporary patches were generally frowned on, except for those from National Camping School. While technically agains

To clarify... I've never heard of a camp that required its staff in "Class A" during the day. They should issue some sort of a staff shirt - polo or T - and shorts (generally khaki-ish) for daily use. We used to only use full uniform twice a week - on check-in and check-out days, when we had full retreat ceremonies. Now, they're get a lot more wear - at daily retreat and often afterwards in the evening.

"There are several more important items I am expecting to come out for Venturing." Not to hijack, but what might those be? Just curious.

D'oh! My apologies.

I worked on a BSA camp staff for five years, and we were required to wear the then-current uniform. We got discounts. There were a few older Scouters who were volunteers (didn't do the whole summer, but a week or so at a time), and some of them wore the old green uniform. No one complained. I doubt anyone will complain if your son is volunteering, either.

I just checked it out, and the Boy Scouts are down to 1 percent. Stephen Curtis Chapman has a runaway lead.

I don't see any problem with going above and beyond what the YP rules say. Common-sense measures (such as making the front passenger's seat off-limits to youth) don't hurt anyone. I still think it's wrong that the school where my wife teaches allows one-on-one student-teacher conferences (such as after a kid misbehaves) in a classroom near an open door. The camp staff member in me thinks they ought to be done in the middle of the playground with 10 other people in plain view. :-)

(old ones apparently shrunk in storage) Glad to hear that's happened to someone else besides me. For a while there, I thought my closet had magical properties. I'm extremely envious of you folks who are going to be working at Jambo. I'd give an arm and a leg to have the time off...

BW - The unit I serve does not march in parades, actually. It's a camp staff-based Venturing crew, with members scattered all around the region, and it's located in a neighboring district. I'm sorry that you are still misinterpreting and reading far too much into my post.

Can't reiterate enough the value of good headgear. A huge amount of the body's heat escapes out of the top of your head... I get hot and sweat really easily, so when I go winter camping or hiking I have to keep taking my hat on and off because it's so effective at trapping the heat. Also makes you toasty at bedtime. Where I live, the snow isn't much of a issue - we're lucky to get six inches all winter long - but high, chilly winds are. So layering and making sure gaps in clothing are covered is critical - i.e., outer shell sleeves that extend past the glove wrist a bit, pants that aren't

Check out www.wintercampers.com. Lots of good stuff there.

Simple: No one sits in the front passenger seat. Stick some extra overflow gear there. And make sure rest stops are done as a whole group.

I haven't seen the show yet, though I'd like to. I'm curious about how much creative control the BSA had over the content, editing and production. If it was just a "partnership" at the business end, that might answer Dean's questions - maybe the "casting" decisions were made by the Outdoor Channel folks.

Bob White, I believe BobS did indeed state he'd checked that resource: "After a review of the Boy Scout Handbook, the Scoutmaster Handbook and the Advancement Committee Guidelines, I can't find anything at all."

Nah, if this really were a phishing attempt, the trailer would have been being transported aboard an airplane that crashed in Nigeria, and Brian would be seeking the help of us, his good favorite friends, to funnel the insurance money back to the U.S., splitting it 50-50 for our trouble, of course.