shortridge

- Dan'l Boone, Lewis & Clark, Davy Crockett ... tap into the history of any of the great pioneers, adventurers, explorers, trappers and hunters, and have your staff garb up & take on the personas. That'll add a huge sense of realism and excitement. Also check with your council or district to get contact info for local Venturing re-enactment crews, who might be able to offer advice or staff. - Corn Husk Action Figures (like corn husk dolls, only for boys ) - Set up a log cabin (use those local Boy Scouts). - Don't forget Native Americans. The European pioneers interacted with the Indians as they journeyed west. Plenty of crafty things to do in that area. - Soap- or candle-making (with very close adult supervision) - For Cubs who have their Whittlin' Chip, make a whimmydiddle (one variation with pencils here: http://bobscrafts.com/bobstuff/geehaw.htm) - Simple gardening/plant care - works well with a nature program talking about life cycles. Kids can plant seeds in disposable cups and take them back home.

A timely item from Buck Tilton mentions "The Everest" battery-powered model: http://www.backpacker.com/medicine-man-sleep-apnea-cpap/community/ask_buck/250

I think HIPAA is a special case. Because it's so far-reaching and widespread - every pharmacy has a notice on the wall; every doctor's office has a privacy policy form you have to sign - it's grown into an easy-to-blame boogeyman, even for medical professionals who should know better. Far better to err on the side of caution and keep everything as private as possible, the thinking goes. And I really can't blame that line of logic, however incorrect.

I second SMT224 - how do you have a firebuilding competition without fire? Judge them on prettiness? Scale? Extra points for not having pine shats visible? I'm of two minds about council camporees and mini-jamborees that bring EVERYONE together, from Tigers to Venturers. While exposing Scouts to the wide range of program activities and getting them excited about the next steps, it also automatically reduces the "camp" part of the "camporee" to the lowest (or youngest, or least-experienced, however you want to put it) common denominator. You can't do the same stuff with Cubs and their parents as you can with a troop of experienced Boy Scouts. I'd be far more supportive of events separated by program level.

It's been a while for me, but as a youth in the mid-80s, our den had three meetings a month, plus one pack meeting - we all knew that every Monday night was Cub Scouts night. I can't imagine just having two a month and being able to do all the fun stuff that we did, particularly by the time we got to Webelos. Is that the recommended number nowadays?

FScouter wroet: "Rather than sensitivity training for camp staff, the Jewish boy needs a lesson from his Rabbi that a Boy Scout hat is not a yamaka." Actually, many Jews today wear hats or caps in place of the kippah. Besides, how do you know in the first place that a Scout or Scouter is Jewish? I definitely prefer to err on the side of respect for the variety of religious practice in Scouting instead of presuming to know what an individual believes. Just because I know that you are Jewish, or Christian, or Hindu, or Muslim, or Wiccan, doesn't mean I now know the totality of your religious practice. But then, I'm also one of "those people" who doesn't ask others to bow their heads for grace before meals, because I know some faiths don't incline their heads during the blessing. I try to neither assume nor impose.

My impression and opinion of the GOBs was formed years ago at my first post-Ordeal OA weekend, when as a member of the cook crew I observed a group of perfectly-uniformed, mostly overweight, middle-aged men sitting on the dining hall porch chatting away the whole weekend. One of their number smoked some awful-smelling cigars in direct violation of camp policy. Not a finger was lifted by this group the entire weekend to help set up or clean the dining hall - but by golly, did they ever scramble when it came time for the patch auction on Saturday night! Yes, there's a time for fellowship, but service also comes in there somewhere!

The only way a flat ban works is if there's a clearly explained, logical rationale behind it. Rules without reasons get ignored - as they should. I hate to threadjack, but any Scout camp whose staffers snatch hats off heads should be the target of a complaint to the SE. Not all faiths believe that bare heads indoors are a sign of respect. In Judaism, for example, wearing a head covering is a sign of respect and faith! Those staffers need a snap lesson in interfaith relationships and should be ordered to cease imposing their own religious strictures on others.

Put A Little Love In Your Heart - various artists Will You Be There - Michael Jackson (from the Free Willy soundtrack) ... yeah, yeah, I know ... It was the soundtrack to a summer camp slideshow one really incredible year, and still brings tears to my eyes. Or record and loop some Scouts singing and humming Kumbaya or Scout Vespers - or a group saying the Scout Law and Oath in unison, almost like a spoken-word performance.

A Scout shouldn't be held up in advancing because of the demographics of his troop! That's just a silly idea once you think about it. Note the exact words of No. 6: "teach a younger Scout the skills ... so that he is prepared to pass these requirements." There's nothing said about the rank of the younger Scout - he could even be an Eagle - as long as he's younger. He could already have those requirements signed off - as long as he's younger. He could be a brand-new Tenderfoot - as long as he's younger. It could be a review - as long as he's younger. However, I'd go with jhankins' second idea. Suggest to your Star Scout that he confer with another troop, his local OA chapter or the outdoor skills or first-year program staffers at summer camp, and see what opportunities they might have just waiting for a motivated, competent instructor. There are plenty!

In the situation described by scouts-a-lot, does the SM have anything against the Scout holding and administering the medicine, with the leaders keeping track and reminding him to take it? Or does he/she simply not want anything to do with medication, period?

What possible purpose does a month-old report serve for the committee? Or for anyone? The answer is none. Sounds to me like the CC is insecure and uncomfortable in his ability to lead, and wants to control all the possible variables he can.

The key is "write" or visit the National Scouting Museum. If Scouts are even remotely interested in this, the museum folks are going to get swamped! And all they're going to be doing, realistically, is mailing out brochures and info packets - not responding to questions.(This message has been edited by shortridge)

PhillyScout - I wish I knew the secret, because then I could market myself as a camp consultant and get rich. One thing that I know is really helpful at both Henson and Rodney is a large group of committed local volunteers - campmasters, camp staff, Venturing crew members, OA leaders, etc. They're intensely loyal to their camp of choice, and put a lot of their time into keeping things running - program and maintenance both. The council also has paid careful attention to the camp leadership. At Henson, the former camp director got promoted a few years back to support services director at the council. They chose a fellow who'd been on staff there for 10+ years to succeed him. So there were no transition issues, no institutional memory lost. The camps also offer complementary programs, so you can get a different experience at each one. Rodney is known for sailing and mountain biking, while Henson has a really good first-year camper program and (until recently) a COPE course.

There isn't just one Sabbath. Saturday is the day of rest in the Jewish tradition. So people who don't mind training on Sundays may simply not be Christians. Many other people work shiftwork, or have non-standard workweeks. Sundays may be their only day they have available to train.

My council, Del-Mar-Va, is in the process of opening up a new Cub-centered summer camp. While it's in the preliminary stages now, doing land-use approvals and such, my understanding is that the property will combine the new council HQ and the camp. (It's in a much more central location than the old HQ.) Once the camp is open, the 3.5 weeks of Cub resident camp currently offered at one of the two existing resident camps will end, and it'll shift just to a full season of Boy Scout camp.

"While you may have your own personal views about the LDS doctrine this is not the place for that discussion. This discussion is about the LDS church and its Relationship with the Boy Scouts of America." The only point even remotely related to doctrine that has been brought up was the observation GernBlansten made about race. And that was within the context of the BSA's relationship with the church. I'm not sure what you're talking about.

This is a fascinating discussion. I'm curious ... does anyone know what the origins are of the LDS Church's relationship with the BSA? In other words, why did the church adopt Scouting as its official male youth program way back when? Was there some personal connection between a church leader and the BSA leadership? Or did it start organically, with lots of local units being formed and then percolating to the top?

Sounds like he got the assignment done, and in time. I don't see a problem here. Scouting is just as educational as school - more so, in a lot of respects.

Spinning off from the swim check thread ... how does your summer camp of choice run its check-in days? Are there guided tours? Do units have to check in at a certain time? Do your Scouts have to pack their gear to their campsite, or is there a gear truck? Where do they do medical reviews? Are there safety and procedure reviews at the shooting sports ranges and waterfront? Campwide dinner including parents & sibs? And most importantly, what do you and your Scouts like or dislike about how they run things, and what would you change?

I just checked Scoutstuff.org, and both the cook kit and utensils set are out of stock, expected to be back in stock by May 15. [please excuse the rant that follows] But good gravy! it was an education. The Trail Chef Aluminum Cook Kit is $79.99, and the Chef's Tool Kit is $44.99. That's $125 *to equip each patrol*! Insane! And they're just as full of useless gear as I remembered from my youth. Why would any patrol be using three pots at once, let alone two frying pans at once? I can't recall once when my old patrol used the cocoa pot. (And why does the kit only include four plates and four cups? Has the ideal patrol since been halved recently?) I really like how the chef's kit includes a slicing knife, paring knife and veggie peeler. In my book, there's one tool that'll do all that, and every Scout should already have one! And that "durable nylon case" that rools up nice & neat is a breeding ground for mildew if the utensils aren't perfectly dry when put away. Do your troop a favor, and don't buy 'em. It'll save you money, space, weight and headaches.(This message has been edited by shortridge)

Since you're under the gun time-wise, I'd recommend the dollar store, Wally World, Goodwill or a local army-navy surplus store. That way if something doesn't work out, you haven't forked over a load of cash to Scoutstuff for useless items. But since you're starting from scratch, I'd also suggest your patrols sit down and figure out exactly what they need. The giant knife that comes (or used to come) in the BSA cook kit? Or can you make do with someone's pocketknife? Do they really use that huge two-pronged skewer? Do you need a slotted spoon and a regular spoon? Three pots if you're mainly doing one-pot meals? Hard plastic salt and pepper shakers, or a plastic bag with purloined fast-food condiment packets?

In another thread, SSScout reported on the rumor that BSA is going to combine some merit badges to free up new MB slots, offering up the ideas of combining Pets and Cooking ... Wood Carving and Forestry ... Motorboating and Waterskiing. My sources in Irving tell me that others are under consideration. A partial list, including the new MB names being debated: American Business + American Labor = Economic Gridlock MB Coin Collecting + Entrepreneurship = eBay Business MB Nuclear Science + Emergency Preparedness = Three Mile Island MB Archaeology + Climbing = Indiana Jones MB Crime Prevention + Computers = The CSI Effect MB Photography + Graphic Arts = Photoshop MB Public Speaking + Citizenship in the Nation = Political Candidate MB Horsemanship + Crime Prevention = Texas Ranger MB Plumbing + Scuba Diving = Summer Camp Pool Maintenance MB So what are y'all hearing?

Out of all the Scouting skills, I'd wager that tracking and trailing is one that's most fallen by the wayside in the modern age. Even avid deer hunters aren't necessarily equipped to follow other woodland creatures. Anyone have advice on how to counsel Tracking when one lacks extensive experience in the subject? How should those of us interested in counseling it, or just giving our Scouts the opportunity to learn these skills, get up to speed ourselves?

As long as it's not a Marital Arts demo, you should be fine. ========== DeanRx wrote: "You need to know survival techniques (idea) = but we'll just talk about them at camp b/c to actually BUILD an improvised shelter has too great an environmental impact (policy)" Is this your council's or camp's policy? Yeesh. I wish they'd read the Wilderness Survival MB requirements...