Sir_Scoutalot

Looking for a good trek (10 miles or so) for a November campout. Preferably an area free of deer hunters. Any suggestions? Thanks in advance.

I would see if your district has an active OA chapter that can help you out. We traditionally contact them and they supervise our unit election. All eligible scouts can go on the ballot. The entire troop (boys) vote on the candidates. I can't remember if a majority or some percentage is needed. We've had years where all eligible candidates were elected. I do tell the boys going on the slate that they should be prepared to complete the ordeal within the next year, and that they make an effort to participate beyond the ordeal. Hope this helps.

We went out of council for the first time this summer. If I had any recommendations, I'd involve the boys in the info gathering process (internet, word of mouth, etc). I'd also focus on offerings or programs that are not offered at the current camp. We stressed to the boys that we considered this a one year deal and would be open to going back to the council camp in 2008 if that's what they wanted. Finally, we did a unit campout at the camp prior to the summer. That put them at ease when we returned for summer camp. It was still new, but not totally. Hope that

Just back from our week at summer camp. We went out of council this year to Skymont Scout Reservation near Altamont, TN. Near perfect weather and a good time had by all. This was my third Boy Scout summer camp, and I realize that no two are the same, but they all seem to be good. I also noticed most have unique traditions. What are your favorites? I'll start with two. Death March (Camp Tiak - Wiggins, MS) Boys have to get up around 5AM and are taken on a backwoods hike that usually ends shortly before morning flags/breakfast. You have to participate two of the three d

Our troop has about 20 boys in it and we reserve the right to cancel any trip or activity that has less than four boys signed up. The scouts are aware of the "minimum" and I think it helps them encouraging their fellow scouts to participate. I don't think it's realistic to expect the scoutmaster to make every trip. Always a good idea to have several adults capable of delivering the program. Also good preparation in the event you transition leadership at some point down the road.

I just finished John Krakauer's Into Thin Air, which recounts his 1996 climb of Mount Everest in which four or five of his climbing partners perish after reaching the summit. An amazing read. It was so good I started another book he wrote, Into The Wild. This true story details the tale of a young man who graduates college, then sets off on a bizarre western odyssey that ends when his remains are discovered on an abandoned bus in the Alaskan wilderness.

I haven't been this excited about a clothing item since I tried my first pair of boxer shorts. I'll never go back.

Our troop is sponsored by a United Methodist Church. Can anyone confirm that Sunday, February 4 is the date for Scout Sunday in 2007? Thanks in advance.

The new scout switchback pants. I'd also like a thermarest that doubles as a chair and sleeping pad for backpacking. A water filtration pump would be cool as well.

I'm not a big winter sports guy, but might want to check out Ober Gatlinburg (http://www.skiobergatlinburg.com/default.htm) near the Great Smoky Mountains in East Tennessee. That's the off season for the most part, so lodging probably not an issue. Also a ton of additional activities when you're not on the slopes.

I think sometimes you just need to let them be goof balls. Our troop has boys from a variety of school and church backgrounds, so there's some benefit to just letting them hang out and bond. That being said, I might recommend a movie night, video game tourney, or perhaps special merit badge program. We are doing a cabin outing in January to a prime bald eagle wintering area. We will be doing a bird tour and nature presentations, but there will be some hanging out time as well.

Getting ready to place my holiday order from the scout catalog. Thinking about picking up a dutch oven cookbook. Wondered if anyone might recommend one of the three in the catalog: Texas Treasury of Dutch Oven Cooking, Cooking the Dutch Oven Way, and the Outdoor Dutch Oven Cookbook. Thanks in advance and happy holidays.

This year we've had several scouts earn their Eagle. We have several more Life scouts that I anticipate will be moving up, and last week we held a session discussing the Life to Eagle transition that included topics like the Eagle project, application process, etc. After the meeting one of the dads came up to me with a question about the Eagle application. The scout is asked to provide several references, including a "religious" one. The scout involved has always participated in elements of the program that might involve prayer or took place in a church setting, but for whatever r

Three things I did to make my week more enjoyable: 1. Invited all the adults in camp and a few others up to participate in the scout leaders' steak dinner. It's a great way to keep adults that might not participate on a regular basis up to date with the goings on in the troop. 2. Participate in a class or program yourself. I have done Mile Swim the past two years and love it. 3. This year we set up an area of the camp just for the adults. That 15 minutes spent setting up an extra dining fly was well worth it.

Thanks for posting your review. We have Comer on our short list for 2007 but will do some research on others. Sounds like the grass may not always be greener out of council.

One of the scouts is First Class and the other is a Life scout. The First Class scout has a genuine dislike of the water, but passed the First Class swimming last year at the pool. The Life scout actually has swimming mb. I think his issue is not liking lake swimming.

Another discussion item from our recently completed week at summer camp. Our council operates a complex of camps and a few years back opened a swimming pool. The pool is used for activities like swimming merit badge, free swims, and the Cub and Webelos resident camp swimming. The first day of camp swim tests are administered at the lake swim area. Our troop is not blessed with many swimming/aquatics enthusiasts, and we even set up a troop swim a month or so ago so that they might be better prepared. The day of the swim test at the lake I have two boys announce they are n

Just back from our week at summer camp. For the first summer I can remember, we took a group that did not include any first year scouts (a story for another day). We cruised through a great week, but it was evident some of the "old timers" were considering our camp "old hat". Long story short, we discussed the possibility of doing an out of council (Middle Tenn) camp in 2007. Wondering what camps in areas like east and west Tennessee, Kentucky, and/or north Alabama, Mississippi, and Georgia some of you might recommend. Thanks in advance.

A fellow dad turned me on to a great book at summer camp last year. This year he recommended "Into Thin Air" by Jon Krakauer, a story about a ill fated climbing trip on Mt Everest. Getting ready to jump in.

Your son probably stands a better chance of enjoying the experience if you send him with scouts in another unit that he might know. Are there other troops in your town or district you might approach about taking on a provisional? I actually lived in Wisconsin a few years back, but can't speak to specific camps that might do a good job handling provisionals. Good luck.

Your son probably stands a better chance of enjoying the experience if you send him with scouts in another unit that he might know. Are there other troops in your town or district you might approach about taking on a provisional? I actually lived in Wisconsin a few years back, but can't speak to specific camps that might do a good job handling provisionals. Good luck.

In no particular order ... 1. There have been many, many, many memorable outings, but the coral reef sailing adventure at Sea Base still tops them all. 2. Seeing many deserving young men receive their Eagle Scout award. 3. After practicing on other people's kids for six years as a Boy Scout leader, getting to go back to Tiger Cubs and go through the entire program with my son. He's now a 14 year old Life Scout.

The Quality Unit application is one of the items we submit each year at recharter time. That is when we order the patches.

Middle Tennessee Council is $600 and includes conferences fees, bus transportation, lodging, and meals.

Our adults usually do our own thing. The boys will often wander over at some point to see what we're up to and if there are any leftovers to be had. We've also been known to have younger scouts (especially those needing cooking) come over and cook for us. Gives us an opportunity to share our knowledge and seems to give the boy a sense of accomplishment. (This message has been edited by Sir_Scoutalot)