SMT224

FScouter, I understand what you are saying, and we usually do our own program -- primarily because there is so little notice of upcoming events. My preference is to do more than attend by helping staff, setup, or cleanup.

Senator Bernie Sanders, Independent from Vermont speaks to these issues... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lcLWDGb0RqA

Just got an email from the District on an April event... first time it has been announced. Unfortunately this is the MO of our District, scheduling events a month or two out. I like to support the District, and try to go on as many events as possible, but I do not understand why they can't give us a bit more notice! Our Troop Schedules the next calendar year in September. We go camping every month of the year, do several service projects, and put out a calendar in January so everyone knows whats happening when. A number of state and national parks we go fill up quickly and require on-

Everything below is a recent (3/4/11) post at the Forbes Magazine website. Link to the original article is at the very end. Gov. Scott Walker Has Lost The War Rick Ungar THE POLICY PAGE Mar. 4 2011 - 2:46 pm In what may be the result of one of the great political miscalculations of our time, Scott Walkers popularity in his home state is fast going down the tubes. A Rasmussen poll out today reveals that almost 60% of likely Wisconsin voters now disapprove of their aggressive governors performance, with 48% strongly disapproving. While these numbers are clear

As the OP on this post, I want to report on my experience with the Tour Plan... I downloaded the fill-able pdf Tour Plan, filled it out on my computer with general information & saved it, then added the specific information for our March camping trip and printed it. I took it to the Troop meeting and had the CC sign it. I signed it, and took it into to work the next day and faxed it to Council. I was amazed to find an email from Council when I got home that evening with a pdf attachment of the signed and stamped Tour Plan. I printed it out and now I'm ready for the camping tri

I agree Buffalo, but not at an ECOH... ;-)

Our Boy Scout Troop has a close relationship with the Cub Pack at our church. We supply several Den chiefs and visit Den and Pack meetings on a regular basis. We have annual early April camping trip with the Webelos just before Crossover (takes place at the end of April). It's a great way for the Webelos and families to get to know the Troop and visit with the Adult Leaders. We all do a service project on Saturday morning, cook a lunch for all back at the campsite, then have afternoon Scout games and skill building for the Webelos. Each Patrol in the Scout Troop sets up a station of a

jamist649 - I can understand how you feel on this. I'm a SM of a Troop that gets an annual crossover class from the Pack in our church. Rarely do Cubs cross to another Troop. Not all the Cubs join, some drop out or decide they don't want to be Scouts, but most join our Troop. We have a late April crossover ceremony that is become very institutionalized in both the Pack and Troop. The Troop has at least 2 Den Chiefs at the Pack at all times. I visit with the Webelos II parents and Cubs throughout the spring talking to them about the Troop and summer camp. We have a joint Webelos /

shortridge... clearly there are Troops that do not want an FOS presentation at an ECOH. So be it. For me, an FOS presentation at an event the Troop feels comfortable about isn't a problem if Troop families have the disposable income to support FOS as well as Troop activities and everything else. If on the other hand, as in out Troop, the there are an abundance of families that can barely pay registration fees, dues, and camping food costs, let alone summer camp... then FOS is never appropriate. How could it be? Context is everything.

Fill a tin can with water and freeze. Draw a simple pattern on the can. Use a nail and hammer to put holes in the can following the pattern. The ice keeps the can from denting or collapsing. Let the ice melt, dry the can, add a little candle, and you have a nice gift for mom. In a dark room the nail-hole pattern will shine on a wall. Great to do a heart or similar. allangr1024 - for fire building I highly recommend a nest made from Sisal rope fibers and some burnt cotton cloth. The cloth catches sparks and spreads flames into the Sisal very quickly. Use an Altoids or similar metal

Just back from winter camping trip with my daughters Girl Scout Troop. As an SM & GS Leader, I try to work on Scout skills when even I'm out with the girls. This time it was fire building. I taught them how to make a nice little nest out of Sisile rope, add some burnt cloth, and then fire sparks in. They learned quickly to carefully blow on the burnt cloth until the Sisile caught and they were holding a burning nest. We went through basic fire building, and all the girls were able to collect tinder and kindling, layout a fire, and then light it with a burning nest. We were at a B

Instead of trying to change the current SM, step up and become the camping Assistant Scoutmaster. Work with the Patrol Leader Council (PLC) to plan several camping trips, then work with the Scouts to do the outing. All you need is one other trained leader to join with you. Our Troop goes camping every month of the year and spends 3 out of our 4 monthly Troop meetings focused on the outing. The Scouts love it, and spend a full meeting planning the menu and cooking equipment (they pool their $$ and do their own shopping), another full meeting checking tents and getting all the equipment read

This sounds like the Troop I joined 12 years ago... the Committee did most everything from planning all the camping trips to appointing the SPL. There was no Patrol Leaders Council, no Patrols, declining membership, and few outings. The Committee was composed of guys that had grown up in the Troop and that's just the way things were done. When I was appointed Scoutmaster a few years later, I slowly started making changes to the Troop based on what I learned at Scoutmaster training and Round Table. It took a while, but now things almost completely Scout-run with a very active PLC, good Scou

I really hate to let this discussion fade into the sunset without some additional info from E61 as to why the winter camping trip was canceled. I guess this is high on my priority list as I've been working on three Boy Scout cold weather camping trips and one for my daughter's Girl Scout Troop. Winter camping trips do require a heightened awareness as to conditions and participant readiness. So, E61, if you could be persuaded to pull yourself back to this campfire and toss on another log, I for one would appreciate it. This is not to judge you or your Troop, but to help me (and all the fol

No doubt the DE is under a lot of pressure to get out and talk to all units. For him (her?) this simply an opportunity to reach a bunch of folks. But as others here have posted, an FOS presentation at an Eagle COH is wrong. It's too bad the DE does not have enough sense to understand that. Abel Magwitch - I know it will be hard, but you have to call the DE and state in very clear terms that there will be no FOS presentation at this Eagle COH. If you do not, the DE will be compelled to take full advantage of the situation. An Eagle COH 100% about the Eagle - nothing else. U

We have an annual April camping trip with both Webelos I & II at a nearby park. This happens just before the Crossover (end of April). It's a great way for the Webelos and families to get to know the Troop and visit with the Adult Leaders. We do a service project on Saturday morning, lunch for all back at the campsite, then an afternoon of Scout games and skill building for the Webelos. Each Patrol in the Scout Troop sets up a station of activities, and the Webelos and parents break up into small groups and rotate around the stations. The first year Webelos get a idea of what

Dues are $5/month except for July & December. Scouts must be current with dues to go on a camping trip, so this is a strong impetus to bring in their dues.

I agree with Speedy's DAD 100% - any leader needs to access how well prepared his people are before going into a potentially dangerous situation. This is a critical part of leadership training Scouting provides. It's important to have the Scouts part of any decision making that involves the cancellation of any activity. Training for a winter camping trip provides a Scout with skills for dealing with any cold weather he may come across later in his life. Almost no matter where he may find himself in this fine country, an extreme winter storm is possible. By understanding and experienci

Yes, yes, yes, we all have to be careful and ensure we don't take the Troop into a dangerous situation - rafting on too high water, hiking into a hot and dry area w/o enough water, driving into an ice storm, taking an unprepared bunch of boys winter camping. But, my experience with winter camping is that it is an incredible confidence builder for the prepared. We spend much of December & January working on what to wear, what to eat, how to sleep, and how to deal with cold weather first-aid issues. By the time we go camping in late January or early February, we have a bunch of prepar

"There is no such thing as bad weather... just poor clothing choices." How extreme was the weather? Why wasn't the Troop prepared? On what did the SM base the decision to cancel?

As the OP of this discussion, I'm still wondering about the online version of the soon to be defunct "Tour Permit". Did folks have specific problems with it? Is that part of the reason for the change? In the "Tour Plan" FAQs, there is a statement that the new and better "Tour Plan" will be on "standard 8.5 x 11-inch paper" as if this is a major benefit. Why? Or is it really that signatures will be on the Tour Plan? Something that could not happen with the electronically submitted Tour Permit. Or will the Tour Plan become electronic?

Let the PLC do the banning, not the adult leaders! We had a problem with cell phones and over use a meetings and camping trips. We discussed in the PLC meetings, and they took a far more stringent action than we would have, and it was soundly implemented, accepted, and is now part of the Troop culture. Far better that such rules come from the Scouts than at the Scouts from above.

We have only gone to summer camps with canvas tents on platforms & cots. I think it's great and adds to the summer camp experience. We camp every month for the rest of the year in Troop dome tents that the Scouts set up, sleep in, and pack up. It makes it summer camp to be in a canvas platform tent and gives us a nice change from setting up our own tents. To me, and to the Scouts in the Troop, the canvas tent is summer camp. It's an integral part of the entire experience, along with the chaos of the dining hall, merit badges, and being a uniformed Scout with 450 others. If the ca

Day time: Class B - Troop t-shirt or similar with Scout-like shorts. Evening (before dinner): Class A - Tan Scout shirt with Scout-like shorts. Evening activities (after dinner): class B with Scout-like shorts

Well, the April "Tour Permit" I submitted was approved via myscouting.org... Maybe I should do March & May & June...