SMT224

We have a lot of good Cub memories, but the one all three of my boys seem to remember most and still talk about was the Father & Son cake bake.

We made a dozen cupcakes, took the wrappers off, put them in a pile, and covered them with a huge amount of chocolate mixed with vanilla frosting, making it look like a mountain. We then made a indentation at the top and add orange and red frosting flowing out and down the mountain. We added a candy village that was just about to be engulfed by the lava.

We made three of these over the years, and they were very popular with the other Cubs, and always brought the highest donation during the auction - much to the horror of the mom's who would be taking them home!

We require that Scouts going on an upcoming camping trip attend and participate in a meeting a week before the trip where menu's are crafted, chuck boxes packed, and the Patrol food buyer collects $10-$15 from all going on the trip. We've been a bit lax in allowing Scouts who forgot to bring $$ to still go on the trip and be included in the food and menu preparations. However, recently we have had several Scouts who forgot their food $$ say that they are going and promise to bring their $$ to the next meeting or to the camping trip - and then going AWOL for several weeks - which then makes the food buyer eat the amount he purchased for that Scout expecting to be paid back.

So, after discussing in PLC, we decided that in 2012 a Scout who forgot his food $$ a week before the camping trip will not be allowed to go. We'll see how it goes and how quickly those who have gotten used to not remembering their food $$ learn.

Our Troop is urban with less white kids than other cultures - Hispanic, Black, Filipino, Indian, and more. Irregardless of race, some can pay the $30 registration fee and $275 summer camp fee, and some absolutely cannot. So we all engage in very active fund raising. No Scout is exempt. This gives enough to have a very active program of camping every month with plenty fun and adventure. We are very thrifty, and create our own high-adventure programs and activities. There is no way we will ever be able to attend a BSA High Adventure camp, go to Philmont, or go to a Jamboree. We have discussed it as a Troop and the Scouts would much rather do a minimal but active fund raising effort to ensure everyone can do everything, and then have plenty of time to go on lots of camping trips and create our own fun.

I'm looking for a source to purchase powdered drink mix in packets by the case.

We have bug juice at all of our camping trips and at summer camp. I'm tired of purchasing the plastic containers of kool-aid or country-time lemonaid at the grocery store. It seems overly expensive and a waste of packaging materials when we dump 2-3 in our cooler every camping trip, and every other day at summer camp.

What do other Troops use for bug juice?

I appreciate all the participation in this discussion. It's been a good log on the fire. Thanks!!

Can a Scout use the hours accumulated from a Scout Service project for both rank advancement requirements and school requirements? Scouts in our Troop who attend both public and parochial schools are required to earn a significant # of hours -- 75 for the public and various amounts for the different parochial schools. Is it double dipping if they use the same hours for both?

momof2cubs -

I understand what you are saying, and it makes sense from an adult perspective. But my observations on well over 120 camping trips with lot's and lots of Scouts is this: for the boys it's like putting the cart before the horse.

These guys love to camp. To do so, they need to learn campcraft skills, outdoors skills and Scout skills. They learn these skills because they want to get a fire going, because they want to eat, because they need shelter, because they want to use an axe, and because they want to get to the top of the mountain. And the younger Scouts learn from the older Scouts.

Of course they advance, but they learn the skills and use them over and over first. We come back from a camping trip and there's always all kinds of things to sign off on, as they were focused on doing the activity - not doing something that some adult told them to do so they could advance. And then next month, they'll go out and do it again.

To me it makes a big difference, and I firmly believe it makes a difference to the Scouts as well. I've seen Troops that are so focused on advancement that they miss the forest for the trees. And that's what I don't like. We came across one Troop with a bunch of young Scouts, all of whom had fairly high ranks, but they could barely put up their tents, couldn't tie knots to save their lives, and were inept at fire building. It was clear that they did the rank advancement elements... once. And then rarely did it again, if ever.

And to be honest, there really is no hurry: Tenderfoot - age 11, 2nd Class - age 12, 1st Class - age 13, Star - age 14, Life - age 15, Eagle - age 16-17. The older Scouts are ready for Eagle and are able to do it on their own because they are mature enough to understand the process and goal. It works!

From what I've read so far, this seems like good guidance.

However, I just got to jump in here with the misguided 1st in the 1st year BS. My experience over the past 12 years as a Scoutmaster is that a rank a year works just fine. If a Scout make more progress that's just fine, but an obsessive focus on rank advancement cheapens the experience of Scouting IMHO. We have a very active Troop, 30 Scouts now who go camping almost every month of the year. The vast majority of them make it to Eagle. And if they make Tenderfoot during their first year, all is good. Some make it to Second Class, but 1st Class? No, it really take a few years of experience and maturation to make a good 1st Class Scout. What's the hurry anyway?

Drone Operations - while this mb will focus primarily in the virtual world utilizing existing X-Box 360 and PS3 games, high achievers may unknowingly be allowed real life experience.

Cryptography - this mb does not now exist, nor has it existed in the past, nor will it ever exist.

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raisinemright - there is nothing better than a well aged and crunchy peep... but roasted? Never done it! I can't wait! Thanks!

Scoutfish - Had a Scout once who figured he'd be real smart and sharpened his stick at both ends so he could be roasting a marshmallow whilst eating the cooked one at the same time. Well, he set the first one on fire, flipped the stick around, and the flaming goo plopped right down on his forearm. What a yell! And it kept on burning! We had a nice little fireside first-aid lesson!

BEGIN RANT

When the popular press or the advertising industry wants to show "camping", the inevitable graphic or photo is of a happy family or group of smiling kids sitting around a fire holding marshmallow sticks over a fire. Over a fire. Always over flames.

I'm sorry folks, but this is just plain wrong.

The only thing that will come from putting a marshmallow over flames is a carbonized lump. Now I know that some kids get a kick out of a flaming marshmallow, and allegedly "like it that way", but all they are doing is eating carbon and melted marshmallow, not a real roasted marshmallow.

So what is a real roasted marshmallow?

I content, here and now, before this gathering of my peers, that the only way to really roast a marshmallow is over embers -- not ever flames. Furthermore, a real roasted marshmallow is one that has been caramelized by the heat of the embers. Caramelized, not burnt. Big difference.

Properly done, the once white and creamy marshmallow has a light brown caramelized outer skin with a liquid, molten layer inside. A real roasted marshmallow can either be eaten whole or the outer layer slid off and consumed while the rest of the marshmallow is roasted again.

The key thing is caramelization, whish is the browning of sugar, a process that results is a nutty flavor and brown color. As the process occurs, according to wikipedia, volatile chemicals are released, producing the characteristic caramel flavor.

Not too hard to do gently rotate the impaled marshmallow over glowing embers, raising or lowering depending on heat and the caramelizing process. The result, a delicious morsel to savor as the night grows long.

And yet, on countless Scout camping trips I have been on - Cubs, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts kids, and sadly many adults, truly believe that the proper way to roast a marshmallow is to stick it in the flames. And why not? The media portrays it thusly in every TV show, every movie, every ad, and every print portrayal of happy campers!

So you better believe I do my best to set em straight! Some listen, find a nice patch of glowing embers at the side of the fire and soon discover how wonderful a properly roasted marshmallow can be. They are hooked for life.

Others resist my heartfelt suggestion, plunge the virginal marshmallow deep into the flames, where upon it almost instantly bursts into flames, never to be the same again. And then they tell me that "it's better this way", or "I don't want to wait for embers, I want it now." Both rationales should be cause for grave concern.

Those who insist that burnt is better likely have never tasted a marshmallow that has been caramelized to its full potential. A sad commentary on their pitiful lives where burnt is considered to be better than good. How can any rational mind accept this?

And as to those who are too impatient to wait a few moments for embers or even to shift a log a bit to uncover a nice patch of embers, well, all I can say is that good things come to those who wait and those who seek. Doth this not mirror our society in general? Where we must have everything instantly and cannot wait less we miss something. But if youre sitting around a campfire at night, where else are you are you going? Whats the hurry? Has impatience become a habit?

Therefore and accordingly, I call upon this, the world Scouting community, to step forward and stand up for the true roasted marshmallow. Banish the burnt! Let your knowledge of heats effect on disaccharide sucrose, where it is broken down into the monosaccharides of fructose and glucose (as well as such reactions as the equilibration of anomeric and ring forms, condensation, intramolecular bonding, isomerization of aldoses to ketoses, dehydration, fragmentation, and of course, unsaturated polymer formation), guide you as you join with me to impart the joy of a truly delicious delectable.

Why you might ask, doth not the marshmallow industry take up the cry for the real roasted marshmallow rather than allow the burnt cinder that the flame creates? But then again, the more that are burnt, the more that are bought. Could a conspiracy be afoot? Could the very industry that, day after day, constructs these little white morsels be behind the media bias of flame over embers?

END RANT

We will be on a Troop backpacking trip on the mighty AT. Will honor the fallen in a circle of silent remembrance before we hit the trail to head home early on Sunday morning.

In the last few days there have been several news articles & opinion pieces discussing Perry and Scouting, most touching on his "On My Honor" book...

http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/rick-perry-is-no-libertarian/2011/08/30/gIQA6IsbqJ_story.html

http://opinion.latimes.com/opinionla/2011/08/2012-campaign-a-uniquely-anti-gay-gop-field.html

And an alleged feud between Perry & Romney regarding Boy Scouts...

http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2011/08/30/romney_perry_feud_dates_back_to_2002_olympic_games/

Our Troop just returned from a six-day camping / backpacking trip to Seneca Rocks and deep into the wilds of Dolly Sods. I highly recommend both.

Seneca Rocks is a great hike/climb, and easily accessible from the beautiful group camping sites at Seneca Shadows (Forest Service campground). The rocks are spectacular and offer excellent views from the top.

This was our second foray into Dolly Sods. Last year we explored and traversed the great plains, rocks, and forests of the northern areas. This year we descended into the deep canyons and rock outcrops of the central wilderness, crossing forests and streams as we hiked amazing trails.

Both Seneca Rocks and the Dolly Sods wilderness will reward you and your Troop with beauty that will surprise and amaze you. Dolly Sods takes a bit to get to and hike into, but is well worth it. Seneca Rocks is much more accessible, and the group campsites are very nice, offer great view of the rocks, and have good facilities -- flush toilets & hot showers! Note that there is absolutely no cell service anywhere in the area -- something none of us missed!!

We have two gravity water filters that we use on a regular basis on Troop backpacking and day hikes: the Katadyn Base Camp Water Filter, and the Sawyer Water Filter System. Each consists of a bag you fill up in a stream with a filter and a tube that goes into a water bottle or pot. We've had the Sawyer system for about a year and like it. The Katadyn is new this year, and works fine but is slower than the Sawyer. Both take time to fill a water bottle and really cannot be hurried. When ever we stop by a stream or set up camp we get both going and just run everyone's water bottles through as they slow fill up. We like it because no one need to be pumping or doing anything except checking every once in a while to see if the bottle is filled, then moving the tube to the next empty bottle. I could see getting a pump type in the future just for those times when you need water quickly. No one has gotten sick, so I guess they work! ;-)

This is a hard issue. What would I do if a woman and her son joined the Troop and she told me she was an active homosexual and would like to be a leader in the troop? Or if a man and his son joined and he told me he was an active homosexual and would like to be a leader in the troop? As much as I may or may not like a particular person, or how valuable they may be as a leader, would I have any choice but to let them know what BSA rules are?

As others have said, a parent can still provide significant assistance to a Troop. This to me would be a "work around" that would still allow such a parent to participate and yet not be an official "Adult Leader".

My personal feeling is that it's none of my business what kind of sex anyone has in the privacy of their own bedroom -- not the two women described in the OP article -- and certainly not the old guys on our Troop Committee!!! I just don't want to know! Please don't shove it in my face, and I really don't see how it affects the ability to teach knots, fire building, or other Scoutcraft or Campcraft skills.

But, a rule is a rule, just as my daughter couldn't join the Troop even though at 12 she really wanted to do the things Boy Scouts do. My work around to this was to become a Girl Scout Leader and do "Boy Scout" camping thing with her Girl Scout Troop.

Quite frankly I think old "Skip" should have kept his nose out of other peoples business. It could have been her sister picking her up for all he and the rest of the Troop knew. If a male leader gets picked up by his brother, or cousin, or uncle, does he assume the guy is gay and his personal history be investigated? Seriously, the witch-hunt charge is that the guy decided to pursue the issue in the first place. Unless the two were making out in the car after the pick up, I fail to see how it was his business to pursue.

If you want a real strategy game for a mb, then it would have to be GO. Nothing beats the thinking involved or the sheer excitement than a good game of GO.

At summer camp or any week-end camping trip, our Scouts play GO and various Fluxx games (Martian, Monty Python, Eco, Zombie) any chance they get.

Great quote! Thanks!!

I'll use at this week's Troop meeting.

My experience over and over at summer camp is that any communication with mom exacerbates and prolongs homesickness. Cell phone communications -- either voice or text will keep the first year and sometimes the second year Scout in a state of missing home and mom for the entire week. The communication does not help him get over the hump and stand on his own.

Over and over I've watched new Scouts go through the pain of "Moody Monday" & "Terrible Tuesday" only to get over the hump and through enjoy the rest of summer camp on "Wonderful Wednesday", "Terrific Thursday" and "Fantastic Friday". He leaves camp with a new sense of personal power -- he is proud that he did it and now knows he can be just fine without mom. This is something that will serve him well for the rest of his life.

But not those new Scouts who have a cell phone and spend their nights talking to or texting mom. Again, over and over, I have watched those with the means to instantly communicate with home spend the entire week in a miserable funk.

We had one new Scout who was miserable and tired the whole week. I later learned his parents (on the advise of his therapist) had given him a cell phone, "just in case". But he spent every night until 2- 3 in the morning texting with mom! No wonder he was miserable! No wonder he never got over his homesickness! Not surprisingly he quite Scouts right after summer camp, and has now become a viscous critic of the Troop. It seems like his desperate need to get home turned into a pathological anger he may never be able to face.

Cell phones? Leave 'em home!! If you're lucky you'll have no signal or the batteries will go dead. Scouts don't need 'em.

While this may not completely apply to older Scouts who have the discipline to keep it tucked away, and use only for an emergency (as others have pointed out) they can also be pulled away from camp via intense and almost constant communications with a girl friend... something no one needs!

There's gotta be more to this story...

You say these were the wives of the adult leaders at camp? Did they perchance spend the night after that long drive? Maybe it wasn't their sons they were lonely for...

As to the Scouts who thought it was a parental visit... well, a wink is as good as a nod to a blind horse.

The summer camp we attend requires the whole enchilada, so after several years of partials, we finally got smart and have the Scouts do as many prerequisites as they can before camp (including the First Aid merit badge the year before). This includes a list of emergency government agencies, a well documented mobilization plan, family plan of escape, photos of their family emergency kit and a signed statement from mom & dad that they had a family meeting to discuss, as well as anything else they can do before camp.

Witnessed a situation at summer camp several years ago -- very hot day, Scout was active and not drinking enough water. He collapsed by the water front, sweating and weak. The medic was summoned, and after a few moments called 911. He and other camp staff worked to cool the kid off and get some water in him. When the ambulance arrived, the EMTs took one look at the kid, then at the lake, picked him up and sat him in the cool lake up to his neck. Once they were satisfied his body temp had lowered to a reasonable level, they transported him to the local hospital where he was re-hydrated via IV for the rest of the day. The next day he stood before the camp at flag raising and talked about the lesson he learned -- stay hydrated and seek a cool place when you feel hot. Turns out he was wearing ankle weights and was working on loosing pounds for wrestling! He let the camp know the IV was no fun and no one should follow in his foot steps.

What impressed me was the fact the medic and camp staff were fanning him and giving him water when the cool lake water was just a few feet away -- until the EMTs arrived, no one even thought to put him in it! They didn't hesitate -- he went in clothes, shoes and all! It was clear to them that the number one thing to do was to cool his body off as quickly as possible. Liquids and electrolytes were all secondary to cooling the body.

Thanks for the info!!

Good idea on the Pack meeting honor as well as Troop COH. Yes, we'd be happy to have him stay as DC for as long as possible!

We will soon be awarding the "Den Chief Service Award" to a very deserving Scout in our Troop. I understand that once awarded, he will wear both his Webelos Den Chief braid and the service award braid at the same time. However, assuming that at some point he will likely move to different POR, I understand the Den Chief braid comes off, but does the service award braid stay on his uniform for the rest of his time as a Boy Scout?

Thanks!

Great discussion!! I concur with most of the lists -- we will definitely be bringing that big bottle of Gold Bond next year!! The Tiki torches are a fund idea as well.

But what is really on my list for next year is to get payments and medicals in earlier. This year, we started talking about summer camp in January (including the need for medicals to be turned in no later than late May), requested deposits in February, set a deadline for deposits in March, requested full early-bird payments in April, had a deadline for payments in May, again emphasized the need for medicals asap, and worked with the Scouts to define Merit Badge selection in May.

Despite lots of emails, discussions at Troop meetings, hand outs provided to Scouts, this was the worst year I've ever seen on getting payments and medicals in on a timely basis. We had several parents turning in medical forms on the day we were leaving! They seemed clueless and stunned when we called them the week before camp and told them without a properly filled out and signed medical their son could not go to summer camp.

So now I'm thinking carefully about the messaging campaign we will use next year to reach parents on the importance of getting the payment and medical in on time. I'd hate to set a hard deadline and then have to tell a Scout he cannot go to camp because his parent was late on getting things in on time. But that may be the only way to reach some folks...