SSScout

3 hours ago, mrjohns2 said:

Her argument is that is 3x the work. An ASM tried to explain to her that this is the process. This is how things get done. Cooking for 11 isn’t easy,  or how it should be done. 

Work for who?   Is the SM (she?) doing ALL the work?  Is she teaching COOKING MB?   Is she doing the KP?  Is the CChr doing all they can to keep the SM occupied and busy elsewhere?  

 The SM's job is to sit back by the campfire and say "go ask your Patrol Leader" with appropriate aplomb and important harumf  sounds....   

No Scout is going to starve in one weekend campout. Maybe three days, but not two....

And learning to cook is a  three step process:  1) watch others cook (mom, dad, the Patrol Leader...) 2) trying it out yourself (when was the FIRST time you flipped a pancake successfully ?) 3) Finding out the cellophane and cardboard  on the frozen pizza is NOT part of the ingredients,,,,  .discovering that yes, you can cook Dinty Moore Stew in it's can, but you must OPEN IT first..... ... 

We will discuss hygiene and clean up next time....

Yep. How many Scouts, how many Patrols actually?   

Patrol cooking and activities are important.   Adult "Patrol"....   Two Scouts make a Patrol.  Patrols can be, ARE a measure of the TROOP'S success.  

Perhaps the SM sees the few Scouts (how many "few"?) just need to be economically, efficiently co-agulated into one "PATROL" of the whole. SM then misses the point.  The gang is the Patrol.  Kids want, will gravitate into a gang, if there is nothing else. Look at Haiti. as an extreme example.  Patrols are a learning time, a chance to do "gang" stuff  in a GOOD way.   

Where did SM do their training?  What did they learn about Scouting?   Are they a Scientist type?  a Farmer type?  A  Teacher type?  Everyone "all in their places with bright shining faces" type?   What, after all, is Scouting's purpose?  Self assurance?   Skill and pride of accomplishment, perhaps?  how is that accomplished if the Scouts aren't "turned loose" ?   

In a CSDC some years back, on the last day....  thru the past week we had daily sessions, rotated thru the day. Fairly organized....  On the last day, a "WATER FEST">  games, tug a war thru a mud pit, lots of just fun stuff.  One lady came up to me and said she didn't understand how this could be a good thing, she didn't know  what her Cub might be "LEARNING"... I asked her where her Cub was, where the Den was, she pointed "over there"...  the Cub Wash area, the Sponge throw battle area... I asked was he smiling, was he enjoying himself. She nodded "I guess so."  I said then we had been successful. Ask him about his knots and Poison Ivy later..Siren sounded and the Dens took off for the next wet thing......

I am trying hard to adapt this title to the song "When a man loves a woman.... " for parodic purposes...

Wow. Nice compilation. My mother was a Campfire Girl. She was from Boston, and we have some old photos of her camping , somewhere in Massachusetts. 

I was always taught the 13th Law wa "A Scout is Hungry"....

Maybe not a "patch", 

Way back in 2005 (not quite ancient history, but still....)  I served as a Chaplain (Religious Society of Friends) at the National Jamboree at what was then titled Fort A. P. Hill.  Even then, when I found out who Hill was, I wondered, "they named a US Army Base after a Confederate General ???"  . I am glad we settled that mistake.  

Anyhow, I was issued a real live  gen-you-wine  Jamboree BICYCLE !  Helped me get around on my Chaplain duties. Even gave me a bike lock with it.  Yes, I have some stories, another time....   

At the end of the Jamboree, I was told I could BUY IT and take it home, so I did  ( a bargain for a "used" bike !)  Scout son rode it for a while at home, then out grew it. He later became a bike trip leader for Baltimore  Yearly Meeting summer camp (up and down the Shenandoah Valley).  For that, we  got him  a larger, more able bike .   He took that with him when he "grew up" , The Jambo bike went into the storge shed.  

Now,  Here it is, time to find it a new home.   Any ideas?  FB Market place?   Scout Memorabilia site?   Make me an offer?  

Tires hold air, sealed bearings, 15 speed Suntour deraileurs, it's a SCHWINN "RANGER" (!) made in china....

Frugal folks might consider  AMAZON ?    A search for "Scout Uniform"  yields:   https://www.amazon.com/s?k=boy+scout+uniform

Wunderbar... erste Klasse. 

Luftschiff hoch ! 

Stimmt das....  and since it has three corners....

"MYYYY   HAT, it has three corners...."

*sigh*..   It depends...

I taught Sharp Tools at IOLS for many years.  My dad had been a Timber Cruiser in his younger years and we lived up the road from an old time saw mill, run off the PTO of a Cat dozer. 

I taught and showed wannabe SMs knives, axes (single, double bit), hatchets (several patterns) and saws (folding camp, two man crosscut).  How to handle, how to sharpen, how to care for and use safely.  We went over ALL the Totin' Chip safety guidelines and use. 

Comes CSDC, and I did Scout Skills.  In standing up the flag poles (3 !) I had the service of several Scouts.  ALL of them said they had Totin' Chip.  NOT ONE showed any sign of safe use, so I had a Totin' Chip class on the spot.   It took more time than I expected, but all of them were hatcheting pegs to support the flag poles and using them with a new skill .  No injuries, pride of use going home that night. Peace of mind on my part.....  

The extra patch fabric is extra insulation.  Cover and sew'em tight....

Position patches, maybe,. Places gone to, events visited,  honorary stuff, sure.  This is the adult version of the "Brag Vest".  

Be aware, there are SERIOUS patch collectors out there.  When you sew on, sew on TIGHT, and  keep track of the coat. PUT YOUR NAME IN IT IN PERMANENT INK.  Maybe a phone number , too.   I have heard stories of Scouters sitting at a big campfire event and realized SOMEONE was attempting to razor blade a patch off their back !  A Scout is ... but some may not be...

Treat your jacket as a "work in progress".  Mine has enough space for a few more, as the mood and event strike me. 

See you on the trail.... 

Neat story. This is why local Newspapers are so important.  

well, let's see.... Your mom attends free.  Scouts do the cooking, or is this "catered"?   (that's not very Scouty like, IMO).

*  You will attend, that's one ticket...

*Dad should attend, that's #2.

* Any uncles?  They should attend (and be hungry).  3, 4 ?? 

*  Aunts?   If they are MOMS, they should attend free too.  Or....

*  Grand dads?   Grand MOMS (see above)....  

 Neighbors can be asked. They might be hungry.   Any "reputation" for the cuisine?   Posters in places?   Is the PUBLIC invited to attend and HONOR their mom(s) ?  Perhaps an "Honor Roll"  of moms gone by.... ?   

Don't forget the flowers......   Each MOM gets a boutonnierre (spelling?) 

7 hours ago, InquisitiveScouter said:

 

You willing??

Not my call....    Dad tried,  kid not interested. I think there were other dynamics at work, too.  

As a retired county employee, union rep, home owner who needs a new roof and present Scout Leader,  I recognize and share your pain.  A Scout is trustworthy. But to mis-quote a past president, A Scout should verify and remind.... alot.  

ALWAYS make copies of reports.  Include many folks in the negotiations.  Make three contacts, then move on to the COMPLAINT stage.  

Cultivate the good contractors. Pass on recommendations. Remember that everyone needs to "make a living", that many workers get the job done quicker (usually) rather than one person doing everything.  That said, yeah, if the fellow shows up in a beat up panel truck or a new Escalade,  which one appeals to you?  

Eagle work books and proposals...   Phone calls, emails, FBmessage,  knock on door,  one does what one must, but ALWAYS encourage and allow that person to "do the right thing". 

Some years ago, the Scoutson of a friend (really nice kid, our Scout was two years behind him)  completed everything,  application filled out, project approved,  handed everything in, time before 18th birthday not a problem.  District Advancement Chair, admittedly a stickler for detail, tells Scout he filled out an obsolete application, he needs to redo the application on the NEW up-to-date application. Scout parenthetically throws up his hands, says in essence  "to hell with this all", and goes off to join the Air Force.  No one can convince him otherwise.  Last report, he is a Master Sargent in Australia.... 

Good luck, we hope and pray your son gets thru his Eagle and your roof gets replaced.  

Hatchet by Gary Paulsen,    A Cry In The Wild ,  the movie.  

I look forward to seeing  "Lost on a Mountain"  

Passing the test....

In Cub Scouts, it is sufficient that the adult see that the Cub "did their best"... Encouragement to try again, to make a greater effort is fine, ought to be part of the process, but the Cub needs to ONLY be seen as "doing your best..."

In Scouts BSA,   the test MUST be met, the skill MUST be mastered.   This is perhaps one of the reasons Morse Code, Wig Wag, Semiphore is no longer required. (another discussion).

Once upon a time, I worked with a Scout for his Totin Chip.  His mom (a single parent) was an anxious  parent.  "Johnny" was an eager to try anything Scout.  Our Troop requirement included making a "GOOD" tent peg to demonstrate the mastering of the use of the hatchet.  Most Scouts in my experience needed a couple or three tries. Johnny took a 36"  stick, and eventually made a really nice, near perfect tent peg that was about 8" long.  I can't remember a more proud boy.  His mom came to me several days later and asked me what I had done to her son?  He had this stick and wouldn't let it go ! And he made his bed ! 

Scoutmaster Minutes....   Are they still a "thing" ?  Are pithy bon mots  worthy of a Scoutmaster's possible embarrassment?  Does one deal with actualities or what ifs or ideals ? 

Case in point:::   Some years ago,  our camporee was  interrupted by police being called because some unfortunate vandalism occurred to our host's  headquarter's building. This occurred during the Saturday night.  Since Scouts were "officially" the only folks on the property, it was strongly implied that a Scout person(s) had done it.  No one ever came forward and admitted, no one was ever accused, but....

Our Camporee SM, a very long term,  Scouter's Scouter,  took the assembly the next Sunday morning  for lowering the flag to close the camporee to give a talk.  Everyone there knew what had happened, the rumor mill being alive and well.   He mainly spoke in general terms,  never mentioned the actual event . I remember the period was very somber, serious, instead of being happy and glad to have had the challenge and games of the previous days.  I wish I could remember the definite things he said, but even in my adult hood, I was impressed with the way he said it.  Scout ideals, Scout behavior, Scout responsibility for decisions and actions and their results...

Do you, does your SM take that time at the end of the Meeting to send the Scouts back to "the Real World"  with something to consider?  

11 hours ago, InquisitiveScouter said:

Fun with a purpose.

Watch that .  BSA has gotten into trouble using that motto/slogan. It is copyrighted by  High Lights magazine.   

BSA wants us to use "GAME WITH A PURPOSE" 

See? This is what happens when the adults take over. It becomes award oriented rather than fun oriented.  

Take the high road here.  

Does he have a youth in the Troop?  What is his "connection"?   Did he become ASM in your Troop, or another ("transferred to us" ?) ?  A definite sit down and adult  talk to is in order.  Say , two or three other adult Scouters  corral him and tell him what you have seen, what has happened and what MIGHT happen if he doesn't  change his ways.  DO this with FRIENDLY witnesses.   

Scouting is not Marine Boot Camp, it ain't Heartbreak Ridge.  Remind him of OUR ideals,  Kind,  Obedient, Friendly, etc....

Yes,  Baden-Powell was a soldier, yes, he did seek to improve the male youth he saw coming into his army units, but he recognized the need for Scouting to be FUN WITH A PURPOSE>  If it ain't fun, no boy is going to stick around to absorb the purpose. 

As a last resort,  see above for choice "B", COR removes him.  Sorry for the lose of his son/daughter Scout, but eventually that youth will figure things out, rest assured, and the dad will lose that battle,  believe me... 

See you on the trail.

Very active for many years, but folded about 2000.