SSScout

It is always a matter of promotion. If the folks at Council don't make the effort to get better use out of the property, then the fault is not that Scouts aren't using it, it is that it isn't being used by .... anyone... So you market it to historians (any archeological history there?), to schools (university "Outdoor Clubs"), private outfitters, public schools for their "Outdoor Ed" classes, Merit Badge classes, receptions & meetings (is the dining hall catering capable?), TV and movie producers for background, environmental study people, get publicity, get District Camporees, get Woodbadge courses, church retreats, First Aid classes. Federal and State emergency practices, ROTC and Civil Air Patrol are always looking for places to practice their outdoorsy stuff. And pay for the privilege. Re-think the summer camp program: is there room for a mini High Adventure program? Up in WI, Canadien Voyageur or some such. Mountain Man theme? Even selective logging can be remunerative . I know a Girl Scout camp in Indiana that does just that. Uses the logging to clear areas for new cabins and activity fields, then let the other areas lay "fallow" for 20 or 30 years. It is in their plans. All this needs promotion, PR, oversight and direction. Or is the SE only concerned with the here and now, rather than the there and later?

Talk to your Cub Scout Day Camp folks about their games and equipment. The Rescue Rope thing is pretty standard at our camp: One rope for each den, go to local HD and buy 100' 1/2" poly rope (cheap). cut into 20' lengths, melt/fuse ends. Tie FIGURE EIGHT knot in each end. Learn to coil the rope so it does not tangle when thrown (ask a Scout! or go on line ):: Hold rope end in RIGHT hand, end pointing away from you, back of hand on right knee, the thumb should be pointing away. Right hand doesn't move! LEFT hand grasps rope next to right hand, palm down, thumb pointing in same direction as right hand. Pull left hand toward left, let rope pay out thru hand until it is about as far away as is comfortable, maybe 4 feet? Left hand grasps rope and returns to right hand, palms facing each other, put the thumbs together. Drop left hand rope into right hand, which grasps new coil in on top of coil already there. Right hand doesn't move!. Move left hand again toward left, letting rope pay out thru hand. Left hand grasp rope, bring it back to right hand (right hand doesn't move!) , thumbs together, drop coil into right hand. Repeat. Coil held in right hand will be laid evenly and if thrown , will pay out without tangling. Hold END of rope in left hand, throw coil with right, it should not tangle but will pay out evenly. Practice throwing for accuracy. Length of about 20' is about right for Cubs. Older Scouts can fling a longer coil. KiSMiF !!

Well, no, no uniform. Election Board has said they don't care one way or the other, but Council has said they'd prefer that Scouts not serve in uniform, since it is not a Scout service project, per se. But they can still volunteer (in mufti) as Poll Volunteers here in MD. SSL hours (Student Service Learning), but no pay. SSL has to be volunteer, not paid. Now, once they turn 18, they are eligible to serve as Election Judge (several different duties), and get a reasonable stipend, minimum wage. The PVs direct traffic, help disabled folk, and give out literature about voting and pass out "I Voted" stickers at the exit. They do not do the registering or voting machine care. I did get the Election Board to come to Round Table and talk about the voting process and the duties of an Election Judge. Citizenship Merit Badge and all that.. Even got a few new recruits for the service.

Opening: Dens line up/sit together. Parents in the back. CM:: "Scout Sign!" (everyone should know what the Scout Sign means!) Everyone stands as the flags are brought in. Say the pledge, or the Scout Promise. . Post the flags. CM intro guests (see below) , quick review of agenda. NO ANNOUNCEMENTS (that's an adult thing), but you can speak about UP COMING EVENTS. Den Proclamations: Each DL tells what they have done over the past month(?) and the boys applaud and cheer as appropriate. Pack awards? Pick one Cub deserving to tie the ribbon on the flag. Cub Awards? Say the name LOUDLY! Line'm up and pass'em out. with applause and cheers (silly, fun cheers!). Does your Pack have a ACM Cheerleader? Anyone have a good skit? Do it! Guest is an EMT from the VFD down the road. He comes up and shows his turn-out gear, talks about fire safety, calling 911. Game time? Do "Rescue" with throw ropes and sliding on the floor....each boy throws a rope to his buddy and pulls him to safety. Next Rescued becomes the Rescuer., take turns down the ranks.... Closing: Lead the boys in Scout Promise, Law. Clean up area, put chairs away, gather in a circle and have Pack and DLs and Cubs join hands , Left over right. CM speaks of brotherhood of Scouting, but this is not all. Invite any other Scout folks to join in circle. Not done yet, ask family and friends to join in. Should be everyone! Give SHORT CMminute about being safe, thank Mr. EMT (in circle?) for coming tonite. Wish everyone a safe trip home , Squeeze hands goodbye, let go. Traditions are formed early. Make them worthy of remembering.

Stosh: You did your dooty. There is the apocryphal story of VA senator Randolph and House Speaker Henry Clay meeting on a narrow Washington sidewalk. One would have to step off into the mud to let the other pass. Randolph reportedly said "I never step aside for scoundrels!" To which Clay responded, "I always do", and stepped off the sidewalk. From The Paradoxical Commandments by Dr. Kent M. Keith: "If you do good, people will accuse you of selfish ulterior motives. Do good anyway. " see http://www.paradoxicalcommandments.com/

Sounds like you are not on this side of "the pond". For the benefit of those of us untutored in such things (me!), could you go over your Scout hierarchy/organization? And welcome back to our debate society!

Who is the DL? You? or... ? The DCh is not going to have any effect if he doesn't have the back up from the DL. Someone needs to ASK the boys what is going on.... Possible conversation: "Hey, boys, tell me why you are in Cubs? " "Do you think Boy Scouts is what you want to be? " "You boys are almost ready for Boy Scouts. My Troop does (camp, hike, rock climb, swim, air museum visit, whatever...). Does any of that interest you? Yeah, it ain't Cub Scouts, but Cubs is your practice for Boy Scouts. " "What is it about this 'monkey suit' that turns you off? Scouts wear a uniform, it's part of who they are, it indicates they kind of kid they are. Everybody wears some kind of uniform, especially at work. . Even YOU are wearing a uniform, right now..... It sort of indicates what kind of a person you are. Let's look at the Scout Law. " And go on from there. What do you think? This needs more listening than telling. The dynamics of their family/peer/social life are impinging here and if you want to convince them of the advantages of BEING a Scout and wearing the uniform, you need to address those dynamics.

The average teen at the burger joint probably doesn't know that 14 cents plus 86 cents equals one dollar, let alone how to count BACKWARDS to make change. The "change back" nudge is for the accuracy of the bookkeeper in the back. I have a dictionary on a library stand, it was my grandfathers. Much to my family's embarrassment, I will use it on occasion when my twenty year old Scoutson asks "what does this mean, dad?" as he reads (rarely) thru his philosophy text . from ComCollege and say "let's find out..." I was on the Library Committee for Meeting. I rose at end of meeting once on behalf of the Library Committee and announced the committee had approved the use of a newly announced invention of a way to transmit information among disparate people, over great distances, and time. It needed very little power, was compact, portable by hand, and able to be accessed in the dark with a small appliance. It was durable, comprehendable by anyone with no special training at all. I had the crowd on tenterhooks up to when I held up a book.

Thoughts: *1) Award the award at the next available Pack meeting, whatever it is. AoL, Bear , Arrow point, give it to the Cub with due pomp. *2) If the Cub wants to join Boy Scouts, grease the skids for him, but ENCOURAGE him to stick around for the B&G at least to get the Cross Over ceremony and "Attaboys" from the Pack and family and Troop. *3) If the Cub's parents want him to stick around (or the Pack somehow requires him to. Why?) then , as a Senior Cub (!!), give him/them some responsibility to the other , younger Cubs. Flag ceremony, PWD work, teach and mentor (like a Den Chief?) the Tigers or Wolfs (wolves?) in their requirements. GIve the boy something to LIVE UP TO, rather than something to GET OUT OF. This will serve the boy well in Boy Scouts. *4) Make sure the Cub realizes your pride in his accomplishments, and make sure he has some accomplishments (not just "rubber stamps") for you to have pride in. They WILL know the difference.

202: (virtual handshake) welcome to the Forums. Don't forget two things: KiSMiF, and Tigers need an adult partner, don't do it alone....

A lot of this is "knowledge" rather than "doing". "A Scout is Reverent" requires knowledge about the "other". As a Quaker, I will not "do" the Pledge of Allegiance. But my Scout son (also avowed Quaker) did well in explaining it to his Scout leaders when it was required that he "know" it. It is much the same here, so far.... The Cub Scout needs to "know" about religion. The BSA has done a terrible job writing this requirement. "Religious Organization"? Read "family". "Religious Leader"? Read mom and dad...... If you read thru the requirements, the biggest stumble for an atheist I feel (please correct me if I'm wrong here) would be: ""~~â—¾With your religious leader, discuss and make a plan to do two things you think will help you draw nearer to God. Do these things for a month. â—¾For at least a month, pray or meditate reverently each day as taught by your family, and by your church, temple, mosque, synagogue, or religious group." Since the atheist's "duty to God" is to NOT believe, the family (and the local Ethical Society?) can "work around " these by still planning two things to help show their loyalty to the humanity in all of us. Prayer and/or meditation? It has been proven that the skills inherent in meditation are very beneficial to the human being, even without the direction of attention toward a deity. In traditional Quaker worship ("after the manner of Friends") , we sit silently, waiting for the Holy Spirit (called by other names in the range of Quaker belief) to inspire us to minister to each other. Someone may be moved to stand and speak a message, or we may sit silent for an hour. New comers often call this "meditation", but it becomes more than that. I can accept meditation as performed by an atheist (and we have some in my home meeting. Another story, another time) as a form of "worship" for their Humanistic purposes. One basis for my Quaker faith is the belief (!) that "there is that of God in all men ". Your atheist faith in the LACK of a god is good enough for me. " By their fruits shall you know them."

Thomas Jefferson: ~~ Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom , enacted 1789. ~~ I. Whereas Almighty God hath created the mind free; that all attempts to influence it by temporal punishment or burthens, or by civil incapacitations, tend only to beget habits of hypocrisy and meanness, and are a departure from the plan of the Holy author of our religion, who being Lord both of body and mind, yet chose not to propagate it by coercions on either, as was his Almighty power to do . . . II. Be it enacted by the General Assembly, that no man shall be compelled to frequent or support any religious worship, place, or ministry whatsoever, nor shall be enforced, restrained, molested, or burthened in his body or goods, nor shall otherwise suffer on account of his religious opinions or belief; but that all men shall be free to profess, and by argument to maintain, their opinion in matters of religion, and that the same shall in no wise diminish, enlarge, or affect their civil capacities. III. And though we well know that this assembly elected by the people for the ordinary purposes of legislation only, have no power to restrain the act of succeeding assemblies, constituted with powers equal to our own, and that therefore to declare this act to be irrevocable would be of no effect in law; yet we are free to declare, and do declare, that the rights hereby asserted are of the natural rights of mankind, and that if any act shall be hereafter passed to repeal the present, or to narrow its operation, such as would be an infringement of natural right. This was Jefferson's "practice" for the First Amendment to the US Constitution. Has anything changed?

Really good to see the "Faith and Chaplaincy " forum being used so effectively. Oh, wait.... PBW: ""~~ given zero natural evidence for god"" I think there is room for debate there. Evolution is a wonderful construct, it makes sense to me. But the SOURCE of the evolution is what we are talking about here. There are very few BIG miracles anymore. You have to look for the SMALL ones as evidence for God operating in your life. Something happening at JUST THE RIGHT TIME (and no other) that affects you.... The BIG coincidences, which some might call miracles, also must give one pause. A moon that is just the right distance from it's planet to affect our tides and stir the oceans. A solar orbit that is just the right distance from it's sun. Oceans that absorb just enough energy and disperse it back just evenly enough. A magneto-electric field created by a rotating semi-liquid nickel-iron core to produce a magnetic field that protects the earth's surface from life frying microwave and cosmic radiation. A thin, thin layer of air that insulates us from the coldness of the vacuum of space. The need for some to debate philosophy is just as good to me as the acceptance of a "supernatural supreme being " . It is an admission that there is SOMETHING more than merely "being". The subject of Philosophy deals with those sort of things, the results of actions and existence in general.

Some topics will draw a large class, some a smaller one. If I had committed to teaching a class, I would be there. Sea Scouting is a wonderful activity, very traditional in Scouting, but it will not be the draw of, oh, say, BALOO training. Three folks can make a wonderful class. As for the Camporee, the District leadership needs a better game plan. Here in my District, it is recognized that no District can supply the leadership and planning for a large, successful Camporee. Or Webelos Weekend. Or Merit Badge Day. We recruit a Scout Troop to do the planning and organizing. Need more boy power? Add another Troop! The District per se does not "do" the Camporee. Notice, official stuff, collecting, paying money, that becomes the District and Council responsibility. Poor planning and poor advance notice are the bane of all Scout activities. We learn as we go. We are volunteers and we learn as we go. "The work is done by whoever shows up"

Amen to Calico. Make sure they understand to ground rules upfront. They may be thinking "oh, cool. No parents! We can do anything we want! Like ...." They may think it is a resort sort of thing, rather than a back to nature sort of thing. Even in cool temps.... I was leading a canoe trip once and one group was VERY disappointed when I insisted on inspecting their cooler and then telling them they could not bring the beer. Had to do it, we had a good time, despite the lack. Oh, and Troop 185: I trust that was not only you and the new Scouts? Sounds like a neat intro to Scouting , WITH appropriate YP stuff!

As a Scout Chaplain in one of my other lives (!), I have had similar conversations. I have had to disabuse folks of the opinion that BSA is a "Christian" organization. I have had to remind folks that , while a "religious" organization (read just about anything BSA publishes, esp. the Declaration of Relgious Principle on the back of the application), it is not of one, specific, faith. The various awards that a boy may earn are each and everyone designed by , awarded by and specific to that faith. They are NOT BSA awards, but the BSA says you may wear the award on your uniform. That said, I also remind folks that it is the duty (realized or not) of every parent to give the child a belief to either accept or reject and rebel against. This happens whether the parent is aware of it or not. A devoutly athiestic parent may end up with a cloistered nun for a daughter. Everyone before has given good counsel. A scout's Duty to God is his alone, no one else , ultimately, can say what that is. Everything else is "opinion". From "Fruits of Solitude" by William Penn: ""522. It is a sad Reflection, that many Men hardly have any Religion at all; and most Men have none of their own: For that which is the Religion of their Education, and not of their Judgment, is the Religion of Another, and not Theirs."" Your boys must, as you have intimated, find their own way to God, or not. It is certainly human to listen to those that have gone before in order to benefit from previous experience and thus not make the same mistakes (for the same reasons?). It is unfortunate that we humans have all too often INSISTED that our way be your way, "or else". We continue to make that same mistake in not allowing God to make the judgements in those things that are his to make. From the short information you have given us, I think you are well on your way to giving your kids something very worthy of their acceptance. Or rejection. " Faith shopping" might even be included in the Tiger "Go See" eventually, who knows? Good Scouting to you!

Announce that the Pack Committee includes ALL parents. Announce that "The Work is done and the Decisions are made by Whoever Shows Up". Charge a a reasonable dues for a year (?$100.?) and prorate that against whatever fundraising is done to offset the dues. More Fundraising, less dues. The Pack treasury is used to buy Pack Stuff (flag, activities reservations) and Scout Bling (patches, awards, books, neckers,, woggles) that the boys "earn" and receive by dint of their continuing in Scouts. If the boy works and earns the bling, he receives it. More work, more bling, but EVERYONE is expected to contribute to the Common Weal, either by dues and/or working the Popcorn/Carwash/Spaghetti supper. If you can't or won't, well, we are a charitable Pack and recognize that not all can do everything. We still want your boy to be a Cub Scout.....

"A Scout is Trustworthy". "A Scout is Thrifty". If it looks like a Treasurer, walks like a Treasurer, and signs checks that do not have his/her name on them like a Treasurer, it is a Treasurer. Whoever takes on the mantle of "Treasurer" , no matter what the organization, must needs be realize that he/she will be watched. He/she will have expectations put on them by the rest of the organization, and if the "rest of the organization" doesn't express those expectations vocally and often, then shame on the organization and they get what they deserve in the way of Treasurering. US Congress, wake up , please....

The Puritans came to North America to practice their religion in peace and avoid religious persecution. . That's why they hung Mary Dyer in Boston in 1660. If you are in the neighborhood, please join our Interfaith Thanksgiving Celebration , "Giving Thanks for Our Neighbors" https://www.dropbox.com/s/hyv6vcekk45ckt1/OlneyInterfaith.zip?dl=0 We have Methodists, Jews, Muslims, Catholics, Quakers, (even!) Baptists participating....

*sigh* It all seems so easy from down here in the ditches, looking over the ramparts.... Go by School Grade as registered in September . If the school district sez it is so, it is so. If the boy is Home Schooled, go by the School District equivalent. The boy works on that rank and elective arrow points. Pass to next rank when Summer comes..... As always, the earning of the rank really involves and depends on the Parents' involvement, with the Den Leaders encouragement. The rank need not be a concern at the end of the year, if the boy is having a good time. There are many considerations, yes? Move on to the next year, start again with a fresh slate. Boy can join in any grade, earn Bobcat first.... Kindergarten: Tiger Cub. First grade: Wolf Second: Bear rank Third grade: Lion Rank (resurrected and revamped) Fourth grade: Webelos, choice of Blue or Tan shirts. When all activity pins accomplished, AoL is an award worth awarding. It can be done, one pin a month, starting in July... pass on to (cross over) Boy Scouts after March. Time to meet Troop, time to get ready for Summer Camp. Fifth grade, start Boy Scouts. We're no longer Akela, are we?

"We have met the enemy and he is us" I had not seen this. Wish it had had wider distribooshun. Sic semper Walt Kelly

Show them the plans for the World Jamboree in Japan next summer, , or in Summit 2019 if they want a challenge.

1) The Charter Org (unless you are a self chartered "Friends of" Pack) should help with the initial stuff. It agreed to this when it signed the Charter document. Meeting place, first dues, buy a flag, etc. which the Pack will repay as it gets going. Fundraising (car washes, popcorn, bake sales, lawn raking, etc.) is an activity you plan into your year. 2) Parents are made to understand the Pack Cub Scout Program is for their boys, and if THEY (the parents ) do not see the benefit of the Cub Program for their boys, either by reputation or by actively reading about it, it (the Pack) ain't gonna happen. Get the Parents together over coffee/tea/BBQ/whatever and get the commitment from them. YOU as Cubmaster can not do this alone. THEY cannot expect YOU to do it all for them. The Pack Needs: A Cubmaster, some Den Leaders, a Committee Chair (if not a Committee, that is de facto all the parents) 3) Suggest a yearlong schedule. Someone in the District or Council should be able to give you a sample schedule to look at. Actively ask for particular parents to step up and take charge of a particular activity. Do not expect these new folks to volunteer. Make sure they understand this is not work, it is PLAYING with their children! It is TEACHING their children about the world and their community, how to live and play and BE with others. Is this important to them? 4) Get together with your DE. Sit down and GET IN WRITING what is lacking in the process. Figure out how you, the parents, the Charter Org and him/her can get it all done. He/she is paid to do this. Expect service for your dues, which brings up.... 5) Decide early who your Treasurer is. Keep a clear , honest accounting. Give receipts. Work with your Charter Org and it's Institution Head about this. If you are to be a Cub Pack, know what the yearly dues are. The idea of pro-rating them is a Council bookkeeping construction. In real life, the Cub Parent is expected to pay (thru the Pack) yearly dues to National to the Pack for it's expenses and to Council for insurance and "stuff".. The Council keeps a "slush fund" for each unit that allows some elasticity in their bookkeeping. Any extra "prorated" dues go in there, and gets parceled out later. 6) The Pack needs a treasury, to buy the patches, belt loops (for awhile), and such. Your parents will expect their Cubbies to get their awards when they are earned, yes? Many Packs award the Rank Books, Neckerchiefs (you can save by deciding NOT to buy a new necker and hat for each rank but keep ONE yellow necker and hat thru Cub Scouts) and such rather than ask the Parent to buy them themselves. Some hassle eliminated and monetary saving there. Hence the need for regular fundraising. 7) There is always complaint about the purchase of uniform and rank books (see above). Note the need for specialized uniforms for sports, which often turn out much more expensive. As has been noted, the activity is more important than the uniform. Get the boys DOING Scout stuff first, wear a Cub Tshirt and jeans. Cubbie pants CAN be worn to school, or the Pack can agree to wear BLUE jeans. The boy will outgrow them, no matter what is decided. The story is told about the boy who was told he was going to his cousin's wedding and needed to wear his best clothes. He naturally donned his Cub Scout uniform, much to his mom's surprise and pleasure. As Cubmaster, set the example, be uniformed, praise the boys that dress right, do not castigate the boy who is not yet uniformed, he will be soon. 8) Be assured, you are doing the right thing. You may not see it now, but the boy that stps you in the Safeway and says "hi" will make it worth while. Good Scouting to you!

Candles. And a dark room. Helps to solemnicize (?) the occasion, at least for the opening. Light one red candle, say something about the Spirit of Scouting, how it lives on in every Scout, but the wick needs to be trimmed and the fuel replenished occasionally. Take that candle and light four blue candles for the four parts of the Scout Promise (duty to God, to Country, to Others and to Self), might say something about each part. Then light twelve white candles, repeating each point of the Scout Law. When all are lit, talk about how each Scout seeks to learn more, and here are the patches and awards to mark those successes. Turn up the room lights and proceed with the presentations. Each award is made by a Scout, the SPL or maybe the Scout that taught that skill. Save the higher ranks for the SM to award. Maybe the SM can make the example and ask the SPL to lead off. When all the awarding is done, someone talks about the next big events, campout or hike or service project. Maybe abit about the Troop history, the necker. Then the SM Minute. Then the lights go down, the Troop stands, Scout Sign, recites the Scout Promise, and files out by Patrol. Parents join them in "The Other Room" for cookies and punch (or BBQ and Slaw?) . Just an example. Gussy it up as you see fit. Howzat?

Yeah, KDD, wouldn't you like to have umpteen school districts all require your book for reading by the 7th grade while you are still alive to comment on it? http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=gary+paulsen+interview&FORM=VIRE1#view=detail&mid=2DCE41A5072E7BDF51DF2DCE41A5072E7BDF51DF