SSScout

Troop 185: I apologize if my comment sounded like a personal affront. I know you would not mean to say so, but review comment #6 above and see if (on face) it could "sound" like you were (perhaps, but not likely, I know) there with Scouts all by your lonesome. Thank you for your time with our future!

Such was noted as a "modification" to the new Eagle Procedure Guide here in the NCAC...http://c.ymcdn.com/sites/www.ncacbsa.org/resource/group/dabf2b2b-f7f6-48ee-a27c-9cc7e1a94a55/Documents/Eagle_Scout_Procedures_Guide.pdf?hhSearchTerms=%22Eagle+and+Procedure+and+Book%22

This is all about the change in culture we are experiencing. I have seen many (Scoutson included) that have no idea HOW to research anything. " Dad? What does [x-y-z-] mean?" " Do you have your textbook?" "yeah, but it doesn't explain it very well". "Let me look at it..." "Here it is..." "Oh, I didn't see that..." "Did you look?" "Ummm, no, it's easier when you tell me". "And I will be in class for your test, when?" I was at summer camp when a Scout came up to me and asked if I would give him a note attesting to the fact that he knew CPR. He said he needed it for his Emergency Preparedness MB, and he had not thought to bring his CPR cert with him (it was listed in his Camp Prereq's list). I told him I didn't know what he knew, I hadn't given him his CPR class. I said, get your BSHB, we'll review things. He said he didn't bring it with him. I had him borrow one from his tentmate. When he returned with his buddy's BSHB, I asked him to turn to the CPR section. He said, where's that? I said, find it in the index. He said what's that? This is a 7th grader, who is by all reports a "good student". He is now a PL, and (finally) passed his FC rank. but that episode gave me pause. I showed him the index, found CPR, page number, and made him read the section to me. We reviewed the techniques and timing. I made him promise to take the CPR class later in the week (which he did), and signed off a note to his MBCounselor. It is becoming "normal" for youngsters to EXPECT to have the answers handed to them, without doing more than ASKING for them. Looking it up in a paper book? Even doing the Google thing is too much trouble. I see it in the classes when I sub teach. It is the exceptional student that will seek answers , rather than wait for them to be given to them. This is one of the things that leads to war. Having the answers GIVEN to one, rather than trusting your own sense in interpreting what one finds out for yourself. Allowing a parent, or even a PL to automatically , impersonally , advance a Scout without that personal connection is bad. The Scout needs that personal connection. He needs to feel that intimate "I acted to YOUR satisfaction" eye to eye view. Does that make the Scout uncomfortable? Good. He needs to be uncomfortable every so often. Email will never have the same historic value or personal satisfaction that a handwritten note has. How can I value the letter my mom wrote me at college more than the email? Wait, There was no email then. Will the soldiers' emails home from Iraq and Afghanistan have the same cachet as the letters collected in WW2? Can we learn the same from them by studying the "hand" of the writer? Insist the book be used. Give them examples. Good Scouting to you!

A mention in another thread brought to mind the Cub Scout days of my youth. Our Pack participated in a Cub Softball League. We had the usual stuff, ballcaps, tshirts, dad coaches... I played first base and right field for three summers (yes, it was only summer!) .! Do we have any Scout sport leagues out there? I do not know of any such things in my area.

1) If he is not an "active" member (paid his dues? Listed in the Chapter roster?) he should not wear the OA sash. Not wearing it would show his support of the "correct wearing of the BSA uniform". 2) If his desire is to promote OA membership and activities, see #1. 3) If his desire is to promote OA membership and activities, contact the Council office to get in touch with the Council Camp Chair, OR the District Camp Chair, who would be able to get the OA Lodge/ Chapter to send someone (with video?) to talk about up-to-date OA things. You could do this, the SM , if he is busy, would probably appreciate you acting on his behalf. 4) You could download and show http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=order+of+the+arrow+video&FORM=VIRE1#view=detail&mid=F0CBE1D85C62D9B074FAF0CBE1D85C62D9B074FA as an introduction.... There are others.... 5) If the SM is eager to get the boys interested in the OA as a means to honor the Scouts worthy of such things, he should go to his PLC and enlist their interest and support. 6) It is worthy of pursuit. Good Scouting to you!

"And I was having a nice, quiet afternoon nibbling the pine needles, when this buzzing thing comes into my face. Took care of THAT! And then this two leg comes up and , hey, I see the connection. Took care of THAT , too! Hah!"

You award the rank at the next Pack Meeting. When the Web earns AoL, that should also be awarded at the next Pack Meeting. I see four special events in the Cub year: Pine Wood Derby (maybe rain gutter, Cub Scooters, too), Blue and Gold Banquet, Cub to Boy Scout Crossover, and the End of Year Picnic/swim party/ball game, when all Cubs rise to the next year opportunity. When you try to combine too many of these events into one, you have a hard time. Each of these events should be a separate event, taking the place of a usual Pack Meeting. Blue and Gold should be a "Birthday " celebration, as has been mentioned. Have Tails and Scales come from your local park. Show "Down and Derby" or "Follow Me Boys". Let the Dens develop really good skits. Get a local celeb or sport celeb appear and speak. Ask NASA to invite an Astronaut. Lots of possibility, just mention "Cub Scouts" and see the doors open. Too much bling awarding, and it becomes a Rotary meeting for the adults, and that ain't why we are here. Go back to Veggietales, and "It's for the kids".

I'm kinda with Basement on this one. There are opportunities for patches and then ... maybe not. Rank requirements certainly do not need another , in between award. There are the infamous beads, that dangle below the infamous plastic thingy, use those for (shudder) "immediate recognition". I would mark a special event or service with the appropriate patch, and if you go to the Scoutshop, you can find a patch to commemorate almost any activity, I am certain there is a "flag" patch for remembering the City Council ceremony. And, yes, they do get sewn onto vests and unis, and yes, they do bring back memories when seen after a few (even young) years.

Along with Q's questions, some more: Has each of you had the BSA training for your (assumed) positions? Which of you is the better at the skills involved? When was the last time you bought the CCh a cuppacoffee?

Yeah, maybe "Advancement" or "Faith and Chaplaincy" or....

Here in Murlin, one can insist to vote "provisionally", and then insist the Board of Elections rule on such. "Valid ID" is only required if there is some question about the voters real residence or valid registration. It did happen in my precinct place.

Go we again here... http://www.chicagobsa.org/camping/owasippe-scout-reservation/3820 http://www.scouter.com/forum/camping-high-adventure/400605-chicago-area-council-does-right-and-rebuilds-100-yr-old-owasippe-scout-reservation Good Scouting, Chcago et al. And so forth...

Jeans lined with red plaid flannel? Cuffed up and THAT was the style in third and fourth grade!

Natalie W.: The eveidence is in your last sentence above. Cub Scouts can NEVER have enough Leaders, if they are the right kind. You are the parent I want in my Pack (if I had one, usta be a CM). Inquisitive, wants to be involved, is in there for their boy. I would find you a duty, get you a patch(!) on your sleeve (get you a sleeve!). Your erstwhile Pack is a sham, by your description. Touting good citizenship and not following the rules is not what Scouting is about. Find another Pack. Talk to the other parents and FOUND your own Pack. The hardest thing about starting a Scout unit is finding a willing Charter Org sponsor, the rest will fall into place. Have you talked to your District Commissioner? Look on the Council website and click around until you find him/her. They are a volunteer and will help you do right by your boy. The District Executive may help, but he/she is an overworked employee who has other things on their mind besides one parent troubled by Pack politics. In the mean time, take pride in the things your boy accomplishes, whether macaroni necklace or cabin building. I would hardly be the man I am today without the cork Thunderbird I made as a Cub that my mom saved and I found in her cabinet after her passing. Look thru the other Cub threads here and on other websites. Talk to other Scout parents in your area. Go to Cub RoundTable (again, see the Council/District website) and meet some REAL Scout leaders. You sound as if you want to be convinced. Those are the folks that can do that. Good Scouting to you and your future Boy Scout!

""Follow the Money""

Welcome to the forums. I hope we can help you make the Cubs time worthwhile. Remember the Cub Mantra: "KisMif, KisMif..." Keep it simple, make it fun! Go See Its are one of the best things in Tigerdom. Every Cub wants to go places and do things. Museums, fire stations, local newspaper printshop, dad's work place, the gang will enjoy any where special and out of THEIR ordinary. By all means, call ahead. Maybe there is a special kid's program. Saturday morning, sunday afternoon, evening after school, anytime is good. Try to coordinate the Adult Partners schedules and necessities, but realize you won't please everybody all the time (where have I heard that before?). It can be "meet at the Zoo at noon" or "meet at the church parking lot and we can carpool down", whatever works best, depending on the distance involved or personal schedules. Admission prices? Ask for Scout discounts! AAA discounts! Group discounts! Local parks may have a kids program, call'em up. Don't forget the hotdog and/or ice cream stop on the way or after. I remember one Den outing. We had found THREE (!) model railroad exhibits in town , one in a retirement community, one in a private house that had become a Railroad clubhouse and one in the local Town History Museum. We gathered in the Museum parking lot, and were able to walk to two of the exhibits in the span of a couple hours. AND stop by the local diner , which gave each Cub a FREE ice cream cone! It was less then 3 miles total, well within the range of a Tiger, but the Adults were challenged! We then drove to the retirement home, which put us thru a Scavenger hunt ("find the car wreck") on their train layout, it was all great fun. It took a little planning and research, but , hey, that's why we do what we do, right? Another time, I arranged to visit the County Maintenance garage. It gave the Mnanger an excuse to insist his workers clean up the place. What a trip for these boys! Big trucks and busses, tires, gears, grease, dirt, tools, big men working, we were there for almost 5 hours. They couldn't do enough for us. The Cubs came away with booklets, souvenir parts (broken!) and smiles. You will have nothing but fun , helping the boys get connected with their community and families. Have pity for the folks that can't (or won't? how sad) make time to spend with their boy. You can make a difference in their life, anyway. Good Scouting to you!

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.