SSScout

Many moon ago, I was in the HS marching band. We had uniforms that were the usual, pseudo West Point , shako hat type uniform, and they were 100% worsted wool. There was some range of sizes, but generally, they were ALL big. Big even for the seniors who doubled in the football team. We were told we could tailor them to our taste, so long as we did NOT cut any material. Trouser waists were taken in, cuffs taken up, steam ironing took out the creases. Worsted wool is very forgiving, it turns out. We wore suspenders, first time I used them and learned how adaptable they are. Everyone had RED or GREEN or BLACK suspenders, depending on your section. Maybe we can urge BSA to award SUSPENDER loops!

Once upon a time, Scoutson was grubmeister (where's the umlaut on this machine?)for his patrol. This time out, his Patrol, mostly older Scouts, "adopted" a number of first time campers. They met. planned a menu, collected money, assigned duties for the weekend, and waited for the Friday evening. The menu (he showed it to me for comment) included bacon and eggs for Bfast, fresh tomatoes and salad and coldcuts for lunch, and (!) steaks to grill over the fire (real wood fire!) with potatoes in the coals, and lunch leftovers. This was a short hike (less than a half mile?) in type of camp, you couldn't drive up to it, but we all thought it was doable for the younger Scouts. Friday, some of the first years called and said (via the parents) they would be there Sat. morning. Saturday, the Patrol had only the older Scouts in attendance. They ate well. The younger Scouts (and parents?) were surprised when the older Scouts voted NOT to refund their money. They said it would be applied to the NEXT campout.... They had a well attended campout the next month.

Oh, another point (which you will note on your own eventually).... the soap carving will cause lots of soap in the knife box and hinge. After cleaning out, oil well! The soap is hygroscopic, it tends to collect water and will encourage rusting...

Not quite "Unit Fundraising", but still.... ""All summer, Spencer Bergman was working toward his goal: Earn and save $500 so he could get a dog. His mom purposely set the amount high; busy with four children and more-than-full-time work, she had said “no†to a dog forever. She and Spencer, who recently turned 13, figured it would take years to earn that much. His longtime friend Spencer Tarbet, who’s 12 and lives in the house behind the Bergmans’ in the Loudoun County community of Round Hill, had a goal, too: Pay his share of scout camp. "" The two Spencers were surprised by the meanness of one man, and the goodness of their friends and neighbors..... Read the whole story http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/...527_story.html

FINALLY got the posting function to work! Tried to answer this yesterday evening.... Way to go, opening an old thread for reconsideration. Thank You! No one is "removing the Eagle Badge from the uniforms of most of the Eagle Scouts" The "Badge" is not the "Square Knot" Once an Eagle, always an Eagle, but the "Badge" is for the Scout to wear. If they are a Venturer, wear it on the Green Uni. If a SeaScout, wear the Quartermaster Badge, as appropriate. . If no longer a Scout, wear the Knot on your adult uni. Share the ribboned medal with your Scoutson, when he is ready. My Scout badges and patches are for me to reminisce about and share with my family. I would not wear them on my adult uni. Youth awards are for the Scout. Adult award /recognitions are for the adult. I would not expect an adult to wear a merit badge sash, I would not expect a young Scout to wear the St. George Catholic Award. Would not be appropriate. Welcome back to Scouting! You and your friends will not regret it. And welcome to the forums! I think you will add a fresh voice to our debates.

A Troop that has a goodly mix of ages will operate better if the Patrols are of mixed ages too. A "good Scout" will operate as a Big Brother to the younger Scouts in his Patrol, who will automatically look to him (them) for example and advice and instruction. You can then have real Patrol competition, as the EAGLE Patrol will have no real advantage over the TENDERFOOT Patrol. The PLs and such will have their outlet and can form up occasionally as the PLC Patrol, and take that 3 day hike on the Pacific Rim Trail. The PLs leave the Patrols in the (capable) hands of their APLs, if needed. 'Course, now, if the Older Scouts act as elitists and bullies to the younger Scouts, this won't work. But that's not Scouty of them , is it? Does that behavior (elitism, "look at the tendyfeets", etc.) look like the Scout Promise and Law? How do we encourage the older Scout to help the younger one over that log in the trail, rather than laughing at his attempt to get over it? You can encourage the NSP to Boy Up and get with the program and learn in a class (sounds like school to me...) or maybe watch and learn from his "family" his older Scout in the Patrol, like any lil' brother does watching his big brother or dad (or mom?), just by 'osmosis', which is often the REAL way we learn anything important.

~~“â€ÂTo laugh often and much; To win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children; To earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends; To appreciate beauty, to find the best in others; To leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch, or a redeemed social condition; To know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded. Ҡ= Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803 - 1882) =

Amen, brother. We are teaching safety and proper care. The carving of wood, necker slides and such, will come later. Best to get them on the "respect the TOOL" and "respect the EDGE" side of things. Sharpening, edge away from the body, oiling and cleaning.... You can mention carving blades (exacto, etc.) and perhaps demo some slide carving, but that should, IMHO, be a separate Advanced blade class. Then too, not everybody will have the desire or talent to attempt a real carving. As to the soap.... Ivory Bath SIze bars are good. Unwrap them and let them dry out as long as you can before carving. I also do the sit on the tarp trick, but then, I collect the shavings, and stuff them into old Knee-hi nylon stockings or the mesh bags little tomatoes or little onions come in. Tie'em up like htat, and you've got handwashing soap for the next six months. A Scout is Thrifty.

After I thought about it for a while, I would suggest, in all seriousness, find the OLDEST Handbook for Boy's , or Boy Scout Handbook or Scout Fieldbook (check with old timers, ebay, etc.) you can find and try out (don't ever recommend a recipe without trying it yourself!) some of their recipes. The differences between 2014 sensitivities and 1948 considerations are interesting....

Organize the first annual Whole Ox Roast for your District.....

I know Units sell popcorn, Cub Scouts more than Boy Scouts. If a Unit does NOT sell P/C, have you ever heard of an individual Scout sell P/C, say under Council aegis? Or perhaps Scout in Unit A (which does not sell P/C) sells P/C under Unit B's umbrella? What benefit would such an arrangement have? How would such an arrangement jibe with the "Scout Account" thing?

10x15 tarp. Rope and pegs and four 4'poles..... Stretch 10x4 on the cleared (or padded with pine needles) gournd. Set a 4' pole at each foldover corner, foldover 4' and stretch out the top edge, a little over the ground piece. place two 4' poles about by first ground edge, stretch tarp to the poles, over 4' area. Gives one sleep bag space and space for gear.

I saw a very clever thing at summer camp this year. We had started the fire with wood, and were going to lay charcoal on it for the foil cooking. The wood fire burned, sort of, and wouldn't really "get going" to light up the charcoal. Scouter comes up with a hollow aluminum tent pole, and BLOWS thru it, into the fire! Fire picks up! Fellow gets winded, asks for a trash bag.... takes big black trash bag, fills it with air, wraps it around the tent pole end, SQUEEZES it like a bagpipe. Presto! Bellows effect into fire! Charcoal picks up in short order! We all applauded! I was reminded of an old fashioned blacksmith forge and bellows.

Well, that's not right. Any reading of the Charter document will show that anything the Troop or Pack "owns" is owned by the CO. If the City GAVE the huts to the Troop, then by right the Troop's CO owns it.... Did the newspapers/media become aware of this? ""~~Were it left to me to decide whether we should have a government without newspapers, or newspapers without a government, I should not hesitate a moment to prefer the latter."" = Thomas Jefferson =

Maybe we can "pass it on" to our Troops. Many hands make light replacements....

I know we are seeing only one side of this. I hope that National OA and National BSA will interview all parties and sort this out. Very often, BSA REacts , rather than acting. A Scout is Trustworthy. Chai: Do a search for ~~jpstodwftexas name and see the beginnings of this.

CP, SP, and Qwazse have the right idea. Communication. I would add, plan a fun meeting for the next time, say a hike/picnic/nature center visit (earn a pin?) and find out who's still in the game.... and get a chance to talk to the boys and parents and find out what's up.

Nutcase911: You will not regret any of your time with your boy(s). Repeat the Cub Scout Mantra: Kismif,,, Kismif.... Keep it simple, make it fun... Take those Tigers (and their partners!) places!

His knowledge and skill earn him a Merit Badge. It is sewn on the sash. If he earns a "set" of MBs (camping, cooking, hiking.... dog care, bird study, reptile study, mammal study), he gets a "stripe" or "cord" to wear summars on the uni. Nice. Make him an Instructor, put him to work in a PoR. Eagles can wear Palms , reflecting their MBs over the usual 21 required.....

Seen/heard at a recent summer camp.... You need three or four Scouts to do the recitation....and an appropriate "Scouter" to honor... He named his daughters “Powell “ and “Badenâ€Â…. When he went to Philmont, he gave the Tooth of Time a root canal…. His Scout Law has 14 points…. He is… The Most Interesting Scouter….. “I do not always go camping, but when I do, I go to ((insert camp name here))“. “Stay Scouty, my friendâ€Â. He has a whole Totin, not merely a Chip. His “Good†Turn is really “Betterâ€Â, and usually “Bestâ€Â. Do not ask about his … “Bug Juiceâ€Â. There are never any flies on his table. You will never know if he “Left No Traceâ€Â. The Big Dipper points to Him. His “Bear Bag†really holds one. He went to “WOOD Badgeâ€Â, not “WON’T Badgeâ€Â. He hiked the whole of the AT, because he had a cancelation in his schedule. When he pitches his tent, it is a “no hitter†. Someone once asked him what that “Square Knot†on his uniform was, and he told them. He has never said, â€Âfollow me boysâ€Â, but they do, anyway. He is…… The Most Interesting Scouter. “I do not always go camping, but when I do, I go to ((insert camp name here))â€Â. “Stay Scouty, my friendâ€Â.

If the Scout has earned a particular Merit Badge, and it seems appropriate, make him an "Instructor" (there's a patch for that) and assist the MBCounselor. Pioneering comes to mind.... Another added bit of "bling" may or may not be an enticement to learn a skill, but being an "Instructor" has a certain panache of it's own.

I like the idea in theory, but the caveats mentioned above should be watched: pal loyalty, age difference, the pins they want to work on and the ones they need to earn for their time in Cubs... The Web2s will want pins to complete their AoL that the Web1s don't need, might mean some diplomacy and scheduling creativity. And don't forget that the BSA terminology is still "Den", not "Patrol". If you had a bunch of Web2s , and only one or two Web1s, would you want to mix'em up like that? Ummmm, why not? I guess if our GGparents could operate in a one room school, multiple grades, we can operate a multiple Web Den!

Back from grass cutting... Stosh: You are obviously a Scouter's Scouter and I would not hesitate to recommend a Scout to your Troop. I'd like to answer some of your comments but the "quote" function seems not to work as it use to. Refer to #39 above. Even with boy led Troops, you will still have Scouts , nascent PLers, come and ask "Can I really do that?" of the SM. It will happen. I have seen it happen. Then the SM or ASM will have to say "yes, you can" and send the Scout back to his PL or SPL or where ever. No harm, it is not "adult led" to encourage a Scout to make his own decision. As to the example where I told about the early rising Scout, I realize my duty/danger , call it what you may, vis a vis YP, and I thank you for the reminder. This was in daylight, out in the open, other folks were up and about. He asked a question, I answered it and elicited some better understanding which both I and the SM were later gratified to see turn into more responsible Patrol activity. They saw how to and decided to cook earlier, wash dishes earlier, without any adult TELLING them to. You implied that I should have just shooed the Scout back to his area. Would that have really helped? The SM should insist that the Troop run according to his ideal. How is that intruding on "boy led" if that is his ideal? We teach by instruction and example and encouragement. "Here's how to do it". (watch me do it this way) "Yes , you can do that". We lose the boy led ideal when the adults start saying "here, let me do that" instead of remembering that we should not do what a boy can do. Now, if the SM and his ASMs ideal is doing a Webelos 3 Troop, and others recognize this, yeah, there will be friction.

I like all the advice so far given. Being visible and known. Does your CO have a sign out front saying "Home of Cub Pack , Scout Troop,"? I would be "Trustworthy,, courteous,, and kind..." Do not stoop to their level. Make sure the invitations to your activities still go out to your local Cub Packs. Only one in town, really? Again, play nice! . If the invitations are "forgotten", make sure to politely remind folks about them. The DE will have a list of the Webelos leaders (assuming the Packs are playing by the rules), you can contact them directly, along with the other Pack leaders. Do you have a Commissioner ? Perhaps he could make presentations and reminders to the Pack at B&G dinners, or PWDerby... I will assume the schools (elementary and middle?) are neighborhood schools? Approach the principal and /or the Counseling office about posters, flyers, backpack notices. Each school district has its own rules about when/how/disclaimers, etc. Keep on doing what you do best.... Let the Scouts be Scouts. And let the helicopters fly elsewhere...

Stosh: I think we are on the same page here, but maybe different paragraphs. I am assuming we have a Troop trying to move INTO the Boy Led model. For that to happen, yeah, the boys need to be assured that "yes, you can do that" and not necessarily wait for the SM or ASMs to tell them what and when. And, the boys need to know what to pass on in the way of skills and know-how, hence the teaching of the Guides/Instructor/PLs so they can teach the next group. Knife and axe skill and safety is taught and exampled. You need an experienced person to start the tradition. And , yes, the SM needs to "insist" some. Insist the PL lead, not wait for something to happen. Insist that the SPL take charge of the PLC. Insist that his coffee be black, or whatever. When he sees something about to happen badly ("hey, watch this!!") , insist that folks step back and play the "what if" game. The SM can and should insist that the other adults get trained and then step back to watch ... or demonstrate a skill, if asked... or lead the bird ID hike.... I was on the Scout Skills weekend of the home troop, and happened to be the first one up. I started the Adult stove and set a pot of water on to boil. When the first Scout got up and wandered over, he asked "what's that for?', indicating the pot of now boiling water. I said, "what could you use boiling water for?" I eventually elicited a list of uses: Hot chocolate, oatmeal, wash dishes, hard boiled eggs, wash hands.... he wandered back to the Scout side of camp (30 so yards away!) and woke up his buddies. I later overheard a conversation about planning ahead to have the dish wash water on to boil before the meal was even cooking. Was I leading or somehow letting the Scouts make their own decision/mistakes?