SSScout

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?

Once upon a time I was a dispatcher for the Transit System. I was responsible for closing up the garage after all the busses came home at night. If all went well, I locked the doors and went home at about 1:15am. One friday night , about 11pm, I answered the phone and the conversation went something like this: "Good evening, this is Busses Are Us, how can I help you?" "Can you tell me about the Subway system?" "Perhaps. What is your question?" "Well, my son is attending a special class downtown tomorrow ((*tomorrow would be Saturday*)), and I'd like to know how to get to the XYZ University at Muddy Bottom Station". "Are you going with him?". "No, he'll be going by himself". " (??) Ahh, how old is he?" " He's 15." "And he is attending a class at a university?" "Yes...." " Shouldn't I be speaking with him, then?" There was a noticeable silence on the other end. The male voice said "Wait a minute...." A younger voice came on: "Hello?" "Are you the student going down to XYZ University tomorrow?" " Yes..." " Do you know where you're going? Ever been down there before?" " Oh sure, I went down there before to sign up for the class!" " And do you need to hear the directions on how to use the Subway to Muddy Bottom Station?" "Nah, I'm Okay. " and here he recited how he would board the subway, buy his farecard, and transfer at Midtown Station to the line to Muddy Bottom. "That sounds about right. Is that your dad I was speaking with? Do you think he knows that you know? Could you maybe let him know that I know that you know that he should know you know how to get there? " "Uh?" I spoke to the adult voice again, and assured him I thought the young man knew how to get there. I suggested he review it with him, but let the boy do the reviewing. He thanked me and we said goodnight.

The SM names some Instructor/Guides. He might actually have some idea who is good at what skill. SM and ASMs teach the I/Gs some skills (Totin Chip, knots, etc. ) . These I/Gs teach the younger Scouts the skills. Use the EDGE method, if you wish. This is where the adults model behavior...... The SM INSISTS on this. He then instructs the Patrols to elect their PLs. He then convenes the PLCouncil, where he trains the PLs in PLeading. See www.scouting.org/Training/Youth Or, send them off to the Council's NYLTS. Give each of them a copy of the PLHandbook. INSIST they do PLeader things! When they come up and say "you mean I can DO that?" the SM says yes... Choose a SPL and a ASPL or two. SM might appoint the first time out, and after a year or so, the Troop or PLC elects them. The adults drive the cars, catch the kids that fall down, but they do not prevent them from falling down! Howzzat?

"..... and when they got home, there was a HOOK stuck in the car door handle!!!!!!!!"

C'mon gang, you're running out of nits to pick. Parents can "observe", any time... This is about an Adult Patrol, playing Scout, being in comparison/competition with the Boys. This is not about escorting Scouts to summer camp (requirements are still there: YP, Two Deep, etc.), or staying over at camp when they are not "vetted" (what exactly is that? I wanted a Mustang, anyway....). "Old Goat Patrol", Rocking Chair Patrol, 273 meter camping.... let's get on with encouraging the "Patrol Method".

Wood Badge and IOLS are set up and run LIKE A TROOP WITH PATROLS, but they are NOT a Troop for adults...... , and I think this is where the OP's friend got confused, it is not how the adults should operate, but how they should encourage the boys to operate. Yes, "Old Goat patrol" is an un-official thing. ASMs, Patrol Dads, SMs, CCs etc. are all ex-officio members, but to try and compete as an actual Patrol, no, not good. Watch from a distance. Teach your expertise to the SPL, Instructors, PLs, then step back and let them teach and example themselves for the younger boys. I have a wonderful photo of Scoutson, filing an axe, while another Scout watches and points at the activity.

2CD: You had a problem , alright. Maybe the CCh should delegate alittle? My home Troop has a dedicated (as in this is her whole job for the Troop) membership person. She keeps up with registration, training, stuff like that. Not the Advancement Chair. Our CCh is very capable, and keeps in touch with everyone, but HIS specialty is organizing summer camp. When Recharter comes around, half the work is already done. Ms MP cranks up the rechart website, types in the new access code and away she goes. They were still late with the finalities, but that was admitted to be the Council's problem, lost paperwork, new hires, bad arithmetic, etc.

"Leave no trace, just leave your money". Yes , in this day and age, it is not unreasonable. It will help in the preservation of this natural wonder. Many moon ago, our family visited the GC, and were suitably impressed. Did the short mule ride.

Sprout18: Greetings from the Old Line State and welcome to the Wonderful World of Wondering if I'm doing it right. And to the Scouter Forums. Never anything wrong with getting some more training. The worst it can do is make you think. And give you another excuse to go camping.... In our home district (sounds like yours) folks that attend IOLS can stay another two hours and get the philosophy/safety part of OWLS and leave the site with IOLS and OWLS certs. Yes, it is another step up from BALOO. As has been said, BSA is concerned with safety and accountability. So Cubs camp in a Pack with mom and/or pop. Webs camp as a Den with the WDL and his/her colleague AND pop/mom, as possible, drive the car up to the campsite, YP rulings apply. If you are going up to Cunningham Falls, be aware they close early in the fall! Camp Bennett may be open for group camping.... Back yards of grampa's farm is always available. Thanks for all you do! YiS