SSScout

Huzzar: True, true, Lenni Lanape. William Penn, Lord Delaware, Zwaanandael, if things had happened differently, we might be speaking Dutch on this page....

Go to NASA website. Depending on where you are, they will often provide a "special" for you, an actual astronaut , with space suit to come to "ooo " and " aaaahhh" over. And, check out your local Astronomy club (set up a sunspot scope), local college/university for the Astronomy/physics department. Local rocketry club (launch possible for your site? wow factor there!), local aviation modeling club (same thing), Mention Scouts to the local Hobby store, bet they can give you the names and numbers. "ask and ye shall find, seek and ye shall be given" or something like that.... Oh, and don't forget to contact your local newspaper and TV news desk. Such "good" news is often very popular with them. Good PR for Scouts and the local Packs!

"A Scout is Referential"... no, that's not it... A Scout is Refrigerated.... ummmm no... A Scout is Revved up... ah shucks, I give up. I guess I'll just have to go back to the source.... “â€ÂReverence to God and reverence for one's neighbour and reverence for oneself as a servant of God, is the basis of every form of religion. The method of expression of reverence to God varies with every sect and denomination. What sect or denomination a boy belongs to depends, as a rule, on his parents' wishes. It is they who decide. It is our business to respect their wishes and to second their efforts to inculcate reverence, whatever form of religion the boy professes.â€Â†Robert Baden-Powell, “Aids to Scoutmastershipâ€Â

Very sad. Poor preparation, poor leader oversight, dumb idea to begin with (in hindsight), glad no one was bad hurt. Let's go knock over some rare, unique rock formations instead, at least THERE, we can avoid injury and help prevent future injury (he said with one eyebrow cocked and tongue firmly in cheek). Sc99: Most OA chapters claim some fellowship with a local tribe, use their language and names.. Here around the Chesapeake Bay, that's the Delaware Lenape. But most standard OA ceremonies are really generic, and not intended to imitate any specific tribe's ceremony.

Very important considerations. Thank you for bringing it up. Much like sexuality, how much of this subject (the Scouts faith in a supreme creator/being/spirit) is appropriate for the Scout Leader to concern themselves with? Doncha tink dis otta be in da "Faith and Chaplaincy" forum?

Flag football, two hand touch, both good. But in my poor experience (I coached my daughter's soccer team, and watch college football alot), the injuries in world soccer vs american football (see Australian lately?) are very different, and almost entirely dependant on the COACHING and the REFFEREEing. If the coaches encourage hard, collision play, you will have injuries. see: http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/subjects/f/football/head_injuries/ The problems come when the kids stop wanting to have fun and start wanting to be the pro-player.

It is cooked. It is sterilized (212F for twenty minutes?), and so safe to eat. It is easy cleanup (toss the plastic bag). It is fairly easy to do (scambled eggs in the plastic bag is easy too). It does involve carrying a couple of specialized equipment pieces(a grid and pot to fit and a "cozy"). So ya pays yer moneys and ya takes yer cherz. I think the higher heat of the DO or reflector might be more tasty to my palate. I sometimes demonstrate Bisquik and powdered milk premixed and carried in a ziploc, add water, mush it up, squeeze it into a greasy pan, fry it up and squeeze jelly on to it . The Scouts are always impressed, but few ever plan that far ahead to premix stuff to take on the hike.

I agree with The B: The Council would be expected to send any refund to the entity that made the original payment: parent, Troop, Lions Club, etc. The Troop then would refund the family that they understand had a good reason to not go to camp.

Absotively, we only talk about things that everyone agrees with, so don't expect much acrimoniousity here. Right, Pack?

Hello, NeverAnEagle, are you still out there? Any improvement?

My mom was a Cmpfire Girl, 1920's. I have some very interesting old photos of her and her girl chums in indian teepees and various regalia. Massachusetts and Maine campouts. Surprisingly, I can't remember her ever speaking about it, but she (and dad) was very supportive of my Scout career, Den mom and all.

Just arrived here. 2 Samuel 12 comes to mind. "You are the man". Perhaps if you can come up with an example for the B/E to chew on .... "Hey, Pete. I have a problem, maybe you can help me with. " And here you explain to him about a young Scout that has a problem in making rank. Could an Eagle like him help? What might he sugggest? Maybe looking at the SLaw and SOath might help. Duty to others? Friendly? Courteous? Helpful? Is an Eagle obligated to return his good fortune to others? How could we / he help in this? I would not point out his hypocracy (would he know the word?), being an Eagle Scout but behaving in this way. ,,, but sort of lead him into a corner he has to find his way out of. Does this help?

Didn't Coleman come out with a propane fired microwave camp oven last year? Or was that the fifty feet of shoreline my son borrowed from the nextdoor campsite when he went off to the camporee....

I pretty much agree with what's been said. In a small Troop, you might only have one active, organized Patrol (up to 8 or ten boys, max.). If that is the case, then they have "A" Patrol Leader, elected by the boys. He should choose an Assistant Patrol Leader, with the SM's approval would be good. The SM might counsel the boys alittle about what makes for a good leader, but not try to sway them in their choice. When the Troop gets big enough to have two or more Patrols, (four , or six to eight boys each), then the Troop needs to have an election to elect a Senior Patrol Leader (see above comments), he chooses an Assistant SPL, and they're off to the races (or Camporee!). In a Big Troop, the SPL, ASPL, and other boy Leaders are "usually" not considered to be in their home Patrol but in a "Green Bar " Patrol. They organize and facilitate (run?) the Patrols in the Troop. Some Troops just consider them as temporarily out of their home Patrol. "it depends". Part of the learning process in Scouts includes finding out what happens when one chooses poor leaders (however judged) and what happens when one is elected a leader, but has no experience in being one. Mr. Scoutmaster, how do you like your tea, with honey or milk?

The idea of "advancing" at the February B&G stems from the wrongly held idea that the bigger the event the better. The B&G should be a fun , celebration about Scouting. Show pics/movies about the years adventures. Have each Den make a skit and LAUGH at it, whether you can hear the Tigers say their lines or not. Eat home made spaghetti, and cake. Let your Commisssioner (if you have one) come and give a pep talk about Scouting and compliment the boys on their uniforms. Let an "old timer" come and reminisce alittle about his time in the Pack (by this I mean a BOY SCOUT working on his Communication Merit Badge). As has been said, the Cubs advance at the end of the year, regardless of their EARNING (!!) their badge. The badge (Tiger, Wolf, Bear, Web1, Web2) is awarded when it is completed, at the next Pack Meeting. Webelos to Boy Scout Crossover should be a Special Event (bring in the OA) and the Pack should NOT "give up" with the B&G . The Pack year runs from September to September. The parents who say" well, we're done.." in April or May are cheating their sons of the wealth of adventure and knowledge available to Cubs thru the rest of the year. Beside the "normal" Den/family trips, and activities, here's what I suggest makes for a successful and well appreciated Cub Scout Pack calendar: February: B&G banquet (see above) March: More awards, more skits, more plans: Cub Scout Day Camp? Webelos Overnight camp?... April: MAYBE Webelos crossover. If you have to, make it a special night, away from the "usual" Pack Meeting. Webs should have their Troops picked out, and maybe even transfer membership. Troops (if they have their act together) will already have the nascent Scouts signed up and reservations made for summer camp. May: More awards, badges awarded. Look to the Council Cub Theme (attended Roundtable?) Go to the park, have a "buddy" Hike with your local Troop, this is the young Cubs, not just the Webs. Wolves are capable of 3 miles of easy walk. June: A last Pack Picnic. Make a show of the boys "Moving Up". Webs may or may not be present. Hotdogs, horse shoes, frisbees, get ready for the Summer Program: a hike or museum visit a month, doesn't matter if folks are "on vacation", schedule it, give'm the opportunity Earn the Summer Activity Award. Pack Tradition, as has been said, changes with the parents and their memories of Packs past (might not even be this one). And remind your parents, their son is only 7 (or 8, or 9, or 10....) once. Again, repeat the Cub Scout Mantra with me: Kismif, Kismif, Kismif....

Maybe put'em back isn't such a bad idea.... we are doing wonderful things with epoxy these days.

What they said. Teach the safe use of the tool, play the "what if" game, make each boy responsible for his actions, plan ahead:::: What If..... Limbing a downed trunk: Stand on the OPPOSITE side of the trunk, swing axe to cut from the down to the up of the tree into the limb. Keepahold of the handle, don't work when you are too tired.

A few years back, our council sponsored a rock throwing range. Specific sized rocks (which had to be collected after each round), Targets, safety lines, RSO to call the signals, and all. Only did it one year, never heard of it again. Very popular,

"The work is done by whoever shows up". The above commentors have covered the ground pretty well. I , too, am curious what is your COrganization? CC and CM usually buttonhole/call/inveigle folks to take on a specific activity or task. In a small pack, the BSA rules ("aye, they be guidelines, really"), are curved if not bent , and whoever shows up will be the "committee" double duty not unusual. Thanks for all you do , and the kids will (eventually!) appreciate your "showing up!"

"How God must laugh..." more like shake his head in resignation. Nice picture of BP. I wonder who died; see the black arm band?

DF: Don't be sorry. I somehow missed this thread the first time 'round. As in many things religious, we often have more things in common than not. Us Quakers (and I do not speak for all of us, just those that agree with me) traditionally hold to five main testimonies, Biblically based ( I'll not go into all the particulars) historically, but some would deny that. Jesus instructed us to not swear at all, but simply let your yea be yea and your nay be nay. We therefore are advised to avoid all "judicial "oaths, but promising to do something "on our honor " is certainly OK..Idolitry is a no-no. Saying one thing and doing another is not desirable. So most Friends avoid saying the PoA. No harm in reciting and being knowledgable about it, just not in "saying" it officially. I also have read parts of Mein Kampf and Das Kapital, but doesn't mean I agree with them. I have never had anyone challenge me when I step back and stay silent when others salute and say what they think is appropriate. I am in agreement with BP when he says a boy's family's faith is up to the parents, and it is up to us Scouters to second their efforts.

Okay, Cash Bar and Open Bar are two different things in my dictionary, but never mind that. It was billed as a "Scout" event, Scout youth were in attendance and by good sense, BSA policy and public decorum, the event should have been non-alcoholic. At our Quaker Meeting, we receive many requests to use our Meeting House and Community House for private parties (retirement parties, weddings, receptions, etc.) and when they hear our policy of no alcohol AT ALL, the askers often back off, no matter how picturesque or inepensive it might be. Too bad, so sad.

GO to the local store and buy two , three, maybe four "trifold" display boards. Buy a roll of double stick carpet tape. Take ALL the ribbons off the pole. Clean them carefully. Take off the strings. Iron them FACE DOWN with a cool iron. Sort them out into "Boys Life",, "Quality Unit", "Camporee", "Webelos Weekend" etc. etc. Order them by date. Collect them and stick them on the trifold display boards with the double stick tape. . Label them as seems appropriate (?who was Cubmaster then? Anyone remember something neat about that time?) Display as desired. Rejoice at the Unit's longevity.

Just heard back from my friend, seems that since the merging of two (or more?) smaller Districts into one large one, the distances involved for one CSDC in the new District led folks to decide it is easier to plan many weekend events, one or two a month, to cover all the usual activities. So instead of one 5-day camp, with really early and late hours (to accomodate drop off, get to work, pickup and go home), they are spreading things out over several weekend saturdays with a couple of Son and One overnights. Makes sense now....

Just heard from a Scout friend out in Indiana that her Council has canceled all CSDCamps this summer. Ours are still in full throttle planning stage. Any others out there canceled? Going ahead?