SSScout

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?

Eagle in 1963. No "project", but we had to give evidence of "service to the community". I can see the project notebook as a guide for boys that have had no chance to plan something (I built birdhouses and critter pens and put up shelves and such ) and build it . It is a "paint by the numbers" kind of thing (do they still sell those things?) for someone who has not "painted" before. I favor the project, think the idea is fine, helps get the Scout out of his comfort zone. I have complaint with the Scout and his leader that wait until age 17 10/12s and try to find something to do RIGHT NOW. Blood drive, book collection, puppet show at the orphanage, super one time park cleanup, I have seen /heard of alot of last minute projects that could have , in good conscience, been denied but were okayed out of a charitable notion, I guess. "Too large inscope" fora Eagle Project? Only if it doesn't succed can one make that judgement. "Too small " for an Eagle project? Very often, but it depends on the Scout, doesn't it?

I second Cambridge's observation. Allowance has to be made for previous activity and such. That is one reason for the usual design of the classic Camporee campfire program: Welcome (ceremonial lighting, introductions, fun skit), songs, cheers, skits, laughs, awards (few and short!!) if any, more skits, songs jokes, then a ghost story or indian tale, something more somber (flag retirement? or ash lore), then "Scout vespers" or sing taps. Walk home and secure camp, quiet time enforced. Younger boys to tent, older venturers quiet around the dying embers, rule is no more wood. You let the fire die, but someone has to be there to watch. Astronomy class? Reveille is the same for all, no exceptions. If you are tired, how can we learn from this? Does your camp have a night watch? Old timers that keep watch for ... ? Who knows what?

Lots of possibilities. Every month, I favor collecting all the bling for ONE boy, line up ONE Den, and award each boy in that Den, thus: ( CM does all this) "OKAY! We have all the Bears up here , now. Mr. Slovakosky, you're the Den Leader, and you have been busy since last month! Let's see, now.... Jake, you have three arrow points, the chess belt loop, the Frisbee belt loop and the Summer Activity Award. (hand him the envelope and shake his hand) Way to go! Bill, you 've got the Summer Activity Award, the Frisbee Belt Loop, the Map and Compass Belt loop, and two Arrow Points (hand him the envelope, shake his hand) How 'bout that!" >>Do this for all the Bears, then lead everyone in a cheer! Same etc. for all the other Dens. Big cheer for everyone at the end. This is easier and quicker that trying to do each award for each boy seperately. Bigger to-do in April-May: **Bridging for the Webelos (don't forget you may have two classes of Webs: Those going into a BScout Troop, AND those merely graduating out of Cubs or moving away, or undecided about which Troop. Be sure to include both groups somehow in the recognition. They all deserve it. ** Moving on to the next rank/Den for the rest of the boys.... Make a recognition of this too, with some pomp and circumstance. KiS MiF

Choose ONE prime position with a home unit (? CC with Pack?) and pay registration with that unit. When you register as another position (ASM, Den Leader, Merit Badge Counselor, etc. ), check "multiple registration", list your Scout ID number (ALWAYS use the exact same version of your name) and smile and wave as you go by.... Oh, and keep your YPTraining up to date.

If it was an "open bar", to me that indicates that the organizers of the event paid for the drinks. Was this an "official" Scout celebration? or a privately organized (SM retirement party done by his family?) sort of thing. If the former, I would feel the necessity of politely, diplomatically , reminding the organizing party of the above named policy. Uniformed Scout youth were in attendance, and , it seems, were expected. If it was the latter case, perhaps it was only poor taste and not a violation with "prior intent"; but still, if it LOOKS like a Scout event and people ACT like it's a Scout event and folks come to it EXPECTING it to be a Scout event, then it IS a Scout event and should have been treated as such.

In my home Troop, there are "guidelines" for meals, (no soda pop, no "poptart" type stuff, etc.) but other than that, the Patrols are encouraged to cook "adventurously". ASMs and SM can and do veto poor Patrol food plans, but adults cook and eat with adults. Taste tests may happen cross cultural exchange and all between Patrols, but adults with adults and Scouts with Scouts.

Well, I was just watching Dirty Jobs, and at the end, Mike Rowe asks folks to email him ideas for new places/jobs to visit and I thought of my friend who inspects ballast tanks on ocean frieghters for the Smithsonian looking for tag-a-long critters and deseases so I went to Discovery Channel http://www.discovery.com/tv-shows/dirty-jobs and discovered that (in 2012!) DJ was CANCELED!! WOW! It was a shock. I went to some other pages, and discovered there had been a petition for restarting the show, but it was closed after only 52 signatures! Mike was great at the Nat Jam both years. *sigh* and he didn't get to be Chief Scout, either. I guess it was time to move on.....

Good for a winter's camp: Layer Cake Stew: Need a LARGE, deep skillet, preferably cast iron, with cover/lid. Big knife, cutting board, spatula. Ingredients: Half pound of sliced bacon, Pound of lean ground beef, 1 large onion, two or three large potatoes, two or three carrots, salt&pepper. If you wish, include celery or other veggies. Directions: WASH YOUR HANDS. Soap the OUTSIDE of skillet to make cleanup easier. Cover INSIDE bottom of skillet with bacon, leave no gaps. Crumble up ground beef, cover the bacon, leave no gaps. Salt and pepper. Peel , slice onions 1/4" thick, lay over beef. Wash and scrub potatoes, clean and cut out eyes,bad spots. Do not peel, slice 1/4 thick, lay out and overlap onions. Scub carrots, cut off ends, bad spots. Slice on diagonal (fancy!) 1/4" thick. Cover potatoes with carrots. Place on fire, note it is pretty heavy and will need good support. If there is no steam from under lid in 5 minutes, you need a hotter fire. Leave alone for 30 minutes. At that time, (Heavy and hot! Be careful!). Take off lid and stick potatoes with fork, should be soft. If not, back on fire for another 5 minutes. Take off fire (Heavy and Hot!) . Scoop out with spatula, big spoon. Note lots of good gravy , serve with biscuits and catsup.

Passed on to my District. Example to be studied and emulated.

Wolfmom: Listen to all the above. The unit was formed under false pretenses. On face, it has only two officers, and I doubt if it was much different 14 years ago.. From your description, the two officers have no intention of being honest about the units finances or membership. Speak to the other parents and speak to the District Commissioner (name should be available on your Council website, or by phone to the Council office. As has been said, it is fairly easy to found a new Cub Pack, provided you have a new Charter Org lined up. That is the hardest part. Church, temple, volunteer fire dept. Lions Club, American Legion , I even know of a Cub Pack sponsored by a Hardware Store. So it doesn't even need to be a non-profit organization. Be true to your children's future and do not let these unfortunately led people spoil it (the future). Yours in Scouting.

What is "Baton"? Is that like hitting your axe/hatchet with a "sheleighlee" to split wood? If so, I do not recommend the sheleighlee, as it tends to open the eye of the axe head on wood handle axes. Use a real maul or handled wedge and sledge. Two axe/hatchet methods: "contact" and "impact".

I was once told by a very wise person to remember that we are all temporarily "able". When I sub-teach, I often am moved to remind my students, who I may never see again after that day, that each of them may have a talent, a gift that may not be shared with anyone else. Some of them may be really good at math, some may run faster. Doesn't mean anyone of them is more (or less) important than any other. Just so with somebody who has a "limitation", doesn't mean they are any less worthy or less....human. We are all .... human, various types and abilities. I am there to help them understand stuff, to the best of THEIR ability, not mine. If I have to adapt my teaching technique to match their ability , I will do that (much to some of their surprise!). Your young Scout will find his own level, and have a good time doing it. This subject always makes for an excellent SM Minute. A good SM will couch his language such that the boys will think universally, not just about one fellow Scout. From your discription of his friends and fellow Cubs, I think your son has already met some Scouts that have heard such a message, maybe not from a SM or CM, but from another good source. I like the suggestion that you can become ASM, or other Troop leader, and not only help your son , but the other Scouts as well.

Well said, Scoutetr99. Altho I too have had to remind folks of BSA guidelines, I have had to bend them on occasion to meet the conditions "on the ground". More than once, I have had to serve on the BoR of the Troop (I am an ASM) when there just weren't any other adults able and willing (yes, we've had folks refuse when asked) to so serve. The CC usually chairs the BoR, since we don't have an official AdChair. "The work gets done by whomever shows up".

Ooooo.... I had not heard of this before. What precedent do we have here? Is Philmont considered/used the same? Seabase??? Goshen??? The naming is not an issue, we accept the donation and paint a name over the gate. It's the USE that is under consideration. Concert promoters? It's a three mile drive into the Arena area... Alcohol use? Mary Jane? Woodstock re-incarnate? Maybe private vacation things, Club Med??? Take me home, country roads.... Nature preserve... High Adventure Base? If the property HAD been converted into State Park, as was originally sought by the stae of West by God Virginia, would this be a consideration? What happened to that four story Eco-Cabin???

KiSMiF... You do the cheer to show appreciation or honor (applause), or to please someone (just because I said to), or just to have fun or to compete . "Let's give'm a BIG HAND (hold your open hand over your head), Let's give'm a round of applause (clap in a circle) . DIvide the crowd into three sections (make chopping noises): Assign each section one word: "DO" "YOUR" "BEST".... Conduct the band by pointing at them: DO-YOUR-BEST, BEST-BEST-DO-YOUR, etc. "Let'em hear ya in the County Seat!!" . Rocket Cheer (sssssss- BOOM!!!) If YOU enjoy it, THEY will enjoy it. But you have to enjoy it!