SSScout

I like Twocubdad's comments.... Each District is different, but the idea is the same. The project can be discussed whenever the Scout has the idea (?Tenderfoot?) and wants to talk about it. The project needs to be APPROVED after the boy makes Life, and commenced whenever he has gained the approval and signatures of whomever the District requires. In our District, after he has the "approval" of the agency the project is to benefit, it is "suggested" that the Eagle candidate make his presentation first to the Troop Committee. Any adjustments are made, and then the Scout makes his presentation to the Eagle Coordinators for our area. This is the group that also arranges and schedules the Eagle BoRs . When the EC signs off on it, he may begin actual "construction" or whatever. Best of wishes for your soon-to-be Eagle! YiS

Burn out can happen at any time to any one. Lions Club, teaching, bus driving, Scouting.... Some things to remember: Number one: "The work is done by whoever shows up." If you show up, you can do the work. Show up enough, eventually, you will be one of the one(s) saying "welcome, friend" to the others that show up. Do not allow the present "others" to define who can or who cannot "show up". If necessary, introduce yourself to the Charter Org. Representative or Institution Head (not necessarily the CM or CChair, but might be) and talk about your desire to make the Scout program work. Look up your District and Council websites , and take the training for the appropriate leadership positions. Presto! You have the "credentials" to speak with authority. Number two: "It's for the kids". You will often meet Scouters who have forgotten this, and seem to be in Scouting for their own self aggrandizement. Look at the (often called) south american generals, with more bling showing on their uni's than tan cloth. If you keep that in mind, "KiSMiF" will be your mantra in Cubs and "BoyLed" will be the goal in Boy Scouts. If your kids are not having fun, or are learning what YOU think is the wrong thing, speak up. I once had to speak to the dad of a Scout in my son's Troop about some language I overheard. Guess what? The boy became one of the Troop leaders, and began to set the right example. Number three: "Its the way we've always done it" is a good place to start, but not necessarily the best place to end up. Any program or activity that cannot stand criticism and defend itself as to fulfilling Scouting's purpose and ideals NEEDS to be questioned, and corrected. Number four: "If you don't have a connection with your boy at age twelve, you won't have one when he is eighteen". Remind your Cub parents this. If they are in the "soccer syndrome" ( drop the boy off and come back in two hours), they do not understand this. The Cub program is intended to suppliment the ability of parents to guide and know their boy. Help them to understand this, and the Committee will be more likely to be functional. What kind of a "gang" do you want your boy to be a member of? Thank you for your service to our youth. Years from now, your boy , and many others I wager, will remember these years. YiS

Indeed, we are here to have our collective experience picked and to benefit from YOUR time in the trenches... KiSMiF,, YiS.

The work is done by whoever shows up. If the folks that want to do it say 4pm, then that's the time. I am in agreement with you, the ceremony loses some of its panache by doing it FIRST, and in daylight too. Our local camp had a "Grand Opening Campfire" with the opportunity "to add your Troop's campfire ashes to the new fire circle" and later to collect souvenir ashes to take home. Billed to start at 4pm and last to 8pm, . when we arrived at 5pm, it was already done and all 25 people were cleaning up. 25 people from the whole council. No skits, no ceremony, when I offered our ashes, they said the fire was already out and thank you. Sad, we thought.

Evan: You may well be podiatrially pummeling a nonresuscitainable equine. Sit down with the wife, without the boy(s). Make a list of the adults/parents, all of them. Honestly check off the ones that have given ANY , and I mean ANY help or support in the last year. Then cross off the rest. Call up the checked ones, and ask for a meeting at your local Starbucks. Include the COR and, if possible, the IH. Take over the back area. Buy the lattes. Put it to them that THIS is now the Pack committee. Tell them that one of them (THEM!, Not you) must take on the role of Committte Chair. If no one does, then tell them the next Pack meeting will be your last. Point out that the success of the Pack depends on THEM. Point out that their Cub is only 9 years old once, and that if they do not have a connection to their son by the time he is 12, they won't have one when he is 18. If they see Scouting as a worthy activity for their son, it MUST be a worthy activity for them also. Pass out some training calenders for your Council. Point out that they are not alone, that there is lots (I hope) training available, that the quality of their son's Scout career is not wholely your responsibility , but you are there to help. Tell them that as of the next meeting, this is no longer a "soccer" Pack (drop off your boy, come back in two hours). Good Luck. Believe it or not, if the Pack does not survive, the boys will remember you. Your boy(s) will go on in Scouting and some of the other Cubs will continue, and you will see them years on, when they appear at Camporees and make Eagle. Boy Scouts can move on with or without the parents support. Cubs cannot move on without it.

If I didn't have so few hours in my day already, I might be tempted to apply as an adult leader just to see if a Quaker could Qualify. We are definitely not "trinitarian", and some of us might not be as Christian as some, but then I'd have to discuss the Light within (mt 5:16?)

Maybe I am trying to get a sense of how the kids today operate versus what fuzzy memory I have of how the kids in my way back when operated. The kids in the classes I sub teach , even the "advanced" classes, seem to not want to get it for themselves. They mostly (20 out of 25) seem to expect to be told what to say, not have an opinion of their own. I get alot of "is this gudnuf?" from them. Math, english, reading, it is a rare class where I get more than a absolute minimal answer. Case in point: Last week, 8th grade algebra. My instructions were to "review" the last nights homework and go over the worksheet in preparartion for the test friday. Write the probs up on the Promethean board (no more chalk board), ask for answers (they did this last night?) . you could hear the wood in the chairs shrinking. 2x+y=6 ? anyone? I had to pull it out of them. Were there kids that never grasped algebra in my day? Sure, but SOMEBODY would attempt an answer. Not here. "well, what should the answer be, Mr. SSScout?" I ultimately had to pick out a student for each problem, and even then I thought it was strange how slow these kids were. Same with every class that day. Similar to many other classes. I don't have these kids every day, don't know them. Sometimes there is an "a-ha!" moment but oh. so rare. One can google almost anything. The big encyclopedia or dictionary on the stand is not even considered. It is expected that ANY answer to ANY question (even in fifth grade) will be given, at finger tip, why even bother to learn HOW the answers in Wikipedia were originally found? So with today's Cub and Boy Scout.... when did it become necessary to reward them NOW, rather than a little later? How is it that we learned our reward would come, but our kids today need it NOW? I like Sentinels take on what I tried to say. I guess I am still trying to define what I sense...

I think many Councils who have local campgrounds or nearby parks sponsor "Son and One" or "Dad and Lad" or "Parent Cub" overnight camp outs. It is a fun, good thing. The trick is making it a "sleepover" in a tent. Yeah, pillows, Teddys, nite lights, (from outside the tent?), knowing Gdad or mom is close by. Dress warm, bring extra socks and shoes (they get wet, even when there is no rain!) and a frisbee or two. Sing the old camp songs (don't be afraid of acting silly, dad, have fun), have skits, play cards. . Make it fun and make it possible for folks to want to do it NEXT year! Don't forget the Cub Mantra (repeat after me) "KISMIF, KISMIF , KISMIF"

The present philosophy is that kids (Cubs) want/deserve/should be rewarded NOW for what they accomplish. Beads, patches, RIGHT NOW! Permit me some nostalgia and reminiscing. I hope there are a few of us here, that might remember doing the "stuff" in our DL's recroom/basement, going to the zoo and fire house, and being "rewarded" by our DL's smile and "good job!" and then our mom and dad's smiles and hands on our shoulders. The key holder was cut and painted, the birdhouse was nailed together, albeit a bit crooked. The book was signed, and kept where I could see and read it. The patches and arrow points didn't arrive until the Pack meeting weeks or months later. I was working to become a Bear (f''rinstance), and the goal was being met, gradually, as indicated by the books signatures. My folks and DL made sure I saw that , reminded me of it. sat down with me and reviewed it with me. I knew it was coming (like Christmas?). My generation knows that the mortgage is a gradual thing. We (and the bank) own the house, and eventually only we will own it, after alot of self denial and putting off and score keeping. Now, young folks seem to want everything RIGHT NOW. There is very little sense of working toward a goal. Don't worry about research, wikipedia it. The kids I sub teach to wait for me to tell them what the answer is, heaven forbid they should figure it out for themselves. When did this change? When did we start teaching our kids to EXPECT their reward right now, and not to work for it for later? The internalization of the approval of our parents approbation was, I think part of our generation's education. Putting off the reward for our efforts til later, because we knew it would come, it would be there, later. Taking pride in what one can do alone, rather than taking pride (?) in what one can repeat...... Could this be part of our societal troubles? The need to see the result of our efforts and desires RIGHT NOW ? Then too, I wonder if my memory of things past is really that much different from things present. Is the percentage (amount? number?) of kids having trouble in school doing math the same as way back when? It can't be all that harder. Geometry and Algebra hasn't changed, only the imposed need to learn it RIGHT NOW... By tuesday..... Any sense in my ramblings? What am I trying to say?

AKd: You may meet a few old timers, such as myself, who can remember making the pen holders and cork thunderbirds in the Denleaders rec room, and all we received "immediately" was a "good job!" from our mom or dad. The book got signed,, the smiles from the DL and our folks, THAT was immediate. The Arrow Points or Bear badge came at the Pack meeting two or three weeks or a month later. We were having fun and seeing the pleased look on our folks face and my dad's hand in mine was our "immediate" reward. When did a plastic bead become more important than that?

http://www.scoutsongs.com/ and http://www.virtualcampfire.co.uk/#Fiddler%27s+Green for some mp3 choices. AND the theme for "Follow Me Boys" : http://www.scoutsongs.com/lyrics/followmeboys.html

Theme song for "Follow Me Boys" ?

Any chance of the PM function being re-instated? I went to the "Messages" button, pushed "compose"and that page told me I was "not authorized to view this page". Ummmmm?

Kudu: you seem to be the man with the knowledge here. Am I to understand that Trail Life is a "purely" Christian/protestant/evangelical scout organization? From reading the previous stuff,do I have that right ? No Jews or Hindus or Mohamadans or Catholics need apply?

"Unvoluntold"? Does that mean you were TOLD (by whom?) you were no longer needed, gold watch, put out to pasture, etc.?? Just because you no longer have a son in Cubs (next one coming along?) doesn't mean you can't be supportive to the Pack. Ask the Cubmaster , maybe he/she needs an ACM. Take on a task: The B&G, the PWD, the next BALOO training, there is something out there you can help with, sans Ms Alpha... I might look to become a Commissioner. Ask your DE or call Council office to find out how and why! Thank you for your support of Scouting! Keep us informed how things go, "inquiring minds want to know".

Hello again. Where IS that "Faith and Chaplaincy" forum? Must be around here sum'ers... TT: as us Quakers say, "How doth the Spirit prosper with thee, Friend?"

I would be interested in this. Scout staff usta be a standard piece of uniform. Useful. Tent pole, signal flag pole, take three and make a tripod for some use, game piece, totem/award hanger, prop to rest on , lots of uses. How big are these Tiger Cub staffs? A Boy Scout one would be 2 meters long, at least. I used one for my recent Camino hike, and received one as an award at the NatJam.

I think this can be classified in the same file as "when do I wear my Woodbadge Beads/dove necker/DA dangle/adult religious dangle/QA sash.. " If you earned it, you can find the "appropriate" time to wear it. Or not wear it.

"The work is done by whoever shows up". In an ideal world, the campouts are led by fully IOLS trained Scouters who are also Eagle scouts and USArmy Ranger trained. The Commishers are independant of the Units they serve because this helps insulate them from the internecine politics and lends them credo as to being unbiased and expert. The Pros are ex Scouts and realize they are being judged by BSA on "numbers" and judged by the local volunteer Scouters by their sympathy and ability to "help". All Eagles are expert in campcraft (E.T.Seton) , stay with their home units as an example to the younger Scouts and stay away from unlawful activities. Every parent is there for their Scout, steps up when the Unit needs help but lets the boys "do their thing". And there is enough fully trained and experienced Commishers that each one has only two or three units they are assigned to. When it is time to recharter, and we start talking about it in November, every unit has a Adult that takes on that role, corrects all the records, collects all the signatures and turns in the 100% correct paper work and clicks on the online forms by 31 December. Other than that, I agree with everything that's been said above.

"Reverence 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." =Robert Baden-Powell, “Aids to Scoutmastershipâ€Â

"" I'm just looking for ideas for my troop and my son fordifferent things."" Well, you're in the right place for that. Don't spill your cocao with some of the things you'll read here. Greetings from the Western Shore of the Bay, NCAC MD here.

So the choices are: 1) Scouts (and parents?) do something so unit raises money (sells widgets, washes cars, spreads mulch, whatever). Money goes in unit treasury, and Committee decides how to spend it (charter expenses, room rental, new tents, travel expenses for trips, sign out front, badges and books and neckers, etc.). or 2) Scouts (and parents?) do something so unit raises money. Committee decides how money is spent AND who to spend it on (camperships? Backpack for deserving Scout? ) and the kicker is that some Scouts work better/harder and earn/sell more stuff than others, so why should that Scout get more goodies than my Scout? I know a Cub that sold $25,000. gross popcorn two years ago. His Council propered, his Pack prospered (they bought a new PWD track among other things), and he went to summer camp essentially free. I know of no one who claimed they were less benefitted by his efforts (the kid did easily 90% of the selling hisself, contacted many companies and sold internet, long story. ) . The Packs' "scout accounts are held in trust to pay for the Scout's dues, summercamp fees, and do not go to "private" use (ipods, boots, uniforms or other use) and it is well understood that the left overs do not go with the Scout when he leaves the Pack. I know one Scout who saved up his "Scout account" and bought the troop a new trailer with it. The unit benefits, the Scout who did the work benefits (because of his work for the unit). The Scout that did not do as much to help the fundraising must make up for that lack by paying his dues directly. If the Comittee judges that that Scout needs help, then they are within their rights (I think) to spend the general funds to help that Scout. Many I have spoken with agree that this is superior to awarding trinkets for "high numbers". I fully understand the IRS and BSA wanting to define things such that folks don't make a living by falsely letting others think that a non-profit entity is making the money when it is in reality going in a private pocket. But if the Scout unit defines and limits the Scout account correctly I think the Scouts that work for the Unit will benefit as well as the Scouts that can't or won't. It must go to a Scout activity and benefit the Scout, not the private person. I even have known some Scouts who use their Scout Accounts as a trust savings account to save up for summer camp and HA trips. Example: When the Troop goes to Philmont, it is not the individual Scouts that pay, it is the Troop that pays for the trip. All the Scouts pay to the Troop. They pay either by working extra at the fundraising (?Scout account?), or with daddy's check book. When a Scout goes to Jamboree, it is not the Troop paying for that, that must be the Scout paying individually , that cannot come from the Scout account, which stays with the Troop.

Sikh: An upcoming group in Scouting. Very much in agreement with the SP&L http://www.worldsikhcouncil.org/press/2013/28Jul2013.html

Nice programs. http://www.bayportsr.org/

Uniforms.... A uniform is NOT required to be a Scout. Nice to have, makes us feel part of the movement, etc., but.... In a lot of places, a Tee shirt and Neckerchief is sufficient. Look at pictures of the World Jamboree, not everyone is in a blinged out tan/green/blue shirt. The only thing a Scout is required to do is follow the Scout Promise and Law, and even that is somewhat adjustable. Not every SP&L around the world is the same as the USA-BSA ones, but we recognize the brother/sister Scout when we meet them. If the woman is exemplary of the SP&L, then welcome to my Den and here's how you can help.... Get her to Woodbadge!