SSScout

????? What happened to the posting about the Miner Tent???? I came back here to referernce it and it's GONE!! It mentioned an american company that makes canvas historically accurate tents, what happened to that entry? I like the brit company (excuse me, Scottish company) and their products, but What Happened To the Other Entry????

"The million questions"... I assume they are from the Cub Parents. Here's where your dedication kicks in. If you don't know the answer, or don't want to make a "Command Decision", you can do one of three things (actually, you can do either of these even if you DO know the answer) :\ One) "I don't know. I'll find out and get right back to you." Two) " I don't know. What do you think? Maybe we can work together on that. Call me when you have an idea." or Three) "Hey, good question. I bet Jeff and Mary would like to work with you on that. Let's go talk to them.... Hey Jeff!"

“It is easier to build strong children than to repair broken men. " = Frederick Douglas=

Ha! It's the old "I didn't think adults talk to each other " thing, eh? Had the same surprise with my daughter when she was about 14.....

What is that old saying? .... You can lead a Cub to the museum, but you can't make him learn? No, that's not it.... Anyway, as I have learned in my subteaching and Cub Scouting, the best you can do is give them the opportunity. Sometimes, SOMETIMES, you hit the right docent or guide, and they make it fun and the kids come away saying "cool" and humming the song, so to speak. It will stick with some, slide off of some, make some think, make some go ho-hum. That's the luck of the draw. As to the boy whose dad is a "let boys be boys", I have sometimes had to get RIGHT DOWN IN THE BOY'S FACE and tell him how things will be. Then they listen. Later, the dad comes and says, "I don't know what you did, but he was different after that meeting"....

Must be related to that well known society commentator, Anna Notherting, who got her reporters training from the editorializing writer, Stella Lottaschist.

You can expect that any Eagle Application Review Person at Council will look at the overall report, see monies and "stuff" being bought and/or donated and ask " how was this done?" Things are tightening up all over. Check with your local District and Council Eagle BoR folks about the specifics they might want. I would suggest an addendum reporting that Johnny Scout handled no money, that discounts from merchants were negotiated for the project beneficiary's benefit, and that the beneficiary collected and handled all the "stuff". You can (truthfully) mention that Johnnny Scout helped in the discount negotiations, but that the beneficiary supplied the matrerials for the project to proceed. True? I know that Scoutson worked with his beneficiary (he would not have called them that, but never mind) and never bought or collected any materials. He just made sure the ben'ry obtained the supplies needed. This was reported in the Eagle Project book, hence, no fundraising form needed.

The IOLS is not just to help unexperienced old guys learn how to be a Scout. It involves cooperating with other Scouters, making new friends, learning Other Ways To Do It, correcting Wrong Ways Of Doing It, being reminded of The Scout Way To Do It, and , heck, it's another time to go camping. Why would an Eagle Scout NOT want a good excuse to go camping? Just because he's an Eagle (Mucho Congrats!) doesn't mean he Knows It All.... A good Scouter, I find is also a humble Scouter, and is always eager and open to Learn Something New and Share His/Her Knlwledge and Experience with others. If your Eagle truly does not think he belongs in the IOLS class, I will suggest that he will have a hard time every time somebody else says "you need to take this training to be this postion". Take the Training. Have fun. Show us your Scout Stuff....

Whittlin Chip is definitely a local thing . Note that there is no "requirements", as in "do this, then this and make this", one is expected to teach the safe techniques and skills like an Uncle might to his nephew. There are lots of good curriculum on line, some more "academic" some more "hands on". PM me and I can send you our W/C Curriculum. It is important that boys learn how to use tools safely, not only sharp edges. The confidence one gains in using tools to DO and MAKE spills over into other activities. If I can do THAT, then no reason I can't do THIS. Helping around the yard, helping in the kitchen (RAW ingredients), even holding and handing him the wrench while dad tightens something, all these add up over the boys lifetime. I am always amazed at the lack of dexterity today's young boys exhibit in CSDC. It's as if they never have a chance to pile blocks up and knock them down. And the parents are often so eager to NOT have their boy take ANY risk . We had a Webelos Cub at one of our Camporees (visiting Webelos) want to do the W/C, but was scared to TOUCH a knife. One of our Scouts found a knife shaped stick in the woods and worked with this Cub using this substitute until he was ready to borrow the Scouts pocket knife. Eventually carved a credible auto out of the soap bar we gave him. I kept that knife-stick and point it out when I teach IOLS to nascent SMs. What a good recruiting tool! Big brother teaches young Cub about carving! I hope you have the pleasure of watching and hearing your Scout hand his mother a knife in the kitchen and insist she say "thank you" before relinguishing his hold on it.

Welcome to the neighborhood. Try the PM function, I live just down the road in White Oak. TTurtle has the right idea. Include the parents. Give them ideas, suggested places to "go see", give each a month for which to plan , and keep at them to make it work. It is (and never should) just be you.

"Speak for thyself, Stosh Alden..." Dawnjo, pull up a virtual log, sit ye self down and welcome to the ecracker barrel.

WCS: Have you had a sitdown with these folks? Who is the CO? Is it a viable entity or is it a "Friends of" CO? What role does it play in this? What are the boys' ages? Ranks? Is this one of those "My son makes Eagle and I'm done" kind of things? If so, these folks are really not being fair to the other boys nearby who might Actually want to be a Scout but this "Troop" isn't even trying to play fair. I would say to them, "here are the requirements to have a REAL Scout Troop: 5 (or 10?) boys, 5 seperate adults in various roles, etc. etc. " and if they can fufill the charter requirements, let'em pay the dues and have fun.... Otherwise, drop the charter, urge them to re-up with another Troop and move on. If this is the worst of your problems in your DIstrict, be thankful....

If he is asked to give a "Scoutmaster's Minute", he speaks for ...one minute. When he went to Philmont, he gave the Tooth of Time a root canal..... His Eagle Project used real eagles...... He is.... the most interesting Scouter. "I do not always go camping in the rain, but when I do, I get wet." "Keep hiking, my friend."

Camp Theodore Roosevelt:: Chesapeake Bay.... 100 feet long pier, buoy waaaay out there.... row boats circling 'round.... Sea Nettles (jelly fish).... rub vaseline ALL OVER legs and chest... jump in off end of pier, swim to the buoy, swim back... rub alcohol ALL OVER sea nettle stings (vaseline didn't help that much).... don't need sharks.... No more Camp Roosevelt ( now the Calvert Cliffs Nuclear Power Plant)....

Yes, the ACLU has defended many religious tolerance cases. And the one Jblake notes has nothing to do with religion, as far as I can see. And our athiest friends often do not get the understanding they deserve. And the so-called Christian right often does not allow for other types of faith. We still have a better time of it than , I think, any other country in the world. We do have the means to discuss (not just cuss) and, depending on what Holy Script you follow (and often what PART of that script), the basis for finding out where we agree and where we part company. And for that, I give thanks.

Well, how 'bout a ""Faith and Chaplaincy Sub Forum""? As a Jambo Chaplain, I can say there is alot of religiosity out in Scout Land. I think the difference is more in people seeing less necessity in ritual, than in belief. I have met alot of "I'm a catholic but..." folks of late. And similarly in other faiths, " I'm an XYZ but...". Have you read the new MoU from the Lutheran Missouri Synod? There has been a raprochment (sp?) between the BSA and the late anti-BSA synod. http://www.scouting.org/filestore/pdf/lutheran_misso_synod.pdf . In the District I Commish, I sense a desire among Units to accomodate (yes, there is one home school evangelical Catholic Troop that is very exclusionary and may not recharter this year.) different faiths, even the professed agnostic or athiest.

I realize this thread is not about "backpack" cooking, but the idea of sedan chair carriable chuck/cook boxes and drive up and drop trailer camping always brings to mind my favorite article, which I give out at IOLS training, to wit, I present "Courageous Cookery" : *(( The true author of this article is unknown. It is here copied from the COME HOSTELING newsletter, Sept. 1980, of the Potomac Area Council of the American Youth Hostels, who received it from Dick Schwanke, Senior PAC Staff Trainer, who read it in the APPALACHIAN HIKER by Ed Garvey, who got it from the Potomac Appalachian Trail Conference Bulletin, which quoted it from THE RAMBLER of the Wasatch Mountain Club of Salt Lake City, which reportedly cribbed it from the I.A.C. News of Idaho Falls, which reported it from the 1966 PEAKS & TRAILS. I offer it here for your enjoyment and inspiration. Note that some of the ingredients are a bit dated. Adjust as necessary. Enjoy!)) "Courageous Cookery" by John Echo* Once the convert backpacker or cycle camper has accepted the subtle gustatory nuances associated with sustained operations beyond the chrome, he should try the advantages of ultra fringe living so that he will realize what he is paying for his nested pots and pretty pans carried so diligently and brought home so dirty after every "wilderness experience". The following system works. It is dependable and functional. It works on the big rock. It even works when the weather has gone to hell, you are wet and cold and the wind is blowing down the back of your hairy neck. It is not for the timid. It consists of a stove, a six inch sauce pan, a plastic cup and a soup spoon. If you insist on a metal cup, you must never fail to mutter "I'm having fun, I'm having fun", every time you spill the soup on your sleeping bag. Breakfast: Instant wheat cereal-- sugar and powdered milk added-- ready two minutes after water boils. Eat from pot. Do not wash pot. Add water, boil, and add powdered eggs and ham. You'll never taste the cereal anyway. In three minutes, eat eggs. Do not wash pot. Add water or snow and boil for tea. Do not wash pot. Most of the residue eggs will come off in the tea water. Make it strong and add sugar. Tastes like tea. Do not wash pot. With reasonable technique, it should be clean. Pack pot in rucksack and enjoy last cup of tea while others are dirtying entire series of nested cookware. Lunch: Boil pot of tea. Have snack of rye bread, cheese and dried beef Continue journey in 10 minutes if necessary. Dinner: Boil pot of water, add Wylers dried vegetable soup and beef bar. Eat from pot. Do not wash pot. Add water and potatoes from dry potatoe powder. Add gravy mix to taste. Eat potatoes from pot. Do not wash pot. Add water and boil for tea. Fortuitous fish or meat can be cooked easily. You do not need oil or fat. Put half inch of water in pot. Add cleaned and salted fish. Do not let water boil away. Eat from pot when done. Process can be done rapidly. Fish can even be browned somewhat by a masterful hand. Do not change menu. Variation only recedes from the optimum. Beginners may be allowed to wash pot once a day for three consecutive days only. It is obvious that burning or sticking food destroys the beauty of the technique. If you insist on carrying a heavier pack, make up the weight you save with extra food. Stay three days longer.

""Only 1 sash can be worn"" Officially true, but one could pick a sash du jour to wear as one wanted, and display the other hanging in the home picture window...

Multiple sashes....

Yes, the Summit is reclaimed strip mine land. I doubt if any tree there is more than 25 years old. Gullies are now "lakes", trails are sculpted, camp sites are leveled and sloped fpr drainage.

CoH last night. Moose Patrol is in charge of the ceremony. MP PL is a Scout of 3 years membership. He assigns 4 boys to the colorguard and I hear him help them thru the routine. They wait with the flags outside the door for the word to begin. All have Scout shirt and Troop necker, look correctly "patched". One has "official" Scout pants, one dark green Scout pant clones, one long dark blue jeans, One is a new Scout ( new to the Troop) in stripped shorts and shirt hanging out. I lean in to him and say, quietly, "Nice shorts. Tuck in your shirt!". He JUMPS! and tucks it in. Turns out he was the CG captain, to say the commands. All goes well, otherwise.

Are they Venture Scouts? Family members? Is it happening on Assateague Island? Just so they are properly uniformed (there are BSA swim suits...) and appropriately clothed for the occasion.....

Congrats to you both. Like the man said, it is up to you and your family to decide how and what your ceremony consists of. Proud mom and dad might want to write to the Governors Mansion and White House and County Councilman's office and ask for their "Eagle Congrats" letters. Look real sharp , framed on the wall or at the ceremony. Ceremony: Many moon ago, mine was a simple CoH (three Eagles at same time) with the Troop and families in attendance. Finger food after in the church social hall. Scoutson had to be convinced that the family deserved and HE deserved some recognition. Special Troop CoH, many past Scout folks that had known him came. Family friend catered a BBQ for all afterward, we had BBQ frozen for months afterward (Scoutson's work lunches that summer!).. Do some google time, find Eagle Charges and scripts. Ask folks from your past (teachers, uncles, aunts, friends ) to attend and maybe embarrass you with remembrances. It will all be worth it, trust me. Make it as fancy or simple but elegant as you wish. The most memorable one I ever attended was for two brothers. They had a camp out in the back woods on their grandparents farm. Troop had camped there before, and there were lots of good memories there. Folks had to hike in with chairs and tables and such about 500 yards, set up, the nascent Eagles did the cooking, burgers and hot dogs and salads and such. After the official stuff, the candles were put out, the campfire burned late into the night and morning. Many memories were remembered and remade. Good luck to you and your buds. Oh, and do what you can to help your Troop rebuild. Show the kids in the neighborhood the fun and challenge of Scouting.

Waaaay back when, the fashion was a pack board that one lashed whatever to. My original Troop went to Philmont with war surplus M4 plywood packboards. I couldnt afford the trip, maybe that was a good thing, but I took the example seriously and got dad to take me to Sunny's Surplus and I still have that M4 pack board and Yucca pack I bolted to it. Saw no reason to merely lash it on. Very adaptable, but overly heavy before equipping. Good for a lugh from today's Scouts when I show it off. Then came Mr. Kelty's aluminum pack frame and pin on pack bag. Much lighter and very adaptable. Internal frames and built in stuff sacks for the poly sleep bag. Scoutson has tried both innies and outies, and says he likes the innies, IF they have lots of lash on rings for extraneous stuff. Always pack food seperate, in a bag that can be immediately hoisted aloft at camp. Seperate cover for pack (packs are usually NOT waterproof)..Use lots of plastic bags to pack and organize . Take extra plastic bags (bread bags are good) Ziplocks are best). Seperate rain coat . Dress in layers. Wool jacket, gortex clone stuff jacket over the wool jacket. Broad brim hat, with chin strap.

There is no REAL reason why the Pack cannot decide their own uniform details. The Cub Scout standard used to be ONE yellow necker , ONE blue hat, and ONE blue shirt thruout the Cub's career in CScouting. The different neckers, and hats and such was enacted for identification and $$$. It need not be the only way. I like the checkered necker story, that's real Scouting. I have a collection of neckers from when I was a Scout, also wogggles and hats, given as rewards/souvenirs from camps and courses. Patches are getting boring.