SSScout

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.

P38.. You Can use the Lid from The Can for a Spoon..Can't Open a Can with a Spoon as Easily Y'all forgot the guru's advice? "When you get to the fork in the road, take it" = Yogi Berra.... I always have a fork with me, In the pocket. Elicits conversation. And smiles.

Here we go again.... Why take WB? 1) Because I want to 2) Because my unit says they would like me to/ need me to 3) Because it's required for the Jamboree..whatever. 4) Because someone else will pay for it and it's a neat mini vaction away from home... Okay. So for whatever reason, you re going to WB. How to pay for it? Can't be free,:: the pychology of training ALWAYS includes the BUY IN. If you have no investment (time, mioney, emotion) it will mean the less to you. The money part can be fulfilled in many ways. ** Pay for it yourself. 'Nuf said. ** By your involvement and DEMONSTRATED dedication to Scouting, perhaps the Unit can help (do they offer? Do you ask?). ** Some companies recognize WB as a worthy management training. Ask your HR folks about company help. ** Some Unions see WB as a worthy community service, in encouraging Scout Leaders. Mine was paid by my union. They only required that I not get "fired" from my job for a year! ** I have heard of churches helping financially (see above about "companies"), seeing WB as a worthy social endeavor , Scouting being what it is. It ultimately is kinda like the song about "Sharon"..... you got to pay with your heart, ultimately, to make the WB course worth while. And, as has been said in other threads, it is dependant on the training staff. Some WB's seem to be better than others. The beads all look alike to me. ..

Picky eaters of the world, unite! If the kid/Cub/Scout has his blood sugar level elevated by "snacks" at the time when he should have had a real meal (dinner) of some sort, how is his growing body going to get used to the idea of "eat" play/work rest eat play/work rest.? If it is always eat play eat play eat play, the body gets accustomed to never having to utilize stored reserves, always using "instant" supplies. Where is the nutrition? "eat your vegetables", in essence, the body doesn't WANT the veggies, it feels sated already. This leads, I believe, to poor nutrition and poor stamina.. Even a PB&J on the way to the event is better than a Lil Debbie . Granted, in this age of two income households and no one there to have dinner ready when the wage earner(s) come in the door,, but those wage earners need to realize the example they are setting for Johnny Cub. I think the idea of a potluck or even a (cheaply) catered meal for the Scout families is a good one, if the organizers can make it work equitably among everyone involved.. A 7:30pm Pack meeeting should allow for a smallish, informal family meal before the meeting, if the families are willing to make the effort , my sympathies to Base for his seemingly poorly received act of charity turned into advantage taking episode. If you have a regularly occurring event (Pack meeting) and there are some folks that need the help, perhaps arrangements can ber made with the local Safeway for a discounted roast chicken dinner combo, f'rinstance. When I coached my daughters soccer team, it was arranged that the snacks were good ones (usually cheese crackers, or PBJ crackers), the drinks were ONLY water. And because, I think , we were well nurished, (other teams had sugary cookies) , that was part of the reason we did so well thru three seasons.

What was that saying, "you can lead a horse to water...?" . Like I said, this is what they wrote, some are enthused, some not so. I met one man who was from New Jersey (the course was in Virginia), who seemed to do WB as a hobby. He told me this was his tenth (!) WB course he had attended. He just liked camping and the commeraderie, I guess. I asked him, did he do more "tickets", too? He said no, after his first course, the WB served to help restoke his "Scouting fires" (his words). It can be fun, it can be instructional, it can "certify" you know certain stuff, it's like any other instructional course. It can be *yawn" I've been here before, or "wow, that is so neat". or " tell me more" or " hey, that is a good example, never thought of that" or " I paid $xxx for THIS????" .... many different possibilities. It depends...... Yeah, everyone has their own take on the course, and everyone has the luck of the draw (not every course staff is a good/bad/so-so as mine/yours/that one), and everyone comes with their own preconcieved notions (or lack of) and past experiences to compare with and draw from. . At least we asked their opinion before they scattered.

Christineka: Thank you for taking on this truly awe inspiring role as WDL. You will be nothing but gratified in the end. By strict BSA standards, if you as the WDL haven't passed on the boy's pins/requirements etc., then he hasn't "earned" them. Perhaps the CM needs to be gently reminded of this. If the CM took the CLTraining, then this would have been mentioned! If you have gone over the book, then you have read the part that details WHO is responsible for the advancement checks. Especially if you are a new WDL, I would do the fact sheet thing, and refer to the "official" readings. If you have a schedule in mind (ages, topics for meetings, monthly advancement/pin goals, etc.) a good idea is to include that. Remind ALL the Webs about this requirement that the WDL is the person to OK the rank requirements, don't single out anyone, but make sure the Scout in question understands the importance of it. He will make the mom understand. You might still have to gently remind CMMom that . They may need to fufill some work at home, but you, the WDL, needs to be the one who finally reviews it to be correct . .I agree with Huey about the "rude awakening" when the boy becomes a BScout. This may be a EagleMom, if you know what I mean.

Truly a highly underratted Scout job. The Cubs get a "big brother", the DenChief gets a chance to show his Scout Skills and be an important part of the Cub Scout Den. If the BScout does his job well, he will have a bunch of "little brothers" all looking up to him. If he hasn't had a chance previously, he learns how to help , how to take charge, how to teach, how to share his experience with younger kids. It is a chance for the Cubs to see what they may attain to. The Den Leader who has a good Den Chief is truly blessed. The DL needs to make sure the DC knows what is expected of him. It would not hurt for the DL to take the DC training on line at MyScouting and encourage the Boy Scout DC to take it too. If there is a "in person" DC training in your Council, help your DC to attend. The DL also needs to keep in touch with both the Pack's Cubmaster and the BScout''s Scoutmaster about the DC's progress and ability. It is a "POR", but hey, the need for that for advancement is secondary to the Scout's experience. Overcome the BScout's misperception that it's just "babysitting " some little brats, and everybody will benefit. Thank you for seeking to use this job effectively. Good Scouting to you!

Pack18alex: Thank you for your explanation and personal observations. May I quote them when I do my " Scout's Own" orientation at IOLS? Yes, I do a little disabusing of the Christian BSA belief. PM me and I can email my curricullum to you. I did a "regular" Woodbadge weekend, and two of my Patrol were LDS (didn't know that at first). Along with several other LDSers in the Troop, they went off on Sunday morning and met for their worship in a seperate corner of the camp. Our LDS brothers did not "pack up" on saturday evening, as has been mentioned above. . I noticed this and asked them about it. My Owl brother told me they had asked for and received a "special" permission from their Bishop, who was evidently their worship leader that sunday morning, at camp. We did not have , to my knowledge, any jewish Scouters in my WB Troop, that session, but had two Muslims (they arrived Saturday) and I made a good friendship with them, they have asked me to come and assist (bugle!) at a couple of their special occassions. Hey, Moderators.... Let's switch this thread to the "Faith and Chaplaincy" forum.... Oh, wait...

HEY MODERATORS!!!! We Need """A Faith and Chaplaincy """" Forum (or Subforum).... This thread should be moved to the newly established Faith and Chaplaincy Subforum., post haste..... I have to often remind Scouters that BSA is not a Christian organization, altho any Scout Unit may so declare themselves. I have a Troop nearby that requires any prospective member to prove they are a member of a Catholic chufch (not necessarily the sponsoring church). Another Troop is sponsored by a Muslim Mosque, but they have declared that they are willing to accept a Scout not Muslim, so long as the Scout realizes that the Troop will be doing "Muslim things" all the time. That said, BSA does have a "Declaration of Religious etc. " and Our Founder declared (quote) ""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."" And no one has ever said it better since.... If the atheism topic comes up, it is incumbent on the Scout Leader to nod and say "um-mmm" and keep all the possibilities open. Even (even?) atheists can be "reverent", as defined in the Scout Law (older or newer versions not withstanding), and we should allow them to do that.

Work around for the "time out" ::: Write your loooooong response/diatribe/rant/discourse/lecture on a seperate page in your home "documents", then "copy " it and "Paste" it in to the forum response. Do not do any fancy capitols or colors or differences in type face or size. They MAY gum things up. Has worked for me.

O Great Spirit whose voice I hear in the winds And whose breath gives life to all the world, hear me. I come before you as one of your many children . I am small and weak. I need your strength and wisdom. Let me walk in beauty. Make my eyes ever behold the red and purple sunset. Make my hands respect the things you have made And my ears sharp to hear your voice. Make me wise so I may learn the things you have taught my people, the lessons you have hidden under every leaf and rock. I seek strength, not to be superior to my brothers, But to be able to fight my greatest enemy, myself. Make me ever ready to come to you with clean hands and straight eyes, so when life fades like the fading sunset, my spirit will come to you without shame. =attributed to Chief Yellow Lark, Blackfoot =

So I'm answering a thread, and when I hit "POST" I get a box that reads "EDIT COMMENT" "The string you entered for the image verification did not match what was displayed." and the post will not post. Then I notice that I am no longer "signed in". So I sign in again. Go to the thread, make the same answer (no strange punctuation or figures, not too long...) and get the same response (see above.) What happened?

It takes a lot of maturity for middle school kids to get out of the "I'm in the in group" mentality. One has to find their OWN in group. But to not include the Scout Troop, when it is obviously the "lead in" to the party group, that is something the parent-leader needs to address. The daughter has learned this behavior, it is not , I think, innate in the female of the species. Bullying is not always an obvious thing, and the idea that "you need to grow a thicker skin" is not the proper thing to say or insist on to the group. Yes, thicker skins help the victims, but that does not excuse the bully-er. Even parents can be facilitators in such inappropriate behavior. Here's a discussion about it: http://www.dorkdiaries.com/2013/05/what-to-do-when-your-friends-dont-invite-you-to-stuff/ If it was me, I would go to the individual adults of the girls in question and ask them if they were aware of the bad feelings that their girls are engendering in the group? That the cohesiveness and sisterhood of the Troop were at stake? Ask them what their desire was for their kids was? Cooperation? Superiority? Good luck to you and your girls. "We're all in this together. I'm pulling for you".

The previous thread about the BALOO requirement brought out some distinctions that might profit from some further delineations. Here's how I breakdown the camping (maybe I have it right? Maybe not? Do all of these exist?) YPT assumed.... * 1) Scout Camping: By Patrol (KUDU's 300 feet), Troop (adults in the midst and large cooking arrangements), hike in, backpack in, self contained. *1A)Stop and Drop (drive the trailer up and disgorge what is needed). * 2) Webelos camping. Parents in tow? Adults nearby? See above. * 3) Pack Camping BALOO required? Dens? Cubs with parents? Activities planned? Scout-like planning and "being Prepared". * 4) Scout Family Camping Cubs and family and whoever wants to come . Not "roughing it" in the least. Activities may may/not be planned, Scout oversight assumed, though. * 5) Family Camping: The family(ies) go together and NO Scout oversight is present or assumed. Go and do what ever folks want..... * 6) Hybrid: Troop arranges for families to join Scouts in a special trip (like to a beach park), but the parents and siblings know the Scout will be with his Patrol/Troop mostly. Adults plan and cook and arrange things as the "old goat Patrol" or some such. Comments?

Sakatima has the most of it. Agreed to guidlines, with consequences for infractions Apply the consequences as they apply. Routine, and STICK TO IT. Do not allow inappropriate behavior to go unchallenged. Prior to meeting, politely ask for the parents cooperation. Courteously tell them directly of your problems, that you will report to them their sons behavior, if it is disruptive. When necessary, report to the parents, with the Scout present, what he did that was inappropriate and why it cannot be allowed.. In the Den, depending on what the incident is, you can either ignore it and move on, remind the Scout what the rule is and move on or address it directly and tell the Scout it is inappropriate and apply the consequences. try to Reward, rather than punish. Beads in a jar for good behavior, , enough beads at the end of the month, we have a pizza party, that sort of thing. I heard of one Den that had some behavior problems, the Leader did this: She had three candles. mark them with a line so far down. At each meeting, she lit all three. If there was a bad problem, she put a candle out. If the candles burned down past the line, they would have a pizza party, ice cream sundaes, something special. Then, new lines, new chance to earn a treat. All the Scouts will benefit from your fair, firm, just application of these suggestions.

As a side trip, after visiting BSA HQ..... Lee Harvey Oswald has a connection to Irving.... http://www.roadsideamerica.com/tip/14426

Out of season, Local Council Camp is rented to local Public school district for "Outdoor Ed". It is rented to local Radio Control Airplane modelers. It is rented to folks for "team building " exercises. It is rented to local Jr. College for picnics and bio class. All low cost, but rented. They have a really nice cabin for corporate get togethers: full pro kitchen for caterer, dining area sits about 35. Even has 3 bedrooms with beds and bath. It is promoted to local Scout units (Cubs and Boy) for camping and natue study. Fee is so much per boy, adult leader is free for so many boys. Lots of possibility, if you expand the box, much less think outside it.....

This is a left coast thing. If right coast, it would be "boid a prey"

Our training regime includes all the usual: BALOO, OWLS, IOLS, all the online stuff. The trainers I work with make the following allowances: If you take the full SLST series (donuts and coffee in class room, & overnite weekend) AND some supplemental Cub sections, you have earned the BALOO, OWLS and SLST/IOLS all- in--one. BUT,,,, they DO recommend taking the BALOO seperately, like on the two seperate occasions offered in out home District, or one of the neighboring Districts, OR at University of Scouting, OR at the Cub Round-up, which is sort of a U of Cubs separate from the U of Scouting.... It is all about "The work is done by whoever shows up' and most folks know who is knowledgeable about what. I would not want some of our pros teaching the Scout series, as they have rarely been out in the LNTrenches, so to speak. One I have great respecrt for is a detail guy, good speaker, give you his shirt off his back, but I would be afraid he wouldn't know which end of the hatchet to hold. You can't have too much edy-cashun, as my uncle used to say. You might never need what you were taught, but you can't predict when you WOULD need it.

The BoP trapping sounds like an ongoing program. How is this going to be continued? Is this like a Trail cleanup type of thing?

Along the way, teach'em the Whitlin' Chip. Everyone (boy and girl!) needs to know how to work with their hands and tools. Respect for an edge, confidence in one's own ability to see a task, plan the way to complete it and see it thru to the end can be very useful in the adult life. Find the book "Reverence for Wood" by Eric Sloane, and learn about hand tools, back when there were no power tools.

Awrighty,,,, any more??? Inquiring minds want to be informed....