SSScout

1) Research and find your District Executive. He is the "paid big bucks" fellow, and you need to catch him. He can put you in touch with other good Scout people. Ask about your Commissioner, you may or may not have one. Bend their ears for help and ideas. If you have a "hands off" Charter Organization, you can do alot of good by talking to them and making them more "hands On". Places to meet, places to go and do things, adult help (ministry?). If they can support Scouting by signing a paper, can they do actual support? Do a service project for them. Show your gratitude. Look over all the previous ideas. Visibility can help you build a unit. Parades, notices in the local paper, service projects, a hand painted banner outside your meeting place. CAMP, HIKE, go to the movies together. If the boys are enjoying it, make sure they "recruit" Even middle schoolers need a fun challenging time. Hold a cookout someplace visible, church backyard after services, local park (check for fire permission!). Do a demo at the county fair, pioneering, pinewood derby, cooking (!). Good luck to you and thank you for what you do for your boys.

Well, welcome to the ecrackerbarrel. Lots to digest (if not eeat)here. Some find the fare hard to swallow sometimes, but one must admit to the great variety of Scouting cuisine to be sampled here. Got a leg in both worlds, so to speak? Good for you. Might make a fair Commissioner, watch out for the hand on the shoulder and the " hey, have you ever considered...?" conversation. Then they gotcha! Is the weather hot enough for you?

Not combined, but chockablock. Eagle CoH are of two types: First, stand alone, special affairs (see many other threads). Second, on the tail end of a regular Troop CoH. No matter which version you have, the WB part should be seperate, and not detract from the Scout's stand in the embarassing spotlight. YOU take second place. But the "official " Eagle CoH is started by the Scoutmaster (or other duly qualified High Scout Muckymuck) by proclaiming that " On behalf of the National Council of the BS of A, I duly convene this Court of Honor for the sole purpose of conferring the rank of Eagle." etc. etc. Work it out with your Scoutson and the Troop. THEN, when the Eagle brouhaha is over, (applause, hugs, handshakes), some WBer can jump up and say "But wait, there's more... " and the other WBers can saunter up and say "Isn't it time?" "time for what?" " time to go BACK!" "Back where?" and they drag you up and start the song. "Back to Gilwell..." And after the song, the explanation, the beads, the necker, the "secret cord flip", and so on. Applause, applause. Go into the CoH closing, benediction, flag retrieving, etc. Then the punch and cookies. On the Ceremony Program, it can be listed as "Special Award". That was how mine was listed. Surprise for the Troop CoH that night. I vote for the BBQ potluck picnic before the ceremonial stuff. Gotta slow down and catch those tyops. (This message has been edited by SSScout)(This message has been edited by SSScout)

Once again, our friends at National have a hard time understanding the local angst. The inconsistancy (6 essentials... 8 on the list)(appears Wolf can "handle" a knife, but Bear can "earn" the license) (WC worksheet, G2SS guidelines) means it is still up to us local folks to do right by our Scouts. The Whitlin' Chip requirements are purposefully vague, I feel, just like the Totin' Chip requirements. It is up to us to interpret them as we are able to, by our local (personal) experience and skill.Someone in Irving TX cannot tell someone out in the hinterlands to be skillful and pass that skill along to the next generation. 'Way back when, I earned the Totin 'Chip. I did it by watching my dad handle tools, the older Scouts handle axes, reading the HBfB and Fieldbook (thank you, GBB) and reading Eric Sloane's excellent books about handtools carpentry and wood. See http://www.scribd.com/doc/9008546/Eric-Sloane-A-Reverence-for-Wood The requirements for TC and WC do not specify "demonstrate THIS technique or skill" , only to demonstrate "safe handling". When I teach IOLS Woods Tools, I find alot of interest in the sharpening, handling, use and care of the tools. Most men (and women) these days do not have the usual need to cut and chop and form things in wood. You go to Acme Hardware. The traditional (and that is what it is, tradition) means of "demonstrating safe use" in this area is the Scout making a really good tent peg with a hatchet. (tent peg? What do you mean? Actual question from a Scout): Choice of wood/stick, not too big around or long. A sharp point, a purposeful shaped notch with "wings", a camfered top to prevent the splitting off of the notch, all these things are made by the use of the techniques I demonstrate (impact vs contact, patience, the physics of the lever arm, a sharp tool, choke up on the handle, eye direction, chopping block placement, plan ahead). But none of these things are or can be detailed in the badge requirements. Or should they? WC is the same. And part of my TotinC instruction. If a BScout is skillful with his knife, what better instructor for a CScout? A Bear Den Chief can be the best WC instructor and , boy, how impressive is that, as to the worth of BScouting on a Cscout. Setting up CSDC. The flagpoles need to be stepped. Life Scout ("yes, I have Totin' Chip") is handed a hatchet and asked to go out in the woods nearby and find some branches to make six stakes to help brace the poles. Watching him attempt to point the stakes, the Scouter is reminded how personal such skills are. It ain't the way the Scouter was taught. He and the Life Scout have a session and the LS says "gee, I didn't know you could do that". Archery at CSDC. Due to the size of the camp, half the Den shoots on the line, half have a "sit down" activity, then the halves trade places. CSDC PD says that all boys will have earned the Archery Belt Loop by virtue of doing it safely all week. No problem there. And, she has designed sitdown activities so that when the week is up, EVERYONE will have earned the Archery Pin! Archery Range Master takes exception with this. Tigers do not have the skill, maturity or responsibility , he feels, to "earn" the pin. Usually only Bears and Webelos are offered the opportunity, and it is "optional" and "extra", even after camp hours. Wolfs, maybe, but not Tigers. CSDC PD says, why not? There is nothing that says Tigers cannot earn the pin (true). Range Master says no, he will not certify any Tiger earning the pin.It is, the RM feels, a stretch to MAKE all Cubs "earn" the pin automatically. but the curriculum is there, the Scout assistants lead the "classes" and lo and behold, 200 Cubs (but not Tigers) earn the pin (to be awarded by the Pack). So the vagueness is a good thing, if viewed correctly. It is, after all, still up to the local folks to pass the Scout and give him the badge. But will he remember it some years later?(This message has been edited by SSScout)

I second BSA's comment. You can get parts and put it together. GO to the Scout Shop and find the Webelos/AoL posters/patches, there are some big ones appropriate to this. I had an old log that was split down the length, and a friend with a chainsaw. He cut off some "cookies", I sanded them smooth, drilled an appropriate hole at an angle, stuck a broken off arrow tail in the hole so it looked like it was splitting the log. Glued on the AoL and W patches. Got out the wood burning set from the closet floor (you can also use a soldering gun) and wrote the boy's name and date and Pack # on the disk. They loved it. Yes, it took a while, but as the WDL, I felt a need to do it for the four of them. Two are Eagles now, one never moved up to BS, one I lost track of him. Ready made is nice, and if you need the skill of another, nothing wrong with having it done to your liking.

Our home Troop lets the Cub Pack sell the popcorn. Troop sells Holiday/Christmas decorations, wreaths and such. Troop Scout earns a percentage for his yearly dues/fees, then when that is satisfied, he earns a set portion into his Scout account. This "account" is used for activity fees, camp fees, etc. not personal expenses like boots and sleeping bags. Pays for Philmont and camporees. "A Scout is thrifty. He pays his own way". One boy in the not too distant past, saved up all his Scout account and bought the Troop trailer before he aged out.

I always tell folks "there is no such thing as a stupid question", I try to answer each question as if it was important to that person. Then I try to make sure they have the means to find the answer the next time something similar comes up. Kind of like the Scoutson who calls me at work and says (true story), "Hey, there's nothing to eat at home". What he meant was, there's no cereal I can pour milk on, I don't like cooking the hamburger or eggs or toast and slice the ham....

""the pack we were in has given the boys 34%of the sales credited to their accounts"" This raised a question in my mind. In our council, approximately 34% of the sale price goes to the Unit, 33% to the Council, and about 33% to Trails End. I think the 18% figure is the Cub's share, out of the Pack's 34%, for his "account" . So the figures are correct, the parent misunderstood the percentages, and the old Pack is, indeed, being very charitable toward the new Pack. And, as has been said, the Cub and his parents ultimately have no say about how that money is spent. "A Cub Scout helps the Pack Go..."

Yes, it would be a trek, but the camps at Goshen Scout Reservation have space. Southwest Virginia. Green, cool mountains. http://www.doubleknot.com/openrosters/ViewOrgPageLink.asp?LinkKey=15974&orgkey=1933 Gary Carroll, Camp Director, 301.214.9195 Good luck in your search!

I really like BSA24's synopsis. I like to think of the UC as a Scout Dutch Uncle. She/he is expected (unfortunately!) to know EVERYTHING about Scouting! Or, at the least, know where to FIND the answer. They should be available for sympathy and running ideas by. They should suggest but not insist. They will, by their very nature and love of Scouting, go places and help where needed. They will be "visible". Not unusual to see Comisshers also be involved in training (IOLS, Woodbadge, WELOT, NYLTS, etc.) and other "greater" events. They can be connectors, helping folks of like talent and desire get together. Your husband, if he is not of a Scout background, should go and do a little of everything. Read alot. Help the Cubs. Get to know a local Scout Troop. It is recommended that the UC NOT be the UC of his home unit, but that need not be a bad thing. The concern is to be neutral and not get involved personally in any internecine unit drama (see any number of threads here). The Commissher is expected to shephard the Chartering process in the fall/winter, so he should get comfortable with that. Commishing can be fun and rewarding. It can be frustrating and teeth gnashing. You know, like life. But be a Den Leader first.

We really do need a "Faith and Chaplaincy" forum. Look how this discussion has veered off the original topic. Good time to spin off, but no new forum to spin to, so might as well stay here. Sexuality is not a topic that need concern Scouting, save where the actions of someone affects the young Scout, then that is a YP issue. As has been said, the Scout Promise/Oath and Law make no mention of one's sexual behavior, only behavior in general. And the way one behaves toward one's friends, loved ones AND enemies is the indication of one's character, NOT merely one's sexual orientation, be that organically predetermined, or socially ingrained.

The BSA will change (pick an issue) when it should, not because it has to. Or maybe it has to because it should. Or maybe it already has but doesn't realize it. Or the official policy hasn't caught up with the local reality . Or Oh never mind.

And let's not forget the CO owns the Pack, ultimately. Therefore, if the debate causes great angst among the Pack adults, let the COR and IH decide things.

As an Archery Range Master (new title), I tell my Scout assistants and the nascent RMs that work with me, that any of them are authorized to yell "Cease fire, bows down!!" if they feel it necessary. Just have a good reason.(we tried the whistle codes, but find them too confusing, especially if there are more than one range, BBs, Wrist rockets,archery, etc. Same for an aquatics area. One whistle per Life Guard. Blow when you have a good reason, but make sure it is a GOOD reason. What are the whistle signals?

Crew is preparing for Philmont trek. Discussion turns to Bears and bear bags and such. One of the adult leaders (the only one so concerned), has said he will smoke his Havanas on the trek. Question is, are tobacco products "Bear Attractants" and as such need to be isolated and "bagged" at night? Food, grease, soap, toothpaste, perfume (?), deoderant (!), candy, candles, mosquito repellant, stogies, chaw,,,,,,

Amen brother to E92. Youngmaster, you will be accepted and "judged worthy" (is that phrase familiar?) by how you are willing to get out there and get dirty with the younger than you boys and the older than you boys. See my previous comment. Don't be shy. Do a Totin Chip class for the PLC, so THEY can teach their Scouts. Help the SPL have a successful meeting. Be the model of the successful Scout the others can aspire to be. And be the "correct" model, that's one of the things I think a SM should do. If you do not make use of your knowledge and experience, then why are you there?

Maybe you didn't know, but Boys' Life (watch that apostrophe!) publishes TWO versions, one for Cubs and one for Boy Scouts. Each is "adjusted" in it's content for the target audience. F'instance: Look at your July 2012 edition. On page 30 of my BS version is an article about the TV cable show "Scouting for Action" . On page 30 of the Cub version is an article about our local Cub Pack planting trees. Same cover, slightly different content. Both are good articles, but wouldn't a Cub be interested in a TV show about camping and hiking and wouldn't a BScout be interested in a environmentally sensitive planting of trees? You could tie it in to the Forestry MB or discuss how to plant things successfully. I can understand the reasoning (different ages, different interests, etc.) but I can't help but think that Cubs would want to see the more adventurous stuff the big boys do, and the big boys might be inspired to other stuff by what the littler boys accomplish. Didn't have two editions back in the day. When did this start?

Moose has the right idea. If the boys had signs reading and if they were accosting people saying, "HELP SEND ME TO CAMP" then they rightfully keep the money (but I doubt if the store management would allow that in front of their store or on their property). If the signs read "HELP SUPPORT CUB PACK XYZ" then the pack general fund receives the donations and any sales of the ticket books. AND the store is happy and allows the Pack to come back next year. And then the Pack committee has a discussion about what it means to be following the Law of the Pack. Do you have some official By-Laws, or act on consensus, or tradition? Encourage the family in question to "do the right thing".

Ah, the memories.... Red wool "Harvard" ball cap (Harvard! even back then I recognized the name. My cap came from a famous college! so I thought. Just a company name..). Red tshirt.... leather ball glove.... dad throwing me pitches and lobs and trickles... I was in a Cub Scout softball team. Played first base and left field. That's right, Cub Scout league. We had a game every friday evening, practice every wednesday evening. Played other Packs in the area. I guess there was a LL organization, but all I knew was that I could play ball, with my friends and dad and mom watching. And everybody played. I even recognized that even if Ken couldn't run straight because of his knee, he still played. And if I missed the throw to first from center field, I was still going to play and get to throw it to first the next time. A four boy relay from center field to home. Learned a little about team work and fair play. I would like to think now the teams were set up by our "District", but , hey, what did I know then? I just liked to throw and catch and hit. Still have a couple of wood Sball bats in my closet (ebay collectable?).

There are three "personas" a Scout Leader can assume (may be more, but these are the usual I have observed): 1) Funny-ha-ha ain't I the entertainer. 2) serious-nuetral, information coming 3) Angry, dissapointed, listen here you brats. Any and all MAY be appropriate at a given time. You will find you are more comfortable and assume one of them without thinking, and then you will be frustrated. "GUYS, GUYS, BE QUIET! We have to start the meeting! Sit Down! GUYS! Come ON Now!" -or- ((Neatly uniformed Scouter stands quietly at the front of the room, at the scheduled time. Room is already set up, chairs are arranged by Patrol. He puts his Scout Sign up and waits. Eventually, the boys notice and settle down. It is a shorter time than last week. He puts his sign down.)) "OK. Our Senior patrol Leader, Sam, will now open the meeting..." Much has happened 'behind the scene' preceeding this moment. -or- ""I am ashamed of you . All of you are to blame for this mess. Why can't you behave like SCOUTS, and not like a bunch of idiots? Sometimes I think you guys aren't worth my effort ." Now, you have to decide which is YOUR persona, and which you think the Scouts will benefit from at any given time and which will work for your purpose? What IS your purpose? Oh, and welcome to the forums! Glad you could make it!

Eagle69, I see I am not the only one to have (1) the same opinion of Scout IT and (2) the same experience in multi-registration problems. A while back, I tried to register for an activity and was told "no" because I did not have the required training. Well, I had just taken that training in anticipation of the activity. I went down to council office personally, and lo and behold, in that training, along with some others, and in some past positions I had held, I had been re-registered (by hands unknown) AND some of my stuff had been credited to other people! Turned out there were FOUR other folks in our mega council with the same first and last name as me! (makes FIVE) And two had the same middle initial (makes THREE)! (I'm the only junior). Took a little time to straighten all that out. I am now the only ME with ONE registration number. THEREFORE:::: Use only ONE version of your name when registering for things, (ONLY John A. Smith, not J.A.Smith or John Alvin Smith or "Smitty" Smith, or...) and when you have it, use your registration number when appropriate!

"It depends". Our troop always provides the Eagle regalia. From there on, we have seen all manner of ECoHs: informal campouts on granpa's farm (Troop invited to camp, ceremony around the campfire, hamburgers and hotdogs, potluck salads and dishes. Troop picks up the tab meats and paper ware) , to rent the hall and cater the sitdown dinner, to tail end of the usual CoH (cookies and punch after), to (this at the usual end of season picnic) a trailer BBQ smoker and an all-you-can-eat BBQ with potluck side dishes meal. Yum!!), to use the church social hall, pot luck cookies and veggies dips. I have seen County Council members speak, only the Scoutmaster, the Scout's uncle and Gfathers and dad gives the charge (all were Eagles. Very moving). I have seen Scouts accept the award and never be seen again, Scouts get teary at all the attention, Scouts accept the award and go on to be ASMs, and Scouts accept the award and come back many years later with young Scouts of their own, not really knowing how it came to this, that they thought they were THRU with all this Scout stuff and , well look at this! I feel all this recognizes the thirteenth point of the Scout Law in the celebratory hoo haw: "A Scout is hungry".

I guess there is "can" and "should". Adults "should not" wear youth badges on the adult uniform. Save your vintage patch for your display board or blanket or maybe your Wool Jacshirt. Oh wait... You were asking about a CS wearing a vintage CS patch. Yep, he can do that. But the new Denner patch might fit better and he could save dads patch for HIS display board?

#1) Blue tabs on the shoulder, CS sign. #2 CSDC, CS sign. #3 CS RoundTable, (see #1), CS sign. #4 CS Pack/Den meeting, CS sign. #5 Webelos Den meeting, still CSs, cs sign. Learn the BS stuff, but they ain't BSs yet. Learn and when the transformation/metamorposis takes place, lead them in the BS sign. #6 Archery range at CSDC: Three fingers on the string, KEEP THAT THUMB OFF THE STRING... BS sign as the sample... #7 Watching parade, US flag goes by... See #1. #8 As your pride in being a CSLeader requires... CS sign.

Welcome, RSD391CM. Here, around the virtual cracker barrel you will find information, inspiratiion, confusion and frustration. Might even clear your head. Also, no-cal crackers and cheese for a change.Come visit when you can. As for a CS "Scout's Own", it would be sort of like a Boy Scout version, only more adult led. Use the references listed, all very good. Be sensitive to the faiths living in your unit.If all your Cubs are from Christian backgrounds, act accordingly. If not, adjust your verbiage so as not to be unintentionally insulting. Wouldn't hurt to speak to folks before hand for their reactions. If you are fortunate to be holding the SOS in an outdoor venue, make mention of God's creation all around us. Move your SOS to a "special" location, not just around the usual campfire, if possible. Paper programs are not necessary or even expected, but have a plan. Speak from the heart, not merely from previous preconceptions. See numbers 23:12 and then be sure they have been... see http://reverent-scout.net/reverent-scout/Scouts_Own.htm for a good discussion of the pitfalls and opportunities.