SSScout

Seattle, that was lovely. That's exactly what CS should be about. And it is what is lacking in so many CS programs: a personal connection. Here, you have the parents DOING with their boy. They are learning by example. Later, they can learn by EDGE (shiver). Unless the parents toss them as being "dirty " or "not nice" somehow, those handmade neckers will be kept for a loooong time. You have made memories, and that is a good distance into what Scouting should be about.

Split rail stacked fence. Straw bales (real hay is twice the price, believe me) Is this becoming Scouting in a FARMING community? Check out your county fair folks. I bet they could help you. And the local County Extension Agent. Talk about a soil erosion demo, plant trees, many things possible.

My home Troop is approaching it's 60th year. They bought a new Troop flag just last year, so that was the third flag. They had one for Indoors (the oldest) and one for Outdoors( the youngest). The oldest (indoor) was a cotton wool blend, the youngest (outdoor) was a modern nylon flag. The oldest looked it, very faded, pulled crooked from being on the pole for so long a time. We had a short ceremony at a CoH to acknowledge the longevity of the Troop and the stories this old flag might tell. It occured to me (being the oldest Scout person in attendance) that it would have been a neat thing to have had the old Scoutmasters' signatures on the flag's halyard strip. Keep in mind future history, maybe have your first SM sign the flag.

Big Safety Pins Confession: I had used Badge Magic for a bunch of patches and after many washings they started to peel off. Big Safety Pins . And no one is the wiser. The plastic backing makes the patch lay flat and look neat but oh, is it hard to stick a needle thru it. Learn to nick out the needle thru just the bare edge of the patch. With patience, the plastic backing can be peeled off of most Scout patches to facilitate sewing. But that just adds to the frustration. I notice that all the patches in my Scout shoebox are fine, after being unsewed from the old uniform. Why the plastic backing?

What everybody has said. Here are my thoughts: Who does the Scoutmaster Minute at the end of the meetings or CoH? Who does the SPL go to for advice/instruction? If the old SM does all the things you mention, it is definitely time to spread the responsibilties out. No one needs/should do everything the old SM is said to be doing. "Advancement Chair", "Troop Treasurer", "Transportation Coordinator" are all good roles for new folks to take on. You still need his knowledge and experience. You still need his imprimatur. You still need his good counsel. But HE needs to admit his time to step down. Somebody (CC, trusted friend, one of the ASMs) needs to become sensitive to your postion, and act as an intermediary. It would be hard for you to make him aware of this, but not impossible. How close do you feel toward him?. Talk to the Troop Committee Chair, and At the next CoH , arrange for a Special Presentation, a plaque, patch, certificate, marking the passing of the reins/torch/flag, award the OSM the SM Emeritus Patch (yes, there is such a thing). Make sure he knows he has been appreciated and then YOU have a little ceremony acknowledging your new status as the SM. Grasp the Troop flag pole, recite the Scout Promise, Scoutmaster version (ask your UC). All this is very appropriate and would serve to make clear who is what. The CC can have no way to not agree with this, and the Committee should be the ones handling it. Good Scouting to you.

Trustworthy, Loyal,etc.... Isn't the IRS standard $.55 a mile expense? Then one makes a calculation on the distance involved, a permile charge, reimburse the driver accordingly (somany Scout passengers, so many miles, multiply and divide...), and some are actually making a profit (Prius) and some are about breaking even (Honda Oddysey) and some are "charitable" (Dodge Ram). C'est la vie.

This is a Boy Scout Camporee or Cub Scout Day Camp (noticed your sign on name)? I have a hard time conceiving Boy Scouts worrying about "decorations" at a Camporee ;-) Activities, yes. Demos and exhibits, yes. Crepe paper and party hats... mmmmm no. Scouting in a Rural Community... Service to those less fortunate? Family? Night navigation? Farming? Hiking? Lumbering? Fishing? Animals? Organic Gardening? Stewardship of the Land? Erosion control? Ecology? Games with a purpose? Boating? Emergency Be Preparedness? First Aid? Not much different than Scouting in a more Urban Community...

What everybody said: Do the adult thing, but be ready to explain in kid's terms. Samples of the cooking. Jerky? Pemmican?(not the right period?) animal skins up drying? Fire starting w/o matches? Tumpline packs to try on? Spit turning? Plank baking fish? Beaver stew? The older ones might earn their Whitlin Chip by helping to cut up the vegetables for the stew... hauw, hauw, hauw...

One is not to add to or subtract from the requirements, yes? But nothing prohibiting the enriching of the fulfilling of the requirement.... There are camps (the site, place, area) and there are CAMPS (the active, in place, doing thing). **Many local camps are used by Troops "off season". Contact the camp ranger or director and try to visit while a Scout Troop is in residence, if not during the real season. ** Visit (day visit) your local Webelos Weekend (Webelos Woods?). Knock on the tent pole of your favorite Troop and say "hello". ** Contact your favorite Troop , who is sponsoring one of the activities at the WWend, and workout camping with them that weekend. See above, "guest patrol" idea. ** Contact your favorite Troop and find out where they will be camping (camp(ground)) and visit it while they are there.

It is included in "the cost of doing business", so has not affected planning too much. Now, when we plan a trip, we remind the boys to bring (depending on the length of the driving) $3.00 or $5.00 or such to give their driver to share the expense. I carpooled out to Indiana for a conference last month. My companion offered to buy everyother tank of gas, but I said not to worry, he should just buy me dinner and lunch on the way. My Prius rarely gets less than 50 mpg,often more like 54, 56 mpg, if I am to believe the onboard dashscreen computer. Going thru the Alleghenies it dropped down to 42. I ate well,but not extravagently(!).And we visited some museums along the way.

Gotta point out that back in the ooooold days, the Scout "Oath" was also referred to as the "Scout Promise". Many faiths do not allow the making of "oaths", but what we as Scouts pledge to do isn't really a "judicial oath" (swearing BY something) but a personal promise, and that is ok. ""On my honor...."" Making sure the Scout understands what he is expected to promise to be and do is not so bad. No surprises. Now, we have to exhibit that behavior for them to emulate. Can the adults live up to the Scout Promise?

Arrive in either Dulles Int Airport or Baltimore Thurgood Marshall, avoid Reagan National. Rent a car to either downtown DC or Baltimore. The Metro to Dulles will not be complete, but there is Metrobus service, and lots of taxicab service. Look up the Skyland Inn or Big Meadows in the Shenandoah National Park, 60 miles west of DC. Cool, good hiking, history, nice and relaxing. http://www.nationalparkreservations.com/shenandoah.php?gclid=CIa9heCUsK8CFQTd4AodmiolHg fills up quick. Lots of history in the area. Car down Skyline Drive to Smoky Mountains. Go east to Williamsburg and the Chesapeake Bay. Many nice B&Bs around the bay. Don't forget the Blue Crabs, our Maryland delicacy. Annapolis Maryland has the oldest continuosly in use State House in the nation. Pretty town, Annapolis. Boats, seafood, bicycle friendly. Have fun with the internet research. TTFN

Finally got hold of my Scouts Canada friend in Toronto. He says his (Canadian company) Joe Fresh Scout Shirt is labeled "Bangladesh". This is the new foreign aid.

Flag pole: an old closet pole of suitable length. Topper: Carved tree branch knee. Flag stand: 1948 Chevy truck brake drum, welded pipe (donated welding), green paint from leftover gallon from cellar door project. Still in use, lo these many years.

I have a Georgia White Pine in my yard that is more than 5 feet around and at least 120' tall. Redtail Hawk family makes a nest in it every year. Grow tall, my young friend. Welcomr to the forums.

Is it possible that some Scout units never go to the trouble of seeking public notice , then bemoan the lack of membership? Is there a connection here?

When you get your new flag (sounds like a new Troop?) , have a little cermony with /in/ for your CO. Make the boys aware of the history they are beginning. Take the halyard strip of the flag and have the new SM and IH sign it, perhaps. Date it, in indelible ink (does India ink mean the same nowaday?) . Our Troop recently replaced the old flag. It was the "original" , made with a wool/cotton blend, I think. We had a small ceremony at a CoH to mark the renewal, the flag was more than 50 years old at that point. We had a few old timers present and were able to make that connection to the past history of the Troop.

I think the "hearing challenged" subcamp idea may have merit. If it is not too late to plan for such, you might contact Irving (National Council) and ask for the Jamboree Director's office. I know the Disability Awareness area was very popular at the 2005 NJ, at which I staffed. I visited that area more than once and had some good conversations there, talking about growing up with a dad who had lost his left arm before he met my mom . Among other things, I learned how to tie my shoes one handed. I think they might be concerned about numbers (small?), but I know that deaf kids do like to hang out with folks that are easily conversant in ASL or Signed English. I dated a young lady who was a counselor at Gallaudet, and gained some insight thereby. Then too, such "segregation" might not be welcome, but it is an idea to discuss, if it is important to you. There were at least Troops, if not whole subcamps, that were "specialized" in various ways. Why not an ASL Troop?

Okay, what exactly is the difference between a Slogan, and a Motto? We are supposed to 'Be Prepared' ("why, for any little thing") and 'Do a Good Turn Daily'. How do we instill in our boys (and girls?) the idea of service to others , without thought of recompense? Are we losing that dynamic, along with the outdoor imperative? Maybe that is our biggest problem, not the poor quality of the uniform, or the unhealthy example of some of our leaders, or the sometime unprofessional professional. It could be a game, I remember, back in the day. We even had a competition once, turn us loose and come back with a report of what our GD had been. One, specific, GD. Hold a door open. Carry some groceries in. Hung up laundry without being asked. Put some fallen stuff back up on the shelf in a store. Picked up trash on the street. Dad stops the car and we got out and put the trash cans back that had blown out into the street. Helped a turtle across the street. Heard lots of GD stories. I think the ideal, which was often learned later, was to make it anonymous. At least, try to. It's the anonymity that is often lost. Not acknowledging the GD could be the same thing, anonymity. We all knew who had provided the money to let the Scout go to summer camp, but we were savvy enough not to let on. We all knew. His name need not be voiced. His act was appreciated. That was sufficient. One acts when something is seen as needed. "Why doesn't somebody DO something"? Lots of people feel "it's not my job." Maybe. Maybe not. If one is ASKED to do a specific act, that is not a GD. If it is a 'chore' or 'in my job description' , probably not. If one is paid, or awarded or given recognition, that is not a GD. At least, not if the pay or award is expected. Sometimes the GD is recognized as such , and reward is made, but sometime later. The inherent act does not define the GD. A GD can be small (hold open the door) or large (provide a college scholarship). They don't even have to be of service to a human. Beyond being somehow beneficial, anonymity is a large part of a GD.

blw2: Good to hear from you. The "Good Turn" knot went the way of all uniform things: one of two reasons (or both). Either the PTB decide the uni needs "updating" (ESL : teeny neckers under the collar, cuffs on shirtsleeves. Centen: lighter weight, silk screen flag & "BSA" strip, ipod pocket on sleeve, no buttons on pockets) OR,, us participants just decide the thing isn't worth doing (blue jeans, no neckers, no hat, let the boys wear the shirt not tucked in, ) I remember being taught the Good Turn knot. Our neckers back then were long enough to do that with little problem. Not so now with the cravat necker. The overhand knot was tied with one end around the other. Done right, it helped the necker lie right. The idea was (originally) that once the Scout had done his Daily GD, he would untie his knot. That was back (waaaaay back) when the uni might actually be worn thru the day, not just on special times. So to the spun thread...

Aye, thee is right, and he is a Quaker, if a fallen away Friend... I understand his mate makes a good cup of coffee,,,

Slider? There's an American for you... Woggle to old timers or Brit Scouts. Look at "Woggle World" http://cubclub.tripod.com/ for some inspiration. And http://www.pinetreeweb.com/neckerchief.htm(This message has been edited by SSScout)

"almost "? Tis the same thing. And our Canadian Scout brothers/sisters have the same complaint, their uni is not made in Canada. More to come.

I think the closest MB counselor is in Nantucket MA.

""What I do remember was that it took many calls to get to someone that was involved with the decision. I never found out who made the final decision.My guess was the Chief Scout Executive cerainly had to approve it."" So, the address for Mr. Mazucca is...? My Canadian connection tells me that the ScoutsCanada uniform supplier is, indeed, a Canadian company,Joe Fresh, but not necessarily fully manufactured on the North American continent. http://www.scouts.ca/uniform/uniform.html Most seem to like the new unis but with the one complaint: how to apply all the usual badges and where to put them? Not my problem.