SSScout

Amen, brother... PRETTY PUL-LEEEZZE can we have a "Faith and Chaplaincy" forum???

May we PLEASE have a "Faith and Chaplaincy" forum?

Yes, I've been away for this very reason. Last I was here, a cover page appeared that declared my machine was infected with mucho bad stuff, and it TRIED to look like a legit windows page, but the weird grammar was my tipoff. "many virus in attack machine" and such. it was a dotczdotcc www2dothardguardwhg site. Beware. All appears okay now, Norton spent about an hour and a half rescanning the whole machine.

PWD , like the rest of Scouting, can bring out the BEST in folks, and the worst. Lots of good ideas here. I will suggest one more: Since the problems seem to be with Pack parents running the event, remove that problem by having someone else run the event. Contact a local BSTroop to run the event. Our local CPack has it's BSTroop run the whole shebang. The Pack owns the equipment (new AL electronic track, record software, milk crate and pillow stopper, race flags, etc. ) The Scouts come in and run everything: weigh in, size cert, announcements, heat starts, running cars, EVERYTHING except the record point keeping, which the SM does 'cause it's his laptop and projector. This has many good results. The Cubs see Scouts at work, the parents know it ain't so and so causing his son to win (or lose), the Cubs can enjoy the races (along with the parents) because once the car is checked in, the car is out of their hands. The BScouts get a kick out of doing something "official" and can give vent to their talents and also be a "big brother" to the Cubs for the day. And it is a DAY, the Pack is big one and they make it a picnic with hotdogs and drinks to sell. Almost 5 hours of racing and other stuff. When the Cubs get tired of racing, they take'm out and run'em around with Steal the Bacon and other games. KiSMiF

All good ideas... Partner with a local bike shop, and contact a local bike club, I recommend the League of American Bicyclists (usta be League of American Wheelmen). They sponsor Effective Cycling classes and love to come to schools and talk to kids. I dare say the local Bicycling Merit Badge Counselor may be a member. http://www.bikeleague.org/ Bicycling Belt Loop!! http://usscouts.org/advance/cubscout/sports/bicycling.asp May is National Bicycling Month !!

"So take a look, it is a book, a reading rainbow...." http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c6j8EiWIVZs "... I can be ANYTHING, a reading rainbow..."

Yes, that is all well and good (to make a moral judgement) but would you like someone to care for your pet? Jesincase?

The need for doing the Archery MB ONLY at at a Scout Camp is not a requirement. Do diligence with the "Sweet Sixteen", have a qualified (RSO-BSA trained) counselor, a safe range (around here, we have many Archery Clubs and IWL ranges available, camping can be arranged!) and make a good day! However, in my experience, you really can't do the whole AMB in one single weekend. Two is possible, or the weekend with some previous homework or Troop meeting work. Plan your work and work your plan!

My buddy in Canada tells me they are adopting a "new and improved" uniform , including Active Wear, after some amount of polling and surveys. He tells me that the designs may not have really reflected the polls and surveys that he knew of, but that's just his opinion..... They are over the collar, fersure. And while the Joefresh company has the consession, it is unknown where the uni's are to be manufactured. Any bets on North America? http://www.scouts.ca/uniformlaunch/ http://www.joefresh.com/en

We REALLY need a "Faith and Chaplaincy" forum/department/area/section, whatever.... Merl and his good friends (not to be confused with "Friends", RSo), have taken the opportunity to assuage the concerns of some of us as 21 May approaches... (see http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/01/04/may-21-2011-judgment-day_n_804166.html ) If you, as a BAC, are enraptured away, then you need not fear for the care of your pets. This group (http://eternal-earthbound-pets.com/ ) will, for a small registration fee , come and adopt your dog/cat/goldfish/rabbit/budgie and care for them, at least until there is no longer a need to care for them. For another interview with EEBP,USA founder, see http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/doomsday-approaches/2011/05/05/AFcZJn7F_story.html Entrepreneurial genius at work.(This message has been edited by SSScout)

The punishment part, if the Scouting program in your Troop is good, will be automatic. The P/T Scout will not advance as fast as his fellows, and will not have the privileges thereby. Back in my day, my Troop had an annual Patrol contest. Points for attendance, points for contest winners (at least once a month, sometimes more often, at Troop meetings, a competition between Patrols. Knot tying, lash up a tower, signaling a message, tug o'war, fire building, something), points for campout stuff (neat campsite, camp gadgets, etc.) . SPL and the PLC did the judging and point awarding. We had 4 Patrols. The points were posted on the wall in the Troop room for all to see. The winning Patrol received an all expense paid trip to someplace special, a campout at Assategue Island, or down to Norfolk, or such. The Troop treasury footed the bill and the Troop dads did the planning and arrangements, we just had to show up. It spurred a great deal of effort on all Boy Scouts part, I think.

Merl! Long time no read! How's the family?

I daresay this is the kind of duty the NatGuard likes to do. "Your tax dollars at work". And to the Troop leaders, Thanks for all you do, and did.

We really do need a "Chaplaincy and Faith" department/forum. I agree with those that espouse a wait and see atitude. The religious belief of the boy will come as it will. Please see BP's pronouncement and definition about Scouting and Religion from his Aids to Scoutmastering, cited elsewhere. I have not seen the matter stated better. If my experience is any judge, the boy , if he sticks with his TING stance, will resign from Scouting of his own accord. He will become concerned with the hypocracy of his belief/lack of and the Scout Promise and Law. If he finds his faith, then the Scout will become really loyal to the movement. Something to point out: Many Scout associations around the world do not have any God mention in their promise or have a Reverence in their Law. And... it is almost always the adults that get in the way of Scouting. I just came back this weekend from doing IOLS, and talking about religion and "Scout's Own" services. Scouts can often work up a spiritual service that includes all their own faiths, Jewish, Christian, whatever, to the amazement of the adults and the oh-hum of the Scouts. My advice to SMT224 mirrors what has been said before: Wait and see. If you have some appropriater SMMinutes about faith and action, use them, but no need to single out the Scout. I am reminded of the Amish adage "Hands to work, Hearts to God" Put your Scout's hands to good work, and see if the heart will follow.

The competitive accurate propulsion of various projectiles is , has been, and will be attractive to young (and old!) humans, since the first atlatl or woomera was invented. (see new Venture Scout activity). I think it is appropriate and useful that BSA can organize and teach and encourage the RESPONSIBLE and SAFE use of arrows, BBs, Shotguns, rifles, rocks (yes, rock throwing, see http://www.camps.ppbsa.org/camps/wheeler/programs.htm for an example), black powder flint locks, spears, slingshots, tomahawks, and knives (did I leave anything out?) for ACCURACY and SKILL. Oh yeah, and catapults and trebuchets of various sizes and calibers. I do remember seeing Scout Troops represented at the Punkin' Chunkin' comps on the TV, too. And, as in all things, it is the LOCAL folks that must take the lead in making sure it is the SAFEST it can be. National can espouse guidelines and such, but it is the LOCAL folks that have to insist on the best way to let our Scouts throw and shoot and hit targets satisfactorilly and SAFELY. If you see something that isn't quite right, or COULD be a danger, SPEAK UP. Don't end up a "if only I had". You have to play the "WHAT IF" game all the time in Scouting. And , no matter how many precautions and goggles and helmets and gloves and training and oversight we take, someone can and will get hurt. But make it RARE, rather than USUAL. OOOO.... a camporee with all that stuff lined up to try? Loooong range line, huh? "Common sense" isn't common, after all. Ed: Ooops, forgot. We are lacking handguns and boomerangs. Ultimate frisbee? can get serious in the strong hand... Darts? Blowgun? Watermelon seed spitting? Water pistols? (This message has been edited by SSScout)(This message has been edited by SSScout)

The food shortage in NK is certainly not caused by the US and nothing in the article accuses the US of causing the food shortage. If Carter mentions that the US could do more to alleviate the stavation, I do not see that as his BLAMING the US for the problem he is encouraging the US to try and ameliorate, by any means. Pack brings up a very good point. And as for friend Brent, it might be good to make a list of US aadministrations that did NOT play footsy with a dictator when it seemed to be in the "nation's interest", regardless of that nation's people's interest. 4 years ago, some rabbits were sold to NK for a breeding program. Hasenpfeffer is gooood.... but it is alleged that the big bunnies never got the chance to do the bunny thing. Read below. http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/europe/article1615350.ece The NK leadership makes it hard to blame anyone but...

Depending on leadtime, definitely the scrapbook. Our District has a "Unit Leader Award" that is reserved for adults in the Scout Unit that are deserving of something more than an "attaboy". You might inquire of your UCommissioner or DE about that possibility in your District. This is not the Square Knot "District Scouter" award, but for an exemplar Unit Leader. Also ribs and homemade coleslaw. Can't go wrong with that. AANNDD... With some clever work, you could create your own award, mebbe a "SCO_T AWARD" (what's missing? "U" are! and our SCO_T _NIT will not be the same because WE WILL MISS U!" Too often, we delay in telling how we appreciate someone, either their actions or example. Do it now.

Oh, what he said. The WebeloS Scout is almost thru with Cubbing. They've been "following Akela" for the past years. Time to see if they can stand on their on, with dad and mom nearby , just in case. Encourage them to work as a TEAM (Patrol, yes?) , planning their activities, where and how and what. Tug 'o war stuff, really PULLING together, working together on a given project, for your CO, or some other worthy. A Webelos Den of my ken helped lead the Pack in building bird houses and neatening up a school courtyard to hang them in. They were allowed to put a plaque up attesting to "Landscaping by Cub Scout Pack xyz of Littletown" Let them become the "big brothers" of the Pack, demonstrating flag courtesy, cheers, helping to build stuff with the younger boys. At least until the "graduate/bridge over". Let them take pride in their new skills and be able to show them to others. Thanks for all you do. Now, let THEM do.

Talk about bringing back memories... Wing, you should be appropriately proud and embarassed, but so what? As has been said, the effect you've had is not unexpected. Be forwarned: Be ready to offer a toast or give a small remembrance at the wedding reception/dinner. Speak your heart, And don't hold back. When my daughter from first marriage came to me to introduce her fiance, she was a grown woman, on her own. Unbeknownst to me, the new man in her life had somehow gotten on the wrong side of the mother. My ex, with whom I had a polite, if not really friendly relationship, could not be molified and so she did not attend the wedding. I gave the bride away in the traditional way, gave a small speech at the dinner, and cried openly. My present wife said she had never been prouder of me. Mucho congratulations.

It has had and will have a greater impact on activities. It is no longer "a two hour drive" but a "75 miles at 20 miles per gallon time $4 times two round trip" drive. Since Scoutson started taking classes at the community college, he is much more aware of gas saving driving techniques and regales us with stories of students in the school parking lot who sit in the car, engine running, windows up, A/C on, stereo blasting. And wondering "who pays for his gas?"

Need: one adult who is comfortable acting silly. Boys sit in big circle. Akela tells them: "Okay, we're going to play a game! I'm not going to tell you WHAT we're doing, but I will show you how to do it! When we're done, I will ask you to tell me what we've done! "Now, I am going to turn 'round and face you all around in the circle (Akela does so, turning/moving slowly around, facing each Cub in turn). "As I face you, I want you to do just what I do, and keep on doing it until I show you something else. So let's start with this:" (((Akela starts with first Cub, demonstrating rubbing his hands together until Cub rubs his hands together , then moving slowly on to the next Cub, who starts rubbing his hands together, and so on around the circle. If necessary, caution Cubs to be quiet, and not to start until Akela gets to them. When Akela gets back to the first Cub,(all Cubs are now rubbing hands), Akela then snaps his fingers, thumb and 2nd fingers, on around the circle. Next, gently slap thighs. Fourth, softly clap hands. Fifth, loudly clap. Sixth, stomp feet. Seventh, clap and stomp. Then, as you work around the circle, go back down the cycle: Stomp, clap loud, clap softly, slap thighs, snap fingers, rub hands, then last time around silent. ))) "Wow, that was great. Now, who can tell me what we just did? Did that remind you of anything?" Depending, you will have some discerning Cub guess "rainstorm?" which is the idea. Works best with 10 or 12 or more. Go slow. Make them pay attention to you. LOOK the Cub in the eye as you go by. Guaranteed 6 or 7 or more minutes of attentive activity. Last time I did this, it was under a picnic pavilion with 30 antsy CSDC campers (and their Den Walkers, who I insisted join in), during a lightning alert. Then we sang songs, another story. Well, not too quiet, and no tables. Maybe this is not the suggestion for you. Oh well, just came to mind.(This message has been edited by SSScout)

The trick is to convince the Scouts/Patrol to plan and pre-pare their grub. You can pack in cans of Dinty Moore and fruit salad and such, or you can take the cheap big boxes of pancake mix and parcel it out in plastic baggies, pre-measured per meal, pre freeze your burgers (when wrapped up, will thaw by dinner time on the trail), and even carry raw fresh eggs in the proper packing. It depends, ultimately, on (1) what your appetite and calorie requirements require (winter camping needs more calories than summer, but camping needs more than TV watching)(2) what your pocketbook will allow (precooked, lightweight freezedry food is expensive) , (3) whether you are car camping (patrol box 50 feet to tent site from car) or trail hiking (10 or 20 miles between tent sites on the AT or Philmont trails), (4) how experienced your Patrol is (go slow, build up to the expedition). (5) and how easily your boys see the advantage of Patrol cooperation (not everybody needs to do or carry everything for themselves) (6) whether you will be camp fire cooking, or small stove camping, or LARGE stove camping. What are you willing to carry how far? Sometimes the Dinty Moore "outweighs" the "Mountain House", but you have to do that comparison yourself. I once did a demo for my home troop. I showed them the BIG box of Bisquick, box of powdered milk, then pre measured into a baggie amounts of mix and milk. Which do you want to carry on the trail, the BOXES or the BAGGIES? I added sufficient water, mushed it around, lit my old Primus and oleoed up a small cook kit fry pan. Fried up the batter (made three cakes) and turned 'em over with my fork. Small baggie of strawberry jam, Yum! , No glass to break, no heavy big boxes to carry, fewer pots to clean, Scouts suitably impressed and we saw some (not all) different cuisine on the next camp/hike. Demos, discussions, research (don't reinvent the wheel), tryouts, competitions (Patrol cooking at Troop meeting?) all can lead to good eating .

Naw.... Hemingway, mebbe. " Do not ask for whom the bell tolls, it tolls for that guy..."

Yes, I will pass along to our District eNewsletter. Thank you.

Always STUFF your tent, else it will ROLL.... Troop camp at Pine Knob on the AT. Windy little place. Scoutson assembles umbrella-dome tent, turns to grab stuff to put inside, before he can turn back to the tent, his buddies are yelling about the tumbleweed tent, roooollllling down the trail in the wind. He and his buddy go running after it and bring it back to it's assigned site. Bad Tent!! Fully staked down and laden with gear, no more escaping tent. My usual tent has a heavy bathtub bottom. It only fits in it's bag if folded precisely in thirds, and then rolled up tight. The nylon part is roughly arranged inside the rolling. The rain fly is also rolled up and then the tentpoles and pegs rolled up evenly in the roll. Fold and roll...