SSScout

Scoutmom1068: Welcome back.... No, the charging of a fee to recoup your expenses does not make it a fundRAISER. You are, afterall, LOWERING your funds, yes? I am interested in your arrangements for your "camp in". Are you "in" somewhere, or in your CO's back yard, or actually out in the woods? I have heard of a Cub Pack that had a "Camp In" where they set up their tents and everything in the church social hall and arranged all the halls and other rooms as places to go /see and do. They were building up to their first time "out in the woods" in the state park later that year. It was done very creatively and everyone had a great time and they learned how to do things. All the Cubs had appropriate camp chores (allbeit indoors!) and the inexperienced adults had their angst assuaged. Remember, KiS MiF !!

""No fact is more firmly established than that lying is a necessity of our circumstances, -- the deduction that it is then a Virtue goes without saying. No virtue can reach its highest usefulness without careful and diligent cultivation, -- therefore, it goes without saying, that this one ought to be taught in the public schools -- at the fireside -- even in the newspapers. What chance has the ignorant, uncultivated liar against the educated expert? What chance have I against Mr. Per ---- against a lawyer? Judicious lying is what the world needs. I sometimes think it were even better and safer not to lie at all than to lie injudiciously. An awkward, unscientific lie is often as ineffectual as the truth. "" ==Mark Twain, address to the Historical and Antiquarian Club of Hartford Conn.== http://grammar.about.com/od/60essays/a/lyingessay.htm 33Again, ye have heard that it hath been said by them of old time, Thou shalt not forswear thyself, but shalt perform unto the Lord thine oaths: 34But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God's throne: 35Nor by the earth; for it is his footstool: neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great King. 36Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one hair white or black. 37But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil. Math 5:33>>

All the previous talk about what one CANNOT take on your camping/hiking/canoeing trip made me want to hear about things your old sainted Scoutmaster usta tell you you HAD to take with you. Things like... Always make sure you buy double ended rope, as the mono ended rope is inherently defective and will cause you no end of trouble. Look for the flat bottom tent, as these have proven easier to set up than any other kind. You know, things like that...

"One of the least common things nowadays is common sense". "Aye, thems more like guidelines, actually..." Basically, there are some things a Scout should do his/her best to always do, some things a Scout should absolutely NEVER do, some things a Scout should AVOID doing, except if he/she needs to do it, and some things that a Scout should ask a wiser Scout his opinion of before deciding on doing. Have I got that right?

Archimedes be praised: stay the same... Now, Packsaddle, bear in mind, the three choices I gave were from my dim memory from the late 1960's. Secretary of State, Mayor of Indianopolis, and the communist insurgents (or whatchamaycallums. They changed their name thru the decade).

Et tu, Provectum Aquila?

Yes, language does evolve. It seems to be becoming more mushy and imprecise. The passed on information appears to be more an assumed thing: the other person just will KNOW what I mean... ya know? Let's consider some current useage "adjustments". Sometimes one can figure out how the useage changed, what led to the change, sometimes you just shake your head in disbelief: LIKE... as in " said" or "tell", or "seems to be" GUY... as in "any human being", or "friend", or "people" BAD... as in "good" or "admirable" or "enjoyable" usw

Oh, latin... No PLC, Centurions... No Troops, Legions.... The Patrols might be temed maniples, but I don't know for sure if that would be the appropriate subdivision. A century was a hundred or so men, a maniple a subdivision of the century, if memory serves.

Pugil sticks: Boys wear football helmets, and shoulder pads. Five foot long, 1 1/2 inch diameter poles. Stick ends need to be well padded (foam rubber, heavy plastic bags, duct tape), like six inches thick, and covering both ends (kayak paddle style) of the 5 foot long pole down a foot or so. Make the pole padding tough, it will take a beating! Lots of internet references.

Flintstones, meet the Flintstones, They're a modern stoneage family. From the, town of Bedrock, They're a page right out of history. Let's ride, with the family down the street, Through the courtesy of Fred's two feet. When you're, with the Flintstones, Have a yabba dabba doo time, A dabba doo time, You'll have a gay old time! "When I use a word," Humpty Dumpty said, in a rather scornful tone, "it means just what I choose it to mean - neither more nor less." "The question is," said Alice, "whether you can make words mean so many different things." "The question is," said Humpty Dumpty, "which is to be master - that's all." Through the Looking Glass.

Eventually, all pertubations of human variation are exhibited. I would counsel you approach this parent privately and ask politely and sympathetically whether or not they can read, if there is a problem with the computer screen, if they would like some confidential help with the training? Be careful and explain you have no desire to embarrass them, that you want them to be able to assist in the Scout program and there are ways to fulfill the requirement that they take the training. Possibilities have been offered: 1) In person, you watch a DVD and answer some discussion questions in person , either alone with the trainer, or in a small group ( I have led such a group. The DVD is very good) 2) Someone, in private, helps to read the computer screen to them, helps them answer the questions and choices as they direct, much like a vision impaired person casts their vote with the assistance of a election judge (or two!). 3) Check with the Training Chair of your District or DE. They may have other possibilities. Another possibility, but not a nice one. They do not want to take the training because of what they fear it might make them reveal about themself TO themself...

Find someone with a good sized block and tackle, a four fall with at least 3/4 " rope would be good, and hold a tug o' war between Scouts and Adults. First, do a single rope type. Then, use the Block and Tackle. Have fun with leetle Scouts pulling Big Scouters... Hold a Whitlin' Chip class, you can find curriculum on this site, or elsewhere in internetland. Make sure your Scouts leading the class emphasize "tool,not toy" and then they sign a small certifying slip that the Cub can hand to his Cubmaster for the award of the WC badge. Lots of soap bars and soap chips left over! Look up the Temple of Hanoi Ring puzzle, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tower_of_Hanoi , only make it human size, with posts sunk in the ground and tires of suitable sizes. Maybe only four tires? A Scavenger Hunt over the whole camp. They obtain it when they check in, and take it with them as they hike thru the activities. KisMif

I have mentioned this in a previous post. A local Troop has the trash consession at our county fair. For the whole week, they work helping with the recycling efforts and trash collecting AND traffic direction. The fair officials pay them the going rate, evidently. Obviously, they do not consider this a "service project". Not a huge Troop, but they make their whole years budget there, so I am told. The only thing they are not allowed to do is drive the pickup vehicles.

When you reach Harpers Ferry at the confluence of the Shennandoah and Potomac, ask for directions to the Sandy Hook MD Hostel, on the C&O canal. Good comfortable place to take a shower, change your socks and rest up awhile. (you did obtain a Hosteling Membership, didn't you? several along the AT!) see http://www.hiusa.org And of course the Appalachian Trail Conservancy has a visitors' center at Harper's Ferry , too: http://www.appalachiantrail.org/site/c.mqLTIYOwGlF/b.4805591/k.9727/Visitor_Centers.htm Good walking!

The parent thread led me to remember my time at college. I was an out-of-state student at a mid west Big Ten school in Indiana, in engineering (to start with, at least). Freshman requirement was a class named "Speech 101". This was meant to help nascent engineers to improve their presentations, oratory, how to prove or back up arguments, communication skills. Among other things, we developed debate skills and research in fields other than the technical stuff. Our teacher was a communications major, and also "out-of-state". He regularly tried to get us to talk about "current events", and early in the semester gave a survey of the three classes he taught. He observed that the Out-of-state students were predictably much more knowledgeable about "current events". The "in-staters" were less so, but knew about the local basketball tournament. He ended up playing an informal game he called "Stump the Hoosier". At the start of the friday class, he would put three names or items from the news on the blackboard and everyone had to define or describe who or what they were in a short sentence or phrase. If the majority of the class ( which was much more than 50% Hoosier (Indianan), correctly ID'ed the items, we ALL got an A for the day, if not, we earned what we earned... Didn't happen very often. The extra A, I mean. Frinstance: Kissinger, Lugar, Viet Minh... How would that go over today, in your local school?

Your Den Chief has done an excellent job. He has nothing to be dissapointed in. If the Webelos Leader did his/her job, the boys toured more than one Troop before deciding on which to join. There may be any of several reasons why they chos Troop A and not Troop B, none of which the DCh has any say in. I would take him aside and make him realize the wonderful job he has done, and how grateful the CubMaster and Webelos Den Leader are. If the requirements are met (sounds like a shoo in to me), by all means, his Scoutmaster and CubMaster should award him the DCh award. It should be awarded at the Troop's CoH, being a Boy Scout award, and as an encouragement to other Scouts to consider Den Chiefing.(This message has been edited by SSScout)

Chuck Berry;;;; NO MONEY DOWN (bada badabadum...) As I was motivatin' Back in town, I saw a Cadillac sign Sayin' "No Money Down"! So I eased on my brakes, And I pulled in the drive; Gunned my motor twice, Then I walked inside. Dealer came to me Said "Trade in your Ford! And I'll put you in a car That'll eat up the road. Just tell me what you want And then sign that line And I'll have it brought 'round to you In a hour's time". I'm gonna get me a car And I'll be headed on down the road. Then I won't have to worry About that broken - down, ragged Ford "Well Mister I want a yellow convertible, Four - door de Ville, With a Continental spare, And a wide chrome wheel. I want power steering, And power brakes, I want a powerful motor, With a jet off - take. I want air condition, I want automatic heat, And I want a full Murphy bed In my back seat. I want short - wave radio, I want TV and a phone! You know I gotta talk to my baby When I'm ridin' alone". Yes I'm gonna get that car And I'm gonna head on down the road. Yeah, then I won't have to worry About that broken - down, ragged Ford "I want four carburetors, And two straight exhausts, I'm burnin' aviation fuel No matter what the cost. I want railroad air horns, And a military spot, And I want a five - year guarantee On everything I got. I want ten - dollar deductible, I want a twenty dollar note. I want thirty thousand liability" That's all she wrote! Well, I got me a car And I'm headed on down the road ((No money down!!)) And I don't have to worry 'Bout that broken - down, ragged Ford.....

Up here, the UoS includes a Cub College, a Boy Scout College, and Adventure Scouting College (High adventure, Venturing, etc.)and a bunch of undiffentiated "electives". The Pow Wow is only Cub Scout related. I was told the Pow Wow was going to be more "how to" and the UoS Cub College was to be more "why is it" and philosophy of Scuting stuff. Mechanics versus intellect, I guess. That's how it was explained to me. Utilizing the wonders of the internet, one can Google "University of Scouting" and get a whole bunch of Councils and compare them for content, purpose, cost, all kinds of stuff. Then go wash your dishes and get back to living...

I like mn_scout's answer. Beyond that, the key is a registered, knowledgeable Merit Badge Counselor. A Merit Badge Counselor SHOULD be an expert in the subject; at the very least, more knowledgeable than the Scout earning the badge. A professional in the field, or an experienced hobbyist is preferred. There is a training for the post available, see your local District Executive or Commissioner for info . AND... there is info on line, if you dig for it. See http://www.scouting.org/scoutsource/BoyScouts/GuideforMeritBadgeCounselors.aspx Very often, the local Troop will have a cadre of registered MBCs available for the more poular ones or Eagle required ones. For the more exotic ones, you will have to do one of three things: 1) call around to other Troops, check out the local clubs or businesses involved. Someone may know someone who knows someone... If you are fortunate, your District or Council will have a list of MBCs to consider and contact. The boy SHOULD do the contacting, if he wants to earn the MB. 2) Recruit an appropriate professional or hobbyist (? Dentistry? talk to your dentist. Geology? Check with your local Rock hound club or college. "etc.") or 3) sign up yourself and get knowledgeable . Speak to your Troop's Committee Chair, he/she may have the form and knowledge of how to register.. If your boy wants to earn the XYZ MB, and you can't find an already registered MBC, sign up yourself, and then offer your services to the District at large. Put a notice in your local District newsletter and I guarantee you will find some more Scouts interested in the XYZ MB. Call around to appropriate offices and companies and agencies, arrange the tours and sessions, and then get your Scouts together in your rec room or out on your deck or down in the Fourbucks coffee shop to discuss the requirements. Surprise! They have to meet some requirements. Some of them will be eager to meet your standards of performance, others will be surprised that you actually ask them to study the subject, and learn something about XYZing. I did this with the Farm Mechanics MB, had a class of 6 boys, three saturdays, a visit to the state's largest farm implement dealer, some local farms, and voila, a MB! And the families all got their lawn mowers lubricated and serviced for the season, and some tools sharpened and repaired. Help the Scouts to gain a sense of accomplishment, a pride of skill and knowledge. MB Days/Colleges/o-ramas/clinics have their place, if done right and with the right expectations (Personal Fitness in one day? I don't think so...) With some advance planning and preparation, they can help Scouts earn MBs they might not otherwise earn. I knew a MBday whose organizers insisted on specific advance preparation, and the boys were well served. Some of the MBCs used the day as just one of several meetings. MBs are just one more oppotunity that Scouting has that the rest of the world doesn't. I know some home schollers that use MBs as part of their curricullum, using the MBbook as a text, and the earning as proof of mastering the subject. The home school advisor we use does that. Astronomy? Nature? Forestry? All worth some allowed academic credit. Maybe not college, but middle school science... Good Scouting to you.

Came up too late for Automobiling MB, so earned Automotive Safety. Dad had a landscape business, so I was the chief asistant mechanic growing up. I "inherited" a 1948 Ford F-1 Panel truck, when dad decided he didn't need it (in 1965!). Drove it to school, and dates(!). Wish I coulda kept it. Onward and upward...

Can you say "Owasippe"? http://www.scouter.com/forums/viewThread.asp?threadID=87008#id_137760 Oh, yes, National can too jump in to "help" troubled Councils. The problem is who defines the trouble? The CORs must participate in the governing of the Council, or accept what happens without compalaint. It's called "democracy".

Try these on for size. Scoutson will be making them for a bike trek/tour this coming summer. www.instructables.com/id/Make-4-gallon-square-bucket-bike-panniers-for-less Combination panniers/campseat/grocery tote/water bucket/drum?

Twocubdad: All very true. Lightnotes: Go to your Scoutshop, and ask for "Bugle Calls/Voice of Lord Baden-Powell" CD #AV-054CD. The one I have is several years old now, and has UPC 7 30176 32279 7. Some MBs, a Scout can come to a "class" and expect to walk away with a signed blue card. We have MBDays like that. Not Bugling. Fellow walks up to a gent on a New York street and asks, "say bub, how do you get to Lincoln Center?" The man, who happens to be a music teacher, answers, "Practice, my boy, practice!!" OK, from the diaphragm, now...

Welcome to our electronic campfire. If you'll do a search of these forums, you'll find lots of discussion and ideas for bugling. Go back a couple of years. If you googlesearch, you can find old copies of the original Bugling MBBook, which listed many bugle calls and their sheet music and history that you can print out. Go for clarity and volume , as well as intonation. You might experiment with your boys as to how far away a bugle can be heard and understood, both over clear land and back in the woods. I always liked a melencoly and mournful version of Tatoo, before Taps. Gives the bugler a chance to "play" the instrument, not just "sound" it. Good for you for promoting a traditional type of communication. I volunteered and was accepted as the staff bugler for a Wood Badge course. I was gratified by the positive comments from the participants after the course, and the CD even said he changed his mind about the idea of a camp bugler afterwards.

Fill out the Unit Fund Raising form, check in and get approved by Council, make sure of your plans and go for it. Anything is possible. The Scout Troop of my youth sold fresh, still warm Krispy Kreme donut dozens door to door on a Saturday morning. Made boucou bucks. Maybe arrange to sell at sport events in your area? At local park? Tennis courts? "All the day I faced the barren waste, without the taste of water... coooool water...."