SSScout

Apologies to Robie Burns... Much discussion hereabouts on the letdown of Cub Scouting in the Summer months. Loss of "momentum", loss of Cubs in the following Fall. Why is "summer activity" important to Cub Scouting? Can summer stuff really keep'em coming back? Whereto and whyfor ? How have folks in your neighborhood encouraged Cub Scouts in JuneJulyAugust? What sorts of things to do? Howso? Whatfrom? National Summer Activity Award? Thankee.

Check around at Roundtable, Cub Roundup, Webelos Weekend, etc. Might find a Scouter with a tree to take down... I had a 10" Cherry in the wrong place in my yard that was dying. I was able to take it down and chainsaw off several 1" "cookies" of trunk, each had a split in it. We shared them around the District that year. Various plaques were made, AoL, awards. One Cubber did this: fletch end of an old arrow was cut off, painted and glued at an angle in the split, made a nice effect. Big Web badge glued on, name and date burned into the wood. Nice wall hanging.

Chilkoot Pass... Jack London Call of the Wild and White Fang... Robert Service's poetry (Crematory of Sam Mcgee, The Heart of the Sourdough, The Spell of the Yukon...), Do a little about the history of Alaska, buying it from the Russians, how people thought it a "worthless frozen waste..." Include the Alaska flag? Short skit about the Canadian Mounties (Sargent Preston of the Yukon? shows my age, I guess and the Klondike IS in Canada...) Yukon Territories have their own flag... North Slope oil? Ice Road Truckers? Include Inuit people? Tell some of their legends and tales around the flag and fire? Ookpik...

All the above, plus... The first rule in recruitment is... Thet have to know where you are. ** Who is your CO? Can you ask them to put up a sign in front (assuming they are a "brick and mortar" CO) proudly heralding your unit's existance? "Cub Scout Pack PDQ meets here 7:00pm Thursday Night... All Boys Welcome!!" Local sign shop MIGHT be owned by a "old Scout", you never know til you ask. ** Notices in the local newspaper... they always like local news... Might even send out a reporter and photog... "Cub Pack PDQ held a Pine Wood Derby and Advancementr ceremony last thursday night. Tommy Cub and Pete Wolf received their Bear Badges. The Cubs raced their hand made gravity powered race cars down,,," etc. Give them advance notice, find out if you can provide the pictures. ** Check with local school for access to take home stuff. Our county school regulations allow brochures of an all incusive type (has to be for all kids... we refer Girl Scouts...) once every three months in the "backpack bag". **Make the brochure/poster all purpose, so you can put it up on the grocery store bulletin board. Our District/Council will print them up free, in a standard format, with your info on it, eyecatching photos of Cubs having fun (remember that old KiSMiF ?). Check with your DE about your specifics. ** Get out to local fairs and events and parades. One Pack herebouts has a popcorn machine they borrow from a parent and set up at school fairs/events in the community. Free popcorn and a small flyer attached to the bag! Table of Cub Scout stuff and a mock campsite nearby. ** Word of mouth is still the best, but give the Cubs a 3x5 card with your info on it to give to their buddies to give to their parents to call you. And follow up! It might not be the first call it might not be the second, it MIGHT be the third. Your enthusiasm will be the catalyst for their son's best summer yet! (and they just might learn something along the way!) Good luck and good Scouting!

Our church camp program recently built new cabins at our prime site. !2x12 approx. County /state regulations required two entrances, stoops at the doors, fully screened in (we reinforced the screen for kid proofing), no windows/shutters, they are fully "vented", large roof overhangs. No electricity. They sleep 10 on double level bunks, plus a counselor. I am told, $12 to 15K each, with some volunteer labor and professional direction and plans. As I said before, the platforms and tents at our new Cub camp fit 4 cots, with room for a trunk each. Our WB staff used a site, and were comfortable, even with a rain storm midweek. The tents are set up, a site at a time, as needed, starting in May I was told, and stay up thru the summer season, taken down (dry!) in September. Camp ranger said he expected a tent to last at least three seasons or more if put away dry.

From today's Frederick News-Post: ""Frederick County Sheriff's Office increases patrol after incident at middle school bus stop"" "On Monday, Cpl. Jennifer Bailey, spokeswoman for the sheriff's office, said deputies are labeling as "suspicious activity" an incident that occurred about 7:30 a.m. Dec. 6, when a dark green SUV pulled up near a Windsor Knolls Middle School student as he stood alone at his bus stop near Hardrock Circle and Kemptown Church Road. According to the child's mother, a woman passenger got out of the SUV, approached the boy and ordered him to get in the vehicle. The boy instead turned and ran back to his home, where he notified a family member about the incident." http://www.fredericknewspost.com/sections/news/display.htm?StoryID=113684 Yeah, I think I can understand a parent wanting to his/her kid at the bus stop... Course, now, that doesn't justify coming on a camp trip to twirl your son's spaghetti for him.

Our council's newest camp is multi use, but mainly overnight Cub camp. Scout Troops can tent camp in the rough back acres, and arrange to eat in the dining hall, if they wish, but the "real" camp sites have, I think, 10 - 10 by 8 platforms (built to spec by OA on various ordeal, brotherhood and work weekends). Woodbadge courses are scheduled to use the camp in spring and fall, before and after summer camps. The canvas tents are put up and taken down by WBers(usually WB staff). The tents sleep 4 campers, with room for trunks. The last time I was there, (April 2009), 1/2 the canvas was new. I would think that the wall tents are desirable for the usual summer camp experience, a base camp, long term camp. When the Scout Troop of my youth sponsored our own summer camp, we bought Baker type, semi wall tents. We slept on the ground, on foam pads and air mattresses, and some of the older Scouts (the "staff"), even had short legged cots. I would view the option of BYOT as a possible consideration, but , again, what is the Troop looking for? Saving $20 for the privilege of bringing my own $150. tent might not be the best bargain. Even as a much shorter (then I am now) Scout, I still remember thinking I wish I could stand up in my tent when it rained. And , hey, where is all that FoS money going, if not for canvas?

Moving right along... GKlose: I actually have a "WMFrank #13" in my bugle. But that is an antique. The Bach 10 or 12 C I have been told is an equivalent. They are listed on http://www.bachbrass.com/pdf/AV6001%20Bach%20Mpce%20Manual.pdf There is a 12c Trumpet and a 12c Trombone mouthpiece. Yep, my Tbone cup would not fit in the bugle. My recommendation is still: If the young boogler is semi-serious, get a nice, wider trumpet or cornet mouthpiece for him...

My introduction to this issue was back when I led bike trips for the American Youth Hostels. I also operated a bike repair business out of my basement. AYH office gave a dad my number because he had a question about an upcoming trip. His 14 year old son had a bike that they weren't sure about, was it in good shape, could I look at it? I said sure, bring it around. When they arrived, I looked at the bike, adjusted the derailleur, and pronounced it in fine shape for the trip. Would Johnny like to take it out around the neighborhood to see how it runs? He does so, and dad follows in his car... When Johnny returns, he thanks me, yes it runs much better.The following conversation ensues: Dad: Are you sure you want to do this? Johnny: Yeah, dad. It'll be fun. (500 miles around Cape Cod over two weeks in July, 10 teen agers and two young adult leaders. Bikes and Panniers.). D: But what'll you do if you get a flat tire? Me: They'll repair it. The leader is trained in bike mechanics. D: What happens if it rains? (July trip. Cape Cod in the summer) Me: The equipment list did include ponchos. They will get wet and then get dry.(Dad is silent...Johnny is looking at the ceiling...) Then there was the canoe trip down the Shennandoah where two of the teen girls brought electric hair dryers in their kit...but that's not PROTECTIVE, is it?

"...registered Scouter..." When a Patrol goes off on a trip, without the rest of the Troop, overnight or not. would they need the SM with them? Register the Patrol Dad, (or in a local case, the Patrol Guide's dad) , and they're in business. Have your CC encourage ALL adults register as "Scouters". They don't even need a title, I don't think, but what the hey, make'm all ASMs. Then encourage them to register with MyScouting, and take all the online courses they wish, definitely YP. After all, "it's for the kids". Oops, wrong script...

Electronic young equine rodent?

Pacing your effort... When I was a serious Bicyclist, leading tours, conditioning, I would hum the "Karelia Suite" to myself for spinning. From my days in Band, lots of marches for pacing, swing those arms...

Man, what a thread. JinKC has the first part of it. Do NO legal action before conferring with the COR,IH. But first, find a way to allow the family to "do the right thing" . Do not make it impossible for them to be "Trustworthy" or faithful to their own desire to pay their debts. A friendly visit. Expression of empathy. Payment plan. Invite the Cub back with his friends. Everyone has it hard these days, Cub Packs included. Single mom? Out of work dad? Medical troubles? Could be lots of unknown dynamics. Could another Cub Mom be a contact to keep help on the horizon? Our Troop sells Christmas (holiday?) decorations thru November for delivery the first week of December. Order in advance, pay by check or cash up front. We order about 20% more , just in case a mistake is made, and also to stock some sidewalk sales in local shopping centers. Nothing is "fronted", never had a problem. Our Cub Pack sells P/C (which is one reason the Troop doesn"t. Same neighborhoods!) and does the same thing. Cash/check up front for delivery in a couple of weeks, then a sidewalk sale or two. They do amaaaazingly well. No "fronting" the product. Very sorry to hear of such things. Time for a rethink of the funding project. God speed and goodluck.

Jhankins and packsaddle have the gist of it right. In most cases, a Scout may not earn the religious award by himself, he needs the imprimatur of a church/temple/mosque/meeting. The awards are, as has been said, earned from and awarded by the faith involved and as recognized by the BSA, the award is allowed to be worn on the Scout uniform. Doesn't mean the Scout has to belong "officially" to the faith involved, only that some leader of that faith needs to mentor the Scout and approve the awarding of the award. These have sometimes been called a "religious merit badge", and can be seen as being earned in a similar fashion as the regular merit badge. A Scouter can certainly encourage and help the Scout and his parents. Being aware of the opportunities and mechanics involved can be off-putting, but holding a Den class might not be the right way to pursue this. Look to www.praypub.org for alot of the details. Good Scouting to you...

As a commisher, when I talk about the uniform whether at a CSDC or Troop meeeting, I always point out that with a little experience, you can read alot of a Scout's history from his uniform. Where he's been, some of what he's accomplished, where he's from, that it's kind of like a wearing your school diploma. You might be able to tell who to ask a question of. And who to welcome , offer a handshake to. The uniform does more than tell the world you're a Scout. It tells what kind of Scout you are.

Canned beverages of any kind. Powdered drinks or fresh milk (if they want to carry in the cooler) are okay. Sweet rolls, or pastries,donuts and such UNLESS they are cooked from raw ingredients at camp prior to consumption. Electronic goodies. Adults may have a cell phone for emergencies. Ipods etc. left in cars at the trail head. Our annual family camp in the fall tries to follow the same guidelines. Concerns: Nutrition, excess weight, lack of Scoutcraft practice, ecological, distraction from what's important and loss/breakage problems. Sneakers are discouraged in favor of hard sole shoes. NB: We are going winter cabin camping soon, and board games (Monopoly type) are eagerly sought out by the boys. We do hike and orienteer during the day...

**sigh** "Courageous Cookery" by John Echo* Once the convert backpacker or cycle camper has accepted the subtle gustatory nuances associated with sustained operations beyond the chrome, he should try the advantages of ultra fringe living so that he will realize what he is paying for his nested pots and pretty pans carried so diligently and brought home so dirty after every "wilderness experience". The following system works. It is dependable and functional. It works on the big rock. It even works when the weather has gone to hell, you are wet and cold and the wind is blowing down the back of your hairy neck. It is not for the timid. It consists of a stove, a six inch sauce pan, a plastic cup and a soup spoon. If you insist on a metal cup, you must never fail to mutter "I'm having fun, I'm having fun", every time you spill the soup on your sleeping bag. Breakfast: Instant wheat cereal-- sugar and powdered milk added-- ready two minutes after water boils. Eat from pot. Do not wash pot. Add water, boil, and add powdered eggs and ham. You'll never taste the cereal anyway. In three minutes, eat eggs. Do not wash pot. Add water or snow and boil for tea. Do not wash pot. Most of the residue eggs will come off in the tea water. Make it strong and add sugar. Tastes like tea. Do not wash pot. With reasonable technique, it should be clean. Pack pot in rucksack and enjoy last cup of tea while others are dirtying entire series of nested cookware. Lunch: Boil pot of tea. Have snack of rye bread, cheese and dried beef Continue journey in 10 minutes if necessary. Dinner: Boil pot of water, add Wylers dried vegetable soup and beef bar. Eat from pot. Do not wash pot. Add water and potatoes from dry potatoe powder. Add gravy mix to taste. Eat potatoes from pot. Do not wash pot. Add water and boil for tea. Fortuitous fish or meat can be cooked easily. You do not need oil or fat. Put half inch of water in pot. Add cleaned and salted fish. Do not let water boil away. Eat from pot when done. Process can be done rapidly. Fish can even be browned somewhat by a masterful hand. Do not change menu. Variation only recedes from the optimum. Beginners may be allowed to wash pot once a day for three consecutive days only. It is obvious that burning or sticking food destroys the beauty of the technique. If you insist on carrying a heavier pack, make up the weight you save with extra food. Stay three days longer. *(( The true author of this article is unknown. It is here copied from the COME HOSTELING newsletter, Sept. 1980, of the Potomac Area Council of the American Youth Hostels, who received it from Dick Schwanke, Senior PAC Staff Trainer, who read it in the APPALACHIAN HIKER by Ed Garvey, who got it from the Potomac Appalachian Trail Conference Bulletin, which quoted it from THE RAMBLER of the Wasatch Mountain Club of Salt Lake City, which reportedly cribbed it from the I.A.C. News of Idaho Falls, which reported it from the 1966 PEAKS & TRAILS. I offer it here for your enjoyment and inspiration. Note that some of the ingredients are a bit dated. Adjust as necessary. Enjoy!))

Kudu, I really must meet you some day. In a way earlier post, I described the summer camp my Troop-of-youth had. The Troop fathers got together and planned a camp. I think someone decided they weren't satisfied with the Council summer camp. Somebody's uncle's brother owned some land and the Troop went and built a Adarondack shelter out of telephone poles there (dad Atwell was a lineman for the C&P Telephone Co.). We spent two weeks there in the summer, each of three years of my counting. The Patrols camped out of eye shot of each other, two on one side of the creek, two on the other. The three sided Adarondack was the quartemaster's (he was a dad, often the only adult in camp). We would come and draw our food and supplies there once a day, and do our own cooking and cleanup. Wood fires. (lots of dead chestnut). Hikes and day trips out of camp to museums and other places. And it was a half mile or better hike out to the main road. New Scouts learned map and compass by navigating around "The Property". Troop Bugler was a real PoR. Wide games at night. We used that "property" for many overnights. It is now divided among a County Park, a Religious Retreat Center and some suburban houses. I never heard of "tour permits" until I became a Cubmaster ten years ago. And then it was "Local" and "National" types. And, as has been said, no one I asked could give congruent advice as to when and how to use either. Our units did use them as a "guideline" for planning, and no one ever mentioned insurance, but it was STRONGLY intimated that a Scout trip had to be "approved" if it was more than, say, 50 miles from the CO. Often, we went anyway, and someone would say, "hey, did we do a TP? Shucks, we forgot..." I think I must agree with Beavah, that if the activity is called a "Scout" activity, it is covered, TP or not, uniformed or not. We must, as Scouters, be careful about observing the "guidelines", even so. Back in my paleo-Scout history, if the dads said the spring was safe to drink, we drank. If the SPL said we had to scrape the leaves away from our fireplace, we did. If the Scouts came home dirty and tired, the moms knew we had a good time. My Eagle Patrol would sometimes get together after school and hike along the roadside to someone's home for a meeting . Could our kids do that today? I lived four miles from my Elementary and High School, not unlike my Scout buddies. My dad and mom said little about that walk, I think they did something similar in their childhood. Can our Scouts make that same comparison now? When I sit in on BoR or Troop meetings now, I encourage the boys to make plans and DO SOMETHING with their Patrols. It is very rare that I hear of a Patrol Leader calling his Patrol to organize a hike or movie or (?) bowling night. "Sure, but nobody would want to..." but did you CALL? "no, but it wouldn't make a difference..." It is a matter of encouragement, example, and training. Which is missing in a particular unit is a matter of personal experience. And fear?

Ditto the above. My union at the time (AFL/CIO) paid for mine. My bosses looked at it and put me in for a pro motion (denied... another story). Also, approach the local Lions Club or Kiwanis or Rotary. All have sponsored local Scouters in the past for such opportunities. And your CO?

First, this is not an emergency that needs an IMMEDIATE solution. It will take time to help these boys overcome their fear of water. Second, there are folks out there that understand this and can help much more than us well meaning email jockeys can provide from the other side of the country. You (or better yet, the parent) needs to seek out these people. Red Cross, swim clubs, Scout Council, local county water rescue squad, YMCA, somebody will know. You (or the parent) won't, unless you make the effort to find them. There is no telling from whence this relunctance stems. Likely the boys will never know themsleves. It may even be related to other things in the family, and I doubt if any Scout leader will ever glean that answer. If the boys have no other "behavioral" problem, then address the water problem. My thoughts, from some personal experience... washing face in sink does help. I bet these boys have issues even with this. Blowing bubbles in the sink. Shower water on face. Gotta sneak up on the demon and beat him. Have they tried goggles or a face mask? Check with a scuba club or shop nearby. I've heard of Scouts being allowed to use these. Rewards of some kind for each minor step succeeded can help. Candy? Movie trip? Pizza? Lots of "attaboy"s. It can't be forced, one has to (in Cub lingo) "Make it Fun, and Keep it Simple", and take it sloooow. Ultimately, the Cub has to WANT to beat it. Adults can't shame or beat him into doing it. It will happen, have faith...

Fund raising seemed appropriate... Anyone else receive the email offering from Buckskin Council to purchase the souvenir of the Summit Groundbreaking? It's a special serial numbered bottle full of dirt (sorry, only way to describe it). Soon to be listed in the "Buckskin Council Online Store" 26 November: www.buckskincouncilbsa.net Unfortunately, I found no mention of it on Buckskin Council's home site. http://www.buckskin.org "A limited collectors package of History In The Making is being offered exclusively by the Buckskin Council, BSA,which serves youth in West Virginia, Kentucky & Virginia. The collector package is a special offer that will only be available until the 1000 packages are sold. This would make a great holiday gift for the Scouter in your family. "The Collectors' Package includes the following items: Individual laser-engraved sequential numbered bottle X / 1000 with BSA Emblem, Location and Date Bottle is filled with soil (sifted & baked) from the Summit Groundbreaking Event and hand dipped in a beautiful red wax to seal the contents. Letter of authenticity from Bob Mazzuca Chief Scout Executive Professional Photograph of the Groundbreaking Participants." " This package is only available for purchase at the Buckskin Council Online Store www.buckskincouncilbsa.net beginning November 26, 2010 at 10:00 a.m. eastern standard time. NOTE: Bottles 1-50, 100, and 1,000 will only be available via online Ebay auctions starting December 1, 2010. Items will be listed under Ebay ID: Buckskin_Council_Bsa *Any orders recieved after December 15, 2010 can not be guaranteed for delivery by Dec 25, 2010.* If you have any glitches ordering please email lwunderl@bsamail.org and we will respond as quickly as possible." ((Sorry, can't copy the snazzy pictures that accompanied the above text. Anyone?

Wow... "Demetrius has a raisin farm and has determined that each #8 box can hold 83 raisins. If the Kellogs cereal company needs to fill 214 boxes of Raisin Bran, and one #8 box of raisins will fill one Raisin Bran box, how many raisins must Demetrius pick (assuming the raisins are ripe) to fulfill the order, if Kelloggs makes the order??"

I know of no "policy" to invoke here (perhaps the uniform vs commercial enterprise mentioned above), however, I think someone might remind your SM of a few things... At our home Troop, everybody knows what everyone does for provender and roof. I retired from the transit agency. An Eagle candidate was glad to have my connections when he proposed rebuilding a neglected bus terminal. One of the ASMs is a contractor. We have spoken many times about my little home projects, materials, methods, he has been very forthcoming with his knowledge and experience. If I asked him, I am sure he would build me a great deck, addition or barn. Has he asked me ? No. Would I ask him if I thought I needed his talent? Absolutely. Another man is a financial planner/broker. We have talked about the economic atmosphere. Has he asked me if he could help me? No. Would I trust him? No doubt. There is a level of social discourse that invites business and one that discourages it. There is OFFERING and then there is ANNOYING. One engenders business, the other does not. Here's an idea: Take Mr. SM aside and ask if he is willing to have someone sign up as the Environmental Science Merit Badge Counselor. Do a Troop "class" in that vein. Invite other insulation contractors, etc. to come in and make presentation to the boys about their work, how it saves energy, prevents global warming and so forth. Then, Mr. SM can bring in his special tools (infra red detector, solar cells, wind turbine, whatever ) and just be one of the presenters. Or can he stand the competition? Point out to this well meaning SM that everybody knows about his business/expertise, but too much reminding can be a BAD thing.

EXCLAMATION POINT!!!! I have the answer! We sell Popcorn to the Chinese!! Ask Mazucca if it's a good idea or not....

IMTHO, I agree that the US flag or it's representation (there's another discussion. Is a picture or patch REALLY a "flag"?) should be displayed with the blue union on the flag's own right. The viewers left, as the flag is observed. Wall, fence, porch, sleeve, long side vertical or horizontal, all the same I think. Blue Union on flag's right.